The leaves are changing color and reflect their autumn raiment on lakes and streams; brilliant burning reds and crisp bright oranges. This morning their reflections were softened by a soft curling mist, rising through the morning air. It is a beautiful day, following a gorgeous weekend, following a brief period of downright chilly weather (we had flurries and hail on Thursday last week).
The pigs are now butchered. We hired out the job to a mobile butcher and he dispatched the pigs on Thursday last week. The barn yard seems far less interesting without their antics. We visited Ross Farm Museum on Monday and watched their Berkshires for awhile. They have a sow which is probably twice the size of our Berkshire. Her piglets are the size of Labrador retriever puppies. Such a contrast.
The pig carcasses were taken to a meat cutter who lives a few kilometers away. He's letting the sides of pork hang until today when he'll cut them up. We should have it in our freezer this afternoon or tomorrow. We sold one side, our first "commercial" farming effort. It should pay for the cost of butchering and cutting the two pigs.
We're left only with the laying hens. Sunday we returned from visiting my family to find an egg in the pen. A lovely, light brown egg. A second was laid yesterday. We think it may be one of the Rhode Island Reds. Now with the pigs out of the shed, we're converting the space to a chicken house. Rob started making two nest boxes yesterday and I reattached the shingles the pigs pulled off. I'm short shingles as they cracked a number of them. I'll filled in the gaps on the inside to stop drafts and predators. We hope to move the chickens into their new digs by Wednesday, as the beautiful fall weather is slated to change to rain.
I dug up the raised bed yesterday, leaving the carrots and turnip to continue maturing. Where I grew lettuce during the summer I planted two varieties of garlic. If they do well, I'll harvest it early next summer.
All in all, we feel our first season of farming was successful. And we're looking forward to the cooler months and planning for the next season.
