(Post 3 of 5)

“These cows are my friends,” says Eyberg, but that’s not quite what he means. He searches for the words in English and pulls his hands to his chest. “They are my good friends,” he continues, “my good friends.” There’s one cow that’s nervous about being milked. She recently had her first calf, and it didn’t survive. When it’s her turn, Eyberg stands next to her, scratches her back and keeps a hand on her side. “Cows are the same as people. Sometimes they feel good, sometimes bad.” I ask Eyberg what will happen to this farm when he is gone, and the answer is simple: “Finished.” “If you have a small farm, not many cows, it is not enough.”

Photo by Eric Guth.