a typical day on Edhe Gård

The daily routine is not controlled really strictly, sometimes bit earlier or even later. Usually we wake up between six and half past six. After getting up we eat a small snack and get ready for the barn. In the morning the barn takes longer time than in the evening because in the morning we have time to do all things like milking, cleaning, filling up the feeding table and feeding Lea our youngest baby calf, she is the last one who still gets milk. We also have to grind barley, feeding our two pigs and empty the poop ditch. Yes even the not so beautiful works are part of the wwoofers life. But if you have got used to it it's not that bad anymore!
The fact that fjäll cows (swedish: fjällko) are kept on the farm, makes working with animals for beginners, like me quiet pleasant. Fjällko are an old swedish mountain cow breed. These cows are little smaller than other breeds, by nature not horned and they have a really friendly temper! They are so easy to handle, therefore you don't need to have fear of these animals! And we keep the barn always really clean, thus it does not smell so strong and the air is not stuffy.
Only the bull makes sometimes troubles, he is badly violent and angry! So we have to be carefully when we get the cows. But he is going to be slaughtered as soon as every cow is pregnant! And everybody on the farm is already looking forward to a great steak! ;)

After the barn, one or two wwoofers help to prepare the breakfast. The others do some small work outside like weeding, cleaning or fixing something. Then we all have breakfast together. The family is very religious, so before the two main meals of the day we sing a psalm, someone speaks a grace and we read from the Bible or from the Mormons book. I by myself am not Christian, but I kind of like this ceremony before eating. It gives you a wonderful feeling that I could not describe in words. After the prayer, we may throw ourselves on the rich breakfast table.
Then we work until about 17 o'clock. In this time there is always something else to do. Painting, weeding, picking berries housework or process food. It never get's boring or monotonous. We also have a short break around 13 o'clock, the so called 'Fika', the swedish "coffee break" where we drink juice and eat a cinnamon bun.
At the evening we have dinner, our second big meal. Before, or after the dinner we have to go to the barn again. The evening barn is done really fast, because we only have to do what is really necessary, milking, feeding and cleaning.

And then finally the work is done! :)

ps: pictures will hopefully follow soon