We have to be there every day, so we adapt. At the Bergerie du Bois d'Enhus in Limeray (Indre-et-Loire), no breaks during the end-of-year holidays. Every day, Stéphanie Aubert takes care of her sheep, lambs and all the cheese-making activities on her farm. An activity that she runs seven days a week, 365 days a year, including Christmas and the first day of the year.
“I adapt work during the holidays”
“The routine is the same, including for the holidays. The animals live, we must continue to feed them”she explains, bucket of barley and protein in hand. Stéphanie starts her days, at 6 a.m., by feeding her animals. Remove the hay, compose your cereal buckets for 90 animals… A long task but necessary every day of the year.
However, during these celebratory times, she makes a point of spending time with her family. “I adapt the work during the holidays. I make sure to work more the day before or leave more to do for the next day”she confides. In addition to caring for the animals, Stéphanie milks the sheep that can provide milk every day and then transforms it into cheese.
Beyond daily life, the entire organization of the farm is adapted for festive days. “The farm has a direct sales shop, open Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. This year, December 25 and 1is January falls on a Wednesday. We have decided to modify our sales hours by closing on these days, but to open on Monday exceptionally”explains Stéphanie.
“I’m trying to unload”
Working alone on the farm – before the arrival of a part-time employee at the start of the month – Stéphanie seeks to slow down the pace of her activity so as not to isolate herself from her family, particularly during the holidays. “When I first settled in, I was overdoing it. I try to unburden myself to last longer, enjoy my work, but also enjoy my family”relates the 44-year-old Amboisienne.
Although she has to work, Stéphanie, mother of three children, did not want her activity to prevent her from sharing these celebrations with her family. “On the morning of the 25th, I started later to have breakfast with the children and open presents. The animals didn't blame me as long as they had their two daily meals.”she shares.
However, working during the holidays is not without consequences. “Often, I am the one sleeping at the end of the table before midnight. My activity is intense, I don’t last very long on New Year’s Eve”she notes. Living in Limeray, a stone's throw from her farm, Stéphanie is limited in her travel during the holidays: “For Christmas, the family comes whenever possible. This year, one of my sisters, who lives in Tarbes (Hautes-Pyrénées)came. In the New Year, I prefer to do something at home. »
She also admits to having difficulty finding time to prepare for these holidays. « We always take care of Christmas presents at the last minute. Once, I went to cut down a tree on the evening of the 24th because I hadn't had time before. »she remembers.
