A couple of weeks ago I didn’t close the sliding door to the milk parlor all the way. I should have known better. A two cows poked their noses in and pushed open the door. Then they decided to go into the parlor. The problem was that only one parlor door was open and the cows were close to the pit where Tom and Terry stand at milking.
Davis Hill Farm has a double 5, which means 5 milking stations per row, and 2 rows. The cows are lead into the parlor and they line up, one after another. There are gates at both ends of the lines. The front gate is closed, the cows line up, the back gate closes behind them.
The milking machines are hooked up to each of the cows and the udders are at eye level with the milkers. The pit is about 2 1/2 feet below the cows allowing for easier milking. When the milking has finished, the front gate opens up and lets the cows go back out into the yard. The gate also prevents the cows from falling into the pit below.
So when the two snoopy bovine went in, the gate was in front of the line, leaving the pit exposed. I was afraid one or both would fall in. Which they did, but then got themselves out. No harm to the cows, but in the process a milking glass was broken. That is the glass tank that the milk goes into from the cow, before it goes into the bulk tank. The replacement cost of one glass is 300.00.
To help cover the cost of the replacement glass, I told Tom that I would work it off. So today I helped the boys in the sugar bush by rolling up the lines. I am soooooo tired tonight. The farm has about 1100 taps. The lines zig-zag through the woods. Tom and Charlie would unhitch the tap and would wash it out by sucking water into it. There is a vacuum at the sugarhouse that pulls the sap though the lines and when you wash them out, you place the tap line in a bucket of water and the water is sucked though the lines, cleaning them out.
My job was to go behind the boys them role the lines up for storage. It took about 3 and a half hours and we got about 1/2 of it done.
While in the woods I was wishing I had my camera. It was so beautiful. The flowers, Trillium and Monkshood were just coming up and the forest floor had tiny little white woods flowers all around. Ferns were just beginning to uncurl and we talked about the evidence left by bear, deer and racoons. The bugs were pretty terrible and the lines were awkward and heavy, but the view was certainly worth it.
Next week we will finish up and I will try and remember my camera.
