Finally Free!!

Yikes! I wanted to take some pictures of this beautiful day but my family took the digital camera with them to Pennsylvania. It was sunny, warm(or warmer) and the snow was finally melting in spots. It was the first time since the snow that I found the chickens in my front yard. I wanted to take a picture of the rooster and his ladies on my front porch. Ramona's piglets were out and about for the first time today! It was fun to see little red things dart back and forth across their field. I wanted to take a picture of that, too! My next group of Berkshire pork was completely covered in mud. I can tell and name each one of my pigs. All of them. But today, I couldn't tell any of the Berkshires apart. The time just before sunset was really beautiful. It was a great opportunity to look at my animals and make sure everyone is happy and healthy. Mary Lou(a Tamworth gilt) needed extra rubbing. I love when you touch them and they just collapse right on the ground. She is just like her mom(#2). It was also a great opportunity to study conformation. Hopefully we can expect quite a few litters in the spring.

Because of all of our wonderful customers, our farm is busting at the seams. I can't think of a better "problem"! Too much demand, not enough supply. We are researching now in hopes of expanding our markets. We still will only provide pork and poultry. We love the pigs, love the birds...no need to expand the livestock list. This is what we want to specialize in, what we want to educate everyone with and simply what we want to tuck in every night!

Just thought I would add a picture of part of the restoration. This was at the very beginning. The portico was falling on one side...had to be raised. The pilasters had to be rebuilt and the front looked as if it had been bombed in the Civil War. But notice the perfect symmetry of the flowers and flower pots! I am a complete spaz about symmetry!!

Red Dalmatians?

Back in August, a Berkshire sow, Ramona, decided to get out of her paddock for an early morning walk. I discovered her down the hill walking alongside Big Daddy, our Tamworth boar. Scott and I got Big Daddy back in his paddock and we walked Ramona to the pasture in front with the other Berkshires. She was in heat so it was important to get her with Ollie. So, for the next 114 days, we would question what the outcome would be...crossed piglets or pure Berks.

Ramona started farrowing late in the evening on December 15th. I quietly walked over to the hut with a flashlight and was surprised to see the first three piglets..."little red dalmatians"...Big Daddy got to her first! I woke up around 3:00am and realized I would never be able to go back to sleep unless I checked on Ramona and her piglets. Ramona was absolutely huge and we were hoping for a large litter. At 4:00am I got my coat on, grabbed my flashlight and made the trek up to the hut. She had a total of fourteen! However, one had been stillborn and one was most likely dead for a long time. It was very small and already decomposing. Twelve incredibly cute piglets.

For the first few days, I feel like I always hold my breath as I approach the farrowing hut first thing in the morning. It's common for the big moms to lay on small piglets, especially the runts. We'll lose some every now and then because of that. Ramona did lay on one, I'm guessing, last Friday. It's disappointing.

Already they are running around inside the hut. If there wasn't snow on the ground, I'm sure they would be exploring outside. We won't be expecting any more piglets until next spring, which is fine since it appears this will be a snowy winter.

Pretty Pigs in the Snow

We've been here at Pleasant Hill Farm almost five years and haven't needed to experience livestock management in blizzard like weather yet. We haven't really seen much snow in the last couple of years, at least since getting the pigs. Scott was supposed to go into D.C. yesterday but since the storm was definitely heading our way, he thought best to work from home and get the animals ready.

One thing we learned about farming is how closely connected we are to the weather. You listen to the reports and prepare. Prepare for rain, extreme heat, snow, etc. We had to make sure we were aware of what the wind direction would be. Scott moved and turned all of the pig huts so the snow would not be able to blow inside. He made door coverings out of extra plywood we saved, just so the pigs could have extra warmth and shelter. Fresh straw was placed in all of the huts. All of the feed bowls had to be brought into the shop so they wouldn't be covered. The water troughs were dumped and moved directly in front of the huts. We also needed to make sure our newly farrowed litter would be okay. It was an all day event and just after it was dark, we were done.

Today, with almost two feet of snow and four foot drifts, it was another all day event feeding and watering. Feeding wasn't so bad but our irrigation system is still primitive. Our one and only hydrant was covered in a huge drift. Easy solution...my oldest son, Jonah, filled up the water buckets with hot water from the bathtub. What wasn't easy was walking through the drifts trying to hold up the buckets. One time I fell on some rough ground, but I saved the water!

Watching my hogs in the snow made me appreciate the Heritage breeds. They can handle this harsh weather. Lulu, one of my Tamworth gilts was outside walking around all morning. She was beautiful with her striking red hair covered in snow. Scott and I took some water down to the Large Black Hogs at the bottom of our hill. I looked up and saw several Berkshires running down towards us, with snow just about half way up their bodies...not even phased. I will be glad to greet them again tomorrow morning...and do it all over again.