If you’re not sure where Vaughn, Washington is. It’s the red pin.
Greg and Maureen have a 40-acre farm with lots of animals located in the Puget Sound lowlands about 30 minutes from Tacoma. We were interested in getting some experience with stock animals since none of our other farms had them. There are seven horses, a cow, a bull, a calf, four sheep, one ram, and two lambs (and a partridge in a pear tree). Every day, rain or shine, tired or energized, sick or healthy Greg and Maureen get up and take care of their animals and we did our best to keep up. First, we have to get everybody their morning feed and put hay out in the fields. Then it’s time to let the sheep out to pasture. The horses that they board are led out one at a time, but the sheep make a dash for it with the Sikora’s two dogs, Luke and Bran, herding them (as best as they can) to the field. Then the cow is milked and all of the cows are let out.
Camrin hauling the hay out to the fields
Laura leads Charm out to pasture
Then with the animals all out in their pastures, it’s time to muck out the pens. That’s scooping the poop in farmers’ terms. It takes a little finesse but eventually you get the hang of it. You usually leave the pens with lots of poop on your shoes, it’s completely unavoidable. Greg and Maureen are then able to sell the composted manure to people in the area as fertilizer.
Camrin cleaning the poop out of the sheep penOh sh*t
When the pens are cleaned out and topped off with fresh hay it’s time for a quick break of coffee, popcorn, and muffins before starting the day’s projects. Like putting siding on one of the sheds.
Measure twice cut once?Greg takes care of the hornets so we can work in peace.Camrin using nail gun power!
After going up to the house for lunch we come back and work some more on projects. Then the afternoon break happens and the animals come back in for dinner. The animals know there will be food waiting in their pens so they are eager to go back inside.
Maureen brings Quest in from the field for dinnerCamrin leads Charm back to his stall while Greg followsPutting Quest’s coat on for the night
Then we button up all the gates and head up to the house for our own dinner. It’s a long day of good work which really makes you appreciate sitting down to a delicious meal and relaxing for the evening.
We were able to do a lot of projects while we worked on the farm for two weeks. Aside from putting siding on the shed we also built a fence…
Laura hammers awaywhat’s wrong Camrin?…oh great…Greg adding clips to hold the electric part of the fence
We harvested veggies
Pulling onions with MaureenTiger the farm cat helped us dig up potatoesLaura found a monster!
Greg taught us how to drive the tractor
Attaching tractor implementsGreg gives Camrin some driving tips
Camrin brings a bucketload to the woodpileWhat a couple of farmersAttaching the trailerLaura having too much funLaura pulls the tractor out
Greg showing us how the PTO (power takeoff) connects to the implementAttached and taking offPass the wrench!
We made wine!
Fresh from the vineHarvest time!
Washing the grapes
Grind them up!We start the fermentation process in Greg’s laboratoryJust a little sugarStir wellGreg makes sure the density is correctRaspberry wine!Mix it up!
We even built a staircase!
It almost looks like a staircase if you squint
Erin bravely tests the finished staircase!
We feel so lucky to have had to opportunity to learn so much and help out at such a wonderful farm. Every animal is a character and Greg and Maureen were amazing teachers and hosts. We even got the ride Charm!
The saddle blanket is on!Details in Charm’s saddleWhat a little princeAll ready to go!
A treat for Charm
It really was quite the adventure!
Laura loves farm trucksCamera battle!I see you!Cleaning the horses hooves at the end of the dayMaybelline Grace the calfEarly morning mist over the pasturesGreg explains how the milking machine worksLuke poses for the cameraCamrin tries her hand at milkingLuke get scratches from Maureen while Bella gets milkedWaiting for the milkTaking the cows outThe Ferrier came to put new shoes on a few horses
“I’ve been kicked a few times”
Camrin throwing hay in the feederLaura making sure the cows and sheep have enough in their fieldLuke poses for another portraitCamrin taking Cooper out to his fieldMucking out the lamb penAngel is looking for carrotsAnna joins her in begging for treatsMaybell coming in for dinnerQuest and Charm in their fieldOne of the sheep peeks through the fenceFound a strange-looking caterpillar, turned out to be a wasp larva. It’s huge!!Anna giving a fluffy-face stare-downCleaning Cooper’s hooves at the end of the dayLaura and QuestMaybell going for treatsLaura and her best friend TigerBran laying where he wants, even if it’s in the stall of a shire horseLuke and Bran getting ready to go up to the house. Bran is giving us his classic snaggletooth faceKobe the big, friendly bull. Like a puppy with hornsKisses from QuestLaura with MaybellSometimes it’s easier the blow the sheep poop into a pile rather than scoop itThe poop is flyingAngel the lamb got her head stuck in the feeding bin“You push, I’ll pull”freedom!Fixing the feeder while getting pushed around by the lambsDon’t go sticking your head in places you can’t get them out of anymore
Laura and Tiger Love
So cuddly
Shy is not so cuddly
Riding to work in the back of the truck
Brushing the horses at the end of the day. Camrin remembers having hair this long
Don’t get pooped on Laura!
Maureen and Quest
Camrin feeding Bella
Treats for the cows
Break time with the whole crew! Erin, Jim, Greg, Laura, and Camrin. Photo credit to Maureen
Horses going out in the morning
Laura multitasks with feeding Bella and petting LukeMaybell loves her cookiesMaureen cruising in the rain
Tiger found a nice dry place to sleep on the lumber pile
Signing our staircase!Taking off the rope halters once we get the horses to their pastures
Cooper loves being let out to run!
goofing offBest friends forever
Maureen had some friends over for her birthday
Camrin working on our sign
The Sikoras have hosted many WWOOFers from all over the world. Our arrow will go up on one of the three full posts of arrows pointing towards home to mark our visit with them.
What a wonderful time we had! All of our love to Greg and Maureen for taking us in and showing us the ropes!
It was lovely to have Camrin and Laura here as visitors. They will forever be part of our “Family”. We have great memories of their visit. Love the smiles and wish you both the best. Maybe see you again some time in the future.
Ditto everything Greg said……laughed most of the way through your posting. Thank you Camrin and Laura, we had so much fun with you both. Keep travelling..and smiling. Love you both. Maureen
It was lovely to have Camrin and Laura here as visitors. They will forever be part of our “Family”. We have great memories of their visit. Love the smiles and wish you both the best. Maybe see you again some time in the future.
Ditto everything Greg said……laughed most of the way through your posting. Thank you Camrin and Laura, we had so much fun with you both. Keep travelling..and smiling. Love you both. Maureen