Farm Visit Feedback

I visited the farm yesterday. As always, it was a joy. I saw the shiny new barn in progress, helped milk the cows and said hi to the many pregnant ladies, took a hair sample for A1/A2 genetic testing, held a cow by her slimy nostrils to give a homeopathic treatment, and had a sit-down meeting with the farmer.

I had lots of time to reflect on my 3-hour drive home. Out of all of yesterday’s farm adventures, what stuck out most to me was the kind and generous nature of the farmer, his family, and his staff. Especially in today’s political climate, it is refreshing to spend time with people who highly respect people no matter their culture, animals no matter their breed, and the land no matter its history.

The day did not go quite as planned. There was an unfortunate death in the community. Despite a seemingly endless amount of farm chores to complete and the fact that they had English visitors for the day, the farmer and his wife stopped everything, readied their buggy, and were off to pay their respects. When they returned, the farmer’s wife prepared us a delicious supper and somehow all the chores got accomplished.

The farmer spent a good amount of time caring for a lame cow. A couple days ago, a thorn got stuck in her hoof, and she developed an infection. The farmer inspected her hoof for signs of healing and her body to make sure that she was eating enough. He then gave her a homeopathic treatment to aid in her healing. Additionally, as a preventative measure, he gave the entire herd homeopathic remedy in their drinking water.

The farmer excitedly showed me his new manure pit. All of the cows’ excrements are funneled into a tremendous concrete pit that’s about 50 feet wide. Very little is wasted on the farm. This manure is liquid gold. When the time is right, it is pumped back onto the fields, adding nutrients, texture, and microorganisms back into the soil. The fertilized soil is then ready for a new crop of alfalfa grass. It has been over 16 years since the farm was touched by chemicals. By using these sustainable farming practices, the farmer has brought an abundance of life back to the fields.

I am continuously honored to work for Miller’s Biodiversity Farm. It is my pleasure to serve both the farmer and our members. Many thanks to you for your patronage!