Give Your Boss The Bird

(I mean, what boss doesn't want a chicken?)

Roses are red, my comb is red too, I think you should skip out of work early today, you deserve a break, you really do! — Elizabeth Cady StantHen, who is pushing hard for a four-day work week.

Here’s What’s Happening At Good Spirits Farm

• I’m hoping to merge our sheep flock and cow herd into one big, happy “flerd” in the next few days. If I can make this work, it should cut down on internal parasites, as cows are not vulnerable to the same worms sheep struggle with and vice-versa. When one species consumes the eggs of a worm that doesn’t use it as a host, it interrupts the parasite’s life cycles, lowering the parasite loads in your pastures. Merging into a flerd will also hopefully cut down on my work. Right now, I have to move two temporary pastures—plus two water tubs and mineral blocks—each day. Only having to move one will feel like a treat!

• I’m working on socializing Juliet with the other sheep and, well, it’s going to be a long process. She is absolutely terrified of them. Honestly, I can’t blame her. My sweetest (to me!) sheep mama gave Juliet a giant head bonk and sent her flying the first time they met. (Juliet is okay, but her suspicions about it being better to be a house lambie forever have been confirmed.)

• Because I am a glutton for punishment, I am considering doing a small batch of Thanksgiving turkeys for local friends and neighbors. Do I need more work? Absolutely not. But I have one empty chicken tractor, and it seems a shame not to put it to use. (Clearly I am missing the above messaging on the four-day work week!)

Here’s What I Loved This Week

Farm honey drizzled over whole milk yogurt, with a sprinkle of this granola and a few farm-grown blackberries on top. In my book, there is no finer breakfast.