Endangered livestock, heirloom vegetables and antique farming methods give purpose to our farm.
Northing is more joyful than the aroma of fresh turned soil or eating a tomato off the vine. I've wanted to farm for eons with good old fashioned plants and animals. We are what we eat, and technology has developed antibiotic addicted, confined animal feeding operations and abundant bland nutritionally deficient vegetables grown on lifeless, over farmed petroleum enhanced farms.
I had a family, bought 12 ac. and The Other Side of the Fence was born. I began to grow heirloom and open-pollinated veggies for farmers markets where I learned how plagued we are with allergies and illness. I use only organic fertilizers and abandoned all pesticides and fungicides. I now use raised beds with intensive plantings to minimize weeds & conserve water. Natural mulches nurture worms, beneficial bugs and fungi, so I'm growing soil now too.
Our weekly newsletter, THE VIEW from the Other Side of the Fence answers questions about our farm, livestock and the food industry. Always there to help, we encourage people to grow some of their own food.
We raise pastured heritage & rare breed laying hens that are very hardy and forage for most of their food. This awsome diet makes the best tasting healthy eggs. At night they're on deep litter, a very old way of housing that encourages healthy beneficial bacteria and a low maintenance coop with no odor.
This summer we'll be getting a breeding pair of critically endangered Red Wattle Hogs. They're pigs that lend themselves to living in family groups, are huge but very gentle and good mothers of large litters. RW hogs are good foragers, naturally disease resistant and make efficient use of their food. Many chefs believe their meat is outstanding. Critical to their survival, eating them gives a purpose to their preservation. Most people don't know many of our food species are at risk of extinction.
Such a special pig deserves a special home. I'm planning to build a straw bale barn for durable protection from the elements. I hope to enlighten people to a building method using a waste product that'll leave virtually no footprint in its path.
These projects I hold so dear are a lot of work for me, my husband (a full time electrician), 10 yr old daughter, and 72 yr old mom. We're the farmer from seed to sale. We farm because we love it, caring for people and our planet. My daughters dream is to have a simple, sustainable farm that will teach kids and adults. And someday soon, have an eco-friendly straw bale store to sell our meat, eggs and produce.
Concerning present day issues:
I know I'm doing things better. I'm helping to ensure good healty food species that have stood the test of time. We all have to learn to stop crushing our planet, fighting nature and learn to embrace it.
Comments
This is the true spirit that every farmer should go back to. Enabaling our farming industry to revive the trust of the American people. What an inspiring story of conviction in what one loves particuarly for the sake of our planet and all mankind. What ever this farmer is doing, growing and eating we need to take note and do the same.
This is very useful and inspiring for all of us. We need to remember that there is more to farming than to just feeding the animals. Also, let us not be afraid. We can do anything. We need to preserve this planet and all of the natural resources that we have here!
I was raised in SE Ohio. My grandparents lived only 200 yards from us and had a commercial egg farm. The new generation of farming depends far to much of steroids for the development of poultry, pork, lamb, and beef. To me, the word "organic" has been misused by the PETA-type radicals....I prefer the word "natural" when describing such operations. And it is great to see folks using "natural" methods as did we just 30 years past to grow superior products. Farmers: the real recyclers! Great story!
Very interesting and useful.
This is truly an inspiring story. What a challenge to take on in today’s world of genetically engineeredproducts that we consume everyday. Whether it is food or feed for the animals we are losing all the great foodstuffs of the past. Animals no longer graze, but are raised on Factory farms. No wonder we are a nation of very sick people. If you can inspire people to follow in your footsteps, maybe there is still hope. I commend you for reducing your footprint on our environment to make a difference. Maybe our small farmers and farmers markets are just the tip of the iceberg to recovery.