Black Gold
Edible Maine
Before you can pour a glass of milk or garnish your cheese board with tasty morsels, the dairy industry has to deal with a lot of poop. Finish your yogurt and consider this: A single cow can excrete a hundred pounds of manure in a day. If you’ve ever driven by a dairy farm, you have most likely noticed that the whole facility seems to revolve around manure management: equipment to move it, places to put it, and the ever-present smell of it.
Photographs by Kirsten Lie-Nielsen
Impulse Chickens and Trendy Goats: The Pitfalls of Modern Homesteading
Modern Farmer
A few months after backyard chickens became popular in the spring of 2020, farm rescues and sanctuaries saw an influx of surrendered birds. Now, they’re asking people to think twice before following their homesteading dreams.
Photography courtesy of Kathy Halamka
More Articles
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Impulse Chickens & Trendy Goats: The Dangers of Modern Homesteading, Modern Farmer, August 2023​
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Meet the Women Making Waves in Maine's Tough Lobster Industry, Modern Farmer, July 2023
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Meet the Milkweed Man On a Quest to Help Monarch Butterflies, Modern Farmer, June 2023
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Browntail Moth Outbreak Makes Life Itchy for Maine Farmers, Modern Farmer, April 2023
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Cooking With Goose Eggs, Grit magazine, March/April 2023
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I Was "The Goose Lady" Then Avian Flu Came For My Flock, Modern Farmer, February 2023
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Raising Geese: Considerations for a Healthy Flock, Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners, Spring 2023
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"These Hands" Personal Essay, Trailblazher magazine, Winter 2023
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One Poultry Owner’s Experience with Avian Flu in Chickens, Geese, and other Poultry, Grit Magazine, December/January 2023
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How to Overwinter Your Swine, Grit Magazine, October/November 2022
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Big and Small Farm Income Ideas, Grit Magazine, August/September 2022
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Why Keep Goats?, HobbyFarms.com, February 2020
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Which Is the Right Duck Breed for You?, HobbyFarms.com, January 2020
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Introducing New Ducks & Geese to Your Flock, HobbyFarms.com, April 2019
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Grow Your Farm with Social Media, GRIT magazine, March/April 2019
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How to Prepare Your Farm for Waterfowl, HobbyFarms.com, March 2019
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Poultry Goals for 2019, HobbyFarms.com, January 2019
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Breed Profile: Meet the Roman Goose, HobbyFarms.com, August 2018
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A Practical Guide to Keeping Geese, Permaculture Northeast magazine, Spring 2018
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Summer Treats Good for Poultry, HobbyFarms.com, May 2018
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Ducks and Geese Housing Needs, HobbyFarms.com, April 2018
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Consider Adding These Heritage Goose, Duck, & Chicken Breeds to Your Flock, HobbyFarms.com, March 2018
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How to Get the Best Birds for a New Flock This Spring, HobbyFarms.com, February 2018
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Finding Your New Farm Home, GRIT magazine, January/February 2018
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4 New Year's Resolutions for Our Poultry Flock, HobbyFarms.com, January 2018
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Earthworms Podcast, KDHX with Jean Ponzi, Nov. 2017
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5 Reasons Why Farmers Should Keep Ducks & Geese, HobbyFarms.com, Oct. 2017
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Help Your Poultry Get Through a Cold Winter, HobbyFarms.com, Sept. 2017
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Consider These 6 Types of Poultry for Your Farm, HobbyFarms.com, August 2017
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Can You Eat Goose Eggs? You Bet!, HobbyFarms.com, July 2017
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An Introduction to Keeping Geese, Molly Green magazine, Spring 2017
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The History of the American Barn, GRIT magazine, March/April 2017​
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The Toulouse Goose, Backyard Poultry magazine, February/March 2017
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Honk if You Love Goose Eggs, ZEST Maine magazine, January/February 2017
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The Roman Goose, Backyard Poultry Magazine, December 2016/January 2017
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Pros & Cons of Lighting Your Coop in Winter, GRIT Guide to Backyard Chickens, November 2016
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Affordable Ways to Keep Your Coop Warm, GRIT Guide to Backyard Chickens, November 2016
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The Sebastopol Goose, Backyard Poultry magazine, Oct/November 2016
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Raise a Goose to Guard Your Flock, Hobby Farms, September 2016
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Why Ducks Are Good for Your Garden, Hobby Farms, August 2016
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Duck, Duck, Goose, The Sustainable Dish Podcast Episode 7, June 2016
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The African Goose, Backyard Poultry magazine, August/September 2016
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Feed and Care for Geese, Backyard Poultry magazine, June/July 2016
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Gosling to Goose, GRIT magazine, May/June 2016
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About Duck Raising, Hobby Farms, May 2016
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Practical Uses for Geese, Backyard Poultry magazine, April/May 2016
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A History of Geese as Guard Animals, GRIT Guide to Backyard Chickens, March 2016
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Geese: Personalities & Basics, Backyard Poultry magazine, Feb/March 2016
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Winter Care for Water Fowl, Hobby Farms, Jan. 2016
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Keeping the Peace in a Mixed-Species Flock, Hobby Farms, Dec. 2015
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Five Things You Didn’t Know About Top Bar Hives, Hobby Farms, Sept. 2015
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Store-Bought Eggs vs. Farm-Fresh Eggs, Hobby Farms, Aug. 2015
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Are Geese Right for My Farm?, Hobby Farms, Aug. 2015