Let’s talk about faith. Not the kind you’re told to keep quiet about because it might upset someone at the dinner table, but the kind that shows up in the way we live, work, and connect to the land. Farming, at its heart, is an act of faith. You plant a seed, nurture it, andContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: The Spiritual Side of Farming”
Author Archives: Traci Houston
Winter Journaling: Reflecting on the Year and Planning for the Future
Winter, with its stillness and long, quiet nights, provides the perfect opportunity for reflection and goal-setting. For those of us living on a homestead, the demands of the growing season or the constant care of animals can make it difficult to carve out time for introspection. However, as the year winds down, winter invites usContinue reading “Winter Journaling: Reflecting on the Year and Planning for the Future”
Farm Table Talk: What Are We Really Leaving Behind?
Alright, pour yourself a cup of coffee and let’s talk legacy. Not the kind you leave in a will or pass down in heirlooms, but the kind you carve into the land, the air, and the water. The kind that lasts generations beyond your time here. The question is simple: What are we leaving behind?Continue reading “Farm Table Talk: What Are We Really Leaving Behind?”
The History of Raw Milk: From Local Tradition to Industrial Revolution and Beyond
Raw milk has been a staple in human diets for thousands of years, long before the concept of pasteurization entered the picture. For most of history, milk was consumed directly from the animal—rich in nutrients, enzymes, and probiotics. But like many aspects of food production, the Industrial Revolution brought significant changes to dairy farming thatContinue reading “The History of Raw Milk: From Local Tradition to Industrial Revolution and Beyond”
Homemade Gifts from the Farm: Preserves, Salves, and DIY Goodies
There’s something special about giving a homemade gift, especially one crafted with love and care straight from the farm. Instead of mass-produced, store-bought items, a handmade gift speaks to sustainability, thoughtfulness, and a personal touch that can’t be replicated. For homesteaders, the holiday season is the perfect time to share the bounty of the landContinue reading “Homemade Gifts from the Farm: Preserves, Salves, and DIY Goodies”
Farm Table Talk: The Pagan Roots of Christmas—What Your Pastor Won’t Tell You
Alright, grab your cocoa and settle in because we’re about to unwrap a holiday truth bomb. You see, Christmas—the beloved, snow-dusted, tinsel-laden celebration of Jesus’s birth—isn’t as “Christian” as you might think. In fact, many of the traditions we hold so dear are straight-up Pagan. Yep, you heard me. That Christmas tree in your livingContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: The Pagan Roots of Christmas—What Your Pastor Won’t Tell You”
Farm Table Talk: Pave Paradise, Then Take It Back
You know that old Joni Mitchell song: “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” Well, Michelle Vassel of the Wiyot Tribe recently flipped the script in a way that got my blood pumping. She said, “We want to take a parking lot and make it paradise.” And let me tell you, I’m allContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: Pave Paradise, Then Take It Back”
The Pagan Roots of Christmas Traditions: Honoring Ancient Celebrations in Modern Times
When we think of Christmas, images of festive trees, twinkling lights, and joyous gatherings often come to mind. However, many of these beloved customs didn’t originate with the holiday as we know it today. Instead, they trace their roots back to ancient pagan celebrations, particularly those surrounding the Winter Solstice. The Winter Solstice, celebrated byContinue reading “The Pagan Roots of Christmas Traditions: Honoring Ancient Celebrations in Modern Times”
Farm Table Talk: Is Homeschooling the Answer to America’s Broken Education System?
Alright, friends, let’s have a real talk over a cup of coffee, because I’ve been stewing on something for a while. You know that nagging feeling you get when you realize something is fundamentally broken, but no one seems to want to fix it? That’s how I feel every time I think about the publicContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: Is Homeschooling the Answer to America’s Broken Education System?”
Farm Table Talk: Pregnancy, Farming, and the Chaos of Change
I know we don’t usually get to talk on the same day we post an informational article—this morning’s piece on winter garden planning was already scheduled—but this was heavy on my heart as I sit here, coffee in hand, savoring the second-to-last morning of quiet before everything changes tomorrow evening. Sometimes, life demands we pauseContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: Pregnancy, Farming, and the Chaos of Change”
