40s Is The New 30s

It's been fun, Holistic Hilda.

It's been great. I really have enjoyed it so much. Thank you.

Good.

People know you from the Wise Traditions podcast mostly, but you also have a YouTube channel.

That's right.

What's that one?

Well, it's where I try to show visually adventures, experiences, and wonderful people like y'all.

Including this place.

Yeah, yeah.

What's the name of it?

The name of this place?

No, your YouTube channel.

Holistic Hilda.

This isn't a quiz.

I was like, it's the Holler Farm.

Holistic Hilda. All right.

Yeah.

It's My birthday. Oh, what a beautiful birthday morning light. Wow. What does a 43-year-old apron-wearing permaculture chicken ninja master husband father homesteader businessman want on his birthday? Well, I want to fix this. This is not working out. The rigid frame with the Uh, what you call Agribon. It's too, too fragile and failed. Just frail, rips off of the staples too easy. So I think we need to do plastic. Plastic isn't as breathable. I just realized you can't get water in there if it's plastic. We can open it up to breathe it out, uh, and we'll just have to maybe water it. With a, with a, with a can, because those, those are going good for my familia. Those lettuces are jamming. I want to move the fat hens. Jonah's already on that. I want the garden of peace. Rebecca's told me now twice to get these back over to the shed, the butchering knife, so better get on that. Frost don't care that it's my birthday. We gotta cover the garden. The animals don't care that it's my birthday, they still gotta be moved. Cows definitely don't care, they still gotta be milked. I couldn't ask for a more beautiful fall day. The sweater might be overkill, it's that mild out here. Feels really good. Maybe it's gonna be a Sunny day, can be in the sun for a while. These chickens look so happy. Old plot, new plot. I think they're ready to go back in the main field in the sheep paddocks. What do y'all think? We just gotta equip the Chickshaw, convert it to where we can also pull it with this, uh, wheelie, because We get up there, it gets a 30-degree slope. It's gonna be hard to push, uh, 50 chickens if they weigh 6 pounds each. What's that, 350 pounds of chicken? It's interesting how he's got these chickens trained. He never puts them up at night. The fence is keeping them— the predators out. They're out there in the coop, so that's no danger from aerial predators. And then just— he just moves them over and they follow. Or do you have to herd some of them? You have to herd. And there he's, he's mowed a strip for his next paddock, and they're just, they're just automatically just staying in there. So this would be a good system if this is what you had. Super easy, especially not putting them up or putting them out in the morning, just moving them once a week. We've got a different system because we've got them in partnership with our cows and sheep. So, but both these systems are good. Well, I was gonna go set up today's net, but looks like Jonah's plan is going awry, so let's go help him. I think Jonah's idea works great of keeping the coop open unless we're gonna move. I feel like we've learned this— I've learned this lesson. It's, it's He's gonna learn it now. I feel like when the chicken— when we move the chickens during the day, they don't get the memo and they want to go home, and that puts pressure on the fence. And in this case, if you take long enough to put up the net, they get out. In other words, even if they're in, they're going to try to get back to the old spot, putting pressure on your fence. He's, he's, he's, he's more than ready for me. This is a mess. Chickens over there, chickens over there, there's a chicken way over there. I spoke too soon, didn't I? I said they, they were staying in there. I guess they only have so long on that, Jonah. Hey, what do you think about putting them up tonight before we move them so then you can take your time putting up the fence? And you don't let them out until the fence is up. What do you think about that? What?

Probably a good idea.

Okay, they're confused. They feel like this is their home. They didn't come out of the coop here. They came out of the coop here and then the coop's gone. They got bird brains, you know. We got them around the corner. I think they're afraid. Are they seeing that line and afraid to go under it?

They came out of it.

All right, we got them all in but 2. I'm gonna say let's put the net up and then he'll herd the last 2 in. This is the paddock we can pick up. I got the net up. Mr. Henry has gone to the other world, dream world. Get in, we'll be right back. We need to go get one more net. We need a 100-footer and then a 50-footer. I love this tree, this low-lying branch. I used to play on that as a kid. As I look at this little pocket of forest here, I'm thinking we're gonna clear it probably next for a silvopasture. That's probably the one tree I'm gonna keep, maybe the walnut. This is pretty straight, but all the rest— gotta keep the tree even though it has no purpose except a cool branch the kids can play on. That's plenty enough purpose for me. Yay! Uh-oh, uh-oh, why is she doing that? That's not the routine and you know it. Where is she going? That's weird. All right, hey, aren't you glad we decided to come They wanted to make that a 2-day paddock, but you can tell they're hungry.

Oh my gosh, they're so hungry!

Yeah, they're so hungry. Even the mamas came over. That cat's gonna walk through that. It's the gnarliest move on our entire farm, and it's wet, and I tore it up. I think I went a little— I went a little too high. I think if I go down that way more, we can get it. It's just a little too steep right here, so I've put— I've put Willie around We're gonna pull it back down. I'm gonna pull it a good ways, Jonah, and we're gonna get a good start this time. Instead of going up that way, I'm gonna have to go right here and get some speed and just go for it. And I'm gonna go as far as I can so we're not dealing with this tomorrow. It's just too wet and too steep. Well, that's why we also have a Kubota tractor. I think, I think we'll wait till tomorrow though because we're running kind of behind. We got it in the right paddock. I was hoping to get a little further. Um, so no big deal for today. You know what I want on my birthday? I'm running late getting inside. I just missed Rebecca. I just want to be in there with Rebecca. Somewhat chilly fall day, you know, just gonna be cozy on my birthday. I'm so excited about my 40s. I really like my 40s. I want to say they're the new 30s. I finally feel grown up after my dad passed away. That grew me up. But there was something about losing my dad that there's like— that lifeline is gone, you know? That, oh my goodness, the crap hits the fan, I could still technically move in with my dad or something. Could all move in there, but that, that's out. That's out. There's no— there's no safety net anymore. How is my favorite person?

Good, how are you?

And I miss you.

I missed you too.

That's what I want. All I want for my birthday is you. Isn't there a song like that? Oh yeah. There's nothing more special than coming in here and your honey's in an apron. And it smells like an Italian restaurant. Oh my gosh, I wish you guys had smell-o-vision right now. Actually, it smells so good in here, my eyes are watering.

I know.

Did you smell it outside?

No.

Sometimes that's really good.

This is everybody's favorite, it's our chicken. She's gonna put it in our eggs and then bread it. With a gluten-free mix. This is probably a grain-free mix too, isn't it? And there's the end result. Over here she's frying this in tallow. You just can't buy this. And look how it's coming out, coming out. Oh my gosh, Becky, this is just perfection.

Unless you think I do it all. Yeah, I bought my tallow.

If somebody says, how do you do it all? We don't. Well, we pick our battles. We know how to make tallow. We've made tallow. We have beef fat out there.

I have beef fat in the freezer. Didn't have time, so I made sure I had—

I had no shame in that. You know, tallow is kind of difficult to make. It would be difficult to make at this level. Like, this is like a perfect piece of tallow. There's no— I mean, we could do it, but it would take me I'm gonna leave it up to the master craftsman.

And you know what, I just— I have to, I have to say, I still have to spend time with my family.

Yeah, I still have to make a cake, right? So if you're, if you're too busy making tallow, you're gonna have to forfeit the cake. Something has to go.

Yes.

So no shame in that, no shame. And we say that so you guys can relax and not fret. And if you don't do everything Enjoy it. If you can't make your compost and you have to buy compost, go for it. Ellie Coleman buys compost. You can't make your— if you can't make cheese, we'll buy cheese from the specialist craftsmen. Because guess what? You can buy organic raw cheese. You cannot buy organic raw milk or yogurt.

Yeah.

Or ice cream.

Or yeah, I guess that's where I focus on is like, where can I buy things? I buy things or I make things that I cannot buy.

Yeah, because You can't— that's a good example right here. You can't make— you can't buy this bread mix. No, it's gluten-free, grain-free bread mix.

That's where I focus.

So you have to make that. And you can't buy organic pastured chicken. I mean, we might— could buy that, maybe. We'd probably be shipping it and it'd be very expensive. She's got a marinara sauce. It's gone on top of the chickens, and then you got some mozzarella on there. Bake right before lunch. I like this new schedule where we're eating big lunches. Right? Because it feels like we're having a party midday. You don't have to wait in anticipation all day. I'll get my presents early too, right? Just like I can play with them. I can play with my presents before bedtime.

I know, we're looking forward to that.

What is this?

These are—

did not—

appetizer.

Somebody mentioned it. Cheese sticks yesterday, and you got— once somebody mentions them, we gotta have them. Yeah, I didn't dream it would be the next day, but that makes sense. We can dip them in the marinara.

No, this is what happened. You said— oh, I said I'm making marinara sauce. You said you're making cheese sticks. I said no, but I guess I will.

Is it the same breading you did with the chicken? That's a no-brainer.

Lily made that one.

What cheese is that? This is just Cheese sticks, like from packages.

It's just the breading that they did.

Oh, it's just straight up breading with the cheese stick in the middle. Oh wow, it's gonna be really thick breading. It's gonna be very thick. Okay, so you froze these or something?

Yeah, so that's the recipe.

Oh wow, they did freeze all the way.

Freeze them.

So you had to put some thought into this. You did this this morning?

I did it early.

Oh, thanks.

Look at that. The oil's a little bit weird because it's, you know, it's oat oil. Yeah. I wouldn't say old, but I feel like used by the— it's just been a little bit brown.

I feel like they're coming out great. I cannot wait until they cool off. Just look at the fry on that. You don't know how bad I want to just pinch that off and eat that.

You just pull it.

I just gotta do it like that.

This one's full of cheese.

This one's not. This one has a huge crust.

Mmm, you like that? No.

You got the one with a lot of crust.

I made that one.

Are we double dipping?

I'm double dipping.

Is this the birthday seat? You coming back? You got him passed out? Nice. We should call that kryptonite pie because chocolate and peanut butter are my weak spots. And so she made me a peanut butter chocolate pie.

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to you!

Look at this chocolate.

Crust.

Peanut butter chocolate stuffing. And your chocolate hardened already on top, Beck.

Mmm.

Cold glass of milk, 34 degrees. Is that number 1? Who's this from? Me. This from you? What is it? Uh-oh. Oh, new case! Oh, custom Leatherman case! Who makes these, Rebecca?

I think it's called Farm Tough.

From Farm Tough. Oh look, I should show you this. This is 23 years old. Rebecca gave it to me. It's been sewed a number of times. It's got a hole in the bottom here. I think I would sew it some more, but that's an OG gift from you back And this has a magnet so it can't fall out. Hamburger press! Anything to enhance my meat cooking is amazing. Nice decorations though.

Yeah, he already told me. And then there's a pig, and then that, and then that.

Big mug. A chicken mug. That's what they get me. What are y'all saying? I'm the permaculture chicken ninja master. Bacon press. Ah, cast iron. Oh, boxer briefs. Underwear. Oh, underwear and socks. I love it. The best gifts you can get when you're in your 40s. You ready? Birthday blessings. Go for it.

Papa helps me, um, make my plate. He gets my snack in the morning for me, and he's a good dad.

Oh, thanks. Did you like that blessing, Henry?

I like Poppy because he, um, he sometimes makes breakfast for us in the morning. And he took us on the Great American Farm Tour and he helped us clean.

Yep. I drove that.

And I like Papa because he's my Papa.

Aw, thanks. I drove that whole time, didn't I?

He did.

Every mile. I think she drove 1 mile during the west. I drove a couple miles. A couple miles during the Key West traffic. And I made everybody lunch.

Papa is nice because he gets us up in the morning, makes us breakfast, helps us on the chores if we need help, and he helps us milk the cow and solve problems.

That's good. Thanks.

I like you because you read us books at night, you get us up, you take us places sometimes. You get us stuff when you go out.

Mm-hmm.

And you're a good dad.

Thanks, hon.

I come up with the ideas and you make them happen. Yeah. So you are the closer in the relationship.

Like what? What was the big idea? What's a great example of that? Hint.

The CSA, the Great American Farm Tour. YouTube, the milk cow, the homestead, uh, all the things. I really appreciate all that you do for us. You work really hard. And the summer when you weren't able to do things because you were not able to physically, we saw how much we missed you and how much you do around here, and we're very thankful for you and the leadership and all the, the servanthood leadership that you do. So thank you.

Thanks.

We love you.

How old were y'all when you met?

16.

So you had a driver's license and he had a truck, and in the back of the truck was a cooler and a grill. Have steak, will travel. And he pulled up to our apartment that we were renting when we first moved here, came on in, and I wondered, who is this guy with this big diesel truck with a grill and a cooler?

Not much has changed. Now I just have a diesel side-by-side. I know, still cranking the grill up.

We're just a blessing to have you.

Justin, you're very disciplined. You're a good disciplinarian.

I didn't mean to say that like that.

But you are well disciplined, and you're a good encourager. You encourage the children a lot. To do different things, and you turned into quite a teacher and a promoter.

Yeah.

And we're proud of you for all those things. And you've turned into be a writer, and all those are very admirable.

Thanks.

You do a lot of things in the house and outside the house. So, uh, you're very helpful to, uh, our daughter and all your children.

Yeah, God bless. Thank you.