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. March. The end of winter and...
Ruminations – Swoope Almanac November 2017
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.
Bulls, Carbon and Catalpa – Swoope Almanac June 2017
June in Swoope, Virginia - The Headwaters of the Shenandoah River June is the beginning of the farm year for our cow/calf operation in America's legendary Shenandoah Valley. It's when the bulls go in with our three herds of cows. June is also when we make all the hay to...
Calving Season: Swoope Almanac – March 2017
Calving Season Begins March 1st Green grass emerges from its brown, dormant cloak of winter. Northern Harriers glide and teeter, close to the ground in search of anything that moves. In the vast grasslands of Swoope, Virginia, the headwaters of the Shenandoah River it’s voles they hunt. American Plum pushes...
Sipping Africa, Mandela and the Reality of Trump – Swoope Almanac 11/16
Journal entry 11/15/16: Sipping Africa Charlottesville, VA: We ordered a bottle of Bayten, Sauvignon Blanc. It’s from the Constantia wine region in South Africa, the oldest wine region in the Southern Hemisphere. It's Cape Town's wine region, at the Southern tip of the African continent. I raised my glass and...
Fueling Stations for Monarchs – Swoope Almanac September 2016
I had to stop and smell the Marigolds, the native ones in our riparian buffers called Bur Marigolds. As I was putting up a new solar fence charger for one of our livestock exclusion areas, I had to just stop to watch. What froze me in my tracks was the...
Swoope Almanac April 2016: Fox Kits, Frogs and Warbler Fallout on the Farm
We live on a farm in the headwaters of the Shenandoah River - a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. How cool is that? We started this year’s calving season on March 1st with 122 pregnant beef cows. All of them have calved except nine. Cow #65 and #X6 had twins....
Solar Panels Radiate Hope in Swoope
He said, "Solar panels are only 40 percent efficient." I thought, "Are you kidding, it's free." The sun shines and "Zap", you have electricity, isn't that 100 percent efficient? Well, not so fast smarty pants. The 40 percent rating is true if one thinks about how "they" measure efficiency -...
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In his e-book, Bobby shares his invaluable knowledge and findings drawn from years of field experience. His tips for how to improve water quality and protect livestock are a true win/win. Please read it. And please share it.
