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.”
You’ve got poppies! Lovely. You haven’t scared me but that well thought out answer certainly made me feel better about the red pig.
It is a difficult thought, I love these poppies, imagine a whole field of them!! c
Water……the life of the earth. Good for you for thinking of ALL creatures big and small. Have a lovely day!
GMom
Thank you GMom. Water is always a lovely sight in the gardens and fields! c
Excellent post, C. I had a similar conversation with a young woman at the grocery store last week, about goat milk…
We talk about goats a lot around here – Hubby loves goat milk more than anything. A pair of does would provide all the milk, butter, yogurt and cheese our little family needs. But, what to do with the kids? Our options are limited. Goat meat isn’t popular in our region, and 4-H youngsters are few and far between (and mostly Horse Girls). I can’t commit to an animal without having a plan for the entire life-cycle…
The young mother at the store had (of course) never thought about the fact that, in order to get milk, there must be a baby. Every year. And, there must be a plan for What Happens Next…I hope she’ll take our conversation with her into other parts of her life as well.
Now this is an extension of the issue that I had not thought to bring up. It is very true. And i am shocked at how many people think the milk just comes and keeps on flowing. I met some children (teenagers) who did not know that a cow cannot give milk unless she has had a calf, every year! And she needs a rest in between. They just thought dairy cows grew up and starting producing milk at a certain age.. YES, we need to have considered the entire cycle.. well said Marie.. c
Consider me previously ignorant (despite growing up in a dairy region) and now duly educated. Where does this myth come from?! 😉
We go one step more and butcher our own. It can be hard and I always feel a little sad when we take the life of an animal to feed our family but I take comfort in knowing how our animals are raised and that they’ve had a good life while here and are serving the purpose for which they were intended. I think your answer to your young friend was well thought out and spot on.
Thank you, that is exactly how we feel too. It is a simple linear way of life isn’t it.. c
Well said. The problem is that I keep turning into that young man (OK cut out the young) and then I have to remind myself that the prosciutto that I’m eating is not just thin pink stuff that tastes good, but thin pink stuff from a living animal that was killed so that I and others could eat it. This realistic answer still makes me a bit unhappy, but realism has never been my strong suit.
I think that feeling a bit unhappy about it is actually the right way to feel. If that makes any sense. looking your food in the face is pretty tough but it is honest.. I hope you are getting some sun today.. c
Hear hear and amen. I admire your philosophy and adhere to as much of it as is feasible with only an ordinary-sized garden. Your little lecture would be a good one to share with everyone.
PS I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve pinched that wonderful poppy with bee pic for my desktop.
Vx
I love the idea of that bee being on your desktop! Thank you. It is a vibrant shot isn’t it. Morning ViV! c
Celi, anybody that has read your blog from the start knows that all the aminals have had the best possible life any animal can have. We have lived, laughed, cried, worried and played right through most of the cycle with you all. I for one would rather the food on my plate had had this kind of life rather than fed antibiotics, growth hormones and chemicals and then stressed in the most horrible way even in the last minutes of its life. Humans are not the most humane species. Your farmy is redeeming us all, I think. Snakes …. what do you do when you come across one? I am dead scared of them! Laura
I was not brought up with snakes so, though i seldom see them.. I sream like a girl and run away!! What a baby!! But they eat mice so it is good to see them! c
Of course your post did not scare me away! I respect what you do and admire the love you put into your farm and toward your animals whether their destination is your dinner table or not.
Amazes me that parents don’t talk to their children about where their food comes from and how it is processed. We would have such higher standards about the quality of our food in America if everyone was informed and involved.
Love your water philosophy as well. I do the same thing in my yard! AND……I eat meat and I know EXACTLY where it comes from and what it has been fed. 😉
Have a wonderful day, Cecila, we’re looking at a few rainy days ahead so I guess that means I need to work on going through things and getting rid of unnecessary items for the big move. Hope you have another hot and beautiful day!
~April
Thank you for your words April and that is a great rainy day job. I always feel so much lighter when i have gotton rid of the scummy junk build up in the dark cupboards!! c
most people that eat meat don’t want to think about where it comes from. raising your animals as compationately as you do is so superior to the way most animals live. i have water everywhere too.
Morning Joyce, it is good to think about it! Have a great day in your garden.. c
Here here – I think one of the big problems these days is due to the fact that people don’t know where their food comes from and that they have no connection with the land. I’m quite sure (from your writing) that all your animals are loved and well cared for, including the ones destined for the table.
… and what naughty pigs!
They love the sprinkler! Cools them off.. morning mad! c
I think that the actual death is what I worry about — we all know that you treat all of your animals well and that they are luckier than animals in feed lots and factory farms. Realistically, you can’t keep every animal or the little farmy would soon outgrow its bounds and lamb and ham are tasty, good-quality protein.
I do agree Sharyn. Animals need humane treatment at the point of death. This is why we researched the little abbatoirs until we found a guy who actually talked to and calmed the animal at the time. John watched him do it and was very impressed with his approach.. c
That sounds like the best conditions you could have.
I can’t have animals on my little farm just yet as I am away from it 2-3 days a week. BUT…we do get our meats and eggs from the locals who have raised their amimals just as you have. It’s the next best thing.
And I will keep learning from them and from you so that I will be ready when the time comes to welcome the life givers to my farm.
Yes it is a 24 hour job, and you will love it when you have the time. Lovely that you have locals who will sell a little here and there.. this is definitely the way it should be! c
Well said, Cecilia. The circle of life includes death but many would prefer to deny the death part. It is a real problem how our culture has lost touch with how our food is produced. Native Americans would thank the spirit of the animal as they were about to take its life for their survival. Everyone is entitled to their opinion on this one, but I do eat meat and prefer to know where it came from and how it was raised. You do a great service by being honest and true to your ideals.
I sometimes think that people eat MORE meat, because they do not want to think about its origins and buy it cheaply on a supermarket shelf. And surely this must contribute to some health risks. c
I know this will sound silly, but we always tell our animals thank you. Thank you for living with us and thank you for giving food to human bodies. Always.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
I love your explanation Celi. Every animal does deserve respect and I have no doubts yours are all well cared for from beginning to end. Lovely flowers too. I love poppies. I was at my grandma/grandpa’s yesterday for the last time (they have both passed and the house will now be sold) and I went around back and sat staring at the poppies and peonies for a while. 🙂 Wonderful memories.
Those peonies are such an historical flower too. I love the old gardens. Can you take a wee piece back for your own garden?. c