Them's The Breaks

Farming is a hard business and sometimes, it comes without reward. Almost two months ago our chickens were attacked by foxes.  They broke through the protective wire and killed them all.  Just heartbreaking.  You arrive at  first light to feed and move your animals and all you find are dead chickens spread around the paddock.

It was an emotional time.  I let my animals down, also my customers and myself.  I would probably understand it better if foxes did it to survive, however these ones didn't seem to need the food and just killed for the pleasure of it.  I was angry at first, but once your animals are gone there isn't much you can do but learn from the experience and work harder to protect your livestock.

More electric fencing, fox lights, even shooters.  With multiple layers of controls in place, there was no way this was going to happen again.  Orders had now banked up including reserves for Christmas - there was a lot on the line.

Ice cold.  It's what I clearly remember feeling when I found more chickens dead last week.  Not all were taken, it seems the controls I put in place had some effect, but a lot of what was growing for Christmas is now gone.

It's not all sun and blossom making your living on the land and it's important to share everything involved in growing food for people.

So I pick myself up, dust myself off and keep moving forward.

If farming is so hard, why do it?

Because it makes you appreciate the good times.  Because the regenerating landscape is its own reward.  Because the food I create is real and is good for people and there is nothing else I would rather do.