On The Ranch
Best Time to Plant Fruit Trees in Central Texas
Planning is only half the battle—when and how you plant determines whether your trees will just survive or truly thrive in Central Texas.
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On The Ranch
Planning an Orchard in Central Texas (Zone 8b)
Designing a thriving orchard in Central Texas means embracing the rhythms of the local climate: hot summers, mild winters, and occasional deep freezes.
On The Ranch
Healing The Land Through Regenerative Agriculture
Our Regenerative Journey When we first arrived at what is now Mother Luck Ranch, the land felt tired. Our land, like many across the globe, suffered from decades of monocropping, over-reliance on synthetic fertilizers, all resulting in life-limiting compacted soil.
On The Ranch
Best Milk Cows For Central Texas
In Central Texas, the climate demands a milk cow breed that not only thrives in heat but also offers good milk production with a rich butterfat content for your cream needs. Here’s an in-depth look at several top milk cow breeds and crossbreeds.
On The Ranch
How to Raise Pigs: Beginner’s Guide to Paddock Setup, Feeding, and Care
Pigs bring a lot of benefits, from producing quality meat to helping manage the land sustainably. For us, bringing home a source of bacon that we can cure ourselves, plus always being stocked on chemical-free pork and lard is a
On The Ranch
Do Pigs Need a Wallow?
Pigs have a natural inclination to wallow, particularly in hot weather, to cool down and protect their skin from the sun. But when it comes to raising pigs on pasture or using paddock rotation systems, the question often arises: do
On The Ranch
Starting a Homestead: Agricultural Exempt Taxes
When Neil told me he wanted big acreage in the country, I told him it was a pipe dream. Then I learned about agricultural exempt property taxes in Texas and suddenly swapping our City of Austin taxes for agricultural exempt
On The Ranch
Unsung Heroes of the Garden: Exploring the Benefits of Earthworms
In the garden or orchard ecosystem, there’s a quiet workforce at play, often overlooked but vital for soil health and plant growth: earthworms. These humble creatures, with their unassuming appearance, play a significant role in maintaining the fertility and structure
On The Ranch
Managing Mycoplasma in Chicks and Chickens Holistically
That handsome fellow right there is Rooster. The one and only, OG, very first rooster at Mother Luck Ranch. And this is Rooster less than two weeks after we brought him home in the fall of 2020. Three years later
On The Ranch
How to Use Chickens and Cattle to Regenerate Soil Health
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach to farming that aims to restore and improve soil health. One key aspect of regenerative agriculture, and one championed by Joel Salatin, is the use of chickens and cattle in a symbiotic relationship to