Hens, Harvests & a Whole Lotta Veggies: January at the Ranch
A brand new year has begun. We returned from our holidays renewed and ready for action! A lot happened in the first month of 2024 that’ll bring an abundance of regenerative goodness to our local community.
Join us as we look back on January and share five of the most important happenings at the Deeply Rooted Ranch.
1 - Livestock Ready to Launch
Our poultry and livestock plans are steadily bearing fruit. We started consistent rearing cycles for our broiler chicken operations. This means our community will soon be able to include farm-raised chicken as add-ons to their weekly farm boxes.
A consistent supply will also allow us to offer chicken cuts and whole birds at our stall at the First Fridays Farmer's Market in Downtown Brenham! Have you visited us there yet? If not, you should come and say hi and take home regeneratively grown veggies and (soon) chicken!
We've also got some egg-cellent news: The construction of our first layer coop is well underway! You can expect a supply of fresh organic eggs real soon.
Finally, our sheep are bred, and we're anticipating lambs as soon as May. In the meantime, all the mama sheep have been feasting on the nutrient-dense grass we have planted all over the ranch to ensure they receive the best care.
2 - Farm Boxes Restart From February 22
We upgraded our hoop house late last year to give our crops a safe, weather (and rabbit) protected space to grow. And we’re thrilled to say that it’s already filled with delicious vegetables and herbs ready for our community! That’s why we’ll start offering our Spring Farm Boxes weekly starting February 22, 2024.
Our February harvest is all set to include ruby perfection red cabbage, arugula, mustard greens, collars, herbs, and a salad mix. This freshly harvested bounty will feature in all our offerings for the season: at our upcoming Supper Club events, farm boxes, and at our staff at the First Fridays Market. Plus, you’ll also be able to purchase freshly baked bread and farm-made items such as whole grain mustard and hot sauce, lovingly prepared by Chris, our Culinary Director.
3 - Blooming Soon: Our Pollinator Garden
Almost 75% of the world's crops depend on pollinating insects to grow, but their numbers have drastically declined due to industrial agriculture’s use of pesticides and other human activities. As a regenerative ranch, we are playing our part in preventing this by growing a pollinator garden on the premises. We have earmarked a fenced-off area previously used as a horse paddock, which will now be filled with various native grasses and plants to beckon our pollinating friends to the ranch.
Once mature, the garden will feature walking paths for visitors to experience the garden up close. A pollinating garden also allows us to meet the Texas Wildlife Exemption criteria by supporting the local flora of the region.
4 - Spring Planning While It Snows
Being a ranch manager means getting a first-row seat to witness the ever-changing beauty of the seasons. Our deciduous trees shed their leaves right before the holidays last year, so it looks bare and wintry on the farm. But even in the cold of winter, life blooms: you’ll find delicate dandelions and purple henbits sprouting from the land.
As we protect the plants from the freezing cold, this is also a time for us to start planning for springtime. We are already finalizing the crop varieties we will be planting in the warmer months, ensuring we are ready to sow as soon as the Earth is ready.
5 - The Hoop House Brought Us a Willowy Surprise
When we repaired the hoop house to shelter our plants, we were thrilled to find a lovely surprise: wild willow trees!
Several of them were damaged in the same storm that damaged our Hoop House last year. Well, we managed to re-grow them thanks to the expert guidance of Jessie, our wonderful in-house agroecologist! We have now strategically replanted them around the farm to add shade and help prevent erosion. Once fully grown, these formidable trees will make for beautiful arbors for our dining and play areas.
Come See Deeply Rooted Ranch for Yourself!
Our ranch is a living, breathing entity that grows and changes every month, and it’s a privilege to witness and be a part of this lifelong process.
If you’d like to join us for regenerative fun at the ranch, you can plan your own event or attend any of our upcoming events.
See you soon!
