Scrimp & Scrape

'The poor man always pays twice.' This is a saying that really challenged me this past month.  One of the things I really enjoy about farming is the makeshift solutions you have to come up with in the field.  A piece of hay bale string can hold a gate open while you carry something through into the next paddock.  Perhaps its an old gutter you repurpose into a chicken feeder that saves money and works just as well as something new and shiny from the feed store.

But like all things in life there is a need for balance, in this case, balance between financial efficiency and just being a tight-arse.

Using old pallets on star pickets to herd the pigs in to the trailer worked pretty well for a time, but when they grow to a certain size and one of them decides not to oblige and walk over you, things can get a little dangerous.  It's times like these you you just have to bite the bullet and invest in a professional solution.

Cutting into the savings account hurt, but not as much as the bumps and bruises.  Once the portable yards were up and ready for use I was a little angry with myself for not having done this sooner.  I have now loaded pigs a couple of times and the process has been pretty smooth sailing, quick and efficient and better for the animals and me.

Farming is a great teacher and from now on 'the poor man must always think twice' before putting off investment where it's due.