What Betty is Doing Now February 2025
I took my first two lambs to processing—a tough but meaningful milestone. You can watch a video about it [here]. Now, my freezer is full, and I’m learning to cook lamb. The picture? Lamb chops marinating in olive oil, garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper. If you have a favorite lamb recipe, send it my way!
Finances & Planning
This time of year is all about numbers. I track everything in QuickBooks, finalize reports for taxes, and analyze last year’s spending. I also set a budget for the year and keep a close eye on it as things unfold. A big part of my success has come from consistently managing my finances over decades. I recently read that the average American spends 85 hours a month watching TV but less than two minutes per day on personal finances—a startling statistic. I’ve wrapped up all my reports and sent them to my accountant. Now, on to the next financial puzzle!
Silvopasture & Land Stewardship
I'm collaborating with the Savanna Institute to design a silvopasture system—integrating trees into my sheep pasture. I plan to apply for a grant based on their recommendations and look forward to planting trees in the future. I’m also working with Soil & Water Conservation and NRCS to restore a deteriorated waterway. They’ve designed a system to move water efficiently without causing erosion. It’s a major project requiring contractors, and I’ll be applying for a grant for that too.
Winter Reading & Learning
Winter means more time indoors, which I’m using for reading, relaxing, and watching interesting videos. While feeding a friend’s horses, I found Lincoln the Unknown by Dale Carnegie on her table—what a surprisingly engaging read! With so many books written on Lincoln, I wasn’t expecting it to stand out, but it does.
Farm Branding & Content
I recently designed some farm stickers and added them to my website—check them out! Bluestem Springs Farm Shop.
I’m also adding more videos to the Bluestem Springs Farm YouTube channel. If you have suggestions on what you’d like to see—more sheep content, land management, financial insights, or something else—let me know!
Cheers,
Betty
Contact Me
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/
Kicking Up Your Heels
When the ground is frozen and too rough for hooves, I let the horses loose in the sand-filled arena to stretch and play. Here’s Lexi enjoying the moment!
Sheep Health
One of my ewes had a limp, so, following my vet’s advice, I confined her to a jug (a small pen) and gave her several shots during her recovery. Giving shots isn’t my favorite task, but it’s a skill I need to master to care for my flock.
Bale Grazing
There’s a bare spot in one of my horse pastures where I burned a pile of honeysuckle and tried reseeding, but nothing came up. To help improve it, I’m feeding hay there, using a simple form of bale grazing. As the horses eat, they trample seed into the soil, add organic matter through waste hay, and naturally fertilize the area—helping to rebuild healthy pasture.