The Front Porch Swing

[tntchix]

I've been thinking about this all afternoon, and a long dog walk through the hayfield has been very mind clearing, so I have to say that I actually like all the people that are trying to be farmers, even though they weren't brought up to it, even though they are squeamish and sentimental about animal life, even though they know nothing about traditional ways of doing things.

It seems to me they, at some point in their lives, decided they wanted more control over the land they lived on and the food they ate. So they come on BYC looking for help, sometimes really exposing their ignorance, their inexperience, their vulnerabilities, admitting their mistakes, sorrowing over their losses, trying to figure out how to do it differently.

They come here because they didn't have the good fortune to grow up in rural families or on working farms, so they have lots of questions and lots of curiosity. They recognize a really good resource when they see it.

It's not faint hearted. It's courageous to go outside your comfort zone, to stretch your humanity, to unsettle your paradigms, because you think you can make your own life, your community, your planet, better.

There's a strong desire to learn from those that have been doing it for generations. But, must be said, some of the newcomers have gifts to share. But that's another story if anyone's interested. Truth be told, it won't get the skin off a deer any faster, ha!

 

[Beekissed]

I've been thinking about this all afternoon, and a long dog walk through the hayfield has been very mind clearing, so I have to say that I actually like all the people that are trying to be farmers, even though they weren't brought up to it, even though they are squeamish and sentimental about animal life, even though they know nothing about traditional ways of doing things.

It seems to me they, at some point in their lives, decided they wanted more control over the land they lived on and the food they ate. So they come on BYC looking for help, sometimes really exposing their ignorance, their inexperience, their vulnerabilities, admitting their mistakes, sorrowing over their losses, trying to figure out how to do it differently.

They come here because they didn't have the good fortune to grow up in rural families or on working farms, so they have lots of questions and lots of curiosity. They recognize a really good resource when they see it.

It's not faint hearted. It's courageous to go outside your comfort zone, to stretch your humanity, to unsettle your paradigms, because you think you can make your own life, your community, your planet, better.

There's a strong desire to learn from those that have been doing it for generations. But, must be said, some of the newcomers have gifts to share. But that's another story if anyone's interested. Truth be told, it won't get the skin off a deer any faster, ha!

Very well said!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I'm 4th generation farming this plot of land ... before that, the ancestors farmed other pieces. I struggle with animal killing. So does my dad. He has other people do it for him -- so do I -- and that gets complicated. But I'm happier to help with the processing than Dad is, and I'm the one here learning how to keep healthy animals.

We do have to kill deer here. I showed Dad the photos of how to skin one the hillbilly way. I can tell he is going to pass that info on to the designated killers here. He knew what the "cape" is and I didn't.

I think there was some curious shifts in understanding farming that happened in Dad's generation. Take no prisoners slash & burn agriculture became possible and probable. So follow a plow around for a while and then tell me you are vegan. Not you specifically, you generally.

 

[bruceha2000]

I've been BLOOIED! I read Bruce's response about getting roosters if I slipped eggs under a broody and was going to say that I'll just go to eBay and buy eggs guaranteed to be girls. As I understand it, girls lay girl eggs and boys lay boy eggs, is that right?

Blooie, you are the funniest person on this porch!

I have suggested that he finish the inside first and work on the siding after the chicks moved in but usually when he has an idea in his head it's hard to change the batting order. So far he has the roof on and shingled, the exterior walls up and mostly sided. the windows are not in. the doors are not on and no run. I never intended this coop to be so complicated.

MAYBE you can get him to hardware cloth the windows, it needs to be done anyway, and put on a door? There is nothing they NEED inside the coop.

Good luck, hopefully you will have good weather this weekend and he will focus on the MUST DOs to get the birds out of the house. Maybe if you put them on his chair. Nothing like a little poop on your chair to get you motivated! (And Rebekah helped with this idea

)

 

[heartsizedfarm]

I'm going to bed and will forget what I wanted to say so I'm gonna say "bobolink" and hopefully that will remind me of what I wanted to say tomorrow. Love and hugs to all of you!

 

[Beekissed]

I'm 4th generation farming this plot of land ... before that, the ancestors farmed other pieces. I struggle with animal killing. So does my dad. He has other people do it for him -- so do I -- and that gets complicated. But I'm happier to help with the processing than Dad is, and I'm the one here learning how to keep healthy animals.

We do have to kill deer here. I showed Dad the photos of how to skin one the hillbilly way. I can tell he is going to pass that info on to the designated killers here. He knew what the "cape" is and I didn't.

I think there was some curious shifts in understanding farming that happened in Dad's generation. Take no prisoners slash & burn agriculture became possible and probable. So follow a plow around for a while and then tell me you are vegan. Not you specifically, you generally.

I guess I never thought about the terminology....one grows so used to this homesteading way of life that those kind of words and terms are just deeply ingrained. Sorry....at least your Paw knew it!

I don't mind that there is a new breed of farmer out there so much...that's their business and they can do it as best they can. What I do mind very much is that they tend to hint, imply and otherwise infer that us hillbillies/homesteaders/old timers are somehow hard hearted or barbaric because we CAN kill an animal without needing a support system before, during and after. That's the part that has me wearied.

While they plea for understanding and sympathy..even respect...they will stab you in the back very quickly with their not so subtle barbs like, " I could NEVER do that....I am just too soft-hearted, I guess." That's the one that arouses MY gag reflex....that inference that one can't be soft-hearted, compassionate and a nice person if they can kill an animal. If they could just leave comments like that under their hat and not bring them out into the light of day, I think I could be more tolerant and sympathetic to their "pioneer" spirit into the field of farming.

I love helping folks, I truly do....but when they dictate how I phrase or give that help~ after asking for it~ then that sort of sticks in my craw. Beggars can't be choosers, my granny always said. If city folks want to learn from country folk they have to sit down to the whole meal and not pick through the dishes, choosing what they want to hear, see or experience during the free buffet. A free gift is still a gift...not an entitlement or a right, just because one expects it or asks for it.

 

[Triple Willow]

Me too, all my life I have been around A LOT of animals. Dogs, cats, rabbits, reptiles, beef cattle, dairy cattle, veal calves, hogs, horses, goats, sheep, chickens and probably some I have forgot about. I have seen lots of chickens, cattle and hogs slaughtered commercially, lots! I even use to hunt small game myself, kill, cook and eat it- no problem. BUT I still hate to kill an animal! If one is suffering I can make myself end its pain pretty quickly. (And shooting one from a distance is nothing compared to killing one with your hands.) But to kill a perfectly healthy and happy animal to eat it, that REALLY bothers me. I wish it didn't and I have even prayed that it wouldn't, but it does. But I do it anyway because I love eating meat and I like growing my own. Once the animal is dead and not looking at me, fine. I can dig around in their guts no problem whatsoever. But taking the life will always bother me a lot. I'm sure people that it doesn't bother think, "just get over it!" I sure do wish it was that easy. I think EVERYBODY ought to see and know -face to face- what it takes to put that meat on their plate.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

BK, you are a woman and a mother. You understand life better because of it. Not man bashing, and without getting intro female stuff, that's just something I'm sure about.

You are also a nurse.

You raised boys!

You are a homesteader.

You claim to be a hillbilly, and I'm beginning to understand so much about what that brings.

You remind me so much of my grandmother ... she was also a homestead farming nurse who didn't waste time with a lot of excuses and loved her animals in or out of the pot.

When I give cockerels to the men who work on the farm, and there is always a drooling line, they take them home for their wives to kill. The men are all about fishing or hunting. Chicken killing is for ladies. The men are happy to pay extra for processed birds.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

I guess I never thought about the terminology....one grows so used to this homesteading way of life that those kind of words and terms are just deeply ingrained.  Sorry....at least your Paw knew it! 

I don't mind that there is a new breed of farmer out there so much...that's their business and they can do it as best they can.  What I do mind very much is that they tend to hint, imply and otherwise infer that us hillbillies/homesteaders/old timers are somehow hard hearted or barbaric because we CAN kill an animal without needing a support system before, during and after.  That's the part that has me wearied. 

While they plea for understanding and sympathy..even respect...they will stab you in the back very quickly with their not so subtle barbs like, " I could NEVER do that....I am just too soft-hearted, I guess."   That's the one that arouses MY gag reflex....that inference that one can't be soft-hearted, compassionate and a nice person if they can kill an animal.  If they could just leave comments like that under their hat and not bring them out into the light of day, I think I could be more tolerant and sympathetic to their "pioneer" spirit into the field of farming.

I love helping folks, I truly do....but when they dictate how I phrase or give that help~ after asking for it~ then that sort of sticks in my craw.  Beggars can't be choosers, my granny always said.  If city folks want to learn from country folk they have to sit down to the whole meal and not pick through the dishes, choosing what they want to hear, see or experience during the free buffet.  A free gift is still a gift...not an entitlement or a right, just because one expects it or asks for it.   

I need to reiterate that, truly, I don't actually gag about anything, and I apologize for introducing that idea into the mix.

Furthermore I do know that people who live with animals from birth to death have the closest association and best experience and make decisions about their animals based on intelligent empathy and best practises.

I'll be honest that I'd like more than just practical stuff. The Front Porch Swing is a, now I don't know what to say, but I was thinking philosophical, place, because of all the various diverse voices.

I'm not sure that city folks vs country folks works anymore because we are so mixed up and blended by now. Try my daughter: raised in a country village, spent all her free hours at a country barn, went to university in two cities, married and moved to a university town, spends all free time with her horse in a country barn, and all her holidays at home with her folks on a farm. What is her constituency?

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Just to help: my girl