O'Reilly Meadows / Models for Earth- Union Grove, Alabama

Models for Earth / Union Grove, Alabama

In 2013 my husband, children and I started O’Reilly Meadows. Our plan and dream is to live responsibly off the land and work from home. That hasn’t quite happened yet but we are getting there. We wanted our kids to know how to grow their own food, collect fresh eggs and take care of animals. I feel that growing our own food is so important for the earth and something that people have lost knowing how to do. We stay organic as much as possible, all of our produce is grown organically with worm fertilizer and chicken/goat manure. We also use some Epsom salt. I am trying to learn how to worm my goats organically with garlic, black walnut husks an other herbs. We are switching over to fodder (barley seed will be the one we use for now) for feed this month. And get away from the feed. All of the animals will get this. We try to stay local as much as possible. Hanner’s Feed is the main place that we get our feed and baby chicks. Great people! For groceries- I try to shop at the farmers market as much as I can. We trade produce with some friends and my parents in the summer. Winter is a little harder to shop local farmers. I try to stay with the smaller groceries stores when I can.

The weather can be tough. The cold is probably the worst. Having to get heat lamps in the chicken coops and stalls, stalling the smaller goats at night, covering produce and our trees but I would say the hardest thing about farming is making it a full time income. It is a lot of work but we love it; love to be outdoors and love the animals. Last year we added 20 new fruit trees, 6 more goats, one being a registered pigmy billy. I would love to continue to add more fruit bushes, different types of herbs and lavender to our farm.

Creating healthy thoughtful products from our farm is a part of our growing success. Goat milk soap, whipped shea butter, cut flowers, herbs, potted plants, produce, salsa, fruit preserves and relishes are among our products. We have sold baked goods, craft items like stick horses and painted wall decor also. We regularly have stands at spring flings, craft shows and local farmers markets. Our products can be found at Cook Avenue Farmers Market, Cellar Door, and We Believe Boutique. Another very exciting endeavor of ours is Once Upon A Pony Party. It is a, wheel free, pony and farm animal party at your place or ours depending on what is most convenient for you. We love introducing our loved animals to children while creating a unique and fun party experience. Children absolutely love spending time with the animals.

There is always work to be done but living and working as a family, with the animals and nature, is giving us a deeper connection and more joy. We hope to continue living our dreams and sharing the fruits of our labor with friends and our community.

Renee O’Reilly

If you are interested in following the O’Reilly’s progress please visit O’Reilly Meadows on Facebook.