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.

Work

Time flies when you are having fun. Except on a farm. 

I have only been there for six days and it feels like a month, because it is hard. Well, the tasks aren't difficult but there is just so much. I love it though. I never thought I could enjoy discipline but I do. I know what to expect when I wake up and I like that. Sleeping is like blinking. Especially when you don't start till 1:30 and you are going to be waking up at 6:45.

Today is a nice break. Laundry and relaxing, no goat poop or hay dust. But then the goat poop and hay dust and the heavy buckets and all the work are what make this one of the best times of my life. Its a duality for sure but the enjoyment wins out.  Oh yeah and we make cheese to, thats like a vacation built in to the day. 

Here are some pictures I took this morning. I don't have time otherwise. 

I hope you like looking at goats. 

Feeding those babies is the first thing I do in the morning. 

Getting ready to go today. Hope I have what I need. Work clothes? What are those? You mean like a polo and Chinos? I'm equal parts ready to do this and terrified to do this. Fortunately the Munos have been very cool so far.

While I was in Vermont this whole thing kind of came to life. Like I had this dream of making cheese but it was a cartoon and then it came to life with more detail than I imagined was there. I think that is going to be amplified on the farm.

Oh yeah and a bunch of the goats are going to be having their snowball goat babies, so I will take some pictures ;-) .

Photos

I hope you like sunsets and curds.
This was a very good week.

Back from Burlington.

I am back. It was one of the best trips of my life. I wish all classes were that fun. Vermont is a great state, almost as good as Missouri, pretty close at least. Dinner is at Nana's tonight, pictures of the trip when I get home from that. Also, you should all subscribe to this bad boy with an rss reader or something because I like thinking people are reading it. Also here is a shout out to my fellow VIACers: Cathy and Robin cool women from Georgia. Luca- Italian maestro. Sean and Andy- call me when Curd-Boyz is ready. Katie- this is called a blog :-P. Richard- 21st century renaissance man. Marc- COAGULATION! (claps hands together).

Everyone in that class was great. Hope to see some of you in the next round. Also if you ever read this call me whenever you have success in the cheese world.

Pictures to be forthcoming.