Tadpoles

Yesterday, I walked with a bucket in hand to feed the pigs. The fresh rain made the air clean and in the morning light everything had the new sort of look that comes with a dawn bathed in water. The creek that runs through our farm was a little higher than normal and as I crossed it I looked to check on the eggs I had seen a pair of toads laying on a rainy day the week before. In the clear water I could see hundreds of small black tadpoles swiming about.

Having a healthy amphibian population is one of my primary goals for the farm. Amphibians are very sensitive to their environment, especially synthetic chemicals. If frogs didn't have clean water to lay their eggs in or chemical free pastures and creek banks to feed from then I would have to carefully evaluate my farming practices. Seeing these tadpoles was heartening, but also a reminder of why I am farming as I am--trying to stay with nature's pace.