Archive for January, 2010

There’s nothing like watching a pig do what it’s meant to do.  These Mangalitsa pigs are fun to watch, too, because they are so different from the standard hogs we’ve raised before.  They are like the heritage layer chickens we have compared to the broiler chickens.  The Mangalitsas are growing nicely on forage feed with only small amounts of grain thrown in to balance their diet.  They love going out in the snow to dig turnips.  And they eat acorns in the daintiest fashion imaginable.  The hogs in the pictures are nosing around for good acorns–no empty hulls or moldy ones, thank-you.  Then they’ll pick up that solitary acorn, crack it in they’re back teeth like a nutcracker.  The hull will pop out under his snout and they’ll happily munch the acorn nut while nosing around for another one.  These are all things that hogs were originally meant for.  Think feral pigs and you’re close to how these guys are able to not only survive, but live well. 

And now the first group of them is off the farm.  We said our goodbyes, clicked our heels in the air,  and waved them away.  Mark went along with them to ensure they were safely and securely tucked in at the processors.  They have an amazingly calm disposition such that a trailer ride doesn’t upset them much and they settle into new surroundings without fussing.  They are  very easy going fellas, such that if they are handled gently, they don’t get “stressed out” about changes.  That’s good news as the government requires a USDA supervised kill in order for the next guy to transform them into proscuitto hams and such–a low stress kill situation is possible with good handling and the Mangalitsa’s laid back temperment. 

We still have two batches of hogs on the farm.  They are happy, healthy fellows who are enjoying life as pigs were meant to live it.

Jill

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What does “family farm” mean?  I suppose to some it means, “the farm that’s been in the family for so many years.”  To others it’s a farm worked by a family–Dad, Mom, and kids.  Sometimes it’s both at the same time.  The week after Christmas brought home to us how much of our “family farm” is the second meaning–especially the “kids” part. 

The kids went with their grandparents to the family “cabin” in Canada for the week after Christmas.  Mark and I split their chores, which wasn’t such a big deal.  Where I ran stuck was realizing I had to do the 15 or 20 minutes of chores with a 4 year old and baby in tow!  I’ve done it before and plenty of women have done and still do it, but I’m spoiled now.  I’m used to having older children to leave Jim with.  Those same kids can fill in for my chores if need be, or help me make dinner, or do the whirlwind house pick-up at day’s end.  They also contribute invaluably in processing the chickens from squawk to freezer.  They watch out for each other, like the day Dorothy packed up Jim and she, Keith, and Rachel pulled him in a sled down to where Joe and Sam were working on their cabin.  We work together, play together, dream together, drive each other crazy together.  Not every farm is like that.  There are farms around us that use Manpower to hire their employees and that don’t employ their children.  We figure they’re missing out.  Our family is an integral part of our operation.  Our children are the “family” in “family farm.”  Nothing like a vacation to bring that home.

Jill

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