1-3-21
8:37 am Sunday
Shuna, Viggo and I went on an adventure to Custer, WA near the Canadian border a few weeks ago. My good friend Neil helped discover a rare Asil population nearly in our backyard! I was excited to see photos of the birds. They were quite primitive looking and would be great contributors to our M.I.G.H.T project.
We made arrangement to visit Surinder and his son Jag. We made the trip and were received warmly by Jag and Surinder on their beautiful farm. They have a blueberry farm and Jag kindly showed my son an interesting blueberry harvesting machine. We were led to see the Asils and we were not disappointed. These are primitive looking, very healthy, very vigorous, and very difficult to catch birds! Surinder had the skills to capture his wonderful beasts. He handed me the rooster and I was surprised how muscular and strong the bird was.
I got one large black rooster, a black hen, and a brown hen. I am very pleased with these birds. I learned from Surinder that these birds are from Mukathsur city in the Punjab region. Surinder has been breeding this rare line of Asils for 20 years. I am excited because the love Surinder has for these birds is what keeps these rare genetics alive. He has carefully, thoughtfully and with love bred and preserved this strain, fighting the trend of these rare breeds of domesticated animals disappearing.
The world cultures are changing faster than we can comprehend. What it is to be human is changing faster than we can comprehend. As we forget the old ways, we forget ourselves. As we forget our partners, the other living creatures we experience our lives with, we lose ourselves. Not only have vigorous Asils invigorated our poultry industry to allow us to have a chicken in every pot, but our partnership with these animals has tethered us. As we float away in a world of incomprehensible complexity, I am thankful to be grounded by the roar of these primitive beasts. Thank you Surinder and Jag for your hospitality. Thank you Surinder for your love of these animals and for your preservation of these genetics.
What you have done matters, and we at Cascadia Heritage Farm appreciate your efforts. Thank your for the gift of the Java, we are doing our best to keep him comfortable.