why we finish up most years at Thanksgiving

We keep some livestock over the winter. Sybil, the milk cow. All 200+ of our laying hens. This year, a couple head of cattle and pigs not yet big enough.

And we grow greens in the hoophouse, which has a frost proof water tap inside.

But on the rest of the farm, starting about now and lasting until March, our hoses freeze. Today they will thaw out but by January they are frozen solid 24/7. That means hauling water in buckets. In below freezing temperatures with strong winds.

Here comes winter.