When it is only 6:30am and you’ve already been pooped on by a cow, you really wonder what the rest of the day is going to bring.  Luckily for me, that was about as eventful (and dirty) as it got for me today.

My day started quite enjoyably; hot coffee with fresh milk, a good conversation with Til, the main cow handler and watching how the cows get milked when SPLAT.  It was about then that I decided it was about time to head out into the fields.

I am still amazed at what things I am finding that they grow on this farm.  This morning, I was in charge of harvesting the fennel.  Apparently, it is really good cooked or just eaten raw?  Unfortunately for me, one bad birthday night with Jägermeister was really all I could think about (since that is exactly what it smells like) but hey, at least that maybe made me get done quicker!?  After over two hours of crouching over, I decided to have a seat and continue my work….I’m sure Käthe (the owner) was wondering what the heck I was doing as I scooted along and bobbed my head to the beat on my headphones. (Sorry about the video going sideways….I didn’t think about it not turning the image.  D’oh!)

Still before lunch, Käthe and I prepped green onions to sell.  During this time, she told me of some great places to go on my free weekends (too bad getting around in Switzerland is so dang expensive!) and I got to learn more about the farm’s history.

Other highlights of the day:

– Getting milk straight from the cows to separate into cream and milk.  Naturally, as the machine did it’s thing, we sipped on warm, STRAIGHT from the utter’s milk.

Raw, warm milk and cheese being processed! Just a day in the life of a Swiss Farmer!

I also keep bugging Til with all my cow questions…..the poor guy.  I’ll come in while he is getting the cows milked and ask all sorts of questions:

– Do the cows know you?

Yes, he actually trains then with words and body signals and they do what he says! (hmmm……should I try to convince Andy of a pet cow!?)

– Can you eat dairy cows? (yeah, I went there…..)

Of course!  A filet is a filet.  Just wait until they no longer make milk

– Do the cows have names?

Absolutely, they must form a relationship in order for Til to work with them

– What are you injecting into that cow!?

Something homeopathic (they absolutely can not use antibiotics if they want to retain the “Bio” (harder to get than Organic) label

I also found out that a baby cow was JUST born on Saturday (the day before I arrived)!!!  I asked what it’s name was and Til told me there was no name yet, but it needed to be something with an “L” because that was also the mother’s  ……..

Yes, you know where this is going.

“Well, I hear “LeAnna” is a great name!” (Says the girl with the same name)

“But it is a boy!!!……(pause)…..yes, we SHOULD name it LeAnna!” laughs Til.

 :/  woops

Sweet baby calf, born THREE days ago!

I’d say that besides the horrible attack on my allergies, today was another successfully interesting day.  Let’s see what adventures I can get into tomorrow……

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The Economical Excursionist

LeAnna and Andy have been travelling the world for almost three years straight. Currently living in Germany, the couple spends as much time seeing new parts of the world as possible. However, travel can be an expensive endeavor...unless you know how to TRAVEL HACK. Join us in our adventures around the world as well as to learn a few trips on how to travel hack your own trips.

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