The property was at least 20 acres in size and included a large Administration block, several homes for resident volunteers as well as other accommodation for temporary volunteers, a large garage and maintenance shed, several farming/agricultural vehicles, a barn, pig stys (sties?), pigs and cows.
Our duties included checking and sorting the mail delivered by the postie, taking messages from incoming phone calls, checking the property fencing, feeding and hosing down the pigs (temperatures were in the 30's - degrees C during our stay), checking the cows, cleaning the pool, collecting bread from a nearby town, weeding the gardens, painting signs and generally maintaining the property.
Trotters in the trough
From the barn and pig sties looking up toward the Admin building & accommodation
A different perspective of "breakfast in bed" ! We were informed that this sow - who had given birth to a huge number of piglets in previous days - was suffering from "post natal depression", was isolating herself and had gone off her food, so we hand fed her!
Looking towards the barn and sties (at bottom left) and, in the distance (some 40kms away), Melbourne
It was a wonderful experience and a lasting friendship developed with the other temporary caretakers who live in New South Wales and I'm so looking forward to catching up with them next weekend as they come through Adelaide en route.
Devastatingly, this entire property and its buildings were destroyed in a major bushfire which swept through the State of Victoria a few years later, wiping out the homes and belongings of about a dozen families.
Sharing with Camera Critters at http://camera-critters.blogspot.com.au/
and http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/
and http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/
13 comments:
That's a big area run by volunteers! And this is the first time i learned that pigs get post natal deppression too! Amazing, and the piglets are so cute.
Sounds like a grand experience!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
What a wonderful place! Love those pink piggies! It is amazing to learn that the mother can have post natal depression! A great experience indeed! Thanks for sharing this with us today!
Sylvia
Love that you came up with the name Fred and Wilma! Wow, you were brave to take care of MMM! Didn't know post natal depr. also could happen in pigs! I'm learning a lot of my blog friends!
Sounds like a fun experience. The pigs are so cute! Wonderful photos and post. Have a great week!
To be a Volunteer seems to be great and interesting!
Have a nice week!
Whittlesea is such a lovely area and you obviously had a whale of a time. We used to hike there in pre-historic times. A pity about the fires but we have enough here too and suffered the same fat in 1983.
Ya just gotta love those piglets.
What a wonderful place and great experience.
Those pigs are so cute.
Beautiful photos.
Thanks for sharing.
Wish you a wonderful week.
Mette
Hi there - what a great post - pigs are such characters!
And there is nothing like a good hose down in the summer!
Stewart M - Melbourne
Cuties!
Great captures, Valerie. It makes for Avery idyllic post...
Wonderful - loving those cute piggies!
Some wonderful shots. I love farm animals! I think I should be a farmer because I am so drawn to barns, pigs, goats, etc.
Post a Comment