The Illusion of Control

The 6 inches of snow that fell last night is already well on it's way to a new life as water. It will probably be gone by Friday night. It reminded me of why farming is such a challenging way of life. No amount of planning ahead stops late springs snowstorms or early frosts. That is why when you buy a share from a community supported agriculture farm, CSA, you are accepting the risk that those farmers live with. Hail, floods, heat, high winds, ice and snow are all possibilities on a farm. It is a very humbling reminder about what we have control over. It reminds me of a saying on a piece of art by the artist, Brian Andreas called Illusion of Control. It goes like this ,"If you hold on to the handle, she said, it's easier to maintain the illusion of control. But it's more fun if you let the wind carry you.". So when you wake up in the morning, enjoy what is here. I do have to mention that I found it very beautiful outside this morning. The lilac bushes we not so happy though, as they had so much snow on the branches they were touching the ground. Tim went out and released them with a good shaking.
The ducks have not hatched yet and we are excited to see them when they decide to arrive. I did order my first batch of broilers, 200 baby chicks. They will arrive early next week and go into the brooder. We are hoping to have them out on pasture by mid-May. I am more excited about all the piglets we are getting this spring. 10 of them. We are considering getting some breeding stock so we will be able to raise our own next year. Still to be decided.
Tim has been busy outside building new feeders for the pigs since the weather has been, as it is. But better than that he has been trying his hand at cheese making! So far he is aging a cheddar, we are eating a queso fresco and ricotta made from the by-product, whey. Lasagna tonight. Yum!