Reeeewiiiind! Sept 25-Oct 1: A week of wwoofing with Amanda and Lyndsey :) Beautiful rolling hills. 4 lambs. 3 cats. heaps of chickens. 1 dog. 5 kayaks. home-made cheese. 130 happy cows.
This is the paradise just outside of Cambridge is where Lyndsey and I landed for wwoofing destination #2, while Sandie and Jess stayed behind in Sunnvale for some more fun at Fruit Vans. What better place to spend a week than on the Bylands organic dairy farm? We were warmly welcomed into the bustling home of Phil and Tracy Bax, parents of 4 teenagers and owners of a working 130-cow herd, affectionately known as the 'Mooloo Clan'.
We spent the large part of our 4 hour working days helping out around the garden- weeding, trimming, mowing lawns, and planting berries and veggies. We also made it out to the local HoraHora elementary school where youngest Bax member is one of 50 students (grade 1-8 incl!), to do some planting. Other fun included collecting eggs from the henhouse, AND we made CHEESE! Yes, real feta cheese- milk straight from the cow. Ohhhh man talk about delicious, this is something everyone should know how to do. YUM!
Our highlights were of course spent with the animals. On the afternoon of our first day, as well as the last one, we witnessed the birth of 2 wee baby calves! Even covered in embryonic goo, newborn calves are incredibly adorable, and we felt very lucky to be present for such magical moments ;) Most everyday we got to go out and bottle-feed the 4 baby lambs who also called the farm home, and enjoyed thier antics almost daily, as they broke free of their paddock and ran and kicked
their heels around the yard. They were like little fluffy white Houdinis! If that wasn't enough cuteness, we also went with Tracy to feed the older calves (they're seperated from their moms and kept all together in another paddock. There's too many calves to keep them with their moms, since that would mean the moms not being milked for the people), filling up a big container of milk with teats all around the outside,  |
Of course we were not about to miss seeing the milking process in action. And so midweek Lyndsey and I dragged ourselves out of bed with the sun, went out to the milking shed for both a morning and afternoon milking to find out how it all worked. The first day Phil showed us how to put on and take off the 'milker', but at times we felt a little in the way! Second time around was much better, as we got the hang of it we were able to know when one was done milking, to take it off and switch it to a cow on the other side. We also sprayed teatree oil on their teats afterwards (feels better!), and watched Tracy give them different homeopathic remedies- all chemical free. Despite our best efforts at staying clean with our coveralls on, we both got thoroughly covered in poo- while on one occasion I even got sprayed in the face. Aughhh all hazards of the job!
When not working hard on the farm, we also enjoyed a bike ride through the countryside, and an awesome kayak ride down the river. Phil took us out in the evening, through the marsh and a small gorge up the river, where we stopped for a break on the bank and had a little fire. By that time it was dark, and as we floated with the current back downsteam, we were met with an army of glowworms all through the gorge! It as a magical site, and a wonderful surprise added to an already awesome trip. Had some great evenings cooking for the the family, tried our hands at homemade tortillas, did puzzles, and drank beer by the fire. This is the life :)
 |
