Once a week.

Hello loyal followers of the Daily Rind.
I apologize for the lack of reliable updates here. I keep hearing about more and more of you who actually read this blog and its quite a nice feeling. It also makes me wish I could be more consistent in keeping up to date. We have agreed on a schedule now of six days a week of work, that is six days I barely have time to write in my own personal journal let alone use the farm's dial up to update this blog, but I will attempt to be much more active on the day that I do get off. So lets start.

I have never felt so good in my life. I have never felt so productive or essential. I have taken on more responsibilities now and have, I think, become an integral part of the process. I know that Ken and Jenn, with the super farming powers they seem to have, COULD get everything done, but I relish the ability to share the load. I know the schedule now, I wake up and say "today this is what needs to be done" and I do it. From salting to dipping to washing to goat chores to cleaning. The most rewarding is still probably the days we actually make the cheese, usually on Fridays. I can handle the production of Franklin Island Feta all the way from renneting to packaging.

This past weekend Ken's family came down and are going to be staying the whole week. I have to say I was nervous about sharing the space with ten new people but they are awesome people. I have also kind of picked up my own work load in order for Ken to spend some more time with them (he still finds endless things to do).

Yesterday before the rain really started all the cousins wanted to go look for arrowheads in the ever productive creeks on the property. I had one more chore, putting some Prairie Blooms into the aging room, before the unscheduled time before dinner and evening chores. I went down to the stream to join the hunt. I found my second Goatsbeard arrowhead, a tiny bird point, one of the smallest we have found out there. It is about 3/4 of an inch long and about a centimeter wide. Hopefully I can put up a picture soon, maybe along with some morels that will undoubtedly be popping up in the next couple of weeks.

The last thing which you might all find of interest is my endeavor into vegetable ferments. I have constructed a nice fermenting bucket and will be starting my first batch of sauerkraut this week. I have already planted about thirteen cabbages in one of the garden beds. It is also my first serious foray into gardening. I hope to eventually learn some pickling techniques as well. In about ninety days those cabbages will be full heads and I will have more kraut than I will ever possibly eat so if you read this and you happen to want some you are welcome to ask, as long as it will be easy for me to bring it to you or for you to come and pick some up.

I will be back on here in about a week from today, until then thanks for reading and your comments are always appreciated. I do moderate them though so they will not show up instantly. In parting I suggest you find books or articles written by Michael Pollan. He is very good.