The Farmer's Pitchfork: chicken

Monday, November 28, 2011

Rogue Chicken

If you had followed Mark into town this morning, you may have done a double take. Perched on the straw in the trailer rode a chicken.

Mark and the boys climbed into the truck to head to the farm. As they were piling in, a chicken hopped onto the trailer. Thinking it was a good place to sit, two of her friends decided to join her. When the truck started to move out the drive, two hopped off. Racing to the front window I saw that one stayed on for the ride. Her feathers were blowing so much in the wind I wasn't sure she would stay on.

Imagine Mark's surprise when someone at the gas station commented on his passenger. Those folks enjoyed a good laugh this morning. If the gas station owner can catch the chicken, he gets to keep her. Or maybe the town has a new mascot. You never know. Keep your eyes open when you drive through. You may just find our hen ruling the roost.

What do we do?

Our homestead has evolved throughout the over years. Having both came from conventional farming operations we had a love for agriculture but was challenged by the many practices that we felt was breaking down the family farm and the food quality. We saw too much sickness in our family and others. I saw how much agriculture had become a monopoly and corrupt! Agri-business's & the USDA no longer really interested in the well-being of the people or the land. I guess you could say....we started to think and ask questions! It has been a process, we first started out with a goal of providing healthy, nutritious food for our own family. We were able to use the principles taught from our fathers and history along with new ideas that aligned with our personal family values for stewardship, accountability and personal responsibility. Along the way we have learnt so much, mostly by failing. But that is normally the most effective teacher! We continue to live on our Indiana homestead, utilizing the resources entrusted to us in the best way possible and adapting to the ever changing culture we find ourselves living in today. Our family spends most of the year teaching others about the lessons we have learned along the way. Join us on the journey, it is a thrilling adventure!