I have been thinking of getting some land and raising chickens, cattle for beef and building my own house on a large farm for a few years now. When I met Judith and Jonathan Smith at their Davidson County home near the Cheatham line, I saw just how to go about turning my dream into a reality. Their passion for living a sustainable lifestyle and supplying themselves with much of their own food was contagious.
The Chickens
Last year they raised 100 organic chickens for meat (avg. weight of 5.9 lbs.) in two batches on less than an acre. Jonathan built his own coop that he rotates daily across the field adjacent to his house. They also had 4 laying hens which Jonathan built a house for that includes a gravity water system.
The goal of raising and selling chickens has a few different values for the Smiths. They sell enough chickens to cover their costs, provide food for themselves and make a small profit – but it’s not just about the business.
According to Jonathan, it’s about “knowing your farmer and where your food comes from.” In today’s marketplace, the consumer should always question their food source. With the FDA not mandating labels to include GMO status, even places like Whole Foods cannot guarantee non-GMO foods[1].
This is important because by purchasing local food, you are supporting your local economy, using less energy in transport costs and establishing local relationships.
Some of the reasons I like the way Smith raises his chickens are:
Uses diverse food sources with several varieties of grass- Exposure to sunlight and fresh
- Organic feed (it comes from Kentucky, just 45 minutes away)
- Their love of animals and even the way he uses a relaxing technique to calm them before slaughter
- Jonathan’s respect for the land and treating the land and it’s creatures as they were created
His techniques are based upon Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms [2] in Virginia (Salatin gained notoriety in the documentary Food Inc.), and Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma [3].
The Cattle
Smith planted clover in the fields to prepare them for the cattle but before that, he started a beehive to ensure the clover was pollinated and spread. Clover adds nitrogen to the soil without using chemical fertilizers. He also ensured that there was genetic diversity in the plants in case of famine or disease.
His cattle are moved daily within an electrical fence that is set up in a grid. The fence uses solar panels using parts found in a junk pile and from Harbor Freight and Amazon.com.
The cows are rotated in a 24-30 day cycle ensuring any parasites from their dung will be dried out before they return to a section in the grid.
Jonathan did study cattle before buying them but says: “anyone can do it, if you’ve cared for a dog, it’s the same thing, just caring for an animal- a bigger animal”. This attitude towards the animals he raises is very different from the assembly line actions taken by large beef distributors.
The Farm/Home
The idea is for the sale of chickens/beef to pay for the farm note and to eventually offer a community tool to provide an educational experience by seeing how the farm sustains itself and it’s inhabitants while showing consumers how their food is cared for and where it comes from.
Some cool sustainable ideas for their home include salvaged doors and fixtures, flooring and a tub, most of which were found very reasonably priced on craigslist.
They also participate in a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) because their interests are not growing produce.
At its heart Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) connects local farmers with local consumers. These consumers help cover the farmer’s operating expenses in exchange for shares of produce grown or raised. These shares are usually purchased via varying types of memberships or subscriptions. This arrangement grants the farmer more time to focus on production rather than marketing and provides a fair return on their labor. In return, CSA members are able to build trusting relationships with their farmer and receive fresh / better tasting locally produced foods. Ultimately, participation in Community Supported Agriculture helps to build stable local farming operations as well as local economies[4].
To find out more about the Smith’s and how they operate their farm, please visit the Happily Ever After Farm.
