Despite the rain and the cool temperatures in May, things can be accomplished. In one day, that seemed to be working it’s way to a total loss of progress, we managed to cross three things off our list.
Roads
After my husband’s soaking wet trek through the woods, he refreshed, ate and we went to meet the bulldozer guy. We hiked in the remaining light rain and worked on a plan for a driveway and to clear up the pond road. The guys took turns cutting back brush so we could see what needed done and the gals nipped the low limbs to allow them to bounce out of the way and allow in some more light. At the end of this several hour process, after much planning, chatting, walking, re-walking – we had a very reasonable price for a driveway, an area for “Camp Elswick”, and a less messy pond road to trek between the house and camp. My husband was elated that at least something would cost less than he thought. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to watch the planning process and watch my husband smile – some more.
Goats
From a list of more than 20 localish goat farms, we called until we found one that would welcome us up to see the goats in the afternoon. We piled all of us up in the van, including the city girls (who we pardoned from the “road planning” walk in the rain) and headed a few miles up the road to the goat farm.
It was a beautiful place tucked on top of a hill in quiet privacy with a empty-nest couple who were friendly and helpful and tolerant of many questions from a bunch of newbies. They didn’t mind sharing what worked for them and what didn’t. I will pay a little more for goats from their farm, but the information and the willingness to share will be worth it.
They allowed us to go in to the field with the goats and just chat. They had a fairly large herd and they seemed sane, so maybe it won’t be impossible. One little “bottle baby” goat was very friendly, liked me rather a lot, and thought my jacket was tasty. Even the city girls were taken with the goats.
The goats might be my favorite part, but its a real competition between them and the John Deere.
Cows
It was getting a bit late in the afternoon, not much daylight left. But, a friend of my sister’s was still willing to take us out to the cow field and chat with my husband about cows. Cows is actually where this whole farm thing started for him.
We went a mile or so down the road, van packed to capacity, in the rain, at dusk to meet cows – close up. What a kind man! He called to them and they came. They actually don’t get too close, but they all came up and stared back at us as we stared at them.
The men talked prices and questions and answers and we all froze our tails off!
Then we hiked back up the hill to the van – and were stuck! Oh the adventures! So, we unloaded everyone, the guys pushed, and we ended the day without having to have our suburban life mini-van extracted from the driveway to the cow pasture by a large John Deere. I’m sure the neighbors were disappointed that the entertainment was cut short!
What I learned: Knowing the right people to talk to is not something that shows up on an appraisal. Practice farming with a mentor couple who knows who is trustworthy and who is not is a priceless experience that we are privileged to have. God is good! We accomplished so very much on a rainy Saturday that could have been wasted watching TV and playing on a Kindle. (Not that I don’t do those things, I do)
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