Upstairs, Downstairs
Nelson the Wescue Wabbit who has been living in the upstairs of her outside rabbit hutch, like a posh rabbit, has discovered the downstairs. Yesterday she joyfully leapt up and down the ramp showing off her newfound freedom. She has joined the rabble!
Her food and water are still upstairs so it is super easy for her minders to feed her.
I have the bird water bowls close to her hutch so she is visited by wandering pigs and ducks and even a peacock in the evening.
And as Bastard Mink is in our minds rest assured her netting is very strong. Mink will tear apart ordinary chicken wire but not this. She is safe.
And when Boo and I go on our rounds every night Nelson is on his list to check. Last night we went out to do night checks twice – it was a dark night and Boo was anxious, so he spent most of the night out there guarding his chickens.
Pigs and Hogs
The wind yesterday was coming out of the West so the Big Pigs set up camp in the shelter of their water tank. Do you see how their ears have popped up when they hear me approach. Just the ears mind you. At this point they are saying a gentle hullo in their deep piggy grunt. I always grunt back and we have a little “I see you” conversation – though they are too comfy to get up!
Below is Tima – well over her fear of the cows grazing in her field.
She snapped at the black cow for coming too close to her food which bothered the cow not at all. KuneKune only really need forage but she gets a little egg and lean pig feed as a treat when there is no restaurant bucket. (Or she continues to shout at the human). She doesn’t need it though.
KuneKune run to fat very fast so they should not be fed grain at all really.
Cows
The big cows discovered that there were baby cows in the barn yesterday and tried to break in. This was the first time I had heard a sound from the calves as they mooed to the big cows to let them out! This barn is in a very fragile state after over 100 years of use and abuse and endless patching up. (In fact the insurance man will not even insure it anymore). So the cows are officially shut out into this big field with great feed.
The cows are huge and could probably bust those calves out if they just leaned on the doors! The barn has the potential to collapse in on them so I am always careful with how animals are managed close to the barn. I need it for a few more years to help me feed Johns families. And live our self sufficient, sustainable life.
Gardens
I think that the weather will begin to warm up from now on. I hope to get some of these plants back outside to harden off while we wait for the ground to warm up.
Plus today I will sow some more summer vegetables.
Weather
About the same as yesterday but I am hoping the wind will drop. It is still pretty cool outside as I write.
But the over night temps look a trifle warmer. Then significantly warmer going forward.
I think we should prepare for a hot summer.
SubStack
Thank you for all your input yesterday! My new story telling venture on the platform SubStack is going well! Keep spreading the word – I am so grateful.
I am going to be recording my first audio entry from TKG 2011 today. It will be the Best of the Kitchens Garden Farm Podcast. (Can you think of a catchier name?) I will start at the beginning and choose entertaining posts and record them in chronological order. If all goes well Episode One will be up on the TKG SubStack page tomorrow. Each episode will take a long time to make so fingers crossed that it makes the farm a few dollars. I will provide the link to the post as well so people can look at the pictures if they want to.
My hayfever is crazy with this dry spring? I hope I do not sniff through the recording!!
Everything is experimental and my whole life is a work in progress so let me know what you think.
Take care and talk soon in The Lounge of Comments!
Celi
28 Comments on “Upstairs, Downstairs”
Leave a Reply
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER:
DO A LITTLE SHOPPING:
Thank You So Much For Your Kind Help with Maintaining This Blog
thekitchensgarden 
I love how the animals all work together on your farm. Boo is such a good dog looking after you and your flock.
He is a good dog.
Speaking of kunekune, there is a recent and quite eccentric movie available for streaming called simply, ‘Pig’ about a stolen prized truffle hunting pig and starring a kunekune. I recognized it right away, thanks to you and Tima!
Oo!! Thank you! I am going to find that movie. I love eccentric! Thank you!
I saw it and enjoyed it, but it stressed me out. Movies with animals always cause me anxiety.
Oh Boo. What a good dog.
That rabbit! She is such a madam and so entertaining. I’m sure she will enjoy her life even more now. Tales of bobbies, cows, pigs and Boo continue to delight us all l am sure. Very much hoping to be able to hear your podcast in the UK. Just off to France for a few days to miss the madness that is the coronation!
The coronation. I am sure it will bring lots of spendy tourists! Best out of it!
Here is the first reading. Still a work in progress really. Let me know – https://open.substack.com/pub/ceciliaatthekitchensgarden/p/the-kitchens-garden-podcast?r=299i3z&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I am thinking of Wednesday and Friday?
I love how you have everything working in harmony. It’s really the only way. 🙂
It really is. Disharmony on a farm is dangerous.
Yes. But I think it occurs more often then not
Not here thankfully.
Because you are very good at taking care of the land and the animals and people on the land. 🙂
I am laughing at the slight side-eye from Boo as he sits next to Nelson’s hutch. I wonder- is he saying “My rabbit is fine Miss C, move on” or “Nelson is not the star here, it is me Boo- killer of bastard mink!”
Probably more of the latter. Being told to sit and pose with the pet rabbit is not his style this week!
Boo is such a good dog, guarding his chickens and Nelson. I told my husband about the mink and Boo’s kill command, we wonder how you taught him to do that? Tima is not quite looking that cow in the eye, but I envision her growling at the black monster who is threatening to eat her food. I am looking forward to your podcast.
I have done one first podcast and sent it out. It was quite fun actually and I am sure I will improve as time goes by!
Hope this link works.
https://open.substack.com/pub/ceciliaatthekitchensgarden/p/the-kitchens-garden-podcast?r=299i3z&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Amazing – Nelson the explorer. It’s a good job she sleeps upstairs – mink like rabbits.
How funny that the cows want to rescue the bobbies!
I think it is a herd thing. Plus strange animals on the farm? Cows are so nosy.
Safety in numbers!
Boo it’s such a handsome boy.
Quite a menagerie!
I think I must’ve been a kunekune in a past life – run to fat quickly and shouldn’t be fed grains… sigh
Brilliant. I’ll listen to the podcasts as I go about my truly autumnal Thursday here in the village.
Boo is such a good minder of all your animals! Love all the photos ( as always! ) And Nelson is such a dear rabbit! Cheers!
It’s such fun to watch you develop what the Farmy offers its followers. I think the podcast was a great idea, and it’ll be fun for people to listen to your real voice. No one can pace delivery of the written word like the person who wrote it!
Thank you Kate! I am literally scrolling through looking for another couple to read and have reached peach jam!