Not every morning at The Dank Duckery is test results and USDA paperwork. Some mornings are just a nor'easter rolling in on the horizon and a wheelbarrow full of compost that isn't going to toss itself.
There's a particular kind of quiet that settles over the farm before a storm — the ducks get a little more vocal, the air gets that heavy, waiting feeling, and everything you can get done outside starts to feel a little more urgent. So this morning was spent doing exactly that: hauling compost, Crocs and all, getting ahead of the weather before it has other plans for the day.
The unglamorous, satisfying kind of farm work
Compost duty doesn't make it into the highlight reel very often, but it's one of those tasks that quietly keeps the whole operation running. Good compost means healthier soil, healthier soil means better foraging and garden beds down the line, and none of it happens without someone in Crocs pushing a wheelbarrow around before the rain starts.
There's something genuinely grounding about it, too. No test kits, no spreadsheets, no paperwork — just physical work, weather on the way, and a job that needs doing.
Storm prep, duck-style
A nor'easter means a mental checklist beyond just the compost: making sure the runs are secure, water totes are topped off, and the flock has everything they need if we end up hunkered down for a day or two. Ducks handle weather better than most animals — a little rain has never bothered this crew — but a good storm still means a bit of extra prep before it rolls in.
Here's to getting the outdoor work done while the getting's good. The ducks don't care about the forecast. We, unfortunately, have to.