May - 28th

The dogs join me on the porch while I read after work, usually after they have been fed. They have to wait until I get back around 4:30, I'm not getting up any earlier than I already do to feed them before I go to work.

They watch the goings on of the neighborhood, and occasionally take off after a cat or squirrel...

This is about 10 days worth of food, just the boney and meaty bits (chicken, beef, and pork for this round). The grain-mix, liver, eggs, and extras are stored on top of the lid in their own containers.

Today's meal included a small serving of finely chopped organic greens. I want to see how well the dogs tolerate them, since there are a lot of leftovers after the farmer's markets and we don't try to re-sell two day old greens. (I'm gonna try squash after this.) We eat them, or they are given to the chickens.


Speaking of chickens...

You know it's feeding time when 200 some odd chickens (and a few roosters) gather around the fences or gates when you walk by.

Lack of updates is due to...

 
I got a job. On a farm. An organic farm.

One of the farm dogs, Winnie, a black-and-brindle Aussie Shepherd/Golden Retriever mix.

There is a lot to do on the farm, and I do a little bit of everything. Milk the cows (goats this upcoming week), clear brush, plant things, set up or move irrigation lines, pull weeds, move various things around, make soil blocks or seed trays, feed the chickens/collect eggs, burn stuff, etc. etc. etc.
So far, I totally love it!

A burn pile. Very hot.

Every day is a bit different. There are a few routine things like milking the cows and goats, feeding the chickens and collecting eggs, and watering some things, but for the most part there is no actual routine. I totally love that. I hate doing the same thing over and over in the same order day after day, so this is really working out well for me.

The "screaming hen"

On this farm, there are things called WWOOFers. They are basically temporary workers who exchange hard labor for room and board. This farm offers either 25 hour weeks, or 40 hour weeks, where the additional hours are paid instead of just for room and board. All the WWOOFers are currently doing the 40 hour weeks on the farm.

Penelope, a (brindle!) Jersey/Milking Shorthorn, being milked by a low-tech machine.

Two of the WWOOFers are married. One is from Ukraine, and her husband is from Philedalphia. They are a really neat couple and eat some very interesting food. Another WWOOFer rode his bike to the farm, from Portland!

Idamae, a Guernsey cow, tells us not to remove the pine from the fence.

One of the perks to working on this farm is...

Free organic food! I was not really expecting that, but I can have as many reject eggs as I want, some produce, and even raw milk! It's pretty awesome.

Because of this, I have been really tired after work every day. It's hard labor most of the time, so I am usually too tired to do something interesting with the dogs. Once I get more used to it (in shape) I'll pay more attention to Conker and the Girls. I might go on a short hike this weekend since I haven't gone in forever...