Yesterday was a good day for us. The weather cooperated, and the burn began as planned. Temperature levels, humidity, wind speed, and constant wind direction don’t line up as often as we would hope. So far, we couldn’t have asked for better burn conditions. Better still, the forecast is for a similar day today. I…
I didn’t sleep well last night. Two years ago, while performing a controlled burn, we had the wind pick up in the evening, and our fire threatened to get away from us. I will never forget it. Though we contained the blaze, the memory is a reminder, a warning, of how quickly a controlled burn…
Today is an important day for us on Coal Creek Farm. Our season for burning is short but critical to provide wildlife habitat, encourage the growth of native plants, provide fodder for our cattle, and prevent future accidental fires. I met Lindsay, Fire Chief, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, leading the burn crews. We had a…
I am excited about the burn that Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will do on Coal Creek next week. We carried out these burns ourselves for years, but having the pros involved reduces the stress factor. I hid a key for the fire crews to access the farm when they arrived. Dr. Dwayne Estes recently discovered…
After another windy night, I needed to check the fence along Glen’s Road. I rode side-by-side toward the Coal Creek Gorge. I only found a few limbs on the fence. I started at the branches using an electric chainsaw I bought last year. I am still impressed with how powerful the saw is. I could…
This morning I woke up and looked out over Coal Creek Farm and saw nothing. This isn’t true; I saw a beautiful expanse of whitish gray. At the top of the mountain where my farmhouse is, we were totally enveloped in the clouds. It’s amazing to go from being able to see the Smokie Mountains…
We were under a frost advisory last night. Every step I took this morning made a satisfying crunch underfoot. As I returned from my morning hike, I stopped to talk with my farm manager, Harold. He explained the rifle shot I had heard earlier this morning. Harold had shot two coyotes that have been sneaking…
Before this most recent storm, I was enjoying the false Spring. Now what was supposed to be a small amount of rain has arrived as snow flurries, and the wind although calmer, is still a constant as we work. The cold weather slows all of the tres and plant’s growth. We continue to look for…
Last night the winds came howling through. Unfortunately, we ended up with all the bluster, but hardly any of the precipitation. On the bright side, this made today perfect for hiking up to the top of Bear Den Mountain. Bear Den is the highest point on the farm with a spectacular view that includes Grassy…
We got about a half-inch of rain yesterday and expect the same today. The cows make a muddy mess when it’s wet, but the hayfields need the rain, especially as new blooms pop every day. I took the ATV to the White’s Creekside of the farm. Our five thousand acres are divided by two creeks….