183. Mary Bowen on Serving the Community and the Environment with Livestock

Have you considered the opportunities that livestock may bring to your farm? Today on the Thriving Farmer Podcast we’re joined by Mary Bowen, president of Prosperity Acres Farm, located in Sunderland, Maryland. Prosperity Acres is a small farm that offers high quality Hereford beef and goat meat for sale by the cut or as custom orders. Mary has farming in her genes tracing all the way back to Ireland with her great-great-grandparents. Mary began raising food for her family as a means to eat nutrient dense foods. She quickly realized others wanted to provide the same for their family. Mary enjoys helping families reduce the stress of putting meals on their table that support a healthy lifestyle. Join us today to hear about Mary’s long handed-down farming passion and thriving farming operation! You’ll hear: When Mary began her farming journey 1:27 How many acres Mary farms on Prosperity Acres 3:11 How many people work with Mary in her farming operation 6:08 What types of people contract with Mary 7:36 The system used for keeping the goats and sheep fed and watered 15:27 The number of goats ‘employed’ on Prosperity Acres 17:01 How often Prosperity Acres does farmers markets 21:17 What months Prosperity Acres runs their goat operation 22:34 How Prosperity Acres conducts their marketing 27:48 Mary’s advice for someone who has a good product but has thus far been unable to make it work in the market 32:55 Mary’s favorite farming tool 38:28 About the Guest: Farming is in my genes six generations back from County Kerry, Ireland. My family were crop farmers before coming to America to become farmers. I am entrusted by God to be the steward of his livestock and environment. I enjoy serving God’s community. I raise beef cattle, meat goats, and dairy goats. In addition, I use my goats to eat unwanted vegetation which saves the environment and people from toxic chemicals. Resources: Website: www.prosperityacres.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prosperityacresbowen  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prosperityacresfarm/  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®.