Essential.

I'm one of the "lucky" ones whose job is considered essential. A couple weeks ago, my health began to fail me as I realized I was in the throes of a terribly painful autoimmune flare. My entire innards are inflamed and bleeding. Wedging me firmly into the "at-risk" category, as if I wasn't there already. For a couple weeks before all this, I was conflicted.. thankful I still have a job to go to, and afraid to go to work.

Just as I was leaving the hospital, my doctor called me. She'd received the reports from my weekend stay and had to check in. I explained to her what was going on and said, maybe I shouldn't be going to work.. I could hear her stand up on the other end of the line as her voice changed, realizing I was still going in..

Stay. Home.

That is what's essential right now. To not go to work and let my body heal. It took me more than a bit to accept this. And even though I have mostly come to terms with it, I keep pushing myself to feel good enough to last a full shift on my feet and moving. Some days are better than others. I've had two days this past week that amount to spending 90% of my time in bed, feeling like garbage.

As it turns out, my staying on the homestead has become my essential role these days. It's been an unusually dry, sunny April which means the freshly seeded beds need to be watered several times a day. Given the current state of things, our ever important food gardens feel extra critical to produce this season. I'm hardly surprised anymore to go to the grocery and not find things like carrots or fresh greens.

Speaking of food availability, another item that's been harder to find these days is eggs. As luck would have it, a friend has the hookups with a local free range organic flock and we're able to source a case of eggs a week to disperse to our neighbours. Not for profits, just for the accompanying joy and sense of accomplishment that comes with knowing you can help someone even in a small way. The experience in doing so has been one that will stick with me for years to come.

I feel the most essential thing to address right now for many of us is our mental health. It's not every day that every facet of our lives is affected by a global pandemic, and the effects unseen can be the most damaging. I spent 2 weeks having panic attacks about still having to work, and harder panic attacks about my job situation possibly shutting down. My body forcing me into taking leave had me scared about getting employment insurance, and even now receiving the funds has come with it's own pile of stress. It's imperative both for my recovery and to make it though this mentally, that I learn to chill the fack out.

To all my essential and frontline working friends, my heart is with you. Thank you for keeping us safe and fed. To my homies working from home, I'm glad you are safe. Please take good care. To everyone caught in the vortex of uncertainty, don't forget- we're in this alone, together. Don't hesitate to reach out if you need a friend to talk to.

Health and Un-wellness

I'm writing about this because it's a part of my
journey. I'm writing about this so that I don't forget.

Wednesday after lunch, I started to feel pain in my back- right around my kidney. I figured with all the stress, and maybe I wasn't drinking enough water that I possibly had a kidney infection. I left work early in a great deal of pain and went to a walk-in clinic. I insisted it had to be an infection. They took a quick urine sample and found that there was no infection, and based on my pain, most likely a kidney stone. I took the doctor's advice and a prescription to help things move along.

The next day, the same pain. Only a little more intense. It had changed and moved, it was now radiating through my core, hurting between my ribs at the base, right on top of my stomach. Having an appointment scheduled to talk to my doctor early Friday morning, I decided to just go home, drink water and try to make myself comfortable until I could get some advice.

Friday morning rolls around, and it seems to have calmed down, although persistent and concerning. I explained to my doctor, she said it could very well be a gallstone, and that if the pain got worse or I felt feverish to go to the hospital right away. I thought to myself, I don't think it'll get bad enough to have to do that. But it did.

We were already home for farming Friday and the doc's appointment, so we did what we do and went up to the farmstead to get some work done. We set up the tent, and started to work on the barn and clearing bramble off the fence. I felt a bit hungry, so I stopped for a snack. Little did I know, I was about to experience the absolute worst pain of my life (so far..).

The pain came on in a matter of minutes, about half an hour after eating. It was intense, suffocating pain. It started as a sharp pinch in my core, and like lighting quickly radiated out through my spine and ribs. I felt like I was simultaneously being blown apart from the inside, and crushed from the outside right around my middle. I was overwhelmed. I couldn't drive, in fact I couldn't stop myself from crying out in pain. We left everything as it was and went back to the house.

I tried the usual, slam some water and sit on the toilet. Everything I tried to do (or not do) seemed to make it worse. I became delirious in pain. I was starting to pass out from it. I begged J not to call 911, but alas... I could hear him on the phone. They could hear me screaming. An ambulance was sent to pick me up right away. I could barely get myself up, but I walked into the ambulance hunched over. They strapped a mask on me and handed me a "just in case" bag.. the pain was making me nauseous. I had completely lost my lunch just before they arrived.

The ambulance attendant asked for a brief of my medical history, starting from now and working back. I realized that by the time I had made it all the way back to my first memories of digestive issues, we were already in town.. a 20 minute drive. The list is long, and health has been a struggle for me my whole life. We arrived at the hospital, and the pain was starting to subside. Blood was drawn, vials were taken.

My bloodwork was showing that my kidneys were in fact inflamed, and my liver enzymes were crazy high. Normal being from 10 to 60 units per liter. Mine was closer to 800. Same with my pancreatic enzymes, they were almost 10 times higher than they should be. They monitored me for a few hours, put an order in for an ultrasound, and eventually sent me home. I was instructed to have liquids if anything, and get some rest, and return in the morning to retest my blood.

The phone woke me up. It was the receptionist in the imaging department asking if I could come in right away. Perfect, I had to go back for morning bloodwork anyways. Everything all at once. I was asked if I had eaten or had anything to drink which I hadn't. I went in right away. My blood levels had come way back down, the imaging showed minor swelling. After assessing the symptoms, the doctor on call had concluded that it was a stomach ulcer and depletion of my stomach lining, but also a possibility of pancreatitis. He didn't think it was likely given my age and general healthy lifestyle, but worth keeping an eye on. He instructed me to stick to a liquid diet for a few days to let my system rest.

Perfect, I thought.. I have a juicer and a blender and it's kind of already how I do. Sunday afternoon rolls around, I'd just made a batch of clear celery and cucumber green juice, and an opportunity arose for us to collect a free table saw from a curbside in town. I drank the juice, loaded into the van, and made it to town and *almost* all the way back... the gas station was closer, so I pulled over. I didn't realize till I went in, of course.. because of the virus, public washrooms aren't open. I went back out towards the van and collapsed.

I did what I was told. I had stuck to liquids, I thought I was okay. But this time.. this time was even more intense than ever. I felt like I drank a bottle of molten lava. I was screaming uncontrollably. J picked me up and took me the rest of the way home so that I could die on the toilet. He was visibly upset. I begged him not to call an ambulance in my disoriented screams. He called my parents, he called his parents.. he was in tears and didn't know what to do. He demanded I get in the truck, he could get me to the hospital faster than waiting for the ambulance. Once my guts finally finished spasming out all the liquids I'd consumed, I literally crawled bawling to the truck.

It was the longest ride of my life. I struggled to breathe between heaving from the pain. He pulled up at the emergency doors and I tumbled out into the driveway. The doctor from the morning before was there. He wasn't impressed to see me back. I insisted that I'd followed his instruction, and yet the pain had doubled this time. It was the worst thing I'd felt ever. I was delirious. I was hooked up to the cartiograph machine, and then rushed into an xray.

After several attempts on my tiny veins, the nurse finally found a place to put an IV and immediately loaded me up. Within minutes I couldn't feel a thing. I barely remember being hooked up to a drip, and being taken to a bed. All I remember was wretching every time I tried to move from the sheer intensity of the morphine. They'd stacked me with a quadruple dose. Given the amount of pain I was in, I wasn't about to complain...

I came to, wide awake of course, at 4am as I do, in a bed in a big room by myself. I still had my mukluks on in the bed. Once I was able to stand, I rolled my IV stand and myself to the washroom. And that's about as far as I'd get.

It was a long day. It seemed like an eternity had passed in this big room all alone. The nurse came in to change my fluid bag. I spent most of my time trying to find a position to lay that was tolerable for the pain in my core, but possible without ripping the tube from my vein. I wished I'd brought a book. The pain was still present, but it left enough space for my mind to wander.

Around 9am, an unexpected food tray arrived. I wasn't sure if I was allowed to eat it. Jello, apple juice and coffee. I asked for water. I tried a couple scoops of jello and just a sip of juice, and it was near instant regret. As the pain rose in my torso, I felt a bit defeated. Frustration set in. I asked the nurse if I could have broth and tea next time.

1030am. I'm unhooked. The IV port was still in my hand, but I was given time off the drip to adjust for lunch. Eventually I got my broth and tea. It took a while, but I was able to drink most of it down. It felt good to be able to drink something warm. Just after I finished, the doctor came in. She told me what was going on with my pancreas, and then started through the list of possible reasons. First question as always, do you drink? No, I haven't for years. It's the most common cause if pancreatitis and I have never been a drinker. Smoke? Nope, quit two years ago. Saturated fats? Processed foods? No and no.. in fact, I often get made fun of at work for how healthy I eat.

I explained to her all the other problems I've had over the years, and the events leading up to this, and as soon as I mentioned a slough of autoimmune disorders I've had and currently struggle with, it clicked. It's my own immune system. But why? That's the mystery...

Sooo how long I gotta stay in the hospital for? Given the current state of things, the hospital is an extra anxious place to be. She said to me, as soon as we're sure you can at least keep something liquid down. I pointed to the empty bowl and half empty tea. I explained to her that I can't handle the rest of the acidy sugary things on a good day. She implied that she'd rather I stay to avoid another episode, but if I could promise to stick to their strict guidelines, I could be allowed to leave until my CT scan. We talked and waited a little bit longer to be sure. Once I proved I was capable, the discharge forms were completed and the port removed from my hand.

My doctor called as soon as I got home. She'd received the reports from the hospital from all my visits over the weekend, and knowing me, she'd praised me for actually going to a hospital like she'd said. I have an amazing doctor, and I know I'm lucky for that. She's willing to help me find the best specialists to look into what's happening to me. But for now, rest. She ordered me to stay home. I need to heal.


So, that's what imma do...
To be continued.

2020- going viral.

Friday morning I went to my secret little grocery store next to one of our job sites in the city. Up until now in this hysteria, nobody really knew about it unless they lived close by. I wanted to stock up on produce for the weekend for my juice feast, and the store was packed for 10 in the morning. Usually it's pretty quiet on my break.

There was barely 6 packs of toilet paper left, no water, very little canned food, almost no rice... it's setting in. The lineups were running back around the store to cash out. I was able to grab all of the produce I went in for... given the utter chaos, this surprised me.

I understand the CDC recommending people always have a month's worth of food on hand in case of things like this, natural disasters that close roads, weather events that close stores etc. I get that. Especially living out here, which is why we're always as stocked as can be. Our reserves saved us this winter when we were stuck at home during storms, and short on cash not having worked our regular hours. Life would have been hungry without it.

It's easy to do without waiting till shit hits the fan and having to join the masses in the panic buying insanity. Buy a couple extra things when you shop. If it's an item you use regularly and it's on sale, buy two. That sort of thing. Keep your cupboards full and wash your hands, and you'll more than likely survive the winter. Our reserves are a little short coming out of the slow season, but I don't have the money right now to fill a cart with dry goods, and my health right now depends on the fresh stuff.

I'm standing there in line with my hand basket full of produce, and the people with overflowing carts of everything under the sun are looking at me like I'm crazy. I was just grateful that no one had clued in yet to buy any fresh fruits and vegetables. I felt almost foolish stocking up for my weekend of juicing.

I wonder how far this will go, how crazy people will get before this is over. I wonder if in the next few days it'll calm down, or if the hysteria will ramp up tenfold as the government steps in to make us all stay home. I wonder if people going into panic mode will end us before any virus does. I wonder if this will change our generation.

Don't get me wrong, of course the virus concerns me. I have a compromised immune system, and my lungs are already damaged from years of abuse. I'm worried for the majority of my neighbours here that are well onto the most vulnerable age bracket. I'm concerned for my folks and older relatives back home. I'm worried that if it gets any worse, it'll affect our community economically, negatively impacting small local businesses and farmers.

We are doing our part by not going places we don't need to. Social distancing isn't really a problem for us, we're the type of people to keep to ourselves. Given people's behaviour the past week, I'm not enthusiastic about exposing myself to the madness. I have no problem with staying home. Gardening isn't cancelled. Speaking of which..

We're getting started out in the yard. Now that we know we'll be here for at least another season, we can start thinking about what to plant. We had considered putting the farm camp build on hold so that I can focus on regaining my health. The current situation has us thinking it will be in our best interest to proceed. It'll be a delicate balance of energy, and we have to remember to pace ourselves.

Things are changing quickly, and now with a global pandemic in the mix, 2020 is bound to be interesting.

I need a minute...

Life got real intense all of a sudden. The past year has been a complete whirlwind. Early in 2019 we were granted use of a five acre homestead, a field and a barn. We got a taste of working on a slightly bigger scale, and it challenged us to adapt quickly. Suddenly we had a couple pigs, then four, then eleven?! Along with an RV camper in the field next to a quarter acre garden. We had an opportunity to try growing dozens of crops we'd never had space for, including four varieties of potatoes and 27 kinds of heirloom tomatoes!

Somewhere along the line, our home base faced a threat and we were forced to figure out a backup plan. We scrambled to set up something somewhat livable in the field and figure out what to do with our belongings. Not a week later, we found out that the five acre acre homestead was also suddenly off the table. The renter that we were subletting the barn and field from was asked to leave after 15 years of renting- which was totally unexpected.

Our main focus at that point became very outward. We diverted all of our energy into looking for a new place to happen. At the height of our search we were presented with an opportunity that was impossible to resist- acreage, forest, orchard and pasture. Space to build, water on site, miles of potential and possibilities. But a completely blank slate.

In all of this, I've been waiting patiently to address my health more properly. After almost a year of waiting, I finally got the appointment that would start the ball rolling on getting a proper diagnosis. Admittedly, all of this finding my health stuff was tossed on the back burner with no chance of recovery in the near future.

Overwhelmed is an understatement. All of this on top of working in the city most of the week, having the farmer's market every Saturday during the growing season, and volunteering for the food waste diversion program every Sunday- life is very very full. My cup overfloweth...

We spent the fall and winter months pushing forward to collect materials and start rebuilding. Knowing that I was spreading my energy too thin, I allowed it. Embraced it.. and when I finally took that minute to take a look at my health, I got sick. Real sick. Perhaps if I hadn't drained myself of every drop of energy every day all season, it might not have hit me so hard. And of course in the thick of the sickness, our van sprung a leak.. and our well pump stopped working. Not having running water when sick is just as fun as it sounds. And the van needed fixing as if the extra expense was exactly what we needed.

So while I'm laid out here in bed, too exhausted to launder my clothes after a few days without water, too sick to take part in any of the rad plans I had this weekend, and too annoyed by the sound of my own wheezing to fall asleep... I reflect.

I need a minute.

That's a difficult thing for me to admit. I feel guilty for the things I miss, the work I'm not getting done, the people I might be letting down. I pushed myself too hard for too long and I'm paying for it dearly. I need time to think about my decisions, what I can do for myself, and what I might need to let go of. I need a minute to rest. 

2020 Time Warp- big things!

I can't believe it's the end of January. 2020 has already made itself out to be quite the ride. In the past few short weeks, so much has changed. This is going to be a big year!

The first unexpected thing to happen was life changing. Our landlord that has been pushing feverishly to have us move along has had a change of heart. Through the process of preparing to move, a million reasons why we shouldn't leave the house floated through our minds. Figuring how exactly we're going to be successful at moving fully off grid in just a few short months was very daunting with all things considered. I don't know exactly what triggered his decision to let us stay, but we're thankful for it. This doesn't in any way mean we're halting the off grid build, it just means we have plenty more time than we figured. We still intend to move forward full tilt, and keep it as our summer escape. For now. Having a plan B is never a bad thing.

I think a big part of the reason we butted heads so much with him was that they're out here full time through the summer months. It's hard to relax and enjoy our Saturdays when they're out here spraying their crops and having bus loads of pickers working around our house at all hours. Having a peaceful dinner on the porch during the week isn't a thing in the summer, the constant interjection keeps us on edge, and creates unnecessary conflict. I wasn't surprised when he served the eviction notice, nor was anyone else. He's known for being a dicey character, and the fact that we've been able to keep the peace with him for so long is baffling to those that know him.

The next big thing I wasn't expecting in January was a call from the BC Women's Hospital. I've been waiting for an appointment with a specialist for months, but was expecting a call around September. There was a cancellation, and I was on the 'urgent' list so they called with an open appointment. I finally get the chance to address one of the several autoimmune diseases that has been plaguing my life with an unreal amount of suffering and sickness. I'm nervous but also good and ready to finally have an opportunity to get real help!

Besides this, my overall motivation to take control of my health has been rekindled. After reading several case studies and researching diet and environmental inputs that trigger autoimmune reactions, I feel like I have a much better informed idea of how to help myself. Foods to eliminate, including ones you'd never suspect to be triggers! And what kinds of stresses are doing the most damage that I can strategically defuse over time.

And now, of all the things I had never imagined myself doing... today we loaded up the goats to bring them to a filming studio in the city. They met up with a recruiter and animal trainers to work with them on a filming set. It was very exciting! They're well trained, good mannered little dudes that won over a heart or two. Wouldn't it be something if they had a show of their own some day. They are the goodest boys.

Life is so strange and unpredictable. It's only just the end of January, and I can't imagine what other weird and wonderful opportunities and experiences we have to look forward to this year. Be sure to stay tuned to our YouTube channel for videos and updates! Thanks for reading..
Happy 2020!

YouTube.com/c/TheWanderingFarmers

Taking Back Time.

I'm having a hard time with something, I always have. And I know I'm not the only one. I'm just gonna come right out and say it- 40 hour work weeks are bullshit. When we were indie contractors, we basically made our own schedule. We would work when the materials/ stages were ready, and if we finished earlier we'd leave early, still getting the flat rate that we had billed for the job. Our jobs were completed efficiently and on time, and we still had time for our lives. Every once in a while we'd have to do long days to get a project finished, but for the most part, worked on average 30 hours a week. Unfortunately as indie contractors, the work wasn't always guaranteed, so we decided to seek out a company to hire us as a team. 

When we were hired by this company, we did our first week like 'normal' workers. We tried the 8-8.5 hour work days, plus the drive, plus our home and farm chores. The company had a sample of our work ethic, and we had a taste of 40 hour weeks on top of our busy half way homesteading life. Then we had our official 'on the books' hiring meeting. We explained how we love the work, take pride in our work, but can't fit a 40 hour work week plus commute into our lifestyle. Much to our surprise, they were more than willing to work with us, given the quality of work we provide.

It's been over a year. We have it worked out to have every other Friday off. We work 7 hour days, and a four hour day evey other Friday. We're paid biweekly, so we'd work a half day, get our checks, do our banking, groceries and errands with the rest of our 'shift'. 28 and 32 averages to 30 hour weeks, or 60 hour pays. Because of tax brackets and whatnot, we only make roughly 60-80 less a week missing those 10 hours. Let that sink in for a minute..

When we worked 40 hour weeks, we were making 600 more a month combined. But! We had 40 hours *less* time a month. Divide that up, that's only an 'additional' 15 bucks an hour... COMBINED. that means those 'extra' 10 hours a week, we were only taking home an extra $7.50 an hour each because working more hours meant we were making more money- and thus had more deductions taken. Plus we save on fuel and miscellaneous spending that happens when we go to work. After all said and done, we're basically giving those extra 10 hours a week away for free. Going to work every day costs time *and* money.

And to what advantage? The company doesn't get any more or better quality work out of me. In fact, longer days means I'm more exhausted the next day and production slows down. It's an observable fact that we as 30 hour a week workers get more done than the "full timers". The company benefits by getting the same or more and better quality work without having to pay for more hours. We get more hours a week to live our lives. Win, win.

There's 168 hours in a week. I spend roughly 50 hours a week sleeping or resting, that leaves 118. My 30 hours working, so 88 left. 13 hours average commuting takes us down to 75. 30 hours a week on farm chores, 25 left.. so if we were working 40 hour weeks, we would have 15 hours a WEEK of idle time. That's it. That's for extra projects, reading, shopping for stuff we need, volunteering, going for a walk, spending quality time together and with our animals, friends and family, leisure activities.. life outside of work. Real, life.

No....

No. That's not enough. This is our life we're talking about here, and we should really consider living life before we're too old to do anything about it..


I understand that it's my choice to have 30 hours a week of farm chores, gardening, working at home. But some people work two jobs to get that food, or to be able to afford various lifestyle choices. I choose to grow my food, and live this life. That's the kind of 'work' I'd rather do to keep myself fed. I'm not at all saying that my way is the right way, and everyone should work less so they can stay home and grow food. I realize that's not possible for everyone. What I'm saying is, I feel that we truly undervalue our time on this earth. And not just monetarily. Our hourly wages, is that really all we're worth?

Someone, somewhere at some point in time set this standard of living that many of us in this current societal structure have adhered to. I think it's about time that we reevaluate these standards as individuals. What do we really need in our lives? What are we paying money (and thus time) for that really doesn't benefit us? Is there some way we can shift our energy to be put into something more self-fulfilling instead of selling the best of ourselves to someone else and not getting an appropriate return? What can I do or create that I can use myself or sell/ barter/ trade for what I do need?

This is just the beginning for me. As my lifestyle shifts to one more rooted in nature, I am exploring more opportunities to be self-sufficient. I am working to shift to a more home-based means of accumulating income, and less of a need for one. When I envision 'retirement', I'm not old, leaving a company I've given my best years to, settling down and waiting to die. For me, retiring will be when my own life and how I live it provides enough abundance to no longer need to hit a punch clock on someone else's dream. The following 'meme' is basically a summation of what I'm getting at..

"My goal is to build a life
I don't need a vacation from"

That is essentially it. No one is saying anything about not having to work. A productive life will always require work. My goal is to get to a point where I only have to attend a "regular day job" enough to cover basic bills, and have the time I need to build, grow, seek and trade for the things I need myself. Put the effort, and time and hard work into my life, the land on which I live, and my community. For now, it is what it is. Slowly buy truly, we're taking back our time.

The Purge- Where to begin.

It's still strange to think about leaving this place. This little farmhouse on the Slough has been the first real tangible experience of home that I have had in my entire adult life. It's amazing what you can pack into 420 square feet, it's even more amazing what one can accumulate in just a few short years. It's time to start shedding the weight in more ways than one.

I don't know how I let myself get so cluttered. Life has a way of doing that... it was a bit overwhelming to think of at first. Where do I begin letting go? The obvious answer is within. I let my health get away from me. I'm carrying far more weight then I'm supposed to be. Both literally and everythingly... I need to get a few things off my shoulders.

I've been in this state of dis-ease before. There's no magic pill, there's no wonder diet. You have to want health to be healthy. So I'm starting the cleansing process with me. I'm doing everything I can to eliminate dietary stresses, and not allow external stresses that create extra weight. I love bread and cheeses and soy and all the delicious things I shouldn't eat having an autoimmune disorder. But no amount of delicious foods will ever be worth the pain and discomfort that I experience constantly if I include them in my diet. Sugar Cravings are real, caffeine Cravings are real... but I'm sick of the up and down, the peak and crash. I want to feel my best all the time and my body deserves what it needs to be healthy. And stress free.

Stress free is key, essentially. The next layer of stress to peel back is the one that surrounds me in my home. The space between myself and the four walls that contain me. We have accumulated a lot of things both together and separately. My folks brought me 11 totes of my entire history from Ontario which I have been systematically eliminating most of the contents of one by one. The idea of trying to store all of these things that I've been carrying around with me my whole life is extremely stressful, I have been doing my best to part with all and anything that does not spark Joy.


De-cluttering my home and my diet come hand-in-hand for me. I feel like I can't be successful with one if I don't also do the other. Because the impending move itself will be a big change with its own chapters of stress to overcome, doing everything we can to minimize our workload until then is critical. Both so that we can put the time needed into preparing our new site, and have a bit of an easier transition. Winter is coming, and I hear we are getting a real one this year.

The next zone to scale back is the one outside our house.. the hobby farm. Given that we will be starting from scratch at our next intended location, we decided to minimize our herd over the next few weeks. Starting with one of my favourite parts of hobby farming. The chickens. A few days after I came back from Ontario, our beautiful rainbow flock was decimated by a couple mink in one night. All of my rainbow layers, my new girls that I had been waiting several months for them to finally start laying Robin blue eggs, my favourite black Australorp... gone.

After two years of having chickens here and never having a problem with predators, we were confident that we had our Chicken Coop on lockdown. We quickly fixed the breach and caught the perpetrators, and haven't had a problem since. Unfortunately, all of the survivors but one are retirees that no longer lay. I had to make a difficult decision to re-home the flock. Given that they are no longer productive, it doesn't make sense for me to keep them as they are the most intensive animals that we have to maintain. When we are getting eggs, any of the expenses incurred would be gained back in their production. Having them here on our small hobby Farm is no longer sustainable. They will be moving along to greener pastures at the end of the month. I will really miss having them, but I'm confident that we will end up adopting a new flock when the time is right.

The pigs have got to go. Maybe we will keep a breeding pair and take them with us, but only if we're sure we can secure the infrastructure in time. The meat rabbits will be shuffled along to those who await. Clover might have to join us in the trailer for a while.

All of this in preparation for the ultimate purge- ourselves from this place. As much as we have put into this house and the land, it's time to move along. The house is old and falling apart, and we have outgrown the land as well as the relationship with it's owner. We'd grown too comfortable in these four walls and ignored the fact that maybe they weren't the best for us. We are grateful for the community we have connected with, and will happily take those bonds with us. Onward and Up....