Field of dreams
on Mar 09 in Uncategorized by Dan
This is a picture of the field that adjoins our garden. It is neglected and bramble ridden and has no useful purpose other than providing us with blackberries in the autumn. It’s potential is great, and I have many romantic ideas of how I would use it to raise livestock and grow vegetables.
Finally after gazing over the wall at it for about a year I overcame my natural inertia and found out who owned it. I promptly wrote them a letter asking them how much they would want to sell it for, and for a while my dreams were full of vistas that looked a little like this:
Unfortunately the owners wrote back informing me they were not interested is selling as they had “plans” for the land. The cynical part of me can’t help thinking their plans have little to do with agriculture:
It’s probably for the best really. I can barely look after myself never mind about a field full of livestock. I imagine getting up at 5am to feed them would get pretty old very quickly. And who would care for them when we went on holiday? And would I really be able to send an animal I had raised off to slaughter? Probably not.
But when have dreams ever taken any notice of the petty problems of reality? So despite myself I often still find my gaze wandering over my property line and imagining a field full of chickens, goats and pigs. And my heart fills with longing and a sad whispered song sneaks from beneath my breath:
“Old McDaniel had a farm. Ee-aye-ee-aye-oh”
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There’s an empty lot next to my house, too. I plan on buying it once the old guy who owns it dies so I can put up an addition to our house. With a movie theater.
Avitable’s last blog post..Manna from heaven. Or Kyra.
My backyard is an empty lot…I am willing to entertain any reasonable offer. I am not sure what the City of Boston would say about cows and goats, though. Perhaps you would consider raising squirrels, feral cats and seagulls?
dan leone’s last blog post..The Son of His Father – Chapter 1 (once again)
Animals poop! How about a parking lot? It doesn’t block your view either. win-win?
BusyDad’s last blog post..We Were Doing So Well…
Hey! That looks like OUR backyard…. in summer. Not now.
But yeah, during the non-snow months (both of them), our yard is as wild as hubby will let it. I have to get that guy a riding mower.
Maureen
Blog Hoppin’
In the immortal words of Gabrielle:
“Dreams can come true
Look at me babe I’m with you
You know you gotta have hope
You know you gotta be strong”
Don’t let go of your dreams, Dan. Maybe some day it will all come true for you and you’ll be shoveling manure with a smile on your face.
I couldn’t help but notice you were still missing a duck(s).
Ducks!
You should raise ducks, only ducks, always ducks…
Xbox4NappyRash’s last blog post..Dan ‘da man
I like duck
Sam’s last blog post..Biarro Alto
I didn’t take the ducks!
Speaking of that, I left you a little surprise over at my place today.
Jeff’s last blog post..The city that didn’t sleep
i have to say… those pigs look eerily similar…
I have a friend who abandoned the city life and went to live in Teesdale on a smallholding not much bigger than that which you picture, his was about 8 acres, his dream was to live like Tom and Barbera in The Good Life and raise everything they needed to eat .
In practice he raised stock for other farmers, especially twin lambs where the mother wouldn’t feed one of them, he’d raise about 50 lambs a year and get to keep about ten of them for his troubles – that was the total extent of his income.
It lasted a mere few years before the Inland Revenue caught up with him and demanded a tax return for all of those years and despite living on the poverty line for those few years they found that yes, he owed them some money – he offered the tax office half of a lamb he’d had slaughtered – they were not amused.
Gary’s last blog post..Goodbye, goodbye, we’re leaving you goodbye…
Avitable – Why wait until he dies? Just employ him as an usher.
Dan Leone – It’s tempting. What’s the milk output on one of those feral cats?
BusyDad – I don’t think Joni Mitchell would be too pleased about that.
Maureen – If I had a ride on mower I don’t think I’d ever get off it. They look fun.
Phil – Didn’t she also say:
I don’t want to see a ghost,
It’s a sight that I fear most
I’d rather have a piece of toast
And watch the evening news
Wise words we can all live by.
Whit – We certainly are. Despite his protests I still suspect Jeff.
Xbox4NappyRash – Problem with ducks is you need a pond. Plus once you’ve seen the Uberduck all others pale in comparison.
Sam – That’s lucky, as you look a bit like one (only around the bill).
Jeff – Denial is often the first sign of guilt.
CamiKaos – I have a secret pig cloning facility in my attic.
Gary – I love the idea of living the good life, but I would never be dedicated enough for it. No, my plan involves Kerry working herself to the bone in order to keep both me and my toy farm.
ha! I got sheep and cows practically in my backyard..but they’re not mine and I can’t even see them from my 6th floor appartment, but if I walk for 5 minutes..I can.
Arjan’s last blog post..Inquisitorial Icon
I didn’t know you dabbled in animal cloning. All of your livestock look identical to each other.
Pleasant view you have. Let’s hope they really don’t build a tall building.
I’m still rooting for Dan’s farm!
The Chick’s last blog post..Spring Time on The Farm