Every morning and evening I go out to milk my “girls.” They
greet me with a range of personalities: gentle, loud and demanding, patient,
surly. They always appreciate being fed and scratched, and,
with no sense of personal space, rub and push against me; I am part of
the herd. In exchange for my caring for them, they give me their milk—rich,
frothy, white and oh-so-fresh! Next to their pen are my beehives. Those
girls are buzzing in and out, very busy, ignoring me. But when I open
the hive every couple of weeks in the summer, I am greeted with a stunning
gift of warm, sweet, golden honey—it seems too good to be true. Into
the house these precious products come, and how can I describe the satisfaction
and pride I feel as I watch my children dip their fingers into fresh
honey, chew on beeswax, and drink fresh, cold milk? This milk, honey
and beeswax goes right into my soap and lotion bars . . . and then I get
to watch the delight and wonder on customers’ faces when they find
out just what is in these products and where it came from! It is an
honor to be able to share this bounty with strangers. . . who soon become
loyal customers and friends.
Read my
weekly blog about life on my little farm and come visit me at
the
Santa Fe Farmers Market April through December.
