Over the past couple of years, one of the biggest and hardest things we've been dealing with is keeping things alive. It's not as easy as you would think, even though we've had pets and raised animals before, or grown something simple - growing beans in elementary school comes to mind. But when you're trying to do it at scale, when you're trying to grow many things, there tend to be some issues that can arise…

The predator problem has been a major issue for us. We've faced significant losses, from roosters to entire batches of bunnies and ducklings. It has been devastating. While modern practices in farming and agriculture involve the use of pesticides and herbicides, we strive for a more natural approach. We want to work with the land and believe that everything we need to cultivate and engage in agriculture is provided by God and nature. We want to avoid external inputs like fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and even chemicals in chicken feed and antibiotics when raising our animals.

Naturally, we aim to have natural compost and employ as many natural methods as possible. However, weeding remains an issue. Despite using straw and other techniques to mitigate it, weeds still manage to grow and cause a lot of trouble. It's frustrating to deal with these persistent and invasive plants, especially the large ones that take over the garden.

I must admit, I'm not fond of weeding. I tend to be lazy. But unfortunately, it's a necessary task. Even with our best efforts, weeds still grow and require attention - like everything else around here. There's no magical solution that eliminates the need for maintenance. So, we find ourselves constantly pulling out stubborn weeds.

Sometimes I wonder why these weeds take over. They seem to be everywhere in the garden, making them a real pain to deal with. It feels like they never go away no matter what we do.

However, not everything that looks like a weed or is called a weed is necessarily bad. We were recently featured on the news to discuss a weed that people may be familiar with: the dandelion. We have an entire other post dedicated to dandelions so check that out.

Besides dandelions, wild mint seems to be taking over our garden too. I don’t so much mind the mint but we can only harvest and forage so much so in the end it’s got to go! We prefer to focus on growing our beans, corn, onions and everything else, so we keep mint on the outskirts. It's all about finding the right balance and ensuring that our desired crops thrive.

While we may encounter setbacks and face the constant need for maintenance, the joys of witnessing growth, harvesting fresh produce, and discovering new flavors make it all worthwhile. Our commitment to natural practices and working harmoniously with the land has not only enriched our lives but also highlighted the interconnectedness of all living beings.

As we continue to experiment with different crops and explore the vast potential of our garden, we remain driven by the desire to cultivate a sustainable and thriving environment. We strive to strike a balance between utilizing the land's resources and preserving its natural beauty, ensuring that future generations can experience the wonders of nature just as we have.

In the end, our journey as farmers and stewards of the land is a continuous learning experience—one that fills us with gratitude and humility. We are reminded of the intricate web of life, where even the humblest of plants and creatures have their unique contributions and lessons to offer. So, we embrace the challenges, celebrate the victories, and eagerly await the next chapter in our ever-evolving relationship with the land and its bountiful gifts.