As the year draws to a close, we share some thoughts about life that has transpired since our last episode on March 31st... Farming has been a lot of fun and a lot of hard work.  We have shared some of our highest highs and lowest lows as a result of our farming endeavours. We hope we have cultivated some ideas and new farmers and look forward to the unknowns a New Year offers! CHEERS!

The fine legslative geniuses in MD keep the bees safe - http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/35978-maryland-to-become-first-state-to-ban-bee-killing-pesticides-for-consumer-use Soon your bacon will be genetically engineered - http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scientists-breed-pigs-resistant-to-a-devastating-infection-using-crispr/ And we review the piece of movie garbage known as Batman vs Superman

Want to get people fired up and yelling for no reason - mention raw milk...  which we did here and this episode dissects the fun that follows. But before we got to that conversation we talked about spring planting plans and the beehives!

This episode is mostly listener questions that we answer about our hoop house, construction methods, and gardening inside the hoop house.  We also touch on garden planning and winter beekeeping. Hoop house hoop bender - http://www.lostcreek.net/ Hoophouse book - http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Harvest-Handbook-Deep-Organic-Greenhouses/dp/1603580816/  

This entire episode is dedicated to the 2016 Farm Meeting where we discuss the vegetable gardens, seeds, chickens, pigs, ducks and all things farm related.  After deciding we were going to cut back on the farm in 2016 this meeting helped us put it all into perspective in terms of what we are and are not going to be doing. CHeck us out on social media to join in the conversation - facebook.com/chickenthistlefarm, @chickenthistle on Twitter...Or - follow Farmer Andy @farmerandyman on Twitter...

From the farm this week we share a few updates (but it's a slow season for a slower year).  We also discuss our seed order, country of origin labeling of meats (WHO), beekeeping and review Star Wars Links that matter include :  We ordered from Burpee Seed - no special link or promocode...  but if you DO order from them - tell them you heard about them on our show - we put our name in the link to maybe get some attention from their web people!!! (at this time looks like new visits get 20%...

This episode is the last broadcast for 2015.  So Merry Christmas everyone! We talk a bit about update around the farm and how it's a bit strange to not have so much "farm" to worry about.  We also answer some Facebook listener questions about the trees we planted, the fields, the berry patch and other things left unsaid around the farm. Then we conclude with a mention of a few of our favorite things - things for the farm, things in our personal life and favorite wines and spirits. Farmer...

After the Thanksgiving turkey wore off we decided to get back to the farming podcast...  and we talk about the most recent pork cuts we picked up.  We then talk about some of the food we made for Thanksgiving and deer season and Farmer Andy shares the Thanksgiving morning story of his big buck! We wrap up the episode with Farm U on E. coli O157:H7, what it is, where it comes from and Dr. Farmer Kelli shares a resource (cdc.gov) to learn more about infectious diseases and foodborne diseases.

This episode we talk about the taking of the pigs to the processor, some updates from around the farm and about deer season... and the highly anticipated tomato round up from the vegetable garden.

After posting that we were taking a pig to the processor and hurting some folks feelings...  we decided we didn't really care.  Toughen up folks.  So we make fun of them. Then we talk about the deer season to date and update people on the honey harvest from our first year of bees. In general - it's a bunch of farm updates.

We return with pig, chicken, bee and vegetable garden updates.  We then talk a bit about a discovery about the stiffness of your arrow and the placement of a broadhead shot (yeah - giggle if you want) as it pertains to archery / bowhunting.  And the nwe conclude with some listener emails and a discussion about a sugar free diet.

In this episode we just shae some udpates and clarification about the fate and future of the farm.  We also talk a bit about some of the veggies we discovered still thriving in the gardens.

In this episode we return to the coopcast to discuss the future of our farm and all the different enterprises we have in play.  

In the first ever solo recorded Coopcast Farmer Andy shares the events of the last month that have put our farm and future plans on hold.  This is a candid and honest monologue about where we are and what decisions we have ahead about the farm.

Since we are in the busy time of year it's just another update show around the farm! We talk about the process and the reasons why we castrate our piglets.  We also share the history of why we are so sure to do the castrations when we do them.  Then we talk about the pastured chickens, the egg layers and the vegetable gardens.  We wrap up with the latest beekeeping / bee swarm update.

This weeks episode is a short "SPROUTCAST" where we just tell the story of pig farrowing and the outcome of pigs on the farm this year.  It's recorded in the truck - but even lor fidelity is better than nofidelity, right?

This week we walk arounf the farm and update you on all the things going on. We captured a wild honeybee swarm and talk about what the process was and how we managed things.  We discuss the Cornish Cross chickens that are not being liek regualr chickens of past years. Then we talk a bit about the pig we are expecting to farrow any day now.  Then we finish up in the vegetable garden discussing some of what's been going on there! Busy time of year and a lot going on.

This episode sorta wanders all over in terms of updates.  Farmer Andy started a new way of eating and by cutting sugar out of his diet he's found a whole new way to live life.  We discuss some of our favorite wines (from boxes) and other cocktails...  then we move into the farm updates.  We talk about the chickens (broilers and layers), a exciting night with a critter in the coop, the pig getting ready to farrow, the greenhouse, beekeeping and more. It's a lot of updates - but we have a log...

I this episode we talk about where we have been the last 2 weeks and why we haven't coopcasted.  We share the story of the chickens arriving early this year and their bad attitudes.  We talk about the moved pig, planting the vegetable garden and what's going on in the greenhouse (like fresh strawberries).

After getting our new beehive we have checked in on their progress and the hive is growing quickly.  We update everyone on the status and happening in the hive.  We then talk about the trees we have been planting as well as the early spring gardening efforts.  The potatoes are in, the peas and asparagus is up and the greenhouse is full.  Tune in to hear all the latest updates!

This is the first low qulaity audo episode we have produced as we were driving in the truck to pickup our beehive and still wanted to produce an episode.  So we talk a little about bees, the seedlings for the vegetable garden and the animals. It's 15 minutes of free content recorded ina truck - it's gotta be great!

This weeks episode tells the story of the Great Hedgerow Fire of 2015...  but it wasn't that great.   We then just field a bunch of listener questions from a Periscope session! Questions range from pig updates to tractors to beekeeping... Ohh - and you can leave us a voicemail now too for the podcast! :)