Episode #44
Episode #44: Juggling Almonds, Olives, Sheep and 8,000 hens with Benina Montes
Along with her family, Benina Montes of Burroughs Family Farms runs the world's first regenerative organic certified almond orchard, producing walnuts, olives, year-round sheep, and 8,000 laying hens in California's Central Valley. She and Keith talk about how a catch frame harvester lets her keep the orchard floor covered, how cover crops and grazing cut her water use by about 30%, and how she markets her almonds, almond butter, and eggs directly instead of selling into the commodity market. In honor of the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Benina also shares what she's learned about working across generations and raising kids who might one day come back to the farm. Check out her products at https://burroughsfamilyfarms.com/ and visit https://greencover.com/ to build a cover crop mix for your own orchard or pasture.
