Mother Knows Best

Last night I sat under the moon with my very weak sow, Pinkie, down by the creek with her eight newly born piglets.  After a trouble-free birthing in the morning, she proceeded to deliver her entire uterus, ovaries and bladder and frankly, I was amazed she was still alive. She wasn't drinking water and only occasionally opened her eyes and gave me a faint grunt.  It seemed the end would happen soon for her.  I talked to her and pet her and let her know not to worry about anything... we would take care of it all for her... all she needed to do is rest.  I said it just as much for her as for myself.  I needed to offer her something to hold on to.



It probably sounds odd to those who think of pigs as bacon-makers. Granted, I love bacon, but my gratitude runs deeper when I consider how she provides for my family, how she tends my fields and offers her dependable companionship day in and day out.  She's more than dinner.  Much more.

As I walked away from her nest in the sand and straw and felt utterly defeated, the perfection of nature came to me.  I'm sure you've heard of how female mammals that spend time together will eventually synchronize their menstrual cycles.  I always just chalked it up to some hormonal oddity and never gave it much consideration as to the purpose of this phenomenon.  As I considered the very harsh reality that I may have eight motherless piglets in the morning, I also knew that I had a very pregnant other sow, Fluttershy, that was due to birth very soon.  If it came down to it, maybe she could be a surrogate mother to these piglets.

And that is where the "ah-ha" came in.  Of course nature intends for cohabiting females to become fertile and able to conceive at the same time... so they can also birth at the same time... and the babies can be cared for by other members of the flock.  And if need be, nursed by other mothers.  Mother Nature is perfect in design.

This morning I found that Fluttershy had indeed delivered her litter of piglets.  Only three this time for her and what would have normally be a slight disappointment, was a blessing.  If need be, she truly could be a mother to all the piglets as she has 12 teats.

After discovering the new piglets, I found that Pinkie had made her way up to the barn, but her piglets were left behind by the creek.  Even though I carried all her piglets up to her, her milk was drying up and she kept wondering away, as if she wanted to be left alone, or possibly knew she could not take care of them.  

My own mamma had come to spend the day helping me on the farm, doing the jobs I was unable to do while I worked and Dan is away.  She checked on all the babies and mommies and chickens and gardens and even fed me lunch.  Oh the selfless love of a mother!

 

Mid-day we slowly introduced Pinkies piglets to Fluttershy and she took to them without hesitation.  In no time, all piglets were snuggled up to her, nursing and she was grunting her sweet nothings to them all.

Pinkie is hanging on and we all continue to stand post.

Asparagus Special - $3.50/lb

This weekend the Asparagus patch has gone bonkers!  Before the heat sends it hiding for summer, come stock up on some mega-healthy green-goodness! Through Monday, we'll have Asparagus on sale at $3.50/lb ($4.50 regularly.)

Besides its supreme flavor, Asparagus packs a punch when it comes to its health properties.  Asparagus is loaded with fiber, folate, vitamins A, C, E and K, as well as chromium.    It is rich in glutathione and the amino acid asparagine.  

How do we like to to prepare Asparagus?  

      * Steamed and drizzled with lemon garlic butter
      * Coated in olive oil and herbs and grilled 
      * Stir-fried and served over steamed rice
      * Pureed into a cream-based soup 
      * Tempura battered and fried (in lard!)

Farm Friend Valentina!

Shortly after we moved to the property that is Kittleson Family Farm, we noticed that one of our neighbors walked each morning past our property - rain or shine - and always had a friendly smile and a wave for us.  Valentina Shimova was one of our very first farm customers and has been a loyal patron for the last three years.

Starting up a small farm is hard work and can be discouraging at times.  Work is plentiful and time and money are not always.   Whenever we would see Valentina, she would always offer a kind word and encouragement and share her gratitude for the bounty of the farm.  Over the years, we discovered we shared many philosophies, including organic living.  Having her as our neighbor and farm supporter has given us a sense of community, right out our front door.

Valentina was lured to Grants Pass by the charm and immense natural beauty of Southern Oregon.  She moved here from Los Angeles, after moving away from her home in the Ukraine where she was a linguistics professor at Dniepropetrovsk State University. Here in Grants Pass, she is the president of the company Leadership Management International and shares her teaching skills, mastery of language and her diverse cultural understanding to help others achieve success in business.   She is nothing short of fabulous. 

This last week we were graced with her generosity as she cared for all the plants and animals at the farm so we could go visit our family out of town.  Everything was cared for with great love and attention.  Farm chores aren't glamorous and this polished beautiful woman thanked US for the opportunity because it offered her a chance to directly connect to nature and add balance to her intellectual work.  How did we get so lucky?  We are blessed by your friendship, Valentina!