2011 being the year we swallowed the anchor and moved to the farmlet, we're greeting the New Year with a celebration of Turkey Tom.
The garden was the first thing we built when we found our little piece of Gaia.
Then we were given 3 hens, so we built them a house in the garden.
Then came Mr. Elijah Sunshine. We watched him grow into a fine, protective rooster, always on the job.
Then we got more hens - here they are at work, helping us improve the soil.
The greener pasture is where the chickens have been working. Here they have been moved over to the brown section to continue pecking and digging, thus tilling the soil.
And of course their other job – providing eggs
Granddaughter Ammie finds a treasure among the golf balls.
The farmlet is a favourite attraction for neighbours’ grandchildren, too.
Thomas went to a poultry auction looking for a Banty hen that would go broody, and came home with Tiny Tom
We came to love him very much. We learned that turkeys can die of loneliness, and he showed us that he belonged not in his own yard but to the flock.
For a while Miss Emma was Tom's special friend.
We are always learning from the land and animals. But we’ve never figured out Turkey Tom’s colouring. What makes it change? What makes his snood grow long and short?
Here Tom's face and caruncle are pink and his snood is short (looks like a little horn)
Now his caruncle is red and his snood hangs down past his beak.
One joy of the farmlet is the inspiration it brings to family, friends and neighbours. People stop by and say “I’m so pleased to see what you’re doing here!” and even: “Now here is a scene of Christmas Peace.”
A special gift this season was introducing our city grandchildren to the farmlet.
Is Edward looking for the manger scene?
Turkey Tom seemed to know he had a mission – to entertain, to connect with people. And he loved all bringers of food!
So Christmas dinner preparations were a mixed and intense experience. Even though many of us are drawn to closer connections with the land and want a good life for the food we eat, bringing Turkey to the table was a very hard thing to do. Thomas thought long about the best way to end Tom’s life. It was clean and quick, Tom happily eating what he loved. Each of us said our various thank you’s with much affection and respect.
On Tom’s last day he had grown into an even larger and more beautiful bird.
Tom in Henry's kitchen.
48 lbs!
