Fall Newsletter

Dear Friends, 

This is a quick 3 minutes and 15 second read with only one advertisement for a great cause.  So READ IT!

With shorter days, chilly, clear mornings, frost on the squash, acorns carpeting the forest floor, migrating geese silhouetted against the sky and fog rising from the pond and rolling over the pasture, fall announced her triumphal arrival. 

Enjoying the start of our most dramatic season, we celebrate this magical time when the trees are overladen with maroon colored berries and leaves transform to beautiful hues of deep red, vivid yellow and bold orange, but before departing their tree top homes and starting the endless fall cleanup process.  We take pleasure in gathering the final spoils from the garden, gathering around nighttime campfires,  and preparing for what lies ahead ... another dreary Cleveland winter and disappointing Browns season ... oh wait, that second part already happened!  

Going around the horn (yes we are all baseball fans this time of year), firewood deliveries started in earnest with many scheduled the next two weeks.  I may have a couple extra ricks if anyone is interested.  Of course, compost deliveries are also underway with one customer persistently demanding delivery to have "medicine for my garden and compost to mulch garlic plantings" and another commenting "our sandy raised beds went from unable to support plant life to fertile, alive and productive.  Your compost rocket fuel saved our garden." I only wish we could create more to meet demand.  Too bad we can't turn all of the election BS into compost, then it might be more useful!

The ewes thrive in this weather with few flies and warm wool coats to enjoy the cooler temperatures and still green, lush pastures.  Hopefully with all ewes pregnant, the ram departed last month.  In November, they will be shorn and pregnancy checked by Dr. Beth with delivery expected in early January, when Lauren's home to help before going back to Amsterdam.   We delivered 46 chickens and guineas to customers the past few weeks with only one known casualty and one jail break.  Catching them is a unique challenge as chickens create noxious clouds of dust and guineas launch themselves vertically into our heads like punted feather footballs. Special thanks to Mike who assisted with the final six guineas. So far the young pullets only laid 2 eggs but we will collect full baskets soon.  In addition, we stocked our freezer with soup chickens for the coming year.  The ducks emerged as our favorite entertainment for feeding as they "talk, talk, talk, talk, talk ..." to us, waddle by our side demanding to be fed, eagerly eat from our hands and then jump off the dock into the pond to clean up. Lastly, I am happy to report no broken bones yet from the mountain bike trail.  

We completed the restoration of the cupola.  Not to be immodest (since I really did very little), but it is spectacular.  The view from the 60 foot lift to put the cupola into place was a treat.  As Harry commented, a trip to the sheep barn now resembles driving up to the Boston State House, but with sheep baas and guineas cries.  In time, the copper roof and weathervane will develop a rich, green patina, but until then, it is our HHF beacon to the world, especially at night with the light on.  We are now safe from low flying aircraft.  

Fun Fact.  Morgan, Harry's fiancé, will be running in the Chicago Marathon Sunday.  It will be her third Marathon, the first a solo run in Chicago, with Harry on his bike, during covid and the second in Sacramento last year.  She is running to fund cancer research.  Please consider a donation to help her reach $10,000!  In her words

"Hi everyone- thank you for supporting my fundraising goal! Cancer has affected so many people I know and love, specifically my grandma and my aunt. Their strength and resiliency throughout their journeys have inspired me beyond running. I’m participating in the Chicago Marathon to inspire hope for those facing cancer and raising money to help end cancer as we know it, for everyone."

Support my fundraising for 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

mobileacs.org

As we start to close out the year, including the horrific hurricanes and this rancorous election season, I hope we can all remember what is most important in life and help and celebrate each other, the world around us and being a part of a caring, loving community.

Your friend,

Harry

End of Summer Newsletter

Dear friends,

Hello from the end of summer on the farm.  With a cool, crisp morning temperature of 52, Friday's 92 is a distant memory.  We enjoyed a very busy summer season completing long-overdue projects and exciting improvements to the farm ... so apologies for disappearing.  With so much to cover, let's get started!

First, we enjoyed many fun visitors and activities this summer, including camp outs, fishing, horse painting, wacky relay races, campfires, tractor rides, picnics and some late nights.  A young mother had a unique first, with her baby in a carrier on her chest she was filming the alpaca when shaggy decided to spit into the camera.  Both she and the baby now have good luck and the whole event is captured on film!

In June, we picked up 100 peeps and keats from the post office.  Growing from cute puff balls to loud raucous teenagers, they're eager to see the world.  This week we start delivery by order of Farmer Cyndi.  For the older hens, the eggs production waned considerably the past months due to age, hot weather, molting, star alignment, election rhetoric, and who knows what else.  Chickens can be quite fickle without any clear clues for their behavior other than, well, there are less eggs.  Soon the main coop will receive a major renovation with a new door into a bigger pen, outside walls for winter and 3 new windows.  The girls are clucking with excitement

Keeping with poultry we turn to the ducks.  Sadly, a few months ago we lost Lady Duck to a predator.  Fortunately, a high school student nearby raised a flock of ducks for the fair and she was able to sell us two females. Lucky Duck and the new ladies became quick friends and any day now we expect to collect eggs.  For now, our greatest challenge is keeping the geese away while they quickly gobble their food like Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest.  This year's winner in the men's category ate 58, pound for pound the ducks would crush him.  The previous owner also taught them to eat by hand so Cyndi and guests have been enjoying that treat.   

The ram arrived and is enjoying his time in the barn with his ladies and ample feed for energy.  He is the same ram as last year which as I discovered at the fair produces some unique coloration in the lambs.  The 4H students showed 6 of the lambs at the fair with good success.  Although no blue ribbons for showing, they all received first place for fun memories and learning life lessons.  Congrats to David, Kelly, Gwen and Lillian!  

Congrats to Julia on the birth of two lambs in July.  I had the joy of playing James Herriott, providing advice and medical services.  All are doing great!  Cyndi and I had a memorable time visiting their incredible gardens and spending time with Julia's grandfather and large family.

We have a new mile-long walking / riding trail circling the property.  It has several bridges, jumps and surprising elevation changes.  We look forward to enjoying it with guests all year round for years to come ... and possibly a few ER visits.

After many needed repairs to keep out the groundhogs and bunnies, the garden is going gang-busters, especially the cherry tomatoes.  For some reason, Cyndi planted a dozen plants and they are all thriving.  Out of ideas for recipes, we will gladly share a bag full if you visit.  

In addition, we continue to enjoy countless wildlife sightings (except for the groundhogs).  In May, sister Allison was kind enough to save two starling fledglings that fell from the nest.  If you ever find a young bird that cannot fly, you can return them to the nest and the mother will go about her business as though nothing happened.  If they keep falling out, don't feed them worms (there may be parasites and it may not be in their diet) and never give them water.  Rather, call a wildlife rescue center for advice.  They won't take all the birds!  Starlings are considered an invasive species so you may be on your own.  You can soak cat food and feed it to them EVERY HOUR!  Or better yet, find someone else who will save them and ask Allison to Uber them down to Canton Ohio.  

Lastly, it is with great sadness that I write the words I never wanted to share.  Uncle Joe passed away in June. He would have been 103 in August.  As expressed so many times, he was an incredible man, not just for his longevity but for his quick wit, mischievous nature, amazing work ethic, vast gardening knowledge and kind, caring ways.  He survived a very challenging childhood during the depression (filled with rough and tumble adventures), work in the CCC camps in Utah, and WWII where he earned 3 stars for D-Day landings at Utah Beach, Omaha Beach and Okinawa as a Gunner's Mate.  These challenging times taught Joe resilience and a love of life from which we could all learn.  Cyndi's dad Rudy, Uncle Joe and my friend Jack Grace were the inspiration for our life today.  For that we are forever grateful.

We hope you all enjoy a marvelous start to fall and find ways to enjoy each other and life's little pleasure like Uncle Joe. 

Your friend,

Harry

Spectacular Spring Newsletter

Friends,

Mother Nature's in full glory at Hill House Farm with the landscape alive with new life and love.  Abundant blossoms punctuate the pervasive vibrant green growth.  Duck and geese pairs surround the pond, bees search for nectar and pollen, birds busily prepare their nests, fish warm themselves in the afternoon sun, and turtles, snakes and salamanders have awoken from their winter hibernation.  And of course, we always enjoy our many young visitors to the farm that remind us that the same is true for us ... we are all part of nature and the cycle of life.

But of course, the total eclipse stole the show this spring!  As many of you witnessed, the eclipse was an incredible event that even in our divided world, brought us closer together and connected us in a single moment of shared amazement.  We were fortunate to enjoy the experience with wonderful friends and family joining from across the country.  Possibly the most inspiring aspect of the day was that it was clear!  A rarity in NE Ohio in early April. 

The animals at HHF joined the eclipse fun. Just before totality, the birds sang loudly, the geese flew from the pond and spring peepers started their mating calls.  During totality, the horses became quite agitated and broke a temporary fence, the guinea fowl sounded their alarm and flew toward the coop, and the sheep lined up to move inside, but then their hunger took over and they just went back to eating again.  And of course, the sun and moon were (literally) the stars of the show, please enjoy the attached photo from David Turben moments before totality. 

In other news, the final lamb was born in dramatic fashion the night before a buying trip to NYC.  At 18.2 pounds (a new record), and with Dancing Cheek to Cheek playing in the background, we completed delivery of the lamb at 3am, only a few hours before our 9:30am departure.  We sold 6 of the 8 lambs thus far to 4H students and will hopefully sell the 7th this week, leaving us one replacement ewe for next year. We expect at least one lamb will compete at the Ohio State Fair and they will all compete at the Great Geauga County Fair late August.  The mature ewes look great with their new haircut yesterday. 

In 6 weeks, the barn will again fill with new peeps and keats.  I expect to raise extra birds if you are interested in buying 16 week old chickens or guineas.  Our favorite carpenter Dan, for a dozen eggs, was kind enough to build two nest boxes for broody hens (i.e., hens that want to stay on the eggs and hatch them).  We already have one strong candidate ready for the challenge!  Lady duck graciously laid some eggs if you would like to give them a try.

Aimee has a new kitten, named Wednesday.  She is a favorite for all visitors to the horse barn, but at 3 months old, she must stay in the tack room.  Cyndi is once again channeling her dad and Uncle Joe's love of gardening and we expect to soon be "living off the land."  With no frost in the forecast, her green little charges in the greenhouse will soon move to their new outdoor homes. 

Let's all hope we can find hope in our shared loved of nature to find more common ground in our lives

Best for now,

Harry

7th Inning Stretch

Friends,

Covered in a coating of powdered sugar, the farm rests quietly after long and restless nights, terribly cold days and endless rain.  No day's the same as our weather ping pongs between extremes.  For at least today, the farm is dry and peaceful.

Lambing this year was often intense but also amazing. I heard words never used before, did things never required in the past, experienced challenges I'm glad are behind us, and realized the joys only possible when faced with, and then overcoming, adversity.  Cyndi was so amazing throughout, I called her Lauren late one night in the barn.  All of our improved preparation and experience flew out the window as mother nature proved she's the boss.  After an inordinate number of big singles, I am happy to say we have 6 beautiful lambs in the barn, each a miracle ... Thanks in large part to my lifelines Joe and Dr. Beth. And we have 2 of 9 ewes left to lamb.  

Other farm news feels boring and trite in comparison.  Yes we still have chickens that lay eggs, split and sell firewood, feed twice a day, make huge piles of compost, board horses and goats and never seem to complete our to-do lists.  The farm, like us, is always a work in progress with room for improvement.  But I guess we would have it no other way

I look forward to seeing many of you soon and hope for joy and peace in all of our lives

Harry

New Year Newsletter

Friends,

Welcome 2024! 

I missed you ... sending our update, reading your responses and connecting with your lives.  This is a "feel good," 620 word, 3 minute read, with only a few multi-media advertisements

In case you missed the last newsletter video, enjoy it here!  If nothing else, the music is awesome and the unofficial anthem for Hill House Farm (@14975 County Line Road)

With the start of January, we enter our most dramatic season ... lambing season.  Dr. Beth visited last week and shared the wonderful news that all 9 ewes are pleasantly plump, pregnant and prepared to lamb.  Under Scooby's supervision, watching her ultrasound screen and analyzing the various body parts and beating hearts was very special. 

Our current calm will soon transform into moments of anticipation, concern, panic, joy, disappointment and exhaustion (sometimes all in an hour's time).  We expect 15 to 20 new additions!  Please let me know if you would like to visit for either birthing, bottle feeding or the joy of holding our new wooly, wiggly wonders.  Just remember to wear warm clothes, and the right shoes, so you can jump into the action.  Through the miracles of modern medicine, lambs (fingers crossed) start arriving January 10th.  To avoid nasty surprises, we installed a 4th barn camera focused on the lambing "jugs" (i.e., nursery).  Otherwise, all of the preparations are made which means we will still feel totally unprepared when "game time" arrives.

The chickens are going crazy.  Five weeks ago, we barely collected a dozen eggs a day.  We now approach 4 dozen daily with more each week.  Cyndi, the all-star egg cleaner, works faster than a New York City deli cashier to keep up.  A glutton for punishment, we ordered more peeps for delivery in June, so pullets are ready in September.  As always, I ordered extra peeps given it seems every predator alive enjoys eating chicken.  Let me know if you would like to buy some.

With firewood deliveries nearly complete, lifting, splitting and stacking are well underway while enjoying the now famous Dancing Farmer playlist on Spotify.  Come join the party!

After major improvements to the property in 2023 (thank you Dave!), this year includes big plans for further enhancements, including replacing our leaning tower of Cupola on the Sheep barn, upgrading and doubling the size of a chicken coop and creating a long, winding walking trail around the property to work off holiday gatherings and fight the onslaught of old-age. 

Thank you for an outstanding 2023 for Hill House Farm.  As you saw in the video, we really enjoyed our many visitors and outdoor adventures.  We also exceeded our revenue record by 7%, and as a result donated $250 to the Cleveland Kids Book Bank and $1,500 to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.  They are both excellent charities with broad, local outreach and a focus on families, youth and education.   

Fun fact:  Agriculture is the #1 industry in Ohio, contributing $124 billion to the economy.  There are 76,500 farms in the state, ranging in size from hobby farms to very large operations.   Nearly 90% are family or individual owned.  Food and farming employ 1 in 8 Ohioans.  Ohio ranks #1 for swiss cheese, #2 for eggs, #3 for tomatoes and pumpkins, #5 for soybeans, #7 for corn, #8 for chickens and #10 for turkeys, etc. Ohio is also ranked 4th in the country for sheep operations!!

Bonus fun fact.  Plan to visit Cleveland for the April 8th total solar eclipse.  The eclipse will follow a 13 state path about 124 miles wide and we are one of the bigger cities expected to experience the eclipse. 

For this year, let's all hope for a more peaceful and compassionate world

Your friend,

Harry