Blog - Earnest Roots Farm

It's a Farm Update - 3.08.24

The Laying Chickens The girls are grand - they tell us every morning when we collect all the eggs they're happily giving us! Last week, we had 2 more losses to a hawk(s) so we acted fast. We got them moved another rotation away from the trees and placed some ropes/shade cloth within their portable fencing to help keep the hawks away. Since then, we've been in the clear! DID YOU KNOW? Our eggs are from pasture raised chicken fed SOY FREE/GMO Free Grain? They're living the best life on pasture, grabbing all that vitamin D and nutrients that are going right into their eggs. We have no order limit on eggs, so for all of our meet in person and on farm pickup orders, we've got you covered! The Cow Crew We currently have beef at the processor and hope to be back in stock within the next two weeks! We know it's seemed like a long wait - it has for us too! After this break, we should regularly have beef available, so hang in there. We appreciate it so much! The Sheep The male lambs we weaned and castrated a few weeks ago have really grown! There are five of them and they are thoroughly enjoying their rotations around the pasture in the mobile sheep pen. In a couple of weeks, we'll wean the females - all of our ewes had twins in male/female pairs. We left the females on their mammas so they grew a bit more - and so mom's milk could adjust gradually from feeding two lambs, to one lamb, to weaned completely. If you've been with us for the journey over the years, you know about ENOCH, the ram. He’s been with us for 5 years and we have some stories about that guy. But, as we transition into a new ram and hope to gain more parasite resistant genetics, it was time to let Enoch go. But it’s not a sad story as we kept reassuring the boys, who very well understand the lives of the animals we raise and most of their sole purposes here on the farm. Enoch went to another farm of friends of ours who are building their sheep herd. He will fit in wonderfully there and bring them many beautiful lambs, I have no doubt. The Pigs In 2023, we raised more pigs than we ever have and we're so grateful you gave us that opportunity! Most came in at the same time and went out around the same time. We had six come in later and they will be wrapping up their fantastic life with us in the coming week. They are what we call the last of the "2023 Batch". Two days later, the "2024 batch" of piglets will arrive and we'll do it all over again. The majority of the paddocks have been on rest and growing, just waiting on the new guys to have a go at it! Meat Chickens We’ll receive our first batch of '24 IN JUST A FEW WEEKS. The feeders have been washed and cleaned from last year and we've got a few things to do to the shelter to get it ready, but it will be here before you know it. We are currently working on getting the brooder tidied up and squared away from housing the latest laying chicks we hatched a few weeks ago. When the meat birds arrive, they'll stay in the brooder a couple of weeks (until they grow some feathers) and then out to pasture they’ll go for the rest of their time. We anticipate a restock in early May. Honeybees We were able to get a look at the bees last weekend and it was a great experience. As you can see from the picture above, Augustus was able to suit up with us and we were able to show him loads of things we've been teaching him and talking about over the months. We saw lots of Bee Larva and got our eyes on the queens as well, which is a fantastic feeling. If we have a good honey flow this year, we'll be back in stock this fall. Our beehives are something we're slowly growing, and we just launched our honey line last fall so it's still pretty new. Thank you for being so supportive of us and selling us out as fast as you did! Beeswax candles and lotion are available now!

It's a Farm Update - 2.23.24

The Laying ChickensWe gave you an overall rundown on the laying chickens and the story leading up to where we are now. If you missed out on that update, you can catch it all HERE.The laying hens have been moved and are back into the routine they’re used to – rotating around pasture and giving us nutrient dense eggs while simultaneously providing the soil with optimum fertilizer. Maverick seems to be doing a great job with the ladies and we’ve had no signs so far of hawk attacks. Egg Production has really picked up this past week with the longer days, so make sure to grab a dozen on your next order! The Cow CrewThis past week we were able to work the cows and sheep together. We weighed all the cows coming up to be processed soon and took records. We are currently working on adding a few more fences throughout the farm to break the pasture rotations up more and make life a bit easier on us when we move everyone to new paddocks. We still have some great cuts left in stock and will be fully restocked in the coming weeks. The SheepWe castrated and weaned the male lambs and tagged all the new babies. The ewe lambs (females) will stay on the farm and will allow us to grow the flock. We are excited to see how our new ram will do with the flock this year. The PigsWe spent Monday evening dividing the pig paddocks into smaller paddocks since there are only 6 pigs left from the ’23 season. This will allow the paddocks to rest more before our new batch of piglets for the ’24 season arrive. We also spread seed out to prompt quicker growth as pigs love to eat grass! We have so many great selections in stock with our pork including many great bundles!Meat Chickens We got the mobile chicken shelter moved into place this week and will start doing small things (like cleaning and hanging feeders) to get it fully prepared for the chickens. We’ll receive our first batch of '24 IN JUST A FEW WEEKS. They’ll stay in the brooder a couple of weeks (until they grow some feathers) and then out to pasture they’ll go for the rest of their time. We anticipate a restock in early May. Honeybees The hives are getting busy with all the warm weather and plants/trees blooming. We were able to check one of the hives out a couple of weeks ago and they are healthy and FIESTY. We both encountered a few stings but thankfully the memory of them do not last too long. We plan on checking the rest of them out on Saturday to see how they faired through the winter. If we have a good honey flow this year, we'll be back in stock this fall. Our beehives are something we're slowly growing, and we just launched our honey line last fall so it's still pretty new. Thank you for being so supportive of us and selling us out as fast as you did! Beeswax candles and lotion are available now!

It's a Farm Update - 02/08/24

Get the latest on what's happening around the farm and what we've got on the agenda coming up!

Pasture Raised Chicken Updates

A frequent look at our Pastured Chicken and the life they get to live!

Will the Days Ahead be like those of the Past?

I was outside feeding this morning and had a thought. Sometimes those can be dangerous…so just bear with me for a moment. I was just a boy when 9/11 took place. I remember that day so vividly. I was in the 7th grade sitting in Mrs. Addison’s class. We were all looking up at that box-tube TV, watching that plane fly into the towers. Even though a lot of time has passed, I can still recall the events that followed and all the feelings/emotions that came with them. There was a sense of fear about us; assuming that it was just a very terrible accident…and then the second plane came. Not knowing what was happening, and not understanding why it was happening. I can remember there was just a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach..empathy for those who were jumping/burning/suffering...pain for the many who were losing loved ones. Then it came to light that it was an attack by Islamic terrorists. All that emotion was drowned by anger, and that anger spawned unity. Many that day across this land were inspired to take up arms and fight just by what we were seeing on those TVs. The moment that all of that anguish turned into a raging fire of anger, we the people, the States, were once again UNITED to combat this enemy. We weren’t just fighting with guns or lives, we fought with our faith too. The words “Pray” and “God” were mentioned everywhere across all media and social outlets. Songs where sung, some that will raise goosebumps on my neck still today. Sometime after this it seemed like it all faded away from mind. We got back to our normalcy and our selfishness, although many kept fighting. We’ve forgotten. Today, I’m seeing a similar trend. We are under attack by a different kind of enemy, an unseen enemy. A sense of fear has swept across us. This has turned into like unity from afar. Many are reaching out and helping those most at risk and/or in need.This time looking at our Smartphones or computers, has inspired many to fight. Not with bullets but with 18 wheelers, tractors, and stethoscopes. Across all media, the news and social media outlets, the words “Pray” and “God” is being mentioned everywhere. Way more than before when it seemed as if some found those words “offensive”. I am seeing something different this time though. We follow hundreds of like minded small-scale family farms just like us. There are thousands of them out there, that are part of an integrity-food-movement going by the phrase “Know your Food, Know your Farmer”. These farms as well as us, are seeing a huge spike in our sales. The demand is so high for some that they are now having to collaborate with other farms just to meet the need. You see during these times we are seeing what some have been preaching for years. That the food system in this country is fragile. We are too dependent on out-of-state, out-of-country, multi-million-dollar Corporations for our substances.During times like this when the grocery store shelves become empty, people turn to the farmer down the road. They’re also beginning to understand that group of people who “knew better.” This is that group that when they see that “made in (not USA) label”, there’s a sense of distrust/fear not knowing where it came from actually and who touched it. You don’t know what you’re really getting, so you look toward the farmer down the road. That way you can SEE what you’re getting. While also supporting a local small business in the meantime. This is how it should be. I’m not just saying buy USA products…. What I am saying is that those in Alabama shouldn’t be dependent on food grown in California or Mexico. It should be raised/grown/processed and then purchased/consumed all of it right here in Alabama. This is true food security. Yet when refrigerators and pantry’s are opened, all you see is “made in Mexico”, “made in California”, “made in Ukraine”...... I’m obviously talking specifically about the products and resources that can actually produce in-state. For example: Pineapples..You can’t grow those here in Alabama. Items like that are luxury items and don’t feed families on a daily basis, so we can afford the time and markup to ship them. Outside of that we should be supporting our own individual states, our own local farmers and small businesses. These statements apply to every state, so feel free to replace Alabama with your own state. Most anyone will admit that the product quality is exponentially better, and with that many will say “Oh but it isn’t as cheap as getting it at the grocery store.” You’re right. Small businesses can’t afford to match their prices, but they can’t match our quality, our hospitality, our care. When you call us the owner answers, not someone over in India or some pre-recoded voice messaging system. You’re getting the same thing that we give our families, and that makes you family. Have you ever thought about it like this… If we all used local small businesses/families to buy our products and necessities, it would generate more income for those businesses. With the expectation of that income, these businesses could charge less for products maybe even to a near match of what you would pay a Corporation per unit. Most of these small businesses are not greedy, and they’re passionate about what they’re doing. They’re just trying to make enough to support their families and community. If we supported local farms, maybe just maybe, fewer family farms would go up for sale. We would be healthier. We would be united always, not just in whatever the present crisis is. Now like before, will the prayers, unity, or support for local small businesses fade away? We shall see. God Bless!