Changing our enviroment

I'm in one of those moods, you know, a mood where you would really like to strangle someone.  Come on, don't tell me I'm the only one who has those moods.

A customer just threw a fit (second time in 3 months) when I wouldn't accept her offer on a vehicle.  Did I mention I hate this work?  3 months ago she gave a low-ball offer and was mad when we said no.  It happened again today, and now I'm ticked.  I want to throat punch her.  But I won't.

Of course this post isn't merely a rant about some insane customer who I want to call and ask politely not to come back.  No, it's about how things affect us.

My entire internal and potentially external environment changed because this person is a less than charitable human being.  I could let it affect the rest of my day but I will choose to shake it off and move on.

There are so many things that affect our lives - people, weather, accidents, gifts, sickness, health, smells, sights, sounds.  We live in a constant state of bombardment upon our senses.  This bombardment can change us mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically.  The smell of fresh baked bread can make us smile and brighten our day.  An auto accident can disturb our peace or change us forever physically.

Even little changes, over time, can have long lasting effects.  For instance, if I work out everyday or walk everyday, I'll enjoy better and better physical health.  On the contrary, if I take up cigarettes everyday or breath asbestos everyday, my health will surely suffer.

Major changes are easy to see; new baby, lottery, broken leg, divorce.  Small changes are more difficult to see; better health, more intelligence, cancer, asbestosis, old age.

Just as small or major changes in our environment can affect us, I truly believe that small or major changes that we make can affect the environment.

Now, of course I am far from some hippie-tree-hugging-nutcase, however, I truly believe that this is an undeniable fact that we can affect our environment.  I also believe that it's reasonable to deduce from this that if we can have an effect on our close (personal) environment we can also have an effect on our distant (communal) environment.  Think about it.

Egg-mobile continued

Friday was a beautiful day and a good day to work on more construction projects, especially this massive-pasture-sanitation-machine aka The Eggmobile.  We're building this mobile layer coop for 100 hens that will live on pasture until November.  This hay-wagon conversion will free up our brooder house for broilers and allow the layers fresh grass throughout the summer.

A construction project like this and creating a farm is much easier when you have lots of kids who are home-schooled (especially teens who love the work and farming in general), and retired grandparents living next door who share the dream.

Progress was certainly made on the mobile but we still have a long way to go, before May 2nd....when the broilers arrive.  So, we need to finish this and clean out the coop before those little ones arrive...and I'd like to build new chicken tractors, at least one, for this year.  I wasn't happy with the original design and am creating a multi-use design that can be a chicken tractor as need but also a hoop house for plants and animals in the cooler seasons.

A good weekend!

I've been on this homemade bread kick lately which is weird since I've been anti-gluten for some time.  However, it hasn't been bothering me lately, no headaches.  I'm not sure if that is because my allergy shots have knocked something out of my system or because the bread is real.  I mean there are like 7 ingredients and all of them are pronounceable.  

I've also been on a no-processed food kick and have lost 4 lbs and feel much better.  Anyway, a good weekend always begins with homemade french-toast with real maple syrup.  I can't get over this stuff.  I'm going to be looking all over the farm for Sugar Maples and probably even hit up my grandparents farm.  This stuff is amazing!  

After breakfast, a hike is in order to check on various things and to get some great sunshine.  I put Bella in a backpack and Daniel walked with me...

The bees are doing fine.  Dad lost all his hives over the winter so these are brand new.  Hopefully this great weather for the next week or so will give them a boost.

Rosie and Samson came out to check on us but they didn't get too close.  Rosie is expecting within the next couple of weeks and doesn't like to move to far or too fast.

I found one of our farm hands (bees) working hard.  Look at those pollen sacks.  Don't destroy those dandelions!  Those are great for the bees.

Life revolves around food, period.  I stopped at the local meat shop and picked up two pounds of great bacon.  I made some in the skillet so we'd have some bacon grease for cooking at other times.  I also cooked some in the oven.  I really can't decide which I like better.

Breakfast is served.  Can't wait to have our own pigs to match the other homemade or homegrown stuff.

In the afternoon we went looking for mushrooms and all we found was this frog, do you see him?

The sunshine and fresh air was too much for Bella on this trip.  Here she is in a backpack on her big brother, sound asleep, yet she never dropped her flower.

The boys gave the layers bracelets and here you can see them showing them off.  For those who are wondering, we have Red Star layers.  These are the best layers we've ever owned.  The bracelets help us to keep their ages straight from year to year so we don't get the new flock confused with the old one.

Daniel was super excited to harvest our first mess of asparagus.  We'll wait until we get some more and then grill it.  I can't imagine cooking it any other way.

Anthony climbing one of our hop poles.  Oh to be young and nimble once more.

The egg-mobile is off to a good start.  It will be 8x20 on a hay wagon frame and be completely self contained.  We're under a little pressure to get it done because our broilers will need the current coop as a brooder in about a week.

Thanks for looking and reading all the way through.  We're slowly making our farm into something beautiful and we're glad you are along for the journey.  If you are interested in stopping by or getting any of our eggs, chickens or other offerings, just let us know.  740-324-0702

The Struggle is Real

This is my normal view most days.  I wasn't made for this.  Looking at this picture right now makes me physically ill.  My head spins, my stomach is in a knot, my throat is dry.

Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful to have a job and one that keeps our heads above water.  But I wasn't made for this.  I don't think anyone was.  It's literally soul killing.

I do enjoy meeting new people and talking to folks and trying to help them any way I can.  I enjoy my co-workers.  But my love is not here, my heart is not here.

My only hope is that this is one of those posts that I'll be able to return to years down the road and say 1) God had me there for a reason
2) Although it felt like an eternity, it was only for a little while,
3) I never have to worry about going back to something like that ever again.

Of course when your dream is to farm full-time, write,and live off or rather in and on the land, being in the heart of the city is akin to a type of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual prison.  After all, that's why folks flee to our area on the weekends and for extended vacation.  Their hearts are calling them to return to nature, to peace, to quiet.

It is difficult to cultivate a farm life when 2 hours per day are spent commuting and 10 hours are spent sitting or standing or drinking coffee.  It is difficult but not impossible.  I've not given up hope but instead have become more creative and always keep the dream before my eyes.  It's the only way anyone makes a dream reality.  It's the only way to influence and change the future.

When I think of how things are, darkness enters my mind.  When I think of how things could be and will be, light and joy enter in.  I'll continue the with those thoughts.

This blog is about our little farm and it's growth.  Unlike the rest of the internet or Facebook, not every day is smiles and happiness.  There is real struggle, trials, sadness, loss as well as joy, victory, and peace.  Not every post will be smiles but not every bad day lasts, thankfully.

Hey, thanks for reading this far.  Here's what I hope one day is my normal view...