Farm Living

Yesterday, Deirdre and I spent a few hours on a local dairy farm.  One of Deirdre's former co-workers, Jessica, is married to a diary farmer, whom she affectionately refers to only as Dairy Man in her blog.  It was quite an event to spend some time at a functioning dairy farm in western Michigan.


First off, it is the size of things.  Everything seems larger than life.  Large barns, large cows, large equipment.

From 10 Mar 2012

Did I tell you that the cows are large?

From 10 Mar 2012

Everything runs on a schedule.  The cows are milked three times a day, every day of the year.  What was amazing to me was how the cows just seemed to know what to do.

From 10 Mar 2012

From 10 Mar 2012

From 10 Mar 2012

The trundle into the milking parlor and quietly take a position in the row of of milking machines.


When the milking is done (it takes about 10 minutes I am told), the cows trundle out of the parlor and the next set of cows enter for their turn at the milking machine.  Repeat.  Repeat.  And clean.  Every time the cows move, something is cleaned.


And can these cows eat.  Lots of hay and hominy and alfalfa.

From 10 Mar 2012

These cows are gentle creatures who at first back away from you as you approach them.  However, after a few minutes they sense that you are no danger to them and the seem to snuggle right up to you.

From 10 Mar 2012

Cow 1851 seemed to like the fact that I was there taking her picture.  


Thanks you, Jessica and Dairy Man for showing us a little bit of your world.  next time we visit, we all need to go to the Blind Squirrel.

From 10 Mar 2012