Ok, I have had a rough start of the week. Yesterday I was going to go and meet a friend so we could do 2 farm inspections for our local farmer’s market (we are a producer only so we check to make sure that you produce your own products). I admit I was very excited because one is an ostrich farm and to me that is just cool.
8:15 left home – 8:20 had a car accident, air bag deployed and I think I was more shaken up than anything. There goes the mini-van we had just gotten so I could just “zip” around without pulling out the F350 dually. Luckily the van was the only thing hurt – and even the car in front of me which I hit didn’t have any damage. Well the airbag worked – but honestly that was a feature on the vehicle I didn’t want to test.
9:30 got home and called the person I was supposed to meet to let her know what happened.
9:40 pulled out of the driveway in the F350 to go and do these inspections.
It was a perfect Virginia fall day! Mid 60’s sky was blue and the colors on the trees was incredible. We travelled west to find the farms.
First stop was the Ostrich farm. Too bad the birds had already been processed and were in the freezers! That part was kind of disappointing – but it was amazing that they did all the stuff that they do. Luckily they do have family available around the area that probably helps out some. Amazing that we didn’t know ahead of time that the farm is a Virginia Century Farm. That means that it has been in operation as a farm for at least 100 years! Visiting the farm, we found out that it has been in the same family for at LEAST over 70 years. So it was impressive how the farm works and rotates.
The second farm we visited was a hog farm for processed pork. Again an amazing facility. Over 900 hogs are on the farm and unless you got right up next to them – you wouldn’t be able to tell. We were expecting that “hog farm” smell – but laughingly we told the owner that he didn’t have any hogs because it doesn’t smell like a hog farm!! I guess that’s why we got the tour which included the nursery where all the big mommas have their babies. And there were so cute I just needed to take at least 1 home (I didn’t because Joe would kill me but we will get some pigs from him this coming season for Jacob to raise for 4-H and for our food!). It was hillarious though as we drove down the driveways of the property and would see a little pig just running down the road happily! As many know I am not a commercial style animal raiser, and honestly I was a little worried about going to this farm as much as I like the owner, I was afraid it would be more crowded. But these hogs were extremely happy, they had more than enough room to walk around (most commerical places just don’t let the animals exercise) and were very much like pets as they liked to be scratched and rubbed. Anyone for an 800lb pet pig?
It’s such a diverse place when you visit these farms. We can learn so much from each other just by visiting and looking at what everyone does and not judge. I can see why people do things one way vs another and it makes me think. Though the methods used by one person may not fit your style or philosophy, the concepts can be altered in a way to suit you if you try. One way is not always the best way for people, but respecting the way that people do their business is important and a way to learn.
Til next time……
