Individual survival is often framed as a solitary effort—self-reliance, personal grit, independence—but history and experience tell us that true resilience comes from community strength. A thriving, well-connected society isn’t built on selfish survival, but on collective well-being. In an era where isolation is increasingly common, community care is self-care—because when we ensure the health, stability,Continue reading “Community Care is Self Care: Why Our Survival Depends on Unity”
Author Archives: Traci Houston
Farm Table Talk: Stewardship, Not Ownership
“I do not need bulls from your farms or goats from your flocks; all the animals in the forest are mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. All the wild birds are mine and all living things in the fields.”—Psalm 50:9-11 Farming often feels like ownership. We raise animals, tend the land, and makeContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: Stewardship, Not Ownership”
Farm Table Talk: A Gathering of Food, Thought, and Truth
In a world of hurried conversations and surface-level debates, the farm table stands as a quiet rebellion. It’s a place where truth is spoken plainly, where questions aren’t just welcomed but encouraged. It’s where food is more than fuel—it’s a connection, a history, a story waiting to be understood. More Than a Conversation—A Movement FarmContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: A Gathering of Food, Thought, and Truth”
Malnourished but Overfed: The Health Crisis of Modern “Poor Folk Food”
Once upon a time, food insecurity meant hunger—real hunger, the kind that gnawed at the ribs and left people desperate for sustenance. Today, food insecurity has taken on a new, insidious form. Instead of starvation, millions suffer from chronic malnutrition, despite consuming more than enough calories. How? Enter the modern version of “poor folk food”—cheap,Continue reading “Malnourished but Overfed: The Health Crisis of Modern “Poor Folk Food””
Farm Table Talk: Curiosity—The Quiet Rebellion Against Blind Acceptance
As a child, my constant questioning made me the target of sighs, eye-rolls, and exasperated groans. “Why do plants grow better here?”“What happens when soil loses its microbes?”“Who decided that modern farming practices were the standard?” My relentless need to understand the world often irritated the people around me. But today? I wear that curiosityContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: Curiosity—The Quiet Rebellion Against Blind Acceptance”
Blue, Black, and Splash: How a Single Gene Shapes Poultry Plumage
When it comes to poultry genetics, few traits are as visually striking—or as reliably predictable—as the Blue/Black/Splash (BBS) color system. Whether in chickens or Swedish ducks, this genetic mechanism operates with clear, easy-to-follow inheritance, giving breeders a straightforward way to anticipate color outcomes with every hatch. Unlike some genetic traits that lurk unseen, requiring pedigreeContinue reading “Blue, Black, and Splash: How a Single Gene Shapes Poultry Plumage”
Farm Table Talk: Why the Status Quo Is Never the Answer
Every major breakthrough—every shift in thinking, every revolution, every actual solution to a deeply embedded problem—has never come from the status quo. It has always come from minority voices. From the unpopular opinions, the fringe perspectives, the people who dared to say, “Hey, maybe we shouldn’t just accept this as normal.” And yet, somehow, modernContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: Why the Status Quo Is Never the Answer”
Breeding for Disease Resistance in Poultry: Strengthening Flocks Through Selective Selection
For poultry breeders, disease management is one of the biggest challenges in maintaining a healthy flock. While vaccination, biosecurity, and treatment protocols play key roles in disease prevention, breeding for disease resistance offers a long-term solution that strengthens birds at the genetic level. Instead of relying solely on external defenses, resistant breeding creates flocks thatContinue reading “Breeding for Disease Resistance in Poultry: Strengthening Flocks Through Selective Selection”
Farm Table Talk: Blind Trust Will Get You Killed
The government says it’s safe, so you don’t have to question it.The school curriculum is fine, so no need to dig deeper.The food is regulated, so it must be healthy.The healthcare system is trustworthy, so you’re in good hands. Good grief. Do some research. Blind Trust Is a Dangerous Game Let’s be clear—when a systemContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: Blind Trust Will Get You Killed”
If You Give a Homesteader a Fruit Tree
If you give a homesteader a fruit tree, they’re going to want to plant it right away. Once they plant it, they’ll imagine bushels of fresh fruit for pies and preserves. Dreaming of preserves will remind them they need to get their canning jars ready. While gathering jars, they’ll realize they’re running low on lids.Continue reading “If You Give a Homesteader a Fruit Tree”
