Summer farm work
So much to say and so little energy to say it.
Today was a long day, but with many breaks. We hung more hay on a fence until the farrier showed up to re-shoe the fjord horses. He argues that Odin's limping has to do with sore legs and not sore feet, so Odin is still without shoes. Meanwhile I weeded the garden and then we had our traditionally small lunch.
We hung some more hay until someone came to buy cheese and then we got ready for a visit from one of H's past wwoofers. He was here three years ago and is now completing his PhD in agricultural sciences here in Norway. He brought his family and a couple friends and we sat outside to an early, light ploughman's dinner (usually we have dinner around 4pm) (and then H and HK have 'tea' at 9ish when the work is done, our English visitors were here for tea and having dinner later - so confusing) and chatted away. It was almost like a picture in one of those country living magazines with the picnic table and gingham table cloth, wood furniture, etc except that everything was very used instead of very fresh, nobody was in a summer frock and two of us were sweaty.
After they left we moved the horses to another field, chatted with the neighbour on the way back, prepped a new field for cutting (which HK promptly did) and noticed some cut grass in a small yard along the road. While H milked the cows I collected the grass to feed the stabled horse and calf. And then I fed the pigs and chickens.
H's farm setup is pretty idyllic. While the cows are down at another field, she rides her bike there (with churns of hot water) and back (with churns full of milk). We're regularly walking cows or horses along the road from one field to the next. I carted the cut grass back and forth in a wheelbarrow. But summer hours are long. H works at least 12 hour days not including breaks. Because I'm not actually hired help, my days are meant to be only 5-6 hours, so I end up feeling guilty while she runs around doing this and that. So when I have no initiative to go for a walk or otherwise occupy myself, I work some more. I'm not sure if it's the farming, the change of work, or the environment, but these two weeks will certainly be good for my work ethic, which was failing at my last job.
I have no idea how the farmers in the Victorian novels had energy at the end of the day to run away and romp in some long grass.
Yesterday morning we weeded the potato field with horse and plough. I held the plough while H guided the horse along the rows. It didn't seem like particularly fatiguing work at the time (apart from when Tulla was walking at a clip) but my arms are sore today. Good stuff! I wish I had gotten a picture of that, it's straight from a story book.
I think I'll have to save my discussion of farm economics and appearances for the next entry or else this one will be too long and no one will read. That's probably the more interesting part.
Lastly, I'm actually interested in your answers to the food prejudice questions in the previous post, they're not rhetorical. Even if you have no idea, that's still an answer and I'd like to know.
Today was a long day, but with many breaks. We hung more hay on a fence until the farrier showed up to re-shoe the fjord horses. He argues that Odin's limping has to do with sore legs and not sore feet, so Odin is still without shoes. Meanwhile I weeded the garden and then we had our traditionally small lunch.
We hung some more hay until someone came to buy cheese and then we got ready for a visit from one of H's past wwoofers. He was here three years ago and is now completing his PhD in agricultural sciences here in Norway. He brought his family and a couple friends and we sat outside to an early, light ploughman's dinner (usually we have dinner around 4pm) (and then H and HK have 'tea' at 9ish when the work is done, our English visitors were here for tea and having dinner later - so confusing) and chatted away. It was almost like a picture in one of those country living magazines with the picnic table and gingham table cloth, wood furniture, etc except that everything was very used instead of very fresh, nobody was in a summer frock and two of us were sweaty.
After they left we moved the horses to another field, chatted with the neighbour on the way back, prepped a new field for cutting (which HK promptly did) and noticed some cut grass in a small yard along the road. While H milked the cows I collected the grass to feed the stabled horse and calf. And then I fed the pigs and chickens.
H's farm setup is pretty idyllic. While the cows are down at another field, she rides her bike there (with churns of hot water) and back (with churns full of milk). We're regularly walking cows or horses along the road from one field to the next. I carted the cut grass back and forth in a wheelbarrow. But summer hours are long. H works at least 12 hour days not including breaks. Because I'm not actually hired help, my days are meant to be only 5-6 hours, so I end up feeling guilty while she runs around doing this and that. So when I have no initiative to go for a walk or otherwise occupy myself, I work some more. I'm not sure if it's the farming, the change of work, or the environment, but these two weeks will certainly be good for my work ethic, which was failing at my last job.
I have no idea how the farmers in the Victorian novels had energy at the end of the day to run away and romp in some long grass.
Yesterday morning we weeded the potato field with horse and plough. I held the plough while H guided the horse along the rows. It didn't seem like particularly fatiguing work at the time (apart from when Tulla was walking at a clip) but my arms are sore today. Good stuff! I wish I had gotten a picture of that, it's straight from a story book.
I think I'll have to save my discussion of farm economics and appearances for the next entry or else this one will be too long and no one will read. That's probably the more interesting part.
Lastly, I'm actually interested in your answers to the food prejudice questions in the previous post, they're not rhetorical. Even if you have no idea, that's still an answer and I'd like to know.