Zapata-Elias Homestead

What We Believe

Healthy food should be available for all.
The methods of producing that food should nurture the planet.
The methods of producing that food should nurture life in general.

The good news is the best methods for accomplishing these goals match.

Meet the Team

Gunther, Security Chief

This big boy is about five years old. He is a pot belly pig. He is in charge of keeping large, ground-based predators away. Before we had livestock we would sometimes find chicken parts in our yard. Local predators like coyotes would use our yard as a safe place to eat animals taken from others. However, since Gunther arrived, they have stayed away. Even raccoons keep to the far corner of the property. No one wants to mess with those tusks.

And frankly, neither do I. Consequently, I try to be cautious around him. From riding horses as a teenager I learned that large, powerful animals can cause great harm, even if it is not intentional. Thank you, Gunther, for keeping the area secure.

Rooster Cogburn, Assistant Manager of the Chicken Patrol,
(Rabbit Division)

This guy is the only surviving rooster from our initial flock of Buckeyes. He has several important jobs. Since Gunther speicialized in ground-based predators he doesn’t have to worry about those. However he does have to keep an eye out for flying predators. I had heard that roosters have a special call for aerial predators and was delighted the day I heard a new sound from Rooster Cogburn and then saw the hens run for cover. He was doing his job. Another job is finding food for the hens. Now, of course, I do provide feed, but he instinctively searches for other food sources and call the hens over to eat while he stands guard. He has lost all his tail feathers before defending his flock. Fortunately, they grew back. He will even occasionally get into a managerial dispute with me. I have to explain to him that he is valued but that I am in charge. However, he gets exclusive mating rights with the hens.

Mama Hen