Pig Cooling Specialist

Wren is the animal lover of our children. So I guess it shouldn't surprise me that she has really taken to the job of spraying down the pigs each evening. They do not have air conditioning and they do not sweat, so some relief from the heat is very welcomed. As you can see they have shade and a nicely ventilated barn with plenty of fresh drinking water. Even so, I know I must go home for a brief respite during these hot days. Just a brief cooling makes me feel better, so we assume it makes the pigs fell better also. Each evening one of us will spend 10-15 minutes spraying down the pigs. They excitedly run up for the opportunity and proceed to roll around in the cool water. This not only cools them off in the moment, but the moist bedding helps keep them cool for the rest of the evening. Small chores like this give our kids ownership in what we are doing, and a sense of importance to the operation. Chores are scaled up at an age-appropriate level. The experiences of ownership and importance make way for confidence and responsibility. We don't always get it right, but this lifestyle provides many lesson-learning opportunities. I hope we can put these kids in a position to learn as many of those lessons as possible. I know everyone doesn't live on a farm, but I think the world needs more #farmkids.