It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time!

Wow! Where has the time gone? Just last week (it was last week, wasn't it?) I posted on here about goats...or was it? Now I realize nearly 2 years have flown by since I last sat down to document the crazy, bizarro life on the ranch.

A lot has happened in that time. Here is the past 2 years in a nutshell, or Reader's Digest Condensed Version:

1 - 2007 - We decided that meat goats just weren't enough work for us. We purchase a herd of Berkshire pigs from Manitoba. In our excitement we "order them up" without first a) consulting anyone else on the farm b) having a suitable abode for such pigs or c) consulting with a financial, spiritual or mental health advisor. And by "we" I mean "me". The pigs arrived no worse for wear and so what if they spent the first few months of their time on the ranch "free ranging" about. That's what pasture pork is all about, right?

2 - We soon realize that pigs are PROLIFIC ie. rabbits would have a hard time reproducing with such efficiency. Result = our herd grows at an astronomical rate.

3 - We realize "Holy doodle! We have 140,239 pounds of pork to sell! WHAT NOW!?"

4 - The logical solution...open a meat shop.

5 - And a cafe.

6 - And a deli.

7 - And a bakery.

8 - And while we are at it, why not a butcher shop too.

9 - Hey, and a goat dairy would be fun, dont'cha think?

10 - Oh yes, don't forget to add into the midst of this all "Conceive, gestate for 11 months (or was it really only 9?), and birth a completely new human named Nathan Norman".

Phew - I am tired just thinking about all we've accomplished (aka "subjected ourselves and all of those near and dear to us") since that fateful day back in 2007 when the phrase "HEY! I've got a great idea!" was innocently uttered.

If only we knew then that those are the most feared words on this farm.

Here's hoping for a lot fewer "great ideas" in 2009! Here's hoping for a whole lot more rest. And maybe a vacation might be an idea! :)

Til next time...don't be loco, eat local :)

Tam