What do people do in the fall on All Hallow's Eve eve?
They go out to Scott to take a hayride around the family farm of
Brian and Dawn Gotreaux.
Brian and Dawn are successfully implementing sustainable farming practices that connect one farming operation with another--a type of closed system known as permaculture. You'll see what I mean as you look through the pictures.
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Brian is driving the tractor. No seat belts other than
the arms of parents and grandparents--what an excuse for a hug! |
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| We start at the hoop houses of the talapia ponds. |
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Brian has built more than one of these giant ponds,
all filled with hundreds of fish. Don't worry about the smell--
there isn't any! |
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| Brian explaining the system of growing fry in smaller vats. |
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| Powerful aerators keep the water oxygenated. |
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| Now it's time to get some "hands-on" experience. |
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| Everyone wants a turn. |
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Some hydroponic seedlings are grown
in the hoop house--no soil, only pond water. |
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Others are in flats, watered with the nitrogen-rich
water of the talapia pond. |
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Pond water is run through giant filters that are back-washed
frequently. The backwash drains out to the farm's compost pile
located in back of the hoop house. |
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| Chickens are enjoying the banquet served in the compost. |
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| In the background you can see a flock of smooth-skinned sheep. |
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Now how hard do you think it is to tell the difference
between smooth-skinned sheep and goats! |
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| These are the goats. |
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We are moving to the poultry area. Brian and Dawn have
over 1,000 laying hens. |
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| These hens know the meaning of free-range! |
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The egg mobile. It is moved each night. Droppings fertilize
the grass, making it a rich source of food
for the grass-fed animals to graze. |
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Inside the egg mobile: roosts, feeding troughs, openings for
"fertilizer" to drop to grasses below. |
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| From another angle... |
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One wall is lined with nesting boxes.
How wonderful is this picture! |
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| Here's a close-up of those hens loving the compost pile. |
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| What do all kids do around chickens? Collect feathers, of course. |
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| She has become known as "the Chicken Whisperer." |
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These movable pens (chicken tractors) are for meat birds. Each day the pen is moved
to a new spot in the pasture giving the birds fresh grass to eat
while fertilizing the area with their droppings. |
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The Gotreauxs raise Cornish Cross chickens and Guinea fowl
(in separate pens). |
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Two people can easily push the pen to the new location
because of the PVC pipes that form skids for easy sliding. |
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| Guineas are raised and butchered in time for Christmas gumbos. |
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We are now on our way to the garden. Talapia hoop houses are
on the left, the garden hoop house is on the right. |
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| Happy plants-- |
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| Brian telling the story of how it all started... |
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| ...beginning with a few raised beds. |
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| There was time to do a little independent exploring. |
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The Gotreauxs raise beautiful sunflowers to attract insects--and
to include in the many CSA boxes they prepare each week. |
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| Inside the hoop. |
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| The goat pen borders the garden, making it easy |
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to give them scraps through the fence.
This ends the tour. We have made the circle.
The talapia ponds are right behind the goats, and our car is parked right outside the ponds.
Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.
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