I’ve been on the receiving end of a lot of comments lately.Some curious.Some critical.Some downright cruel. And while I’m used to public dialogue—used to explaining, clarifying, and educating—I want to pause and ask a deeper question:When did we start treating our neighbors like enemies? I’ve received comments on my posts from people who’ve driven byContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: When Judgment Replaces Neighborliness”
Author Archives: Traci Houston
What Kids Learn from Worms: Simple Experiments with Big Impact
Turning squirmy fascination into lifelong stewardship Kids love worms. They’re wiggly, mysterious, and oddly charming. But beyond the giggles and squeals, worms offer one of the most powerful teaching tools in sustainable living. Through simple experiments and hands-on care, children can learn about biology, ecology, and responsibility—all from a bin of red wigglers. 📝 GettingContinue reading “What Kids Learn from Worms: Simple Experiments with Big Impact”
Farm Table Talk: The Great Glove Disappearance of Winter
By Traci I know Farm Table Talks are usually about the big stuff—politics, justice, survival.But today? We’re talking gloves.Specifically: Why do kids lose them like it’s their job? I’ve had the same pair of winter gloves for three years.Three winters of chores, hauling hay, wrangling livestock, and scraping ice off windshields.I am a menace whenContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: The Great Glove Disappearance of Winter”
🔥 The Heart of the Home: Why Wood Heat Still Matters
There’s a fire roaring in our woodburner this morning. Outside, the wind cuts through the trees and the thermometer reads a record-low high for November. But inside, the warmth is steady. Earned. Alive. This isn’t just heat. It’s memory. It’s rhythm. It’s the heart of our home. In a world of smart thermostats and fossilContinue reading “🔥 The Heart of the Home: Why Wood Heat Still Matters”
Farm Table Talk: You Don’t Have to Erase Yourself to Belong Here
By Traci I’m a farmer. A livestock farmer, to be exact. I’ve got dirt under my nails, hay in my hair, and a family line that’s been rooted in this country for generations. And I’m here to say something that shouldn’t be controversial:You don’t have to erase your culture to belong in America. We’ve alwaysContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: You Don’t Have to Erase Yourself to Belong Here”
🛠️ A Day in the Life: What Actually Goes Into Running This Farm
Spoiler: It’s not just cuddling chickens and watching sunsets. People love the idea of farm life. They picture peaceful mornings, happy animals, and a wholesome rhythm of tending the land. And yes, those moments exist. But they’re woven into a daily grind that’s relentless, exhausting, and often invisible to anyone not living it. So here’sContinue reading “🛠️ A Day in the Life: What Actually Goes Into Running This Farm”
Farm Table Talk: You Can’t Eat Without Us—So Slow the Hell Down
By Traci We’re wrapping up harvest season out here. That means long days, heavy equipment, and roads filled with tractors, combines, grain carts, and semis hauling the literal fruits of our labor. And every year, without fail, we see the same thing:Impatient drivers flying around farm equipment in no-passing zones.Tailgating semis like they’re sports cars.SwervingContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: You Can’t Eat Without Us—So Slow the Hell Down”
Alternative Fertilizers in Regenerative Farming: Compost Teas, Biochar, and Beyond
In regenerative agriculture, feeding the soil is more than a nutrient transaction—it’s a relationship. Chemical fertilizers may offer quick results, but they often disrupt microbial life, degrade soil structure, and leave long-term damage. Fortunately, there’s a growing toolbox of alternative fertilizers that nourish the land while restoring its natural rhythms. 🌿 Compost Teas: Microbial BoostersContinue reading “Alternative Fertilizers in Regenerative Farming: Compost Teas, Biochar, and Beyond”
Farm Table Talk: No Vouchers? We’ll Build Something Better
By Traci Indiana says no new child care vouchers until 2027. That means thousands of families—including mine—are left scrambling. The COVID-era funding dried up, and instead of building a bridge, the state just walked away. They knew the funding would expire.They had years to prepare.And they chose not to. But here’s the thing: I’m doneContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: No Vouchers? We’ll Build Something Better”
💔 The Weight of the Work: Mental Health and the Reality of Farming
Farming is beautiful. Farming is brutal. It’s early mornings, late nights, and the kind of exhaustion that settles deep in your bones. It’s watching animals you love suffer or die. It’s fixing broken fences in the rain, hauling feed with a fever, and wondering if you’ll ever catch up—financially, physically, emotionally. Even on a smallContinue reading “💔 The Weight of the Work: Mental Health and the Reality of Farming”
