The piglets were loaded into the truck yesterday. They spent the night in the truck in the canopy, but they had two big bales of straw in which to hid all night and stay warm. It is easier for the butcher's if the piglets are not fed or watered overnight so that was how it was. 

The other day I went into the chicken coop and it was clean as a whistle, not a poop anywhere. Hmmm, I did not just clean it. I wonder who did? 

Well, surprise, surprise. The busy housecleaners were the piglets. Like the dogs, they enjoy eating the chicken poop, and the duck poop, but not so much the rabbit poop. And they are small enough to fit through the pop door of the coop! So they all went in there and went to work. Even behind the tarp which is under the perches to direct the poop away from the sleeping ducks who live there, there was not a morsel of duck poop. Good little piggies. 

The next night, the piggies had decided to take up residence in the coop. There were around 20 of the little porkers, of various ages and breeds, but they managed to snuggle together under the straw and were warm and toasty. The temperatures dropped to minus 37 with the wind chill and the coop stayed above zero. That is a lot of body heat from the pigs and chickens generated to keep the coop that warm. It is insulated, but has never stayed above zero on really cold nights. The next night, I closed the pop door because the piglets needed to be taken to the butcher and had to be loaded into the truck today. They should have been easy to catch and it was all set up, except for Robbie. That dog! He pushed the barrier down to better see what was going on and then half the gaffers ran out. But they went to their previous home, so it was not too difficult to round them up and catch them there. There are three piglets left, not quite enough to keep the coop above zero, I think. And the pop door is left open too. One poor little hen, one of my favourites, a little Chantecler cross, was not up on the perch and froze in that wind. I tried to put her up and she just came back down. She will likely not survive another day, poor chicken. The rest in both coops are faring extremely well, thank goodness. There are no piglets in the other coop, but more chickens in a smaller area where the perches are. So they have stayed warm enough. 

The little piglets will be permitted to sleep in the chicken coop as long as they can fit through the pop door. I know one is male but did not see what sex the other two are. The butcher may not take all those that are loaded either, so some might come back home. Drat! Only about 6 are sold so far. Thank goodness it is so cold. The rest can go in the new freezer until they are sold or enjoyed. 

I highly recommend putting some piglets with the chickens in winter. It keeps the coop spotlessly clean and warm. Both the piglets and chickens benefit, and so do I. 

The winter solsitce fast approaches this frozen north. It is the opportunity to look forward to the lengthening of the days once again, and the return of the sun to the world to bring the warmth. There are many, many myths surrounding the solstice, the celebrations which arose from the time and the mirth and joy it brought. One can only imagine in the days gone by, when winter came, how the people suffered. There was no central heating to provide a warm abode. Wood, if they were lucky enough to have it, was the fuel of choice and those without, were indeed, very cold. Of course, they revered the return of the sun to bring some warmth to their weary souls. I do too. 

The polar vortex has shifted and much of Canada is very cold. There is an icy wind from the north accompanying the frigid temperatures too, so the minus 26 celcius seems to be closer to minus 37 in feel. Of the animals on the farm, most have learned to keep warm. There are shelters for all in which to go. When the shelter is filled with bodies, the temperature therein actually rises. In the main chicken coop, there are also Muscovy ducks, who are of South American origins, and do not tolerate cold nearly so well as the North American ducks and their offspring. The wild cross turkeys seem nearly oblivious to the cold, chirping away in their airy hut. The other chickens are huddled together, much closer than in the main coop and in a smaller area, so the body heat that is generated provides enough warmth to all when they are perched asleep. 

One interesting event is the addition of the piglets to the main coop. They found the straw set for the Muscovy ducks under the shelter of the tarp used to sheild and collect the droppings of the perched chickens (and one guinea hen). The piglets have made the coop their home since their mothers left for freezer camp on Tuesday. And those young porkers are very good housekeepers too, cleaning up all the chicken poop so the coop is fresh and clean. Who knew? They clean up the poop in the duck and goose coop too, but leave their own in there, which the chickens scratch through. I guess that is the way of the farm. Amazing really, isn't it. 

The bills are once again all paid. I do not know really how it all happens, but so far every year, the farm has remained solvent and managed to make ends meet and leave a little in the bank for the upcoming year. I am very grateful for this and that I have had the opportunity to learn about the animals and how to become more sustainable. I am thankful for so many small blessings, too, for each minute bit of joy brings so much peace to my soul. I am in love with my life, really, and have what I want and want what I have. As we near the beginning of the longer days, the winter solstice, I wish for you , too, the many small blessings to lighten your spirits and feel the blessings in this world. Bless you each and every one. 

It is with a sad and very heavy heart that I am offering my beloved border collie for adoption. Robbie came home with me when he was just 8 weeks old, a pure bred border collie from the Redwater area. I had been shopping for a border collie for some time, since my trusty companion of 14 years, Josie, was put down months before. She was a good dog, my Josie, with her border collie quirky ways and I missed her so much. 

I had been to see many litters and none of the puppies seemed quite the right one, that is, until I met Robbie. He was from a large litter. The man had sheep and the puppies were from working stock, so he told me. They were the most delightful little gaffers, medium fur, classic border collie markings, flop ears - just what I was looking for. One little fellow came up to me and put his paw on my leg and then looked into my eyes, scampered away and played a bit, then came back and put that little paw up again. That, I knew, was the sign of a dominant dog, and I was not overly concerned, since if I took him home with me, he would be my 11th border collie. They were simply my breed. 

The little puppy came back and sat beside me and looked up into my eyes. Yup! He was the one. So, I paid the man $450 and loaded Robbie into the little kennel I had brought in case and we were off to a great friendship. Robbie, not once messed in the house. He did not prefer to sleep in his kennel, and I did not force him since there was no issue with house training. Inside the house he was calm and sweet, listening all the time. It took him one or two lessons to grasp what he was to learn, as he is incredibly smart. In no time at all, he learned, sit, stay, down, find, fetch, this way and that way as indicated by my outstretched arms which showed him the direction I wanted him to run. He loved to play fetch with a ball or stick and was a delight, but for one thing. As soon as I was not paying attention to him, he was gone to find something interesting to do. Lots of that involved chasing animals, particularly sheep and cows. 

For a while he got very much better and came to a whistle or call. He was even becoming adept at herding the sheep, bringing them in from the pature for the night. He could be trusted with the poultry and waterfowl on the farm, and the rabbits, but never with the sheep. For some reason, he would run them in one direction and then run in front of them and run them back to where he started. That was great fun for him. Outside, reprimanding him seemed to have llittle effect. He simply could not be left to run free without supervision. 

Robbie is 5 and  a half years old. I am not sure what spurred him to have a bad change of behaviour, but this summer, he started to corner a ram and then rip wool from it and bite. When he was caught, he would wag his tail as though he believed he was doing something right. No matter how much I yelled at him, threw him on the ground and held him down, he would get up all happy. He was not getting the message. 

The real problem began when he was outside with me, and I was busy, usually on the phone or talking to some one in person. He would take off and corner a sheep. Usually it was a ram, I think , because they tended to fight a little, which gave him more interest in what he deemed his 'job'. But then, just last month, he cornered my Babydoll ram and bit him pretty hard. The ram was fine, or so it seemed, then all of a sudden went down, a week later. I gave him some antibiotics, but I was too late. He likely died from a wound that had become septic. 

Then, this morning, I let him out to do his business and forgot him for about 15 minutes. 15 minutes too long. He got Bob, the Cotswold ram, down and chewed him up very badly. Bob has neck wounds, leg wounds and his ear is nearly torn off on the side that he has a blind eye. I am pretty sure that Joe, and possibly Mike, joined in because there was some blood on their faces. Now, after the Babydoll died, I planned to never let Robbie out of my sight. He no longer can be trusted around sheep at all, though he is a wonderful dog, loves family and would be super as a pet, away from sheep. 

He can be tied and is fairy quiet, only barking when he really feels there is a reason. He cannot be fenced in or kenneled, unless the kennel has a roof, or he will climb out. He will jump pretty much any fence. I do not want him to spend his life tied up though. He needs to be with people who will play with him, throw a ball so he can fetch, and love him. He is very lovable and extremely well behaved in the house. Just NO SHEEP. 

I am sick with sorrow though. My heart is broken. Robbie and I , well, there is a special bond there. I love him with all my soul. It is like giving your own child away. I, of course, want the best home for him, where he will be loved and happy. I do not want him to go, but I cannot keep him here. It is too dangerous for my sheep and they deserve to be safe. Oh oh oh dear, my sweet puppy. I will miss you so so much. 

​PS. Robbie loves car rides and is a wonderful babysitter for newborn lambs and sheep, and for chicks, ducklings, and bunnies. He tends to them with tender loving care. 

I am perched on the ancient wooden rocking chair, which is clad in a luxurious large sheepskin, next to the tiny woodstove. Ah, the warmth of the fire after a long, long cold winter's day is heavenly. Winter has arrived with a vengence. From temperatures hovering around zero, give or take a few degrees either way, and virtually no snow after a huge dump in October, which subeqently melted, we now have extreme cold coupled with blowing snow. It came so suddenly, the animals have not had time to acclimatize and they are shivering and hiding in their shelters, except those wooly lovable sheep. I am not sure they know it is cold! 

Rosy was in her makeshift shelter this afternoon, peacefully choping on her cud and merrily relaxing as if it was a balmy day. The other sheep in her breeding group, the Babydolls, were all outside in the elements, eating away. One good thing is that sheep will eat snow and require little water in the winter. I still carry buckets and hammer the ice out of their rubber tubs and buckets and give them fresh water, but most of them do not even come for a drink. So that makes my 22 five gallon buckets down instantly to 12, just a little over half of what I would normally offer. And the cows are not here presently. They drink huge amounts of water. They can go to the creek, but prefer it delivered! Chickens and ducks to a certain extent will eat snow too, but they prefer water and the ducks and geese still require a bucket in which they can dip their faces to moisten their eyes. If there is enough water, they will still bathe, despite today's minus 18 with a windchill, feels like minus 28 temperature. 

I was still moving some animals around and fortifying the shelters where needed. The turkeys were to go to the butcher's on Wednesday, but they cancelled and it has been put off until next Wednesday, the 14th. They were in large cages and were shivering, which is rare for turkeys, but the wind was coming under them and I knew they were cold. They got moved to the coop that had the born in the bush (or wherever) chickens that do not go in the main coop and those chickens got moved in with the remainder of the true Ameraucanas that the fox left behind, mostly beautiful roosters. Unfortunately, but for two, they are going to have the same fate as the turkeys, on the 14th. The hens will be left behind for egg layers in the spring. One of the white Chanteclers lays an egg a day thorugh this cold weather, and a few others give some eggs now and then, but basically production has ceased for a couple of months. This naturally gives the hen's bodies a much needed rest. Some force egg production with artificial lights and such, but I prefer nature to reign here. The hens are happier and healthier when they are allowed to have that winter rest. 

Seven ram lambs went to the abbatoir this morning at 7 am. I know, I know. I am not usually up and out working at that time, but the bucher shop wanted the lambs there by 8. I could not catch the piglets, a dozen of which were supposed to be on that butcher bus, so the majority will go next week. The sows will leave tomorrow for freezer camp. No more piggies after the babies are gone. Since I cannot find non sprayed grain in this area, I won't be raising pigs or likely eating pork. But the lamb is grass fed and there will be copious quantities and the heifers are going to have calfs in January and February at a calving barn, so if one or both are boys, they will be steers for beef. Such is the way of the farm. 

In the meantime, my herbal infusion of horsetail, wild red raspberry leaf and wild bergamot tea is soothing. An old blue spotted enamel pot sits atop the woodstove simmering some lavender essential oil from Salt Spring Island with a few drops of Eygyptian geranium and pine. The cosy little farmhouse is warm and comforting, but I wish you were all here to join me. 
​Til you can come...