Rules from the farm

I was given a magazine on farming a while back. It was geared more for urban folks who like to get back to the land and raise a few goats or pigs.
But there was some definite truth in it. One of the items that struck me was a column giving advice to would-be farmers. It stated: “Killing is part of farming.”
It’s very true. If you want to be a farmer, you will likely have to kill something sooner or later. Whether it’s finishing off a wounded chicken that the coyotes didn’t quite get to or slaughtering an animal to put food on your table, you’ll have to kill something.
The thought entered my mind as I moved through our herd of cattle last week, choosing which ones to send to market.
Although we weren’t doing the killing, our choices were those of life or death. For most of the animals we sent to market, our decision meant a drastically shortened life. For those that we chose to keep, it meant a much longer life.
However, the killing is still there. We lost our bull this year, victim to a badly broken leg while on the summer range. My brother had to put the bull out of its misery.
If you want to be a farmer, get used to the idea that you will likely have to kill something, sometime. I do like the First Nations philosophy regarding hunting. They deify the animals they hunt because those animals give their lives so we can live.
It is one of the things you have to get used to if you want to be a farmer. There are a few other rules about farming that you should be aware of, if you want to embrace that lifestyle.
Cows, pigs, horses, or any other farm animal can feel the breeze from an open gate.
One of the rules of farming is if you encounter a gate, leave it the way you found it. In other words, if it was open, leave it open; if it was closed, close it behind you.
Another rule about gates. If there are two of you in the truck, the passenger opens and closes the gate.
If you are chasing livestock, be aware that the rule is that they will automatically go the other way. You could be chasing them to Nirvana, they’ll want to head the other way.
Another rule is: If you step in something squishy, don’t bother to clean your boots off. You’ll probably step in more before you’re done. Clean your boots when you get back to the house. Invest in a good pair of gumboots.
Tucking your pants inside your gumboots may make you look like a goofball, however, the cows don’t mind and whoever does your laundry and/or cleans your house will be eternally grateful.
The tractor seat will be wet when you sit on it. Get used to it.
You will have scrapes and bruises all over and you won’t know how you got them. Get used to that too.
You will put a tool down somewhere and forget where.
You’ll breathe in the fresh air and thank your lucky stars you’ve embraced a wonderfully satisfying lifestyle.
Bill Phillips is the winner of the British Columbia/Yukon Community Newspaper Association’s 2009 Ma Murray award for editorial writing.