All flesh is grass

"All flesh is grass..." this is part of a bible verse,Isiah 40:6. This verse is taken out of context, but even in its partial state it holds amazing truths. Think about it...plants are the only "producers" in our ecosystem. They are able to use the energy from the sun to produce food for themselves in the form of glucose through the process of photosynthesis. It is actually a chemical reaction, taking water, carbon dioxide and energy from the sun, along with chlorophyll to produce glucose and oxygen! The producers (veggies/fruit/nuts/grasses/algae/kelp) provide food not only for themselves, but for living things that are unable to produce their own food... a cow eats the grass, we eat the beef that the cow produces. The nutrients that we eat give us energy to survive, but also are the source of any bio synthesis in our body. Remember that we "are what we eat" and that "all flesh is grass".
So, if we eat a hamburger, then we are benefiting from the cows ability to take grass (which is indigestible to us) and convert it into meat. If grass is managed properly, it continues to grow, even thrive, with the frequent grazing that a herd of animals provides. It is a "free" renewable resource! What good news!



The Bessettes have been inspired to take advantage of this free food. We host cattle, goats, chickens and pigs here at our farm. Cattle and goats are herbivores (ie vegetarians). Chickens and pigs are omnivores...like the Bessettes...(eat fruit/veggies/meat or just about anything). Since grass is the topic, I'll stick to the cattle and goats for now.

At this time of year our "free-food" is abundant. In the past, Dennis or Alex would spend hours on the mower and use gallons of gas every week to "manage" the huge lawn that we have. We have now realized, as have many other farmers, that the key to our sustainability is growing (not mowing) that free renewable resource that humans can not digest! GRASS! We are becoming "grass farmers"!

We now set up electric fencing /netting, powered by solar chargers (free again)in areas of the land that have sufficient grass growth. We move the cattle and goats to these areas and they naturally do the rest. They "cut" the grass to just the right height. They release nitrogen and healthy microbes into the soil through their urine and manure. They tread on the ground aerating the soil and allowing "pockets" for moisture to soak into. It is an amazing symbiosis! The size of the grass above mirrors the root matter below. When an animal "cuts" the grass, the roots die back underground to again mirror the grass above. This is great for the soil, as it adds organic matter to the soil, which will then be decomposed by earthworms and microbes, adding necessary nutrient/minerals to the soil to help the grass to stay healthy! What a design! When the grass is grazed to just the right height, we move the pen and the animals to a new spot! Over-grazing kills the grass, so we're careful to not keep them in one place for too long.

So, as the rain poured down last night, I thanked God for free food for our animals! Grass, which will become food for us in the form of beef, milk and cheese!Thank you, God, for your masterful design and for the free food!