Juan D. Rivera started learning everything he could about plants, farming, livestock, and ecosystems at a young age. Since then, he’s earned a Master’s degree in wildlife biology (Universidad Iberoamericana, Ciudad de México) and a PhD in forestry (North Carolina State University), both with an emphasis on conservation farming and renewable technology. He has worked in planning crops for companies and workshops, as an educational consultant and writer.
Before I spent time around dairy cattle, I pictured milking as either a peaceful postcard scene or some cold industrial process straight out of a documentary. In my head, there wasn’t much middle ground. Then…
I’ll be honest — before I spent time around cattle, I assumed cows basically worked like giant four-legged humans with hooves and stomachs built like industrial compost bins. Milk comes out. Babies happen. Somewhere in…
I’ll admit it — the first time one of my goats stared directly into my soul, I got a little uncomfortable. Not scared. Just… observed. You know that look dogs give when they want a…
Every evening at a small farm near me, two geese named Betty and Bert stage the same little parade like clockwork. Around 5:45 PM, they waddle across the riding arena with all the confidence of…
The first time I spotted a flock of wild turkeys in the middle of winter, I honestly stopped in my tracks. Snow covered the ground like powdered sugar on a cake, the trees stood bare…
When I first brought goats home, I thought I had cracked the code to easy livestock ownership. They were smaller than horses, cheaper than cows, and way more entertaining than my Netflix subscription. Honestly, watching…
The first time I heard cows mooing nonstop in the middle of the night, I’ll admit it — I got a little spooked. It was one of those dead-quiet country nights where every sound feels…
Not long ago, my guava tree looked like it had thrown in the towel. The leaves were dull, the branches felt weak, and the fruit I once looked forward to never showed up. I remember…
I’ll be honest — the first time I planted a Shore Pine, I treated it like every other ornamental tree in my yard. Big mistake. I babied it with extra water, fussed over the soil,…