Can't Touch This*

*my sheeps

You are strong. You are fierce. You are capable.

But most importantly: You are loved by those you look after. Even if they sometimes show their love in weird ways (like headbutts). — Veli Belly

---

Here’s What’s Happening At Good Spirits Farm

• Veli performed her job flawlessly when a coyote showed up early Tuesday morning. I heard her barking about the time I normally head out to feed the chickens. Right now, the flerd is rotating through a pasture far from our house, so it took me a moment to walk out and see what Veli was barking at. But there, in the pasture between our house and where the sheep are, a coyote was sniffing around, prowling for a snack. Veli was carrying on from behind the gate that separates the two fields, and as I ran the coyote off (there is a surprising amount of pajama-clad running and waving your arms at wild animals involved in farming), Veli ran the fence line beside me, reminding him to keep on going until he hit the next zip code. When the coyote was out of sight, Veli booked it back to her sheeps, checking to make sure everyone was accounted for. I have never had a purpose-bred dog before—just wonderful mutts whose purpose was providing joy. Watching instinct in action is incredible.

• It’s potato planting time, and not a moment too soon—we’re just about out of potatoes from last year. Really, it’s just about go-time for most of Garden 2022. I’ll start “hardening off” the cabbage and broccoli starts this week, taking them outside for a few hours at first, so they can adjust to the harsh realities of living in the real world. Meanwhile, it’s time to get my tomato and pepper seeds growing indoors, and to coax my stored sweet potatoes into sprouting the “slips” that will become this year’s vines.

• We’re just a few weeks out from Julia’s baby arriving! She’s looking pretty rotund, but seems to be in good spirits. This weekend, I’ll be making up the “moo-ternity ward,” filling our box stalls with fluffy straw and clean savings, just to ensure it’s ready well before we need it.

  ---

Here’s What I Loved This Week

A wonderful reader sent me this amazing video of a sheep figuring out how to use a trampoline. I’m a little embarrassed to admit how many times I’ve watched it. Thank you, Trudy, for bringing a little bit of joy into my week!