Thomas Organic Farm

The Type of Meat that's Full of Cancer-Causing Toxins

2011-02-15T08:40:00.003-05:00

"Every meal you eat that supports a sustainable farm changes the agricultural world. I cannot possibly stress this enough. Your fork is your ballot, and when you vote to eat a steak or leg of lamb purchased from a small farmer you are showing the industrial system you are actively opting out." Quotes Jenna Woginrich
Read the article at the link below:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/02/15/story-of-how-one-vegetarian-converted-to-farmer-and-meat-eater.aspx

Join the 10% Campaign

2011-01-24T07:44:00.008-05:00

Help build North Carolina's local food economy by joining the campaign and encouraging your family, friends and neighbors to do the same. Pledge to spend 10 percent of your existing food dollars locally. Visit http://www.nc10percent.com/ They'll track your progress and you'll see theirs. This data will help our state receive funds to help North Carolina farmers.

Shiitake Mushrooms for Sale

2010-10-21T06:01:00.004-04:00

The rains came and the mushrooms grew!
One Pound $5.00 (paper lunch bag full)
Call to order and pick-up. 336-879-4145

New Brood

2010-09-19T08:31:00.004-04:00

This mama hen has been VERY persistent to set since the last batch . Thanks to my friend Susan who gave me a Buff Orphington rooster I had fertile eggs for her to hatch, it takes 18 days. Here she is the proud mama of 9 babies!

Hang'n Out

2010-06-25T09:06:00.004-04:00

Hennie Pennie with her 5 baby chicks under the Canna Lilly forest. I tried picking up one of her babies, not recommended. Pennie is teaching them to forage for food and taking dust baths in my flower beds. Every afternoon I am replanting and watering, I can't stop them they are too cute.

Compost Surprise!

2010-06-13T07:10:00.004-04:00

Each year the compost pile offers up something delicious, this year it's Spaghetti Squash! If you've never tried them you should, they are low in carbs. Cut squash in half, remove seed, cook in a boiling pot of salty water for about 20 min. until fork tender. Drain, cool enough to handle, using a fork gently scrap out squash noodles. I make a cream sauce with crab and scallops served over the Spaghetti Squash. Wonderful!

Baby Chicks!

2010-06-03T10:31:00.005-04:00

Exciting News! These 4 little chicks hatched out Memorial Day! Watching mother hen teach them to eat and drink, they will be out and about soon in the bamboo chicken tracto. She still has 4 more eggs to hatch.

Veggie Trader

2010-04-22T07:52:00.004-04:00

I subscribe to Hobby Farms magazine. I love reading anything about gardening, raising animals etc.. I came across this small article about a new website I think is a really good idea. Check out www.VeggieTrader.com. You type in your zip code and it will find local produce in your area. Great way to sell or trade excess veggies you grow or want to buy. This website is just getting started so sign-up.

Seedlings

2010-02-23T15:26:00.002-05:00

Finally, the seeds are planted in the portable greenhouse. I have this really cool greenhouse on wheels with four shelves. I added grown lights and heating mats. Plug in the timer. . Grow plants, grow . . . .

A Dozen a Day!

2010-02-09T08:37:00.004-05:00

My ladies don't know it is cold outside, I guess that downy feather blanket they carry around is keeping them comfy. Eggs are plentiful if you are interested in purchasing some give me a call 336-879-4145.

New Hampshire Reds

2010-01-12T10:59:00.003-05:00

Here they are 5 months old and have just started laying. I have more than I need, if you are interested in a rooster and a few hens let me know. These layers will be full grown and laying full force come Spring when the days are longer and the temps are warmer. Not interested in birds, well I will have plenty of eggs soon.

Take you for a ride in "My Chicken Tractor"

2009-08-23T07:46:00.004-04:00

biddies are loving it.... I am too! Easy Breezy . . 20 days old

Peep..Peep...Poop

2009-08-07T11:25:00.002-04:00

Second round of raising chicks, twice as many this time (50) half broilers, half layers. Hatched out on the 5th, arrived this morning. Happy chicks!

First Pick'in

2009-06-19T07:15:00.006-04:00

I picked the beans for the first time yesterday and got 4 lb. 13 oz from about 25 plants. This 3x8 raised bed produced about a bushel last year. They are a wonderful organic gourmet French bean called "Tavera Filet" a slender bean about 5" long. These went in the freezer, I may decide to can some later in the year. When the potatoes are finished I have plans on planting more of these for a late crop. Highly recommend this variety from Wood Prairie Farm.

Mushrooms

2009-05-03T06:28:00.011-04:00

Scott and I took a workshop in February on how to grow Shiitake mushrooms. Fresh cut logs are a must. You drill holes to implant the spawn, then apply a wax to seal it and the moisture in the log. Pretty simple, it takes about one hour per 10 logs, but that doesn't include the time to harvest the logs from the woods, which is really the hardest part. Pretty labor intensive, but the logs last 5 - 7 years! 30 logs are ready, now the long wait until Fall to see what happens. We are trying 4 different strains of Shiitake and an Oyster mushroom, Grey Dove. We also planted a variety called Wine Caps and have them planted in a bed of saw dust, manure and straw. You can research on your own visit Field & Forest Products.

Spring Garden

2009-05-03T06:13:00.003-04:00

The garden is growing well and am planning to offer fresh veggies to purchase this year. If you are interested you can join as a follower or simply send me an email, I will add you to my contact list. I will be updating my blog and emailing each week as garden items are ready to harvest. A variety of Lettuce, Spinach, Cilantro, Chives, Rosemary and Thyme are ready now. Spring veggies coming along in the next week or so are Beets, Sweet Turnip, Radish, Onions, Swiss Chard. Summer items are a variety of Heirloom Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Squash, Tomatillo, Sweet and Hot Peppers, many, many herbs. My garden is small so quantities will be limited. Don't forget we have fresh eggs too!

Rooster Home

2009-02-03T16:45:00.005-05:00

Time to split up the two Buff boys. They are full grown, beautiful and stately. Rule of thumb is one rooster to 12 hens. Found a good home with Anna and Dean. She has a Buff Orpington hen for him to keep company. Anna is hoping for some peeps this Spring as I am too.

Planning the new harvest for 2009

2009-01-09T07:41:00.007-05:00

The catalogs are pouring in the mail each day. It's time to take inventory of my seeds from last year and start deciding what to grow for this years crops. Which seed did well and so on. The best place I've found to order potatoes is Wood Prairie Farms, WOW are they the best! They have a small variety of other organic seeds too, the ones I've tried have also been excellent! This is a small family run business and are great to deal with. Give them a try this year I am sure you will be well satisfied.

10 Weeks Old

2008-12-18T16:40:00.006-05:00

Time to take a trip to Siler City to Chaudhry Halal Meats Processing. This has been a long 10 weeks for us, 50 lbs of feed in 4 days and 6 gallons of water a day. 18 Jumbo Cornish X Rocks, the roosters are huge! The largest dressed out at 8.75 with the average weight being about 7.5. What an experience! I have a new respect for the chicken and turkey farmers in our community who grow 20,000+ at a time. If we decide to do this again, it will be in the warmer months when they can be grown in the pasture the whole time.

Growing Fast

2008-10-28T17:21:00.005-04:00

Watching these guys grow by the minute, they are 18 days old and have tripled in size. I've never witnessed feathers actually growing day by day, absolutely amazing. They are very large eaters and they all have their own personality and some are even strong headed. I have one that is a mini version of the others and has only grown one times it size as a chick. Keep on growing! I am ready for these guys to be outside.

New Chicks

2008-10-13T19:42:00.002-04:00

Twenty-seven one day old chicks arrived on 10/10/08 (last Friday). They are doing pretty good. I tried to start them on organic feed and vitamin water, but started to loose two a day so I switched to medicated chick starter. We'll see what happens! I am down to 22 little chicks as of tonight.

Fall Garden

2008-10-13T07:10:00.002-04:00

I love this time of year! Earthy root vegetables and lots of greens. The fall garden is planted and doing very well. Beets, Cabbage, Collards, Turnip, Kale, Chard, Green Peas, Onions, Radish, Cilantro, Parsley, and Chives. The best thing I have planted so far is the late green beans. I planted the seed Sept. 15 and have harvested twice, two pecks each time. The freezing of vegetables continues.