A few weeks ago, our family took a trip to the Hastings Museum. The most important goal of the day was actually to pick up some seeds from Green Cover Seeds, but since I like to multitask and get the most out of one trip (just ask my husband) ? we stopped at the Museum on our way. I had planned to do more, but maybe I’m learning that you can’t do everything in one day! Ha!

I get asked by a lot of people how we travel and still eat. Is there somewhere we like to eat out or do we bring our own? To be honest the last time we ate somewhere was over a year ago. I figure we eat out about once or twice a year. I am always disappointed in the quality of the food and have discovered that everyone feels better if I just bring all of our food and water. Here are some helpful ideas if you would like to start bringing your own food places.

Any guesses on what our latest project is going to be when it’s finished? Hint: Not for hauling livestock and/or children down the road.

There is always a lot of excitement in our house when the box of chicks comes through the front door. Little ones run to be the first one to hold the baby chicks, and they each enjoy holding them before they are put out in their temporary home. Spring has arrived and the work will be increasing on the farm. The work is fun and rewarding and we love getting outside more often. Aiden and the little ones helped to get the chicks’ room cozy and warm with heat lamps, clean wood chips, feed, and clean water. Each chick is dipped in the water to teach them where to drink, and they are monitored several times throughout the first day. You can watch a quick 30 second video that Aiden created this morning here. Since all of our chickens got reserved the first day we announced them, we have ordered another large amount for the fall. Stay tuned! Do you love chicken?

I’m skipping my “Eight Things” today in order to share a heart-warming story I read today. If you have a minute, I know you won’t regret reading this amazing story! I need to do so much better in investing in people! Please click her to read Joel Salatin’s blog post Inmate to Love here.

We enjoyed moving the sheep and cows to pasture last week and excitment was high as the new lambs started to be born yesterday. Sugar was the first proud mother of two lambs. We love this time of year and the work it brings! Do you love spring? Click to see these two cute lambs.

If you are working toward a more traditional diet and would like to take small steps to get there, then you are at the right place. Week one was get your salt right, week 2 was get your sleep right, and week 3, 4, 5, and 6 are get your fats right.  Another fat that our family has added in the last several years is coconut oil. We started using coconut oil more for the health benefits than as replacement for a different fat.

Week 4: Learn about the benefits of coconut oil and start incorporating it into the diet.

Continue reading “Fun Farm Fact” →

I shared eight things I wish people would have told me when I was in high school in a recent presentation. I will be sharing number five today.

We are so thankful and undeserving to be expanding our little beyond organic farm to an extra 22 acres this spring. We have not been able to meet the needs of all of our customers, and we are looking forward to growing our sheep, milk cows, pigs, and chickens to serve more people with beyond organic, pasture raised food. Praise the Lord! We are purchasing this land from Cory’s mom and dad, and it is located just north of our house. We are planting cool season cover crops in most of the area and doing an experiment of oats and peas together on the rest. The cover crop mix we are using contains several varieties of plants with our hope of suppressing weeds and improving soil health at the same time. We will mob graze the area to add even more fertility naturally.  We would love to have you out for a farm tour!

I shared eight things I wish people would have told me when I was in high school in a recent presentation. In this fourth tip, I think I need to say that I did hear this, and I wish I would have listened sooner to this wisdom. I will be sharing number four today.