Here, Piggy Piggy
I find our culture’s current fascination with farm life ironic. We live in a society that glamourizes everything, including raising kids, home remodeling and yes, even farming. Don’t get me wrong, I love it! I’m as guilty as the next girl of scouring the internet for baby goat videos and daydreaming endlessly about all the yummy cheese I could make with a dairy cow. But as I read some of the blogs out there portraying all of the beauty in farm life, displaying pictures of crisp, clean country white shiplap walls, I feel the need to be real.
Many people have told me how they wish they could have a pet pig. “They’re so cuuuute,” they whine. I guess that’s true of the initial piglet stage. Well, and then again the bacon stage. Friends, I’m here to tell you that everything in between stinks! Literally. Pigs are pigs. Phrases like “pig pen” and “pig-out” didn’t come from nowhere. There is nothing cute about raising pigs. The following are some promises I can make you about raising pigs…
You will smell your pigs. Whether you’re raising them in a 20’x20’ pen on a acre or they are in your pasture the odor will waft. Your visitors will know you’re raising pigs.
They will also know it if the pigs are within ear shot! Pigs are very smart and if they can see you they will scream at you. “Squeee, bring me food! I see you! FEED ME!”
The pig pen will be tore up! Again, despite the space you give them pigs root. It’s the way they were created and you can’t feed a pig enough to make them stop. The rooting will create mud. So. Much. Mud. There is an upside to the rooting. They are masters at clearing land! The problem lies in the following…
Despite your best efforts, pigs will escape. At some point (probably when your in a hurry and in heels) you’ll head out of the house to find a pig at your front door. If any time has passed since they made their escape they will have left you a path of destruction in the yard. The good news is they are smart and know exactly where you live.
There will be muddy fingerprints in your house. And muddy boot prints. And clumps of mud (you know what this mud is, right?). Well, maybe I can only promise this if you live with pigs and four children. Mud is irresistible to children. They find it and bring it home with them! Let’s call it an almost guarantee.
In the end it’s true, a year’s supply of pork chops, sausage and bacon are definitely worth it. If you are set up for pigs and are already living the farm life I say do it! As far as farm life goes pigs are one of the easier keepers. They’re easy to train, grow quickly and yield the best food! Did I mention we love bacon? But if you’re out in the city feeling like everyone is living the good life out on the farm but you. If you’re longing for the day you could raise a cuuuute little piggy of your own, please know it’s not as glamourous as it looks on Pinterest!