Me, a farm girl? I would’ve never thought it possible. Yet there I was, not in Hampton for even a week and we had already adopted six baby chicks… “Hampton. Hmmm.” I had no clue there was a ‘Hampton’ Connecticut until my husband came home one day, all excited about a new listing he had found in the real estate section of the paper. On the long ride up, I contemplated the commute I’d be taking to and from work. “This ride is nearly an hour one way”, I whined.

“Wait till you see this place,” he replied. And there it was! We knew it the second we turned up the driveway. The yellow house was up a slight hill and nestled amongst tall oaks, maples and pines.

“Beautiful!” I exclaimed. The sellers, a very sweet couple, let us know that the house was built in 1985 by Ellis Tech – the local high school a few towns over.

“That’s pretty cool,” my husband and I replied. A tour of the home’s interior and 10 acres confirmed what we both had already decided. “This is the one!” Papers were drawn up and a short while later, we were moving into our new home. The drive to and from work was long. I learned to enjoy my alone time and used it as an opportunity to relax and reflect. We settled into a routine and started to explore Hampton. When my son came home for a visit, we all went for a hike at Diana’s Pool. As my daughter’s homework list grew, we spent more and more time at the town library and enjoyed long walks in Goodwin Forest and around Pine Acres Lake. We had various gatherings at the Grange and even participated in some yoga classes there. Along the way, we met the nicest people. It became clear to me that this is where I belonged.

Those six chicks finally got their adult feathers and were able to be moved outside. We built them a cute little coop and located it in the side yard, just outside our window, so we could keep an eye on them. Having a horticultural background, my husband couldn’t wait to get his hands in the soil. He planted the most beautiful flowers around our house and throughout the yard. What a fantastic display of colors, shapes and scents it is when they all start to bloom! Shortly after that, land for the gardens was being tilled, and another area was being groomed for future cattle or sheep. To make room for pasture, and also to allow saplings to mature, some of the bigger trees were cut. We tried to select the ones that were compromised or leaning so we didn’t have to lose the majestic ‘grand-daddy’ trees.

Wanting to become more involved, I joined the Gazette newspaper. I had the privilege of interviewing many locals for the farming section of the paper. One was a local beekeeper. I was never a fan of insects with stingers but as he and I spoke, this seasoned beekeeper encouraged me to ‘lean in and take a closer look’. He explained what was going on in the hive and why, and that the bees were more interested in what they were doing than in stinging me. Intriguing! I was hooked right then and there! It wasn’t long before I was leaning over my own hive! I learned how to take that one hive and make a second. And just last month, I had the good fortune of being right there, working in my bee yard when one of my hives swarmed. It only flew ten feet and landed on a low branch, not far from the hive it had just swarmed from! I caught that swarm and now those bees are in a box of their very own. We now have three thriving hives!

In the meantime, my husband and our neighbor purchased cows together and raised them for meat. The ‘meat’ part was hard for me, but I enjoyed giving them lots of treats and love. Two years ago, we decided to switch to sheep. I agreed on three or four…we now have ten. The sheep are also being raised for meat and we donate the wool. None of the babies get named. I’m told, you don’t name what you are going to eat. As hard as I try to not get involved, I cannot resist going out to the sheep shed to visit with the flock. My husband and I were thrilled to witness one of the moms give birth to three, healthy lambs! They are just adorable! “A great life, and one bad day,” is what my husband says to comfort me.

Over the years, our blessings have been many. We have cherished friends and neighbors, plentiful produce from our gardens, beautiful bouquets from our flower beds and lots of honey and fresh eggs. I’ve learned to appreciate the meat from our sheep and I look forward to the satisfaction of splitting wood for our wood stove. I used to listen to John Denver as I was growing up. I loved his song ‘Country Roads’ and used to think of how great country life must be. Hampton isn’t exactly ‘in the country’ but I absolutely love our quiet little corner of paradise. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing about my chickens’ adventures and I thank everyone for allowing me that privilege. Life is busier than ever, and although I work locally and no longer commute, I’m taking some time off from writing. I’ve learned so much about farming, but I have a long way to go. I want to thank everyone for helping us get to where we are today. We are here for all of you, too. You know where to find us, we’ll be here, hanging out on our little chicken farm.

Cindy Bezanson