Well, 2018, it’s been real. Real fun, real scary, real tiring and really AMAZING! A year ago when we started planning to have our hobby farm, we had no idea what was in store for us. We have learned so much, sometimes our heads spin. We learned how to build a pigdiminium from the ground up, literally. We learned about kunekunes and their unique personalities. We learned about Icelandic sheep and their dispositions. I learned how to use a microscope to check for parasites, how to make roving from the sheep’s wool, how to hand spin the wool and different techniques to trimming sheep hooves.
Sadly, we learned about loss two weeks after getting our kunekunes when Lilly died. That was so traumatic that I wasn’t sure I could continue to grow the farm. I wasn’t sure my heart had any more room for a new pig, until Blake brought Josie home. Red, Piper and Josie all live harmoniously now. It was like Josie was mean to be here on our farm.
We learned that the dead of summer probably isn’t the best time to acclimate Icelandic sheep to a west Georgia June. But we did it. We brought our sweet sheep home on June 23rd and it took about two weeks for them to get to know us and trust us. Now Vinnie is always up under us. We also learned about the shearing process for the sheep and what to expect next time.
We learned how to stop and just be. We would constantly find ourselves outside with all of the animals. It taught us to stop and relax, when the weather allowed. And speaking of weather, apparently this is the second wettest/rainiest year on record in Georgia. Well that is just lovely when you’re out feeding animals in the rain and all of the hay that you put down washes away. You feel like you are about to wash away.
This year has been a whirlwind that’s for sure. We probably wouldn’t do many things differently as we have learned so much as this year progressed. But we have learned how we can improve things and do things differently moving forward. Through social media and our travels we have met likeminded people, hobby farmers and friends from all around the southeast and literally the world. We hope to make many more friends in the new year.
We hope to grow our farm in 2019 and learn even more. We hope to be able to breed our gilts and have baby kunekunes when the time is right. But be warned, if you come for a visit, you will want to take one home! The baby kunekunes are simply adorable. We also hope to breed Stella June and have a baby Icelandic or two.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
When I pray at night, I pray for God to give us guidance with all of our animals for their well-being and for our farm. I will continue to seek Him everyday.
So look out 2019, here we come!
