Soule: Walking on Water, Frozen Water

This winter has been extraordinary for its freezing temperatures and rain. We did have a proper snowstorm one Saturday. I even closed the farm store in anticipation of the snow. That time the forecasters got it right. Then came the rain. Usually, I'm a fan of rain. It makes flowers bloom in the spring and grass grow in the summer, but winter rain seems to bring only trouble.

This time, loose hay formed a dam that trapped a foot of water in the alleyway beside the holding pen. Despite the warmer weather, some hay was frozen solid, so I couldn't completely remove the dam. I had to slosh around in the ice-cold water, bailing it out with a bucket before it froze into a sheet of ice.

The other problem with freezing rain is that ice is dangerous for cattle. Two of my cows slipped on ice a few years ago and fell. One died immediately. The other split her pelvis, and we had to put her down. So it's worth the extra effort to spread sand to make it safe for cattle and humans.

Even though husband Bruce does his best to spread sand in the barnyard, some years, like this one, he can't keep up. Meanwhile, I resort to ice cleats. They are metal cleats attached to a stretchy harness that fits each boot. But they tend to pop off and get lost in the snow, and I'm walking around with half-traction until the spring thaw reveals the missing cleat exactly when I don't need it.

Also, cleats are not house-friendly. They gouge the floors.

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Carole Soule is the co-owner of Miles Smith Farm in Loudon, N.H. She raises and sells beef, pork, lamb, eggs, and other local products. She can be reached at cas@milessmithfarm.com.