Happy St. Patrick'd Day from the sheep at Leyden Glen Farm

Hello Friends of Leyden Glen Farm -

Happy St. Patrick's Day. Here's a link to a favorite food blogger/cookbook and travel writer I follow who is from Ireland. Niamh Shields writes about food and travel and today she gave her Mom's Irish Lamb Stew recipe. I like the treatment of the potatoes so they remain firm and a bit crunchy versus mushy.

We made it through Storm Stella. We got at least 12 inches of snow. Snow makes farming so much more difficult. The sheep have to be fed, watered and checked on several times a day - even during a blizzard. They are counting on us - it is like having 500 children - well not really but you get the picture. Water tanks and buckets freeze, the diesel tractor doesn't start, and the sheep are extra hungry. The wind this week was fierce and the snow drifted into huge piles in some places. Our barns are five miles from our farmhouse so Farmer Mark was one of those "stupid people" driving during the blizzard to the barns to care for the sheep and lambs. This winter has been pretty brutal and to say he and the sheep can't wait for it to be over would be an understatement.

We have been nursing one lamb here at our house because it's mom wasn't taking good care of it. The other day I came home from the barns after chores and walked to see this sight.

Needless to say, if the lamb is well enough to be jumping on the couch, it was time for it to go back to the barns and be a sheep.

There are three more weeks left for the Amherst Winter Farmers Market. I'll be there from 10 to 2 at the Middle School. Stop by and say hi - the market has been a bit slow and it sure would be fun to see some friendly faces.

We have some beautiful full legs of lamb for the upcoming Easter celebration. They are different sizes - between 4 and 7 pounds. If you would like one, email me or give a quick call and I'll be sure to bring one for you. I will also have half legs - both bone in and boneless.

email - kristinnicholas@gmail.com
phone - 413-774-6514

A newsletter two weeks in a row! Wow. Hope you all are well, survived Stella and I hope to see some of you tomorrow.

Your shepherds,
Mark Duprey
Kristin Nicholas
Julia Nicholas-Duprey
Phone 413.774.6514
www.leydenglenlamb.com