The season we have all been waiting for!

This is what the first day of summer looked like here at the rock. A couple of our blackberries basking in the mysterious light above. Allot of folks think Himalayans are an invasive species. But how could something be imposing when it just wants to crawl into a bottle of wine? The pigs have tilled around four acres so far, and counting. The ground behind them is holes and mounds differentiating between 6 inches to one and half feet in varience. For our first replanting we will be broadcasting root seeds in the hills, and buckwheat in the holes. Over time the bio mass should even out the level again. If not, then next time through the pigs will dig down the hills for the roots, and get er releveled. I am trying to avoid tilling since the pigs are leaving the soil structure pretty much in tact, but we shall see. So far Summer has been pretty true to form, the kids are out riding bikes and finding bugs and snakes. We are doing alot of hand haying long into the evening. Life is hard, and life is good.

The Blais family has landed...

After living in the same city for 31 years or so, they have finally put me out to pasture. We have been living on site for two days now. It has been a little too busy to really appreciate it. It is a little surreal, Teresa and I feel like we are staying at a cabin, and we are waiting for Monday when they make us go home. But today is Monday and this is now home. Moving day overall went spectacular, except that the pigs knew we were busy and decided to move too, outside of their fence. Thanks to cousin Donny for chasing them back in while we were in a truck full of our worldly possessions movin on down the road. Also, while the house here was empty, an extended family of little grey mice decided it was cozier in the house than in the field. We closed up all the holes and vacuumed up all the little black presents they dotted in all the corners, set some traps, and now assume we will not be carried off by them in the night. But we will see. One of the first things you notice out here is the stars. Big and bright. Nighttime goes down a little differently now, the old sirens are traded now for frogs croaking and wily coyotes howling. And the smell of burgers, fries, and paper mills are traded for the sweet smell that blows across the grass. I don’t know how the smell changes when it turns dark, but it is awesome – and addicting. Since on site we have also found out Teresa is quite the pig whisperer, as you can see in the picture she has this little piggy hypnotized with a belly rub.