How I blog and other answers

Well we have hit 2017 now. I wonder what 2017 has in store for us. For you and me and thekitchensgarden farm. Lots of hard work I think – which is good. I like hard work.

We are still not quite finished with 2016 though. Here is Part TWO of the answers to your 2016 questions.

Bakerpete

A mundane thing but important. A step by step of the process you go through when making the blog each day.

A Nice easy question! And not mundane at all. Fundamental I would say. Thank you. During the day I take photographs of whatever takes my fancy.  It really is that random. Sometimes I jot down a few interesting lines into my Notes on the Iphone as I work.  I almost never know what I am going to write about on any given day. In the evening after dinner, I upload the photographs, work on them,  then load them onto that days page in some kind of thoughtful order.  In the morning I awake between 5 and  5.30am then write the words .  I read through carefully once to check for coherency.  Then Publish.

To create a blog every day the process has to be simple and linear. Luckily farm business is simple and linear too. I bet it  is similar to getting your dough ready for the mornings baking. I imagine there are clear stages and movements you go through the night before, then every day, resulting in great loaves of bread at about the same time every morning. It is the same kind of process.  Just less clean up!

I make sure to keep everything transparent and achievable. This is the key I think. 

heretherebespiders

A possibly silly question. Since pigs are omnivorous, is their poo really stinky like human poo? I know I know, I’m bringing down the discussion.

No question is silly! Pigs are omnivores but my pigs are vegetarians so though they do smell a bit it is not as bad as the meat eaters.  In fact other pig growers are surprised at how nice my pigs smell. All manure smells – even human sewage, is influenced by what is being eaten. 

Remember as I open the flood gates, that you are the one who asked for questions.

Do pigs tails curl permanently to the right or to the left, or are they interchangeable depending upon their mood?

Pigs tails curl every which way and sometimes hang straight down too. They will also wag their curly tails like dogs when they are having a good munch.

Whatever happened to the Turkey’s?

The turkeys went into the freezer as planned but were the toughest birds in the history of turkey roasts. My grand mother used to say cook the turkey with a boot for the whole day, strain, throw away the turkey and eat the boot.  I should have listened to her!

Why did you decide to stop raising sheep?

Three of Mama’s daughters had vaginal prolapses.  An awful condition that is inherited. So I quit. Anyway no sheep could take the place of Mama. So when she died I let them all go.

Have you ever thought about getting a horse to assist with travels between your two locations? Or would a horse be cost prohibitive and eat too much of your precious hay?

I would love a horse of course but I have enough trouble getting enough hay for the cows and horses are fussy and need their feet done and other things. But I do miss riding horses and the connection one develops with a horse.

Does the zip line still work, can you use it in the winter?

The zip line was never finished. And nothing I can do about it. And Not my department. Sadly. 

What would be worse, Sheila thinking that she’s a calf, or calves dreaming of becoming pet pigs?

I am fairly sure that calves thinking they were pet pigs would be worse!

I found your observation (if I understand correctly) that it is necessary to breed Molly and Poppy continually, or if they missed an opportunity, they would not become pregnant again. Is this true of other animals too?

This is my understanding – yes. And it is true of cows also. They say that if a cow is left unbred she will get fatter and a fat animal will have trouble with getting pregnant and giving birth.

As always, I am in complete and bewildered awe in your strength, ingenuity and boundless energy. As well as your heart, wit, wisdom and confidence when facing defeat, to never give up, because tomorrow will be a better day. Where did this come from? Was it instilled by birth or by virtue of your NZ upbringing? Or is this something you have acquired over time, spirited and squirrelled away from many locations?

I am pretty sure I am just pretending to be all those things. One day someone is going to find me out and I will  be labeled as the dangerously idle woman that I really am.

However I have not led a cloistered life and I am sure that helps. 

Charlotte Dixon. 

How did you learn how to farm?

Farming is a combination of common sense, Dr Google, a good vet, a few farming friends and time. Lots of leaning on fence posts watching and thinking. Lots and LOTS of leaning on fence posts and watching and thinking.

And the other one is, how do you keep your energy up all day?

I give myself very definite break times in the middle of the afternoon. Otherwise I find that if I don’t actually stop working during the day simple momentum keeps me rolling along.

Bakerpete

A mundane thing but important. A step by step of the process you go through when making the blog each day.

During the day I take photographs of whatever takes my fancy.  It really is that random. Sometimes I jot down a few interesting lines into my Notes on the Iphone as I work.  I almost never know what I am going to write about on any given day. In the evening after dinner, I upload the photographs, work on them,  then load them onto that days page in some kind of thoughtful order.  In the morning I awake between 5 and  5.30am then write the words .  I read through carefully once to check for coherency.  Then Publish.

To create a blog every day the process has to be simple and linear. Luckily farm business is simple and linear too.

The four middle sized pigs, (two Molly’s and two Tahiti’s) are having an interesting hiatus. They are eating very little.  They stopped eating while I was away and are doing a little better now but still on the worry list. So we wormed them all. They are still big and shiny and wandering the fields. But just not eating very much. Not showing loud enthusiasm for food. I am mystified.

Tia is the calf in the header – she is still the gentlest people-loving creature- I try to spend some time with her daily so she continues to trust me.

I hope you have a lovely day and have been and continue laying the foundations for a lovely year. Don’t forget that you are in charge – dumb luck is for dumbies. Most luck comes from hard joyous work, good planning and keeping your eyes open for the luck that is coming your way. Good or bad.  Catch or dodge.  I wish you plenty of the good kind of luck for 2017. And piles of HAPPY.

Happy New Year

Love celi