Ahavah Farm - Local. Sustainable. Pure

What makes orange yolks that are the trade-mark of free-range hens? The dark color of the yolk is due to the chickens' diet of bugs and greens - specifically carotenoids. In the summer our egg yolks turn dark orange and are beautiful. However, because it is winter, the chickens have very few bugs and virtually no greens (except what we give them in addition to their feed). Thus, our egg yolks are paler than usual. This doesn't mean they are lacking any nutritional content. In fact, companies like Egglands Best (yuck!) supplement their chicken feed with artificial ingredients to promote the darker color and thus fool their customers. Let us be very clear: Our chickens roam our land all day long. They scratch and peck and have a fully 100% organic diet. We supplement with only 100% certified organic grain and they are as healthy as any birds you will ever see. Our chickens are beyond organic, well-loved, well-cared for and completely free-range with

Why CSA?  Community Supported Agriculture is a way to support local, build community and eat healthier.  Community Supported Agriculture is a program that is both beneficial for the farmer, and for those who are enjoying the fresh produce and eggs.  Many people want the fresh, organic produce that comes from local farms.   They get excited about the idea of reducing their carbon footprint, supporting local agriculture and feeling healthier.  However, in order for this food to be available, in order for the farmer to return year after year to the market, the farmers need YOU!  Like any business, without loyal support, the business will fail.  CSA programs help the small farmer in many ways including guaranteeing that they will be around from year to year and it allows the farmer to gain some front-loaded funds in order to purchase seed, tools and other supplies for the upcoming season.  During good seasons, the members receive a huge bountiful harvest, much more than what they pa

When you don't get government handouts, don't force-molt your hens, don't keep your hens in battery cages, don't mess with the hen's natural laying cycle by not using lights in the winter etc., but feed the  hens pure, organic feed while allowing them to roam the land free as a bird (pun intended), the real cost for eggs is much higher than you would expect.  According to David Robinson Simon, author of "Meatonomics" (2013), the real cost of organic eggs should be $13.00!   Our eggs? They are $7.00 per dozen, here's why... Here's our own personal math for the cost of our eggs: Cost of feed per week per hen...........$0.86 (2.1 lb per week X $0.41) Eggs laid per week per hen..................2.96 (% productivity X 52 Weeks) Number of hens to make a dozen...... 4.054 Cost of feed per dozen eggs...............$3.48  Cost of egg carton..............................$0.33 Cost of Labels (2)...............................$0.30 Cost of utiliti

I read an incredible peer reviewed white paper the other  day.  It was on the impacts of no-till farming under arid conditions and the benefits to watershed hydrology.  The title of the article is " Conservation Tillage in Dryland Agriculture Impacts Watershed Hydrology " by Van Wie et. al. 2013 (Full reference below).   What was particularly interesting to me about the article was the emphasis not just on no-till, but on the importance of this in arid conditions and locations.  Although the study was primarily in the Palouse region of Washington, the study related to myself as a farmer in the high-desert of Colorado; Colorado being one of the driest states in the country with abnormally high rates of evapotranspiration (evaporation from soil and transpiration from plants).  The article discusses that the utilization of no-till methods is a BMP (Best Management Practice) for soil management (Van Wie, et. al. 2013).  The benefits to the watershed, as found by the authors