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Monday, February 3, 2014

Surviving a Minnesota Winter...

Happy February!!


For most of the world, this month is filled with red hearts, sweet candies and appealing commercials for Valentine's Day. But this year at the Bar Five homestead, February looms in our mind as just another busy, cold winter month going into 2014.


Already, some parts of MN have received an annual amount of 10 inches in 2014! But with record snowfall hitting the Mid-West, nothing can stop the Bar Five family from doing what they love. 

Below is a hardy, mother goose...taking shelter in the hallow part of a hay bale. Talk about free range in winter! Dedicated to her babies, she sits on her nest of 6 eggs that will be hatching in late February. No matter how much snow mother nature pours down on us, this mother stays with her babies through cold, wind and lots of snow! We created a walking path for her to easily access fresh water and food. 


So how does a farmer in MN make it through the winter... or their animals make it? From the littlest animal to the larger animals, we take many precautions when feeding, bedding and watering in the cold temperatures. These baby ducklings are only 1 week old... we offer them warm water three times a day to keep them warm from the inside out! Around their heat-lamp we also put straw and hay bales, this is to ensure the heat stays close to the ducklings and blocks any drafts. From the happy expressions on their faces, I think the ducklings are pretty comfy! 



Sometimes new born babies need a little help with all the snow and cold temperatures. Jake, the youngest member of the Bar Five Family, found this little shivering lamb in the hay.
We made a warm bed under a heat lamp in our home, where he was bottle fed and dried off for the first couple days to become stronger before we placed him back with his mother. What a great new addition to our family!


We hope you've enjoyed our blog on keeping the family and farm going in the cold winter. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and check us out at the Winter Farmers Market.

Location                                                            Days                                                             Time
Minneapolis (HWY 55 & Lyndale Ave N. )  Every other Saturday starting Feb 1       9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
St. Paul          (Downtown 5th and Wall St.)   EVERY SATURDAY!!!                      9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For any questions or ordering please call, 507-964-5612.

Thank you!

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