Harvest in the morning, weed in the afternoon, and plant in the evening. Really there is not much more to say about this. I did start my day with Jen milking Ella the cow. This process I have seen twice now, but I am sure to forget some of the important stuff. Writing it down here, for my memories sake.
Collect rags and warm soapy water, then the milk receptacle. load in golf cart.
Close gate after entering the stall, place milk jug aside, muck out stall. Put new straw down under milking zone. Straw on left, hay on right of bin.
Find Ella and harness her in. Rope goes under her chin and over her ears. Tie her to the eye hooks giving her six to eight inches leeway.
Take rags and soapy water and wipe down her utters making sure surrounding area is clean. Clear out utters with finger, pulling down and away.
Milk saddle goes over her hips, place the jug over adjusting how close it is to utters. Insert a quarter to turn on vacuum pump. (or was it a nickle)
Insert into milk receptacle, adjust speed with screw. Crimp hose and place over utter. Wait five to seven minutes, until Ella begins to kick, then she is done.
Congrats you now have two and a half to three gallons of milk, but wait.
Turn off vacuum pump, break seal on utters. Move to golf cart. Close gate.
Give Ella four scoops of wet oats, remove saddle and Harness. Get out of the way.
Don't forget to let the chickens out.
There is a whole other process for cleaning the milking supplies, prepping them for the next days milking, and jarring and labeling the milk. Along with other ways to process the milk, skimming it for example, having one milk cow is a large undertaking.
The weekly cycle continues, although there were not as many CSA member/volunteers here today. This made for extra helpings at lunch, but I fear more work in the field.
Bridget and I were weeding in the High tunnel when I stepped into the bed for some plants I could not reach.
"You really shouldn't stand in there," she said.
"This isn't sacred ground."
"I know, but it makes the water soak in poorly if you do."
"I didn't want to, but the thistle made me do it."
Collect rags and warm soapy water, then the milk receptacle. load in golf cart.
Close gate after entering the stall, place milk jug aside, muck out stall. Put new straw down under milking zone. Straw on left, hay on right of bin.
Find Ella and harness her in. Rope goes under her chin and over her ears. Tie her to the eye hooks giving her six to eight inches leeway.
Take rags and soapy water and wipe down her utters making sure surrounding area is clean. Clear out utters with finger, pulling down and away.
Milk saddle goes over her hips, place the jug over adjusting how close it is to utters. Insert a quarter to turn on vacuum pump. (or was it a nickle)
Insert into milk receptacle, adjust speed with screw. Crimp hose and place over utter. Wait five to seven minutes, until Ella begins to kick, then she is done.
Congrats you now have two and a half to three gallons of milk, but wait.
Turn off vacuum pump, break seal on utters. Move to golf cart. Close gate.
Give Ella four scoops of wet oats, remove saddle and Harness. Get out of the way.
Don't forget to let the chickens out.
There is a whole other process for cleaning the milking supplies, prepping them for the next days milking, and jarring and labeling the milk. Along with other ways to process the milk, skimming it for example, having one milk cow is a large undertaking.
The weekly cycle continues, although there were not as many CSA member/volunteers here today. This made for extra helpings at lunch, but I fear more work in the field.
Bridget and I were weeding in the High tunnel when I stepped into the bed for some plants I could not reach.
"You really shouldn't stand in there," she said.
"This isn't sacred ground."
"I know, but it makes the water soak in poorly if you do."
"I didn't want to, but the thistle made me do it."
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