This weekend many people will, at various truncated Zoom seders and gatherings diminished to COVID safe numbers, tell the story of the Exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt. The emphasis of the Passover story as we tell it at the seder table is of the liberation of the Jews from slavery and their finding a land where they could determine their own future. The theme I always liked best is the idea that in each generation a new freedom is won, a new form of liberation is recognized.

While the story in the Haggadah, the book we read from at the seder, emphasizes the political/social dimensions, and the deal the Jews made with God for their deliverance, it is hard for me still in the thick of lambing season not to think of just how much of the Passover narrative involves sheep. It’s not just the Paschal lamb, which God decreed should come from killing a lamb without blemish, smearing its blood on the doorposts, and then cooking it for a feast in a very specific way: “Eat not of it raw, not sodden at all with water, but roasted with fire.” No, as befits what was a pastoral society, in many ways sheep drive the entire dynamic of the story.

Joseph led his clan to Egypt in the first place (at Pharaoh’s invitation) because there was not enough pasture for their flocks in their home territory. Once in Egypt, the Israelites’ flocks were fruitful and multiplied. Fear of the Israelites’ economic success (and presumably concern at how their flocks sucked up scarce resources) led the Egyptians to quash the economic threat by subjugating this pastoral people into slave labor, building cities.

When Moses, who had discovered his identity and begun to try to protect his people, had to flee Egypt, he met the seven daughters of the priest of Midian by chasing away the shepherds who were preventing them from watering their sheep. The grateful priest gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses as a mate. Moses became part of the household and the shepherd of the priest’s flock. Had he not been a shepherd, he would not have encountered the burning bush while wandering far afield pasturing those sheep.

When after the 10 plagues Pharaoh ultimately relented and let my people go, they left Egypt with a mixed multitude, including their “flocks and herds”. You can see Moses by then as the metaphorical shepherd of an unruly flock of Israelites as they wandered in the desert searching for forage (mannah was supplied) until they reached the land of milk and honey, a poetic way of saying a fertile place with pasture. Sheep, both actual and metaphorical, are simply everywhere in the Biblical narrative.

I can relate. With 24 births in the last month, the phrase “be fruitful and multiply” haunts my mind. There have been some still births and lambs that didn’t make it, but far outweighing those sad moments have been the moments of life affirmed. Thirteen year old Nilufer, the oldest sheep on the premises , had a huge healthy ram lamb. Scrawny Number 45 had lovely twins, whom Eric named Binette and Finette. Ewe number 300, known around here as Skunk Face, had still-born twins last week, but her hormonally driven desire for motherhood is still so strongly coursing through her that when another ewe lambed Thursday she showed up to help the mother lick the lamb clean. Best of all so far has been Sophie, who is only with us because Troy and Victoria and their visiting friends so assiduously nursed her back from the brink of death when she was born in the cold of early March, 2019. Sophie is affectionate to the humans she recognizes because she was bottle fed. She had a lamb last week, Chloe, with most unusual and adorable coloring (above), who I hope will be equally affectionate.

As it apparently was for the ancient Israelites, sheep multiplication is not an unmitigated blessing. In my case, the issue is not competition for resources with the Egyptians, but my desire, as an old geezer, to conserve my own resources, and to farm at a smaller scale. No surprise that in my case, one antidote for multiplication turns out to be division.

Two weeks ago I sold a ewe with twin lambs and another very pregnant ewe, who has since lambed, to a well known purveyor of fine foods, who wants to establish a herd of karakuls for a cheese operation in Orange County. Today I sold my remaining ram, Rumi, six ewes, and their six lambs to a farm in Vermont that has bought sheep from us before, but has no ewes younger than 8 years and needs an infusion of young blood. They took with them another ewe and her twin lambs, destined for another farm in Vermont which wants to establish a fiber operation. With my single herd essentially divided into four, only one of which I’m retaining, I have taken a step toward my goal of shrinking the herd.

But there are still 24 sheep out there in my field, with a couple of pregnancies yet to come to term, should any of you contemplate starting your own Karakul herd. Of course, at the end of this year I will send off four of five of this year’s lambs to slaughter. While I look forward to replenishing our lamb inventory (for my eating as well as for sale), I find it far more edifying to be selling ewes as breeding stock, knowing that they will go forth to green lands where they’ll be well cared for and, like the Israelites’ flocks, will undoubtedly be fruitful and multiply.

WHAT’S NEW THIS WEEK

Happy Passover and Happy Spring. The snowdrops of last week have been joined by the crocuses of this week and the daffodils of today. Those of you who have driven by and seen a small herd of Red Devon cattle on our back acres know that the transformation of the farm is underway. There will be a lot more news to share about the new model of operation I am adopting, but believe it or not, for legal reasons the announcement must be embargoed until the beginning of our new fiscal year, which begins next week. I will send out a special bulletin, with all the details, then.

We are afloat in eggs. Please order. Need fresh horseradish for your seder? We’ve got that too.

WHAT’S AVAILABLE THIS WEEK

Cheese pumpkins, $1/lb

EGGS: production has doubled, feel free to order, $5/doz

FRESH HORSERADISH, $3/lb

MEATS:

CHICKENS: They were quite uniform in size, all just around 6 lbs, a few under. These freedom rangers have been what you want them to be, deeply flavorful. $6/lb, frozen. Separately, bags of chicken livers, also $6/lb.

FARM PICKUPS:

Email us your order at farm@turkanafarms.com, and let us know when you’d like to pick up your order. It will be put out for you on the side screened porch of the farmhouse (110 Lasher Ave., Germantown) in a bag. You can leave cash or a check in the now famous pineapple on the porch table. Because I’m now here full time, we’re abandoning regular pick-up times. Let us know when you want your order any day between 10 and 5, and unless there are unusual circumstances we’ll be able to ready it to your convenience. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call or text at 917-544-6464 or email.

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