Cane bales

The cane bales for the winter season were delivered and it was hard to determine who was happier about their arrival-the chickens or the goats.

Two bales weighing a total of 2300 pounds were brought here by our certified organic farmer Bob on a flat bed trailer.  The smaller one probably only weighed about 900 pounds and the two of us (Bob is slightly older than I am, making him the age of rocks instead of dirt) managed to roll it off the trailer rather easily.  He repositioned the trailer and it was time to attack the big bale.  It is characteristic for the bales to have a "flat spot" which develops from them sitting in the field after baling.  This comes in handy for transport as it keeps them stable on a trailer.  It is not handy when it comes time to move them off the trailer without the aid of machinery other than the human body.  We huffed and grunted and shoved and pushed putting all of our backs, legs and shoulders into the task.  We finally got it off the flat spot and it was pretty easy rolling after that.  I'm sure it was a sight to see for anyone passing by on the highway.  Encouragingly enough, neither of us noticed any aching or sore muscles the following day.

The goats have already spread a nice thick layer of cane in the barn to sleep on when it isn't their turn on top of the bale.  They have a comfortable place to escape the cold winds coming this winter.  I feel better about that.