First Light Farm

05/25/2026

just digging and having fun....

05/09/2026

Most were six pounds, but we had a few seven-pounders from the processor today; good batch of spring chickens - complete.

04/29/2026

Saw a monarch butterfly caterpillar in the pasture today. The monarchs need milkweed to lay their eggs and grow the young caterpillars.
Unfortunately, the milky residue that secrets from the stalk is toxic to humans and some livestock when eaten. As a result, many farmers spray herbicides to kill the plant; which costs the butterfly population critical habitat. Fortunately, we do not spray any chemicals on our pasture and healthy animals with plenty of forage to choose from will not eat toxic plants.
This specific species of milkweed is called Antelope Horns and is a favorite for butterflies and bees alike

04/27/2026

Wild dewberries are growing on some of our interior fence lines. It was so nice to pick a few bowls and then share them with the family with ice cream and chocolate sauce; just as nature intended

04/22/2026

04/12/2026

Pigs are here!

04/08/2026

Solar Panels.
Our farm's foundation is based on how much quality grass we can grow. It behooves a farmer to capture as much sunlight as possible to grow more grass. The amount of sunlight we capture is directly related to the surface area of forage that is actively growing. These pictures show a patch of grass that was eaten flat on top by our cows on February 27th next to a picture from today on April 8th. By affording the grass 45 days of recovery and growth before grazing again, we allow the largest possible solar panels up top and the deepest, carbon-sequestering, roots down below. An illustration I read in the Stockman Grass Farmer spoke of how a farmer growing a hay field did not clip and bale the field every three days. Rather, to maximize the hay he produced, the grass was allowed to grow for months before cutting and baling; we are working for that same goal, just allowing the cows to do the clipping.

04/02/2026

If you were a mouse in the barn......this was your moment to get a snack

04/01/2026

Moving day. Our chicks are just over two-weeks old and came out of the brooder and onto pasture today. Even though they had never seen either before, it took them no time to begin eating grass and catching bugs.

03/11/2026

The blossoms on the pear tree looked extra bright against the grey sky after our rain.
It occurred to me while taking a picture that these flowers would turn into pears that will feed our pigs that will then turn into sausage for our family.