"Everyone should farm something."
Yesterday was our first poultry processing day of the year. Since we are still a small, family farm with no paid staff, we rely on fiends to help out on these days. There is a core group of folks I can always count on to help out, and we added a few more this year. It amazes me that people are willing to give up an entire morning, come out to the farm and work with us. We cannot afford Read More
Wendell Berry has the best answer to this question: “Why do farmers farm, given their economic adversities on top of the many frustrations and difficulties normal to farming? And always the answer is: “Love. They must do it for love.” Farmers farm for the love of farming. They love to watch and nurture the growth of plants. They love to live in the presence of animals. They love to work outdoors. They love the weather, maybe even when it is Read More
As much as we all like Carrie Underwood’s music, there is a line in her song “Smoke Break” that I wish she would change. It goes like this: “He’s a big-city, hard-working man just trying to climb the ladder First generation to go to college instead of driving a tractor Never had nothing handed to him on a silver platter It’s hard to be a good man, good son, do something good that matters” I don’t think for a minute Read More
I attended the Polyface Intensive Discovery Seminar on July 18-19, 2016. It was an amazing learning experience. Thank you to everyone who helped make this trip possible. – Jason You can watch the highlights here:
Last Tuesday we took delivery of our first batch of cornish-cross broilers. The family was excited to welcome these 50 little chicks to our farm. We had never raised this many chicks at one time. The most we ever raised at one time was about 20. In the brooder, we had fresh water, non-GMO feed, good bedding and two heat lamps. Everything looked good as we watched the chicks get used to their new home. Wednesday morning, I went out Read More
That’s the way the conversation started. You may or may not know, but a couple of weeks ago, I shared my desire to attend one of the Polyface Intensive Discovery Seminars (PIDS) in Swoope, VA. These two-day seminars are led by the one and only Joel Salatin, and attendees get to experience the Polyface way of farming, hands-on, and eat three meals a day with them on the farm. Past attendees say the food alone is worth the fee. Anyway, Read More
The discussion started like this. “Dad, I got $200 for Christmas and birthday, and I want to buy that new American Girl doll.” I paused, trying not to dash her hopes too quickly, and said “well you can do that, or you can save your money and buy a cow.” I made that suggestion mainly because we raise cows on our farm, so I have some experience. Notice I said “some” experience; by no means do I have it all Read More
I watched the documentary Food Inc. the other week, and I just can’t stop thinking about it. I watched it mainly because I knew Joel Salatin (my hero) was featured in it. Amazon Prime members can watch it free online. Here is the official movie trailer. Let me know what you think.
I looked at the weather report Tuesday morning and saw it was going to be a beautiful day and rain was coming this weekend, so I decided to take Tuesday off and get some things done around home. When you work off the farm during the week, Saturdays are the only day you can get some things done, especially in the winter months with the shorter days. I wanted to get one main thing done: complete a new water line from the Read More
I am extremely blessed to have a job I like and one that let’s me try new things. I have worked for the South Carolina fire service since 2001 and have met many wonderful people from across the state. However, farming is in my blood. We live on family property that my grandfather and great-grandfather farmed. Looking back 20 years, if I had know then what I know now, things might have turned out different. But I don’t spend time Read More