Good people

Our hobby farm is constantly evolving. There is constant change. That is just part of living on a farm. Animals are born, grow, thrive, and sometimes die. Flowers are planted, grow and sometimes need to be transplanted to a better area of the garden. Gardens need to be weeded and watered. Trees need to be trimmed or cut down. Buildings need to be maintained, repaired, or simply improved. Everything needs constant attention on a farm. A day doesn't pass where there isn't work. The animals are dependent on our care. The day to day care is pretty basic: feed, water, check on everyone for anything out of the ordinary. But there is so much more that happens outside of the the day to day care.There are four dogs that need attention; food, walks, playtime. One is a giant Newfoundland puppy. Norman the Newfie just started his obedience lessons with a trainer and he is doing great. He is a wonderful dog and addition to the farm. He loves all of the animals here. He loves to go out and follow us around during our chores. He will visit each pen and play in the hose water and happily stay by our sides as we tend to all of the animals. At 5 months old and 80 pounds, he is growing by the day and is one big ball of goofy, clumsy, sweet love. The other animals need lots of love and attention too. We have three new baby goats who will be part of our breeding program in the Fall. Two bucklings and a doeling. They were all bottle babies so they are very people friendly and need lots of human interaction. Our youngest buckling, Deacon, is very needy and loves to call to us whenever he sees a person outside. He loves to be held and will follow us everywhere we go. The other two kids are also extremely people friendly and love human attention. The last of our "sold" babies left for his new home yesterday. We had eight beautiful kids born this year, (one who didn't survive) and they all sold within the first 3 weeks. It's always sad when our sold babies go, but I know that they are going to good homes and they will be well taken care of. Some of my buyers have bought babies from me in the past so they are friends of mine. There is a nice community of Mini Silky goat breeders in Michigan and I have gotten to know some of them over the past couple of years. What I have learned from being a hobby farmer is that when you meet people who share your passions; (chickens, goats, llamas, dogs, wild animals, whatever it may be), are such wonderful, interesting people. Fellow hobby farmer's share a love of the earth, a love of life, hard work, being outdoors, animals, nature, learning and sharing. We have been lucky to meet some of the best people doing what we do. There are people who we greatly depend on from our veterinarians to our llama shearer, Sy, to our critter sitter, Cindy, to our hay supplier, and to our other farm friends who share their experiences and knowledge. We are here for one another, connected by our love of what we do. What I have learned is that people who do this are some of the best people you will ever meet. They are passionate, strong, dedicated, determined and down to earth. There is a certain common thread that we all share. We all strive for something different. Something more. Something pure. Something tangible. Something less ordinary. Not just hobby farmers, but anyone who tends to life outside of their self. A gardener, a teacher, a mother, a father, a breeder, a pet owner....To be outside of ourselves, to tend to others, to cultivate life, to be less self absorbed, that's what makes us better humans. That's what makes us kinder, softer, better people.