It wasn't until last year that I first heard about fermented chicken feed. It was a foreign concept but I was intrigued and wanted to learn more. The health of our flock has always been a priority to me. This is why we purchased some of the high-end soy free, organic chicken feed for many years.

But what other benefits would this bring to our homestead??

​

One of the most exciting aspects of raising pigs, in my opinion, would be their ability to turn "trash" into a treasure of bacon! Once I started collecting kitchen scraps for the pigs and goats on our farm I realized how much food goes to waste. Onion skins, egg shells, and potato peels were once sent to the trash, never to reach their full potential. Yes, I realize these items are gold for the compost pile, but I have an ugly confession to make here. 

I am a terrible compost keeper! 

There, I said it! I am determined to master composting but today let's talk about another way to create a (nearly) zero waste kitchen. 

Regenerative agriculture seems to be popping up more and more. So, what's all the buzz about? Simply put, regenerative agriculture focuses on soil health in order to reduce carbon emissions. Healthy soils that do not feel the harsh blades of tillage are able to sequester carbon in our enviroment. The United Nations believes adopting these practices could offset total global emissions by 10 percent, which is significant! 

You might be wondering how this is possible. Soil that has been undisturbed already contains carbon and microbes. Once the soil has been worked such as using tillage the carbon is released into the air. I often tell people I am a soil farmer. My goal is to rebuild the soil by increasing the organic matter that will effectivly store more water and draw carbon out of the atmosphere. But regenerative agriculture is more than just that...

​