Another Day Older, Sixty-two Days Wiser

Ok, so lately I have been feeling unsure about my future on this farm. That has not, however, prevented me from being pretty darn excited about the awesome things I am learning as I go along. Here is the short list of fun new things I've learned, done, or thought:

1. Goat Milking- obviously a big part of my daily routine, and one of the skills I came here to learn. Of course, its a bit harder without the machine, but doable.

2. Barn Mucking- Not as fun as some other skills I've learned, I admit...

3. The benefits of raw (goat) milk- If a adult of the species strongly believes he or she ought to be drinking milk, I think raw is the way to go. Yes, some people fear bacteria, but I think the ills of homogenizing and pasteurizing outweigh the risks- see also, Heart Disease, Causes of.

4. Tractor Driving- I probably haven't been behind the wheel of a motorized vehicle more than four times in the last decade. I am vehement and verbal about not wanting to drive, not needing to drive, and so on. But if I'd know how much how much fun tractors are! I remember being intimidated by the Big Red Tractor my grandparents owned, although I think we also had fun "driving" (i.e. steering) it as kids. And the tractor here is even more awesome, 'cause it has a rad turning radius, lots of fun attachments, and best of all, I am big enough to reach the pedals!

5. Going vegan- Ok I am really not there yet, but the thought I might someday is really new and intriguing. I'm spending a lot of energy thinking about a lifestyle I always dismissed before as unnecessary and too much work. In the end, it may still be, but I'd at least like to go with local, happy milk and meat products. That way I am supporting small farmers who are doing good things for the world and for agriculture's future. Plus, then I can still have cheese!

6. Fencing- Not the interesting kinds, as in swordfights, or selling and recieving stolen goods. Just the regular old putting up fences. But its a useful skill to have, I think. And I found out they make a heavy, cylindrical gadget for pounding in fence poles, so even the weak and puny may fence with wild abandon. Well, with wild abandon and work gloves.

7. How to Deliver a Kid- This is icky and magic at the same time. I imagine it would be a little less icky and a little more magical if you didn't have to kneel in goat poo-y straw to help the mama goat deliver. And probably even less icky if she didn't eat her placenta when it was over. With many births, there is not much you need to do- just make sure the feet come out first, then wait for the crown, then give a good pull. If the baby is breathing, you are not needed. But if the baby is struggling to breath, yank it in the air and swing it downward a couple times, with a good amount of force, so the lungs clear out. Yikes! This is the dicey part. But it usually works. Then let me mama clean it up, and wait for a it nurse a bit, so you know it will do okay. Give the buck no credit whatsoever, but heap praise on the mama. Last, exclaim over the kid's complete adorableness, the darling way it does absolutely everything, and pretend you had some part in making it all happen.

8. RV Living is Awesome- I liked this right off the bat. Its cute, compact, there are awesome hidden cupboards and handy bits everywhere. The bed is comfortable, the dining area is nice, the bathroom is sufficient, the living room comfy. I like everything about it, and would be considering living in one forever, if it weren't for my enormous, excessive, bordering-on-ridiculous amount of kitchen equipment. Oh well, maybe a slightly bigger RV...

Well, thats one new thought or skill for each workin' day so far. Not bad. I am sure there is much more, but lunch is ready, so off I go to enjoy another batch of quinoa.