TKG Take Ten : Thursday : Cold is coming

Everything on an old fashioned farm and I mean everything revolves around the weather. To raise outdoor animals indoors without access to the outdoors is cruel. And unhealthy.

And indoor animals stink - as in it literally stinks when you lock animals up with their smelly shit. Even when they are vegetarians like ALL the animals on my farm even the pigs, vege poo smells less nasty - they need to have access to the outside privy. Pigs hate to be close to their own poo.

The best marketing is word of mouth so if you know of anyone who might like ten minutes a day on the farm send them a link! I have a feeling they might love it and there is no obligation to upgrade - that is entirely a personal choice.

When animals (and birds for that matter, ‘thank you for your input Mr Flowers’) have a normal field based lifestyle with access to shelter (in this case our 100 year old barn) life is so much better for us all.

The cold has come and even colder cold is coming next.

Today the animals and birds are moving stealthily into the covered spaces and getting ready to hunker down when the cold hits. If a farmer is clever she will watch her animals as though they were a weather report. If we checked in with our loved ones as often as we check our weather apps - well they would probably tell us to sod off - however - leaning on the gate and checking in with the animals for ten minutes (like you all do each evening) is a beautiful education in itself and once you get to know the animals you will pick up signs and sounds of change.

For instance I can hear the wild birds coming into the barn in the second half of this vid. The sparrows and starlings and doves and pigeons will all be claiming territory to hide in. Cold is coming. Today was not too cold - when I took this video it was (30F/-1C). When it is very cold the hogs will snuggle down in big beds (that they make themselves) and stay as still as possible so as not to use energy they need to stay warm.

But they will still go outside to take care of their business. Thank goodness!

Have a lovely evening!

Celi

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