In the Palliser Triangle, we’ve been asking the same question since we realized 2021 was a write-off for many: will 2022 bring any rain?
While I can’t predict the weather, I can tell you there’s been numerous things happen this week that have had the neighbours and I talking.
This naturally made me want to write an article, as even these conversations aren’t always accurate — they can give us something to get our minds off of everything else for a few minute – which I don’t believe can ever hurt!
My partner and I are currently in the middle of kidding goats. 80 per cent of the kids we’ve had have been males. The superstition goes that you have more males than females born in your herd of livestock, you are in for a bone-dry year. Neighbours in the area are in pretty much the same situation. Hopefully, the folklore is not accurate on this one.
However, on the flip side, a few days ago southern Alberta was blanketed with a thicker fog than I’ve seen in quite some time. If you’re following the superstition, 90 days after March 2nd should bring rain. May 31st could be a good day — stay tuned!
The geese have yet to lay their eggs, but some other weather related chatter I’ve heard is if the geese lay their eggs on the top of the straw stack, it’ll be a wet year. Last year, the geese here laid their eggs on the straw stack…so take that with a grain of salt.
One of my favourite rhyming superstitions is “If the rooster crows on going to bed, you may rise with a watery head.” I do not have any roosters around me… so if you are reading this, and have roosters, you’ll have to let me know what 2022 brings in the ol’ rooster communications sphere.
Last but not least, there’s a saying somewhere about brown dust in March is sure to leave us with gold dust at harvest. Well… we can only hope, right?
Got your own superstitions I didn’t list? Send me an email: [email protected], or tweet me @KaraOosterhuis..
Best of luck to all as we head into seeding, calving, and all the other spring operations!