 hen we  decided to take a greater degree of control of our food supply, we looked at the way we were raising our own animals and vegetables. We quit using growth hormones, antibiotics and
insecticides on our animals. We also chose to use less grain, which some animals weren't designed to eat (www.eatwild.com), and use lush pasture and good hay for a more natural diet.
 Our poultry, which at that time consisted or meat broilers and laying hens, were literally turned out
to pasture. Instead of being locked in crowded, artificially lit buildings for their whole life, we use portable, bottomless shelters to move them to a fresh "saladbar" of grass everyday of the growing
season. These shelters give them the clean grass they need to stay healthy. It also gives them protection from the predators that would wipe them out if they were free ranging. For winter, in our
climate, when it is not fit for man nor beast to be outside, the laying hens are kept in buildings with lots of natural
lighting and dry shaving. They are free to move around and scratch to their hearts desire.
Our cattle, sheep and pigs are kept outside year-round.  During the grazing season the cattle and sheep are
rotated to fresh pasture every few days. The pigs are moved between bush pasture and tame pasture depending on their diet requirements. In the winter the cattle and sheep are fed out on the
pastures where we get the most efficient nutrient cycling.  The pigs are brought closer to the
farmyard for easier feeding. They are kept in a two to three acre mixed pasture/bush field. This gives them adequate shelter in our northern climate. By moving the
animals to clean areas frequently we practically eliminate the need for parasite control.
In an attempt to raise quality vegetables, we raise a large garden. As an extension of this we have undertaken to
market the extra produce. We wanted people to have access to fresh, local produce. We believe that for any
small farmer to have a hope of making a living for themselves and their families we have to lower our purchased
inputs. In response to this we have chosen to use draft horses instead of fossil fuel burning equipment
www.smallfarmersjournal.com. As part of our market gardening practices we use the team to prepare the soil, cultivate and harvest.
They also have to earn their feed in the winter by taking hay to all the other animals. We also enjoy our team for wagon and sleigh rides. In the future we would like to extend this pleasure to others.
 We also try to make more informed decisions about where the food we consume, but don't raise,
comes from. As an alternative to the mega-sized supermarkets we have organized an organic and natural food-buying co-op. In this co-op each purchasing family receives a wholesale
grocery/produce catalog. Their order is then compiled with all other orders and sent in. It is then shipped to us for sorting. Each family then picks up their orders from us.
Read Jo Robinson's Article: Beyond Organic
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