Getting Farm Jobs Done

March 30, 2026

Now that it's spring, everyone on the farm is busy cleaning up and preparing for the season.

Farm chores include animal care, garden maintenance, and other seasonal tasks. To stay organized during transitions, we follow a schedule of chores from one year to the next. Over the last few weeks, we've been blowing old leaves, pruning trees, cleaning out garden beds, and removing all the burlap that protected my precious boxwood all winter long.

Here are some photos, enjoy.

: For as long as I’ve been gardening I’ve covered my boxwood shrubs and outdoor ornamental urns. When the ground begins to thaw, it’s all removed. Here is the Boxwood Allee about to go through its spring transformation.

: The first step is to remove the wooden strips that help sandwich and secure the burlap. These strips are at the bottom of the metal frames.

: Once a section is unattached, Chhiring slowly pulls back the fabric from on top of the metal frames.

: It doesn’t take long, but the burlap is very heavy.

: After the burlap is removed, it is folded in half neatly on the ground and then rolled.

: Here’s Chhiring bringing one end up as part of the folding process.

: Meanwhile, Justin walks my Fell Pony Banchunch into the stable after his turnout. Depending on the weather, my horses are turned out during the day and then brought into the stable for grooming and feeding.

: Up at my pond, the leaves left over from last fall are blown. The pond are was in need of a good cleanup. I am looking forward to seeing all the blooming azaleas this spring.

: Here’s Adan clearing the area using one of our STIHL leaf blowers. I’ve been using STIHL’s backpack blowers for years here at my farm. Both the gas and battery powered units are powerful and efficient.

: Phurba follows and collects the branches and other debris gathered in bunches.

: All the debris is put onto the tractor bucket and brought to the compost yard where they await chipping and then spread out in other areas of the farm as top dressing.

: More growing seedlings are transplanted into larger pots and brought to one of the temperature and humidity controlled hoop houses where they can continue to grow until they are planted into the ground.

: Storm windows are removed and screens are installed for the season.

: Carlos carefully inserts each screen and secures it to the window frame. Mine are secured with screws.

: Truman “TJ” Junior is taken out of his stall to meet with his farrier. Compared to a horse, a donkey’s hooves are smaller, more upright, and more resistant, but like all equines, their hooves are constantly growing. My farrier comes every six to eight weeks to check on the donkeys’ hooves and give them a good trim.

: Behind my main greenhouse, the pussy willows are getting a hard pruning which helps to promote healthy growth, enhance blooms, control size, and prevent disease.

: Here, Pasang takes away any pruned branches and piles them up at the edge for easy removal later.

: Cesar is cleaning up another garden – wait until you see this transformation in a future post.

: Fernando helps to remove the branches and take them away.

: And here’s Adan blowing more old leaves by this allée of lindens. On the left is a hedge of European beech trees, Fagus sylvatica, or the common beech.

: And at the end of the day – treats for everyone. Here’s Bond, one of the handsome Friesian residents in my stable. As long as the weather continues to cooperate, we can get lots of good tasks done around the farm. What spring jobs did you do around your home this weekend?