The Park field is the first field on my fencing priority list. I wrote about this field in Pasture Tour–Lower Fields. The park is dubbed thusly because there is (oddly) a park bench way back in there at the back of the field. The park connects to the goat yard with a gate, and there is also a gate that opens to the area in front of the driveway so you could get in there with a tractor without going through the other fields. There is a creek crossing, so that is one of the issues that needs solved before I put animals here. This field will be part of the sheep rotation. The arrows in this photo point to the direction from here to the studio and house. The park is not far off the end of the driveway.
Currently, the park is actually part of the upper pastures in the sense that there is no fence dividing the park from the first upper pasture. I think that makes no sense and I want another lower field for the sheep, so in this photo you can see the line where I intend to divide the park from the first upper pasture with a fence.
Though now, a few months later (the above photo was created during my initial planning stages), I’ve about decided to place the fence at the bottom of that bank rather than at the top, for various convenience reasons. I better make up my mind soon!
The Park doesn’t have any structures, but I will be adding a simple shelter for the sheep to get out of the rain. NOT THAT THEY WILL USE IT. But it will make me feel like a benevolent farmer.
It rained yesterday morning, and again later in the day, with some sprinkles throughout, but the superboys Sean and Sean worked like troopers in the damp field. They will be back again today to do what they can do in more rainy weather. Here you can see where the Park field is being connected up to the back of the goat yard.
That is new fencing done yesterday.
There is still a lot to be done to finish this field, but the sheep are going to love it. The view of the farm from this field is beautiful. The sheep are so lucky!
In other news yesterday, I got my paperwork in the mail from my accountant who is helping me set up my business.
I will soon be officially Chickens in the Road, Inc. (Recently, I filed for my business certificate for Sassafras Farm, which is being folded into Chickens in the Road, Inc. as a division.) This is all part of my business plan for the studio.
It’s spring! Things are moving along!
holstein woman says:
What great plans, seems like you have everything well planned. I hope it works great for you. :dancingmonster:
On March 25, 2012 at 9:06 am
Dottie says:
All that grass. Just Beautiful.
The animals are going to love living at
Sassafras Farm.
Poor little Chloe looks like she’s trying
to figure out how to get through that fence.
Hopefully the weather will cooperate and fence
building will progress today.
Thanks Suzanne for taking the time to share all
of this with us.
On March 25, 2012 at 9:07 am
Old Geezer says:
Welcome to the wonderful world of Corporate Ownership. I’ve had one for 18 years now. A very, very small one, to be sure.
You will encounter many new pains-in-the-er-donkey, mainly in new fees and paperwork, but also many personal satisfactions in that, among other benefits, you can look any bigshot CEO right in the eye knowing that, you, too, are a CEO, albeit somewhat underpaid.
Your CPA and your tax lawyer will become your go-to pals for a while. Remember, above, all, to keep all corporate accounts and records entirely separate from anything personal or looking like it’s personal. I keep my own corporate books, but have always had a CPA do my corporate taxes because the rules are even more obtuse than for personal taxes.
This is a great step forward — congratulations!
But somehow I don’t think this is your big cliff hanger event.
Tune in next time to see of Casper gets the sheriff to follow him back to where Suzanne is stuck at the bottom of the well, with the water almost up to her chin!
On March 25, 2012 at 9:15 am
Barbee says:
Thinking about where to run that fence: top or bottom of slope – might lambs or stupid sheep fall down and get stuck/wedged against the bottom of the fence if it is down low? Someone wrote that sheep seem to look for ways to die. If goats can get to it, they will mow that slope for you as well as, or maybe better, than sheep. (I’ve no experience with sheep, and don’t know if they will eat the wild trees and brush that will grow.) Of course you already know all that. Thoughts just running through and out my fingers.
On March 25, 2012 at 10:53 am
quinn says:
When I saw the title, the first thing I thought was, “That would be even harder than fencing in the goats!” Ha!
On March 25, 2012 at 11:45 am
bonita says:
city clicker question about fence at bottom of slope: won’t that make it easier for an agile goat jumper to leap from the slope over the fence and into the park?
Random thoughts on incorporation: What software you gonna use to keep your accounts straight? Inquire @ tax preparer. Have him/her help you set up broad categories. You’ll be able to generate yearly reports that cover all info you need to send to tax preparer. This is a job you NEED to delegate. (I’ve done a slow dance through hell with the IRS. It isn’t pretty.) Consider finding a bank that will “give” you a second checking account for free or small fee so you can keep personal $$ totally out of corp funds. You’ve probably thought of all this already…but just in case. Oh, and definitely checks that include individual carbon copy per check…They cost more but I call them the ‘save your bacon’ checks.
On March 25, 2012 at 11:54 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
The pasture above the Park field is the cow pasture, so goats won’t be up there. However, I’ve about decided that I’m going to put the fence at the top anyway.
On March 25, 2012 at 11:57 am
kbryan says:
Everything is looking good! Speaking of accounting, here are three free acct. programs from pcmag (best of 2012 free software) – acemoney lite, gnucash, and homebank. Perhaps they’d be of some use (https://www.stumbleupon.com/su/3oICwT/www.pcmag.com/slideshow_viewer/0,3253,l=261512&a=295623&po=24,00.asp?p=n/).
Would love to see and hear more about the new puppy and her personality. Thanks, and good luck!
On March 25, 2012 at 12:20 pm
bbkrehmeyer says:
we converted our business into an LLC. much less paperwork and WAY less taxes!!!!
On March 25, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
It depends on the situation. I considered an LLC, but my accountant advised an S corp for me.
On March 25, 2012 at 2:12 pm
UlrikeDG says:
When I saw the title of this post, I thought, “It doesn’t matter how good your fencing is. The rain is going wherever it wants!” 😆
On March 25, 2012 at 5:37 pm
outbackfarm says:
I am having pasture envy right now. You have so much of it there. I have been fencing too. Sure wish I had some of those Seans here. And congrats on your name. Good for you!! Is that the news?
On March 25, 2012 at 6:36 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
outbackfarm, no, that’s not the news!
On March 25, 2012 at 7:15 pm
emmachisett says:
My first mental image when reading the header was: “Swordplay in the Goatyard”! Isn’t the English language FUN?! Anyway, Suzanne, I very much love your posts since I found your site only a few weeks ago. Your spirited description of goings-on at your new place, the menagerie and renovations are greatly entertaining. Much success to you.
On March 25, 2012 at 6:38 pm
yvonnem says:
Have you had a chance to look around your farm for ramps? They are up early this year. Hubby and I went to William’s River today (Pocahontas County, WV) and brought back a big shopping bag stuffed full, with very little effort, except for walking up the mountain. There is going to be sooooo many more up there within the next week – my gosh, they were every where, which is kinda surprising since it’s not even April yet and they are usually a few weeks behind what we see growing in our area. He made sure to just dig a few here and there so as not to wipe them out of the area they were growing in. It was fun! :happyflower: Oh, and the Redbud trees were magnificent along I-79, even with the gray, drizzly weather.
On March 25, 2012 at 8:57 pm