Be a Pioneer - and a Farmer

It is good for me that i was afflicted, that i may learn Your statutes.  - Psalm 119:71

The Benefits of Hardship

I use the word 'hardship' very casually here.

I mean to say that what i'm experiencing should not really be classified as a hardship but rather an inconvenience or temporary lack of luxury. We have been without running water on demand in our home for almost a week. We have not been without any access to water. That would be a hardship - and possibly death.

What we have here is simply less than ideal - and a little stinky.

Since Sunday, we have been carefully biding our water supply, carried in in jugs from work or kind local businesses that let us fill up. We've been using paper plates, trying to take it easy on the dishes, and getting creative about how to clean them.

Today, i started with i think a little less than 5 gallons of water in jugs - and a kitchen full of dirty dishes - and an "enough already" attitude.

And today, i learned, that i can do a kitchen full of dishes with less than 3 gallons of water and a lot of heat. My kitchen is gleaming now, and i am quite satisfied. I feel like i conquered something.

Other things i've learned from the water shortage: i can brush my teeth with 1/2 cup of water, and i can wash my face with about a cup.

Not bad.

Right now it is raining, so i have a bucket and a really big pot under the drips outside, collecting water to flush my toilet and give water to my chickens. It feels great to be resourceful.

And i feel like my brain and my capacity grew a little this week.  I'm hoping it doesn't have to grow too much more right now.  But if it does, i'll just go ahead and be thankful.

 I have definitely benefited from my hardship.


The Ugly Side of Farming

In other news, and the nitty gritty truth of farming, i'll tell you about my rooster.

From Drop Box

This is Rocky, my Rhode Island Red rooster.

Rocky is about 3 1/2 weeks older than my pullets, his female counterparts. And Rocky is frustrated.

Poor Rocky has reached the rooster hormonal equivalent of a 16 year old boy.  However, Rocky, the rooster, did not have the benefit of taking a class in high school or asking his parents where eggs come from. He just obeys the demand of his bird-brained hormones.

His female flockmates are just enough younger than he is that they are not at all interested in his hormones or anything else he has to offer.

This has resulted in a lot of excitement in my yard.  From first thing in the morning until right before they go to bed, Rocky seems to be 'after' someone.  Between the problem that Rocky doesn't appear to know what he's doing - and the fact the these girls want nothing to do with his advances, Rocky's would-be encounters result in a lot of flapping and squawking and running away from that crazy rooster.

It's so sad.  For everyone, really.

I'm told this will get better, that Rocky will learn a little more finesse with the ladies over time - and that the ladies will not throw such a fit when they get old enough that this behavior is appropriate.

Right now, I think it's just stressing them out.