Where Do Farmers Go to Meet Farmers?

This is a serious question when you are a displaced farmer.  There is a strong need to connect with like-minded people when you are disconnected from your farm like we are at the moment.  Even if you cannot go out to the barn every morning or hear the rooster, you need to find that connection.  It's an earthly need.  You crave dirt.  You dream of tractors.  You look for leftover hay in your pockets.

So, when we first moved here - to the "city" as we call it (and everyone here laughs) - I started to look for farmers.  Well, I actually started out looking for someone who could connect me with 4-H farmers in particular.  For my boys, of course.  To keep them connected to the wholesome values that 4-H and FFA gives a kid.  But really, I was hoping to find farmer friends.

Well, I did.  Tough girls who, as my city friend said, "carry pocket knives for castrating goats."  Girls like me.  Of course, you don't use a knife to castrate goats, but I get the idea.  And that's exactly the type of friends I found.

But where does someone go to find them if they aren't insane like I am...striking up conversations in the parking lot of Trader Joe's?  Here are a few suggestions:

1.  Contact the local State Extension Office.  We found a Small Farms Expo happening (and we attended it).  Through there you can always find people who are part of farming groups or co-ops.
2.  Look up the local 4-H clubs.  Not all 4-H groups are farm related, but many are.
3.  Try craigslist.  Sounds a bit out there, but I've been known to email people who are selling livestock or related products and just ask if they want to be friends.  It works.  And you meet the most interesting people.

I am starting to build my family again here...my farming family.  And it feels good to know that I'm not alone in my desire to get my fingers dirty or in my excitement over "farmer porn" (seed catalogs).  I love that the people I have begun to meet share my values and are passionate about it.  Knowing that I have been able to find some of these people makes me feel like I might just be able to live here.

Lilo's Attack

I just learned that Lilo killed a 6 week old Nigerian doeling.  I am not sure exactly what happened.  I know that she was taken to a friend's house as a milker and that the doeling attempted to nurse.  I don't know if anyone saw it happen or if the kid was in with Lilo where it couldn't escape.

I am saddened by this event.  I offered to give the owner our kids, but she has no real use for them.  And she takes responsibility for leaving a new doe with her herd without supervision.  I guess it is a lesson that we must remember.  Lilo is a very kind doe, but even the nicest does need to be watched when they are around other kids.

Pebbles and Bam-Bam

Pebbles

Bam-Bam

I just wanted to share a few new pictures of Tumbleweed's babies.  They really are growing and look so good.  They were disbudded today.  Tumbleweed is doing a wonderful job (as she always does) with her two babies.  They will be nice looking market goats.  I do think that it's possible they are both Neptune's kids.  Who knows?