Animal Husbandry

Although it was the last week of the summer CSA, the focus of this week was definitely on our farm animals. When I was a kid, the part I most loved about our farm was our animals. I spent hours with our cats and dogs, but also rode horses with my mom and sibs, helped cut pigs, herd cows, and also lived with a miniature alligator, guinea pigs, hamsters, a skunk and 2 raccoons. Our family geese ran the farm, and for me as the smallest member of the family, the geese were terrors. I have somehow ended up spending most of my farming time with vegetables and fruit these days, but it is those animals that make me truly happy.

Sunday Brandon and I slaughtered the old layers with the folks at Horse and Buggy,

Wednesday’s entertainment included three hours of trying to talk 8 pigs into moving into their new last pasture (they go off to meet their maker this Wednesday). We might still be chasing pigs around the woods had Matt not showed up and suggested that we just build the new fence around the pigs, rather than requiring them to move completely into their new yard.

We are looking for a male non-neutered puppy, either a hound dog cross or a shepherd cross. Skippy and Harriet are looking for a future mate and we are looking for a young guy who likes to chase carnivore predators. Does anyone have any leads?

We were also looking for two kittens, but Erin Connor came through with 3! They are getting used to us as we speak. Thanks, Erin.

Turkeys – I love all of our animals, but I have to say that I truly enjoy the turkeys. Beware to the person who comes here and comments, “Turkeys are so stupid”. They will quickly find that the person they thought was mild mannered is all of a sudden jumping down their throats. We have raised turkeys since 1984, and I have enjoyed the turkeys cheering on our early baseball games, roosting on our cars, stopping traffic, walking kids to the bus, and generally commenting on anything that is happening in their neighborhood. Presently they are living next to the pigs and commenting on all of the silly pig behavior that often is occurring. And Monday, while we were moving them in the back of the truck over to their new finishing area (they will move across some of our finished vegetable fields during November), they spent the entire time watching the scenery with great curiosity and the greatest poise. Though we added houses and then mixed some of them up with new neighbors, no one picked any fights. Instead they seemed to welcome their new friends. I love turkeys and appreciate their distinct outlook on life.

The fall share is finally here
We ended up with 66 or so fall shareholders. For those of us on staff, this is a slam dunk, half as many folks as we have been feeding over the past 22 weeks. Here is what you can expect at least this week. I might find some other things to surprise shareholders, too.

• Spinach
• Kale
• Collards
• Leeks
• Winter squash
• Celery
• Cilantro
• Arugula
• Beets

Questions about your share or your delivery? Be in touch.

This problem is worst in the Corn Belt. The six leading states for corn production, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana and Kansas, had a cancer rate similar to the nation’s before 2000. But since then it began to grow faster and now stands about 5% higher among both young people and the overall population. Listen to Iowa state representative Austin Baeth, a doctor, speak out passionately about this on TikTok. Governor Kim Reynolds recently announced an Iowan investment of $1 million to investigate the cause of this increase.

Some blame the state’s high rate of binge drinking (among the top three states). Others cite the soil’s naturally high level of radon, while yet others fault excessive nitrate in the drinking water, a product of decades of heavy fertilizer applications. More attention is now focusing, however, on pesticides and herbicides. Recently courts have begun finding the herbicide glyphosate to be an active carcinogen. A US toxicology agency has cited the chemical for a number of potentially toxic effects including cancer. The EPA is currently evaluating glyphosate and will release its findings next year.

Our short period here, in my opinion, ought not to be ruined by exposure to unsafe manmade chemicals. Right now they can be released into the environment without safety testing. That process should be reversed. We should prove them safe before release. We have lived years without them and can continue to do so a little longer (and I suspect many would never be developed if they had to pass such a test.)
We don’t need to be using our youth as coal mine canaries.

For those of you who still have celeriac in your refrigerator, enjoy this – 

Hi Julie,

I ended up with 3 celeriacs a couple of weeks ago and I’ve really enjoyed it.  I’ve never really eaten it before but maybe once or twice.  I love the subtle earthy flavor and creamy texture it brings to each dish.  This soup was outstanding!  I used homemade chicken bone broth of course from your chickens. I have one more to use up and am dreaming about the next yummy recipe. Enjoy!

Love,
Jennifer

Celeriac & Barley Beef Stew with Fennel and Warming Spices
This stew is deeply grounding and restorative — perfect for Vata season or times when the body feels depleted. From an Ayurvedic view, it’s brmhana (building) and ojas-enhancing, providing warmth, moisture, and nourishment to the tissues. The combination of beef, barley, and bone broth strengthens the body, supports the nervous system, and rebuilds vitality.

Celeriac, carrots, and celery bring earthy sweetness to balance Vata and aid digestion, while fennel adds a gentle cooling quality to keep the meal harmonized. Warming spices like ginger, cumin, cardamom, pippali, and a touch of asafoetida kindle agni and improve nutrient absorption, helping the body digest heavier foods with ease.

From a Western perspective, the beef and bone broth supply high-quality protein, collagen, and iron, supporting muscle repair, healthy blood, and joint function. Barley adds complex carbohydrates and soluble fiber for steady energy and gut health, while root vegetables provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that strengthen immunity and support overall vitality.

This stew bridges Ayurvedic wisdom with modern nutrition — a bowl of warmth, stability, and nourishment that truly feeds body, mind, and spirit.

Besides finishing up the summer CSA — with a bang, I am proud to say — we also finished putting reemay on field plants and even mulched the blue house. Wednesday we were rushing against the clock to move the pigs and get the CSA done and Friday was taken up with organizing the fall CSA and getting the bags ready for Monday morning. Special thanks to Leslie who pulled off much of the back room organizing for this.

Wednesday Jack and I delivered a box of produce to a new location in Worcester that reached out to us during the SNAP/HIP crisis. It was great to see what is being done so many places to help with food insecurity.