Apple-Oak Meadows

Apple-Oak Meadows Welcome to Apple-Oak Meadows! Check out what our Katahdin Hair Sheep & other critters have been doing on our small farm and nature sanctuary.

We raise Katahdin Hair Sheep, mostly on pasture using mostly natural methods, on our 15 acres of diverse habitats. While we raise our lambs for breeding seedstock, what we want to share with our fans is the adventure of living a life in the country attempting to do so in cooperation with nature. Check in for news about what the sheep, chickens, cats, birds & other wildlife are doing at Apple-Oak Meadows and enjoy some of the flavors of nature where ever you are!

We love these small headed sunflowers--they are all on one plant! So cheery in the morning sunshine here at Apple-Oak Me...
08/10/2025

We love these small headed sunflowers--they are all on one plant! So cheery in the morning sunshine here at Apple-Oak Meadows. East end of bed 2 in our garden this year -- Aug 9, 2025.

Katidid and a pie pumpkin atop our 'cat hotel.' Aug 9, 2025.
08/10/2025

Katidid and a pie pumpkin atop our 'cat hotel.' Aug 9, 2025.

Back in late April, we saw this beautiful snake in the cattail corner of our tiny pond, soaking up the sunshine. Welcome...
08/10/2025

Back in late April, we saw this beautiful snake in the cattail corner of our tiny pond, soaking up the sunshine. Welcome!

It is so cold the deer are coming out in the bright midday sun to nibble grass through the snow. Between the two deer on...
02/19/2025

It is so cold the deer are coming out in the bright midday sun to nibble grass through the snow. Between the two deer on the right you can see the black "feeder" that has a salt & mineral block for the deer. I have been putting a small amount of hay by the salt block for the deer to help them through the cold with most of the grass snow covered. They will get a break next week when the temperatures get back to normal, with highs in the 40s--unlike the frigid highs in the teens or 20s these days. Love watching the deer--they are our substitute sheep!

A few days ago while mowing high grass, I spotted this box turtle! We have lived here 30 years and this is the first one...
06/16/2024

A few days ago while mowing high grass, I spotted this box turtle! We have lived here 30 years and this is the first one I can recall (or second?) finding on our little farm. I had to stop and check her out. She was shy at first, but once she realized I was not going to hurt her, she stuck her head out. I put her next to some higher grass next to some bushes and woods, and off she went! Great to see a box turtle on our land. Reminds me of my grandfather's farm in Highland County, Ohio--we found box turtles down there several times. Another neat critter that indicates our little nature sanctuary is supporting a good variety of species.

Momma cat Miss Pumpkin decided to join Grumpy Girl and have her babies in the same tote "house"--they share mothering d...
04/08/2024

Momma cat Miss Pumpkin decided to join Grumpy Girl and have her babies in the same tote "house"--they share mothering duties. Here Pumpkin is with Grumpy's three kittens (the 2 reds and the dark cutie) with at least 1 of Pumpkins two "cream" kittens behind the trio. All seem to be doing fine so far in their "upper suite" at our "Cat Hotel."

Earlier, before the weather got really cold (Dec. 2023 perhaps?) I decided the deck cats needed better accommodations in...
03/12/2024

Earlier, before the weather got really cold (Dec. 2023 perhaps?) I decided the deck cats needed better accommodations in our Cat Hotel. I got two new tubs and dug out an old one, and turned them into the "ballroom" (the really big one), the "penthouse" the top red & black one with the balcony and rooftop space, and the teal "upper suite"--which is the smallest one, but the most popular one. The deck cats love these and stay nice and warm on cold winter nights--or even days, if it is really nasty. One of the deck cats inspecting the new options, and gives me a look of approval and thanks!

Our resident "friendly" doe is finally showing off her twins! She likes the short grass between our deck and the garden ...
07/04/2023

Our resident "friendly" doe is finally showing off her twins! She likes the short grass between our deck and the garden fencing, as it is full of white clover. The fawns are learning their way around the farm, watching carefully what mama eats and doesn't eat. It is a great joy to finally see them.

Planted a cover crop of buckwheat in Garden Bed #3 this year, hoping to cut down on weeding and build the soil tilth to...
07/04/2023

Planted a cover crop of buckwheat in Garden Bed #3 this year, hoping to cut down on weeding and build the soil tilth to prepare it for cultivation in a future year. Bicycle wheels are not turning--no wind at the moment. We double-fenced the garden this year about all four beds, with our old sheep electro-netting, just electrifying the outer fencing. So far it has worked well, and the deer and rabbits seem to be staying out of the garden. Huzzah!

Who knew our deck cats would love to loaf on these old bales of hay I arranged in the late fall to form a bit of a wind ...
04/25/2023

Who knew our deck cats would love to loaf on these old bales of hay I arranged in the late fall to form a bit of a wind break to shelter their feeding area on the patio? This spring pic (March?) shows 5 cats on bales and one on the rail, all hanging out after a light rain. The bale with 4 cats is better sheltered by the patio roof, whereas the western bale with only one cat gets exposed to more rain and is less desirable for catnapping. Ah, the joys of the simple country life!

A few weeks ago, a praying mantis stopped by the cat's mats on our back porch. Two deck cats interrupted their nap to ch...
11/18/2022

A few weeks ago, a praying mantis stopped by the cat's mats on our back porch. Two deck cats interrupted their nap to check out this new critter. The insect fiercely defended itself for a while. Eventually the cats started playing roughly with the mantis, so I intervened, got leather gloves, captured the insect, and released it in some shrubs to get it away from the curious cats. (This was to protect both the insect and the cats--the mantis' forelegs are very sharp and can give nasty cuts.) All's well that ends well!

Clematis is in bloom! I have kept our 3 "windows" to the west open. Through the left window you can see the old sheep el...
09/11/2022

Clematis is in bloom! I have kept our 3 "windows" to the west open. Through the left window you can see the old sheep electro-netting we use to protect the garden, and the marigolds planted at the east end of the bed. Just beyond the flowers, in the deep shade, are the staked tomatoes and the beans past them. They are in shade for several hours each midday. Lots of sun in the am up till about 10 and from mid-afternoon on. I think that midday shade and our light mulch on the garden have really helped the garden not dry out this year. I have only watered a few times this season, and we got a lot of produce. How did your garden grow?

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Springfield, OH

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