The Beginning Farmer Show
The Beginning Farmer Show chronicles the good, bad, and ugly of starting a farm from scratch. Listen each week as beginning farmer Ethan Book share updates from the farm, insight into farm decision making, and lessons that he has had to learn the hard way.
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TBF 158 :: Things Needed to Change
11/22/2022
TBF 158 :: Things Needed to Change
The first episode in two years needs no introduction. Basically this is an episode of me sharing what I've found out I needed to do differently over the last two years. Or, to be more correct ... it is an episode of me sharing a couple of the many things I found out I needed to do differently over the last two years! It is going to be a long journey that will take time (and money, which means more time), but I think it is going to be an amazing journey. Follow along on the , , , and of course ! I'd love to hear your thoughts! Don't forget you can find us in all of the places, most of all on YouTube (again)!
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TBF 157 :: Crooked Gap Farm v2.0
11/11/2020
TBF 157 :: Crooked Gap Farm v2.0
I have come to the realization that it is time to reboot the farm! Not that everything that we have been doing for the past twelve years has been bad, but rather there are some changes that I realize need to be made and in making them I think we are going to end up with Crooked Gap Farm v2.0. It's sort of like a Grand Re-Opening, or Church Re-Plant, or Version 2.0 of the farm. The core of the farm is going to be the same. We are still going to be all about raising great pasture raised meats, but there will be changes on the farm. Changes with efficiencies. Changes with marketing. Changes with structures. Changes with mindset. And, all of this is going to be about taking our farm up a level in order to be better than we have been in the past. It is going to be a long journey that will take time (and money, which means more time), but I think it is going to be an amazing journey. Follow along on the , , , and of course ! I'd love to hear your thoughts! Don't forget you can find us in all of the places, most of all on YouTube (again)!
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TBF 156 :: Three Needed Changes and a Hard Lesson Learned
08/26/2020
TBF 156 :: Three Needed Changes and a Hard Lesson Learned
Crooked Gap Farm has come a long ways in the roughly 12 years of it's existence! Sometimes I forget how far we have come from an empty 40 acre parcel in the middle of Iowa, but when I stop and take a look at it all I am very thankful! That doesn't mean that I have everything where it needs to be or that I'm ready to sit back and watch the farm roll along. There are a lot of projects that are needed on the farm these days. Repair projects, building projects, upgrading projects, and plenty of cleaning projects! But, I have come up with three that have been at the forefront of my mind lately Get the Walk-in Freezer up and running! Building a "Farrowing Greenhouse"! Rehab, Rejuvenate, Replace our Sheep Flock! I'd love to hear your thoughts! Don't forget you can find us in all of the places, most of all on YouTube (again)!
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TBF 155 :: Let's Talk About Meat Chickens
08/19/2020
TBF 155 :: Let's Talk About Meat Chickens
Let's talk about chickens! We've raised meat chickens off and on for about 10 years now, and it has never really been our strong suit. But, the demand is there and I would really like to increase our meat chicken production ... like really increase it! There is one problem though, well actually three problems. First of all we have settled on the Freedom Ranger breed for our meat chickens (although I'm open for suggestions because it still isn't my favorite ever). Secondly, I am totally committed to the "day range" system of raising the birds, but I'm not committed to a structure. And finally, processing is somewhat of a bottle neck for us. There is only one official processor in the state and we are pretty much all in on needing official processing! I'd love to hear your thoughts! Don't forget you can find us in all of the places, most of all on YouTube (again)!
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TBF 154 :: Pandemic Farm Marketing and a Hard Lesson Learned
07/26/2020
TBF 154 :: Pandemic Farm Marketing and a Hard Lesson Learned
Hello Beginning Farmer Friends! We are back and better than ever. Well I'm not sure about better than ever, but we are back and I am getting pretty excited about being back (even though it is one episode)! I am excited to be able to "chat" about farming again, and share the happenings of Crooked Gap Farm and our plans for the future. In this episode I end up talking about what our farm marketing world has looked at during the current pandemic of 2020. Sales have been good (I think for many protein farmers that has been true), but along with increased sales and demand there have been plenty of challenges. In the end I do think we are positioning ourselves in a good way for 2021 and beyond. Don't forget you can find us in all of the places, most of all on YouTube (again)!
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TBF 153 :: Family, Fun, and a Hard Lesson Learned
04/20/2020
TBF 153 :: Family, Fun, and a Hard Lesson Learned
In a time of unknown, I sit down and do what is needed: I have fun. Today I talk with my oldest son, Caleb, about his interests on the farm and where he goes and is wanting to go with them. He shares what his biggest interest on the farm is and what he does with it. With plenty of fun and laughter, tractors, a Hard Lesson Learned, and even rockets, this is sure to be a fun episode that you can't miss!
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TBF 152 :: Back Again and More Farm Updates
04/13/2020
TBF 152 :: Back Again and More Farm Updates
I am going to ignore the elephant in the room (this episode is being released during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic) and attempt to pick-up where I left off about one year ago! On the last episode of The Beginning Farmer Show, that sounds like something you would hear at the beginning of a soap opera, I had outlined the equipment and infrastructure that we had accumulated on the farm. What I was realizing was that maybe the equipment I had wasn't "right-sized" to where our farm was at the moment. The big question that was discussed though was, what are we going to do in terms of the hay operation. Well, much of the hay operation discussion changed in the weeks following the release of that last episode because I ended up selling some small square bale equipment, picking up more hay ground, and making more hay than I had even planned in 2019. Moving forward in 2020 we are expanding even more in the hay side of things and working to add it as a component of our over all farm business. There are plenty of other things that have happened on the farm in the past 12 months, but the biggest thing had to be our return to the Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market. This was something that popped up on our radar somewhat out of nowhere and in the end it seems like it was a good thing! I hope you all are doing well out there as we deal with a world that seems to be changing by the moment. Maybe in the future I'll be able to take some time to talk about how our farm is adjusting through this pandemic.
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TBF 151 :: Changing the Inventory of a Farm
02/04/2019
TBF 151 :: Changing the Inventory of a Farm
Now that you know the large collection of things that we have on the farm I want to share some of my thoughts on what needs to head down the road, what needs to be added, and where I am the most confused! It has become obvious to me that one of the tractors needs to go, and in a perfect world it needs to be replaced by a skid loader that would be able to perform quite a few important tasks on the farm. Also, an addition to the shed is something that is at the top of the list once we can get the money together and the details figured out. The biggest question facing the farm at this moment though is what are we going to do about the hay operation. Or maybe I should say the "hay dabbling" because it hardly seems big enough to be classified as an operation. I can see the benefits that it has, but I'm wondering if those benefits outweigh the negatives. What do you think? If you do make your way over to this post though I would love to hear what you think about the equipment and infrastructure our farm has accumulated over the past ten years. Do you have any advice on what probably doesn't need to be on our farm? Do you think the hay business is something that we should continue to pursue? Why in the world do I have so many tractors on such a small farm? Thank you so much for listening and I hope that you join in the conversation!
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TBF 150 :: Taking Stock and Deciding What to Do
01/28/2019
TBF 150 :: Taking Stock and Deciding What to Do
I'm just going to be completely honest here. I have forgotten most of what it takes to post a podcast episode since it has been such a long time since I have regularly released episodes! With that in mind these "show notes" are really just going to be a link to the show if you'd like to listen on-line or share your thoughts on the Crooked Gap Farm Inventory that I detailed in this episode. If you do make your way over to this post though I would love to hear what you think about the equipment and infrastructure our farm has accumulated over the past ten years. Do you have any advice on what probably doesn't need to be on our farm? Do you think the hay business is something that we should continue to pursue? Why in the world do I have so many tractors on such a small farm? Thank you so much for listening and I hope that you join in the conversation!
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TBF 149 :: This is Sort of a Test, Farm Updates, and a Hard Lesson Learned
10/12/2018
TBF 149 :: This is Sort of a Test, Farm Updates, and a Hard Lesson Learned
Hey there! This is a BRAND NEW EPISODE of "The Beginning Farmer Show"!!! I'm not sure when the next one will be, but for now this one is here and I'm looking for direction when it comes to the show. If you have any good leads or ideas of farmers that you would like to hear on the show please let me know by clicking the link below and reaching out through the Facebook page. As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I'm thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn. If you do enjoy the show, don't forget that you can and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also . It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show! I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an ! As always you can follow along with "The Beginning Farmer" and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ...
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TBF 148 :: Hello Again, Farm Updates, and a Hard Lesson Learned
09/06/2017
TBF 148 :: Hello Again, Farm Updates, and a Hard Lesson Learned
That means this episode is all about the livestock on the farm ... how they've been handling the summer, what I've been doing with them, and whether or not we still have a farm period! Hopefully you enjoy the show!
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TBF 147 :: The Not How To Episode, Other News, and a Hard Lesson Learned
12/15/2016
TBF 147 :: The Not How To Episode, Other News, and a Hard Lesson Learned
It is story time! Plans were made, forms were formed, rock was moved, compactors were used, rain came, snow came, everything became muddy, even more rock was moved, concrete was poured, and in the middle of the night the concrete was covered with plastic/tarps/straw. Actually it sounds pretty easy when it is summed up in one long run-on sentence! Honestly though, it was a big week on the farm to get everything ready for concrete and then eventually for the pour. And while there is still plenty of work to do in order to get everything finalized I thought it would would be fun to share the story of the big cement project. The most important thing though is to recognize the awesome help that I had! None of this would have happened without my wife, my uncle, my cousin, and my neighbors ... so, sit back and enjoy (I hope) the story. Do You Want to Know More about My Cool New Boots? These days I'm rocking LaCrosse Brand (that's the link to the LaCrosse website) ... you can even ! They are by far the most comfortable mud boots that I have ever owned. I love the gusseted back because I like to tuck my insulated bibs into the boots, and did I mention the are super comfortable! Check out the links if you are looking for some good boots this winter, and I'll share more as I see how they stand up to to the life of an Iowa pig farmer. As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I'm thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn. If you do enjoy the show, don't forget that you can and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also . It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show! I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an ! As always you can follow along with "The Beginning Farmer" and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ...
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TBF 146 :: Gifts for Farmers, Now What's Happening, and the Family
12/02/2016
TBF 146 :: Gifts for Farmers, Now What's Happening, and the Family
With Christmas coming up before we know it (and possibly putting an end to my concrete dreams) I thought it would be good to share my Top Ten Gifts for the farmer or aspiring farmer on your list. I've tried to diversify the list a bit with some tools I use on the farm, some tools that are important to the farm, a couple of my favorite books, and even some podcasting tools! One thing that I noticed as I made up the list was that it has quite a few expensive items on it. At first I was a little taken back by that realization, but then it came to me ... as I have matured in my farming adventure I have found that quality really does win the day on the farm. Quality can save time, it can save on broken tools, and most of all it can save frustration! Of course not everything on the list is expensive ... I mean I do love a good pair of sub-$10 USA made pliers! As a bonus I'm also sharing a link to the new boots I've been putting through the paces and some leftover Beginning Farmer T-shirts! :: The Farmer's Christmas List :: (Amazon links are affiliate links) and the :: :: :: :: (Same as the Stafix x6i Ethan uses) :: The Bonus Items :: (SS: $15 or LS: $20) *while supplies last (the cool new boots I'm rocking) Do You Want to Know More about My Cool New Boots? These days I'm rocking LaCrosse Brand (that's the link to the LaCrosse website) ... you can even ! They are by far the most comfortable mud boots that I have ever owned. I love the gusseted back because I like to tuck my insulated bibs into the boots, and did I mention the are super comfortable! Check out the links if you are looking for some good boots this winter, and I'll share more as I see how they stand up to to the life of an Iowa pig farmer. As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I'm thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn. If you do enjoy the show, don't forget that you can and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also . It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show! I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an ! As always you can follow along with "The Beginning Farmer" and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ...
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TBF 145 :: Thanksgiving!, A Difficult Week, and the Family
11/24/2016
TBF 145 :: Thanksgiving!, A Difficult Week, and the Family
This past week was "one of those weeks" on the farm! A hydraulic line exploded on the tractor, but thankfully my cousin was able to fix it. We dug in the water lines into the hoop building, but I am beginning to realize that the concrete is not going to happen this year (that is my fault). To top it all off though the tractor started acting up again, and this time it seems that the probably actually may be caused by a much larger problem! Mentally it was a daunting week to so the least. All of this is happening though right before what I consider to be my favorite holiday ... Thanksgiving. To me it seems fitting though because despite all that seems to be breaking down around me there is plenty to be thankful for on the farm. In fact, I made a list ... :: This Beginning Farmer is Thankful :: I am Thankful for the Help of Family and Friends I am Thankful for the Awesome Farm Champions We Have I am Thankful for Safety and Fruitfulness I am Thankful for Generations of Farmers Sharing Their Knowledge I am Thankful for a Farming Family Do You Want to Know More about My Cool New Boots? These days I'm rocking LaCrosse Brand (that's the link to the LaCrosse website) ... you can even (affiliate link)! They are by far the most comfortable mud boots that I have ever owned. I love the gusseted back because I like to tuck my insulated bibs into the boots, and did I mention the are super comfortable! Check out the links if you are looking for some good boots this winter, and I'll share more as I see how they stand up to to the life of an Iowa pig farmer. As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I'm thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn. If you do enjoy the show, don't forget that you can and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also . It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show! I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an ! As always you can follow along with "The Beginning Farmer" and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ...
/episode/index/show/thebeginningfarmer/id/4858624
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TBF 144 :: Your Answers to My Questions, Content, and a Hard Lesson Learned
11/17/2016
TBF 144 :: Your Answers to My Questions, Content, and a Hard Lesson Learned
Do you know the greatest thing about The Beginning Farmer Podcast/Blog? It is YOU of course! Two episodes ago I flipped the tables, and instead of doing my typical "question and answer" show where I attempt to answer listener questions I asked the questions. The responses you sent in and shared on concrete, turkeys, walk-in freezers, pig pastures, and show content were AWESOME and full of great knowledge. If you typically just scan the blog post and check out the links I really encourage you to take a listen to the episode this time because it is full of knowledge and experience from farmers that are out there doing it. I've also gathered together some links that helped me dig a little deeper in to the advice that came in from you, the listeners! :: The Beginning Farmer's Research :: ' And, The New Boots! (picture above) One other thing I mentioned in this episode was the new pair of boots that I have been running through the paces that came from LaCrosse Boots. I received a pair of (that's the link to the LaCrosse website) ... you can even (affiliate link)! They are by far the most comfortable mud boots that I have ever owned. I love the gusseted back because I like to tuck my insulated bibs into the boots, and did I mention the are super comfortable! Check out the links if you are looking for some good boots this winter, and I'll share more as I see how they stand up to to the life of an Iowa pig farmer. As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I'm thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn. If you do enjoy the show, don't forget that you can and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also . It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show! I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an ! As always you can follow along with "The Beginning Farmer" and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ...
/episode/index/show/thebeginningfarmer/id/4838434
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TBF 143 :: Net Fence for Sheep, The Farm Crawl, and a Hard Lesson Learned
11/09/2016
TBF 143 :: Net Fence for Sheep, The Farm Crawl, and a Hard Lesson Learned
We physically survived The Farm Crawl, but it was a bit mentally taxing. The day was beautiful, the farm was in great shape, we had a good selection of pork for sale, and the people were awesome! There was one down part though and it is what made me a bit mentally taxing ... the numbers were down (both from a sales and attendance standpoint). I am extremely thankful for everyone that was able to show up, but was a bit thrown by the differences we had seen from years past. That's what sort of threw me off a bit ... well that and hustling to get my spring projects (yes I really mean spring) done before winter sets in! Thankfully though I had a lot of great questions in the hopper so I'll do my best to answer them ... :: What Questions Are We Tackling This Week :: What do you do if an animal needs to be put down? What do farmers need to know about taxes? Have you used sheep netting? Rotational grazing with sheep, but not cattle. Does it work? How about pigs ... apple cider vinegar, loading/sorting pens, and getting them on the cart? As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I'm thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn. If you do enjoy the show, don't forget that you can and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also . It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show! I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an ! As always you can follow along with "The Beginning Farmer" and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ...
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TBF 142 :: This Farmer Has Questions, Cattle Sold, and a Hard Lesson Learned
09/17/2016
TBF 142 :: This Farmer Has Questions, Cattle Sold, and a Hard Lesson Learned
Our farm has been a farm for eight years now, which I suppose means I have been a farmer for eight years as well. But, I don't want anyone to think that I'm still not "The Beginning Farmer" ... sometimes it seems the more I learn about this farming art the more I feel like a beginner! With that in mind I've always tried my best to share the ups and downs because I know that I learn from my mistakes, so hopefully someone else can learn from them as well. Along the way (over almost 10 years of blogging/podcasting) you all have come along side and shared your experiences as well! That is why I knew that I could turn the tables a little bit and ask you the questions ... :: Five Questions From a Beginning Farmer :: I want some concrete! Should I feel bad about that as a grass-based farmer? What can I plant this fall for my pig pastures next spring? Maybe it is finally time for turkey. How can I raise them without losing my mind? Should we invest in a walk-in freezer? What would you like to see from "The Beginning Farmer Show"? As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I'm thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn. If you do enjoy the show, don't forget that you can and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also . It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show! I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an ! As always you can follow along with "The Beginning Farmer" and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ...
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TBF 141 :: Quit Buying Herefords, Meat Chicks, and a Hard Lesson Learned
09/14/2016
TBF 141 :: Quit Buying Herefords, Meat Chicks, and a Hard Lesson Learned
In many ways our farm began before the farm even began. I was reading books, talking to farmers, dreaming dreams, and making plans. All of that lead to me thinking I had it all together before I even stepped foot onto what would eventually become Crooked Gap Farm. If you've heard me talk about the beginnings of the farm before you will know that in my mind the centerpiece was going to be Dexter Cattle raised for beef. It should be noted though that when I was thinking that I had never even tasted Dexter beef! What I have not talked a lot about before though is that when I was in that planning stage I thought the other main enterprise on the farm would be our Tamworth hogs. Now, if you are familiar with the farm you will be thinking to yourself, "Tamworth hogs? What about the Herefords?" The reality is that in my reading and planning stages I had completely settled on Tamworths being the perfect breed for us. When I couldn't find enough Tamworths I moved on to the Gloucestershire Old Spots, but I never found any of them either. So, I just got pigs and I learned how to raise those pigs. It was sometime after that first couple of batches of pigs that I ended up with the Herefords and now that is what we love and what we are known for. That is why I say today, "Quit buying Hereford hogs!" It's not that I don't think they are a great breed with lots of positive points, but rather I don't think it is the only direction to go. In the end I think there are three pieces of advice I wish I would have followed when I was selecting livestock for my beginning farm: Do What Works on Your Farm! Start With What is Readily Available in Your Area! Raise Your Livestock with Care and Husbandry and in an Exceptional Way! As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I'm thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn. If you do enjoy the show, don't forget that you can and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also . It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show! I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an ! As always you can follow along with "The Beginning Farmer" and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ...
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TBF 140 :: Applying Farm Knowledge, Farm News, and a Hard Lesson Learned
08/29/2016
TBF 140 :: Applying Farm Knowledge, Farm News, and a Hard Lesson Learned
Earlier this month I was able to take a long drive to northwestern Iowa and visit Seven W Farm during their Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Day. This was the second field day at the Wilson's farm that I have been able to attend (along with watching their Niche Pork Webinar from 2009) and I am very thankful they are willing to open their farm, and share their experiences! Seven W Farm consists of 660 acres, seven Wilsons (plus kids), organic grains, hogs, organic dairy, pastured poultry, grassfed beef, and grassfed lamb. To say that there is a lot going on would be an understatement for sure. Behind the diversity of enterprises though is a great wealth of knowledge that comes from multi-generational family farm. In fact Dan has been pasture farrowing hogs for 50 years now! What I'm trying to say with all of that background information is that I learned a lot. I mean I really learned A LOT!!! And, the great thing about some of the knowledge I picked up from their experiences is that it is stuff I think that I can still apply to this growing season. Here are four things that I hope to apply in the coming weeks and of course a bunch of links that I mention in the episode: What I learned and will be (hopefully applying soon) ... Burst Proof Water Line for Pastured Pigs A-Fram Farrowing Sheds are the Bomb Premier1 Pig Fence is Worth a Try Three Words ... Apple. Cider. Vinegar. The pile of links mentioned in this episode ... (and other pasture farrowing info) (you can buy vinegar from them too) (ACV for sale along with other minerals, vitamins, healthy stuff) If you are interested in having a grassfed Dexter Cattle Herd of your own because we have cows, heifers, and cow/calf pairs available right now! As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I'm thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn. If you do enjoy the show, don't forget that you can and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also . It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show! I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an ! As always you can follow along with "The Beginning Farmer" and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ...
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TBF 139 :: Field Day Follow-Up, Cattle Sale, and a Hard Lesson Learned
08/25/2016
TBF 139 :: Field Day Follow-Up, Cattle Sale, and a Hard Lesson Learned
More questions have rolled in from our Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Day, and the folks at PFI have even put up a blog post that recaps the day. The great thing about the blog post is that it contains a lot of audio from the event, so if you weren't able to make it to the field day you can at least listen (now that I mention that I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing). On today's episode I'll be fielding questions about recording video, using the vet, farm names/brands, beginning marketing, and even some of my thoughts on how we do our sheep. It is definitely a hodge-podge episode with plenty of rambling, but they are great questions so hopefully I'm up to the task with my answers! If you are interested in having a grassfed Dexter Cattle Herd of your own because we have cows, heifers, and cow/calf pairs available right now! As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I'm thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn. If you do enjoy the show, don't forget that you can and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also . It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show! I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an ! As always you can follow along with "The Beginning Farmer" and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ...
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TBF 138 :: Questions, Answers, Farm Tours, and a Hard Lesson Learned
08/11/2016
TBF 138 :: Questions, Answers, Farm Tours, and a Hard Lesson Learned
Over the past two weeks we have hosted well over 100 farmers and farm fans out to Crooked Gap Farm! That has meant a lot of time getting the farm ready, preparing food, and planning the tours and talks. In the end though we love the opportunity to share our farm with other farmers, and more importantly ... learn from other farmers! Even though I love to talk and I love these types of events they do make me a bit nervous right before they start and for a little while after. It's not talking in front of people that makes me nervous (I typically do that every Sunday), but rather it is that I'm worried about what people will think about our farm when they see it and hear what I have to say about it. I mean I'm just a beginning farmer! Hopefully over time that is something that I can grow out of, because there is a lot of benefit from having other farmers to the farm to share information and learn! In other news ... let's attempt to answer some questions! Here are the topics for this week: Now that we've done chickens, what is next? How do you handle watering systems with far away pastures? When do you suggest starting your laying chicks? Are you applying holistic management practices on your farm? What about WOTUS? Does it matter for beginning farmers? If you are interested in having a grassfed Dexter Cattle Herd of your own because we have cows, heifers, and cow/calf pairs available right now! As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I'm thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn. If you do enjoy the show, don't forget that you can and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also . It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show! I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an ! As always you can follow along with "The Beginning Farmer" and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ...
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TBF 137 :: Changes on the Farm, Farm Visits, and a Hard Lesson Learned
07/29/2016
TBF 137 :: Changes on the Farm, Farm Visits, and a Hard Lesson Learned
Changes are often difficult to make, even if you love change and moving forward. I find it difficult not so much because I don't notice that there are things to change, but rather because I become stuck in the rut or, even more often, I am overwhelmed by the steps of the needed change. As 2015 came to a close though and our family and farm embarked on 2016 it was painfully clear that there were changes that needed to be made on the farm if it was going to continue. If I wasn't willing to make those changes then it was time to move on to the next thing ... as in it would be time to end the farm. I've spent enough time talking about that in the past couple of episodes though, so today it is all about the practical steps that I've taken in 2016. Even if those steps haven't been completely successful or enough. Practical Applications for Moving Crooked Gap Farm Forward in 2016: Planned Farm Meetings Shifting the Focus of Our Farm Being Ruled Less by Fear and More by Truth Making Capital Improvements for Efficiencies Sake Raising the Level of Communication Selling More Whole/Half Hogs Not Quitting If you are interested in having a grassfed Dexter Cattle Herd of your own because we have cows, heifers, and cow/calf pairs available right now! Links Mentioned in the Episode: As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I'm thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn. If you do enjoy the show, don't forget that you can and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also . It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show! I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an ! As always you can follow along with "The Beginning Farmer" and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ...
/episode/index/show/thebeginningfarmer/id/4552304
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TBF 136 :: Former Farmer, Vet Visits, and a Hard Lesson Learned
07/06/2016
TBF 136 :: Former Farmer, Vet Visits, and a Hard Lesson Learned
My career as a "beginning farmer" has always been as bi-vocational something or other. Along with trying to learn how to farm I've been a youth pastor, worked at a farm store, helped out at another farm, and currently I'm loving my job as pastor of Christ's Church. But, wearing all of those hats as well as the hat of husband and father has made things less than ideal at times (or most times). For the most part I've tried to just push through things and act like nothing was amiss, but the reality was that I should have been doing a better job of everything ... especially being a husband and father! Near the end of 2015 I finally admitted to myself that things needed to change and that may mean that they needed to change drastically ... which led to the end of Crooked Gap Farm ... almost! This episode is my attempt to vocalize what was going on in my mind and heart and through some of the discussions with my wife. It's not just all head stuff though, because our farm is a working farm with plenty going on still. Of course the biggest and coolest news is that we finally had the vet out to work the cattle and now I'm completely ready to sell some of our grassfed Dexter cattle. By some I actually mean something like 10 to 15 head, so if you are interested in some cows or cow/calf pairs! As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I'm thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn. If you do enjoy the show, don't forget that you can and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also . It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show! I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an ! As always you can follow along with "The Beginning Farmer" and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ...
/episode/index/show/thebeginningfarmer/id/4478429
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TBF 135 :: It's Not a Comeback, Lots of Updates, and a Hard Lesson Learned
06/29/2016
TBF 135 :: It's Not a Comeback, Lots of Updates, and a Hard Lesson Learned
What happens when The Beginning Farmer disappears for months on end? Well, actually lots things happen! Just recently I've been to Arizona to talk farming and finances, we've been making small square bales of hay, a new building project is in the planning stages, and of course we've even made some time to take the boat out (yes, we are a boating family now ... more about that in future episodes). Basically, what I'm trying is that it wasn't for lack of things happening that I haven't been podcasting, but rather there has just been a lot on the mind that has made it difficult to sit down and record something remotely coherent! Honestly the farm is moving along just about like it was last time I released a podcast, but we are starting to make some shifts on the farm to better serve our markets and what our farm does best. The biggest changes have probably come in the form of mindsets and reality checks. I'll be spending the next few episodes talking about some of the changes that are happening from a physical and emotional standpoint on our farm. In the meantime I do hope you can find the time to listen this episode as I ramble about my dream of professional fishing (that dream hasn't completely died just yet)! As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I'm thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn. If you do enjoy the show, don't forget that you can and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also . It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show! I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an ! As always you can follow along with "The Beginning Farmer" and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ...
/episode/index/show/thebeginningfarmer/id/4478331
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TBF 134 :: Super-Duper Farm Q & A, Farm News, and a Hard Lesson Learned
02/05/2016
TBF 134 :: Super-Duper Farm Q & A, Farm News, and a Hard Lesson Learned
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TBF 133 :: Handling Hogs on Pasture, New Life, and a Hard Lesson Learned
01/27/2016
TBF 133 :: Handling Hogs on Pasture, New Life, and a Hard Lesson Learned
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TBF 132 :: Merry Christmas from The Beginning Farmer!
12/24/2015
TBF 132 :: Merry Christmas from The Beginning Farmer!
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TBF 131 :: Five Farm Successes in 2015 and a Hard Lesson Learned
12/22/2015
TBF 131 :: Five Farm Successes in 2015 and a Hard Lesson Learned
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TBF 130 :: Five Farm Failures in 2015 and a Hard Lesson Learned
12/21/2015
TBF 130 :: Five Farm Failures in 2015 and a Hard Lesson Learned
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TBF 129 :: Thanksgiving on the Farm, Lots of Farming, and a Hard Lesson Learned
11/25/2015
TBF 129 :: Thanksgiving on the Farm, Lots of Farming, and a Hard Lesson Learned
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