Out of the Valley, Into the Dirt: A Massive A-7 Farms Update
We had massive plans for the blog this year. But sometimes life decides to grab the steering wheel and take you on a detour you never saw coming.
The short version? We had to hit the emergency brake on everything. But the good news is: we are back, the farm is thriving, and our family has grown. Here is what has been happening behind the scenes at A-7 Farms.
The Valley: Hitting the Brakes
The year started with the incredible blessing of welcoming our new son, Malachi. But the joy of his arrival was quickly overshadowed. Shortly after the delivery, Emily experienced medical complications that put her in the hospital.
We try to be an open book, but we are also a private family, so I’ll leave the medical specifics at that. What I will say is that when your wife is fighting in the hospital and you are trying to hold it together, the farm simply ceases to exist. The plans get shelved, and survival mode kicks in.
We could not have navigated that dark season without our village. Emily’s parents stayed with us to keep the day-to-day running and look after the older kids, while my mom constantly made sure we had absolutely everything we needed. Even Elijah, Grayson, Lyla, and Kyra stepped up to handle chores around the RV, pitching in with a resilience that makes a dad proud.
The best news I can share today is that we are on the other side of it. Emily is doing great. She is fully back to her usual tasks, and diving back into her dog training has really been the driving force pushing her forward. Having her back out there—and back where she belongs with us—is the greatest answered prayer.
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Meet Malachi: The 10-Pound Anchor
Through the chaos of the last few months, Malachi has been our anchor. For those wondering if he lived up to the "Linebacker" hype—he absolutely did. He made his debut at a solid 10 lbs., 2 oz. and 22 inches long.
Temperament-wise, he is generally a very happy guy, though he is definitely keeping Emily on her toes. He already knows exactly who his favorite person is, and there are plenty of moments where Dad’s tricks just don’t cut it and my only option is to hand him straight back to Mama.
Watching the older kids adjust to the new dynamic has been amazing:
Elijah has really stepped into his role; you can see what a naturally great big brother he is.
Lyla is always our volunteer, ready with a helping hand or asking to hold him.
Grayson is helpful when we need him, but true to form, he mostly prefers to just tend to his own business.
Kyra has had the biggest transition. Giving up the title of "the baby" is a hard pill to swallow. But her tough exterior melts every now and then, and catching those quiet moments where she lets him hold her hand and softly coos to him makes the whole transition worth it.
As for the four-legged family members, the dog pack has been surprisingly great. They are curious but well-mannered and mostly choose to leave him be.
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The 40-Row Garden: Slow and Steady
Given the crazy start to the year, our planting schedule had to shift. Instead of a massive, frantic push, we’ve adopted a "slow and steady" motto for the garden this season.
Right now, here is what we have actively growing in the ground:
Carrots
Beets
Lettuce
Corn
Squash
Zucchini
Waiting in the wings (currently in pots) are our tomatoes, peppers, and watermelon, which will be transplanted into the beds in a few more weeks.
With this paced approach, we’ve been amending and prepping the beds as we go rather than tackling all 40 rows at once. We tarp the beds to kill off the weed pressure, prep the soil with a long fork, add organic fertilizers, and then lay down a top layer of compost. We run the Neversink Tools' Tilther over it to mix it in and roll over the bed to level it out. It leaves an absolutely perfect seedbed.
To protect all that hard work, we finally started getting some fencing up just last weekend. The posts and braided wire are already doing their job keeping the horse and the dogs out of the freshly planted beds!
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The Livestock Expansion: Chicks and Holiday Turkeys
While the garden is growing steadily, the noise level around the homestead has definitely ramped up.
We recently expanded our flock with Bielefelder chicks. They are a fantastic dual-purpose breed, and honestly, they are incredibly beautiful birds to have around the farm.
Alongside the chicks, we brought in our very first round of Broad Breasted Bronze Turkeys. This is a massive milestone for A-7 Farms. It has been a long-time dream of mine to be able to raise and supply healthy, happy turkeys for the holidays, and we are finally making it happen.
Right now, both the chicks and the turkeys are still safe and warm in their brooders. In a few weeks, they will be graduating out to the pasture where they can forage, soak up the sun, and live their best lives. I know turkeys have a reputation for being notoriously tricky to raise, so we are fully bracing ourselves for some adventures once they hit the grass.
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Looking Ahead: The Big Builds
Beyond the garden and the brooders, we are still grinding away at the big picture: the new house and outbuilding.
We have discussed the master plan in great detail and are currently in the thick of reaching out to local contractors for quotes. We are navigating all the typical hurdles and problem-solving that come with planning a new home build. We don't have a contractor officially pinned down just yet, but we are hoping to have a much better idea by the end of this month or early next.
Thank you all for the patience, the prayers, and the support while we were dark. It’s incredibly good to be back.
What are you most excited to see from A-7 Farms this season? Drop a comment below or let us know if you've ever tried your hand at raising turkeys—we might need the advice!
