January 30, 2017

4 Reasons to Buy Your Produce Locally Instead of Going to a Supermarket

January 30, 2017/ Better Farm

Many people are scared of what they eat. Does it contain chemicals? Does it contain additives? Is it even safe to eat? These are types of questions that far too many people ask and as a result, they’re scared about eating specific foods or jumping on diet trains that may or may not work.

For whatever reason, it seems that common sense tends to escape our reasoning. This is mainly because of market trends, brands and supermarket stores dampening our ability to think for ourselves with their flashy signs, addictive musical jingles and “massive sales!” billboards. Fortunately, not everyone has been indoctrinated by these marketing schemes, and there’s still plenty of reason why you should buy your produce locally instead of risking you and your family’s health by buying from a supermarket.

1. You know the source

There are some regulations that surround the use of the words “all natural” or “sourced from”, but a lot of that can be avoided and there are loopholes that allow companies to effectively trick consumers into believing that their produce comes from a certain region or country. Add to that the unlikelihood of “fresh” produce being shipped from another country and still retaining its natural taste and nutrients without some kind of chemical or synthetic intervention.

If you buy from local markets and farmers, you understand where the product comes from and because there’s no lengthy transportation process, you can be sure that whatever the farmer is selling, it’s fresh and full of healthy nutrients that aren’t affected by chemicals and pesticides.

2. You support local farmers

Farming is a dying business due to the rise of unnatural and synthetic means to produce crops. Large corporations are buying up acres of land and draining them of natural nutrients in the soil due to the use of chemicals, and because these big corporate farms aren’t varying the produce, it invites pests that love to snack on specific crops. Their way of dealing with those pests? More chemicals!

By supporting local family farms, you help to maintain traditional green farming that is both sustainable and good for the environment.

3. It tastes amazing

Fresh food always tastes better. Meat, vegetables and fruits are best when they are fresh from the source, and you can’t get any closer to the source than buying from a farm. There are delicious PaleoHacks recipes that are both healthier and taste better when you use fresh farm ingredients as opposed to packaged junk from a supermarket. Fresh food will do wonders for your diet, and you’ll be surprised at how great fresh food tastes when you try it compared to the supermarket varieties.

4. It builds a community

When you support local farmers, you support a community. Food always brings communities together, and nothing supports that sense of being part of a larger community than helping them out. Buy from the farmers, make delicious food, and share it with your friends and family so that they learn to love fresh local produce. You can learn about agriculture, learn why their produce tastes better, and even invite your children onto their farm (with permission) to teach them the joys of sustainable living.

January 25, 2017

Nature’s Bounty: How to Cook With Fresh Ingredients From Your Own Farm

January 25, 2017/ Better Farm

Whether you live in a rural community with plenty of land to grow your own produce, or you run an indoor garden with the help of some clever technology, there are plenty of ways to make use of fresh produce that you’ve grown over the years.

January 25, 2017

Four Ways to Make Your Farm Buildings More Green!

January 25, 2017/ Better Farm

In case you hadn’t noticed it yet, we’re pretty concerned about the sustainability and responsible farming here. So it makes sense that we know a thing or two about ensuring that the various buildings found on a farm, both big and small, are kept green and energy-efficient.

January 23, 2017

Living with Nature: How Moving to the Countryside Could Benefit Your Family

January 23, 2017/ Nicole Caldwell

There are few things as liberating as a move to the countryside. The hustle and bustle of a busy city life can be stressful and often tiring. Returning home from work on a crowded late-night train, walking up several flights of stairs to reach your apartment, and being woken up by noisy neighbors at 5 a.m. in the morning is the typical routine for a city family. There are, of course, some pockets of tranquillity within the busy and noisy confines of a city. However, they’re often surrounded by skyscrapers that block out the sun and they’re swarmed by cars that are rushing to get to their destinations.

January 12, 2017

Farmhouse Fanatics: Restoring A Farm To Its Former Glory

January 12, 2017/ Better Farm

Farms can be beautiful pieces of property. For investors, they present the chance to make a good return, if they decide to sell it, once it’s been restored. In recent times, farming has become a little less lucrative. Because of this, a lot of farms have been left to become derelict. This makes them much cheaper than they otherwise would be. But, they will need some work done. And, this post is going to go through some of it.

January 05, 2017

Go Green On Your Farm With These Eco-friendly Ideas

January 05, 2017/ Better Farm

A farm uses a lot of natural resources. That’s a fact. Farming is one of the greatest drains on the resources available to us. Do you want your farm to stand apart from the crowd? Good! There are things you can do to make the resources you use less extreme. While there are some things you can’t change, such as the food your animals need or the amount of water you use on your crops, there are things you can. We’re going to take a look at your best options.

December 28, 2016

Understand the Legal Complexities of Maintaining a Farm

December 28, 2016/ Better Farm

Starting a farm isn’t the carefree, simple business that many seem to believe it is. There are several legal complexities that come with this sort of business venture, just like with any other business venture! It is, of course, essential that you’re meeting the legal requirements and respecting the regulations that are placed upon the agricultural sector. After all, they will help you protect your profits and keep you and the environment safe.

If you’re interested in starting up this sort of business, then this guide is essential. Here are the most important areas of legal concern you need to think about.

December 22, 2016

It's Not As Easy As You Might Think To Be A Green Farmer

December 22, 2016/ Better Farm

You could be under the impression that staying green as a farmer is simple. It’s understandable why you might feel this way since it almost seems built into the industry. But the world of farming has changed over recent years. You might find that a farm has more similarities to an industrial factory compared to a forest. So what are the issues for farmers who want to stay green and are there ways to get around them? Let’s find out.

December 20, 2016

How To Choose Chicken Breeds for Backyard Farming

December 20, 2016/ Better Farm

Choosing the best chicken breeds are a tough decision to make. But what must be considered is your reason why you are raising them in the first place.

December 17, 2016

Feeding Your Family: Ideas That Are Good For The Environment!

December 17, 2016/ Nicole Caldwell

Something we all need to be a little more concerned with is sustaining the planet and doing what we can to keep it going. There are so many ways you can do this, from making sure you recycle to working with environmentally friendly companies. However, one really great way you can do it is by changing the way you feed your family. These ideas are good for the environment: check them out!

December 12, 2016

Make More Money From Your Farm In 4 Easy Steps

December 12, 2016/ Better Farm

Anyone who owns or runs a farm knows that plenty of work goes into it, work which cannot be avoided. With any luck, you are the kind of person who really enjoys the work - it certainly helps if you are. However, many farmers get to the point where they feel as though they could be earning considerably more money from their farm. It can be a surprisingly flimsy income source sometimes, particularly if you have had a business partner suddenly withdraw or reduce their orders with you. Fortunately, there are many ways to make more money out of your farm, and it is always worth knowing what those are. Let’s take a look at four of the main things you could be doing to make more money from your farm.

December 09, 2016

Are You Getting The Most Out Of Your Livestock?

December 09, 2016/ Better Farm

If you fancy leaving the city and settling down in the countryside, you may be interested to know exactly how you can make some cash from rearing livestock. You’ll surely be very happy to hear that there are quite a few different ways in which you can make some extra cash by keeping various animals. Want to learn how you can turn keeping livestock into a viable business? Here are our top tips!

December 09, 2016

Your First Farmer's Market: FAQs

December 09, 2016/ Better Farm

There are countless farmer’s markets scattered throughout the country, and with the ever-growing emphasis on healthy eating, I doubt we’re going to see them starting to disappear any time soon! If you always seem to have a surplus of produce on your hands, then you may have toyed around with the idea of setting up your own stall here and there. If this is going to be your first rodeo, here are the answers to a few questions you may have.