Greetings from Edale Farm

 Well, hi there.

Yesterday all the sheep got sheared. I kept thinking about vegans while I watched the process because it looks cruel, with the sheep forced into a humanlike sitting position and all of them struggling and baaing for their babies and the babies not recognizing their mothers once they've been sheared. But their agitation lasted only a short while, and it would be crueler to leave them in their heavy wool coats all summer. 

Sheep were never on the list of animals I want on my future farm, but now they're definitely off. I'll leave the stressful shearing to other farmers.

On Saturday, Dave and Joanne took me to the farmers market in Harrisonburg and we bought some morel mushrooms, which I cooked in butter and salt and pepper for dinner. I also petted lots of bunnies on Saturday (two at the farmers market and five at Agora Downtown Market, a building with a bunch of different local shops in it). I had somehow forgotten how much I love bunnies. I think I might add bunnies to the list of animals I want on my future farm. My mom and sister and I are planning a business: I will raise Angora rabbits, my mom will spin and dye their fur, and my sister will crochet it into beautiful creations.

The farm work I've been helping with takes place mainly in the polytunnel (pictured below). We've been transplanting, de-rocking the garden beds, planting seeds, and moving huge water tanks.

We work only about two hours each day; in addition to their farm, Dave and Joanne also own a skating rink which blew up last October, so a large portion of their days are dedicated to rebuilding it. This schedule suits me well, because it gives me plenty of time to work online, do school, and read. And watch Gilmore Girls 😁

Dave and Joanne gave me a bicycle that someone left at the rink a while ago and never claimed; Dave has been wanting to get rid of it for ages. I'm delighted to take it off their hands.

Oh, and if you're ever in Harrisonburg, do stop by the Local Chop & Grill House. Get their chèvre mac and cheese and their brownie sundae.

Why Edale Farm is called Edale Farm: Dave and Joanne are originally from England, and apparently there's a British soap opera called Emmerdale Farm that Joanne used to love. When Dave was trying to come up with a name for the farm, Joanne wanted him to name it Emmerdale. Dave figured the rest of his family would laugh at him for that, so he shortened it to Edale.