Let’s face it—there are way too many people in this country trying to tell other people what to do. It’s like we’ve entered the age of self-appointed judges, each one convinced that their perception of how others should live is the golden standard. Why does this happen? Probably because we live in luxury, have itContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: The Self-Appointed Judges of Society”
Author Archives: Traci Houston
Farm Table Talk: Tariffs, Penguins, and the Art of Blindfolded Knife-Throwing
Well, folks, it seems we’ve reached a new level of absurdity in the political circus. Last week (on my birthday, no less!!), the Heard Island and McDonald Islands—remote, uninhabited specks of land in the southern Indian Ocean, home to nothing but penguins, seals, and a whole lot of ice—were slapped with a 10% tariff. Yes,Continue reading “Farm Table Talk: Tariffs, Penguins, and the Art of Blindfolded Knife-Throwing”
The Deep Bedding Method: Chickens, Compost, and Confined Chaos
If you’ve ever let chickens run wild in your yard, you probably learned one thing pretty quickly: these feathered landscapers are not here to decorate. They’re here to annihilate. Chickens don’t gently nibble and coexist with your flowers and grass—they decimate. They dustbathe their way into oblivion, turning spring’s promising green shoots into sad littleContinue reading “The Deep Bedding Method: Chickens, Compost, and Confined Chaos”
Farm Table Talk: Why Isn’t Anyone Taking Ag Classes Anymore?
Well, here’s a frustrating reality—my final Agriculture class for my Associate’s Degree got canceled this semester due to lack of enrollment. On the surface, it might just seem like a scheduling hiccup, but really, it’s a symptom of a much bigger issue. Why aren’t more students pursuing Agriculture as a degree? The truth is, it’sContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: Why Isn’t Anyone Taking Ag Classes Anymore?”
Floods vs. Puddles: Understanding the Power, Perils, and Perks of Water Gone Rogue
Water is essential to life—it nourishes crops, sustains ecosystems, and hydrates us on a daily basis. But too much of it, in the wrong place and for the wrong length of time, can quickly become a nightmare. Whether it’s a fast-moving flood rushing through the streets or a deceptively stagnant patch of standing water thatContinue reading “Floods vs. Puddles: Understanding the Power, Perils, and Perks of Water Gone Rogue”
Farm Table Talk: Sustainable Farming Isn’t Cheap—and That’s OK
Sustainable farming doesn’t come with shortcuts. It’s deliberate, thoughtful, and, yes, more expensive than conventional methods. But here’s the thing: that’s not a bad thing. The choices we make as small farmers—deep bedding, natural laying cycles, keeping older hens, and avoiding government subsidies—are not just about how we farm. They’re about why we farm. AndContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: Sustainable Farming Isn’t Cheap—and That’s OK”
Creating a Balanced Ecosystem to Manage Predators
Managing predators is a challenge every farmer faces. But what if we could create a balanced ecosystem on our land that naturally keeps predators in check? It might sound like a dream, but it’s possible with a bit of planning and effort. Joel Salatin, a renowned advocate for sustainable farming, emphasizes the importance of biodiversity.Continue reading “Creating a Balanced Ecosystem to Manage Predators”
Farm Table Talk: 40 Days, 40 Nights, and One Very Muddy Dog
If there’s one thing I’ve learned this week, it’s that Mother Nature has a flair for the dramatic. In the span of seven days, we’ve had snow, rain, tornadoes, flooding, an earthquake (yes, really), and more rain—because apparently, the deluge wasn’t quite thorough enough. At this rate, I half expect a pair of giraffes toContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: 40 Days, 40 Nights, and One Very Muddy Dog”
If You Give a Homesteader a Garden Bed
If you give a homesteader a garden bed, they’re going to want to fill it with soil. Once they start filling it with soil, they’ll realize they need to add compost. When they go to the compost pile, they’ll notice it hasn’t been turned in weeks. So they’ll grab a pitchfork to turn the compost,Continue reading “If You Give a Homesteader a Garden Bed”
Farm Table Talk: The Hidden Cost of Perfect Eggs
“I actually prefer store-bought eggs. They’re always the same size, shape, and color.” It’s a comment we’ve all heard before, and on the surface, it seems harmless enough. People are used to seeing rows of perfectly uniform eggs in grocery stores, lined up neatly in their cartons like little soldiers. But behind that pristine imageContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: The Hidden Cost of Perfect Eggs”
