Almost three weeks of helping in the feeding, grooming and rotation of horses from pasture to stall; time spent milking under the utters of a temperamental cow and a back-kick happy goat; mornings spent feeding a stampede of Sheep and their countless Lamb; learning the swift maneuver that is required to collect the eggs from under a laying hen; none of this compares to the pressure of writing a guest post on Greg and Maureen’s “Almost Daily Blog.” I shall rise to the challenge of writing an entry just as I rose myself onto the saddle of the stately Shire horse, Lady. With Greg walking along side us, I experienced the beauty and thrill of riding a horse. As the horse trotted along I wondered why at 28 yrs. old I had never ridden a horse before. It is truly a remarkable feeling to be hoisted up so high, moving in concert with such a strong and giant animal. This reflection characterizes a lot of my experiences here on Gentle Giant Meadows Ranch. Growing up in the city all my life, everyday here on the farm is a new and learned experience. Some are probably typical of most farms, but most -I suspect -are unique to Gently Giants, where each animal is affectionately called by its given name-Buster, Daisy, and Acorn are but a few. Here on the ranch I have seen the birth of Lambs, on four consecutive nights! I have learned the art of manipulating the growth of trees and plants, more widely known as pruning. I have sipped on fresh raw cow and goat milk. Participated in process of making heavy cream and Yogurt and have quite happily enjoyed the latter with raspberries on more than one occasion. One morning as I cracked the eggs- Gently Giants very own- onto the skillet to make breakfast, I thought to myself how happy I am to have come. Through osmosis I have developed a respect and love for the sweat and labor that goes into farm life. For this I have Greg and Maureen to thank. And the animals.
Take care and stay safe. M&G