June 30, 2025 • 28 mins
Are you wearing your happy pants? We are! Today Geraldine's are green with little patches. They are long, have straps over her shoulders and cover her whole body. They are called overalls, and even have mud splatters all over them. Kate's happy pants have black and white spots, just like a big friendly dairy cow.
They are some pretty good clues about this week's theme! Be ready for lots of fun farm facts, music, a few Big Words to add to your Big Words List, and a reading of the gorgeous book My Farm by Alison Lester.
We'll leave you with this wise piece of advice...
Why shouldn't you tell a secret on a farm?
Because the potatoes have eyes and the corn has ears!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:13):
One, two, three. It's happy pants.
S2 (00:29):
Good day. And welcome to Happy Pants, a show especially
for kids and especially for you. My name is Geraldine.
S3 (00:37):
And my name is Kate. And together, we're your happy
pants team for today.
S2 (00:43):
Are you wearing your happy pants? We are today. Mine
are green with little patches. They are long. They have
straps over my shoulders and they cover my whole body.
They're called overalls. They even have mud splatters all over.
S3 (01:01):
Oh, no. Mud. Well, mine have black and white spots.
Just like a big, friendly dairy cow.
S2 (01:09):
Happy pants have lots of pockets. Let's see what we
can find in them today, shall we?
S3 (01:14):
Well, in this pocket I found something round and smooth.
When I run my fingers over it, I can feel
a little bump at the top. Oh, that must be
a tiny leaf. It smells fresh and sweet, like a
sunny orchard. I think it's a piece of fruit.
S2 (01:33):
Well, that sounds like an apple. Apples grow on farms,
in big orchards. Farmers pick them and send them to
stores for us to buy and then eat. You check
your other pocket, Kate. Maybe there's something else in there.
S3 (01:51):
Well. Ah, yes. There's something fluffy and soft. It feels
like a little cloud.
S2 (01:57):
Like a cloud? Oh. No way. And be careful. It
might rain in your pocket.
S3 (02:03):
It's not a cloud, but it's soft like one. It's wool.
Wool comes from sheep, and farmers shear the sheep to
collect their wool. Then it's used to make clothes, blankets
and all sorts of warm things.
S2 (02:18):
So there's a sheep in your pocket?
S3 (02:21):
No. Thank goodness. Just some wool. Because we'd need to
feed a sheep. And I don't see any grass around here.
What's in your pockets, Geraldine?
S2 (02:31):
Oh, well, I feel something small. Round, round and smooth. Oh,
it's got a tiny crack in it.
S3 (02:41):
Is it an egg?
S2 (02:43):
Yes. Farmers take care of chickens, and they lay eggs
for us to eat. Eggs can be made into so
many things, like scrambled eggs and cakes and even pancakes.
S3 (02:58):
Just don't drop the egg. The shell would break and
it would go splat on the floor. Then we'd have
to clean it up. I love going to the farm.
My family has a big farm in Geraldton, and when
I miss it, I just imagine being back there. They
have lots of animals, and one of their cows had
a baby just the other day. A baby cow is
(03:21):
called a calf.
S2 (05:08):
Farms are amazing places. They're full of animals and plants
Lance and machines that help grow our food. What's your
favorite farm animal?
S3 (05:20):
I love pigs. They love to roll in the mud
to keep cool. Mud also acts like sunscreen. Pigs don't
have much hair to protect their skins so they can
get badly sunburnt. What about you?
S2 (05:34):
I don't think I'd like to roll in mud or
give me sunscreen any day. I like cows. They give
us milk, which we can turn into cheese, butter and yogurt. Plus,
they love a good cuddle.
S3 (05:52):
Did you know that farms aren't just for animals? They
also grow fruits, vegetables and grains. Some farms even have
bees making honey.
S2 (06:02):
Well that's right, bees are important because they help plants
grow by carrying pollen from flower to flower. Without bees,
we wouldn't have as many fruits and veggies as we
do know.
S3 (06:16):
And don't forget tractors. They help farmers plow the land,
plant seeds, and harvest crops.
S2 (06:23):
Farming's a big job, but it's also a very important one.
Without farmers, we wouldn't have the delicious food we eat
every day. They produce the crops that help to feed,
fuel and close a growing world while caring for the land.
Agriculture is important to everyone.
S3 (06:45):
Big word alert. Agriculture. That's the production of food, animals, fiber, timber,
crops and flowers. It's the name for what farmers do.
S2 (07:00):
Agriculture is very important, and most farmers even go to
a school to learn about it. In a town called
Harvey in Western Australia, there is a college of agriculture
that teaches the next generation of farmers. They learn how
to take care of all types of animals. They learn
to shear sheep, milk cows, herd stock, and handle all
(07:26):
kinds of farm machinery, even to weld and build so
they can mend things. They learn to harvest crops and
how to look after different fruits and vegetables and wheat.
The list goes on.
S3 (07:42):
That's impressive to be able to fit all their work
into one day. They must need to get up really early.
S2 (07:50):
Maybe even before the roosters. Hey, did you know a
rooster protects his flock and will warn the other chickens
if he senses danger? He looks after the hens and chickens,
and can often anticipate Dawn and crow to signal the
start of the day.
S3 (08:11):
Today our story is called My Farm, written by Alison Lester.
When I was little, I lived on a farm overlooking
the sea. Through summer, autumn, winter and spring, we worked
on the land together. Mum, dad, Charlie, Kate, Jake and me.
We rode our horses every day and loved them like friends.
(08:35):
There my old pony died. Charlie let me ride his
horse while he used the motorbike. Tricky was all right,
but I really missed inky. In summer, we checked the
water troughs to make sure the thirsty cattle had enough
to drink. Sometimes we drove the old jinker and stopped
for a swim along the way. We shifted mobs of
(08:57):
cattle to better pasture and sorted out some that were
ready to sell on market days. Huge trucks backed up
to the dusty stockyards. Dogs barked, bullocks bellowed, whips cracked
and we yelled, I get up and who are to
(09:18):
drive the cattle up the ramp? One moonlit night, a
truck arrived with some new cows. I went up to
the yards with my father to unload them. Something spooked
the cattle and in a flash they were racing down
the road. I chased them on tricky, riding bareback in
my pajamas, and finally brought them home. I felt like
(09:42):
a real hero. Late in summer, bushfires sometimes broke out
in the hills. The smoke cast an eerie yellow light
over our farm. We kept a water tank on the
truck in case one of the paddocks caught fire. Blackberries
were ripe for picking then and the apples in the
(10:02):
orchard were crunchy and delicious. The local show was always
a big day for us. It took weeks to get ready.
We washed the stud bulls and cows and taught them
how to parade. We brushed our ponies until they shone
and platted their manes and tails. Dad taught tricky to jump.
(10:23):
Jake practiced his tricks on Bella and trained Sadie for
the dog. High jump. My best friend Maggie double dinked
with me and we won the quietest pony contest. But
Charlie took the ribbon because tricky was his horse. I
really wished I had my own pony. Dad's bull was
(10:45):
the grand champion that year, and Sadie came third in
the dog high jump. In autumn, the trees turned orange
and red. We galloped through the fallen leaves, sending them
spinning behind us. New cattle arrived from the snowy mountains,
and Dad and Uncle Jack drove them down the beach
(11:07):
to spend winter on the bush run. When the cows
began to calve, carve. We had to check them at
least twice a day. Once I found an abandoned calf
and carried him home on tricky, mum made a bed
for the shivering baby in front of the stove and
I fed him warm milk from a bottle. He sucked
(11:28):
my fingers with his raspy tongue. Sometimes a calf died
and we had to find a new baby for its mother.
Dad bought an orphan car from our neighbour and dressed
it in a jacket made from the dead calf skin.
The cow recognised the smell of her own calf and
adopted the orphan. If a cow needed help to give birth,
(11:53):
we'd drive her slowly to the yards. Mum delivered the
calf just like a doctor delivering a baby. I was
the assistant, patting the cow and soothing her with my voice.
Sometimes I felt frightened, but it was always thrilling to
see the tiny newborn calf. After the first autumn rains,
(12:15):
mushrooms popped up in the paddocks. We would trudge for
miles with knives and buckets, searching for a Whopper or
a perfect fairy ring. We drove the cattle to the
yards again to be dipped and drenched. The mud was
as sticky as glue. Once Kate got so stuck, she
came right out of her boots. We didn't need to
(12:39):
buy much meat from the butcher because we had our own.
None of us liked to be around when dad killed
a sheep. But we all loved to help with the
cutting up. We punched off the skin and investigated the insides.
The dogs and cats waited for titbits. On frosty mornings.
The mist crept into the valleys and I'd pretend we
(13:02):
lived on a Norwegian fjord. When rainstorms flooded the flat country,
Jake and I loved racing through the water. I always
got splattered with mud because tricky was so slow. I
thought about the quicksilver pony I'd like to have. By
the time we reached home, we had such cold hands.
(13:22):
Mum had to unbuckle our bridles. We fed out hay
in the cold winter months when the paddocks were bare.
The cattle ran after the truck, bellowing for food. If
the grass was very slippery, we'd hold on to baling
twine and water ski behind the truck. We platted the
(13:42):
used twine into long skipping ropes. Even in winter, we
all had jobs to do. Jake fed the dogs every day.
Kate milked the house's cow. We called her Bambi because
she was so gentle. I fed Bambi's calf and looked
after the chooks and Charlie looked after the baby wombat
(14:05):
dad had rescued from the side of the road. He
was tiny and hairless and lived in a woollen beanie
beside the stove. Mum found some ducks eggs and we
kept them warm in the electric frying pan until they hatched.
The ducklings thought mum was their mother. One of my
favorite times was when we had a pioneer settlement down
(14:29):
at the creek. Bambi came with us and we made
a yard for her and the ponies. We built a
hut and dammed the creek, hoping to flood the road
so we wouldn't have to go to school the next day.
In springtime, the ground dried out and we were allowed
to ride on the lawn again. Our best trick was
(14:49):
galloping under the clothesline and grabbing on to it like cowboys.
Bella was so quiet we could dress her up one day.
Jake rode her into the kitchen and she left tiny
hoof prints on the lino. Maggie and I wanted to
be famous. We painted clay stripes on the old black
horse so people would think he was a rare type
(15:12):
of zebra. When we went on Ted Poling and fishing expeditions,
the cats, dogs and our pet sheep all tagged along.
In September, it was time to bring the cattle home
from the bush run. That year, Jake and I were
finally old enough to go along. It took a day
(15:32):
to ride down and muster and a day to drive
them home along the beach. We splashed through the shallows
and jumped the waves. I decided to be a drover
when I grew up. The sweet spring grass was cut
into hay and stored in the sheds to be used
next winter. Mum gave us afternoon tea to take down
(15:53):
to the hay carters. We'd race home across the mown
grass and Kate's pony possum always took off. My birthday
came and went, but I didn't get the pony I'd
been hoping for. After a day's work, we cooled down
under the sprinkler or swam our ponies in the dam.
Sometimes we went to the beach and ate our dinner
(16:15):
near the soft purple sea. Charlie was always the boss
of our games. He could hypnotise chooks and sometimes had
a whole line of them with their feet in the air.
We had to pay to watch this performance. My payment
was promising to barrack for Collingwood. Charlie's dog Sadie had
(16:35):
her pups in a hollow log behind the shed. Our
cousins came for Christmas and we loved having such a gang.
We played crazy, complicated games like tightrope walking, snail races,
cat and trousers contests, building cubbies, and Olympic Games. When
(16:56):
I woke that Christmas, there were no presents at the
foot of my bed. I searched my pillowcase, but all
I found was a slip of paper with the words
look in the orchard. There, under the apple tree was
a pony, a palomino pony. My own pony.
S2 (17:17):
That was our story. My farm. Written by Alison Lester
and read by Kate. The book is available in Braille
from Vision Australia's Felix Library. Hey, did you know it's
free to join the Vision Australia Library? They have heaps
of kids titles in different formats to suit your needs.
(17:41):
Head to Vision Australia to find out more. That's Vision Australia.
S3 (17:48):
Oh, must be so exciting to live on a farm.
S2 (17:51):
Well, lots of hard work and a lot of keeping
track of all the animals. Do you think you could
do it?
S3 (17:58):
I think I could.
S2 (18:00):
Well let's see. I have a question for you to
see if you could keep up with all the animals.
So imagine you have a farm.
S3 (18:09):
Oh, okay. I love games.
S2 (18:12):
On your farm. You have eight horses and 15 chickens
this morning. Five baby chicks hatched. So how many animals
do you have now that the chicks have hatched?
S3 (18:28):
Oh, I'll need time to think about that.
S1 (19:53):
Hi, my name is Mackenzie and you're listening to Happy
Pants on Vision Australia Radio.
S3 (20:00):
Okay, I'm ready to answer your question. On my farm
would be eight horses, 15 big chickens, and five new
baby chickens. So if we start by adding the horses
to the chickens, that's eight plus 15 is so 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23.
(20:22):
Then we need to add five chicks to 23, which
altogether adds up to 23, 24, 28. There'll be 28
animals on my farm.
S2 (20:36):
Okay. How many more chickens do you have than horses?
S3 (20:41):
Well, I have 20 chickens now and still the same
eight horses. So we subtract the smaller number horses from
the larger number. Chickens.
S2 (20:54):
Big word alert. Subtract means to take away.
S3 (21:03):
And so 20 take away. Eight is 2019 1876. And
we get 12 of 12 more chickens than horses.
S2 (21:14):
Well done. So you've proved that you can keep track
of your animals. But could you feed them all?
S3 (21:23):
That would be a lot of work. Also, farms need
a lot of water. Not just so the animals have
enough to drink, but to keep their crops, fruits and
veggies alive too.
S2 (21:35):
Yes. And they can't possibly water all those plants by hand.
They need really good irrigation.
S3 (21:42):
Big word alert. Irrigation. Irrigation is how farmers send water
to their plants and crops to help them grow. They
send the water through a series of sprinklers.
S2 (21:58):
It's so much fun to run through the sprinklers in
my garden on a hot summer's day. You know what
else is fun to do? And it doesn't even require
any water.
S3 (22:09):
I have a feeling you're going to tell me.
S2 (22:11):
The sprinkler dance?
S3 (22:13):
Oh, I don't think I know that one. Can you
explain how to do it?
S2 (22:18):
Well, a couple of moves you can try. So find
a clear space and stand or sit up in your
chair comfortably. Put your arms straight up in the air
beside your ears. Then bend your hands at the wrists
and take your hands back down to your hips in
(22:38):
the shape of a fountain. That's it. So do that again.
I'm straight up by your ears and fountain. The water.
That's your hands downwards. Now, if you can try turning
in a circle like a rotating sprinkler, sending the water
(22:58):
right out and giving the veggies a nice drink.
S3 (23:02):
Oh, this is fun. One, two. Three four.
S2 (23:17):
Okay. If you're not too dizzy.
S3 (23:20):
No. I'm okay. The sprinkler is ready to work.
S2 (23:24):
Okay, then it's time for move number two. Bend your
left elbow and place your left hand on your ear
and hold it there. Got it. Point your right arm
straight out in front of you. Then wave your right arm.
That's the water side to side. One, two, three, four times.
S3 (23:50):
I guess I think I'm getting it.
S2 (23:53):
Looking good. Now switch sides, bend your right elbow and
place your right hand on your ear and hold it there.
Now it's your left arm that should be right out
in front of you. Wave it from side to side. One. Two. Three.
four times. I'll let you practice watering your imaginary farm
(24:16):
while we listen to a song.
S3 (24:53):
For you. I'm tired now. It's hard work being a sprinkler.
S2 (24:58):
It sure is. I think keeping an imaginary farm is
much easier.
S3 (25:05):
That's true. And I don't have the space for real
animals at my house.
S2 (25:09):
On my imaginary farm. I'll have, um, I'll have dinosaurs.
Or maybe a farm of bugs. And I'll plant lolly
trees and I'll harvest cupcakes.
S3 (25:22):
Well, that's certainly an imaginary farm. You know, there is
such a thing as hobby farms. A hobby farm is
a smaller farm, and it's mostly for fun. Most animals
on a hobby farm are small so that you can
pet them, like at a petting zoo. The food on
a hobby farm is mostly just for the people that
(25:43):
live in the house.
S2 (25:45):
Oh yeah, and for the neighbors. My neighbors have chickens
in their backyard, and sometimes when there are too many eggs,
they come over and give them to us.
S3 (25:56):
You can kind of have a farm in your backyard.
Some people have chickens and collect eggs. You can have
pets like rabbits, guinea pigs, and reptiles. You can grow
your own fruits and vegetables in planters or on the windowsill.
S2 (26:11):
I have an orange tree and a lemon tree in
my backyard. I can make orange juice and lemonade. So
I guess that's a bit like a farmer. It's turning.
What I've grown into something refreshing. And I suppose if
I sold some, then maybe I could make money from it.
S3 (26:32):
So what have we done today?
S2 (26:34):
We explored what's in our happy pants pockets and found
farm goodies like an apple and wool and an egg.
S3 (26:42):
We talked about farms, the animals that live there and
the food they help produce.
S2 (26:48):
We learned about agriculture and how important it is for
growing our food and supporting our communities.
S3 (26:56):
And we read a story and even imagined a visit
to the farm.
S2 (27:00):
Farms are incredible places full of life and hard work.
Next time you eat an apple or drink a glass
of milk, Remember to thank a farmer.
S3 (27:13):
If there was anything in today's program about which you'd
like to know more, you can contact us at Radio Australia.
Keep wearing those happy pants and we'll catch you next time.
S4 (27:39):
Happy pants is produced on the lands of the Whadjuk
Noongar people. Vision Australia Radio acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples as the first Australians, and the traditional owners
of the land across our working area. We pay our
respects to elders past, present and future in maintaining their cultures,
countries and their spiritual connection to the lands and waters.
Vision Australia Radio acknowledges and respects the genuine diversity and
(28:02):
richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia.
Happy pants has been made possible with the support of
the Community Broadcasting Foundation.
One, two, three. It's happy pants.
S2 (00:29):
Good day. And welcome to Happy Pants, a show especially
for kids and especially for you. My name is Geraldine.
S3 (00:37):
And my name is Kate. And together, we're your happy
pants team for today.
S2 (00:43):
Are you wearing your happy pants? We are today. Mine
are green with little patches. They are long. They have
straps over my shoulders and they cover my whole body.
They're called overalls. They even have mud splatters all over.
S3 (01:01):
Oh, no. Mud. Well, mine have black and white spots.
Just like a big, friendly dairy cow.
S2 (01:09):
Happy pants have lots of pockets. Let's see what we
can find in them today, shall we?
S3 (01:14):
Well, in this pocket I found something round and smooth.
When I run my fingers over it, I can feel
a little bump at the top. Oh, that must be
a tiny leaf. It smells fresh and sweet, like a
sunny orchard. I think it's a piece of fruit.
S2 (01:33):
Well, that sounds like an apple. Apples grow on farms,
in big orchards. Farmers pick them and send them to
stores for us to buy and then eat. You check
your other pocket, Kate. Maybe there's something else in there.
S3 (01:51):
Well. Ah, yes. There's something fluffy and soft. It feels
like a little cloud.
S2 (01:57):
Like a cloud? Oh. No way. And be careful. It
might rain in your pocket.
S3 (02:03):
It's not a cloud, but it's soft like one. It's wool.
Wool comes from sheep, and farmers shear the sheep to
collect their wool. Then it's used to make clothes, blankets
and all sorts of warm things.
S2 (02:18):
So there's a sheep in your pocket?
S3 (02:21):
No. Thank goodness. Just some wool. Because we'd need to
feed a sheep. And I don't see any grass around here.
What's in your pockets, Geraldine?
S2 (02:31):
Oh, well, I feel something small. Round, round and smooth. Oh,
it's got a tiny crack in it.
S3 (02:41):
Is it an egg?
S2 (02:43):
Yes. Farmers take care of chickens, and they lay eggs
for us to eat. Eggs can be made into so
many things, like scrambled eggs and cakes and even pancakes.
S3 (02:58):
Just don't drop the egg. The shell would break and
it would go splat on the floor. Then we'd have
to clean it up. I love going to the farm.
My family has a big farm in Geraldton, and when
I miss it, I just imagine being back there. They
have lots of animals, and one of their cows had
a baby just the other day. A baby cow is
(03:21):
called a calf.
S2 (05:08):
Farms are amazing places. They're full of animals and plants
Lance and machines that help grow our food. What's your
favorite farm animal?
S3 (05:20):
I love pigs. They love to roll in the mud
to keep cool. Mud also acts like sunscreen. Pigs don't
have much hair to protect their skins so they can
get badly sunburnt. What about you?
S2 (05:34):
I don't think I'd like to roll in mud or
give me sunscreen any day. I like cows. They give
us milk, which we can turn into cheese, butter and yogurt. Plus,
they love a good cuddle.
S3 (05:52):
Did you know that farms aren't just for animals? They
also grow fruits, vegetables and grains. Some farms even have
bees making honey.
S2 (06:02):
Well that's right, bees are important because they help plants
grow by carrying pollen from flower to flower. Without bees,
we wouldn't have as many fruits and veggies as we
do know.
S3 (06:16):
And don't forget tractors. They help farmers plow the land,
plant seeds, and harvest crops.
S2 (06:23):
Farming's a big job, but it's also a very important one.
Without farmers, we wouldn't have the delicious food we eat
every day. They produce the crops that help to feed,
fuel and close a growing world while caring for the land.
Agriculture is important to everyone.
S3 (06:45):
Big word alert. Agriculture. That's the production of food, animals, fiber, timber,
crops and flowers. It's the name for what farmers do.
S2 (07:00):
Agriculture is very important, and most farmers even go to
a school to learn about it. In a town called
Harvey in Western Australia, there is a college of agriculture
that teaches the next generation of farmers. They learn how
to take care of all types of animals. They learn
to shear sheep, milk cows, herd stock, and handle all
(07:26):
kinds of farm machinery, even to weld and build so
they can mend things. They learn to harvest crops and
how to look after different fruits and vegetables and wheat.
The list goes on.
S3 (07:42):
That's impressive to be able to fit all their work
into one day. They must need to get up really early.
S2 (07:50):
Maybe even before the roosters. Hey, did you know a
rooster protects his flock and will warn the other chickens
if he senses danger? He looks after the hens and chickens,
and can often anticipate Dawn and crow to signal the
start of the day.
S3 (08:11):
Today our story is called My Farm, written by Alison Lester.
When I was little, I lived on a farm overlooking
the sea. Through summer, autumn, winter and spring, we worked
on the land together. Mum, dad, Charlie, Kate, Jake and me.
We rode our horses every day and loved them like friends.
(08:35):
There my old pony died. Charlie let me ride his
horse while he used the motorbike. Tricky was all right,
but I really missed inky. In summer, we checked the
water troughs to make sure the thirsty cattle had enough
to drink. Sometimes we drove the old jinker and stopped
for a swim along the way. We shifted mobs of
(08:57):
cattle to better pasture and sorted out some that were
ready to sell on market days. Huge trucks backed up
to the dusty stockyards. Dogs barked, bullocks bellowed, whips cracked
and we yelled, I get up and who are to
(09:18):
drive the cattle up the ramp? One moonlit night, a
truck arrived with some new cows. I went up to
the yards with my father to unload them. Something spooked
the cattle and in a flash they were racing down
the road. I chased them on tricky, riding bareback in
my pajamas, and finally brought them home. I felt like
(09:42):
a real hero. Late in summer, bushfires sometimes broke out
in the hills. The smoke cast an eerie yellow light
over our farm. We kept a water tank on the
truck in case one of the paddocks caught fire. Blackberries
were ripe for picking then and the apples in the
(10:02):
orchard were crunchy and delicious. The local show was always
a big day for us. It took weeks to get ready.
We washed the stud bulls and cows and taught them
how to parade. We brushed our ponies until they shone
and platted their manes and tails. Dad taught tricky to jump.
(10:23):
Jake practiced his tricks on Bella and trained Sadie for
the dog. High jump. My best friend Maggie double dinked
with me and we won the quietest pony contest. But
Charlie took the ribbon because tricky was his horse. I
really wished I had my own pony. Dad's bull was
(10:45):
the grand champion that year, and Sadie came third in
the dog high jump. In autumn, the trees turned orange
and red. We galloped through the fallen leaves, sending them
spinning behind us. New cattle arrived from the snowy mountains,
and Dad and Uncle Jack drove them down the beach
(11:07):
to spend winter on the bush run. When the cows
began to calve, carve. We had to check them at
least twice a day. Once I found an abandoned calf
and carried him home on tricky, mum made a bed
for the shivering baby in front of the stove and
I fed him warm milk from a bottle. He sucked
(11:28):
my fingers with his raspy tongue. Sometimes a calf died
and we had to find a new baby for its mother.
Dad bought an orphan car from our neighbour and dressed
it in a jacket made from the dead calf skin.
The cow recognised the smell of her own calf and
adopted the orphan. If a cow needed help to give birth,
(11:53):
we'd drive her slowly to the yards. Mum delivered the
calf just like a doctor delivering a baby. I was
the assistant, patting the cow and soothing her with my voice.
Sometimes I felt frightened, but it was always thrilling to
see the tiny newborn calf. After the first autumn rains,
(12:15):
mushrooms popped up in the paddocks. We would trudge for
miles with knives and buckets, searching for a Whopper or
a perfect fairy ring. We drove the cattle to the
yards again to be dipped and drenched. The mud was
as sticky as glue. Once Kate got so stuck, she
came right out of her boots. We didn't need to
(12:39):
buy much meat from the butcher because we had our own.
None of us liked to be around when dad killed
a sheep. But we all loved to help with the
cutting up. We punched off the skin and investigated the insides.
The dogs and cats waited for titbits. On frosty mornings.
The mist crept into the valleys and I'd pretend we
(13:02):
lived on a Norwegian fjord. When rainstorms flooded the flat country,
Jake and I loved racing through the water. I always
got splattered with mud because tricky was so slow. I
thought about the quicksilver pony I'd like to have. By
the time we reached home, we had such cold hands.
(13:22):
Mum had to unbuckle our bridles. We fed out hay
in the cold winter months when the paddocks were bare.
The cattle ran after the truck, bellowing for food. If
the grass was very slippery, we'd hold on to baling
twine and water ski behind the truck. We platted the
(13:42):
used twine into long skipping ropes. Even in winter, we
all had jobs to do. Jake fed the dogs every day.
Kate milked the house's cow. We called her Bambi because
she was so gentle. I fed Bambi's calf and looked
after the chooks and Charlie looked after the baby wombat
(14:05):
dad had rescued from the side of the road. He
was tiny and hairless and lived in a woollen beanie
beside the stove. Mum found some ducks eggs and we
kept them warm in the electric frying pan until they hatched.
The ducklings thought mum was their mother. One of my
favorite times was when we had a pioneer settlement down
(14:29):
at the creek. Bambi came with us and we made
a yard for her and the ponies. We built a
hut and dammed the creek, hoping to flood the road
so we wouldn't have to go to school the next day.
In springtime, the ground dried out and we were allowed
to ride on the lawn again. Our best trick was
(14:49):
galloping under the clothesline and grabbing on to it like cowboys.
Bella was so quiet we could dress her up one day.
Jake rode her into the kitchen and she left tiny
hoof prints on the lino. Maggie and I wanted to
be famous. We painted clay stripes on the old black
horse so people would think he was a rare type
(15:12):
of zebra. When we went on Ted Poling and fishing expeditions,
the cats, dogs and our pet sheep all tagged along.
In September, it was time to bring the cattle home
from the bush run. That year, Jake and I were
finally old enough to go along. It took a day
(15:32):
to ride down and muster and a day to drive
them home along the beach. We splashed through the shallows
and jumped the waves. I decided to be a drover
when I grew up. The sweet spring grass was cut
into hay and stored in the sheds to be used
next winter. Mum gave us afternoon tea to take down
(15:53):
to the hay carters. We'd race home across the mown
grass and Kate's pony possum always took off. My birthday
came and went, but I didn't get the pony I'd
been hoping for. After a day's work, we cooled down
under the sprinkler or swam our ponies in the dam.
Sometimes we went to the beach and ate our dinner
(16:15):
near the soft purple sea. Charlie was always the boss
of our games. He could hypnotise chooks and sometimes had
a whole line of them with their feet in the air.
We had to pay to watch this performance. My payment
was promising to barrack for Collingwood. Charlie's dog Sadie had
(16:35):
her pups in a hollow log behind the shed. Our
cousins came for Christmas and we loved having such a gang.
We played crazy, complicated games like tightrope walking, snail races,
cat and trousers contests, building cubbies, and Olympic Games. When
(16:56):
I woke that Christmas, there were no presents at the
foot of my bed. I searched my pillowcase, but all
I found was a slip of paper with the words
look in the orchard. There, under the apple tree was
a pony, a palomino pony. My own pony.
S2 (17:17):
That was our story. My farm. Written by Alison Lester
and read by Kate. The book is available in Braille
from Vision Australia's Felix Library. Hey, did you know it's
free to join the Vision Australia Library? They have heaps
of kids titles in different formats to suit your needs.
(17:41):
Head to Vision Australia to find out more. That's Vision Australia.
S3 (17:48):
Oh, must be so exciting to live on a farm.
S2 (17:51):
Well, lots of hard work and a lot of keeping
track of all the animals. Do you think you could
do it?
S3 (17:58):
I think I could.
S2 (18:00):
Well let's see. I have a question for you to
see if you could keep up with all the animals.
So imagine you have a farm.
S3 (18:09):
Oh, okay. I love games.
S2 (18:12):
On your farm. You have eight horses and 15 chickens
this morning. Five baby chicks hatched. So how many animals
do you have now that the chicks have hatched?
S3 (18:28):
Oh, I'll need time to think about that.
S1 (19:53):
Hi, my name is Mackenzie and you're listening to Happy
Pants on Vision Australia Radio.
S3 (20:00):
Okay, I'm ready to answer your question. On my farm
would be eight horses, 15 big chickens, and five new
baby chickens. So if we start by adding the horses
to the chickens, that's eight plus 15 is so 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23.
(20:22):
Then we need to add five chicks to 23, which
altogether adds up to 23, 24, 28. There'll be 28
animals on my farm.
S2 (20:36):
Okay. How many more chickens do you have than horses?
S3 (20:41):
Well, I have 20 chickens now and still the same
eight horses. So we subtract the smaller number horses from
the larger number. Chickens.
S2 (20:54):
Big word alert. Subtract means to take away.
S3 (21:03):
And so 20 take away. Eight is 2019 1876. And
we get 12 of 12 more chickens than horses.
S2 (21:14):
Well done. So you've proved that you can keep track
of your animals. But could you feed them all?
S3 (21:23):
That would be a lot of work. Also, farms need
a lot of water. Not just so the animals have
enough to drink, but to keep their crops, fruits and
veggies alive too.
S2 (21:35):
Yes. And they can't possibly water all those plants by hand.
They need really good irrigation.
S3 (21:42):
Big word alert. Irrigation. Irrigation is how farmers send water
to their plants and crops to help them grow. They
send the water through a series of sprinklers.
S2 (21:58):
It's so much fun to run through the sprinklers in
my garden on a hot summer's day. You know what
else is fun to do? And it doesn't even require
any water.
S3 (22:09):
I have a feeling you're going to tell me.
S2 (22:11):
The sprinkler dance?
S3 (22:13):
Oh, I don't think I know that one. Can you
explain how to do it?
S2 (22:18):
Well, a couple of moves you can try. So find
a clear space and stand or sit up in your
chair comfortably. Put your arms straight up in the air
beside your ears. Then bend your hands at the wrists
and take your hands back down to your hips in
(22:38):
the shape of a fountain. That's it. So do that again.
I'm straight up by your ears and fountain. The water.
That's your hands downwards. Now, if you can try turning
in a circle like a rotating sprinkler, sending the water
(22:58):
right out and giving the veggies a nice drink.
S3 (23:02):
Oh, this is fun. One, two. Three four.
S2 (23:17):
Okay. If you're not too dizzy.
S3 (23:20):
No. I'm okay. The sprinkler is ready to work.
S2 (23:24):
Okay, then it's time for move number two. Bend your
left elbow and place your left hand on your ear
and hold it there. Got it. Point your right arm
straight out in front of you. Then wave your right arm.
That's the water side to side. One, two, three, four times.
S3 (23:50):
I guess I think I'm getting it.
S2 (23:53):
Looking good. Now switch sides, bend your right elbow and
place your right hand on your ear and hold it there.
Now it's your left arm that should be right out
in front of you. Wave it from side to side. One. Two. Three.
four times. I'll let you practice watering your imaginary farm
(24:16):
while we listen to a song.
S3 (24:53):
For you. I'm tired now. It's hard work being a sprinkler.
S2 (24:58):
It sure is. I think keeping an imaginary farm is
much easier.
S3 (25:05):
That's true. And I don't have the space for real
animals at my house.
S2 (25:09):
On my imaginary farm. I'll have, um, I'll have dinosaurs.
Or maybe a farm of bugs. And I'll plant lolly
trees and I'll harvest cupcakes.
S3 (25:22):
Well, that's certainly an imaginary farm. You know, there is
such a thing as hobby farms. A hobby farm is
a smaller farm, and it's mostly for fun. Most animals
on a hobby farm are small so that you can
pet them, like at a petting zoo. The food on
a hobby farm is mostly just for the people that
(25:43):
live in the house.
S2 (25:45):
Oh yeah, and for the neighbors. My neighbors have chickens
in their backyard, and sometimes when there are too many eggs,
they come over and give them to us.
S3 (25:56):
You can kind of have a farm in your backyard.
Some people have chickens and collect eggs. You can have
pets like rabbits, guinea pigs, and reptiles. You can grow
your own fruits and vegetables in planters or on the windowsill.
S2 (26:11):
I have an orange tree and a lemon tree in
my backyard. I can make orange juice and lemonade. So
I guess that's a bit like a farmer. It's turning.
What I've grown into something refreshing. And I suppose if
I sold some, then maybe I could make money from it.
S3 (26:32):
So what have we done today?
S2 (26:34):
We explored what's in our happy pants pockets and found
farm goodies like an apple and wool and an egg.
S3 (26:42):
We talked about farms, the animals that live there and
the food they help produce.
S2 (26:48):
We learned about agriculture and how important it is for
growing our food and supporting our communities.
S3 (26:56):
And we read a story and even imagined a visit
to the farm.
S2 (27:00):
Farms are incredible places full of life and hard work.
Next time you eat an apple or drink a glass
of milk, Remember to thank a farmer.
S3 (27:13):
If there was anything in today's program about which you'd
like to know more, you can contact us at Radio Australia.
Keep wearing those happy pants and we'll catch you next time.
S4 (27:39):
Happy pants is produced on the lands of the Whadjuk
Noongar people. Vision Australia Radio acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples as the first Australians, and the traditional owners
of the land across our working area. We pay our
respects to elders past, present and future in maintaining their cultures,
countries and their spiritual connection to the lands and waters.
Vision Australia Radio acknowledges and respects the genuine diversity and
(28:02):
richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia.
Happy pants has been made possible with the support of
the Community Broadcasting Foundation.
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