Our dry lumber resides in a corner edge of our South barn, resources for future projects. Plenty of open space is left for this winter’s mixed group of gilts (future sows) and “market” pigs.
But this particular sounder of swine or passel of hogs appears to have neighbors who have channeled some good-sized tunnels in the sand beneath the lumber pile.
The inhabitants appear to have no interest in the grain stored in bags and we’ve neither seen nor heard any sign of them. Clearly we need to converse with Mari’s brothers (both ecologists) and neighbors Theresa and Rodney (Mountain Deer Taxidermy website has a link to their smoking hot U-tube channel!). Send us your ideas of who’s in the barn or enjoy the mystery and we will keep you posted on leads and updates.
In the meantime, we’ve been reflecting in general on three lovely Januarys past when we hosted vibrant groups of Williams College students.
While we are glad to be catching some rest instead of being part of another class this year, two of their lovely contributions seem especially relevant given the flow of this blog… First is Siobhan’s poem. Second is a link to Mike’s song, inspired by time with Rodney and Theresa at Mountain Deer Taxidermy!
The best we can ask for
is a daily layer of new snow.
All footprints are covered
and the land looks peaceful
under unbroken white.
But when the days get too warm
and the clean veneer melts away,
frantic mouse tunnels criss-cross
the fields, from fallen fir cone
to forgotten grain.
Their industriousness impresses,
but the fierceness of their need repels,
so we turn our eyes back skyward
and wish for a fresh fall
of beautiful ignorance.
– Siobhan Harrity
Listen here to: We’ll Always Have the Land written and sung by Mike Vercillo
