Farming With (or Against) Animals

Farming in general, and organic diversified farming in specific, means dealing with animals on a regular basis. Sometimes, you're working with them, sometimes you're working against them. Other times, especially when dealing with a neurotic and curious farm dog, it's a little of both.

Here are two examples of working against the critters.

No. 1:

Farmer Jacob has been having a little mouse problem. Right now, they're tied.



No. 2:

Lydia The Dog is a *huge* fan of rolling in manure or -- even better if she can find it -- something dead. This weekend, she got into the car smelling like a stew of rotten meat and week-old cow pie steeped in a terrific sauce of moldy straw. So, Farmer Jacob had to scrub her. Working dogs are not water dogs, fyi. Seriously, look at that face.