Week 2 and 3 have been chaotic due to the many moving pieces of creating a self-taught curriculum and carrying out the work without head spinning. Part of what makes this ILC particularly “easier” is how much work needs to be done, but that also makes it more complicated due all the different aspects. Most of my time has been dedicated to finding food scraps for the pigs, feeding them, observing, marking the two hogs I am focusing on, letting two of the males forage around the property all day, reading several different books at the same time, watching many videos, emailing, and preparing for the harvest and charcuterie.

Preparing for the harvest (death) and preparing for birth (in my experience) hold similar feelings…there are so many things to learn, many tools and strategies are marketed to make your life easier in the process, many feelings that come afterwards. Similar to a vulnerable pregnant new mother, you want to obtain all the things that could possibly make things easier once the time comes. Honoring the harvest (death) and using every single part of the hog will be the most important piece of this whole project. Preparing for this means assembling all the tools necessary for a smooth transition from Pig to Pork.

There is a long list of tools needed for a smooth and honorable harvest. Since we plan on doing many other future harvests as well, I am on a hunt for all the right tools for decent prices. Things like hog scrapers, high carbon steel knives, chain hoists, jet burner, gambrel, butcher block, s hooks, copper FMJ bullets, butcher paper, meat grinder, sausage stuffer, bulk salt, bus tubs, hog toenail puller, and much more. Obtaining all of these from different websites and such, have proven difficult. For example, copper bullets are practically sold out due to everything going on. Shipping times are delayed because of COVID and natural disasters. Preparing for these ahead of time is somewhat of a security and reassurance that we will receive it all in time for harvest. Which is planned to happen around middle of NOV.