Horsefeather Organic Farm - Lamoni, Iowa

A few nights ago we had the honor and pleasure of having dinner at Horsefeather organic farm in Lamoni, Iowa.  Kevin and Sophie Ryan were our gracious hosts who prepared a feast of grass-fed pork and beef, milk and butter from Clementine the cow (who we helped milk a few minutes prior to dinner) and also homemade ice cream, and assorted other delicious foods.  Neighbors came from as far away as 40 miles to eat with us.  Sophie and Kevin have an intelligent and funny son, Drew, who showed us the ropes on the farm. We watched as he brought in Danny and Dave, the plow horses, fed Phil the cat, and also set up Clementine the cow for milking.  Drew is thirteen years old and gets up at 5:30 every day to help his Dad with farm chores.  The Ryan's house was built completely from wood/trees/lumber on their acreage.  The building contains straw insulation, burns wood for most of its heat, and is beautiful and warm and inviting.

These folks are truly living the sustainable life and are humble yet opinionated on where our country is headed.  I can't say enough how wonderful it was to get to know them.  After spending so, so many nights in motels after eating chain-restaurant food it was incredible to be in a real home, eating real food, and talking to regular people who we don't see for a half an hour before jumping in our cars and moving forward.  The quietness of the farm just slowed us all down, and we really had a hard time dragging ourselves out of there.

I've spent some time at a few places that I would definitely come back to visit, and this was definitely tops on the list.  And again, huge thanks to Kevin, Sophie and Drew Ryan who opened their home to our traveling circus...