more adventures in farming

So the big news.... three little pigs have joined our farm. Oh my, the excitement!

The fun began in getting them out of the trailer (and onto the scale). Andy had to wrangle them with practically a full body tackle which got them all squealing, well, as only a pig can squeal! I was giggling so hard tears were running down my face. I did feel bad for the little guys (they were scared after all) but something about Andy up to his elbows in wiggling squealing pigs was just too much. The girls weren't too sure about all the squealing either but once the pigs were safely behind the hog panels, the observation and fascination could begin in earnest.


By all members of the family.

I know, many of you are scratching your heads at this point, probably thinking we've completely lost our marbles now (I can't say we haven't, but that's yet to be seen) and wondering why a vegetarian family would raise pigs!

I can tell you that this pig business was not undertaken lightly. Many nights this past winter were spent in conversation (and calculation---hmm 3 pigs x how many hundreds of pounds of grain gets you how much pork?). Pork? Those of you that know me well, know me as an animal lover and rescuer, leading long ago to my path of vegetarianism (Andy has his own crooked path pre-dating me). In the years since my righteous teenage decision to become vegetarian, I have come to fully recognize that humans have evolved to be omnivores and most of us will eat meat, though it remains a difficult task for me. My ideals about meat eating (should my family go that path) are that we'd always choose to eat meat that is raised locally and humanely, or harvested in the wild. And we have many friends and family who hold these same beliefs and want to know that their food is being raised healthy from start to finish. Many of these folks don't have the space or desire to raise pigs themselves, so long story short, we've taken it on for (with!) them. Not to mention that pigs are super efficient roto-tillers and we have an acre of quack grass that needs some good tilling!

For better or for worse, it seems we are fully embracing this homesteading lifestyle. We are eager to raise animals and willing to weather the joys and hardships that come with giving them a good life for as long or short as that may be.

And while we won't be naming these pigs we won't hold back from getting to know them either. We believe that our girls can take from this a gentle lesson about life and death and nature's cycles, for which we all are part.

We'll keep you posted, next week we move them onto pasture and I understand it could be an exciting first few days as they investigate the boundaries of their fencing. I can just hear Iris now: "Papa, pigs are out again!"