TBF 020 :: 5 Simple Steps to Raising Livestock, Updates, and a Hard Lesson Learned

The month of July (which to my surprise is almost over) has been quite possibly the busiest month on the farm since we moved here five years ago. Between our own growing farm, my job in town, and working for our neighbors there have been many times when I didn't know whether I was coming or going. I'm not going to say that it has been a great time, but I do know that I am learning a lot and that our farm is growing!

On today's episode I wanted to take some time to talk about a topic that I never have really spent much time discussing ... on my blog or on The Beginning Farmer Show. The topic is "how-to raise livestock", and the reason that I have never really covered it is because I'm just a beginner! I have also said that raising livestock is an art form ... I think it is an art that most people can learn, but it takes time ... experience ... mistakes ... and lots of patience to learn the art of raising livestock on pasture and in the woodlot and I know that I'm not an expert so I haven't really wanted to claim to be one by talking about it very much. With all of that in mind though I have created ...

Five Simple Steps to Raising Livestock

1. Read about it ...
2. Talk about it ...
3. Think about it ...
4. Buy livestock ...
5. Then learn out to raise them

You may have noticed that those five steps are somewhat tongue-in-check, but in all honesty they are basically the five steps that I took as I began my farm. I spent a lot of time reading and talking about how I was going to raise pigs and cattle and sheep. Then I spent a lot of time thinking about it and talking about how I could maybe even do it better. And ... finally ... I started purchasing livestock and finding out that while the books did have lots of good information and I did learn from others ... the best teacher when it comes to raising livestock is actually having the livestock on the farm. It was then that I quickly learned that I didn't know as much as I think I did!

I also mentioned TBF Show Episode 6 where I talk about 10 books that really helped me get started. Also, here are a few "how-to books" that I have found helpful though that I mentioned in the podcast ...

• Grass-Fed Cattle by Julius Ruechel
• Harris on the Pig by Joseph Harris
• Small-Scale Pig Raising by Dirk Van Loon
• Dirt Hog by Kelly Klober

If you have an input on the topic be sure to leave a comment below or send us an e-mail.

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 subscribe on iTunes and leave a five start rating and review (by clicking the link or the image on the right). If you are an Android phone user you can also subscribe on the free Stitcher App. 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 e-mail! As always you can follow along with The Beginning Farmer and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ... 

• Crooked Gap Farm
• Crooked Gap Farm on Facebook
• Crooked Gap Farm on Twitter

TBF Show 020 :: Play in a New Window | Right Click to Download

**Special Note :: A few users are experiencing issues downloading the show on iTunes. If you have any experience with podcasts and how they can play nicely with iTunes I would love some suggestions.**

(if you are interested in the music in this episode check out my brother's record label, Historic Records) 

TBF 019 :: Big Farmers and Small Farmers, Updates, and a Hard Lesson Learned

To say that it has been a little crazy on the farm lately would be a bit of an understatement. I have raked hay, mowed hay, staked hay, feed animals, watered animals, tried to make animals comfortable in the heat, attended the county fair, and broke lots of things! All of that led to this weeks episode becoming part of next weeks episode ... if that makes any sense! Nevertheless I did sit down (over the course of a few days) to share some updates from the farm, my hard lesson learned for the week, and a few thoughts on "big farmers" and "little farmers". There used to be a time in my farming journey when I may have titled this section "big farmers" vs. "little farmers", but I think there is so much that can be learned and shared between all farmers, no matter their farming methods!

If you have an input on the topic be sure to leave a comment below or send us an e-mail.

This weeks "Hard Lesson Learned" is all about doing what you think you need to do even when you don't really think that you need to do it. As usual I had to learn the hard way that it is important to go with your gut sometimes ... even if you are tired and hungry!

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 subscribe on iTunes and leave a five start rating and review (by clicking the link or the image on the right). If you are an Android phone user you can also subscribe on the free Stitcher App. 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 e-mail! As always you can follow along with The Beginning Farmer and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ... 

• Crooked Gap Farm
• Crooked Gap Farm on Facebook
• Crooked Gap Farm on Twitter

TBF Show 019 :: Play in a New Window | Right Click to Download

**Special Note :: A few users are experiencing issues downloading the show on iTunes. If you have any experience with podcasts and how they can play nicely with iTunes I would love some suggestions.**

(if you are interested in the music in this episode check out my brother's record label, Historic Records) 

The Beginning Farmer Show ... Will Be Late

You'll hear about it when I finally get around to recording this weeks episode (which will happen this week), but for the time being let's just say it has been one of those weeks on the farm (and on my neighbors farm that I work on). On top of my all around grumpy mood and tired self I also took Tuesday morning off and am taking this morning off as well to spend some time at the fair with the kids. My oldest will be joining 4-H next year so we have to scout out the competition ... I mean it will be nice to know who it is that will be beating us! But, just to prove I am working on the episode I have a sneak peek ...

• Of course there will be some time for farm updates ... which include the fact that I took a step up and drove the big boy John Deere equipment this week (okay ... maybe not the big boy ... but it was big for me)
• "Big Farmers and Small Farmers" ... when I was a "beginning" beginning farmer as opposed to just a beginning farmer like I am now I may have said, "vs." instead of "and". I have a lot of thoughts on this topic.
• Oh ... the hard lesson ... let's just say that it is about the need to do what you think you need to do even if you don't think you need to do it. Hopefully it will make more sense when I talk about it!

So ... tune in soon ... for the next episode of "The Beginning Farmer Show!"

TBF 018 :: Part Two of an Interview with Luke Gran of Practical Farmers of Iowa, Updates, and a Hard Lesson Learned

If you missed last weeks episode you might want to check it out before listening to this one because it is the first half of my interview with Luke Gran the Next Generation Coordinator with Practical Farmers of Iowa. PFI is an organization that I have been involved with since almost the very beginning of my farming journey and their staff, field days, on-line resources, and "Farminars" have helped me along the way.

In this section of the interview Luke and I talk about everything from the 100 Days, 100 Beginners campaign that is currently running to raise funds to help beginning farmers to balancing the town job with the job on the farm. If you are a beginning farmer (which is someone who has been in charge of farming for less than 10 years) I would encourage you to get connected with PFI and their wealth of information!

You can learn more about Practical Farmers of Iowa or Luke Gran by checking out these links ...

• Practical Farmers of Iowa
• Practical Farmers of Iowa on Facebook
• Table Top Farm (the farm that Luke and his wife are partners of)

If you have an input on the topic be sure to leave a comment below or send us an e-mail.

This weeks "Hard Lesson Learned" is actually a lesson that I didn't exactly live through (although I was a toddler at the time). Last week I had the opportunity to watch "The Farm Crisis" which is a public television documentary aired on my states PBS station. The 1980's farm crisis is piece of recent history that I have grown up hearing about because it was an event that hand a deep and difficult impact on our family. But, this documentary really brought it to life for me ... maybe it is because I have a farm now ... maybe it is because I have a family now ... or maybe because it is just a difficult story to hear. There are many lessons to be learned. More than I might even want to think about, but my encouragement to you is to take about 90 minutes out of your life and watch this. It is an important part of farm history that we would do well to remember.

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 subscribe on iTunes and leave a five start rating and review (by clicking the link or the image on the right). If you are an Android phone user you can also subscribe on the free Stitcher App. 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 e-mail! As always you can follow along with The Beginning Farmer and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ... 

• Crooked Gap Farm
• Crooked Gap Farm on Facebook
• Crooked Gap Farm on Twitter

TBF Show 018 :: Play in a New Window | Right Click to Download

**Special Note :: A few users are experiencing issues downloading the show on iTunes. If you have any experience with podcasts and how they can play nicely with iTunes I would love some suggestions.**

(if you are interested in the music in this episode check out my brother's record label, Historic Records) 

TBF 017 :: An Interview with Luke Gran of Practical Farmers of Iowa, Updates, and a Hard Lesson Learned

With the exception of the first episode (because I was excited to finally get The Beginning Farmer Show going) this is probably the episode that I have most looked forward to releasing. Last week I had the opportunity to sit down with Luke Gran of Practical Farmers of Iowa. Mr. Gran is the "Next Generation Coordinator" for PFI and has his hands in organizing a lot of great learning opportunities for beginning and experienced farmers! On todays show we have a wide ranging discussion covering everything from the definition of a beginning farmer to what the most identified needs of beginners are. If you are not familiar with PFI I would suggest you get over to their website today and check out the great information they have available ... whether you live in Iowa or not!

You can learn more about Practical Farmers of Iowa or Luke Gran by checking out these links ...

• Practical Farmers of Iowa
• Practical Farmers of Iowa on Facebook
• Table Top Farm (the farm that Luke and his wife are partners of)

If you have an input on the topic be sure to leave a comment below or send us an e-mail.

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 subscribe on iTunes and leave a five start rating and review (by clicking the link or the image on the right). If you are an Android phone user you can also subscribe on the free Stitcher App. 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 e-mail! As always you can follow along with The Beginning Farmer and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ... 

• Crooked Gap Farm
• Crooked Gap Farm on Facebook
• Crooked Gap Farm on Twitter

TBF Show 017 :: Play in a New Window | Right Click to Download

**Special Note :: A few users are experiencing issues downloading the show on iTunes. If you have any experience with podcasts and how they can play nicely with iTunes I would love some suggestions.**

(if you are interested in the music in this episode check out my brother's record label, Historic Records)