I am house-sitting for a family from church, the Abbotts. Actually, I'm small farm-sitting. Mr. Abbott works a 9-5, and his wife and kids tend a huge garden, keep bees, raise 12 goats and 20-some chickens, and generate homemade products from all of their livestock and agriculture. Thankfully I don't have to milk the goats (I tried, I'm too slow) or have anything to do with the garden (I can't even keep a real houseplant), but this is quite a taste of farm life for me!
5:55a: Alarm goes off; I hit "snooze."
6:00a: Snooze alarm goes off, I hit "snooze" again, this time with guilt.
6:02a: I feel equal parts guilty and angry that I am up so early and get out of bed, then dressed in my chore clothes. I hear a rooster crowing.
Big ol' boots
6:10a: I strap on Mr. Abbott's boots and let the dogs out of the garage for the day.
Vanilla & Cocoa, jealous sisters
6:15a: The goats are screaming at me as soon as I turn the barn light on; I feed all 9 goats, empty the leftover water and refill the buckets, cover their "berries" (I know, I hate that term too) with hay, and give them fresh veggie treats.
A neighbor arrives to milk 4 of the goats.
Peg Leg & her twin
6:35a: I clean the barncat's litter, then refill her food & water. It's been 5 days and I've still never seen her, but she keeps leaving me her messes to clean up and eating the food I leave for her, so I'm holding out for a sighting.
6:40a: Get ready for work.
6:45a: Strain the goatmilk, put it in the freezer, and sanitize the milk pail and jugs.
It is illegal to sell goat milk in the state of Michigan.
7:05a: Leave for work.
6:30p: Return from work.
6:35p: Feed, water, clean & check the goats. Neighbor milks 4 goats.
7:00p: Strain the goatmilk, put it in the freezer, and sanitize the milk pail and jugs.
7:15p: Warily go out to the chicken yard, close up the hen house if all chickens are inside. Collect eggs.
The All-Seeing Eye
7:30p: Seperate eggs into cartons.
Fresh, free-range chicken eggs of every variety.
7:35p: Prepare dinner & eat it.
There are shelves and freezers full of homemade salsa from homegrown veggies.
10:00p: Call it a day! (Repeat the next day.)
As if the 12 goats, 20-some chickens, beehives, two dogs, and cat weren't enough to keep the Abbotts busy, they manage to homeschool the four children and have a complete line of organic honey/soaps/ lip balms/ lotions that they market & sell.
7:30p: Seperate eggs into cartons.
Fresh, free-range chicken eggs of every variety.
7:35p: Prepare dinner & eat it.
There are shelves and freezers full of homemade salsa from homegrown veggies.
10:00p: Call it a day! (Repeat the next day.)
As if the 12 goats, 20-some chickens, beehives, two dogs, and cat weren't enough to keep the Abbotts busy, they manage to homeschool the four children and have a complete line of organic honey/soaps/ lip balms/ lotions that they market & sell.
