Trantham's Sustainable 12 Aprils Dairy Grazing Program: A Top Farm that Almost Went Under

[firee812]

Ok this is awesome, we do rotational grazing, but how do you do this in Ohio in the winter? Are there winter crops that would work here?

[cookingupastory]

@firee812 I added a link to the pdf of the crops he uses up in the description box just below the video - click 'show more'. Or, you might try to reach him thru his farm website, happycowcreamery [dot] com - he might have a better idea for you.

[3000tonie]

Farmer Tom is what true America is about

[gimmeli13erty]

We are so blessed to have Tom in our community. I visit his creamery on a regular basis and find the milk and butter delightfully tasty and healthy. It is amazing how well mother nature works so well for us when we let her take her course rather than forcing and micromanaging God's green earth. I cannot say enough about this wonderful farm and products.

[jd5510k20]

Is he feeding the herd anything other than maybe some supplement.

[TheBookflutterby]

Those cows look so happy! They are just stuffing it into their mouths!

Honestly, this method makes much more sense than the commercial way. It looks easier as well.

[dojochuck]

Anyone know if that farm's milk is sold in Florida? I'm sure it's the best there is.

[cookingupastory]

@dojochuck Google "Happy Cow Creamery" - I bet they could tell you where to find some. It is real good - wish we had some around here!

[WILLHITES]

Great Video! Going on my playlist! Thanks

[KeystoneKorner]

Well done, Farmer Tom! I bet products made from your milk are delicious.

[cookingupastory]

@KeystoneKorner If you're ever in the Greenville, SC, area - be sure to head south to his farm. He has a creamery and store there (called Happy Cow Creamery), and yes, his milk is awesome!!

[dmacosta1]

I really enjoyed it. Thanks

[olov244]

ty, i know a guy who raises cattle here in NC who needs to see this. he constantly complains about high chemical costs and poor grass for the cows to graze on.

[cookingupastory]

@olov244 I hope he has a chance to watch it. I would think he'd be able to grow many of the crops Farmer Tom did. Might help him out.

[MRSketch09]

Well, that was pretty interesting. Not as interesting as a action packed movie of course, but insightful.

[heyerstandards]

This is a marvelous story that I'll share with more of my Wisconsin friends.

[cookingupastory]

@heyerstandards Thanks for sharing with your friends - it's something that might work for some dairy farmers there, too. =)

[heyerstandards]

@cookingupastory We're pushing hard to open up farm gate sales here to unleash the rural economy and keep the money rural. Funny thing about Tom's BushHog story at 2:00. Same thing happened to our church. We'd bought 8 acres for a playfield for our school which had been in row crop cultivation for generations. It was leveled with bulldozers, etc, & we planted grass in the fall. Next spring was a 12" *carpet of Shepherd's Purse. Couldn't afford herbicides, but my weekly mowing killed it back.

[cookingupastory]

@heyerstandards way to go! Wish you the best on building your rural economy. Many more people are interested in where their food comes from, and with that they want to know and support their local farmers. One thing Farmer Tom had happening in the days I visited was farm tours. Some were school kids, others were families (many with young children). They were are fascinated to see how it all worked.

[praterclp]

WOW so much informaiton presented in this episode that I had no clue about. I like Farmer Tom and glad that he and his cows made the way through troubling times. Wish more would take his advise and maybe there would not be so many chemicals in the milk that we use.

[cookingupastory]

@praterclp. Yes, it works for him and it might work for some others too.

[baddogonline]

This was a great episode. Thanks I really enjoyed it. :)

[cookingupastory]

Thanks, @baddogonline - Farmer Tom had an amazing story to share.