The FARMily Life

Matt & Jerica start this episode with Matt's recent antics of getting pulled over while hauling the tiny-house (a second time), and the interaction with the police officer that followed.  They recall just how Matt's confidence what shattered 20 years ago when struggling with Ulcerative Colitis, when he was self-conscious to even leave the house. How should the American parent with little ones prio...

Happy Independence Day! In this 4th of July episode, Matt and Jerica review some of the antics of the week--Matt decided to move a small house from Henderson, and Jerica had to pull her foot out of her mouth after calling him "predictable."  She recanted after he proposed to start acting more spontaneously!  They reviewed some of the issues in getting a permit to move a 15-foot tall building down...

Almost exactly 13 years ago, Shady Grove Ranch was in the middle of a 50,000 acre wildfire. It was our first full year of farming.  In this podcast, Jerica and I sat down for the first time since that fateful event to try to recall the whole epic adventure during that terrifying week. From evacuation and transporting cattle off the ranch, to water-dropping helicopters, bulldozed fences, and a fire...

Matt and Jerica recap the biggest food-involved event EVER at the ranch (the first regional meet-up for the American Pastured Poultry Producer's Association.) Jerica spoke on the uniqueness of farm marketing and how the Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have them do unto you), then Matt dives into why it's important to tell the truth at all costs.  We have a discussion on whether homeschool...

This week's episode covers a a variety of topics. Jerica starts by recounting this week's vehicle issue, as well as her conversation with God. :) And then Matt remembers "Gideon's fleece" and the improper ways to apply this Biblical story in our lives today. No episode would be complete without a good discussion on why food should be used as medicine and in fact it's long-term effects are probably...

Well, since this is the F a rmily Life Podcast...and there's no FARMily without the Family...Matt and Jerica really wade into it by discussing what they believe to be some of the keys to a successful and fulfilling marriage--by no means comprehensive. This one was fun, but sure to be controversial, as Matt and Jerica delved into discussion points of "why is there pain?", how to parent, what a marr...

Howdy Folks! In this 10th Episode of the FLP (The FARMily Life Podcast) Matt drops a bomb on Jerica, explaining where he'd like this podcast go, and what we'll need to get there--video editor, executive director, and a non-profit organization to spead the word about auto-immune disease recovery... big plans...as usual. Unfortunately, as prices and expenses increase, Matt and Jerica discuss the ine...

Wow...this one is a little random, folks.  It's been three weeks since we had time to sit down and record a podcast...so this one was a doozie. In this Episode, Matt and Jerica discuss the project that has consumed all of Matt's time for the past few weeks--The SuperNet...or the Chicken Roomba...or the Cluck-Cut.  All synonmyms for Matt's newest invension is a 3500-square foot mobile chicken coop...

In this episode, Matt and Jerica discuss a wide range of topics--surprise, surprise... As promised last time, they discuss the danger (or safety) of raw milk, and the track record over the past 2 decades, as well as the frequency of food-borne illness related to raw and pasturized milk, veggies, deli meats, and a hosts of other foods.  They discuss a recently-passed Texas bill  (thanks to Judth Mc...

In this episode, Matt and Jerica start out by discussing how GrazeCart (the online shopping-cart software that they use on their online store) was recently sold to a larger company. "Would we sell Shady Grove Ranch is someone made us an offer we couldn't refuse?"   Then, they transition to some harder years of farming, when they had 200 piglets with illegitimate ancestry and how it almost sunk the...

There are lots of confusing terms on the market: "Grass-Fed Beef," "Organic Pork," and "Pasture-Raised Eggs."  What do that they mean to the producer and the consumer?  And what is the nutritional implication if animals are raised on a true grass-pasture or in a "grass-fed" feed-lot?  Matt and Jerica disucss what the industry-standards are of "grass-fed beef" and Vital Farms' supposed "Pasture-Rai...

What does a truly nutritional diet look like?  Plates of salad?  Buckets of Kale?  If it has a USDA Organic label, it's good for you, right? Join Matt and Jerica as they recall the "beginning of the end" of Matt's Ulcerative Colitis struggle.  They discuss "super-food" nutrution and dive deep into the Beef Liver vs. Kale & Blueberries Heavy-Weight Main Event!  Then tag along as they remember Matt'...

Matt and Jerica discuss some fond memories from learning hand-on skills at LeTourneau University...and are now passing that knowledge (and use of some of the old machine-tools equipment) to their kids. Then they remember the darkest hour--Matt almost fell asleep for the last time, then received gene-therepy drugs, got kidney stones, endured one of the most uncomfortable procedures ever invented by...

Matt and Jerica take a look at Rebecca Thistlethwaite's book "Farms with a Future", which Shady Grove Ranch was featured in, and discuss why some of those farms failed, and what the succeeding farms had in common. Then they take a walk down memory lane and look at Matt's athletic days...and the deterioration of his health due to an auto-immune disease called Ulcerative Colitis.  The podcast ends w...

Matt and Jerica discuss the many pieces of the family puzzle that went into creating Shady Grove Ranch.  Then, they begin the discussion of the medical events that launched Matt down the dark path of developing Ulcerative Colitis

Matt and Jerica discuss their modest beginnings at Shady Grove Ranch,  partnering with Matt's parents, going from engineers to farmers, and a smelly hurdle during a shoestring fencing project.