Innovation Bears Fruit for Family Farm

Peak Moment 162: Tour the century-old organic Chaffin Family Orchards where even the animals are "farm hands." Visit chickens in their egg-mobile, scratching for bugs and pooping fertilizer in the heirloom stone-fruit orchards. Goats chomp off low branches from the olive trees, so no fuel or human labor is needed. This certified predator-friendly enterprise includes 200 acres of olive trees plus various fruit and nut trees; sheep, goats, broiler and egg-laying chickens. They distribute only locally through fruit and meat CSAs (community-supported agriculture), growers markets and a farmstand, providing fresh foods that burst with flavor and nuance. Read Janaia's blog on our visit at http://www.peakmoment.tv/journal/?p=92. [http://www.chaffinfamilyorchards.com]

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• local food
• farming
• csa

[westkan]

Not to take anything away from this operation, but it was mention early in the video that this farm is in an unique location, but at the end it was said anyone could do this. Any operation can strive fore more diversity, but not every location can support diversity to the degree this operation has. Nice to see that operation is still taking advantage of all it has been given by the Earth in such a responsible manner, though.

[peakmoment]

@westkan, I took him to mean that each place is unique, but that farming organically, with biodiversity, using animals integrated into the operations, sensitive to predators and the wild -- in others words, appropriate to that particular place -- can be done. Thanks for your thoughts.

[definitelyjulia]

Wow this is so inspiring! I wonder if it would work on a smaller scale. What a neat guy too! So great to see people enthusiastic about the job they are doing. Bravo. Best interview I've seen on peakmoment.

[peakmoment]

@definitelyjulia Glad ya like it. On a smaller scale? - yes. See Peak Moment episode 55 "It's the Compost! Creating Abundance at K-JO Farm" - goats, chickens, garden, small orchard. And upcoming episode 168 "Four Acres and Independence - A Self-Sufficient Farmstead."

[Auggie56]

Funny, that there has been several oil discoveries recently, but you claim other wise. I agree we need to find other source for energy, just be honest about what's there. BTW: Al Gore lies.

[peakmoment]

There are recent oil discoveries and will continue to be, as long as oil is profitable. It's just that the recent finds are smaller, harder to drill and produce from (like deep sea), and thus more expensive to produce (like tar sands). The era of cheap oil appears over.

[Necrowitch]

I live in the suburbs so even smaller of a scale! I think my goal is actually to do something like john kohler is doing. growingyourgreens is his youtube channel name. he has converted his entire front lawn into raised beds, has a couple of green houses, and 2 community gardening plots. he is growing almost all his own food and even selling some at the farmer's market. all that on i think on a tenth of an acre. o_o

[Ape65]

What a wonderful farm!

[asu1976ify]

Before spraying pesticides and herbicides was available and routine, many people kept their poultry houses for chickens, turkeys and ducks in the orchard to keep down the insects. Many orchard pests start out on the ground from fallen fruit and larvae that live in the soil, and the poultry keep them under control.

[mygoodgod]

I would love to help and work here! This is very, very inspiring.

[speedybrook]

this blows my mind... i love this!!! =) honestly THANK YOU SO MUCH (A former Local) i'de Love to know more about your CSA=) i'll go to you website to find out more then...

[ChaffinOrchards]

@definitelyjulia It definitely works on all scales. I'm doing it at home on my one acre homesite with chickens and fruit trees. It's being done all over the world on varying scales. Frankly that's the best part about it, with a bit of flexibility farming this way works nearly anywhere.

[ChaffinOrchards]

@westkan Yes indeed, our farm is in a unique micro climate that supports the crops we are raising. However, all agricultural operations can utilize a mixture of their crops and animals in a symbiotic manner. At the very least crop waste can be fed to livestock and manure can go back on the fields. Ours is one that takes place under a permaculture model which works around the world. Nearly everywhere grows some type of trees and has some sort of livestock. It's a good combination!

[helkyrie]

Hey, thanks! This is one of the best Peak Moments ever!

Chris is such an enthusiastic, intelligent, informed, articulate guy! With such a great sense of humour.

Loved the Pyrenne mountain dogs - have seen them with other herds too.

Great farm, grat guy, great programme!

Thanks.