The Others

The farm is home to many...
humans and domesticated animals.


It is also home to the Others -
those who were here long before we were.


Those who were born here and will live out their lives here.
Those with whom we are challenged with peaceful, respectful,
co-existence.


In my mind it is the Others to whom the land truly belongs.
We are merely squatters.

Several weeks ago, as I drove up our driveway,
I spied a female turkey and her young brood in the grass that grows between
the edge of the driveway and the woods.
Upon seeing me, she protectively ushered her youngsters into the safety of the woods.

And while we often see wild turkey on our land,


it is rare to see youngsters like this.
Hoping to get a photo, we placed a couple of game cameras facing different 
directions alongside our driveway.


Around the same time as the turkey sighting,
I began seeing a female white-tailed deer hanging out in the lower section of our 
front yard.


Golden brown and sleek in her summer coat,
she was wary of our presence...
but stayed.
We saw her day after day.

This might be why...


"Well, hello there!"


We have a curious baby here... 
a spring fawn.


I love that the wild animals grow their babies on our farm.
On some level, I am sure they understand that they are safe here.

Even the foxes... whom we could definitely live without.
(I shot the next photo last year out of our bedroom window.)


Foxes have been responsible for chicken deaths through the years...
and are a constant challenge.


Still... it's the cycle of life.
Mother Nature, though brutal, has a pureness that cannot be denied.
It is our challenge to work alongside of her...
to out-fox the foxes while still allowing them to live out their lives.
It's not always easy.



In response to yesterday's post, I was asked what we do with all of the Japanese 
beetles that we catch in our traps.
When the trap is full, I remove the bag, tie a knot in it,
and set it in the sun for a few days.
Then, we open the bag and add the dead beetles to our compost pile... protein!

Another note of clarification with regards to our beetle traps -
they are set up within 30 feet of the plants that were being attacked.
(Before I put up the trap, there were some leaves that were entirely covered in beetles.)
The beetles are no longer attacking the plants, but are trapped within the bags of the beetle
traps.

Also, another question was asked about the cart I found at the vintage market.
I used Thompson's Water Seal on it and will do so yearly.
The sides were built from old barn wood,
and the bed and base were built from treated lumber.
During the winter months, it will reside in the barn... out of the weather.

Comments

Anonymous said…
What a fantastic shot of the fox! I have only ever seen one family here on our little 10 acres. There must have been a den nearby,because with binoculars I could see the youngsters romping! What we do have yearly though,are the broods of wild turkey.One year I counted 15 poults (I think that is what they are called) between 2 hens traveling together. Unfortunately, I don't think the survival rate is good for the babies. Very hot weather coming here in western Pa. Curious how your new solar installation affects your house AC, or do you not use/need AC? You are still my first read every morning!
jaz@octoberfarm said…
there's a whole zoo out there! would the ducks and chickens eat the beetles?
Awwww, the little curious fawn!
Country Gal said…
Wonderful photos . Yes we are the intruders to natures wild life and lands for they have the lay of the land and we have to learn to live with them and that in my eyes is a perfect relationship . Nature teaches us so much in its own way and I am always grateful for it .
Rain said…
I was so happy to read this post today. I love all of the photos and I completely agree that we are squatters on the Others' land. :)
This N That said…
We are mere squatters indeed..Sometimes we forget about and are inconsiderate of those that truly belong.