There’s a special kind of frustration that comes from pouring every ounce of sweat, intelligence, and strategic planning into something, only for people—especially family—to wave it off like it’s some whimsical pastime. For me, it’s the farm. To some, it’s just a fun little hobby—a side project, a distraction, something quaint but not serious. NeverContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: When Your Work Is Dismissed as a Hobby”
Author Archives: Traci Houston
Reducing Farm Waste: Our Journey to a Zero-Waste Operation at Huckleberry Farms
At Huckleberry Farms, sustainability has always been a central part of our mission. The idea of moving toward a zero-waste operation is not only about caring for the land we work on, but also about reducing our footprint, improving efficiency, and embracing a more regenerative way of farming. While the concept sounds straightforward, the journeyContinue reading “Reducing Farm Waste: Our Journey to a Zero-Waste Operation at Huckleberry Farms”
Farm Table Talk: Let It Grow—The War on Pointless Lawn Standards
There is a battle raging in my yard, and it is not between pests and plants, rabbits and predators, or ducks and mud puddles. No, this war is far more ridiculous—it’s a war over grass. Specifically, whether or not it should be mowed. My mom, bless her heart, thinks the answer is an emphatic “yes.”Continue reading “Farm Table Talk: Let It Grow—The War on Pointless Lawn Standards”
Building Better Soil: Rotational Grazing, Wood Chips, Deep Bedding, and Rabbit Manure
There are two kinds of people in this world: those who say “dirt” when they mean soil, and those who know better. If you’re serious about land management, regenerative agriculture, or just making sure your ground actually supports life, you want soil—not dirt. Dirt is what’s stuck under your fingernails after a long day, aContinue reading “Building Better Soil: Rotational Grazing, Wood Chips, Deep Bedding, and Rabbit Manure”
Farm Table Talk: The Mystery of the Chinchilla Kit—Or, When Genetics Slap You in the Face
You ever have one of those moments in farming where you stare at an animal like it personally betrayed you? Because that’s exactly where I was this spring, standing in my rabbit barn, looking at a chinchilla kit that should not exist. See, last year, I bought a New Zealand Black buck from a breederContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: The Mystery of the Chinchilla Kit—Or, When Genetics Slap You in the Face”
Farm Table Talk: When a Barnyard Mix Costs More Than It’s Worth
Listen, I’m all for paying top dollar for high-quality breeding stock—birds bred to the Standard of Perfection (SoP), with genetics meant to improve a breed rather than just pump out eggs. If that’s what I’m buying, then sure, $25 to $50 makes sense. These birds are an investment, not just random additions to the flock.Continue reading “Farm Table Talk: When a Barnyard Mix Costs More Than It’s Worth”
Reading the Land: What Your Pasture Plants Reveal About Soil Health
If you want to know what’s going on beneath the surface of your pastures, put away the soil tests—just take a walk. The plants growing on your land are telling you a story about soil conditions, fertility, compaction, and even past disturbances. In regenerative agriculture, understanding indicator species is a key part of managing landContinue reading “Reading the Land: What Your Pasture Plants Reveal About Soil Health”
Farm Table Talk: Industrial Farming—The Warm, Wet Illusion
Let’s paint a picture, shall we? It’s freezing outside, and you’re desperate to stay warm. In a moment of irrational panic, you… piss your pants. Immediate warmth floods in (sorry for the mental image), but how long does it really last? Not long enough—and now you’re colder, wetter, and way worse off than before. That,Continue reading “Farm Table Talk: Industrial Farming—The Warm, Wet Illusion”
Rethinking Convenience: How a Whole-Food Diet Offers Long-Term Health Beyond the Standard American Diet
Transitioning from the Standard American Diet (SAD) was a pivotal step toward reclaiming my health, energy, and sense of balance. As I embraced a whole-food approach, focusing on nutrient-dense, unprocessed foods, I experienced firsthand the vast difference in how food impacts the body. It’s easy to be lulled by the convenience of SAD, but theContinue reading “Rethinking Convenience: How a Whole-Food Diet Offers Long-Term Health Beyond the Standard American Diet”
Farm Table Talk: Livestock Are Not Pets—And It’s Time We Stop Treating Them Like They Are
Listen, I get it. Animals are wonderful. They bring us joy, companionship, and in the case of livestock, food and utility. But somewhere along the way, a disturbing trend has crept into modern agriculture—people treating livestock like they’re house pets. And I’m here to tell you, in the bluntest way possible: livestock are not pets.Continue reading “Farm Table Talk: Livestock Are Not Pets—And It’s Time We Stop Treating Them Like They Are”
