First Day of Work At Peaked Mountain Farm

I moved in yesterday to this wonderful spot in Vermont known as Peaked Mountain Farm. The housing is excellent as well as the location and food. It really is a beautiful place... the only problem is that it's 4 1/2 hours from home.

Today was my first day of work. Nahum and I met Bob outside at 5 to learn chores and the typical run down of the facilities... It's definitely been a while since I've been up that early... We learned a few aspects of the sheep but it was sort of difficult because it was pouring out, so after learning a few things we went into the cheese house to clean up. I also helped to clean up the milking parlor which hasn't been used since last year. On Sunday we will wean the lambs off of the sheep and start milking the sheep, which will be an experience that I can't wait to do because I really like the hands on experiences with the animals.

After cleaning up a bit more, we went into Bob's kitchen and learned how to make the bread that he sells at the farmer's markets. I feel that it's very interesting that he gives us all aspects of having a farm like this and making products that you can market and make a profit off of.

We had a break from 9-2 and then started back up learning how to make a fancier type of bread from Anne, which is also taken to the farmer's markets and sold. This is an excellent educational experience for the people that are looking for a niche market that they can pursue and have it be profitable. We also Anne and Bob to clear more pasture for the sheep, which the pigs had previously excavated. After we had completed that task, we started chores again by feeding the recently lambed sheep and the bottle babies. We then went to the pasture where the milking sheep are and moved them into a new pasture, picked up the previous pasture, and put up the pasture for tomorrow.

After only one day I feel that this will be a very good educational opportunity for me. I understand that the farmer's market aspect is extremely important, but I hope that I will be able to have more hands-on experience with the sheep than the other interns get because I am more animal-oriented whereas they are more culinary-oriented. I'll mention it to Bob in a few days to see if this will be possible, though I feel it will be once we start milking the sheep.

Time for bed. I get to sleep in tomorrow! I don't have to be out to meet Bob until 7!!