Cows, Calves, and Cranes – Swoope Almanac March 2018
Earth awakens from the cold during the month of March in America’s legendary Shenandoah Valley. Days lengthen, migrations begin, chloroplasts awaken and absorb the energy from the sun’s photons – photosynthesis begins….pastures slowly turn from brown to green. Life’s energy is on the move.
Horned Lark – Special Species of Swoope
As we drove into the pasture with a half-ton bale of hay for the cows I saw a flock of perhaps thirty small birds fly in a tight pattern away from us.
Frozen Water in the Livestock Trough
Loggerhead Shrike – Population in Steep Decline
Over the years they slowly disappeared. And then they were gone. I last saw a Loggerhead Shrike in Swoope in 2014. The Loggerhead Shrike is a “common bird” whose population is in “steep decline”. In this post, I will describe the bird, chronicle its population, report efforts to bring the...
Four Compelling Reasons Cats Need to be Indoors
Ruminations – Swoope Almanac November 2017
This is a sifting of writings and ruminations for the year 2017:
Torpedoes, Trump and the Clean Water Act at 45
Note: The text of this post became an OPED piece distributed by the Bay Journal News Service on 10/17/2017. Click here to view or download the pdf of the article. USA Today published it on 10/19/17 The Clean Water Act is 45 years old this week, born in the U.S....
Migrations and Musings – Swoope Almanac September 2017
I live in such a beautiful place – It’s mostly grasslands and forests. In some places, one cannot see another dwelling in any direction. On most mornings in September, mist hugs the hollows and heavy dew blankets the ground.
Riparian Buffer Management – Control Invasives, Encourage Natives
As summer moves closer to autumn it seems there are more native plants in the various riparian buffers we have around the farm. Butterfly weed, jewelweed, wingstem, purpletop, and many other plants are in bloom now. However; there are many invasive, non-native plants in bloom as well. Invasive Species Control...
