Green pastures and black soil...all thanks to rotational grazing...

Consistantly one of the most common compliments I get here are about my pastures.  Folks are always saying how lush and green my pastures are, even when everyone elses are brown and dry from drought.  They ask, "How do you do it?"

My answer is always the same..."It's actually really simple and easy.  You rotate a mixed herd of multiple species over the pastures in low numbers, let them graze graze it down, then move them on to new forage..."

It may be a simple answer, but you would think it was mission impossible for most farmers... 

So here after all these years I get to talk about it to the largest and most divers group of folks I've ever spoken to...I get to speak at the Mother Earth News Fair...  http://www.motherearthnews.com/mother-earth-news-fair/puyallup-speaker-spotlight-steven-moize-seventh-generation-farmer.aspx

The best part about this experience is I get to go to the Seattle area and the San Francisco areas to speak at the two West coast MEN Fair events!  I have never been to the Pacific North West and am so excited about the trip in a few weeks...I haven't been to San Fran in decades and am looking forward to going back as an adult, plus I have two great friends in the Oakland area to hang out with...ahhh  September in the Bay Area...

But I digress...the topic is rotational grazing and lush green pastures. 



 This Rhode Island Red hen knows the grass is greener on either side of the fence around here.

So I will post more bits and peices about heritage breeds and rotational grazing leading up to the Mother Earth News Fair...stay tuned and come out to the events to hear the presentation...no spoilers before hand...gotta come see the presentation...

All the chicks I've met lately...

Well, lets just say that I be a dead to rights scoundrel if this were a reference to 'chicks' of my own species...but alas, I am a farmer in the middle of nowhere and that complicates the dating situation a bit...my lifestyle is more hermit than playa'...so here is a tribute to the chicks that I am getting to know this summer...

I have always had a weakness for blondes, and this is a good example.  My favorite chicken breed is the Buff Orpington.

Now these cuties are Mottled Javas and they came here all the way from the corn belt of the Mid-West.  The Java is the second oldest breed of chicken in the US and comes in four colors...Mottled is my favorite...

 These beauties are Buckeyes, all the way from Ohio originally.  They are also the only chicken breed developed by a woman.  Thanks to Nettie Metcalf (creator of the breed) for creating these beauties...

These are Auburn Javas...cute little chicks aren't they?

Well, that's all the chicks that I have met so far this summer.  It is still early in the season and I promise to introduce ya'll to some more Javas (Black and White Javas) soon. 

In the mean time keep it between the rows and watch out for hoes, 'cause they chop off toes...if ya farm barefoot and ain't paying attention...