Wow, no posts for December! What a bad little blogger I have been. But I'm back!
I just spent 4 days at Olde Oak Farm in Orono, Maine last week. If you haven't been paying attention, that's where I'll call home for the the 2009 farming season. And I'll be heading there early in March, or whenever I can find someone to take over my lease...Anyone need a place to live????
It was quite a busy weekend. When I got there, Scott and Nate had to get busy thawing the pipes in the cheese plant that had froze the night before. (Did I mention it was cooooold!) It could have been bad if the water had froze all the way down into the ground...we were supposed to make cheese the following day and Scott explained it could be quite an expense if he had to call anyone to dig down and thaw the pipes underground. But with much patience and propane torch power, the water finally thawed. Whew!
Scott describes daily life on the farm as dealing with one crisis after another. You never know what will break or what plans change, but the day never goes as you think it will. So really, it was a perfect start to my trip to the farm. I was still pretty wound up from my week at the office job, and it took a while for me to relax and fall into the rhythm of the farm. It's a strange time of year though, because everything was very laid back. I have to remind myself it will not be this way come springtime.
I really enjoyed the weekend. Nate and I went snow shoeing a couple times through the woods at the new farm. It was beautiful! Lots of snow! Got to see the new house and it's looking more and more like a house! One night we had Moose stew for dinner, which I still find hilarious (and delicious)! Friday, Nate and I worked most of the day in the cheeseplant after feeding the goats. We made mozzarella--and let me say, it was excellent! :) Market on Saturday was interesting. It was definitely cold, but I was ready in my "Dell" Suit. I felt like I was wearing one of those sumo wrestler suits. So cozy. We didn't sell a lot of cheese, I guess not too many people felt like sacrificing their body heat for delicious cheese. By Saturday night, I was wiped out. Jen, Scott, Nate and I shared a picnic style dinner at the new house. It was so nice.
I've been thinking a lot lately about my friends and the Ohio folks I will miss when I go to Maine. This last year in Columbus has been great! I've met some awesome people and really feel at home here. So the move to the farm will be all that much more of a transition. I'm going to be so out of place for awhile I think. I will have lots to focus on and lots to learn about farming and goats and cheese. And the best goat farming/cheesemakers in Maine to support me. Mmmm!
I just spent 4 days at Olde Oak Farm in Orono, Maine last week. If you haven't been paying attention, that's where I'll call home for the the 2009 farming season. And I'll be heading there early in March, or whenever I can find someone to take over my lease...Anyone need a place to live????
It was quite a busy weekend. When I got there, Scott and Nate had to get busy thawing the pipes in the cheese plant that had froze the night before. (Did I mention it was cooooold!) It could have been bad if the water had froze all the way down into the ground...we were supposed to make cheese the following day and Scott explained it could be quite an expense if he had to call anyone to dig down and thaw the pipes underground. But with much patience and propane torch power, the water finally thawed. Whew!
Scott describes daily life on the farm as dealing with one crisis after another. You never know what will break or what plans change, but the day never goes as you think it will. So really, it was a perfect start to my trip to the farm. I was still pretty wound up from my week at the office job, and it took a while for me to relax and fall into the rhythm of the farm. It's a strange time of year though, because everything was very laid back. I have to remind myself it will not be this way come springtime.
I really enjoyed the weekend. Nate and I went snow shoeing a couple times through the woods at the new farm. It was beautiful! Lots of snow! Got to see the new house and it's looking more and more like a house! One night we had Moose stew for dinner, which I still find hilarious (and delicious)! Friday, Nate and I worked most of the day in the cheeseplant after feeding the goats. We made mozzarella--and let me say, it was excellent! :) Market on Saturday was interesting. It was definitely cold, but I was ready in my "Dell" Suit. I felt like I was wearing one of those sumo wrestler suits. So cozy. We didn't sell a lot of cheese, I guess not too many people felt like sacrificing their body heat for delicious cheese. By Saturday night, I was wiped out. Jen, Scott, Nate and I shared a picnic style dinner at the new house. It was so nice.
I've been thinking a lot lately about my friends and the Ohio folks I will miss when I go to Maine. This last year in Columbus has been great! I've met some awesome people and really feel at home here. So the move to the farm will be all that much more of a transition. I'm going to be so out of place for awhile I think. I will have lots to focus on and lots to learn about farming and goats and cheese. And the best goat farming/cheesemakers in Maine to support me. Mmmm!
