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BirchLeaf Designs a Farm

Playsilks and Swords and Shields, OH MY! We recently came across a photo of a boy who was not afraid to play. His imagination was wondrous!

Boy who was not afraid to play.
Boy who was not afraid to play.

Wondrous and amazing…very much like this mosaic shield. Made from a blank shield from our shop and then sold at an auction to help raise funds for the Portland Waldorf School in Portland, Oregon.

Mosiac Shield. Photo courtesy Portland Waldorf School.
Mosiac Shield. Photo courtesy Portland Waldorf School.

The mosaic shield reminds me so much of our life…with the family in the center, the heart, the hearth, the fiery life-force. Then, branching off of the heart center are our many activities in which we are involved. Each day is filled with a bit of this and a bit of that…from eating healthy foods, to homeschooling, to farming, to making toys. These past few weeks have found us in the woods. Many blessings are upon us!

Maple Sap is flowing!

Pro Maple sap taster!
Pro Maple sap taster, Kiah.

Little baby chicks are healthy and here!

Baby chicks are a'peepin'.
Baby chicks are a’peepin’.

And little lambs have arrived!

Meet Patience.
Meet Patience.
Kiah and her lamb, Patience.
Kiah and her lamb, Patience.
Milo and his lamb, Temperance.
Milo and his lamb, Temperance.

It only gets livelier from here on out! Garden starts are ready to be planted. Piggies are due to arrive April 20th and bees shortly thereafter. Festivals and art shows are in the not so distant future…which brings us back to our shop…BirchLeaf Designs…Playsilks and Swords and Shields, OH MY…

Wendy, Mojo and their 2 children, Kiah and Milo live, homeschool, farm, and make toys off the grid near Marquette, Michigan. Please visit their shops at http://www.birchleafdesigns.etsy.com and http://www.northernchildren.etsy.com

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Children and Animals

On our (itty bitty) farmette we have 2 Old English Southdown Babydoll sheep, 18 chickens plus one rooster, 3 muscovy duck hens, 2 angora rabbits and a little rabbit of unknown breed that is just as sweet as sugar. These wonderful animals supply us with farm fresh eggs daily and the most beautiful fiber for spinning and knitting. And in return, we feed them and house them and protect them and care for all their needs.
Keeping livestock, or any animal for that matter, is a big responsibility. They depend on us, on a daily basis, to ensure all their very basic needs are met. It is such a beautiful, mutually beneficial relationship and not one to be taken lightly. It’s also a wonderful way to teach children  about responsibility, healthy interdependent relationships, giving of oneself and also provides a great learning tool for understanding where the things we use really come from. Wool is not just brightly colored yarn that Mama buys from the store for knitting toys and woolens. It comes from sheep. Sheep that eagerly come running for treats whenever anyone even glances their way. Sheep that Mama sheared that wool from with her own two hands.

And eggs aren’t made by people or machines, lined up and waiting to be bought on grocery shelves. Eggs come from chickens and they come from ducks. Ducks that hide their eggs away and hiss if you try to take them. From chickens that like watermelon and, if you happen to walk into the hen house or barn at just the right moment, you can wait for and watch lay those eggs right before your very eyes. And when you scoop them up after the hen walks away, they’re dark brown and so warm.

The main gathering area for our animals is directly behind our house and you can hear the rooster crowing in the morning and hear the sheep, bleating for one another, come on now! We have a rule, people do not eat before our animals have been cared for. So, after my girls and I are up and dressed in the morning we all head outside.

The girls very eagerly help with chores, filling water tubs, feeding rabbits and chickens, ensuring the sheep have fresh hay and collecting eggs. It takes just a bit longer when they help, but it’s so worth it to have them involved. Such joy it brings them to interact with and care for our animals.

It isn’t practical for everyone to have a barn yard in their backyard. We are very blessed to be able to have such a close relationship with them. But, perhaps your family has a cat or dog your child can help care for. Even very young children can help scoop food into a bowl and then are overjoyed to watch the animal eagerly eat what they provided. They can also help groom some pets with a soft brush and gentle hands. Local farms are also a wonderful way to show children the origin of things we all use but frequently take for granted.

When approached with love and respect, human/animal relationships can be so beautiful and rewarding. Let’s not forget to teach our children this, as well. Through them we can witness a generation that treats animals with respect and dignity, instead of a means to an end.