For all the talk about human ingenuity, technological advancements, and cleverness in food production, let’s get one thing straight: we have not “outfoxed” nature. In fact, we’ve done quite the opposite—we’ve dismantled ecosystems that once sustained more life than they do today. 500 years ago, North America was an absolute powerhouse of food production—without industrialContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: The Myth of Modern Food Supremacy”
Author Archives: Traci Houston
Farm Table Talk: The Summer Chaos—Why My House Looks Like It’s Been Abandoned
You know it’s summer on the farm when the inside of the house starts looking like a crime scene, and frankly, I have zero regrets. Every year, when the weather warms up, priorities shift. Suddenly, it’s not about sparkling floors and neatly folded laundry—it’s about getting things built, planting things in the ground, keeping animalsContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: The Summer Chaos—Why My House Looks Like It’s Been Abandoned”
The Microbial Underground: Why Soil Life Determines Farm Success
If you think the hardest workers on your farm are the ones with hooves and feathers, think again. Beneath the soil surface, billions—yes, billions—of microscopic organisms are pulling off the kind of heavy lifting that even your best farmhand couldn’t dream of. Bacteria, fungi, and other unseen powerhouses are the foundation of healthy, productive land.Continue reading “The Microbial Underground: Why Soil Life Determines Farm Success”
Farm Table Talk: The Great Fake Speaking Gig Scam
If there’s one thing that simultaneously excites and enrages me, it’s emails like this—ones that dangle a dream opportunity just within reach, only to reveal themselves as yet another cut-and-paste scam designed to prey on hopeful professionals. Take this gem: “Hey Traci, My team sent your LinkedIn profile over and I was impressed! Would youContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: The Great Fake Speaking Gig Scam”
The Price of Poverty: Why “Cheap” Food Costs More in the Long Run
If you ask the average person why low-income households rely on processed foods, they’ll likely say, “Because it’s cheap.” And, on the surface, they’d be right—when a box of instant mac and cheese costs less than a bundle of fresh spinach, the math seems simple. But dig a little deeper, and the economics of “poorContinue reading “The Price of Poverty: Why “Cheap” Food Costs More in the Long Run”
Farm Table Talk: The Hypocrisy of Freezer Camp—Or, Why Hedwig Gets a Lifetime Pass
There’s an unspoken rule on the farm: everything has a purpose, and when that purpose is no longer fulfilled, freezer camp is the logical next step. Simple, right? Ruthless efficiency. No room for sentimentality. Except, apparently, I am a liar. See, I told the Mister the same thing I tell myself: if an animal isn’tContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: The Hypocrisy of Freezer Camp—Or, Why Hedwig Gets a Lifetime Pass”
The Great Mowing Debate: Why Longer Grass Wins (But Won’t Make Your Yard a Jungle)
Every spring, the battle begins. The mower is dusted off, the blades are sharpened, and suddenly, there’s a fundamental disagreement between two opposing forces—those who believe in keeping grass tightly trimmed to a uniform height and those who see the value in letting it grow tall and wild. At Huckleberry Farms, this argument is practicallyContinue reading “The Great Mowing Debate: Why Longer Grass Wins (But Won’t Make Your Yard a Jungle)”
Farm Table Talk: Degrowth—Reckoning with the GDP Treadmill
Let’s start with the obvious: the word “degrowth” doesn’t exactly inspire warm fuzzies. At first glance, it sounds like the worst sales pitch imaginable—“Would you like to tank the economy on purpose? Welcome aboard!” No wonder people’s initial reaction is usually something along the lines of, “Uh, hard pass.” But here’s the twist: degrowth isn’tContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: Degrowth—Reckoning with the GDP Treadmill”
Farm Table Talk: The Copy/Paste Nonsense of Cold Emails
Nothing makes my eye twitch quite like a copy/paste cold email that pretends to be thoughtfully researched when, in reality, it’s just lazy mass messaging blasted into the void. I get them constantly—shipping companies, AI firms, random B2B services all pretending they’ve done some deep investigative work into my farm, when one quick glance atContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: The Copy/Paste Nonsense of Cold Emails”
Fasting: A Natural Reset for Your Body’s Health
I’ll admit it—justification is one of my best skills too. After all, if I can’t explain away my habits as “the pursuit of optimal health,” then what’s the point? Case in point: my sporadic eating schedule. Dinner? Oh, I’m a pro. Breakfast? A rare treat. Lunch? Practically a myth. And when I stumbled across anContinue reading “Fasting: A Natural Reset for Your Body’s Health”
