Running the Farm — Task Sheet

01 The rhythm

This is what running the farm looks like after the build-out (CP7 done). The whole design — cows + chickens only, fixed paddocks, share-milking — exists to keep this list short.

Rule of thumb: ~1–1.5 hr/day of chores in the easy seasons; more on move days, calving, processing, and harvest peaks.

02 Daily & weekly

Daily — morning

~45 min

Milk the cow — one share-milk; strain, chill, clean gear (skip when dry).
Let out hens, collect early eggs, top up feed + water.
Water check — every trough/hydrant flowing (the #1 summer must).
Herd walk — count head; scan for limping, scours, bloat, heat stress.
Meat birds (when batched) — feed, water, move the tractor to fresh grass.

Daily — evening

~30 min

Collect eggs, feed/water hens, close the coop against predators.
Re-check water in heat; kitchen-garden harvest for dinner.
Scraps to the chickens.
Move-day (~every 5 days): open the next cell / set polywire, confirm the charger is hot.

Weekly

~2–3 hr

Move the mobile coop ~3 days behind the cattle (≈ 2×/wk).
Pasture walk — assess regrowth, plan moves, stay ahead of seedhead.
Garden — weed, succession-sow, harvest, scout pests.
Minerals/salt top-up; compost turn/add.
Fence + charger voltage check; clear shorts.
Equipment — fuel, grease, quick-check the tractor.
Farm stand (if selling) — restock + signage.

Monthly

~half a day

Herd health — hooves/condition, fly control, deworm decision (FAMACHA/fecal); note breeding dates.
Full perimeter walk + test charger ground rods.
Water system — tanks, first-flush/filters, pump pressure, gutters.
Greenhouse clean + venting; tree cages/mulch/drip.
Inventory feed/hay/supplies — reorder early.
Records — log yields + budget check; bees (in season).

03 Seasonal

Spring · Mar–May

Calving window; rebreed ~60–90 days after (AI / borrowed bull).
Start grazing rotation (~Apr); clip or custom-bale the spring surplus.
Plant warm-season garden after last frost (~Apr 1).
Meat-bird batch #1; thin fruit, watch pests.

Summer · Jun–Aug

Heat management — shade + water for cattle and hens.
Fast grazing moves; bank stockpiled forage.
Peak harvest + preserve; start fall-garden transplants (Jul–Aug).
Fly control at its peak.

Fall · Sep–Nov

Plant fall garden, garlic, cover crops (Sep–Oct).
Meat-bird batch #2; beef harvest — the year's calf to the butcher.
Preg-check the cow; stockpile forage; place bare-root order.
Winterize water — frost-free hydrants, drain hoses.

Winter · Dec–Feb

Confine to sacrifice paddock, feed hay; rest the others.
Bare-root planting (Jan–Feb) — trees, blackberry/grape, asparagus.
Dormant prune fruit trees; equipment maintenance.
Plan next year — order seeds/chicks; ag-valuation renewal.

04 Annual anchors & the two-person split

Don't let these slip

1 calf/year — bred yearly, raised ~18–24 mo on grass, processed each fall.
2 meat-bird batches/year (~25–50 birds each).
Hay plan — stockpile + custom-bale on shares; buy the Nov–Mar gap.
Property tax / 1-d-1 ag valuation filing; insurance review.
Soil + well-water tests periodically.

Two-person split

Person A — animals: milking, herd moves, poultry, water, health, processing.
Person B — plants: garden, orchard/berries, greenhouse, preserving, stand.
Shared: fencing, water system, equipment, and the big days — calving, hay, processing, planting weekends.