Nature is springing up, what's springing up in you?

For many of us that pay attention to creation, we are starting to see it bouncing back from the season of rest. The bare trees are beginning to bud, the insects are beginning to emerge, and many are experiencing the over response of our bodies commonly known as allergies.

As creation is reminding us it's new growth, I ask myself what new growth am I experiencing? During the time of winter, most of us stay inside more, we tend to put on one or two pounds due to consuming the foods that comfort us, and most identify that we get up in the dark, and go to bed in the dark at 7:30. Ha! I try to read more during this time, but if I'm honest, I often feel too tired once I'm home and the chores are done. As I shared in my last post, I was reading a book that I've grown fond of titled "Born Again Dirt". I just finished it this morning and it left me feeling encouraged. To that point you can find it at Amazon if you so desire. The encouragement has been timely for me for many reasons. One reason is because of the political aftermath and if I have to respond to it, my response is that I'm encouraged to pursue food sovereignty all the more. The commercial food model that our culture has pursued for decades is becoming more and more volatile. The cost of importation of petroleum based fertilizers are seeming to rise which in turn will cause food and fiber to increase. The bird flu is all the rage and the fears that come along with it. I read an excerpt from a podcast called "Beyond Labels" hosted by Dr. Sina McCullough and Joel Salatin stating that in the recent month some 22.5 million birds have been exterminated. Again that's in one month. Something in the area of 76 commercial chickens houses were affected and 42 backyard flocks. Salatin gave some reasons for the backyard number seeming to be high. A lot of people that keep chickens, grow fond of them and resist the need to cull them after 3-4 years (once egg production is on the decline). That mixed with the sanitation of many backyard flocks being compromised. Living in stationary dirt floored coops contributes to respiratory stress. That environment is better than chicken houses, but is still stressful on their immune systems. The other reason he gave has to do with the type of testing. The USDA has approved a PCR test using 45 sample cycles when an independent university found that 30 sample cycles was sufficient in identifying positive result for avian flu. To that point, I have to wonder why I haven't seen dead birds along the roadside or in my backyard. Could it be that the outbreak is more related to an animal husbandry issue? One that promotes stress on the immune and respiratory system to begin with? I prefer to think of that reasoning before I think of some kind of conspiracy about the government trying to control food or cause fear. After all, those birds and their products cost consumers money which generates a lot of taxes and processing fees. Thankfully our farm has been clear of any evidence of avian flu. Maybe God is blessing us or maybe it's because we've committed to raising them in an environment that embraces God's design and their preference. Whatever the reason, we will continue to hold to our convictions and try to give them the best environment we are able to.

To share some other updates, we have never gone up on our egg prices once in three years and after much consideration and calculations, we are raising prices from $5/dozen up to $6/dozen. We have historically tried to price our products at a ministerial level, which is not quite breaking even. Pricing for eggs labeled as organic, pastured in the grocery store prior to the bird flu shortage was around $8 - $10!! We are not trying to get rich or even supplement an income, but we need to at least break even to be sustainable. At $5/dozen, we lose $.25/dozen not capturing fuel costs to pick up feed, nor any labor. We hope this is understandable by our members. We enjoy eating and providing truly pastured eggs that are fed supplemental soy-free organic feed from Reedy Fork Farms in NC. We enjoy being transparent because we know that it gives you confidence in what you are putting in your own body and/or the bodies of those you care for and tend to.

Another update is that I will be venturing out (pending approval) to the public Polk County Winter's Farmers Market. This is a big step for us because we are "Private" for a reason, well actually many reasons. I feel that we are at a point where I feel like people can benefit from being informed of other options in securing quality, nutrient dense food without the oppressive government restrictions laid upon small farmers that really care about the products they produce. I want to support local farmers and one way is to participate with them. Get to know them. Cultivate relational equity with them and people that are like-minded.

There was a term I came across recently in my reading. The author of Born Again Dirt, Noah Sanders, made the comparison of "Agri-business" to "Agri-lifestyle". Agri-business is profit driven, where Agri-lifestyle is lifestyle entrepreneurship. Agri-lifestyle values the lifestyle opportunities that agriculture provides above the profits that agriculture which are pretty meager. On average, commercial farmers make between 9% and 12% of every retail dollar. That's $0.09 to $0.12 from every $1.00. I will write a much more in depth blog addressing this but I find those numbers confusing and astounding.

We are ever grateful for your continued support to make our "Agri-Lifestyle" mutually beneficial. I hope to see some of you at the Farmer's Market!!

Farm News and Market details

New layers are out on pasture! This is something we have done to increase our own egg production as well as keep our flock healthy. These layers will begin producing eggs in mid June if calculations are correct.

Meat birds will be available at the beginning of April. You can pre-order, especially if you are in need of cuts (Breast, leg/thighs, wings). Let us know!!

If you are interested in securing heritage breed Thanksgiving turkeys, please let us know. They have just began laying eggs, so now is the time to secure your holiday birds. Some members were able to enjoy our heritage turkeys last year and raved about it! We thought it was our best Thanksgiving turkey yet.

Polk County Farmer's Market located behind

Iron Key Brewery

135 Locust St. Columbus, NC 28722

1st & 3rd Saturdays from 10a.m. till 1p.m.

Again we thank you for your support and feedback!!

Your local Agri-Lifestyle practitioners that strive to experience a lifestyle that is mutually beneficial.

Gordon & Elizabeth