1000 Days at The Dent-ed Barn

To all our friends and family who care to read the events of today, I hope it brings you some deep sense of joy because despite all you read here, what is happening at The Dent-ed Barn is a dream and a destiny all rolled into one for both Jo and I. However, I thought it was more than apt that as we entered into our 1001st day on the farm, I should share the events that unfolded here.

The Background

As many of you are aware, 92 acres is hard to make a reasonable living from. At the outset, we decided that we would try and do something a little different with our farm. The first of our business units was to breed milking sheep and produce amazing sheep’s milk cheese from their bounty. Unfortunately, dairy sheep are particularly expensive and we quickly found the best yielding sheep were not suited to our wet and humid conditions – this is probably why there is not much sheep’s milk cheese in NZ.

Another of our business units is a plan to produce charcuterie from the stock that we have on the farm. A bold plan that needs me to be at home for more time than I currently have so that is also on the “back burner”. However, one plan that is currently going well is our farmstay units – the final business unit for the farm. Today, we have had guests staying in the cottage – a 2 bedroom self contained unit and Pukeko Cabin – a purpose built cabin that sleeps four and is powered by solar. Both sets of guests have been extremely complimentary about the peaceful nature of our place and how relaxed they have felt being here – and so to the events of today

The day itself

Woken at 0604 to the bellowing (the only word I could use) of a calf without it’s mother. In this case the noise was deafening due to the proximity of the calf – directly outside the lounge window where Jo and I were sleeping (another story for later). My first thoughts were as always for our guests who were leaving today and an early call from the cattle may result in the first poor review of The Dent-ed Barn on our review board. There was only one thing for it – reunite mother and calf as soon as possible. Off I went, somewhat bleary-eyed after a late night, grabbing at yesterdays overalls that always smell that little bit worse from when you took them off the night before! Gumboots on without socks – bugger the socks, I’ll be fine (yeah right) and off I went.

By 0645, not only had mother and calf been reunited but all cows were happily in a paddock with more grass than they could have dreamt of. Happily munching away, they were blissfully unaware of the mild coronary I was experiencing having chased half of them around a paddock. From mattress to manic in one swift and not-so-easy movement! Then it was off to feed the chooks that seem to have the ability to lay invisible eggs at the moment – free ranging isn’t all it’s cracked up to be if you need some eggs in a hurry. A short trip through the bush resulted in nothing and so, I begrudgingly fed them their daily allowance. Then off to check the pumpkins. A pleasant side effect of having pigs is that every year we seem to get some pumpkin plants appear in their paddock. This year, fortunately we have moved said pigs meaning that the plants may actually bare fruit. Indeed, two pumpkins are happily maturing – not bad for no work other than the initial feeding. Tomatoes will be aplenty too this year from the looks of things.

The time now – 0730. Off to feed the pigs! This is a twice-a-day ritual which is carried out by both Jo and I. To be fair, more Jo than I these days of working in Auckland CBD. The growing pigs were very excited to see me today as they were moved into their new grass –filled paddocks yesterday. Each of them have their own unique characters right up until it’s feeding time. Then they are all the same – first in, best fed!

Having fed our growing pigs, it’s off to feed our breeding pigs. Serengeti has recently had 5 piglets, all of whom arrived to greet me on the quad bike. They soon worked out that they can squeeze under the gate so they get to the food first. They feed from your hand which, is delightful but always under the close eye of Mum. I am sure that if anything untoward were to take place, she would be through the gate with the blink of an eye. Our other breeding sow, Priscilla is ‘in pig’ so movements are a little more laboured but she managed to make the trough before the first bucket of grain was deposited, proving that she still rules her paddock even with two maturing boars on the rise.

Home for a spot of breakfast and a bid farewell to Jo who was running errands today. So far, it all seems fairly normal right? Here is where the fun begins…… We had been filling our stock water tank over night and it seemed to be full so off we go to open up the valves to feed all the water troughs. Nothing unusual until on our way down from the tank, I notice that one of the brand new concrete troughs in our pig pens is leaking….Already, it’s only been there for 24 hours! Sure enough, teeth marks around the ball would indicate that a pig (who remains unknown at this time) must have pulled the string loose and thus disabled the stop cock. An easy fix, but glad I noticed it. A wallow in the new pig pen is the last thing we needed today. I then notice that the donkeys have yet again taken the Iid off the feed barrel and are happily helping themselves. Is there no deterrent that these two are not afraid of? Lid secured, it’s on to other jobs for the day.

Observing the fact that a (or multiple) possum has stripped the nectarine tree of all ripe fruit made me just a tad angry and a plan to capture and dispose of said beasties is plotted, along with Alex who feels that the largest gun available would do a good job. Oh what it is to be 11 but I’d love to give his idea a go at least.

The guests depart and quietness descends on The Dent-ed Barn right up until I remember we have new ones arriving tomorrow. Beds are stripped and washed, mezzanine floors are cleaned and re-made along with a check of the second cabin which is occupied the day after. Kitchenette is cleaned down and the bathroom is looking good…..I am on top of things! Right up until we focus back to the farm that is. I notice that the water tank level indicator is no longer visible from our usual vantage point. This simply cannot be so – there were at least 20,000 litres of water in that tank this morning! The only explanation must be a leak! Surely the small water troughs that the pigs now have couldn’t have afforded all that water to leak, could they? Then it dawned on me; the cows were moved this morning into a paddock with a temporary trough. Sure enough, on my arrival it seemed that the cows had made said trough a very temporary fixture and promptly ripped the fitting from the supply hose – 20,000 litres back to the river….bugger!

Having re-connected the hose and started the pump, we then had the issue that the ball cock did not allow sufficient flow to meet the need. Cows, calves and Jimmy the steer all wanted water at the same time! So off with the pipe again so we can fill the trough at speed, much to the amusement of the cattle who have just watched me re-connect it. Wet through, I choose to try and squeeze my sylph-like figure between the top of the stock fence and the electric wire….big mistake with a jolt from the fence across my shoulders. I’m sure I heard a snigger but then that would be just ridiculous wouldn’t it? The look on the faces of the cattle just said it all.

Now to the night time feeding of our pigs. They normally have a set feed to ensure that they get the right protein and vitamin mix. However, when the scrap bucket is full, they get that as a treat. Today, being the end of house guests from Christmas, not only was the scraps bucket full but also the largest pot that we have in the house was looking pretty full too. The liquid from the cooking of our beautiful free-range ham had been poured into it and it was a feast fit for a king (pig). Jo had suggested a gladwrap lid to make sure the contents stayed within the pot but I knew better. Of course we would arrive at the pig pen, across undulating ground without spillage, of course I could do it; thousands of times dear. As I made my way across the paddock, dread crept into my mind. I could smell the pig pan which could only mean one thing…..it was no longer upright! Sure enough, on arrival I found the rear tray full of scraps. Trifle, potato chips, left over meals from the fridge and lets not forget the congealed fat from the Ham broth.

For those that know me, this is my worst nightmare. Smell and texture of scraps and all I had were my bare hands to deal with it! Remember how I said that the piglets get to me first – well tonight was no exception. I was busily emptying the now loose concoction back into the pan only to find that the piglets had tipped the pan out and were having a right feast; much to the dismay of the big boar who is their father but moreover sees the right to food first as his and his alone. He tried to lift the gate to his paddock off its hinges and that was enough for even me to be a little concerned. All was well once I had managed to distribute some of the remaining scraps to all pigs but just for a moment there, it was going horribly wrong. Back to the parking pad to hose down the machinery to realise that the fat from the ham was now in need of hot water, not cold. Back on with the stock water tank pump and on with the bore to back fill everything. As I type this, I believe my day is now complete.

I reflect on today and it’s events only to ask whether this type of thing should still be happening after 1000 days on the farm? Every day is a learning curve here and both Jo and I are so much better for it. I am sure that we will look back at every day that feels too difficult with great fondness and decide that the life we have chosen for our family really can’t be beaten. Every adversity is overcome because it has to be – nothing is too much of a challenge and for all other things, we have an amazing group of friends who are always happy to help when asked.

Perhaps in another 1000 days, I shall write again about the days proceedings. Part of me wonders whether it wont be somewhat similar to today and part of me hopes that we might be a little further ahead in the organisation of The Dent-ed Barn that we know what is coming and how to prevent such time consuming events from being part of our every day lives. You are always welcome to join us here whether to offer support and labour or just to come and stay, relax a while before going back to the busy world that exists beyond the front gate. We would love to share our world with you all, you can find us on Facebook at The Dent-ed Barn or our brand new website www.thedentedbarn.nz