Running a farm is full of highs and lows, moments of pride and success, but also plenty of mistakes and challenges. While it’s easy to share the victories, we’ve found that some of our most valuable lessons have come from our failures. The beauty of farming is that it constantly humbles you—every season brings new variables, unexpected events, and moments that force you to think on your feet. But instead of looking at these as just setbacks, we view them as opportunities to learn and grow.
Here’s a candid look at some of the farm failures we’ve experienced over the years and what we’d do differently if given the chance.
1. The Garden That Wasn’t: Learning From Weather Woes
One of the biggest disappointments we faced this past year was the total failure of our garden. After planting with high hopes for a productive season, a severe drought hit us just when the crops needed water the most. To add insult to injury, the storm that took out our shade trees earlier in the year left our garden with no protection from the relentless summer sun.
What We’d Do Differently:
Looking back, the lesson was in preparation. We knew drought was a possibility, but we hadn’t invested enough time into setting up a reliable irrigation system or thinking about water conservation ahead of time. In hindsight, we should have relocated the garden to a spot with more natural shade and installed a drip irrigation system that could have kept the soil hydrated during dry spells.
This coming year, we’re determined not to repeat those mistakes. We’re moving the garden to a new location with better access to water, and we’re putting an irrigation plan in place long before planting season. We’re also focusing on improving the soil health so it retains moisture better, through the use of mulch and cover crops.
2. Broilers: Relocation Woes
One of the toughest challenges we faced was during the fall of 2021 when we were just starting with broilers. We were suddenly forced to relocate after a domestic violence incident, which meant we had to move the birds, equipment, and everything else to a new location in a hurry. The process was chaotic, and we encountered several issues: birds got crushed in wire dog crates, others became injured as we struggled to lift and transport them, and the uneven terrain at the new location caused birds to get stuck under the tractor as we moved it. Worst of all, we ran out of feed during this stressful time, and the birds turned cannibalistic—something we had never dealt with before.
What We’d Do Differently: Looking back, there are several things we’ve since changed. First, we now use proper poultry crates when moving birds, which are designed to keep them secure and safe during transport. We also devised a better system for lifting and loading the crates onto the trailer to avoid unnecessary injuries. On the new land, we’ve learned to use feed at the front of the tractor as a bribe, encouraging the birds to move forward and stay away from the back where they were getting caught. And, of course, we’ve learned to never run out of feed, even during the most chaotic situations. Thankfully, we haven’t faced any more emergency relocations, but these lessons have been invaluable in how we operate today.
3. Ignoring the Power of Marketing and Community Outreach
In the early days of Huckleberry Farms, we focused so much on the practical, hands-on aspects of farming that we neglected the importance of marketing and community engagement. We figured that word-of-mouth would carry us, but we quickly found that wasn’t enough. Our eggs and meat were top-notch, but we weren’t reaching enough people to sell consistently.
What We’d Do Differently:
We learned that marketing isn’t something you can put off until you’ve “figured everything else out.” It’s an essential part of the business, and building relationships with your community is just as important as caring for your animals. We’ve since invested a lot more time in building our social media presence, attending local markets, and engaging with our customers both online and in person.
If we could do it over again, we’d start our marketing efforts much sooner—sharing our story, connecting with other farmers, and building a loyal customer base from day one. Now, we’re seeing the results of that hard work, and we know it’s something that can’t be overlooked.
4. The Battle with Predators: Securing the Flock
Predators, primarily raccoons, and the occasional skunk, have been another ongoing challenge. When we first started out, we were on a tight budget, and the pallet coops we built were less than ideal—pallets are far from solid, leaving plenty of gaps for determined predators to exploit. Our brooder, a trailer at the time, also had completely open windows with no predator-proofing in place. To make matters worse, our birds weren’t always locked up on time, which gave predators the perfect opportunity to strike.
What We’d Do Differently: We’ve since completely revamped our predator management. For the main flock, we built a solid, predator-proof coop, and for the smaller pallet coops, we covered them in hardware cloth to block any openings. The brooder trailer has been reinforced as well, with half of the window openings covered in plywood and the other half in hardware cloth to allow ventilation while keeping predators out. We also overhauled our nighttime routine, making sure that all birds are securely locked in their coops as close to dusk as possible. These adjustments have greatly reduced our predator losses and have made us much more vigilant.
5. Learning When to Ask for Help
One of the hardest lessons this past year came during my pregnancy. There were many days when I was too sick or exhausted to get out to the coop for daily chores, and while our poultry was forgiving, I felt the strain of trying to do everything myself. It’s easy to get stuck in the mindset that you need to be the one doing everything, but that’s a surefire way to burn out.
What We’d Do Differently:
The key takeaway here was that it’s okay to ask for help. Whether it’s from family members, neighbors, or even hiring part-time help, sometimes it’s necessary to delegate. We’ve since created a procedure manual for the farm, which allows others to step in and help with chores when needed. It has taken a huge weight off our shoulders and made things run more smoothly.
Looking back, I would have reached out for help sooner instead of pushing through on my own. It’s a lesson that has changed how we approach everything from daily farm tasks to long-term planning.
Final Thoughts: Farming is an Ongoing Education
Farming is a constant learning process, and there’s no such thing as a perfect season. What we’ve learned is that failure is part of the journey, and every mistake offers a lesson. Whether it’s learning to plan better, market smarter, or ask for help when needed, these experiences have made us better farmers and have strengthened Huckleberry Farms.
If there’s one thing we hope readers take away from this, it’s that mistakes are inevitable. The key is to be open to learning from them, adapting, and moving forward with the wisdom they bring. Farming is never about perfection—it’s about perseverance, creativity, and constantly striving to improve.
