[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5742869/height/90/width/480/theme/custom/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/” height=”90″ width=”480″]On this episode, I’m joined by Dave and Ginger Shields of Pastured Life Farm in O’brien, Florida. Dave and Ginger started their life as urbanites in Jacksonville, but it was their preschool aged son that made them leave the city and the suburbs in search of a life more connected to their food.

Their intention was to homestead and they did that for several years, but eventually, that homestead model transformed itself into a pastured poultry business. At this point, they’ve been on the farm for eight years. Today, they grow approximately 5,000 Cornish cross broilers and up to 1,000 laying hens in a sexlink / heritage bird flock rotation.

Their new life is brimming with opportunity, which often rises up out of everyday farm challenges. The feed co-op they formed is one such example. They’re moving up to 100 tons of feed a month.

We discuss one of my favorite topics, processing. And what’s it like to farm on sand? Dave talks through some of his tips for managing low organic matter pasture in Florida.

Resources from the show:

Pastured Life Farm: Facebook | Web

Your Successful Farm Business by Joel Salatin

Poultry Man Chicken Processing Equipment

American Pastured Poultry Producers Association

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