Episode 242 Susan's Shire: The Joy of Handmade Gifts

Every once in a while life and art intertwine. This week we bring you James Reams, who is a musician and artist who started life off in Kentucky, traveled to Wisconsin and had a long career in New York. He has been named the Kentucky Songbird and the Ambassador of Bluegrass, but he started life off on a farm. We caught up with James in Arizona this week, where we sat down with him to talk about his background and how farming and music have some similarities. Both are an art form. Links...

13 Apr 202217min

This week we are in Oregon at Shepherds Lane and it's lambing season - again. There's no sleep for a shepherd at this time of year, and Joy Dally tells us all about it. A shepherd's life isn't an easy one, and we're getting a crash course in the glorious highs and sad lows of a real reality show - life on a farm. We are following her as she goes and we hope you follow along with us this Spring. We couldn't have a better shepherdess to guide us. Links: https://www.shepherds...

6 Apr 202210min

We've mentioned that we are going to start to periodically check in with some people we've met along the way, bringing you a moment of conversation. The ag update, so to speak. Sometimes it's a farmer, sometimes it's a research scientist, and sometimes it's a supplier. Today we are speaking with Joe Putnam from Premier 1 Supplies. Links: https://www.premier1supplies.com Support the show

30 Mars 202215min

In the spirit of that impromptu moment that often happens in the Bowman universe, today we're going to bring you a quick conversation that occurred at the National Western Stock Show this January. You might know that the draft horses hold a special place for me, and there are very few things that are as majestic and glorious as a full hitch at speed thundering around the ring. One of those hitches this year was driven by a woman named Audrey Popoff, from Colton, California. And since March i...

23 Mars 202210min

Small ruminants are the bedrock of agriculture in much of this little ball of rock we humans inhabit. That said, here in North America they can be an afterthought for much of the population. We think that's going to change. Whether they're used for meat or fiber (or even as pack animals these days for a trek through the wilderness), we believe the time has come for us to rexamine the "lost category" of small ruminants. This year, one of the themes we'll be following at Back...

15 Mars 202222min

Today’s excerpt is from a now-public domain book called Everybody’s Standard Poultry Guide, Second Edition, Volume I. It was Published in 1919 by Everybody’s Poultry Magazine Publishing Company, Hanover, PA. The copy I have in my hand was a bit of a romantic present from my hubby, because he knows I love old books. This book is a beautiful thing, though. The pages are so old, they have a buff patina that looks like they have been dipped in tea, and every time I turn a page i...

9 Mars 202224min

We bring you another episode of our Fencepost Ruminations talk with Tammy White from Wing and a Prayer Farm in Shaftsbury, Vermont. It's March and Tammy is taking a few minutes from her day to share what's happening at her farm this month. Whether early in the morning or late at night, you’ll get an intimate glimpse into her conversation that occurs between a human and her animal. For all of you real and pretend farmers out there, this one’s for you. Links: https://www.wing...

2 Mars 20224min

This week we travel back to Indiana for the 2021 Future Farmers of America National Convention. There we met up with our good friends from the American Boer Goat Association, who loaned us a couple of roving reporters from the Junior ABGA, Logan and Alaina. They interviewed FFA Star Farmer Emily Acevedo from Bradford FFA in Florida who says her agriscience journey started in the sixth grade when her show goat unexpectedly gave birth at the Florida State Fair. Next up Elara spoke with Na...

22 Feb 202219min