Healthy Soil, Health Animals, Healthy People: An Interview With Fertrell’s Jeff Mattocks

  /   Posted in: Interviews   /   Tagged: , , ,

We at Hiland Naturals use Fertrell in our GMO-free livestock feed because we think it’s important to give your family the best nature has to offer, so you, in turn, can raise healthy food. We recently spoke with Jeff Mattocks, Vice President and Animal Nutrition Specialist at Fertrell, about the importance of healthy soil, healthy animals, and healthy people.

In the first part of our two-part interview with Jeff, we talk about how farming practices have changed and what we as farmers can do to keep up with the times in a scientific, yet natural way.

Read more

Working Within The Bounds Of Nature: Talking GMOs And Farming With Terrell Spencer

  /   Posted in: Interviews   /   Tagged: , ,

For about eight years, Carla and Terrell Spencer have been successfully growing their farming operations in the Boston Mountains near West Fork, Arkansas. Theirs is a story of struggle, and ultimately, success. Hiland Naturals spoke with “Spence” about his work with the Farmer Veteran Coalition, being a parent, and his stance on GMOs.

Read more

A Short Guide For Feeding Healthy, GMO-Free Pigs

  /   Posted in: Farming Practices   /   Tagged: , ,

For many, chickens are the gateway animal. Once you’ve successfully dipped your toes in that pond, you may be ready to handle a bigger, more complex animal on your homestead. Pigs are an ideal animal to add to your list of accomplishments, but there’s a great deal to know before you start to feed your own GMO-free pigs. These highly intelligent creatures require a real healthy diet, and if you want healthy humans, you must raise healthy meat.

Read more

The Essence Of Human Spirit: Talking Backyard Farming With Joel Salatin

  /   Posted in: Interviews   /   Tagged: , ,

Hiland Naturals is committed to providing GMO-free feed to the masses, and we’re very proud to be a Non GMO Project verified brand, but not everyone feels the same way we do about GMOs. We wanted to hear from someone who really understands the debate from every angle, so we looked to a living, breathing example of successful sustainable farming in the United States—Polyface Farms.

The “farm of many faces” operated by the Salatin family, at the head of which sits third generation alternative farmer, Joel. He’s a highly-sought after speaker because of his deep insight and impassioned prose and the perfect person to weigh in on the GMO debate.

This is the third and final installment in a three-part series where Joel talks to Hiland Naturals about everything from his feelings on GMOs to the effects of a backyard farm on family. Because Hiland Naturals caters to people believe in the backyard farm, eating organic, and staying accountable for their own food choices, we wanted to see what Joel had to say about the impact of the backyard farm on families. This is what he had to say: Read more

How To Build Your Own Chicken Coop

  /   Posted in: Farming Practices   /   Tagged: , ,

Have you ever considered raising chickens as pets? What about for eggs and meat? The rise in new backyard farms is a trend that isn’t likely to cool anytime soon. Whether you live on an actual farm or in an apartment building in the city, you can raise chickens and insure that your family is eating  GMO-free poultry.

There’s lots of steps you must take in order to get your new backyard farm ready. You’ll have to do some research and decide what kind of chickens to start with, where to get your GMO-free chicken feed, and pick a design for your chicken coop. Luckily, you can build your dream chicken coop by following these simple steps.

Read more

The Truth About Chick Starter Feed

  /   Posted in: Farming Practices   /   Tagged: , ,

Spring is upon us and as the earth comes back to life, we see images of chicks all over the place. Since ancient times, chicks hatching from eggs has been a symbol of spring. Today, the adorable, fluffy little creatures can be found on candy wrappers, baskets, and even in the plush form. The chickens are just as adorable in real life. For families and farms that raise chickens—whether it be for eggs or for meat— it’s important that their animals grow to be strong. For these farmers, the chicks only get the best organic chick starter feed so they can grow to be beautiful, healthy chickens.

Read more

empowering the people

Empowering The People: Talking GMOs & Backyard Farming With Joel Salatin

  /   Posted in: Interviews   /   Tagged: , ,

Hiland Naturals is committed to providing GMO-free feed to the masses, and we’re very proud to be a Non GMO Project verified brand, but not everyone feels the same way we do about GMOs. We wanted to hear from someone who really understands the debate from every angle, so we looked to a living, breathing example of successful sustainable farming in the United States—Polyface Farms.

The “farm of many faces” operated by the Salatin family, at the head of which sits third generation alternative farmer, Joel. He’s a highly-sought after speaker because of his deep insight and impassioned prose and the perfect person to weigh in on the GMO debate.

This is the second installment in a three-part series where Joel talks to Hiland Naturals about everything from his feelings on GMOs to the effects of a backyard farm on family. Joel agrees with the GMO lobby that we shouldn’t put new labeling laws into effect, but it might not be for the reasons you might expect. Here’s what he had to say:

Read more

raising pigs

What The Backyard Farmer Should Know About Raising Pigs

  /   Posted in: Farming Practices   /   Tagged: , , ,

Pigs are one of the most adorable creatures on the planet. (Even when they aren’t piglets anymore.) As your backyard farm grows, purchasing piglets and beginning your own swine operation at home can be profitable and a lot of fun. Before you dive in, however, there’s a bunch you should know about pigs from how they should be kept to the importance of GMO-free pig feed.

Read more

Joel Salatin interview

The Tomato-Ness Of A Tomato: Talking GMOs & Backyard Farming With Joel Salatin

  /   Posted in: Interviews   /   Tagged: , ,

Hiland Naturals is committed to providing GMO-free feed to the masses, and we’re very proud to be a Non GMO Project verified brand, but not everyone feels the same way we do about GMOs. We wanted to hear from someone who really understands the debate from every angle, so we looked to a living, breathing example of successful sustainable farming in the United States—Polyface Farms.

The “farm of many faces” operated by the Salatin family, at the head of which sits third generation alternative farmer, Joel. He’s a highly-sought after speaker because of his deep insight and impassioned prose and the perfect person to weigh in on the GMO debate.

Read more

chickens and sustainable farming

Backyard Farmers Can Practice Sustainable Farming

  /   Posted in: Farming Practices   /   Tagged: , ,

Believe it or not, food is both affordable and abundant today. Modern farming practices have made it so there’s no shortage of food on the shelves or in our bellies. Why then are so many individuals concerned with changing the way that we farm? The way big business typically farms isn’t good for our animals, and it isn’t good for us. Sustainable farming is an extremely important concept that all people should be aware of and budding backyard farmers should consider.

Sustainable farming is about much more than just raising chickens to provide for your own table, although that is a big benefit. Joel Salatin argues, “That today 50 percent of all the human edible food produced in the world goes into landfills or greenie-endorsed composting operations rather than through omnivores is both ecologically and morally reprehensible.” Can you disagree? There should be a way to cut down on our wasteful production.

Read more