What did we do on President’s Day..OF COURSE we went to the farm! Tradition has it that you plant potatoes on President’s Day so we did just that….and a whole lot more. The farmer had 200 lbs of potatoes to plant and apparently word spread quickly so a few families came out to help. What would have taken the farmer a day took a group of us a few hours. Did you know that the way to plant potatoes is to cut up sprouted potatoes, plant those and from those potatoes grows more potatoes. Who knew? It was fun working in teams to get it all done. On the car ride home, both Rad and I agreed that it was so amazing to see so many people working to plant on the farm today. I am sure it was hard for the farmer to let a bunch of novice’s plant his harvest so THANKS Andy for teaching and trusting us!
Another big event today (before everyone arrived) was to kill some roosters. Apparently the rooster population was growing too big at Urbanna Farm and those birds were getting too feisty with the hens so some had to go. Honestly I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to watch that event but found myself curiously enthralled by the end. My dad was even in there helping out which shocked me. We asked Gress if he wanted to see how they were going to kill the roosters and he did. It was a pure education about the appropriate situations in which you kill animals. I do wonder how his brain processes all of this. Gress loved collecting the feathers and carried them around everywhere he went.
And then there were the baby goats….oh the baby goats. Miquel and Raquel are so stinking cute. Gress ran in the house first thing to see them and then got to feed them with a bottle. When they make their LOUD baaing, it really does sound like a baby crying. Later in the day we brought them outside to walk around. OH, they make your heart melt.
And you guessed it, because there are baby goats, there is also a mama goat who has to be milked. Gress wanted to try out milking Brooke. I have to say, watching the farmer teach Gress all about milking was such a sweet moment. Andy truly has the heart of a teacher and is so patient and gentle with Gress’ constant questioning and lack of attention to one thing. THANKS ANDY for sharing your gift of teaching with us all!
Today Gress shot his first 22 riffle…he was a bit indifferent and really preferred playing with his old tractor Pop found.
It was fun having so many people at the farm today. While the babies were eating or sleeping, the kids were all into something on the farm…. and the farmer (who I am SURE had a million other things to do today), took time to teach us all about where our food really comes from. And thanks Dad, for stepping in, getting dirty and loving the farm as much as we do!
Ahhh, I am tired but my heart is full and happy! Oh how I love the farm and the farmers!!
We LOVE the posts about the farm! We are also glad you posted about how to grow potatoes, because we are planning to plant some in our Square Foot Garden! You saved us some research!