February 2026

We can finally see the first signs of spring all around the farm. Green patches are bursting through the dormant sea of brown in the pastures, peach blossoms are starting to form in our humble orchard, and our tomato seedlings are unfurling their first true leaves in the comfort of the greenhouse.

Although all of this excites me, I think I’m most encouraged about the pasture putting out new growth.

This has been a difficult winter from a forage standpoint. While we haven’t seen much in terms of extreme cold, we also haven’t had meaningful rain in well over six months. That led to a dry fall, when we usually sustain growth of our coastal Bermuda, followed by even drier winter months, when we typically get at least some winter forage in the form of oats and rye. Our herd of Akaushi steers has been sustained on hay cut from a neighboring property and mineral lick tubs, but you can sense them seeking that protein-packed green grass they haven’t had for so long.

Even the chickens are clearly ready for a move. Over the winter, they rotated between three locations with access to electricity for supplemental lighting. In a little more than a month, they’ll be cruising around the pastures again with access to fresh forage and bugs. Our flock of a little over 300 hens has provided steadily throughout the last several months, but that laying rate is sure to increase with a more diverse diet and longer daylight hours. Here’s to the arrival of spring in Texas, and hopefully lots more rain to come. On a farm, renewal always begins quietly, and we’re grateful to witness it again.