What Betty is Doing Now May 2026

Lambing, Lambing, Lambing

The first lamb hit the ground on April 16, and it has been nonstop ever since. Because lambs arrive at all hours, it has meant intermittent sleep and constant vigilance. So far, I have 15 boys and 12 girls, with lots of twins and one set of triplets.

A friend, Dawn, stayed with me during the first three weeks, which made a big difference. She helped keep me fed and gave me another set of eyes on the flock during a time when things were happening quickly.

There have been plenty of intense moments. At times, lambs were arriving back to back while other health issues needed attention. One ewe was on the verge of mastitis, and we spent several days managing it by massaging the udder, milking her out, and treating her. She recovered, which was a relief.

We did lose one lamb after missing a birth, even though we were checking every few hours. That is part of the reality of lambing. We were able to graft one of the triplets onto that ewe, which was a meaningful win in the middle of it all.

Now the work has shifted into the steady, ongoing management of the flock. I am gradually integrating lambs into the group, introducing them to pasture in stages, banding ram lambs, and keeping a close eye on overall health. One bottle lamb is still on a four-hour feeding schedule, which adds another layer to the routine.

It is both an exhausting and rewarding season. I have three ewes left to lamb, so there are still a few weeks of interrupted sleep ahead.

Invasive Species Removal

My neighbor has started removing honeysuckle in the woods, and the progress has been impressive. In just a few hours, he can clear what would have taken me weeks to do by hand.

The change is already noticeable, as more light is reaching the forest floor and the structure of the woods is beginning to open up again. There will be ongoing work to manage regrowth, but it is a meaningful step forward.

Chickens

I am adding chickens to the farm in the next few weeks.

I ordered two Americana, two Buff Orpington, two Silver Laced Wyandotte, two Bielefelder, and one surprise bird from McMurray Hatchery.

The mobile coop, poultry netting, solar charger, and brooder setup are all ready. I am looking forward to learning something new and to having a steady supply of eggs.

Permaculture (Regenerative Agriculture)

Ryan at Magnolia Provisions completed a regenerative design for the farm, and I have started implementing elements of it around the house and garden.

It is clear that this will be a long-term project. I expect it to take years to fully establish, but I am already seeing how the structure he proposed brings more intention to how the space is used.

I've already started implementing his suggestions in the garden.

Silvopasture

Ninety-six trees have been planted in the sheep pasture, and the timing has worked out well with recent rains.

I also added additional trees to the horse pastures and potted a few as backups in case some do not survive. This is an investment in the long-term health of the land, with benefits that will take time to fully realize.

Overall

There is a lot happening on the farm right now. I'm building food for myself, wildlife and a healthy ecosystem.

If you're interested in working together or have any questions, feel free to contact me via email or LinkedIn!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bettybrennan/

bettybrennan@pm.me