Sarah arrived Sunday afternoon, November 1, to start her three-week apprenticeship on the farm. She's taking a break from college to see if she's interested in pursuing a degree and career in sustainable agriculture. As a vegetarian, she fits in great (our daughters are vegetarians) and has already learned to make mozzarella and ricotta cheeses. She got up bright and early Monday to start learning to milk goats. Throughout the week, she met all the different animals and started sharing in their care. Friday, she started learning to spin wool into yarn. I just love the lumpy-bumpy yarn that new spinners create.
Sarah and I had a great time last Monday afternoon trying to cross the creek with pans of grain when the goats had escaped from their pasture. They met us the moment we stepped onto dry land. Of course, they wanted the treasures we possessed and proceeded to jump on us and walk in front of us as we tried to encourage them to go back to their pen. Somehow we made it to our destination without tripping or spilling the feed, which we had taken over there for the sole purpose of enticing them back into their pasture, where they will be safe from predators.
Saturday, Molly escaped from her pasture and went across the creek to visit with the goats. I had just been talking about how we needed to work with the cows on halter training some more. That skill would have come in handy Saturday morning. Instead, Mike, Katherine, Sarah, and I tried all sorts of tricks to capture her. I eventually got her to follow me as I pretended not to care whether or not she followed me -- and I just happened to be holding alfalfa cubes behind my back as I walked away from her.
Sarah really likes Pearl, our bottle-baby goat, and is wishing she could take her back with her to the Chicago suburbs when she leaves shortly before Thanksgiving. I can hardly believe a week has already passed. We've had a great time teaching and learning from each other, and I'm hoping the next two weeks don't go by too fast.
To hear more about Sarah's adventures, you can read her blog, The Greener Sheep.
5 comments:
You forgot I was there to help with Molly as well! Wait, WAS Kat there? I can't remember now. Did you mix us up?
Oops! I did get you mixed up with Katherine. Since you've been gone to college for the last few months, I'm just always thinking that Katherine is the one doing everything. Sorry!
I think there's a rule against having a goat in her subburb... so please don't let her talk you into taking a goat home! I'm glad you all are having such a good time and getting lots accomplished. Have fun! -- Sarah's mom
Enjoyed your post today. It's so nice you share your home with an intern....whoever she was. :-)
Hi. Do you have any turkeys left this year?
Kate Flynn
Chicago
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