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“We didn’t move from town to town because of the deer; they showed up later in our lives. I’m half Kaunas, half rural, and my husband is from Utena. We lived in Kaunas for a long time. We also spent years in Chicago, we decided to try the life of emigrants ”, says the deer farmer.
However, the dreamland did not turn out to be the same as the dreamland, so the family returned to Kaunas. For several more years, the elderly in the metropolis decided that there was a lot of noise from that city, in addition, they wanted to spend less time in traffic jams and spend more time with themselves, their activities and their family.
“So we went back to the Utena district, and here, where our house is now, was the house of the man’s grandparents. During the Soviet era, they were demolished and the land was claimed by the family after the restoration of Lithuania’s independence.
We had to make a living from what we had to do: we are still engaged in the production of candles, and my husband Žilvinas makes various interior and decoration products out of wood and chandeliers, ”says Asta.
– Why didn’t Chicago stay with you? What were you doing there?
– Nothing special (Serie). The man worked in construction, and since our son was only two years old, I was not fascinated by the idea of leaving him with a babysitter and working alone. Therefore, I found Lithuanian families and took care of not only my own children, but also those of others: I worked as a nanny.
Why don’t we stay in America? We went to Chicago being quite well located in our country, we had houses, jobs, and when we left, it was natural that everything started from scratch.
We weren’t alone there, and there really are a lot of opportunities in America, but there are a lot of obstacles: leisure, the focus on many things, the same healthcare system. And now that we see what is happening in the United States: protests, the fight against the coronavirus, we can say that in our town we feel much safer and more comfortable. Especially since we have a direct connection with the people who live there and feel insecure and unstable.
It seems to me that there are more opportunities in my country, it just takes will and courage. It is an interesting coincidence that now that we live in Lithuania, our main clients are in America (Serie).
– And how did deer come into your life?
– Nothing too romantic: During construction, I found information about the European Union’s support for young farmers to settle down and start farming. Those years were the last to fit the age limit. We wrote a project and received support for the establishment of the farm.
We are now committed to expanding the farm, increasing the herd and becoming a profitable farm. Why deer? The land is not very fertile, the mountain, the hill, the forests, the bushes… It is a great condition for deer to graze!
I knew very well that we would not want to raise cows or goats, much less berries or vegetables. While we were preparing the project, we went to a deer farm and were impressed by those animals. And now I can see them through my windows! I know my deer the best I can and I can tell who is who (Serie).
So, in addition to the production of candles and wood products, we really have enough activities at the moment, because our deer farm is a priority. It is, in a sense, work and leisure.
Personal archive photo / The Šimonėliai family raises deer
Every day we learn something new, and there really is no shortage of work, especially in the summer: preparing the food, maintaining the enclosures, having oatmeal every day, taking care of the fresh water in the drinkers.
We have two sons who also know what farm work is. By the way, our children also welcomed the message that we would move to the Utena district, because we were concerned about how they would accept it. After all, it usually seems like there are more opportunities in a bigger city. But they adapted very quickly and made friends, they felt very good and have many activities. For my part, I am very happy to be able to give the children more time to be together.
– Tell us more about deer farming. What are animals in themselves? Are they very different from each other?
– We raise red deer, which also live in the Lithuanian forests. Deer are the largest animals after elk and have lived here since ancient times. Venison is a very healthy, delicious and valuable meat, valued by gourmets, grown in a natural environment without stimulants or additional antibiotics, after all, we feed them only with natural grass and oats grown without chemicals, we pamper them with apples or vegetables .
Personal archive photo The Šimonėliai family raises deer
Some deer are raised for breeding; the most beautiful males with the largest horns remain to extend the breed. By the way, many people don’t know that males grow horns every year and are released around March. By August, the deer are growing again, with even bigger and more beautiful antlers. The horns are also valuable, they can be used in many different ways, you just need fantasy! It can be interior decoration, trophy, decorations and many other things.
The deer fascinated us so much and it is a lot of fun to see their lives up close.
The deer fascinated us so much and it is so much fun to see their lives up close. There are more and more deer herders in Lithuania, unfortunately many imagine that they will close the enclosure, release several deer, and that’s it. It’s not that simple – you need to prepare quality food for the winter, store it properly, feed the deer on time, and make sure everyone is healthy. Disease prevention is critical and daily concerns arise as well. After a year, the herds must be separated to avoid incest.
By the way, now that the estuary has just begun, the entire town echoes from the deer. Oh, and it’s very interesting to see how the females turn their heads towards the males, what dramas are going on … As they fight with the framed horns, it turns out which one is louder, who is louder to get the whole female harem. The weakest has to retreat just to look and envy. Unfortunately, there is no equality or sympathy for the weakest: women only allow the most powerful.
By the way, now that the estuary has just begun, the whole town echoes from the deer.
Winter is a quieter time, you obviously want a beautiful winter with lots of snow instead of the dirt like it was last year. Although deer really like dirt! Especially the wet places that are left after the rain with the feet and then collapse to relax there, such are their beauty procedures. In summer, these mud baths save you from pesky insects.
Personal archive photo The Šimonėliai family raises deer
And in the spring, like I said, it’s time to pull horns and wait for spotted puppies. Those lovely white spots only happen during the summer; in the fall, a thick winter coat begins to grow and the spots disappear.
By the way, deer are not just baits. They turn out to emit so many sounds! For me, it was a complete discovery. In the first year, we didn’t even realize it right away: a few days before the babies were born, the females roam, like cows. Later, they invite their little ones back like a roar, only much calmer and calmer. And the little ones respond so funny that we call it beep. She runs away, finds her mother, meets her, and goes back to sleep in the bushes. In a word, life on the farm is happening, it’s time to see it all. There is something to tell!
He runs away, finds his mother, meets her, and goes back to sleep in the bushes. In a word, life on the farm is happening, it’s time to see it all.
We currently have about 50 deer, all different with their own characters. Some more timid, carefully, go in a circle, watching. Others are brave, even poking their noses in their pockets if they smell like they have bread. I recognize most of them by their behavior, the shape of their ears, the expression of their mouth. Not everyone has a name, only some of the most distinguished have a nickname, but since everyone is marked with numbers in their ears, we distinguish them.
And deer are quite cowardly anyway, so although many people ask me if I am not going to organize excursions for children and adults in the future, I answer that it is out of cowardice that it is difficult to organize it, but what you may know, we can invite others in a year. They are used to us, they know that we bring them food.
– And what are your plans for the future? Are you happy with what you are doing today?
– At the moment, we have enough activity. We need to complete the installation of the house as well as implement the agricultural project. We live in a great location and we have a lot of freedom, fresh air and nature around. The freedom in terms of time, the freedom to do what you want, the freedom to do what you love is very important.
At this point in my life, I don’t miss a thing, it seems like everything I need is around me. We do all the work together with my husband, he does it even more, the children help too. I can’t say that some jobs are just for one man, or just for me, we work hand in hand. Although I can enjoy it even more than I work: I photograph, film, watch (Serie).
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