TROUBADOUR FARMS

The Funky Chicken

nate d. — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:37:59 +0000

A while back I was out moving our laying flock like I do every morning. As I was pulling their house onto fresh pasture I noticed a small sphere on the ground about the size of a bouncy ball. I thought to myself, “oh, the kids must have dropped it while collecting eggs.” I reached down to grab it and discovered this was no bouncy ball…it was an egg.

Some funky chicken got impatient and didn’t let her egg do what it needed to do before she let it fly. There must have been some grasshopper or little bug that just couldn’t wait. I took it inside so I could show the fam, and of course, see what was inside!

First things First

nate d. — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 18:52:03 +0000

Yesterday was my weekly jaunt out to the grass fed beef farm for more farmin’ education and it was my favorite trip yet. Not only am I gaining knowledge of all things cow, most of my trips are full of “first times” and yesterday did not disappoint.

I drove a real tractor for the first time yesterday! It wasn’t just a joy ride either, work got done with me behind the wheel!

Also a first was checking on a heifer (mamma cow) who was expected to have her baby the night before. We came up a hill and saw her walking in our direction without a calf by her side. At the exact moment we thought, “hmm, guess she didn’t have it”she looked back to see if her calf was staying where she put it, thus giving away her secret…she gave birth! You see, as I learned, upon hearing a possible threat mama’s will stash the baby and walk away hoping to draw the threat away from her calf, pretty smart. We kept walking in the direction of which she came and low and behold…we found the baby!

Isn’t that amazing?! She had that little guy all kinds of tucked away! We attempted to get in for a closer look but he hopped out and off they went.

I can not wait to have cattle added to our Troubadour repertoire. Until then, I will read, consume, and experience as much as I can to be as ready as I can!!

best,

nate

C’mon Phil!!

nate d. — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 15:25:09 +0000

It’s been a cold winter. Lots of snow (for Charlotte) and COLD. The past few days have been cold and rainy…not my favorite combo. Have you figured out it’s been cold?

As the Troubadour Team sits inside waiting for the sun to shine and gripping the promise from Punxsutawney Phil that we’ll have an early Spring, we anxiously await the warm seasons to arrive. For now, photos will have to do!

For now we wait…hopefully not for long,

-nate

Mooove

nate d. — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 02:09:30 +0000

In an effort to learn more about “mob-stocking herbivorous solar conversion lignified carbon sequestration fertilization”…catch that? Ok, how about, raising grass fed and grass finished cattle…better? Good, as I was saying, in an effort to learn more about raising cattle I’ve been volunteering at a local farm who do a bang up job at it. It’s serious fun and yes, I use up my day off from my jobby job to feed, herd, corral, yell “c’mon now, get on!”, step in cow pies, and sweat!

I’m soaking up as much as I can as fast as I can in an effort to start raising the best beef you can buy and put in your body…and boy I’m having a good time doing it!!

Here’s a few pics I snapped while out working:

Just dropped some hay off for this group since the grass is lacking

This fella was quite friendly…a little too friendly. He’ll give ya a bump if you’re not looking!

One of these coming down the chute can get your blood pumping!

I stopped to snap this while on the 4-wheeler because…well, you can see for yourself…beautiful, even in the middle of winter!!

best,

-nate

They Do Exsist

nate d. — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 20:39:24 +0000

Two weeks ago we lost 25 out of 50 birds from our laying flock to a neighborhood dog. As you can see in the photo below, our land connects directly to our suburban neighborhood.

Having the land in conjunction to our neighborhood has great benefits for us but also has it’s downsides, one of which being domestic dogs. Wild animals kill out of a need to eat and will only take what it kills. At the most this could be 1-2 birds at a time. A domestic dog however isn’t hungry, it’s usually just bored. One dog can wipe out a significant number of birds for the sheer ecstasy of the chase.

After discovering the dead birds and cleaning up the mess I came back inside and posted what had happened on facebook. Within minutes my neighbor called me to say he saw my update and wanted to let me know their dog accidentally got out that morning and had been gone most of the day. I thanked him for the call but assured him there was no way to tell if the culprit had been his dog. We hung up, but within 5 minutes he called again.

“I ran my hands all through his hair and found feathers…it was him…I’m so sorry.”

Immediately he said he would do whatever it took to rectify the situation, and I was floored. Fast forward two weeks and we have agreed on a resolution we both feel good about.

While this was a staggering blow to our small farm, it has also turned into quite a life lesson. My neighbor didn’t have to call me the first time, but he did. He didn’t have to check his dog again to find feathers, but he did. He didn’t have to call me to say he found the feathers, but he did. He didn’t have to be so eager to right the wrong…but he did.

In a world riddled with self-serving, integrity-compromising, dishonest people, a man like my neighbor shines bright. Our world is better for having him in it and in moments when I think there isn’t a single person of strong moral character left on this planet, I am reminded…they do exist.

best,

-nate

Man Crush

nate d. — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:20:47 +0000

Not gonna lie here folks, I have a man crush! If you are at all familiar with the “who’s who” in sustainable, anti-industrial farming, then you know Joel Salatin.

If not. Joel serves as an inspiration to me, and many others, for multiple things in relation to life, food consumption, and farming. He’s transparent, controversial, and quite gregarious in his life’s work and passion…farming. I’d encourage you to google his name and read away!

Here’s a TED talk he did in 2009:

enjoy,

-nate

A Snowy Farm

nate d. — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:25:21 +0000

A couple weeks ago we had quite a winter storm come through…it was fun for about 2 days. After that I was ready to see green and sunshine again, even if it was cold. You see, I don’t mind the cold and neither do the chickens. Snow on the other hand…they highly dislike and as a result…so do I. BUT, The Davis Family went out and had some fun regardless!

Movies You Should Watch

nate d. — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 19:00:13 +0000

2 Documentaries you should watch immediately are these:

www.foodincmovie.com

www.freshthemovie.com

On Pasture Solutions

nate d. — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 14:27:26 +0000

Being a portable operation we have to make everything we need…well, portable. Here is a short glimpse into how we keep food and water on pasture.

best,

-nate

Chicken Move

nate d. — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 00:17:15 +0000

Here is a quick glimpse into how we move the chickens around the pasture!

It’s one of my favorite things to watch as they run into the next salad bar, they’re so excited! We move the flock every 2-4 days. I keep a watch on the area they are in to see when they’ve consumed all they are going to consume. Somedays they let me know if I waited a little too long by hopping the fence to get into the fresh food…stinkers.

hope you enjoyed it!

-nate