In the Lewiston Orchards, there are two and a third acres that Jessica Klein and her family have turned into a small, self-sufficient world of its own. It may seem like a big operation now, but it didn’t start that way. When the Klein family bought the land about 5 years ago, it came with chickens! One thing led to another and they’re now running a full operation that includes cows, turkeys, and everything in between. They have a plethora of fruit trees, plus a garden spot ready for planting. Any scraps or extra fruit go to the animals, primarily the chickens, so nothing goes to waste. They also keep five beehives, which are perfectly at home with the other animals. There seems to be a mutual agreement that makes the whole thing work, the chickens eat the smaller bugs that might otherwise bother the bees, and the bees help the fruit trees thrive.
Chickens being the biggest part of their operation, Jessica keeps eggs in incubators on a rotating basis, ensuring a steady flow of new chicks and a small flock that never runs thin. She sells her eggs and honey directly alongside selling 15 dozen to Happy Day Local weekly! Eggs are thoroughly washed right there in her kitchen before heading out the door. Beyond eggs, the family processes their own meat. One cow a year is processed for their family’s consumption and Jessica was honest about the cost emotionally; she cries every time. It isn’t a small feat to raise an animal and see it through to that point, but she also knows exactly how her animals lived. “The animals are raised happy” she shared, and that’s the whole point. Her family’s food comes from animals who are raised with abundant love and care.
Jessica talked about her operation like she was talking about friends. The chickens wander wherever they’d like, even with the cows, whereas the geese are not particularly nice and keep to themselves in the field. There’s also Gravy, the pet turkey who has more in common with a dog than a bird. Big personality and thoroughly convinced he belongs in the family. Feeding all the animals is a mix of methods for the Kleins, the animals free range where they can, and get supplemented with bales the rest of the time.
Jessica manages the farm day-to-day as a stay-at-home mom while her husband works outside the home. Together, the family strives to be self-sustainable. Everything they raise and grow is aimed at their own family, with the rest going to their community. She was honest about the challenges of this lifestyle. Connecting with buyers is one of the bigger barriers that small farms face. Prices naturally run higher than what you’d get at the grocery store, not out of choice, but necessity. For anyone wanting to start their own farm, Jessica has this advice: start with chickens.
To connect with Klein Ventures, Facebook is the best point of contact. Their eggs are also available for sale at happydaylocal.com.
