My first gilt reached 7mos and the Tuesday I had scheduled to get her to the market was looming. Monday, the last day of the 2015-2016 school year I realized I needed to figure out how I was going to meet this date and I needed to figure it out quickly. I had just applied for a new job, was busy closing down for the year and the date crept up on me as most dates do. I frantically began looking and searching for the best and easiest trailer to rent. Could I borrow a friends trailer? No, I needed to be self-reliant. The u-hauls I looked at had no ventilation. It was hot. I really don’t have the system set up for towing anything other than a few family bikes on the Odyssey. I resorted to blog-reading. When I came across the first and only one that said, “open that sliding door to your mini van and put a tarp down,” I became determined. When I shared my plan with my husband, I won’t share the expletives that left his mouth. Mainly he was worried for my safety driving an hour with a 200lb pig joining me in the back. I can do this. Monday evening, I took the seats out of the car, taped a tarp down and tied a dog crate door in the middle console area. Let the games begin. Come morning feeding time, I backed the Odyssey down to paddock so the sliding side door was parallel to the gate and made a shoot of sorts into the car with his feed on the far side. Up he went without to much coaxing at all and we began our journey to Shuff’s meat market in Thurmont, MD. She ate for the first 15 mins and then began nervous poop circles. Luckily they all landed neatly on the tarp and the sunroof afforded us the necessary air ventilation. I blasted the AC which she loved and sort of unknowingly but a maternal habit began signing lullabies. Off to sleep she went. We arrived 45mins later, I gave one last good belly rub and she joined the pen with 4 other comfortable pigs. Then came the cutting instructions. Scrapple, pudding, feet, we went with it all. The kids were mostly ok with it. After researching confinement operations and discussing with them that we were giving them the best 8 mos. that we could and also being connected with how our food is produced, they came to an understanding. We said a little thank you prayer and a goodbye. Thank you Josie for feeding our family and friends.
0 Comments
The young crew is beginning to live in harmony! I'm tickled pink when I return home to see the chickens enjoying what amounts to be 1 acre of bushes, grasses, stumps and bugs and doing what chickens do best. They are not scratching only in dirt, although they have found the best spots to have a dust bath. They are filling themselves up on lots of good natural protein and deliciousness, foraging around and thoroughly enjoying life. The dogs are watching with eyes closed half the day and definitely know that it is in their best interest to leave well enough alone. It is a peaceful harmony but one that I am yet to fully trust. I won't leave them out together for long periods of time unsupervised but training is working. I know Mr. Fox is still waiting for his moment to come, snatch and run but we haven't seen him for a while.
|
AuthorCatherine Moy Archives
October 2020
Categories |