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”
Author Archives: Traci Houston
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”
The Evolution of “Poor Folk Food”: From Self-Sufficiency to Shelf-Stability
Once upon a time, food insecurity looked a lot different than it does today. The defining characteristic of “poor folk food” used to be self-sufficiency—whatever could be grown, raised, or foraged on the homestead was what sustained families through hard times. Fast forward to the 21st century, and the pantry of an economically struggling householdContinue reading “The Evolution of “Poor Folk Food”: From Self-Sufficiency to Shelf-Stability”
Farm Table Talk: The Emotional Side of Farming
Farming is more than a business. It’s a way of life, a commitment, and often, a deeply emotional connection to the land, the animals, and the community. Every farmer knows this in their bones: the work we do isn’t just about making a living; it’s about feeding others, building resilience, and honoring traditions that haveContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: The Emotional Side of Farming”
Building Resilience: The Power of Adaptive Animals and Survivor Genetics
When we think about resilience, we often picture steadfast humans—those who weather the storm, rise above adversity, and come out stronger on the other side. But let me tell you, humans have nothing on animals when it comes to adaptation. Chickens, rabbits, cattle, and all manner of creatures possess a remarkable capacity to adjust toContinue reading “Building Resilience: The Power of Adaptive Animals and Survivor Genetics”
If You Give a Homesteader a Damaged Fence
If you give a homesteader a damaged fence, they’re going to want to repair it for cattle. Once they add the cattle, they’ll notice the manure piling up. Seeing the manure will remind them that chickens are perfect for scratching through it. Adding chickens to follow the cattle will lead to the realization that theContinue reading “If You Give a Homesteader a Damaged Fence”
Sustainable Ranching: How Cowboys Are Leading the Way in Land Stewardship
For many people, the word “cowboy” conjures images of rugged individuals on horseback, herding cattle across expansive landscapes. While this depiction holds truth, today’s cowboy is much more than a romanticized figure from the Old West. Ranchers and cowboys have become some of the most important players in the movement toward sustainable land management andContinue reading “Sustainable Ranching: How Cowboys Are Leading the Way in Land Stewardship”
