Episodi

  • Dead Calf? Plus, Checking On The Tree Seeds In The Fridge

    Dead Calf? Plus, Checking On The Tree Seeds In The Fridge
    Feb 25 2026
    As they say, if you have livestock you're going to have deadstock. That's always in the back of my mind when I check on the cattle and the calf I noticed today didn't look right. Also, I have a few minutes to check on the tree seeds that I put in the fridge.
    Jan 11 - tree seeds placed in damp paper towel then stored in ziploc bags in the fridge
    Feb 25 - checking the seeds 46 days later

    Walnut, birch, silver maple, sugar maple, oak.

    Conclusions? Some of the sugar maple seeds have germinated, so I should transplant them to soil right away. The silver maple seeds just don't look good, and it was probably a mistake to vernalize them in the fridge. I should have just planted them last spring when they fell. Too early to tell with the walnut, birch and oak.

    Send me questions, comments, or advice about growing trees from seed.

    Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder

    Please contact me with your own stories.
    greatbigfarmer@gmail.com
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    18 min
  • Would anyone benefit from an open house "field day" on this farm?

    Would anyone benefit from an open house "field day" on this farm?
    Feb 24 2026
    If I hosted a field day, would anyone even come? Do I have any useful knowledge or experience to share? These are some of the questions that come to mind as I entertain the idea of hosting an open house "field day". As this episode was recorded I arrived at a few tentative conclusions. I think I have some experience to share when it comes to rotationally grazing cattle because I've been doing it for a long time. Likewise for anyone interested in organic row cropping, I might have interesting things to offer because I am relatively new to it. If someone likes to experiment, they might be interested in my attempt at organic no-till soybeans using rye and roller crimping. There is also the equipment! I farm in 2026 using equipment from 1970 and could set all of it out for people to see. The agroecological practices that I've been doing over the years, and the new things like starting trees from seed all might appeal to someone who attends. Who knows? I'm tempted to host the field day and see what happens...there is only one way to find out if it would help someone.

    Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder

    Please contact me with your own stories.
    greatbigfarmer@gmail.com
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    39 min
  • I Have Decided - Mary Oliver

    I Have Decided - Mary Oliver
    Feb 17 2026
    Sure I'm a farmer. But I'm also what you'd call a contemplative. Here is the poem, I Have Decided by Mary Oliver. Let me know what you think!



    Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder

    Please contact me with your own stories.
    greatbigfarmer@gmail.com
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    9 min
  • A Good Episode If You Are New To Cows And Calving

    A Good Episode If You Are New To Cows And Calving
    Feb 17 2026
    I'm hoping that you might find something in this episode that will help you during calving season, especially if you are just starting out! I think there might be a couple of takeaways for experienced farmers too.
    I talk about my calving bins, keeping safe when near a new mom, home made electrolyte solution, colostrum, milk replacer, selenium-vitamin E, castrating, and many other things.
    Here is something I forgot to mention LOL and I thought of it as soon as I was done recording. If a calf isn't breathing, reach for a piece of straw and insert the straw a couple of inches into the calf's notril. I've had success a couple of times doing this.

    Electrolyte: store these ingredients in a ziploc bag and administer the solution with a tube doser or bottle

    1.9 litres warm water
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1/4 teaspoon "salt free" salt
    1/4 teaspoon baking soda
    2 tablespoons corn syrup


    Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder

    Please contact me with your own stories.
    greatbigfarmer@gmail.com
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    28 min
  • The Calving Circus Has Begun

    The Calving Circus Has Begun
    Feb 15 2026
    greatbigfarmer@gmail.com

    Four calves in 48 hours. Frozen water lines. A calf that doesn't know how to suck, and another that is the sort I call a runner. A heifer in heat and a frustrated bull. Anxious momma cows, and every barn cat wandering around to check out the excitement. A circus. I'm tired.

    Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder

    Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder

    Please contact me with your own stories.
    greatbigfarmer@gmail.com
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    23 min
  • The Sounds Of June On The Farm

    The Sounds Of June On The Farm
    Feb 9 2026
    greatbigfarmer@gmail.com

    June 22 is right in the middle of haying season. I decided to set my phone in the field and capture the sound of the wind, grassland birds, insects, and passing cars. The sound of the farm in summer is something I never want to forget.

    Skip ahead to 2:17 if you want to use this episode in your contemplative practice. Or just play it for your cat while you are at work. Up to you LOL.

    Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder

    Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder

    Please contact me with your own stories.
    greatbigfarmer@gmail.com
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    20 min
  • Frozen Water Bowl, Experimenting With Kernza, Off-Farm Work

    Frozen Water Bowl, Experimenting With Kernza, Off-Farm Work
    Feb 6 2026
    greatbigfarmer@gmail.com

    The plan is to put together an "audio journal" for the coming year. For as long as I can remember I have wanted to farm, and have been doing so for quite a number of years now. When my farming life is over, I want to remember some of the details that I'm sure would otherwise be forgotten. And so here it is, the first episode.

    I've decided not to edit very much, if at all, and that way I will be more likely to stick with it throughout the year. When I think about past years and how busy farming can get, I really hope that I can keep this up! The idea is to include just the main issues that are occupying my brain.

    This episode includes some typical challenges on the farm:
    -Frozen water lines in the barn
    -Problems with my on farm research sponsored by the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO)
    -Balancing farm work with my contracting business

    Find your place in the world, dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder

    Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder

    Please contact me with your own stories.
    greatbigfarmer@gmail.com
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    17 min