The Slowcook at Spydog Farm The Slowcook at Spydog Farm

Wind Changes Everything

February 16th, 2015 · 1 Comment · Posted in rural life

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It’s -19 degrees on the farm this morning and the weatherman says if this pattern holds through the rest of the month, this will be the second-coldest February on record in the Albany area. Worse than the cold, a ferocious wind blew yesterday, gusting at times up to 50 mph. Along with a fresh six inches of snow, the wind picked up snow already on the ground and completely changed our landscape. Chores became an entirely different kind of adventure.

Over recent weeks, I had tramped neat paths through the snow to the various stations on the farm I most frequently visit: from the house to the goats, from the goats to the chickens, from those chickens to the water hydrant, water hydrant to the second chicken coop in the orchard, back to the house. After howling all night, the wind had obliterated those weeks of path making. I had to start all over.

Well, not exactly all over. As I retraced my steps–a back-breaking task, let me tell you–I found that my previous work lay merely hidden, submerged under this new layer of powder. Using the memory of where I had normally traveled to feed and water the animals, I was able to detect the hardened tracks under my boots. It would be like walking out on a pier hidden under a tidal surge. Except these paths are so narrow, it only takes one misstep and you sink into the snow up to your knees.

It was so cold yesterday, I was visiting the chickens on an hourly basis, trying to gather eggs before they freeze. After multiple trips around the track, new paths are beginning to take shape where the old one were, making the walking a wee bit easier. Except the forecast today is for more wind. As the first glimmer of daylight creeps over the hills, I can only hope my new tracks will be visible on the farm landscape.

Okay, I’m convinced. Before the next winter rolls around, I’ll be investing in a pair of snow shoes.

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  • marie

    Don’t wait! They probably are on sale now. It doesn’t look like the snow is going to disappear anytime soon.