Hey y'all,
I realize it's been ages since I last wrote and I apologize to all of you who were waiting at the edge of your seats wondering what would happen next in my life.
As of January 15 I am back at the ranch fully rested and raring to go. It was so wonderful to be home especially knowing that the soul purpose of my break was to relax and catch up with people--no real work to be done. It was so wonderful to be back in my niche--back in a place the values and fights for independent business, local fresh agriculture, and alternative lifestyles. Coming to Arkansas sometimes feels like going backwards. Not to say that these things aren't valued at all, but they are much harder to find. But there is a movement beginning, it's voice may be low whispers but it's growing. Perhaps that's why I need to be here. I spent my afternoon at the Little Rock flower and garden show representing Heifer and gathering new shareholders for our CSA garden. Although many who stopped by had been donating to Heifer for years or had sent their kids to the ranch, there were still many who didn't quite understand our mission (despite the fact that Heifer is right on their back doorstep). The idea of knowing your farmer and buying locally grow goods was very appealing to those that stopped by and we were able to get several more signatures of interested locals to add to or list of shareholders (and those on the waiting list).
As you may have heard, we have several new members of our Heifer Ranch family, both human and goat. Our Spring volunteers arrived around the first of Feb.--all girls, adding to the hen house that is the ranch right now. They're all wonderful and interesting and different. No one else from the northeast although one of them went to BU and has family in new england. The others afformentioned were born roughly two weeks ago and are some of the cutest things I've ever seen. They certainly give puppies and kittens a run for their money. Annie was the first to pop, giving birth to Marge (named after our cook who retired the same day) and Diego. Next was Jill (aka Jilly-bean) who is the proud momma of Ginger and Riot. A few weeks passed before we got Eli and Vincent van Goat from Beth and then Jack, Maria and Eleanor? from miss Clover. There are baby goats coming out my ears and there are only more to come. Not to mention all the calves and lambs and bunnies due this week! It's crazy but I wouldn't have it any other way--their cuteness could cause a heart attck I swear. I was lucky enough to personally witness the birth of Eli and Vincent van Goat last week. It was beyond incredible especially since it was the first time I'd ever seen anything being born. Eli was out and already clean from Beth's licking before we noticed little Vincent's head (including his funny little ears) sticking out. He looked a little stuck and shook his ears so we called the livestock crew to help. With a quick gentle pull the rest of him entered this world. Beth of course immediately went to town eating the placenta off him. It was quite a proud moment. I'm still waiting on baby Heidi though. I suggested we name one of our Sanaan goats (from the Alps) Heidi, but she has yet to arrive. Hopefully soon...it's funny, I'm already starting to come up with names for my own goats I plan to own later on, needless to say, Heidi will be one.
