A Face of Small Farming: Living Earth Farm

By: Jackie Varriano | November 11 2011
Posted in Eugene - Find It - Eugene

Sharon Blick with her chickens! Photo by: Jackie Varriano

The 2007 book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver chronicles a year of living locally – where over the course of the year Kingsolver’s family made the decision to not eat anything that wasn’t produced where they live. That book changed a lot of lives over the country, and for one family in particular it was part of the catalyst to begin their own small farm in Eugene, Oregon.

“I always wanted to be a farmer, but it was never an option on an aptitude test,” says Sharon Blick as we toured Living Earth Farm. Blick, along with her husband Jim, and their daughter Selena, run the farm, situated on 15 acres just west of downtown Eugene. Currently they have 112 laying chickens, 125 chicks, 10 goats, four pigs, four ducks, three lambs, one llama, a dog, a beehive, and a large garden with an orchard.

Free-range chickens roam the pastures of Living Earth Farm. Photo by: Jackie Varriano

After reading Kingsolver’s book and taking a few classes on pasture management and raising ducks, Blick turned her dream into a reality. In 2006 Blick and her husband began discussing starting a farm, casually looking for property that was within city limits. She had previously taught school in Drain, Oregon and knew she wanted her daughter to stay within the 4-J school district. They found the property, formerly a children’s daycare center at a perfect time, when Selena would be transitioning to middle school, and decided to take the plunge.

Since 2007 they have focused on organically and sustainably raising pigs and lambs for meat, chickens for eggs, goats for milk, and various produce. The ducks are mostly used for pest control around the produce gardens and orchard, while the llama is to protect the goats from predator attacks. Through the use of the llama and Bucky the border collie guarding the chickens, Living Earth Farm has become a certified Predator Friendly Farm – meaning through the use of things like electric fences and guard animals, predator animals and people can peacefully co-exist.

Work on a farm is never done; the Blicks move their three chicken houses every day, and all the animals rotate through pastures. There is feeding and milking, harvesting, and constant upkeep of fences, compost piles, and animal enclosures. Blick’s husband still maintains a full time job outside of the farm, helping out before and after work at home.

Hungy piggies waiting for apples. Photo by: Jackie Varriano

You can find eggs, milk, and produce from the farm at Eugene Local Foods or by emailing Blick. She has a few drop off locations around town and one at the farm, although she says she doesn’t run things like a traditional CSA program. “I like people to be able to pick and choose what they want,” she says. She sets minimums for items, such as ordering at least a dozen eggs every two weeks, but people can cancel their subscription at any time.

When it comes to the pigs and lamb, the Blicks use 4-Star Meats for butchery, having the butchers come to the farm. The Blicks believe that the trauma experienced by an animal has more to do with the travel, and having the butchering done at the farm is the most humane way.

Customers can order animals directly from Blick, and as of now she still has one pig available for sale. The butchering date has been set for November 17.

One thing Blick is in need of is a tighter network for farmers. Craigslist doesn’t allow stud service ads, and it’s been hard to find a stud goat for her herd. In addition, she’s looking for a regular source for pigs and lambs, and a resource to help her learn to sex chicks.

Visit Blick’s website to be added to her mailing list for information on eggs, milk, the occasional goat for sale, and meat.