We do not live alone on the farm. Our focus is on vegetables, we grow plants but we are surrounded by animals every day. We are happier to see some creatures than others.

We have watched the swallows with pleasure as they paired and nested by the pond, we have watched the English Sparrows with frustration as they usurped a nest by our house.

The sight of our hedge woodchuck creeping through the grass towards the vegetable field reminds us to be vigilant with our trap. A few nibbled lettuce and edamame send us out to check our fence line. The sight of a crow lifting itself from a tomato stake with feet dangling limp and heavy- slows my walk, reminds me to look around. And when the snapping of the electric fence turns out to be a slug inching along the wire, we can only laugh.