I have always been fascinated by water in the garden. And butterflies, bees and birds, not to mention toads, frogs, snakes and our collection of little garden inhabitants share my fascination. 
Water adds a reflective shimmer to the ruffled, vibrant, undulating collection of colours and textures in the flower garden.
My little bowls and plates add a moment of peace to a busy scene. The straight man to the funny man. 
Little pools of life. 
Some of the bowls and buckets are deep, some are shallow plates and platters. Sugar bowls and cups in the trees. Every day when I water the pots and plants, I refill these little oasis with fresh water. 
Now I know that every image so far is lovely and calm and beautiful but I had to show you this.. 
Everyone loves water! Yesterday was a hot day and the pigs have lost their swimming pool privileges because they were using the paddling pool as a toilet. The smell was horrific, not to mention the stink on the pigs who were wading in it. So no more pool. They have two outside pens that are open to them all day, one is always in the shade, that will have to suffice. And I hose them down a couple of times a day as I top up the water in the barrels.
Good morning. Yesterday was a beautiful hot sunny day.
Now I need to say something Important. Something that I have been avoiding writing about. Something that I hope will not scare you all away.
I was speaking to a young man a few days ago and he said What do you raise the sheep for? Well, I said gently, all the ewes I will breed from and the wethers (castrated rams) will end up in the freezer. I have a few little families that I feed. He looked at me askance. How can you do that? He said. Do you eat meat? I asked him. He said, Hell yes. Well, I said You do realise that meat comes from an animal that used to be alive. Oh, I guess, he said. But I try not to think about it.
Well…. I searched for the right words because this is an important discussion.
Well, I do think about it. I said. And it is hard but good in a way. I think it is honest and right to know where your meat comes from. Wouldn’t it be better if the meat you are eating has had a good life. Where he has been respected. Just because I am raising an animal for the table, does not mean that he cannot have a good life. To degrade a beast by raising him in a feed lot or crammed with others into the dark corner of a barn with harshness and cruelty, then transforming him into little cellophane wrapped sanitised packages in a supermarket, should not make it any easier to have steak on the table. We need to remember, and be thankful.
My animals roam the fields, they chase each other through the barn. They play, and eat and drink freshly grown food and lie in the shade of a tree in the afternoon. They have a good life. In the end I take them to a small abbatoir, run by compassionate professional men who take the animals to the next step swiftly without stress. There are no mean men with tractors shoving them to the next stage or days of waiting in a pen listening or any of that. It is all done as it should be. Quietly, immediately and with respect.
I told this young man that it is good to think about that. It is good to know. It is hard but honest.
I do not name the animals that are destined for the families tables. So if one of my animals has a name then you know that he or she has reached character status and you can emotionally invest in the animal. But this is a small self sufficient farm, run sustainably, gently and carefully. The farm must feed the farm and the families. My reason for the Kitchens Garden Farm is to grow food in a good honest old fashioned hands-on way.
My young friend understood my little lecture I think. And maybe next time he has his favourite lamb dish he will remember and be grateful to the animal that feeds him.
Is this too hard? I don’t mean to scare you away. I just want to be transparent and honest.
All animals deserve respect. And this is why I have water everywhere. All my animals have fresh clean drinking water all the time. Even the snakes and the field mice can have a lick of clean water as they sneak past. Or skunks or pheasants. Or squirrels, gophers or badgers. Cats and dogs. Chickens and Cows. Maybe even deer and coyotes drink from the barrels down the back, who knows. All we can do is our best to look after the animals who share our life.
Good morning. Time for me to start the day! It will be another lovely day on the farmy. I hope you all have a good day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
74 responses to “Water in the garden and an important discussion.”
Every one should know where all their food comes from, and if we all cared enough sustainable farming methods would become the norm 🙂
I’m glad you were able to explain what you do for that young man. Certainly it will give him something to think about. I applaud your hard work in taking care of any and all animals who live and visit on the farmy. I know how much work it is to lug the hose to the bird baths and plants in our little yard!
Great post, as usual. We have multiple water containers in our garden up north, and also leave out bird seed. We tested one location with bird seed one day, water the next and the overwhelming favourite of the birds was the water, so unless they pester us for food, we leave the water. On the second part, I’ve noticed a few of the farmers markets incorporating petting zoos for the kids (& adults) to promote that early correlation between both ends of the “product”. I came from a farm, so it was right there eg, cranky rooster in the morning; dinner that night. I’m still a meat eater but I value it & don’t take it as my right. I love the way you explained it.
Kudos Celi! I am sure the young man was most appreciative of your reality check.
🙂 Mandy
I’m in complete agreement with you, Celi. The fact that we are so removed from the sources of our food is one of the major reasons we are so wasteful (and so fat!) I also learned a new word from this post–abbatoir–which is always good, and I love the phrase “character status”!
Consumers are too many generations removed from the farm and lessons like yours are all ones we need to hear.
Some really beautiful photos here Celi, lovely! And I am totally with you on the animals/meat. We know that we can give our animlas they best possible life and it is our duty to ensure that the despatching is done as calmy and humanely as possible, then give thanks for what they give us. We only have our chickens, you have so many more but I think we´re going about it in the best way possible and don´t take them for granted for a moment.
I appreciate the farming process and how it puts food on the table, I’d rather not dwell on the details because I’m a highly sensitive (squeamish just sounds too much like a wuss). I’ve just witnessed such a conversation between parents and a young child, the child knew where the meat had come from and what had happened but was learning respect. It’s better than this myth-ignorance that most modern meat eaters seem to prefer, cosy but dangerous for both man and the animals. Your garden is beautiful too. 🙂
I truly think that if we all thought about where meat comes from, we would eat less of it and things would even put a bit more in many diets.. c
Poppies! Lovely post, and speaking of lovely…I have nominated you for the “One Lovely Blog award” Head on over to my site to check it out. (No pressure, please just enjoy)
J
Very well said and if only all our animals that are in our trust were as well cared for as yours…this truly would be a better world! Just as an animal deserves a humane life, they more than deserve a humane end of life…especially if they are feeding us!! I thank and admire you so much for making a difference on your little farm, as it will ripple outwards, as it probably did for the young man, you educated!!
You are a lovely person! 🙂
Thank you Christina, that is a lovely thing to say. It just makes sense to me really. Being able to run a tiny farm means that I really do get in touch with the repercussions of what I am doing! welcome.. c
🙂 I have been following your blog for a time now but have not commented but this post struck a chord as I am passionate about the humane treatment of farm animals….actually, all animals for that matter and I believe it’s really important to praise wonderful, compassionate, farmers like you!! And especially ones who are willing to teach others the importance of what really matters! Thank-you again!!
Beautifully, thoughtfully and lovingly said. So right you are. Respect is what we owe *all* of the living things around us, whether we like or love them individually or not, and if we are responsible for their well-being, all the more reason to be careful to show that respect. Thank you for this!
xo
I’m a new reader (over from thecrazysheeplady). Your story reminded me of when my youngest (now 22) was in kindergarten. I had taken in a wire dog crate with 2 of my hens one evening, for the kids to learn about the next day. They were amazed that there was an egg in the crate the next morning, and we got to discuss that eggs do not come from egg cartons. “How did it get out of her?” was a very popular question.
I too believe that I owe my animals a decent life before I freezer train. I am with them when the mobile slaughter truck comes, and I always thank them for feeding me and mine. It is the least I can do. Thanks for your well-reasoned response to the young man.