Harvest Day

We knew the day was coming from the very first time we laid our eyes on the fuzzy yellow balls of fluff. It was the plan all along these past 8 weeks. Ignorance is bliss and they never knew of their future as one of our meals. But led happy, healthy lives up till a few hours ago. . . .




Gathering the needed supplies for harvesting some of our fresh home grown chickens, was the final step for our first chicken harvest. We have quite a number to process and hopes were high that we could get a larger number done. Reality was that we managed to get a smaller portion done ~ 6. Lon set up in the edge of the woods for the sentencing. A work table, hatchet, a sharp knife, pot of hot water for dipping and a hanging rack was all he needed. One by one they were taken from the coop to the chopping block, dipped, plucked and gutted. Before being handed over to me to finish the cleaning process. I was the internal inspector and dresser. Making sure all feathers were removed and a through bath given before packaging in freezer bags. Work was slow as the weather was quite cool and down right freezing on wet hands. I can't imagine how the early pioneers managed to process their food without the aid of electric stoves, freezer bags and the other modern conveniences we used today. Being our first time, I thought it went very well. Though Lon has processed many a deer for our freezer in the past, so he is not without some experience.

I am sure most individuals wouldn't ever think of doing what we did today. They much rather have their meals pre-packaged sitting in the cooler case at the local grocer. Far removed from the reality of what goes into giving them something to put in the oven or on the grill. Up until we moved here, I confess I hadn't thought much about it. Other than the stray thought of who would want to work in a meat processing plant? And I was sure glad that there were those who were willing to do that for me to have ready made meats for our meals. After a day like today you can't walk away without a new perspective on your eating habits. To realize what really goes into creating a food product for our consumption. Some one had to raise the animal from birth, feed it, care for it physical needs of warmth, water, etc. Then take a tool of choice and end it's life, so it can become what it was destined to be ~ our food. We have done just that over the past 8 weeks with these now frozen bodies sitting in our freezer. I don't think I will be cooking them in the future without thinking about the once warm bodies who gathered around my feet at feeding time.



Sad truth, but reality ~

Deborah