Since starting our holistic health journey in 2010, and our homesteading journey in 2020, there has been one life lesson which has stuck out to us like a beacon. It is something we have had to be taught over and over again, until we finally realized it was the most important Truth we could learn for the well being of living things:
God knows better than man.
Every time we intervened too much in our own health (with synthetic medicines, factory-created toxins, or industrialized foods) or on our farm (with modern practices, pharmaceuticals, and interference in nature’s ways), we have faced failure, illness, and chaos.
On the other hand, every time we committed to working with God’s Creation & Design, instead of against it, we have been met with abundance, health & harmony.
Our faith in God’s perfect creation is why we have chosen to steward our land and livestock in a very specific manner. Our main philosophy is to set up each plant and animal in a collaborate system which mimics the environment God created for them (including shelter, nutrition, and protection from predators), and then “let nature take it’s course.”
We try to utilize all of every plant and animal we have, and do the best we can with what we have by using and reusing the resources available to us. However, we have been on a wellness journey long enough to know it is not good for our health to agonize over every single tiny detail, or be too rigid. So we focus on the big things and let God’s Creation, in it’s infinite wisdom, take care of the rest.
We do not do any of these things perfectly (for we know that’s God’s domain), nor do we have any delusion we will have the “right” answers in every circumstance on the farm. Instead, we know these practices will be constantly evolving as we continue to be humble students of God’s Creation & Design.
We have borrowed from many schools of thought when it comes to designing our homestead, raising livestock, tending our gardens, and cultivating our orchards. These include: permaculture, Back to Eden, no-till, Ruth Stout, sustainable farming, and regenerative agriculture. We do not stick to any one method strictly or dogmatically. Instead, we test out methods (as well as invent our own) to find out what works best for our specific land, animals, and climate.
Following are the farm practices we currently use:
Garden & Orchard Practices:
- We focus on heirloom, native, and open-pollinated varieties. (Learn more here)
- We exclusively use no-till methods.
- We keep soil always covered using what we have – pine chips, grass clippings, hay, or other plants.
- To prevent pest pressure and encourage health, we sow plants in the best sun & moon conditions for each, and surround them with companion plants.
- We water when planting and sometimes during long heat waves, but ultimately allow rain to nourish the plants.
- We use our homestead compost and mulch to support the nutrients of the soil.
- We have a strict no chemicals policy – we don’t use chemical fertilizers, pesticides or synthetics. Any emergencies are handled using natural remedies, primarily homemade.
- Unless pruning or trellising is needed, we leave plants virtually alone until harvest time.
- We save our heirloom and open-pollinated seeds, and often allow self-seeding for next year.
Livestock Practices:
- We stick to heritage breeds. (Learn more about Heritage Breeds)
- We allow for pregnancy to be naturally occurring, and birth to be at the hands of God.
- We allow for mothers to nourish & nurture their children, and keep them together until natural weaning.
- We do not alter our animals in any way from the way God designed them (we don’t castrate, dis-bud, clip wings, etc…).
- All animals have a sheltered area, and are given free-range access to fresh air, clean spring water, sunshine, and pastured forage daily.
- When needed, we supplement animals with nutrients as close to what they would naturally consume as we can find.
- We have a strict no pharmaceuticals policy – we don’t use vaccines, antibiotics, or any other lab-made drugs. Any emergencies are handled using natural remedies, primarily homemade.
- If animals need to be dispatched, they are prayed over, thanked, and dispatched as humanely and quickly as possible.