Winter at Faith Farm

What does one do for fun during
the severest winter in years on
Faith Farm? We play in the snow
silly, what else.
We feed hay to the cattle.






We feed hay to the hogs.






















Feed the piglets in the Piglet Hotel.



The endess snow days and afterward
mud holes made a mess of the fields.
We will see a marvelous change in
spring as new growth comes alive,
turning mud into lush green grass.

It's often hard to believe how quickly time goes by. As our markets wrap up and Christmas is just around the corner 2010 is within our reach. Wow. It was wonderful to have an opportunity to slow this down a bit with Thanksgiving. We are constantly in thanks for God's provisions, but this day is always particularly special because it brings it all together.


This was Gabe's first Thanksgiving and for Tristan it was old hat. He eagerly awaited a turkey that still was bigger than him: ) As we continue to expand our knowledge regarding the standard treatment of animals and the obscene amount of chemicals they are injected with having a holiday with our own bird brings a smile to our faces. There is a wonderful feeling in knowing where everything on the table has come from and that there is no reason to be skeptical about what's going in you. Good food, good people, Great God. Good stuff.

We're still in recovery mode here on Faith Farm after hosting 26 kids and 5 adults from Seneca High School for 3 1/2 days last week. It's amazing how much energy 16 & 17 year olds have and how little sleep they need. Our oldest daughter, Erin, runs a peer prevention group at the high school she works at in New Jersey and each year she facilitates a retreat for those involved. This was our second year hosting this event.

The crux of her program is focused on being detached from the responsibilities and distractions of their every day lives and take time to examine how they are living their lives. It was impressive to watch first hand, these young people gain a sense of trust among one another and be willing to be challenged on many different levels. From group discussion, building chicken coops and the bonfire...everything had a purpose behind it.

The kids participating stayed in our house. Boys slept downstairs and girls were upstairs and in the mix was breakfast, lunch and dinner all family style. The kids spent hours playing with Tristan and Gabe along with helping out with some of the daily tasks on the farm. It was great to have so many willing and interested in helping with tasks that are routine to us, but very foreign to them.

Paul and I enjoy this opportunity to not only get a glimpse into the lives of these kids, get a first hand look at what Erin does, but also spend some great quality time together as a family. The weekend definitely puts a different spin on things, but even challenges us in how we are living.

Why our food tastes soooo good.

Ear taging a cow in the squeeze shoot keeps me safe from an excited calf. Above
Erin and Tristan unpacking newly arrived chicks in our brood house.
FUN WITH HUGS.


Today my middle daughter Jessica and mother of my two wonderful grandsons and I took a load of hogs to our processer
just enjoying our time together. I rested, she drove. A wonderful blessing older childen are. We were talking about our food,
how much we enjoy consuming what we raise. Jessica just came out and asked, "Dad, why does our food taste soooo good?"
With out hesitation I told her that I pray over every animal we process. I ask the LORD to bless these animals HE intrusted to us,
to calm their spirits, thank HIM for giving them to us and bless everyone who consumes their meat for their good health and HIS
glory." Plain and simple.

In our line of work blood, sweat, tears, technalogy, trial and error
are major factors but the LORD has the last say.
Without GOD's loving hand in our work, all our efforts are in vain.
I praise HIM for each and everyone of our customers, asking HIM to bless you all ways.
Thank you for supporting us. We are here to serve and provide you with the best we can produce.

Tail end of summer

It is hard to believe that summer is quickly winding down and soon shorts and afternoon barbeques will be replaced with long sleeve shirts and the turning of leaves. But for right now, it is still summer and the warmth of the sun still casts its translucent glow as day fades into dusk and the animals scurry with the buzz of the bees and rolling around in the emerald green grass of their pastures.

Summer, for us, is typically a whirlwind with markets, the animals and a whole host of other responsibilities that accompany the farm life. This summer wasn't any different, but for right now we strive to take in the beauty of our surroundings and never take it for granted. Tristan and Gabe have taught us the lesson of taking life by the moment, not by the year or next event on the calendar.

E-I-E-I-OOOOO

The following was provided by our oldest daughter, Erin:
If you were to have asked me back in high school where life would lead, what line of work myself and my family would be in I may have guessed farming on the 128th attempt. Farming....so unconventional and in so many ways it embodies who my parents are. Since I was a kid my parents have broke the mold when it comes to taking life by the horns (no pun intended:) and refusing to settle in any way, shape or form.

The last two days on the farm I spent walking around and really trying to capture what they've created through the lens of a camera. In the height of summer the trees hang heavy with apples and pears, cattle graze from the plush green grass and pigs and chickens seem to find solace in one another's company. It really is amazing, but it is a level of beauty and serenity that has come through an incredible amount of work, time and ongoing efforts to maintain the needs of the animals and the land.

What I feel people have just recently began to realize the importance of knowing where their food comes from. Going to the markets with my mom has really opened my eyes. Beautiful flowers, fruits and veggies line tables. Fresh jams, cheeses and meats are loaded into vans in the early morning hours to reach the market by 7 am. It really is an amazing service to the Richmond community, but what I wonder is how many that frequent their local markets realize how demanding, back breaking and intense the work is to get the product to the point of sale? I watch my dad spend tireless hours with his animals caring, tending and ensuring that their standards are high. There is so much that goes into what finally arrives at the market and ultimately on the plates of those within the community. It has totally altered my view on food, farming and truly appreciating what it's all about.

Your local community farmers work hard, very hard. The big dudes at Tyson, Purdue and wherever else are pumping these crazy hormones into animals that really have no quality of life. I watch Tristan chasing chickens, the cows leaning against the fruit trees to knock down a few pears and think how beautiful all of it is. The problem is that the big companies are now pressuring those up in high places (nudge, nudge..wink,wink) to put strain on the local farmers. They are proposing a tax on small farmers and taxing each and every animal. If that were to go through the many local farmers in Virginia will inevitably go under. Unfortunately, that includes my parents.


The hope is for those concerned to contact their local government officials and to speak up. My parents and other farmers I've come in contact with over the past two years have really opened my eyes to what is involved in small community farming along with the dark side of big corporations. I'm not trying to get all postal on this issue, but too often we settle for complacency and at some point that's going to bite us in the bum.

Although I'm so not anywhere near a farmer (although I try like all get out while on 8996 Nutbush) I so love the beauty that accompanies good old Faith Farm. Tristan and I walked aimlessly around the night before I left taking pictures and just talking. As I was hurrying to take a pic of a few pigs under the tree he seemed to notice my frustration and leaned over to me, grabbed my hand and said, "E, no worries." All I could do was smile : )

Gabriel, blessings and new seasons

With spring beginning to finally show signs of sticking around the pace on Faith Farm has also picked up. Trees are blossoming, animals are scurrying around and we have a new little farmer to the Faith Farm clan. 

Gabriel Paul DeLaura was born March 28th to Jess & Daniel at a healthy 9 lbs & 5 oz. He is home with mom and dad with big brother, Tristan, making sure he is around to give plenty of kisses and hugs when needed. He is truly a joy to our hearts and we are profoundly thankful for his health and transition from hospital to home. 

With the warmer weather and the pleasant sense of being able to finally get out of the house and enjoy the joys of spring has been wonderful. Tristan had a great time trying to track down a few pigs who sprung from their pens. We hope you enjoy this little clip. Have a great week!