My guest for this episode is Wayne Herring of Herrings Green Grass Farm, and two time guest on the program. His first appearance on the show was to discuss starting a sustainable family farm, and the second as a listener question and answer session about small scale farming. This time we talk about his transition away from his corporate life so that he can be near home on a regular basis, as well as starting his creation of a new home-based business, Herring Coach, which helps to provide a balance between family, farming, and income. He also shares with us his thoughts on farming, and paying farmers a reasonable salary for their work, the economics of farming, and the many hats he wears to get everything done. If after listening to this episode you would like to reach out to Wayne to learn more about his work as a farmer or so he can help you build your own professional permaculture niche, you can reach him at: w.herring (at) herringcoach (dot) com. We're also discussing, as you'll hear, about my returning when things get busy to do another conversation. If this is something you would like, please send questions to me through the usual ways. E-Mail: The Permaculture Podcast Facebook: Facebook.com/thepermaculturepodcast Twitter: @permaculturecst Postal Mail: The Permaculture Podcast The Permaculture Podcast (Episode: 2014-014)

This episode is a question and answer session with Wayne Herring, of Herring's Green Grass Farm. He addresses several listener questions about small scale farming, including running pigs and goats in a woodlot, the damage that can be caused by predators and how to protect poultry flocks, and multi-use mobile shelters. Definitely worth a listen if you’re considering adding livestock to a homestead. In addition to sharing his thoughts on these questions, Wayne also recommended the following books for listeners who are interested in pursuing small scale livestock. All are by Joel Salatin. Folks This Ain't Normal Holy Cows and Hog Heaven"* Pastured Poultry Profit$* Family Friendly Farming* The Sheer Ecstasy of Being a Lunatic Farmer* Resources: Herring's Green Grass Farm (Website) Herring's Green Grass Farm (Facebook Page) Feel free to contact me if you have questions you'd like to hear in a future question and answer episode, or if there is any way I can assist you on your permaculture journey. E-mail: The Permaculture Podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepermaculturepodcast Twitter: @permaculturecst *(These are affiliate links to the book publisher, Chelsea Green. Purchasing via these links benefit the publisher directly and a portion of the proceeds go to support this podcast.) (Episode 2014-007)

Wayne spent the last several years growing his pasture based meat operation while also being a steward of the land. This has not been an easy path, as you'll hear, because, like some other farmers, he works off-the-farm during the week and returns to home each night to continue tending his animals. Wayne also happens to be my wife's cousin, so I got to speak with him about his farming and sample some chicken at a family event.

Ever since then I've wanted to interview him because he's doing the work of starting a stewardship farm from the ground up in the best way he can. In our conversation, we cover the early days and inspiration that bring us to this moment, and what it's like to continue the transition to farm full time. Along the way, we also talk about his inspiration to become a farmer, the truth of profit and loss in farming, and the role of the community in getting started and continuing to grow. As with all of my guests, I'm thankful for his candor in this conversation, his willingness to share the ups and downs of what he's doing, and what the life of a new farmer is like. Community support holds a great deal of meaning to me as I look beyond the visible structures of permaculture and to the invisible ones. While putting together this show I received Wayne's newsletter and in there he offered support and recommended his customers attend, a local farmer's market to help bolster the beginnings of the market. Throughout the independent and small-scale producers I see this mutual aid occurring.

As we take care of the earth and ourselves, do what is matters to us, raise ourselves up Maslow's "Hierarchy of Needs", and fulfill the first two ethics of permaculture, it becomes easier to have a surplus to share, and with it to help share our surplus and help the needs of others. We then offer a hand-up through our knowledge, experience, and gifts, that teaches someone how to grow food and live a better life. As we share the surplus, it's easier to limit consumption. You can make better choices that aren't drastic or hasty, and in turn, care for the Earth in a better way. Care for your self and your family and friends in a better way, freeing up more resources to share with others. Once this ball gets rolling down the hill it becomes ever more self-sustaining, which is important because it's easy to teach and understand the physical sides of permaculture, but those invisible ones, being intangible, are hard to grasp. I think the roots of the invisible rest most firmly in the ethics of permaculture.

Resources:
Herring's Green Grass Farm
Herring's Green Grass Farm Facebook Page
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association (APPPA)
Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA)