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Looking back at 2024

Writer's picture: PatrickPatrick

Updated: Jan 17




It's difficult to believe that another year on the farm has gone by, and it hasn't been without incident. Many people have been asking for updates throughout the year and finally I'm able to find a bit of time while sitting inside while a blustering snow storm is taking place outside. So here it goes...


In 2024, we experienced personal losses. Paul's brother passed away in January, a brother-in-law in March, and a sister-in-law in August. These losses have led us to reflect on our own lives and consider how we should proceed. We'll discuss this further later.


Entering 2024, we were optimistic about the progress we made in setting up the farm and renovating the house and property. We chose to proceed with updating and expanding our shop, a project we had been eager to undertake. We started on this first thing in January. We now have a bright, clean, organized shop and a room suitable for overwintering plants as well as providing work space for me and a studio space for Paul. We also did some updates to the interior of the house including new railings and lighting. Then our luck began to change.


In the coming months, a series of unforeseen events posed significant financial and emotional challenges. Initially, a leaky bathroom led to a full renovation, which would continue until September. Additionally, we faced issues with the well, boiler, and air conditioning system, along with leaking pipes and major appliances breaking down and needing replacement. We hadn't anticipated addressing these problems at this time, but we had no choice.


The good news is, our animals and farm have been thriving, making it one of our best years so far. Lambing began with four of the most challenging deliveries I've ever encountered. Thankfully, everything ended well, leading to a successful lambing season. In May, Margot, our White Galloway cow, gave birth to a lovely calf named Maren. The cows have been a wonderful addition to the farm. We also introduced four Indian Runner ducks to the barnyard, and their antics are a source of amusement for everyone, especially Cyrus, our dog. Raising a variety of heritage turkeys was quite an experience, as they took free-ranging to a whole new level walking down the road, roaming in the bush and sleeping in trees.


Both the farm store and online sales have seen ongoing growth. The shop mainly specializes in meat sales, with preserved goods limited to surplus canning from our garden. We continue to provide honey from our own hives. We are now able to offer a wider range of lamb products, including the sale of whole lambs to customers. We are attracting new customers while retaining our loyal regulars. Additionally, we have been offering sheep skins, wool, and woven rugs and blankets crafted from our sheep's fleeces.


The growing season was exceptional with warm temperatures persisting into late November. We were harvesting peppers,celery, and greens till then. December 1 arrived with a blizzard and the snow squalls have persisted. Luckily the weather improved for Christmas and we were able to some visiting both on and off the farm.


Looking ahead to 2025


The Christmas season gave us the opportunity to reflect on the events of not just the past year, but also the last decade. We discussed the positive experiences, the obstacles, challenges and our vision for the future. I'm finally understanding that, despite my passion for what we're doing, it's time to begin implementing changes as we move forward. We're not exactly spring chickens anymore!


We take pride in our achievements and the challenges we've surmounted. By June of this year, we will have been living in the country for ten years and have operated a farm store for nearly the same duration. During this time, we retired after a 30-year career, restored and renovated two properties, and established two farms. We transitioned from owning a few goats and chickens to managing a farm with over a hundred animals, including sheep, pigs, cows, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and, naturally, our goats, along with a dog and a cat. We now reside on a 50-acre farm, a reality that was once just a dream for us.


As we inevitably age, we've come to understand that while we cherish our current lifestyle, it's time to start scaling back. We want to dedicate more time to the animals, engage in our hobbies, and enjoy moments with friends and family, all while reducing the workload needed to maintain the farm's current operations. People keep telling us that it's time to slow down a bit, so you may notice some changes. We have already decreased the amount of canned preserves we sell. We no longer offer eggs, chicken, or turkey to the public. However, we will continue selling Berkshire pork and Icelandic lamb. I will keep the website updated but plan to phase it out by the end of December 2025. I will continue to post and provide updates on Instagram. Please feel free to reach out anytime!


Life on the farm has transformed us, and we intend to continue our journey at Fallen Branch farm for many more years.


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