Sheep Netting

The sheep netting stretched across the ground isn't electrified yet; once I set down the roll balanced on my shoulder, I'll walk along, picking up the strands and poking the metal end of the posts into the ground. Then, I'll repeat the process.

The sheep graze within the boundaries of netting, a solar charger sending a jolt around the perimeter. It protects the livestock from predators and keeps the sheep in. We move the netting across the hillside, creating paddocks where the sheep forage for two to three days. Then, we'll make a new paddock and move the sheep into it. This gives sections of the big pasture a rest.

The original plan was to hire a contractor to build permanent fences. Netting is a simpler plan, and it's more fun. It's easy to work with and cost-effective. I could watch the ewes and lambs graze in the new sections, grass taller than them, all day. Sometimes, the only sign of the flock I can see is waving plants as the sheep trot through the dense growth.

And Lemur, an older ewe, follows my progress with the new netting, telling me to hurry up. Then, she leads the charge through the gate into the new paddock, ignoring the rest of the herd as she buries her head in the greenery.

Thanks for Reading!

And I hope you feel refreshed and rejuvenated for the week ahead with this moment preserved in picture and prose. Consider:

• What can you make simpler this week?

Share your answer and this newsletter with a friend, and perhaps they can help you implement what you'd like to do!

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This Week on the Farm

The Indiana State Fair starts at the end of the week! We'll be taking Shetland lambs to the fair later in August, so we'll be working with the lambs to prepare for the big exhibition.