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Many breeds are large, white dogs that look like sheep. While that is true, Pippa and Karma have an expanded job description. It is in their nature to want to protect the goats, chickens, ducks, geese, cats, and humans. They do most of their work at night when predators are active. These hard working dogs bark, scent mark, and do perimeter checks. LGDs are not aggressive, and it is their presence that serves to deter predators. Most LGDs are never faced with needing to fight. Predators have a lot to lose by becoming injured and tend to be opportunistic hunters. We know the dogs are doing a great job when we question the need for them, as we never see evidence of predators near the barns!

Pippa and Karma have other duties on the ranch that set them apart from a typical LGD role. Without enclosing fences, they have to decide on their own what the boundary is and where their territory ends. They greet visitors and guests on the ranch, as well as groups of children arriving for field trips and summer camps. They accompany children on walks and protect them when they stay overnight in the campground. The dogs are undoubtedly one of the most memorable aspects of being on the ranch. With their sweet demeanor, they love to connect with people and have their (sometimes very muddy) bellies rubbed.

We are continually grateful for the love these dogs provide, for the daily interactions they have with staff and guests, and for the harmonious relationships we have with wildlife because of them. When the dogs were fatally ill recently, everyone on the ranch was shaken. We do not know the source of the mycotoxin that threatened their lives. The unknown cause still hangs over us, causing some concern and worry. As time passes and the dogs continue to recover, the worry lessens, but it is part of a larger concern. The ground that would have been expected to be covered in snow and frozen months ago was exposed.

Questions go unanswered, leaving behind the mystery of what it is to be stewards of the land. It’s a beautiful mystery to dance with. It’s a long term relationship that, like any other, has highs and lows, twists and turns, unexpected events, and an ongoing learning curve. We are students of the land, tenderly observing and responding from a place of deep commitment and love. Our relationship to the property is unique in that, although it is privately owned, it is open to the public. An important part of the mission of conservation is to help foster a sanctuary for wildlife and humans alike. Creating a connection to the natural world can be wonderfully grounding; a counter balance to the chaos of current events. We hope you give yourself the gift of time to be present on the land, to sit and quietly nourish your senses, to walk the trails, look for turtles, listen to birds, visit the animals, and maybe even walk away with fresh, organic milk, eggs, produce and other goods from our Farm Store. Everyone is welcome.

With a HUGE THANK YOU and so much GRATITUDE for all of your support, we are thrilled to report that we are over half way to our goal of covering the emergency vet bills for the dogs! This is an enormous help!

Winter is a great time to unplug and take in the natural beauty and bird sounds. We are doing a lot of snow dances up here, so that you can come enjoy the quiet and playfulness of it, take the trails on snow shoes or cross country skis, and end the day by a warm fire. Unbeatable!

It’s also a fun time to visit the animals. Our goats stay close to the barn this time of year. In addition to feeding certified organic grass hay and alfalfa, we bring them conifer boughs and take them on walks through the forest on sunny days.

Our chickens range inside a large yard for the winter…looking for bugs. We bring the hens hay and alfalfa left from the goats’ feeders…perfect for scratching and pecking. Our ‘chicken hoop’ houses hanging nest boxes and has roosts for ~80 hens for the night. Light through the white covering seems to help the hens keep laying when days are short and nights are long and dark. And boy do we have a LOT of eggs right now, as the young hens are laying!