So we bought a hay baler.  We were planning on looking for one at the Meridian Equipment Auction on March 21.  This auction was cancelled and changed to an online auction that lasted for one week.  Tom was able to preview the equipment and found a baler.  And on Sunday we bid on it and won it.  Tom went to pick it up on Monday.  And here it is.

We are not sure if it works but it seems to be complete.

We will need some grass to grow to test it out.  We are hoping we can start baling our own hay and save money. Once we get good at it we may be able to bale for others as well.

On Monday Tom noticed some chicks that had hatched to a broody hen under the goat feeder.  By Tuesday morning the hen had abandoned her nest and was setting on four chicks on a tire in the barn.  Tom got the chick pen ready quickly with a heat lamp since it is so cold.  He moved them in there, and they seem happy.  Here they are this morning.

This morning I was able to harvest our bumper crop of nettles to make my favorite nettle soup.  This is one item that seems to grow very well here.

This afternoon I was able to work in the greenhouse.  Here are the seeds I have already started (sweet peas, onions, fennel and leeks).

Today I was able to start carrots, lettuce and parsnips as well.  I also set up the germination heating pad that I got for Christmas.

Last year we had horrible problems with our tomato seeds germinating.  So I am hopeful that this thermostatically controlled pad will help.  So I started tomato and pepper seeds on this today as well.