The new year is upon us and it’s time to plan for the coming season. We have been working towards preparation for such a long time on Brown Dog Farm it feels odd to finally be planning in earnest for bringing long term dreams to fruition. We have been in repair and set up mode for the past three years. Now it is time to actually plan for production. I feel the need to get things out on paper and write things down to make sure I don’t forget a crucial step and help me stay on track.

When the weather breaks, every day of growing becomes important. Little details like when to worm the goats or when to plant specific items can sneak up on you and if forgotten really create problems. Planning for a farm is very important and record keeping has to become a priority if we are to make a go of this endeavor. I have to admit spreadsheets create anxiety in me. I am such a visual person I still hold on to analogue planners, calendars and long lists of items and maps, I love me some maps. The computer, though I love what it can do, still reminds me of walking into a dark closet full of amazing things and feeling around in the dark for what you are looking for. I prefer to look up items in an index, or a table of contents over a help bar.

I have spent the last few days fretting over which system I should use, a notebook, a journal, a planner, a calendar, the computer, a new app. I will drive myself cuckoo trying to figure out which one is the better, until I am so frustrated I just go do something else. I think I am going to continue with my bullet journal and analogue calendars and small moleskine notebooks I carry around in my purse. Each one a different subject, this one with Garden notes, this one with horse notes, this one for the other animals. I keep all my subjects separate, and then occasionally brain dump them into my black master journal. I check in daily, list my 3 priorities, and try to get something accomplished. 

Here are my big priorities for 2020 on Brown Dog Farm. I am putting it out to you all and I hope the fact that I am, will motivate me and keep me accountable. 

To that end, I will need to focus, plan and prioritize accordingly. I have been researching, reading and planning for many years. Now I need to just jump in, ‘do it scared’ and see what happens. 

Please keep in touch, ask me questions, and think good and productive thoughts for us. 

If you need help planning or keeping track of your 2020 goals, I made a beautiful calendar of Horse Paintings from my Livestock Conservancy Series of Paintings. They are a brand new group, different from last year. It is spiral bound, on heavyweight paper, and would look great in your office or your kitchen or your barn! When you purchase from Brown Dog Farm, your dollars are going back into a small diversified farm, raising animals on beautiful green pastures, growing grass, building soil AND sequestering carbon. Help us help the planet- Buy Art its good for everybody!