Oh my. WHAT have I agreed to this time? I’m the first to admit that I spend too much time right here at this keyboard.
One of the beauties of working from home is that gaining consciousness each morning is my only commute. Sure, I hit the occasional mental “sig alert”. The newly repaired street light in our backyard, with it’s prison yard strength bulb shining directly into our bedroom, has been giving my beauty sleep fits, making for some bleary wake up calls. I digress… You know it’s time to get out into the world when a streetlight obsession dominates daylight hours.
What was I saying? Oh yeah, I should get out more. Well this time tomorrow I’ll be on my way to Whidbey Island where for the next (almost) two weeks I will be mistress of Art-Isle Farm. My charges: four mini goats, 12 plucky chickens and one very pampered poodle. True confessions? Up until now my animal husbandry experience has been pretty much limited to eating eggs and goat cheese – although we did used to have a golden retriever.
No Worries! I’ve got a roughly 10 page document outlining my responsibilities and “house systems.” Frankly I wish I had a similar guide to my own house detailing emergency water shut off directions, locating the electrical panel, and telling me when weekly garbage pickup is; I can never remember when to put out recycling and when to put out clean green.
Sure, there are a few enigmatic entries having to do with rain getting into the art studio in the event of a storm, the fact that the dog may have developed a taste for coyote poop that plays havoc with her digestive system (duh!), and this about the goats: “Watch yourself. They may charge you” (!!!), and “the TV remote does not turn on the TV” (???). Needless to say, the TV is the very least of my concerns.
It’ll be fun – right? I picture myself gathering luscious fresh eggs for breakfast, exploring island bluffs on bracing walks with the dog who “…walks nicely on a leash unless she sees a dog or a rabbit”(! ); I’ll get lots of writing done, master my new camera, organize all my photos, eat only healthy food, and luxuriate in the pitch dark only a country night sky can offer. I get to break in my new garden boots, and I can’t think of a more perfect setting to read Novella Carpenter’s Farm City, the education of an Urban Farmer - a couple of my favorite Christmas presents.
Follow along…this ought to be GOOD!
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
You’ll have a wonderful time!! Small farm-sitting is a wonderful education for those not exposed to farm life. Though hopefully your booklet has a ‘helpful neighbors’ section.
Ooh! I’m jealous. If you get bored or scared by the coyote howls I’d be glad to keep you company. Please take lots of cute goat pictures!
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Hi Lorene! Happy new year to you, and I hope you enjoy your farm stay. I know you will have a great time and look forward to reading all about your adventures! We love Whidbey, and have done a few easy farm stays (i.e. no mandatory chores, only fun picking produce and feeding treats to the animals when we want to) not far from Langley. Lots to do onWhidbey, I hope you get some good weather! Double Bluff beach is good for dogs, and if you have time to hike the bluff at Ebey’s Landing that’s super amazing too. Good luck!
.-= Karen´s last blog ..Apartment Garden Makeover =-.
I guess I should call this a “farm sit” rather than a farm stay. It’s just me and the animals!!!
A lovely neighbor has already talked me down regarding a very unattractive chicken condition. Thank goodness!
Ok, I read Novella’s book and hooted until my husband grabbed it from me and said, “MY TURN.”
Although I love this book I know in my heart I could never clip off a duck’s head, kill a turkey, or dumpster dive for food for my pigs, which I would come to love-hate, and then come to EAT.
Funny,
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island