Inspiring & educating the next generation of farmers & homesteaders.
How do we do it? We provide business and marketing information for family farmers. Through informative articles, instructional videos, and the Growing Farms Podcast we encourage others to start farming and help current farmers increase their revenue.
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It always depends. Especially against your context!! Otherwise it's a recipe and that's tough knowing all the specific ingredients. I like using "things to consider" in making an informed decision. So it starts with "it depends" and then, What do you really want to do? I could see you being frustrated with always getting the depends answer, but maybe the question needs a different framing. Don't be sad, be happy buddy!!!
Words of wisdom Troy. I played up the frustration for RU-vid. I have come to embrace that life is a process, not a destination. There are so many variables at play when working with plants, animals, and land, that you've never going to be "perfect". You might think things are perfect and then you've throw out your back or thrown a rod in the tractor. The best we can do is to smile, keep trying, be open to learning, and work with each other to grow our collective knowledge.
Made a chicken tractor like your's bought my first 30 birds with a friend and I'm hooked gave out some of the meat to friends and family and they loved it They want more .Working on more tractors and different flock's to see what works best for us to make a business of this . Thank you for you videos. The rules and laws are the tricky part I'm finding out now.
I struggle with CSA model as it means that if you don't get birds delivered on time because they are slow growing or the whole flock dies, you are left paying them back. I much prefer the waiting list with first come first serve. I am not sure you are right about blogs being dead - I sure hope not anyway...lol.
These numbers are for Cornish Cross broilers. With the proper nutrition and grit you can get a 4-4.5lb bird in 7 weeks. Deviating from "best" practices will make your birds grow slower, which isn't always a bad thing. We'll get into timing, inputs, and efficiencies in future videos.
I also raise CC Broilers and process at 7 weeks. If I raised them to 8-9 weeks they would yield 8-10 lb. (likely bigger) carcasses which, although my customers are willing to pay for, they don't prefer. Customers (at least my customers) prefer a 6 lb. bird, and that means 7 weeks old for a CC Broiler in south Pennsylvania, pastured, and supplemented with high quality non-GMO grain.
@@skylinepastures8445I'm doing the same high quality feed about $40 a bag non GMO went the full 8 weeks it was too long my birds were about 12 pounds easy the really big ones meat was chewy in some spots and got the green meat on the breast. So lesson learned!!
Stop using expert, dude. I'm just a practical farmer. :) Everyone is their own expert in their own context. Love the way folks like to experiment with all the aspects of grazing. Personally I like a lot of grass so I can grab a few camping days and a nap in the cool understory now and then. Love the outtakes!!! So what will tonight's walk theme be about? What are the trees telling you? Ever notice the stillness? What do kids talk about when they walk the trails? Or you could just demo the latest bourbon you enjoyed and why? Don't make me call you again!!! Love ya, GW
The good thing is that good grazing practices apply to everything from chickens in tractors to cattle. We like to check the soil after moving the cows and routinely broadcast some turnips, radish or similar to break up and improve the soil during the resting period.
I must first admit that I’m not a chicken producer kind of guy. lol. I applaud everyone who is. My “real life job” outside of our small farm and RU-vid is an EMs Chief. The commitment required there has kept us from pursuing anything that would really make our space profitable. For us, right now, our goal is to have the farm produce enough to zero our costs. So beef at butcher weight, weaned piglets and excess hay sales accomplish that for us. As for chicken? I buy from a local friend that raises them. Best. Chicken. Ever!
This video was wonderful. It helped me understand what we’ve been doing right and where we need to put in more effort. We’ve been fans for a long time and use many of your principles and have had success. Now to step it up plug some of the holes to spread our word and get to the next level. Again, thanks for everything!
I used cypress mulch over a path my dogs made in back lawn as i was sick of it turni g to mud when it rains and mud walked in house, but ive searched youtube videos for a way to keep it in place when dogs run over, i know i need edging but i want them to be able to run without knocking there paws on edging, i thought of digging a trench as edging on both sides of path and filling the woodchips in and bordering it with mondo grass, its down a slope, any suggestions?
My unfair advantage has proven to be my location, my charm and my products quality. I live on an island with over 7.5 million people, I have a driveway on a moderately busy local street. There’s traffic during morning and afternoon commutes that rarely backs up and only locals really pass by. I had grief on a regular basis with excessive noise from the traffic that did pass by but by turning lemons into lemonade I realized I have a good amount of regular traffic as could try selling from my front yard. Because of just enough traffic I have established a cottage business selling seedlings in the spring. Although I’m limited to how much I can sell from my suburban home I keep trying new ways to improve both efficiency and productivity. My limitations are many but my advantage is my size and scale matched appropriately to the size of my market. I still seem to be able to fly below the radar of local code enforcement, I like to think it’s because I cause no harm and provide a outwardly friendly local charm in the form of a local business that makes folks happy when they see I’m back for another season of selling to my neighbors and friends I’ve made along the way. Living on an island with so many people it’s literally possible to sell snowballs in January, but a fresh tomato in July gets the locals heading my way with excitement. I flourish in the smiles and just seeing familiar faces from past seasons. They tell me that they’re always glad to see my veggie wagon, but I tell them not as much as I am seeing them back again this year! Kudos Farmer John!
Fascinating point of view that can be applied to life in general. We always think about what others have, but we never stop to think about the unfair advantages we have.
Ours probably is being reserve military. Access to extremely low cost and good insurances/retirement- no matter what our civilian job is. Not sure if always being at risk of deployment makes it “unfair”, but, we try to look at the positive 😂
Possibly one of the advantages I've seen of people who seem to be doing better in the farming community, is people who have Mechanical, Irrigation or carpentry skills, the things you can do yourself and NOT spend money on, that's seems to be a real driver.
I have not seen a video from you in much too long, John. How great to see you again. I am no longer a farmer, but I suppose my unfair advantage was I loved the life so damn much. It is a very tough life, not for the timid or meek. You have to become acquainted with loss year after year, and find your joy in the occasional great year. It is hard, backbreaking work, yet finding joy in a peaceful June sunrise, and the wonder of the bitter cold December sunset. When I was a child 45% of Americans were farmers. Sadly, mega agriculture has reduced that to about 4%, and one wonders if they share the unfair advantage of love of the life. For the young farmer, stay strong!
I never had any help, nothing. My fair advantage was that I would never quit, I now own my own business Poultry Processing. My family thought I was crazy now they love it, and it's family run. It took me 7 years , I never took a dime from the money other than parole and supplies. And now everything is paid in full. Never look back. Good to see you again John.
