tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5733417645352174190.post2868198415861565911..comments2023-05-23T08:30:37.221-07:00Comments on The Itty Bitty Farm in the City: I'm Not a Virgin AnymoreHeidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13263795936437012313noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5733417645352174190.post-18040350029197504512012-12-23T17:50:43.976-08:002012-12-23T17:50:43.976-08:00Heart wrenching story. I really wish you hadn'...Heart wrenching story. I really wish you hadn't taken a dig at vegans at the end of it though, really unnecessary and catty. Please don't justify your eating meat by putting down others that choose not to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5733417645352174190.post-32649871645742359162012-04-27T11:53:34.685-07:002012-04-27T11:53:34.685-07:00I just read this post and it brought back the firs...I just read this post and it brought back the first time I had to kill my first hen. She had been hurt by a dog and it was obvious after a couple of days it wouldn't heal well. I followed the lasso advice and did it so enthusiastically because I wanted her to die quickly that her head was in my hand and her body sailed across the yard. It was well done but I sobbed too. <br /><br />My botched killing was later when I tried to dispatch a duck using the same method, and it did not work so well as they are heavier.<br /><br />I no longer keep poultry!<br /><br />NancyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5733417645352174190.post-91990097044423027062011-10-10T17:08:34.627-07:002011-10-10T17:08:34.627-07:00Poor you, what a horrible experience.
Whatever an...Poor you, what a horrible experience.<br /><br />Whatever anyone says, it was a faster death than leaving her to die alone of whatever the disease was.<br /><br />My husband has just left for six months, I made sure he got out the tomahawk just in case I have to euthanase one of our girls. I'm not sure I could kill for meat, but to euthanase an injured or ill bird - yes.Melindahttp://melbrennan.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5733417645352174190.post-25072474684951165852011-09-21T14:57:33.106-07:002011-09-21T14:57:33.106-07:00I think anonymous missed the point. This wasn'...I think anonymous missed the point. This wasn't so much a "farm" story as a "having to dispatch one's pet" story. Calling it animal cruelty misses the fact that you weren't trying to hurt her at all. Which is generally the idea of animal cruelty... an intent to cause or callous disregard for the animal's sufferings. At any rate, I'm sorry your terrible experience was drug up and turned into fodder for callous self-righteous types.Rendiggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11026409492623535704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5733417645352174190.post-35928603048396542462011-09-20T22:21:01.860-07:002011-09-20T22:21:01.860-07:00I came to your Open Letter article from Erica'...I came to your Open Letter article from Erica's link on FB, and now to this post... and had to reply to say thank you for being honest and detailed. I really feel for you in this situation, and though the realities of backyard livestock mean us 'urban homesteaders' might need to 'toughen up princess' at times, it doesn't mean it won't be heart-wrenching at times. That said, we haven't had to do it ourselves yet.<br /><br />We are about to get chickens, and my husband is more than happy to dispatch them for whatever reason may become necessary, with my assistance. The kids will also be a part of the process. He will no doubt, in his thorough and caring way, research & research the options, and posts like this help a lot... the 'what not to do' posts are important too!<br /><br />Can I ask, for curiousity sake, did you consider taking the chook to be euthansed by a vet, or asking a neighbour/ family member to help?dixiebellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03891290324250395382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5733417645352174190.post-39229756995409035832011-09-19T18:57:39.482-07:002011-09-19T18:57:39.482-07:00I'd say Esperanza took it at least as hard in ...I'd say Esperanza took it at least as hard in the death-by-a-thousand-links department, if that's any sort of of sick comfort. : / Keep up the good work. If it comes down to comparing who's inflicted more animal cruelty, you or the "well regulated" professionals behind large scale industrial animal slaughterhouses, you're in the clear.Erica/Northwest Edible Lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17359991268813430431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5733417645352174190.post-90127106063472342472011-09-13T14:25:53.463-07:002011-09-13T14:25:53.463-07:00Thank you for the comment "anonymous". I...Thank you for the comment "anonymous". I will not defend being an amateur with this "kill". I was. It was horrible. I've never felt worse about doing something in my life, which I think is adequately portrayed in the post. It was a desperate situation. But everyone is an amateur on their first try and I've seen others mess up their first kill due to inexperience and anxiety over doing the deed. The article in mention clearly has a bias towards people killing their own food assuming that folks continue to fuck up every kill for the fun of it or something. That isn't the case. And if you look into future posts you will see step by step instructions on how to more appropriately kill a hen.Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13263795936437012313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5733417645352174190.post-8440459932692171852011-09-13T12:54:39.491-07:002011-09-13T12:54:39.491-07:00Surprised there aren't more comments now that ...Surprised there aren't more comments now that an Atlantic article that's basically calling what you did animal cruelty links to this post. Gotta say I kinda agree with it. I'm not a pussy with my head stuck in the sand about how food gets to my table. Death is part of it. I don't think that gives a free pass to amateurs and people who don't know what they're doing meteing out a prolonged and agonizing death to their animals. I think industry should hold itself to a higher standard than it does in how it kills their animals. I think you should too. <br /><br />In fairness here's the referenced article<br /><br />http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/09/the-locavore-movements-mistake-deregulating-animal-slaughter/244897/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5733417645352174190.post-87698669989107443432011-07-19T17:18:02.914-07:002011-07-19T17:18:02.914-07:00OK, so it's years since Pearl's demise but...OK, so it's years since Pearl's demise but I just now found your website and read this (after reading of a similar necessity in Gabrielle Hamilton's "Blood, Bones & Butter.") I recall my back neighbor (in New Jersey) had chickens. Being a child, I would frequently visit his birds. One day, my neighbor opened the pen and I was so excited thinking he was going to let me play with one of the chickens. He carried one out by the legs, wings flapping. He tied the bird to the clothesline and so quickly I did not see it coming, cut the bird's neck. Blood dripped in a puddle beneath the bird. There was no flapping (once chickens are turned upside down, they become calm) and no running around with its head cut off. I was horrified and ran home to tell my mother! Rather than offering an explanation, she forbade me to ever go to the neighbor's yard again. Yet I never forgot that experience. If I ever had to kill a chicken (I hope not), I would do exactly what my neighbor did. If you ever have to do it again (I hope not), try his method. Just be sure your razor or knife is EXTREMELY sharp and that your hand is EXTREMELY quick. I admire your ability to face the reality of the food sources that support life. I am vegan today...I wonder why? Thank you for sharing your grief. You get a HUGE hug from me...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5733417645352174190.post-45770155100213760302009-07-22T07:56:54.125-07:002009-07-22T07:56:54.125-07:00I am so sorry that you had to go through this, but...I am so sorry that you had to go through this, but am proud of you for finding the courage to end Pearl's suffering. The only things I've had to kill are spiders and a few half dead birds and other "gifts" from my cat. I couldn't imagine killing a critter I love. I'm glad you shared what happened and didn't gloss it over to spare my delicate senses.Renahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15911608453762091207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5733417645352174190.post-52909202964638346842009-07-13T04:03:27.062-07:002009-07-13T04:03:27.062-07:00Mommy was afraid for her very sensitive child when...Mommy was afraid for her very sensitive child when she decided to 'farm'. Let's put it this way, between your blog and some memories from childhood on a dairy, I know how gut-wrenching this is. Farming is very difficult and takes committment - and takes a little indifference to life which I am afraid my eldest was not imbued with.GrammyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00292603293910587155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5733417645352174190.post-68573349020916116552009-07-13T03:10:19.482-07:002009-07-13T03:10:19.482-07:00Hugs, woman. I finally had a chance to actually re...Hugs, woman. I finally had a chance to actually read this post. If I had a hard time just reading, after you actually had to do it, then I totally deserve to be called a pussy. So sorry. But I am impressed. Farming takes such raw commitment and I am always in awe of those who can do it!<br /><br />MatildaMattiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03057531058292881405noreply@blogger.com