July 12, 2023
And isn’t warm and humid. The crew power washed the shed row two weeks ago and it still hasn’t dried. I would love to do the same to the stalls, with this humidity that will not happen, it would mean too much moisture and then every thing would be moldy. Moldy hay in the mangers mean coughing horses. The feed mangers are cleared out and sprayed with vinegar. Zoe has been busy wiping the tack with vinegar to combat the mold. It is not good to have white fuzzy saddles and bridles.
The crew is always busy maintaining the pastures. They are busy pulling deadly Nightshade and Tansy. Until I can afford to lime the pastures, the daisies and other weeds are mowed before they go to seed.
The crew feels that they have the back pasture fences secured and tightened. My favourite Nova Scotia crew of six came for the weekend, they cleared brush and logs from the top grove. This grove is the herds most favourite place to escape from the flies. Horse flies are big and ferocious this summer. The music weekend brought many New Brunswick visitors to the Sanctuary. On Sunday It was more fun to visit us than wait in line at the bridge for hours to leave the island. It is getting to be a challenge to tell the story. I keep thinking of each horse’s age as the day they arrived. Chairo was 4 and is now 14. Prince was 4 on his arrival and is now 16 and so it goes. My children never seem to age the same as I.
I have started to dry my barn herbs for the winter. I am getting a good supply of Parsley, Plantain, and Comfrey preserved. Long ago, longer than I wish to tell, I used to prepare in a very precise manner (In past times I was a lab technician) Herb tinctures and essential oils. I am not that precise now. It is much easier to administer them in their dried state or make a tea. I post articles on Handibear Hills Facebook page about the herbs I use. Kate McQuarrie is doing lots of foraging and posting information on her website. Anne Gallant is a Foodie Forager and shares her knowledge too. Nature supplies us with so much good nutrition right in our back yards. Give it all a Google. Fiona left me and lots of other folk with a lot of wood to share. There is so much lumber down and it appears with the new regulations you cannot build with it unless you can find someone to stamp it. Not a lot of common sense around these days. So many mansions (cottages) being built on the North Shore. All covered with chipboard (I know it has a fancier name). In twenty years it will all go poof and fall down. If they have the money to build such large homes, I wish they would go quality and use real lumber for sheathing. It appears that the story of B.C.’s shameful condo disaster did not reach the East Coast. I cannot see that chipboard now is any better than what was used then. How do you keep the moisture out? When the siding is applied that Tyvek is pierced how many times?? If you need wood or logs you are more than welcome to come and glean the woods at the Sanctuary.
I haven’t prepared the escalator for the hay detail yet. The unpredictable Eastcoast weather!! It does not look good to be able to get the perfect product now. There was a 4 day window last week and those on the ball got their square bales. We wait for the next 4 day window of dry weather. I predict that I will have to supplement heavily next winter because the grass will be too mature. And on the other hand. I have less horses, so need less hay. My barn heroes have been promised an easy time in the hay loft. I try to keep my promises. The Sanctuary is always busy in the summer. Camp is on Tuesdays. Trailblazers meet on Wednesday and Saturdays. Smalls come Saturday afternoon. Visitors and volunteers are always welcome to drop in. It appears there will always be fencing to keep us busy. Keep in touch through FB and our fabulous Website, we can be reached at handibearhills@gmail.com. Be kind and helpful always.
Love and hugs Yogi and the herd.