This Week on the Farm

 

Big Chungus Joins Team Aloha

This week I took a break from teaching students about worms and the importance of regenerative agriculture

and decided to focus on another passion; rabbits!  

 

A friend told me about Hidden Pasture Farms. 

It was well worth the drive to Fountain Inn SC to get there.  

 

Kate Nichols opened her agribusiness a year ago and already the place was full of kids and families.  

There are peacocks, all kinds of chickens, goats, ponies, cows, horses and of course

RABBITS!

If you have never been you have to go!  Here is Kate's Website.

Naturally, I could not resist taking Big Chungus, this gorgeous Flemish Giant Buck, home with us.  

Some addictions are just too difficult to withdraw from!

Thank You For Your Service

Tuesday May 21st was a sad day for us here on the farm.  Our beloved friend Mauka passed away quickly in the early morning hours. He died instantly guarding the goats in the corner of the pasture where he normally barks at predators.  On the same day Mauka passed my husband went to the funeral of a Vietnam Veteran buddy.

It was a tough day.

Too many veterans end their life due to war trauma.  If you or someone you know who is a veteran needs help please direct them to Operation Restored Warrior.  They can help.

                                                                   

Mauka's soul was beyond my ability to describe here.  Language can't quite capture the essence of this amazing animal and friend but I will try my best.  

Our journey together began when we moved to the farm back in 2008.  We started out as clueless farmers with a small herd of alpacas.  We needed a guard dog because South Carolina has lots of bad guys here.  Coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and other dogs all love to taste the delightful treats (chickens, rabbits, goats) here on our property.  

Our grandson Peter was visiting us when we headed up to North Carolina to pick out some dogs.  We came home with Mauka and his sister Lani; two of the best Great Pyrenees dogs ever created!  Poor Peter was not quite sure about riding in the car with two big white monsters right behind him! 

Mauka protected the alpacas with great care.

 

Our grandchildren loved him dearly.  Even though his size was large and somewhat overwhelming, they sensed the gentle and kind soul emanating from that huge hairy body!  Ella Bella Petronella is afraid of dogs, especially large ones, but not so with Mauka.  

Mauka attended all 13 of our Farm Labs this past week.  The students were able to love on him, brush him, and marvel at the fact that such a big dog can hang out with baby rabbits, 

tiny chicks, and baby goats, 

all together in the same pen.  

How do you say goodby to such a gentle giant and loyal companion?  My husband and I buried our dear friend Mauka in the back corner of the property.  We both cried as we remembered the wonderful times we had together for the past 12.5 years.  We thanked him for his unrelenting devotion and service to us and to our family.  

We love you Mauka.  Thank you for your service.  You will never be forgotten.  Even in death you still reach out to teach me.  As I've been reflecting on Mauka this is what I believe he would want me to know. 

• My "to do" list is not as important as saying hello and goodbye when I greet my loved ones.  You never know if it might be the last time.  I would give anything to rewind the clock and hug him and tell him how much I love him one more time.
• Non-verbal communication speaks volumes.  Mauka never uttered one word his entire life yet he was a transmitter of unconditional love and loyalty to all who were fortunate enough to encounter him.  
• Don't let looks fool you.  Mauka was large and scary yet his eyes gave him away.  He was a lover of humans, other dogs, and those who needed his protection.  
• Love your work.  Mauka loved to protect and he worked any hour of any day if his services were needed.  
• Recognize greatness, it is all around you.  Mauka was more than a remarkable dog.  He was my friend, my protector, my helper on the farm, and loyal to the bitter end.  I didn't quite grasp the value of his greatness until he left us so suddenly.  I wonder how many other humans and animals are part of my life and I don't see their beauty or recognize their greatness shining out.  That  70's song "Don't It Always Seem To Go That You Don't Know What You've Got Till It's Gone", (Big Yellow Taxi) by Joni Mitchel makes me sad.  I was in the presence of greatness and was too busy to recognize it.  
• Always be grateful to those who stand guard over you. They deserve honor for what they do.   

And to all the faithful ones both human and animal who helped protect us we thank you this Memorial Day!  

Mom I'm Bored...

My heart goes out to kids these days.  When I was one, 

(just a couple of weeks ago) I had lots of time to roam 

and run free.  My friends and I would make rafts and float 

on the pond behind our house.  We collected clams and 

made clam beds.  We created forts in the woods and rode 

our bikes for hours.  

So why does my heart go out to kids?  Because "the boogie man" 

has stolen their freedom to explore and to create.  This has 

been a heartache of mine for a long time.  You can read about it here.

My dear husband 

rolled up his sleeves and decided to help me put my dream together 

by creating a small area where kids can be kids and get down and dirty 

with their four and two footed friends. 

Do you see the black rabbit running in the background?  That's Ruby and she got out.  

Not to worry I have a plan and will get her back soon.  Believe me, I am an expert now 

at catching escaped rabbits...

 

Meet Maxine.  

She's the pretty girl in this place.

Here is Ruth, aka escape artist.  

If anybody is going to dig their way out, it's Ruth.  She is very tame.  

A dear friend of mine named Ruth used to hold her in her arms for hours

every time we met at our house for a gathering.  Ruth is so gentle and sweet, 

(both of them). 

Cleopatra 

is my oldest rabbit.  She birthed Ruth and several others who I sold.  

My grandson Gabe, has one of her offspring, named Josephine, 

formerly Jo until we discovered he was a she.  

Oh My...

Antonio Valentino the only male. 

He was born on Valentine's Day thus the name...  And true to his name 

he got out of his pen and now all the girls are expecting.  They are all 

getting quite hefty and digging holes in preparation for the new brood.  

I am about to be overrun with rabbits!  

Register for a lab and see for yourself!!  

Have You Ever Seen a Sunburned Goat?

Neither have I  

That's why I decided to make Aloha Goat Milk Organic Sunscreen!! 

While vacationing in Hawaii we went to a wildlife preserve called Hanauma Bay.  At the marine store they were asking people to trade in their harmful sunscreen for this expensive brand that is lacking oxybenzone and octinoxate. 

 

You see Hanauma Bay is a special place for me. 

 My husband proposed to me there many eons ago.  

I went back there again today and I was shocked.  The coral was not as beautiful as it was 39 years ago (oops I let the date slip).  It was quite sad to see the deterioration.  

My sister, Erna

sent me some helpful information: A 2015 study found that up to 14,000 tons of sunscreen enter the ocean every year, causing harm. “The legislature finds that two chemicals contained in many sunscreens, oxybenzone and octinoxate, have significant harmful impacts on Hawaii’s marine environment and residing ecosystems, including coral reefs that protect Hawaii’s shoreline,” the bill reads. “Oxybenzone and octinoxate cause mortality in developing coral; increase coral bleaching that indicates extreme stress, even at temperatures below 87.8 degrees Fahrenheit; and cause genetic damage to coral and other marine organisms.”

Now I don't know about you but if its not good for the coral and marine life how can it be good for me?  

So I had a talk with the goats and they all agreed to help me out.  We got together and devised a plan to save the coral reefs and keep our skin healthy.  I only feed my goats organic goat food and their pasture and hay is also pesticide free.  So you can't find a more pure bunch of goats anywhere around.  

Here is some sunscreen they sell in the marine store.   
Notice the price for 6 oz. $15.99 Wow!  That is enough to make a Dutch woman crawl into a lava tube!!  My goats and I sell our 8 oz. bottle of SPF 25 sunscreen for $11.00  What a bargain and it is all organic and healthy for your skin and the environment. 

Here is what we put in our sunscreen:  organic goat milk, sweet almond oil, avocado oil, apricot oil, pumpkin seed oil, shea butter, stearic acid, emulsifying wax, essential oils, permaben (vitamin C and E), non-nano zinc oxide.  When you put it on it makes your skin a bit white for a few seconds.  Those of us who remember sunscreen before Oxybenzone and octinoxate know that this is how all our sunscreen used to look. You don't need much. 

Please PM me or post a comment below if you want to find out more about this amazing product or try it for yourself.  Save the planet.  Save your skin and your children's skin.  Make a goat smile.