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Hi Everyone,
When we woke up Monday morning we had no idea where our week would take us. It was a typical Monday morning, but shortly after 8:00 in the morning we realized that it was not going to be a smooth day. Our worker did not show or call and Papa decided that it was time to let him go and set me to the task to find someone to replace him. We have never in our lives advertised for help. For years church members would come and help us out when something big was going on (like processing chickens and turkeys). Young people from church would spend a week with us here and a week with us there. One spring two young men from UF in Gainesville visited our church and when they found out we had a farm they decided to spend the weekends with us and help out on the farm. One of them came back a few years later and spent three months interning on the farm. Our first part time paid worker was a young man from UF who wanted to learn farming. He worked a few days a week at our farm and a few days a week at another farm. If there was ever a perfect worker—it was him. He set the bar pretty high. He moved on after six months, and the last we ever heard from him he was working with a backwoodsman in Montana. Then one of our local customers (an elderly man) needed a job, and he helped us five days a week until his knees gave out. Then one day a man showed up to buy chickens and told me that we had a BIG farm and we needed help and he needed a job. He was Puerto Rican and had lots of skills. He milked, did wood working, fenced, washed the milking equipment, gardened—was our right hand man. Then when we needed more help he took the hiring upon himself—a nephew here, and a nephew there; a brother-in-law here, and a brother there; a few friends to weed the garden; and his landlord to help him fence (that was Steve and he is still with us 14 years later—though full retirement for him is right around the corner). When his health demanded that he quit he brought his brother Eli in to take his place milking and helping us in the garden. Those were the days when we could go on vacation because we had someone who could milk. Eli quit in 2018 in order to get another job that provided insurance—of which his health needed it. We have had a few interns here and there—and they found us through friends or fellow farmers. Last summer a mother called to get her 16 year old a summer job, and when it was time for him to go back to school our next worker walked up our driveway asking for a job. So you see—they were all sent our way one way or another, but we never advertised for help. Now I had to figure out how to advertise that we were now—“Hiring a Farm Hand”. I headed to the computer and opened up our Facebook page and saw a “Create Job” button. I clicked it and found it to be just what I needed. To my amazement I found that there are quite a bit of people who would love to work on a farm—but there was one young man who caught our eye. HE just graduated from college with an Advanced Horticulture C.C.C. He has volunteered with the County Extension office (agriculture) for a few years and is their local mascot Bellamy Beaver—a friendly ambassador for water education. He helps teach both youth and adults about the importance of protecting water resources through interactive lessons, activities, and community programs. His resume said he could lift over 50 pounds (which is necessary when it comes to feeding chickens and cows). He understands soil management (great for the garden) and currently works as a dishwasher at the local Texas Roadhouse—which made me laugh because we will need him to wash the milking equipment two days a week. He loves gardening, knows chickens and is eager to learn about cows and sheep. The most interesting part is that he is our neighbor—Shayne. He can literally walk to work and go home for lunch! He is fixing to be 20 so he is strong, willing, and eager to work on the farm. The dishwashing job was temporary until he could find a job in his field—and he was very excited when the farm next door posted a “Help Wanted” sign on Facebook. He came over Tuesday so we could meet him (had met his mother and father before, but never him) and so we could show him around the farm. Of course in the business world it is customary and polite to give a two week notice before you quit your job—so it will be Monday, July 13 before he can start working for us. That means that we only have to do everything by ourselves this Monday and Tuesday, then Steve will be here to bottle the milk and wash the equipment Wednesday thru Sunday. Papa will have to do all the field chores by himself all week—but next week Lord willing Shayne shall be here to help carry the load. How grateful we have been that the Lord supplied us a new worker so quickly.
Even though Micah was not here to help Monday—the day went smoothly and we were done by 1:00 with all the chores. After lunch I headed to town to do a little shopping. I have been busy sewing for myself of late and Mom had mentioned that she sure would love a pretty new dress. All the material I have for her is dark colors, so I headed to town to find some pretty cheery patriotic material. I checked Walmart first—but they only had one yard. So I headed to Hobby Lobby and found what I needed. When I got home I headed straight upstairs to the sewing room and started on her new jumper dress. I got it cut out and all the pieces sewed together—but I needed all the skirt layers to be gathered and pinned to the bodice. I gave that job to Mama while I cooked dinner. She got two of the layers done before dinner, and I had planned on finishing the dress that day—but the garden called me to harvest melons and then to weed the roselles. I did manage to finish the jumper on Wednesday though.
No two days are ever alike on the farm—which can be good and bad. You do not mind if good days are repeated, but you sure do not want any bad days repeated. While Monday was perfect—Tuesday was not! We had an Azure order to pick up at noon—so we started our day 30 minutes early in hopes to getting done before we had to leave. All was well and going according to plan—until my second round of cows. Green grass is great for milk supply—but it also increases the poo supply during milking. Some cows give you warning—but others just let it rip! When that happens, our clothes usually get pretty decorated with brown spots. Sometimes we can spot clean our clothes, sometimes we just have to hose off the whole dress, and sometimes we just need a change of clothing. I think that I rinsed off my dress with a hose at least three times that morning. Then I had weaned Sundrop’s calf which meant I had to milk her out all the way—and she doesn’t like for you to take her baby’s milk. Sundrop knows how to pitch a temper tantrum. Mama had to stand beside her and pet her and talk sweetly to her while I dodged kicking feet and flying poo! It has been five days now and I will say that Sundrop is calming down some—she will be a great milk cow before we know it. All the cow poo episodes caused us to lose a whole hour of our time. When it was time to leave for our Azure order Papa had only begun to bottle the milk. Mama, who was not feeling the best that day, had Papa empty enough milk out of every tank to make them light enough for her so that she could continue to bottle the milk while Papa and I left to pick up our order. We got there a little early—but the truck ended up being close to an hour late. I did manage to get a much needed nap though. We got home around 2:00 and I had to finish making the yogurt. Then I grabbed a bite to eat and was fixing to head over to bottle the kefir and wash my share of the milking equipment—when Shayne showed up for his interview and farm tour. I let Mama and Papa give him the tour while I washed the equipment and bottled the kefir while talking with his mom. Having someone to talk to while I worked really helped pass the time and helped me to not focus on the time for I had already figured out that it would take me until after 5:00 to finish all I had to do. Mama came back after a little while and Papa took Shayne on a tour of the farm. This gave Mama a chance to wash the kefir dishes for me. When all was said and finally done it was 5:30 in the evening when I finished all the morning chores. It was time for me to cook dinner—and time for Papa to do the evening chores.
We were so grateful to see Steve Wednesday morning. When milking was done and Papa was on his way to Jacksonville to deliver the farm goods to our customers—I headed to the garden to harvest more melons, some tomatoes and my one and only watermelon. Then I finished sewing Mama’s dress and started a new one for myself. I had had some time to just relax!
I was able to weed around the roselles some more Thursday morning after milking. The crab grass is massive and needs to be removed so that the roselles can thrive. Ma was feeling well enough that she spent her morning mowing the front and side yard—but it was so dry that she didn’t get to mow the backyard. After lunch we called in reinforcements to help package the eggs for without Micah we were very behind. My sister brought over my two nieces and my nephew and in a hour and a half we had the weeks’ worth of eggs all packaged. What a blessing!
All week I mulled round and round in my head an idea for a Patriotic YouTube short using our cows with Patriotic names. Thursday morning I wrote out my “speech” then when milking was done Friday morning I grabbed my camera and headed out to the field to video America, came back inside to get a picture of Patriot, then back outside to video Liberty, Justice, Patrick Henry, Betsy Ross, Yankee Doodle Dandy, and Belle (Liberty’s Belle that is). I drove from one field to another field in order to video short clips about each cow as I told the story of America’s Independence back in 1776! I finished the video on our porch facing the flag overlooking the farm with a view of the windmill. I then came in and posted my video: America History—as told by our cows! It was one of my favorite videos to film and create. We then spent the afternoon moving our last batch of meat chicks out to pasture. Then I spent some time finishing my new dress.
Saturday was the 4th of July—America’s 250 Birthday of Independence. Mama and I milked the cows; Steve bottled the milk and washed the equipment, and Papa did all the field chores. We only had about three people wanting an order in Gainesville—so we cancelled our afternoon delivery and took the afternoon off to rest and enjoy some Patriotic music and events around the country (thanks to YouTube). When you cannot get to Mount Rushmore or the Great American State Fair or to New York Harbor it is nice that those who did made videos and shared them with others who couldn’t make it. We had an early dinner of hamburgers, French fries and watermelon (the one and only from our garden). We then headed to Branford to attend their 4th of July Parade (where we enjoyed taking notice of everyone’s red, white and blue clothes) and watch the fireworks. We greatly enjoyed our day and evening. I hope that you had a wonderful 4th of July too!
Serving you with Gladness,
Tiare