After a six hour drive we arrived at our next farm destination in Hillsborough, North Carolina on Monday evening. We got a tour of the facilities which proved to be a big farm. Then we unpacked and enjoyed dinner with the family.
Tuesday we started our first day of work on Woodcrest. First on the list for the morning, and every morning to come… milking! We learned the process for milking the cows and goats and helped other various animals chores, then we enjoyed breakfast over discussion of chores for the day. I went with another farm volunteer to work in the garden constructing a fence for the peas to vine up and did some weeding.
The next morning Ryan final went to the dentist (to get a tooth checked out that has been bothering him for quite some time) so once the milking chores were done he was gone for a while. We needed to get a new load of hay for the animals, so I had the opportunity to drive and operate the tractor. I used the forklift part of it to pick up, move, and place these huge round bails of hay. Ryan came home in time to try it too. Afterwards, we decided we both agree we’ll definitely own a tractor one day, it was so awesome!
The ‘co-owner’ of the farm, Allan, hosts a pioneering class for kids who are home schooled in the area and so Thursday about twenty of them came out to learn skills in cooking over a campfire. Ryan and I helped with the prep work, cutting up vegetables, etc. and the kids helped prepare the lunch and dessert, cooked in the coals of a well built fire in front of the barn. Then I got a lesson in hay barrel hoping and hula hooping before we cleaned up. Once the group was gone we went to work. I went to do some maintenance in the garden while Ryan worked on tilling the future garden for the hoop house and then helping Allan to finish constructing rabbit cages.
Friday and Saturday were our days off so we decided to check out the North Carolina State Fair, which I was unaware is well renowned, according to the locals… We checked out all the vendors and exhibits, munched on some kettle corn and actually spent a lot time in “The Village of Yesteryear.” Which sounds pretty lame, but there were tons of accomplished craftsman working away, showing off their trade skills of a seemingly dead or dying profession. We spent the next day hiking at a nearby park.
With that, I’ll leave you with some words from the great Jeff Foxworthy
“That’s the great thing about a tractor. You can’t really hear the phone ring”
Tonya & Ryan
Just as Free 
I thought the sign said “pasteurized pork” and couldn’t figure out what THAT was….but it is “pastured pork”. Guess the little piglets run free….wonder how they catch them?! Maybe that will be a future job while Ryan and Tonya are there….would pay big bucks to see that one ! 🙂
Aunt Kathy