When the sun goes down...

This post will start off by saying how awesome M & S are. You can tell by their actions how much they truly believe in what they are doing. I have a deep appreciation for them and the farm. I can't leave out little V for her hours of entertainment keep me/us rolling (laughing). Mr. M (M's Dad) b/c he helps w/ numerous projects on the farm and the barn expansion process..last but not least! (He even had on the right barn attire yesterday... boy, I wish I had my camera w/ me.)

(Enough of being sappy) :)

Animal updates: Holy moly we have new chickens, turkeys, and kitties (insert extremly happy face here).

Chickens: Coronations and Light Sussex, Blue and Lavendar Orpingtons, and more Buckeye chickens.
Turkeys: a pair of Narragansett turkeys
Kitties: 5 beautiful tabby cats w/ white paws and chest markings :)
(I feed them and even have Momma Cat coming to me)- S says, "They are going to bring their friends over". I'm just trying to keep some around to kill mice and snakes...but I wouldnt mind all of them staying ;)

Heat Advisory - is it insanely hot these days! I try not to complain but dang it is hard not too. The heat slows me down for some reason...maybe I should lose some more weight... I took 2 breaks yesterday during feeding (Thank the Heavens for the A/C in both the milk rooms). It is so crazy how much one can sweat. I drank 1.5 liters of water last night and didn't have to run to the restroom 100 times b/c it was leaving my body in the form of sweat!!!! I'm glad a/b that b/c of our friendly SPIDERS living in the bathroom (insert scary face here). I used to be extremely afraid of the 8 legged monsters but not so much now. (hehe don't let me lie I still run the other direction..sometimes :).. or I make S clean the boots out just to make sure there are NO monsters in there.)

DHEC gave us the green light to start building the new milking parlor!!!! You may have an idea how exciting this truly is! Now we are waiting on SCDA's approval for the kitchen to start making cheese, custard, and ice cream! :P As of this current moment the barn/farm is in transition..so, things can be at times out of control..fun part is working the kinks out.

I wish I had some pictures for you but I don't maybe next week :) Until then we are 'knee deep in' work!

Raw Intern Emotions

Sorry no cool pictures to add. My other lap top is on the fritz :(...say a little prayer for her.

Monday I spent most of the day on the farm. I picked up around and in the barn, and prepped for that nights chores (feeding & milking). Btw, in case you are wondering we are milking more than 50 goats 2 at a time. <~ crazy and time consuming. All that will change soon though b/c we are expanding and diversifying. New parlor, bigger barn, pasture chickens, turkeys, cheese, custard, produce and whateverrrr else we deem awesome and worthwhile. We (the whole farm including but not limited to the animals) are super thrilled for all the changes coming but with change comes the unknown. (dun, dun, dun, dunnnnnnnnnnn.)

It is rather hot?! Wouldn't you say? More humid than hot...but dang it is killer some days.

This is me keeping it real with you guys...being an intern sucks sometimes. You mess up things, you forget stuff, overflow the milk tank into the air compressor(?), teet dip the wrong goats, mark the wrong goats on the milking sheet, your ideas are that just ideas...and 9 times out of 10 you have no idea what you are talking about. Just smile and push through it b/c every farmer started in your shoes and no one ever truly knows it all (life would be very boring if you did). In other words it is easy for me to blog and make internship look and sound easy but truthfully this is the hardest work I've ever done for this long. Well, gardening is pretty labor intensive but this year is my 3rd one. (I'm working on my experience after all I'm only 23) With all that being said..I must admit I wouldn't change it for the world and it is the first thing I've ever stuck to for myself. I'm proud to be an intern. All the sweat and sweat to come will be worth it in the end b/c one day I'll be the teacher/ farmer. :)

Happy Friday!

Btw- We have a new kid whose name is 'Pinky' b/c she is PINK! How stinkin' cute..and if we ever get rid of our bulldog (to a good home of course)..I'm bringing her home..maybe I'll get Charm too, I love that goat!

Home Garden

Some photos of my home garden:

The process of layering :) Thats me!

Keep in mind that is only half of it. Layers complete.

One of the beds.

Still not the whole garden. I will have to take some more photos b/c everything is much, much larger now :)

Enjoy being 'Knee Deep In' :)

Just another blog in bloggity blog land.

So yeah, I'm going to do my very bestest to keep up with my blogs. :)

Yesterday evening we trimmed the little turkey's wings. Might I add the little tom needs an attitude adjustment! True story. He hissed at us and puffed his little feathers all up. I must make it a point to handle him every chance I get b/c I don't want him doing that when he is full grown. Mean little devil. They are growing like weeds in a fertile garden! Plus, little V's chicken whom she is yet to name (surprised it's not Chica b/c everything is Chica or Blanca baby). I'm ready to put them in the chicken tractor but this odd cold snap is preventing that. We are due to get a set of 10 turkeys next week sometime. :) Super excited! We plan to enclose a stall in chicken wire for them. Did I mention how much I hate the smell of poultry manure? Well I really hate/dislike that smell. Any manure for that matter but poultry manure is the most hated/disliked! I'll deal with for the sake of fertilizer though. ;) Crazy how much the sense of smell changes when you work around smelly animals. I can no longer tell if I smell like poo! Not funny btw.

This weather has the goats acting like goof balls. I tell ya the truth goats trip me out! I love them. Like I mentioned previous blog some days I dread going out to the farm but once I'm there in my routine I'm glad I came. The farm is a place I can surprisingly relax, not physically relax but mentally relax. I love petting the goats and loving on them even if they arent having it that day..I'm like Elvira I do it anyways..I think the goats expect it from me now b/c they all flock when I'm petting one! It's hard not to pet them all. There is not enough time in a day for all that now. I do have my favorites, but as new goats start milking I usually get a new favorite everyday. Before long they will all be my favorites. I'm a sucker what can I say?!

Well I plan to work all day at the farm Monday. Hopefully I'll have something to blog about. I really hope I don't see any large spiders or snakes :( Until then I'm 'Knee Deep In'.

I'm baccccccccck!

Lots of things have changed.

I know, I know... "Where have ya been?" you ask. Well, I've been 'knee deep in' don't cha know!

Garden update: I have decided to postpone the garden at the farm until Fall 2011. Why? B/c I had prior obligations to my own yard and to keep a balance I had to make a choice. Plus, it is helping me better the plan for the farm garden. I'll do a post all about my home garden though. :) Let's just say, "Poop Mountain is in good use". :)

Internship update: It is going along nicely. Everyday is a learning day. One thing I have learned for sure is: Change. Nuff said. I'm starting to feel like a part of the farm as if I'm finding my place in a chain of many links. :) I love it, but at times I doubt myself. It is hard work. S and M are Sm-awesome! I love them. I respect them highly for their dedication to their farm! I mentioned previously the hard work, yeah about that...my arms/ upper body is gaining from it! I can now shovel for long periods of time without pain or taking breaks :). Every chance I get I'm showing off my new muscles. Ha! Who'd a thunk it?! I'm learning goats names quite nicely..hehe..M has to ask me who's who sometimes..but shhhh, don't tell him I said that. I attempted to trim a hoof a couple weeks ago, it wasn't as hard as expected. The hoof is extremely soft and awkward. lol. We have since added turkeys to the farm. That is a post of it's own. Now that I think of it my camera didn't take some pictures of them that I remember taking. Oh well. The expansion loan went through and we will soon start the expansion process. Good times. I would be lying if I didn't say some days I dread going out to the farm...but as soon as I'm there feeding the goats and giving my routine of love to them..I'm happy, I came..and after a hard nights work I feel like I really accomplished something! Sorry this post is all over the place but that's what happens when you neglect a blog for like 2 months! Silly me. I made some goat cheese, not bad for my first run at it! I think next I will attempt yogurt! Stay tuned for that! I'm sure there is more to update but for now I'm all worded out!

Chicken Mansion.

And the boys and girls :)

Where ya' been?

Long overdue update on the internship, goats, and garden.

I just havent been motivated to blog here lately...

Blog worthiness: I hand milked a goat the other night. I had some issues at first but once I got my 'flow' it was easy...and cool...not cool if you had to hand milk more than one.

Internship is going awesome and I'm learning lots still (which will continue)! S and I went to an 'Open Forum' meeting this past Saturday (Neat but my butt is still hurting from the chairs). Stevie, A (an environment friendly friend) and I will attend a 'Marketing' workshop this Saturday. As much as I'm enjoying the networking and learning..I HAVE A TON TO DO! After this workshop I'm done for a while b/c I still have to get the front bed ready for planting.

Okay..

I'm am completely overwhelmed at times when I start thinking of all the things that need to be done before spring gets here! (Must remain calm and focused) <~ A little chant I frequently use...followed by 'you only have this to do'...collect old wood, limbs, leaves, newspaper, cardboard (like tons), kitchen scraps, and some earth worms...then lasagna it all to form a bed. Which will look like this... (Not the 'Mandala' in the center but the squiggly one on the bottom.)

Now, a little passion from me.

We as humans are so disconnected from..well..everything. It's no wonder the world is in the shape it's in. We have lost the connection some where along the way. We need to find it and IMO (in my opinion) it starts w/ a garden. :)

I'm 'Knee Deep In' AWE and needed action!