Summer recap

Hey y’all! Welcome or welcome back. Thank you for taking the time to check in. I appreciate you. 

    I hope your summer is going well and you’ve had some rest and relaxation with friends and family. We’ve been running around like chickens with our heads’ cut off here. . .

     Since I wrote in May, Barry’s been on tour almost exclusively. He’s home for a few days now so I’m taking the time to sit inside and cool off. June was a whirlwind for us. We processed 500 broilers (meat birds) in early June in Lexington, Kentucky. I’ve had multiple people ask why we drive all the way to Lexington so I’ll answer that question here as quickly as I can without boring you too much. First of all I believe very strongly in processing all our animals in animal welfare approved (AWA) facilities. I’ve written about my beliefs before and you can look back at that blog on my reasoning, but it boils down to the fact I believe we have the responsibility to be good stewards of the gifts we’ve been given. One of my gifts is the gift to raise healthy and happy animals the way God intended them to live. Therefore I have the responsibility to oversee their lives (yep, every stage of life and death) and make sure they are cared for each step of the way. We’ve sought out facilities that meet our standard and Lexington is that facility for poultry. It’s also a USDA facility so each pound of meat is inspected for health and safety. I won’t offer uninspected meat to the public. 

     We also harvested pigs this past month. That was big for me because I drove the trailer (loaded with pigs) to Virginia. I know some of you will be rolling your eyes because you think it’s not a big deal but for me it was huge. I was as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs!

     June has also been the month of repairs. If it has a wheel and rolls it’s torn up. The 4 wheeler has had multiple issues and repairs. (It’s currently down again!) The egg mobile’s tire fell off (literally). We had a water pipe burst and now are remodeling the hall bathroom (and bonus! I have a commode on my front porch). 

     Will built an amazing chicken tractor with a greatly-improved blueprint. He also invented his own egg washer which is incredible! He has fixed almost everything that’s broken and I couldn’t have made it without him. He’s been fabulous. 

     We’re now into July. The dog days of summer it seems. It’s so hot here it will take your breath some afternoons. That means we water more and put shade out for the animals. We move them faster through the pastures and make sure they always have access to shade. 

     We continue with our pop up shop in downtown Greeneville once each month. That’s been a popular addition and the bundles have proven popular. Folks ask me if I’m going to participate in a farmers market but I just can’t. Barry’s on tour almost every weekend through market season which leaves me to be mom, taxi driver, cheerleader, cook, farmer, teacher, launder, maid and every other job that gets done here. I just don’t have every Saturday to spare off farm at a market. I would love to! I think farmers markets are great and I visit the Depot Street Farmers Market in Greeneville and the Market Square Farmers Market in Knoxville as often as I can but I can’t commit to every week as a vendor. So until I can be a vendor I ask you visit us out our pop up shop or online at your convenience and continue supporting local markets. It does make a difference!

     This next week we return to Lexington with another batch of broilers. Then July will roll into August with a breath of hot, steamy air and we’ll be back in school. Time flies when you’re having fun!

     Thank you for checking in with us. Come by anytime and see us! Everyone’s welcome on the farm. 

Aliceson