177. Juliann Janies on Transitioning from Full Time Employment to Pasture Based Farming

What are the benefits and nuances of running a pasture grazed farm?   Today on the show we are hosting Juliann Janies, scientist turned sustainable farmer and Co-Founder of Red-Tailed Farm, located in Burgaw, North Carolina. After an extensive search for affordable and usable land, Juliann and her partner Gregory, settled on a 14-acre lot with a nearly 100 year old transplanted beach house. They started the farm business by first producing eggs from hens out on pasture, and began rotating them around the property in order to fertilize the soil. Soon they had quite the customer demand for their eggs, and were able to use the profits to buy their first piglets. Things grew naturally from there, and before long, they also had a flock of sheep and goats, rabbits, turkeys, ducks and a market garden. After earning her Bachelor's degree in Animal Science from Michigan State University, Juliann worked in scientific research for nearly a decade developing new vaccines. In 2013 she left that career behind to pursue her true passion. Tune in to hear all about Juliann’s journey into pasture grazed farming! You’ll hear: Juliann’s decision to work with science and animals 1:24 What kind of vaccines Juliann worked with 3:20 What caused her to change fields 5:39 What Juliann believes would improve the way typical farms do their internship programs 13:04 What was behind the choice to make a pasture-grazed farm 14:53 Red-Tailed’s enterprises ranked in order of size 23:24 How Juliann and Gregory found the property for the farm 25:25 Why so much cleanup necessary when the farmland was initially purchased 31:48 How long it took to get the desired infrastructure in place 34:40 What type of marketing works for Red-Tailed Farm 35:33 What kinds of events they host 39:28 How Juliann handled the fears of leaving her lucrative career and going into farming 45:22 What advice Juliann has for those looking to start a farm 46:55   About the Guest   Juliann Janies is a former research scientist who quit her career 9 years ago to pursue her lifelong dream to become a farmer. She’s always been obsessed with animals of all kinds, and her goal is to better understand them so that she can help everyone improve the way we coexist with other species. In 2015 Juliann founded Red-Tailed Farm, a diverse, pasture-based livestock farm with a focus on sheep and goats.  Resources   Website: www.redtailedfarm.com   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedTailedFarm   Instagram: https://instagram.com/redtailedfarm    The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsors!   Rimol Greenhouse Systems has been supporting local growers since 1994.  Rimol Greenhouse offers superior strength and craftsmanship with their structures and product lines. We offer multiple sizes of gothic high tunnels, gutter-connected and free-standing greenhouses. Rimol Greenhouse manufactures their diverse product line in New Hampshire, using American Steel and Aluminum.    Our knowledgeable sales staff specialize in the technology you need and are located throughout the country to better serve you. Whether you are just getting started as a Greenhouse Grower, or looking to expand your operation, Rimol Greenhouse is your industry partner. To learn more and to get a quote on your next project, visit Rimol.com   At Agrigro, we know that in today’s modern agriculture, our efforts can deplete life or add life. When you look for ways to add life, it’s sustainable and makes everything work better. The result is enhanced plant and soil health for crops, gardens, and turf, as well as improved animal health and environment for livestock and wildlife. Our products are all-natural, easy to use, and friendly to the soil, the plant, as well as the grower. AgriGro’s® formulations deliver essential plant nutrition along with an advanced prebiotic concentrate, which significantly increases the multitude of beneficial native microbial species already residing in the production environment. Through these environmentally sound technologies, we’re adding life to crop production, livestock, home, turf, and wildlife markets. You don’t have to be dependent on crop production efforts that deplete life… Just Add Life with AgriGro®.