Author Archives: Ben

Follow our project on Substack

Greetings from Fox Holler Farmstead! I thought it would be appropriate to share the news that I’ve been focusing my writing energy regularly over at benjaminbramble.substack.com for the time being. I hope you’ll join me over there, it’s been great getting back into writing this year. I hope to update the blog here on occasion,Continue reading “Follow our project on Substack”

Seven Trees to Plant for You and Your Pigs

If you want to save money on feed, protect and nurture soil, and increase the health and welfare of your pig herd, here are seven must-have species to include in your permaculture design. Let your pigs act like pigs Pigs, when given the opportunity, are forest dwellers. There is a long history of hogs andContinue reading “Seven Trees to Plant for You and Your Pigs”

Working towards a resilient farmstead

If you’re a homesteader, gardener, or farmer, chances are you’ve thought about how recent economic and geopolitical events are affecting your ability to raise food. Rising fuel costs, supply-chain issues, and violent climate conditions are making some of the vulnerabilities in our systems and practices more apparent. While we here at Fox Holler Farmstead focusContinue reading “Working towards a resilient farmstead”

Muck, Fire, and Daylight Savings: A Spring Update from Fox Holler Farmstead

Yesterday I made our first plantings of peas in the garden, which was a bit optimistic. Every year I swear that I’m not going to plant too early, and every year I do so anyway. Only time will tell, I s’pose. It’s been a busy few weeks on the farmstead that only a steady, coldContinue reading “Muck, Fire, and Daylight Savings: A Spring Update from Fox Holler Farmstead”

Butchering Muscovy Ducks

Muscovy Ducks can be a valuable part of the homestead in terms of their light impact, heavy yields of meat, and natural proclivity to survive, thrive and naturally brood. One drawback is how difficult they can be to process. Having raised them for eight or so years now, I have some tricks to share. IContinue reading “Butchering Muscovy Ducks”

Basic Roast Duck

I’ve noticed that some of our eaters have felt intimidated by preparing whole ducks. In this, the first in a series of posts on raising, and eating, muscovy ducks, I offer a few tips on simple preparations for your whole bird. Howdy y’all. A have a few caveats before we begin… namely that we useContinue reading “Basic Roast Duck”

Trees and Shrubs for the Chicken Forest Garden

You can take the fowl out of the jungle… Howdy y’all. I might be writing this in part to feel better about the rather large chunk of change we’re investing in trees this year, but also to hopefully provide some food for thought in regards how you can begin designing a multi-layered forest garden forContinue reading “Trees and Shrubs for the Chicken Forest Garden”

Why we’ve stuck with kunekune pigs

Some folks view kunekune pigs as impractical for meat production. Here’s why we think they make sense in a sustainable, local, decentralized food system. Kunekune pigs can thrive without imports in a well-designed pasture/orchard system. They are easy to handle, lighter on the land than other breeds of pig, and yield a nice amount ofContinue reading “Why we’ve stuck with kunekune pigs”