Intensity

Jack Frost has been visiting again and yesterday was particularly severe for here, at -4C at daybreak, taking into account that this area is not normally prone to frosts. The vegetable garden is in a fairly protected area, but when I saw it white with frost, my heart sank. I need the food from the garden, and hoped that the plants would recover from the freezing conditions, especially the peas. Fortunately they appear unharmed. It was not one of the dreaded ‘black frosts’.

I have stinging nettles growing in several places, the tallest being about 60cm high. When I looked closely at them, white with frost, I could see clearly the hooks on the leaves. These are not so visible under normal circumstances.

It got me thinking…..

Sometimes it takes an intense situation, in order to see what is there all along.

Why did the earthworm cross the road?

It had been raining just prior to my taking a walk down the dirt road, and I could see funny wriggly tracks on the soft surface. Peering down I then got a shock when I saw a huge earthworm moving across the road. And then another, and another! When the sun briefly moved from behind the clouds they glinted as silver streaks on the road. I was amazed at how many were there. It was the first time I have seen earthworms in such numbers on a road. Not wanting any to be squashed by vehicles, I began to collect those in the centre of the road and help them in the direction they were heading. Interestingly, some were heading one way, some the other direction.

The most noticeable fact was that there were no earthworms on the section of road which ran past the cropping paddocks. Paddocks which had been top-dressed with artificial fertilisers and sprayed with chemicals. The earthworms were not to be found at all in that vicinity, only alongside paddocks which were used just for grazing.

Those that were close to my home, I gathered gently, and took back to my garden and carefully placed on top of some manured beds. There they would have plenty to eat, and help me so much also.

In all my years of living in country areas, I have never gathered earthworms from a road before. I guess there is a first time for almost anything.

http://www.australianmuseum.net.au/factsheets/recognising_earthworms.htm

The sacredness of life

While out walking in the hills with my dog and horse, I came across a mob of sheep with very young lambs at foot, and others obviously quite close to lambing. I took care to give them wide berth to avoid disturbing them, even though I am a familiar sight to them. My horse was most interested, and keen to get a closer view, but also turned away when she realised the sheep were becoming distressed by her proximity. The dog was told to ‘come behind’ and leave the sheep alone, which he did.

We continued along with the walk, occasionally finding more small groupings of ewes and lambs. I am always taken by the way one ewe will be designated as the ‘baby sitter’, and can have many lambs in her care, while their mothers are off grazing further away. Also, I have seen ewes ‘hide’ a lamb by a bush, while she goes off for a time. As with other animals, the mothers can recognise the cry of their own lamb, and come hurrying back if they hear a distressed sound. A ewe will stamp her foot defiantly at intruders, and protect her lamb fiercely if need be.

Up ahead, I saw something that didn’t seem quite right, and on further investigation, I found a ewe with a dead lamb protruding from her rear end, unable to complete the birthing process. She was straining unsuccessfully, but when I approached she got up and moved away, albeit with some difficulty. For a while I followed at a distance, hoping that the situation would change, but alas no. And on my own, there was nothing I could do. At that point I turned around and headed for home, and then contacted the owner of the sheep to let him know of the situation. Hopefully he attended to the ewe. Realistically, I doubt it. When people have many, the loss of one or two is neither here nor there it seems.

In the old days, shepherds kept an eye on flocks of sheep, and were there to assist with any birthing problems. Those days are long gone. Welfare of animals too often takes second place to economics, and it is not economical to employ a shepherd. What a shame. Shameful that an animal can be used for profit, but with disregard shown for it’s welfare. Shameful that a blind eye is turned to these situations time and again.

Yet is it any wonder that animals are treated with disregard, when people so often treat each other with contempt. They have forgotten the sacredness of life. All life. Whether it be an earthworm or an earthling, let’s remember it is all sacred.