Alfa Laval’s Post

Little Farm Quarterly Update #3 (LFQU3) 9 months in already down here on the Little Farm, which continues to be an absolute joy, lots of work & lots of learning. Before we go into the lessons learned bit, I thought it might be useful time to start documenting the headcount of the farm fam. We started we me, Fred & the inherited grumpy old sheep Tatiana. We added 6 chooks & 6 ducklings in the first few months. Since then, we lost a few friends - rest well Tina Turner, Bonnie Tyler & a couple of baby chooks who didn’t quite make it…but you were all very much loved. In happier news, we have welcomed some new floofs which were incubated from little eggies, soon Meatloaf & Rod Stewart the Silkie Roosters will get a few new friends - 11 little chooklings are growing up fast! And now, down to the advice part of the LFQU - this time it’s the top four duckling life lessons that will always see you right. 1. Every day is an exciting opportunity to create new things, don’t hold on to yesterday cause it’s already gone. We recommend jumping out of bed (the duck shed) at significant pace cause who knows what you might be missing! Carpe the duck out of that diem people 2. One of our Waddle isn’t as nimble as us, but we really like to go fast. Most of the time that’s ok, but when there’s an emergency, one of us always stays back with them just to make sure they’re ok. A good duck doesn’t leave a team member behind. 3. Treat yo’self! Are you working hard at being a founder/duck? Good for you! Don’t forget to give yourself little rewards every day just to keep going. Our favourite thing is when the slightly taller member of our waddle comes out with a bowl of peas to thank us for all our ducking hard work - it’s a simple thing, but it really makes our day. 4. We ducking love being ducks, so much so that we often forget to stop & rest. The taller duck we mentioned earlier reminds us when to rest and when to go to bed. She’s a bit of a buzz kill sometimes, but we need that other duck to intervene and tell us it’s bedtime. Do you have a wise duck in your tribe who you haven’t thanked in a while for waddling alongside you every step of the way? You’re lucky, say thank you for what they do. #LittleFarm #LFQU

5 Important Tips to Become the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) at Raising Goats So you want to be the G.O.A.T. at raising goats? Well, there are certain essentials that all goat owners must follow to be successful. First let’s review the basics about cloven-hoofed friends that are found on most farms or sometimes in family backyards.

Goat Number 3 * The Missing Goat, "Goat no 3"... wonderful story, please read* It all started one lazy Sunday afternoon in a small town near Toronto in Canada. Two school-going friends had a crazy idea. They rounded up three goats from the neighborhood and painted the numbers *1, 2 & 4* on their sides. That night they let the goats loose inside their school building. The next morning, when the authorities entered the school, they could smell something was wrong. They soon saw goat droppings on the stairs and near the entrance and realized that some goats had entered the building. A search was immediately launched and very soon, the three goats were found. But the authorities were worried, where was goat No. 3? They spent the rest of the day looking for goat No.3. The school declared classes off for the students for the rest of the day. The teachers, helpers, guards, canteen staff, boys were all busy looking for the goat No. 3, which, of course, was never found. Simply because it did not exist. Those among us who inspite of having a good life are always feeling a "lack of fulfilment" are actually looking for the elusive, missing, non-existent Goat No.3. Whatever the area of complaint or dissatisfaction, relationship, job-satisfaction, finance, achievements, ...... An absence of something is always larger than the presence of many other things. Let's Stop worrying about goat No.3 and enjoy the life...Life would be so much happier without the worries... And don't let the non existent imaginary goat number 3 waste your time and happiness. Enjoy life with what you have…

5 Important Tips to Become the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) at Raising Goats So you want to be the G.O.A.T. at raising goats? Well, there are certain essentials that all goat owners must follow to be successful. First let’s review the basics about cloven-hoofed friends that are found on most farms or sometimes in family backyards.

Did you know some ranches have been in the same family for over 100 years? The Coconut 06 Ranch has passed through 6 generations, preserving a way of life that's as old as the West itself. Discover the legacy of ranch cowboy jobs in our latest article. #RanchingTradition #FamilyLegacy

Ranch life is more than a job – it's a way of life that's deeply rooted in tradition, skill, and community. Explore the world of ranch cowboy jobs in our latest article. #RanchingIndustry #AgricultureCareers

"You don't own cattle. You're not a rancher." "You can't understand what it's like because you don't own the ranch." "There's no risk to you, you're not the owner." "You don't understand finances unless your name is on the check." Okay. Hooookay. I get a variation of this comment not infrequently, and it used to really, really bother me. Now, it makes me giggle. However, someone recently posted that sentiment (again) in a comment and I got quite a few messages and even a phone call (shout out to Donnie Valdez for being the best) to offer support and I'm so grateful. Sometimes the internet is the worst, but sometimes it's also the best. Ownership does not a rancher make. (Now I realize that to certain people, the "rancher" is the one who owns the ranch. I mean rancher in a broader sense, aka someone qualified and talented at running a successful ranching business. More in the comments.) By the ownership metric, Taylor Sheridan is the rancher, not Joe Leathers. Now, I'm not comparing myself to Joe Leathers even one tiny bit. The man is a legend. But as we see more and more young people getting into ag, the idea that you must own the land/cattle/equipment/etc to be a farmer or a rancher is not only shenanigans, it's detrimental. The barriers to entry in ag are incredibly high, and that kind of attitude makes them even higher. Insurmountable, for some. I think I understand why people believe that to be true. Perhaps they are operating from a place of scarcity, fear, and a desire to have their hard work recognized. Perhaps they feel threatened by how fast ag is changing, or worried about the future. What I don't get is why we'd want to hamstring the future of this business by making it even more exclusive, more difficult, and less enjoyable for new people by telling them they will never attain a level of professional expertise simply because they weren't born into this business. Like it or not, we *need* new people in ag. Both literally to replace the people leaving ag and also because new people bring new ideas, new solutions, new passion, and new life to a beautiful, historic business. We can keep the good stuff that this business is built on while also recognizing what a boon excited, enthusiastic, people are. And I'll add this, too: the internet is a vast and diverse space. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion so if you find yourself getting worked up about a creator's content, you can always simply unfollow them. (Note: this is different from disagreement, or healthy discourse on a topic. There is a line between "I don't agree," and "I shall now proceed to be a butthead.") When the internet gets your goat, I recommend going outside outside. Getting a snack. Stretching. Calling a friend. Shoot, do that anyway. All of our posture is going to the dogs and we need more human connection. (Pictured: me flanking calves at my first branding where everyone was kind and no one told me I didn't belong.)

Learn how to tame an unfriendly goat with expert tips. Build trust, use rewards, and ensure a comfortable environment for successful taming. 🐐 https://lnkd.in/gh4z47kf 🐐 #GoatFarming #AlphaAgventureFarms

#compassion + #collaboration + #creativity = great story (thanks Food Solutions New England Network Leadership Institute alum Jacob Nelson!) “Last June, lightning struck the back corner of one of their barns, setting it alight. The fire spread quickly, engulfing two barns and shooting flames into the nearby home where 93-year-old patriarch Joseph Waskiewicz Sr. was resting. He made it safely across the street, but even as his children, neighbors, and first responders did their best, all he could do was watch as the blaze consumed the #farm buildings. As they went up in smoke, so too did several lifetimes worth of memories and equipment that had been passed down for generations. None of them could truly be replaced. … “These mounting losses were undeniably crushing. Yet almost at once, acts of #kindness began to pour in, offering relief, stability, and reassurance that their community cared and wanted them to succeed. … “Local businesses lent storage containers, machinery to clean up the debris, and even a porta-potty. Neighbors near and far dropped off hand tools, power tools, and other things they had lost. “‘So many things just appeared here,’ says Suprenant. ‘There’s been no way to really thank everyone, but we wish we could.’ “Meanwhile, several organizations that support local farms stepped in with resources, advice and referrals. CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture), American Farmland Trust, New England Consulting Services and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources continue to help J & J Farms chart their future today. “The GoFundMe money covered part of the cost of a new barn for housing farm equipment and processing vegetables, which is almost complete. Work continues to make the house livable again. While putting the physical pieces back together, the siblings are also working out how the #farmbusiness can continue to thrive without the dairy cows. “One answer might be raising beef cattle and selling beef straight to their loyal following of farm stand customers. Today, a small test herd can be seen lounging in the shadier parts of their pastures. Another might be expanding their cut flower business. Currently they sell stems to florists, bouquets at the farm stand, and Suprenant arranges flowers for special occasions like weddings and bridal showers. Another strategy might be selling more produce, planting more and extending their season by growing under hoop houses.” https://lnkd.in/eW64M8jt

11 Tips To Deter Squirrels Off Shepherds Hook