Working on the Farm

In an effort to both fulfill our desire to serve and our desire to live on a farm, our family has had the pleasure of volunteering at a local working farm and ministry. Shepherds Cross Farms has sheep, chicken, a Bible garden, and a few other miscellaneous things. They use their sheep to teach others about our Great Shepherd Jesus through many different events. Although the farm is their main ministry, they also participate in a number of other ministry efforts, including missionary work to other countries.

Yesterday, our volunteer work include loading rocks into the farm truck and unloading them to build a rock wall under an existing fence in order to prevent coyotes from getting at the sheep. The kids had a blast riding around the farm in the farm truck, seeing the guard donkeys, and finding various kinds of snakes underneath the rocks. (Thankfully, we didn't encounter any poisonous ones!)

Our kids are learning to spin wool, how yarn is dyed, how to make yarn into balls, and all about all the different old tools and machines sheep farmers use. Next week, we'll get to see chicken eggs incubated. As part of our treat for helping, Dr. Diane sent us home with some fresh farm eggs. As you can see from the picture, these are very different from the eggs you buy at the store. Not only are they different sizes and colors (sometimes they have green/blue eggs!), but these had to be candled to make sure they weren't fertilized! We are having a blast and even though it's so much fun, the kids are learning the value of hard work on the farm! It has also brought back some wonderful memories from my childhood at my grandparents' own little farm with chickens and vegetable gardens. What a blessing this opportunity has been for us!