Can it have been a week since I last published a post? Indeed. And here I was, thinking I will faithfully update you daily on how to adapt from a city dweller lifestyle to a sustainable living of the land lifestyle. But I trust a weekly update has more entertainment value.
But let me first wipe the crumbs of a block (or two) of good old-fashioned fudge off my lips. Thanks, Elodé.
(This is called a red herring – I will know later today if my husband read my post – and comes to realise there is a secret stash hidden in plain sight. 50% of the population know exactly how easy it is to hide something in plain sight of the menfolk.)
Where did I end off last time? Ah, I was on my way back to the farm after a corporate day and longed to feel the earth under my bare feet. I’ve quoted this before, but I’m permitted to repeat my mantra:
“And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair” ― Khalil Gibran
Khalil Gibran was a Lebanese American painter and sculptor from Boston, Massachusetts.
So indeed, the minute my bare feet hit our red sand, I was grounded, which means my trusted new guard dog is also grounded.
Yep, every farm needs a yard dog, and my requirements were simple – female (more obedient, or so I’m told), medium size (as she will be sleeping indoors at night), short hair (easier to maintain). But I simply do not have the heart to go to SPCA and choose who gets left behind. Fortunately the universe sent a particular angel (thanks Elsa) my way and got us connected to C.A.P.U. who had a rescue puppy that is a perfect fit for us. Very cute, and very sharp teeth ….
Weetbix is the most people friendly, loyal puppy, and her nieces, nephews, cousins and so on are still up for adoption. If you want to know why she is called Weetbix, you can follow her and her mother’s story on Facebook at:
https://facebook.com/groups/1497730263834226/permalink/3434103023530264/
https://facebook.com/groups/1497730263834226/permalink/3432011407072759/
Anyhow, the weekend was grand – I made my first deal, selling 35 lambs to an ex-colleague, who made the farming lifestyle permanent a year or two before me. He is most helpful and honest in his advice. That is a must have for any new farmer.
The rest of the week went by in a blur, with the new puppy rearing responsibility (sorry, no magic advice for toilet training) but not without striking another winning gong – I sold 10 goats at auction and got a special mention (and a good price) for the quality of my livestock.
Out here in the bundus (yes its a word: “a largely uninhabited wild region far from towns”), internet is equally useful in conducting business and reading the paper. Alas, not as reliable. Here is a special plea for affordable data and hardware in all the remote corners of our sparsely populated country, to any new satellite communications service provider, who I understand may have been in the country recently. I have planned to explore the possibility of compiling livestock related live data, for national food security planning purposes. So, we have two potential streams of conducting business, just saying #ElonMusk Order Starlink. 
Liked your biography by Ashlee Vance….
Talking about national food security, I’m looking into consulting with a new venture in Agribusiness. Will know more next week (both you and me).
In the meantime, I try my hand at cheese making (with goats’ milk), and I’ve just had the seal of approval from The Father on the Haloumi.
If you have been complaining about the price of cheese, know this: 5 litres of milk will yield a mere 500g of cheese. There are some by products, like ricotta, and whey, but cheese will remain an expensive treat. You really must try some of the cheese I have left at the LuvEarth kiosk at Finkenstein.
But its not all creative games, there is some basic maintenance required, and this blog ends with a trip around our perimeter, looking for holes that predators dug to come in, or warthogs dug to get out.
May the rest of your week be a fulfilling balance of life and livelihood.
PS – I am trying out some sugar free and gluten free baking options. Can’t say the Sugar free Malva pudding gives the same degree of indulgence, but shout out if you would like to place any such order.
