“Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.”—Proverbs 21:5 Farming rewards patience. There are no shortcuts to healthy soil, strong livestock, or a thriving harvest. Every step—from preparing the land to raising animals to building a resilient farm—requires careful planning and consistent effort. But in today’s world, shortcuts areContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: No Shortcuts to Prosperity”
Author Archives: Traci Houston
Feeding the Land While Feeding the Flock: Foraging vs. Grain-Based Diets in Chickens
On a warm July afternoon, there’s something deeply satisfying about watching chickens roam through tall grasses, scratching and pecking their way across a pasture. Their feathers glint in the sunlight, tails twitching, heads bobbing in rhythmic focus. They’re doing more than looking for snacks—they’re practicing the art of self-sufficiency. At Huckleberry Farms, we let ourContinue reading “Feeding the Land While Feeding the Flock: Foraging vs. Grain-Based Diets in Chickens”
When the Rain Falls, the Mosquitoes Falter: How Precipitation Influences West Nile Virus Prevalence
In late summer, when the heat hums on the horizon and evenings come with a lazy dusk glow, most people associate mosquitoes with a seasonal nuisance—a minor irritation at cookouts or camping trips. But in parts of the country, especially the Midwest, they are more than an itchy annoyance. They’re potential carriers of West NileContinue reading “When the Rain Falls, the Mosquitoes Falter: How Precipitation Influences West Nile Virus Prevalence”
Farm Table Talk: The Weeds You Ignore Will Win
There’s a six-foot-tall bull thistle growing just outside my bedroom window. Regal in its posture, spiny in its presence. My mother hates it. She’s said so more than once, with the kind of conviction that makes you wonder if she’s talking about the thistle or something deeper. I asked her recently what about it botheredContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: The Weeds You Ignore Will Win”
Closing the Loop—Regenerative Waste Management on the Farm
In conventional agriculture, waste is treated as a problem—something to be removed, hauled away, or disposed of. Manure is often seen as a liability, food scraps are discarded, and even animal losses are handled in ways that remove nutrients from the farm. But in a regenerative system, waste isn’t waste at all. It’s an opportunity—aContinue reading “Closing the Loop—Regenerative Waste Management on the Farm”
Farm Table Talk: The Work Comes Before the Harvest
“Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.”—Proverbs 20:4 Farming is unforgiving. You can’t plant whenever you feel like it. You can’t wait until it’s convenient. You can’t ignore the seasons and expect the land to produce anyway. If the work isn’t done at the right time,Continue reading “Farm Table Talk: The Work Comes Before the Harvest”
If You Give a Homesteader a Bumper Crop of Root Vegetables
If you give a homesteader a bumper crop of root vegetables, they’re going to want to store them properly. They’ll start by layering carrots, beets, and parsnips in sand. Storing them in sand will remind them that potatoes need burlap sacks. Finding space for sacks will lead them to reorganizing the pantry. While reorganizing theContinue reading “If You Give a Homesteader a Bumper Crop of Root Vegetables”
Cowboy Cuisine: From Chuckwagon Meals to Modern Ranch Fare
The life of a cowboy is tough, demanding, and deeply rooted in the American West’s rugged landscapes. While the romantic image of the cowboy on horseback herding cattle across vast plains is widely celebrated, the culinary traditions that sustained these hardworking cowboys often remain unsung. Cowboy cuisine has a rich history, from the no-frills mealsContinue reading “Cowboy Cuisine: From Chuckwagon Meals to Modern Ranch Fare”
Farm Table Talk: Burnout Is a Season Too
Let’s be honest—this isn’t the article we wanted to write. We’d rather be talking about a bumper harvest or some wild new rabbit genetics or a witty anecdote from duck wrangling. But right now? Those stories feel like they belong to someone else. This story—the one we’re living—is about burnout. The kind that sneaks inContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: Burnout Is a Season Too”
Sex-Linked Chickens: How Genetics Predict Chick Color and Traits from Hatch
For poultry breeders looking to identify male and female chicks at hatch, sex-linked genetics offer a reliable shortcut. Unlike standard breeds where chicks look identical for weeks before their gender becomes apparent, sex-linked birds show differences right away, making sorting and management much easier. Sex-linked traits in chickens occur when certain feather color genes areContinue reading “Sex-Linked Chickens: How Genetics Predict Chick Color and Traits from Hatch”
