Buckets, Berries, and Barnyard Brilliance

From Mushy Produce to Fermented Buckets

Warm weather means some feeds need a faster game plan.

The key? Feed by urgency.

Soft produce is always on borrowed time.

Bruised berries, tender greens, and mushier items should be fed out first, often the same day they arrive. Firmer produce like apples, carrots, and celery can usually hold a little longer.

One berry good rule: if it squishes easy, serve it speedy.

Especially for pigs and chickens, fermented feed can be a real win.

Many farmers toss pig feed into lidded buckets and let it naturally ferment while waiting to be fed throughout the week. The pigs love it, and the lids help keep those stronger smells where they belong. Quick tip: fermenting buckets do best out of direct sun, since heat can speed things up too much and turn "nicely fermented" into "science experiment" faster than one would like.

Stay tuned for some frozen favorites next time. At Loop, the best ideas are the ones passed from farm to farm. If you’ve got a clever summer feeding trick, a bug-beating strategy, or a treat your animals go wild for, send it our way!