Square A Farms

The Grass Is Always Greener

The grass is always greener….

in the next mouthful…..

which is over there.

Or so seems to go the cow mentality of eating. Cows are natural wanderers while they eat.

In addition to making them very happy and contented, it is good for the land.

It makes for healthier grasslands, which means more carbon capture and plant biodiversity. Cows are sometimes called environmental polluters, but grazing them can have a positive impact on grasslands.

The microflora in the gut of ruminants is symbiotic with the myriad species of soil life. Scientists talk about “inoculating the soil” with livestock presence. Again, the circumstantial evidence tells us when grazing is applied correctly, the relationship between gut life and soil life is true and good.

We decided about five years ago to make this our way of managing the land and became a certified grass grazing farm. This means we use no pesticides or fertilizers. To maintain the delicate balance of health for the land we rely on nature, sun, wind, and rain.

And cows! Heidi 4

Farmers Tan

There are things we all ponder in life

“What exactly is global warming”?

“Why are teenagers moody”?

And

“Why is there no blue food”?

The last one being particularly mind-boggling, even blueberries are purple, not blue.

There is, however, another quintessential mystery of life that we think we have found the answer to and we are willing to share.

Where do farmers get those “farmers tans”?

Like many great things that start as a by-product of something else (like donut holes and chicken wings), farmers didn’t start out to create a movement that has been honored with its own name. It had its ignoble beginning in a field somewhere with someone just working in the hot sun most likely.

Doing this day after day and week after week all summer long created a “look”. Now here in Florida, anyone who has shirt marks in their tan line borrows the description “farmers tan” and everyone knows immediately what it means.

It’s trending to have a farmers tan!

But the nebulous question of origin remains. How does one set about getting a farmers tan on purpose? How can the average person jump on this trend? We here at Square A are proud to say we have that answer for you. Along with pictures to make it clear.

First,

find some sun,
put on a T-shirt
whichever is easier for you is what you should do first.

Then find a cow in a field (this part might be trickier depending on your location)

Pray the cow doesn’t care and wants to be trending. Notice the cow on the left is horrified at being part of this while the cow on the right is more agreeable. We would recommend you take note of this in your own cow picking.

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Voila!

Get the cow, the sun and your T-shirt to all work together and you too can have your very own farmers tan.

You’re welcome and best of luck to you!

Icy Stare

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Winter is sharing her own brand of beauty.

The earth is dormant and the cows blow billowing breath out their nostrils.

A cozy corner behind a mound of hay is a good place to stay warm.

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So is standing by the fire pit toasting marshmallows.

Spring Has Sprung

Finally. Cold weather followed by lack of rain got spring off to a creaky cranky start here.

Now four inches of rain and warm temperatures are working their joint magical ability to renew the earth for the desperately anticipated grass season.

Gretel 22