Funny Farm

Barlow Farms

W raise organic, free range poultry.  We keep a flock of pasture raised laying hens.  Our eggs are sold fresh daily.  Currently we sell at our local farmers market.

Our furry friends around the farm are three cats that do a great job of keeping the creepy crawly's out of the barn, two big dogs that keep us laughing, two old mares that are basically living the life of luxury and their tag along buddy, an old rescue ewe. 

PEEPS!

We started raising chickens with our children when they  were involved in 4-H and FFA.  They raised Heritage Chickens, breeds like the  buckeye, barred Plymouth rocks and fancy birds like the Blue Andalusian, and the Millie  Fleur.  They showed the birds and won ribbons!  We reaped the benefits of fresh eggs daily. As the kids grew so did the flock.  Our oldest son kept his flock of roosters, needless to say they were pretty, but MEAN. I had to walk softly and carry a big stick!  No joke my husband cut me a long branch and attached  a tennis ball to the end with a string so I could WACK them when they attacked!  Our other two sons loved the cute little fluffy bantams. Our chicken yard was quite chaotic!  Big, little, fluffy, medium sized, every color and mottled!  Our daughter stayed as far away as she could.  She is the sheep girl.  We will get that wild story later.

After the kids grew up and moved out, my obsession for chickens continued and we now have about 32 laying hens.  We raise many different varieties.  The eggs we sell sustains the feed! Finally!  Yippie! No profit yet, but it keeps me in hens!

We now decided to raise chickens for meat, yep, for meat.  We have become a bit afraid of  food!  Really?  The stuff that sustains human life? We are a bit afraid of  where our food comes from, and what it might do to us? Neon blue Jell-O, meat with laden with Pink Slime.  Who wouldn't be afraid, terrified in fact. As far removed as most of us are from the processes of growing and preparing our food, it makes sense to see food as scary.  If you are not a bit afraid, then taking the ostrich approach may be best.   Hell, we did it for years!  People who hold their traditions of food preparation in high regard don’t tend to bargain-shop for cheap calories.

With that said we are trying our hand at raising chickens for meat. The life span of a Cornish Cross is short, only eight to ten weeks in a pasture setting. The Cornish Cross chickens that we are raising will be  “pasture” raised, which means that they have fresh growing green grass for forage. We are feeding Certified Organic feed. Between the coop and being kept on pasture, the chickens will be free to express all of their natural instincts, including roosting, foraging, and dust bathing, which  makes for a low-stress, healthy natural environment. We handle the baby chicks daily and they are so cute and cuddly.  This will ensure they are stress free at the time of slaughter.

There is actually a holistic  way we raise animals for food. We use to raise pigs for meat. We no longer raise pork.We give or animals  lives that are as close to natural as is possible. We are honorable, and grateful.  Ethically speaking and feeling it is a heavy load to carry.  On one had we are humane, on the other, we are killers.  (heavy stuff). 


So, word of advise, GIVE THANKS. Whether you say “grace” or simply pause to reflect on the things that make your food possible, taking a moment to thank the Earth for the food nourishing you is a great way to cultivate respect. I found this out a long while ago when we raised pigs for pork. I am grateful for our new little peeps and for the poultry and nourishment they bring our family.   We are trying to make eating holistic and  healthy. Food is a blessing, and blessing your food only increases your mindfulness of how all life is interconnected and interdependent. Food turns events into celebrations. It’s not just about the food, but the experience of creating and then consuming it. People need families and communities for this.  Becoming familiar with the process of food raising our own food, both meat and vegetables has generated a calm kind of respect in the way we eat and live.
I will keep you  up to date on the new adventure of raising poultry.