a peaceful beginning
this was a couple of weeks ago but the memories linger still.
6:28am- i woke up just minutes before my alarm went off. i had a mission that morning and there was no time for dicking around. I threw on my dirty, full-of-goat-stink farm pants and sweatshirt. it wasn't cold but i felt as if i needed the protection of the layer of fabric between me & my morning duty. I got the fire roaring by the time billy came outside with a pot full of hot tap water. he balanced it over the fire while i covered the picnic table with cardboard. wordlessly we headed to the barn, opened the gate and let the chickens out. Our eyes scanned through them: we were in search of the finest, fattest rooster; this was a killing morning. Without agreeing on any one rooster we left them alone and pulled out the rooster we isolated in a cat carrier thenight before.. isolation is important if you want them to digest everything before you kill them.
to make a long story short: we hung the rooster upside down by its feet, said a prayer and slit its throat while holding its wings down so it wouldn't flap everywhere. i could feel the life leave the body in convultions. it took a good, long while.
with the fire still burning strong, i went upstaires to grab a cast iron pan to cook us up some fresh liver and gizzards for breakfast. What a tasty treat gizzards are first thing in the morning! Other people from the house slowly started waking up & trickling outside as we finished up. There were not enough gizzard to share around so instead i got another pot out with some oats, honey and spices to put out on the fire. i snuck out to the bushes and picked fresh raspberries & borage flowers to add to the delish pot of mush. It was the perfect treat to share with the SNAC family, and the perfect way to start the day.
6:28am- i woke up just minutes before my alarm went off. i had a mission that morning and there was no time for dicking around. I threw on my dirty, full-of-goat-stink farm pants and sweatshirt. it wasn't cold but i felt as if i needed the protection of the layer of fabric between me & my morning duty. I got the fire roaring by the time billy came outside with a pot full of hot tap water. he balanced it over the fire while i covered the picnic table with cardboard. wordlessly we headed to the barn, opened the gate and let the chickens out. Our eyes scanned through them: we were in search of the finest, fattest rooster; this was a killing morning. Without agreeing on any one rooster we left them alone and pulled out the rooster we isolated in a cat carrier thenight before.. isolation is important if you want them to digest everything before you kill them.
to make a long story short: we hung the rooster upside down by its feet, said a prayer and slit its throat while holding its wings down so it wouldn't flap everywhere. i could feel the life leave the body in convultions. it took a good, long while.
with the fire still burning strong, i went upstaires to grab a cast iron pan to cook us up some fresh liver and gizzards for breakfast. What a tasty treat gizzards are first thing in the morning! Other people from the house slowly started waking up & trickling outside as we finished up. There were not enough gizzard to share around so instead i got another pot out with some oats, honey and spices to put out on the fire. i snuck out to the bushes and picked fresh raspberries & borage flowers to add to the delish pot of mush. It was the perfect treat to share with the SNAC family, and the perfect way to start the day.