iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

After a few lambing seasons of having a majority ram lambs, we have had mostly ewes born this year, which will rejuvenate our Shetland flock. This ewe lamb was born yesterday to an excellent mother, one of my favorite ewes.

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Beautiful Shetland twin ewe lambs born yesterday toward the end of a heavy rainstorm with strong gales.

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

My org is putting together a great #conservationag tour May 6-7 around Sioux Falls, SD. Soil pits, a farm tour, a waterfall, and good food (including local buffalo!). Check out the link below for agenda, sign-up, and group & farmer discounts! ctic.org/tour #agsky #southdakota #soilhealth #regen

People around a soil pit. Photo by CTIC.

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Enjoying the sunshine. 🥰

Five lambs lying in straw. Photo by Elise Koning.

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Lambing 2025 began today! Olive had twin ewes. She's the kind of ewe that's a content mum.

Ewe and twin lambs in pen in barn. Photo by Elise Koning.

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Our smallest kitty is the perfect size for curling up on our dog's toy llama for a nap.

Gray and black cat with tail curled around lying on toy llama. Photo by Elise Koning.

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

With feels-like temps at -8 F last night and real at 0 F this morning, there was ice to break in the stock tanks. Last year, we began using multiple small tanks instead of one big tank. That helped keep the water liquid for longer. Doing that again this year. So far, so good! #agsky #farming

Pygmy doe drinks from icy water tank. Photo by Elise Koning.

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

Mia the Sheepdog-in-Training. Her abilities are fascinating. During the photo shoot, she heard or saw something I couldn't hear or see and so looked off into the distance the whole time. She learns commands quickly, too, and it's fun working on new tasks with her.

Dog resembling German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois stands in snow in front of big round hay bale. Photo by Elise Koning.

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

Afternoon shadows on the snow.

The shadow of a wooden fence post stretches across the snow. Footprints angle in snow. Photo by Elise Koning.

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

The Hillside Pasture holds some of my favorite views on the farm. From one ridge, I can look out over the Creekside Field and see the cows grazing half a mile away. At the back gate, I can see the sheep, goats, and llamas gathered around the hay feeders. sylvansundays.beehiiv.com/p/the-hillsi...

Looking up from the bottom of a hill, patches of snow over brown grass. A line of trees is in the distance. The hill leads upward to ripples of clouds. Taken in December. Photo by Elise Koning.

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

I've always loved seeing snow through the end of the covered bridge. Today, on our way home from chores, I had the chance to make a photo of it. So here's a snapshot into the view I see on my daily drive.

Wooden boards, walls and roof of a covered bridge frame snowy road, hill, and trees. Photo by Elise Koning.

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

✔️ Water ✔️ Mineral ✔️ Hay We're all set for whatever winter weather is headed our way! #sheep #goats #llamas #farming #agsky #inwx

Water tanks fill from tank on vehicle while sheep, goats, and llamas eat hay in the background. Photo by Elise Koning.

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

These two photos have the same vantage point: the window of a covered bridge. First photo was taken Nov. 13, second was taken today. I'm thankful for all the water we're getting; we need it. #inwx #agsky

Creek with low water table, sandbars showing. Creek is lined by trees without leaves. Photo by Elise Koning.

Swollen creek with muddy water, lined by leafless trees. The frame of a covered bridge window lines the upper picture. Photo by Elise Koning.

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 22/12/2024

Last week's snow marked this ATV track nicely, so we're thinking about paths today in Sylvan Sundays. #agsky #naturewriting #naturewriter #newsletter

ATV track outlined by snow, with grass and leaves in between the tracks. Photo by EE Koning.

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Featured photo for this week's Sylvan Sundays. I'm working on a draft about paths. I write the newsletter each week as a peaceful missive from the farm. See an issue and subscribe at sylvansundays.beehiiv.com.

ATV track still snowy while surrounding grass mostly green. Photo by E Koning

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Last night's sunset and sky were awesome. The ominous clouds met with a peaceful orange and blue sunset (the camera picked up pink somehow, in place of the blue). I met Dad as I left the farm; he was on the tractor to move hay for the cows. #agsky #inwx

Tractor driving away down a gravel driveway under heavy clouds.

Thick storm clouds over silhouetted trees.

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Mia sporting her Carhartt vest. We bought it for hunting season, but the reflective stripes make it so much easier to see our deer-like dog that we've continued to use the vest during winter chores.

Brown Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd/collie-like dog wearing an orange doggie hunting vest.

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Everybody was happy staying inside today. The water that splashed onto my coveralls at chore time froze quickly. #cats #twinning

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Happy World Soil Day! Mocha is glad that the soil gives her hay to eat in the winter. ❄️ #agsky #goatsofsky

Pygmy goat eating a piece of hay with llama and sheep behind her.

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

It's World Soil Day tomorrow, celebrating the amazing universe beneath our feet! Without the soil, there'd be no food, clothing, or shelter. How will you celebrate World Soil Day? #agsky #soilhealth #conservationagriculture 🖼️: @fao.org

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

A wintry, blustery hay day today. We picked up hay for the sheep, goats, and llamas, and the wind cut through me. The barn the bales came from is at least a hundred years old. I could see the ax marks from the hand hewn beams while I worked in the loft.

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Elise Koning @eekoning.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

The snow started slowly yesterday morning, a few flakes barely visible. By the time we reached the farm to move sheep, the snow swirled thick. Here, the Shetlands are moving to their paddock, the llamas trotting along behind. The Shropshires joined them shortly afterwards.

A line of sheep running along a fence with lightly snowy pasture in foreground.

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