This is just a quick post to highlight a new page we put up on our website that shows you opportunities for volunteering at Righteous Oaks Farm. It also allows you to let us know what projects you might be interested in helping out with. Check it out at: https://righteousoaksfarm.com/volunteer-oportunities/
Category Archives: Farm
The day Fatty died
Who knew a chicken could bring a family closer together? It all happened last November. Peter was out checking on his wandering hens. Urgently, he comes to the door in tears. “Fatty died.” You see, Fatty was not just any chicken (many had gone before her with no tears), Fatty was his favorite chicken. She had a unique crop problem. She made a different noise and was always quite “chatty.” At lunch we would often hear about Fatty’s latest news and what she said about Pecky, Farty, Bossy, Stupid and Baby. Peter made sure she didn’t go to the compost pile, this special hen now has her own place in the yard with a special rock that Peter saved especially for Fatty.
It was heart wrenching to see him so sad. I’m sure it was extra difficult for him because he watched her die. For me, the whole experience drew me closer to Peter. I realize how deep this little boy runs. He’s not a thoughtless, careless boy just going about his days. He has real feeling, real emotion. My other boys wear their emotions on their sleeves, they are lovey and gentle. I had been finding it hard to relate to Peter because I was beginning to think he was hard and didn’t want me close. Maybe that’s just part of a boy growing up and pushing his mother away. Maybe he’s just been stressed out with having imperfect parents that expect a lot from him.
Fatty, in her death has brought us closer. We were able to comfort Peter, reminisce about the great times we’ve had with Fatty (like the times she wobbled up to us as we did schoolwork outside), we were able to gently push into his world. He has been more open and affectionate since this happened. He’s even been more considerate with his words. We all have (children live what they learn).
I likely won’t forget the funeral we had for Fatty. Here are the words from Peter’s writing assignment that week:
“I liked fatty. She was a good chicken. she talked pretty funny, was my favorite ckicken. I liked watching her. Now she is gone.”
Surrounded with teenagers
Adding nine teenagers to our crew for a week was a new experience to say the least. Monday through Friday we did little else but try to keep nine teenagers and our three young boys doing something. They fed and harvested chickens, baked, cooked, made jam, did wood crafts, canoed up and down the river outside our front door, fished, had family devotions or quiet time, cleaned out the old chicken coop when they forgot the rules, took turns with meal preparation and clean up, watched the documentary Fresh, prepared our small brooder for tiny guinea fowl keets (so cute), woke up early to get the keets at the post office, etc. It was a cold and wet week, so we changed a few of the original plans.
How did we do it? First, we had a lot of planning going into the week. We had a schedule set and posted. A meal plan was in place. We were flexible with the plan, the schedule, and the meals, and adjusted them when weather or other circumstances arose. The most important factor was that we had help. Mat’s mom was the school kid’s chaperone for the week. She has had lots of experience and she does an awesome job with large group events. Mat’s dad happened to have the week off and helped with much of the outdoor activities. He is also amazing and a non-stop work machine.
Anything we would have changed? I would have been more proactive in dolling out work. These kids were willing to move if directed. I do think they were kept plenty busy though, because nothing was broken. I would have been more intentional in getting Dena, Mat’s mom, to rest. I had mandatory rest time because I laid Josiah down three times a day and realize this was extremely helpful for my sanity this past week. I would have tried harder to not expect these kids to act like Christians (because most weren’t) and given more grace. I would have been firmer in my expectations and quicker to show authority when disregarded.
Saturday came and we took a much needed vacation. We are all worn out. Overall, we feel good about our time with them and hope they feel the same.
If you have, please continue to pray:
• Mat and Peter both had deer ticks this weekend and Mat’s is developing a rash.
• We are getting a few pigs for pasture today and have never raised them.
• Our week is filling up fast, Mat will likely need his rest and I am hoping he does not over work himself.
• We will continue to receive groups throughout the summer and fall.
Order of farm life coming up
It’s time to get caught up on what has happened on the farm these last few weeks. The weather has been beautiful so we have been working outside most days.
Mat worked the ground for a huge garden spot. It took the most part of three days. It is a wet soil, but with some work we hope to have a good plot eventually.
The boys planted a variety of apple trees and a few elderberry bushes around the yard. Silas enjoyed a wheel barrow ride and Peter enjoyed working on his fort once the trees were in.
Last week, the young ones and I took a trip to the post office to pick up our last batch of chicks. Mat was busy cleaning out the brooder and fertilizing our garden with the bedding from the previous chicks. When we got home, Peter, Silas and I worked together moving the third batch of chicks we had to their nice and clean bigger brooder. I am continually amazed at how these little boys take on new challenges. Peter helped catch the little chicks gently and Silas gently put them into their new home.
When I Am Afraid …
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in You”
Psalm 56:3
We have taught this simple verse to our boys to help them when they are afraid. Many times when they wake up with a nightmare or are afraid to go to bed I remind them that they can trust in God when they are afraid. Then we think about why they can trust in Him.
1. He is the Creator of this universe, there is nothing more powerful than Him. He is Almighty
2. He is everywhere, He promises to be with us always.
3. He knows our hearts and knows what scares us, He will hear our cry for help.
4. He promises to uphold us with his righteous right hand.
As we talk about these things the boys usually are calmed and are able to go to sleep. Often I forget that these Bible verses I am teaching my boys were written for me also.
The bees are coming
To tell you the truth, it doesn’t seem real that we have bees coming this Saturday. We just got done with maple syrup season. The chickens are happy in their respective pastures and so fun to watch as they waddle run toward us. Now for the bees. It feels like another new adventure. Silas has been helping paint the homemade hive today. Mathew is a hero for making it himself. Over the winter we had a lot of help from some great friends cutting boards and such. Mat will be collecting the creatures and some equipment in Hackensack. Then he and his dad will place them in their new home. Mat set up the site pne evening by leveling off some ground, clearing extra debris, and setting up a solar powered electric fence. Even though the sting sends us running, the bears are a bit more determined to get their paws on the contents of the hive. We have the pollen patties made and ready. The flowers on the maples just blossomed and more buds pop every day. It seems a weighty thing to take on this new challenge, but Mat has been given such talent in learning, problem solving, initiating working ideas, etc, that I am not anxious. He recently told me how to get the queen out of it’s carrying case. I had never even thought of that. It is a whole new world of information. Here we go on another adventure.
Enjoy some pictures of the hive in process…
Hive inserts with beeswax liner
Little painter and the hive body
Firefighter Pete
Peter recently had an experience few kids have and fewer adults want to have. He was a real fire fighter. We started a fire in an old pasture not thinking of the six plus years of grass that had not been eaten down. It has been fairly wet and still is in most areas around the farm. The fire quickly spread to some dry grass which found more dry grass and so on. Mat had a bucket of water on hand but needed more. He also needed to keep putting out the flames before they got to the barn or spread to neighboring pastures. Peter was quick in bringing Silas inside, then in running to the barn to get a little bucket full of water. He went back and forth from barn to Daddy, stamping out a few flames in between. We are proud of how God is shaping him into an obedient and quick minded son. Without him, the fire could have been really big and damaging to us and neighboring farms.
We learn from our mistakes, but please pray for us that our future mistakes are not life threatening or pray that we can learn from others so we don’t have to make big mistakes.
The fire was started well behind the barn and spread up this far.
Righteous Oaks Farm 