Thursday, July 3, 2025

Yearly Archives: 2014

What Can You Do When the Weather Won’t Cooperate?

You are not alone when it comes to frustrations with weather, and with actual changes in the climate.   In the Midwest, growing seasons have...

No Ordinary Mittens

Is it the wool in the mittens or the love that was knit into them by the people who made them that keeps us warm in the winter?

Just Add Kittens

We've all heard how people like things with cats in them…so here you go! Broody Hen Watches Over Kittens https://youtu.be/TfhknthKeZM    

Best Darn Pig Farrowing Video Ever

Who goes to a pig farrowing in their shorts and loafers?  Novice pig farmers of course!  And that's the beauty of pig farrowing.  Since...

Got Shade? Grow Shiitakes!

Plenty of graziers have forested lands that they may graze to some degree. But there are other ways that you can get more out of those spaces. Here's one idea.

Portable Panels for Inexpensive Livestock Handling

Professionally made handling equipment is sure nice to have, but the reality is not everyone can afford it, especially when first getting started. These simple ideas will not only save you money, but help keep you and your livestock safe during the handling process.

Cowboy Herding Techniques

Now aren't you glad you don't herd cats?! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk7yqlTMvp8  

Just add compost: How to turn your grassland ranch into a carbon sink

Here's the scoop. John Wick and his wife Peggy Rathmann, the owners of Nicasio Native Grass Ranch, and the folks behind this study, are Kathy's good friends. She met them when they invited her to California to teach their cattle to eat weeds and she's so excited about the work they're doing to make the world a better place!

Kale, Kale Everywhere, But Only Cheetos To Eat

Two recent articles, one with the title above in the Atlantic and another from Modern Farmer (Why Many Farmers Eat Like Crap) have us wondering:...

The Cows Are Out – On the Lawn!

Are you using all your available forage? This dairy farmer is! And here's the economics of it too.

Organizing Pasture Walks

One of our readers wrote in and asked for an article on how to plan a pasture walk. Thanks, Carol. We hope this helps you and all the other folks who want to learn from their fellow graziers.

Plan Ahead for Broiler Profits

Last week Kathy shared the budget for a backyard broiler operation. Now, here's a budgeting tool for doing it on a larger scale to tell you what kind of profit you might expect from your own operation. Does it pay to do this? Tell us!

Soil Saves Lives

Most of us are unaware that a fungus isolated from a Missouri soil sample became an antibiotic that has saved thousands of lives, and that it was discovered by a 76 year old botanist who had come back from retirement to do something significant. It's a story we should know because it gives us another reason to take good care of our soil.

The Real Cost of Raising Meat Chickens – Year 1

It seems so easy: 1) buy chicks, 2) feed chicks, 3) harvest and package, 4) EAT. So backyard farmers decide they can do it too, and avoid the high price of Farmers Markets or Whole Foods. They could spend their spare time becoming "self-sufficient!" But here's how much that can cost, when done by a couple of home producers. Share this with folks who think you charge too much!

Three Stents for Christmas

Lots of you have been concerned and asking about Troy Bishopp after his heart attack on December 3, 2013. Here's the Grass Whisperer in his own great words to let you know what happened.

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