Factory farming can be just as ugly as it is unsustainable.
Monica Baker recalls having to wear a respirator to visit one.
Dust in factory farms contains fecal matter, viruses, moulds, bacteria, and more. In pig farms, this dust is up to 90 percent biologically active, putting workers at risk of respiratory problems, not to mention what the pigs must go through.
If factory farm workers have to dress like medical staff during a pandemic, what does that say about the practice?
Not only is this unsanitary, but it is fundamentally cruel to the animals.
Monica believes that all animals raised for slaughter deserve humane treatment.
That’s what Monica and Jen Baker do at Horns and Hogs Homestead.
Located about an hour east of Edmonton in Minburn County, the couple runs a family-owned, women-powered, sustainable, small-scale regenerative farm.
They’re farming journey started with a love for animals and a desire to raise their meat ethically.
This desire led Monica and Jen to the realization that many heritage farming breeds are close to extinction. Heritage breeds are traditional livestock raised by our ancestors generations ago.
As the agriculture industry evolved, the need for specialty, heritage pig breeds declined along with their population.
Now, some of these breeds are at risk of extinction. Monica and Jen hope to restore populations of heritage breeds, such as the critically endangered Meishan.
At their core, Monica and Jen believe all animals should be respected and given the best life possible, regardless of how short their lives may be.
But the farmers’ passion is pigs! The couple believes pigs are the most misunderstood animals in the food industry, considered by many to be dirty, lazy, and unintelligent.
But the pigs at Horns and Hogs Homestead tell a different story.
When they aren’t raised in confinement, pigs are incredibly smart, social, and full of personality.
Monica and Jen shower their pigs with attention and enrichment activities daily to make their environment less stressful.
No Strangers To Struggle
Monica works on the farm full-time and is the homestead’s brains and primary labourer. She is responsible for the construction of animal shelters and fencing systems. On a day-to-day basis, Monica and Jen feed, provide water and monitor their livestock. Jen also works as a flight medic when she isn’t working on the farm.
Running a farm is tough, but it’s the life Monica and Jen chose. These resourceful women run every aspect of the farm on their own.
But, being first-generation farmers and a gay couple comes with challenges. When the pair first started raising pigs, they remember being judged and doubted.
Some worried that the couple would be knocked down by the animals, killed, and then eaten!
Thankfully, the grim prediction never came to pass.
Monica and Jen have more than enough physical strength to run their homestead. But strength isn’t just a measure of muscle. A farmer also requires emotional strength.
Monica and Jen’s emotional strength was tested when their barn burned down on Christmas Eve last year.
The barn was full of female pigs that had just given birth. With their neighbours’ help, they saved most of the pigs, but some were lost in the fire. If not for Jen, Monica might have too.
In an interview with CBC News, the couple recalls celebrating Christmas that evening since Jen had to work a double shift on Christmas Day. Upon seeing the barn ablaze, Monica and Jen rushed to save the animals. At one point, Jen stopped Monica from entering the barn, fearing it would collapse.
Five seconds later, the barn exploded in flames and came crashing down. While Monica’s life was spared, the couple were forced to watch some of their beloved pigs burn in the fire. After the tragic loss, Monica and Jen were ready to quit farming altogether. But the community wasn’t about to let them.
A GoFundMe, started by Stephanie Dale, saw nearly $4,000 in donations, plus many neighbours donated straw, and the local vets donated their time. The help they received got them through this devastating time.
Thanks to the overwhelming support, Monica and Jen rebounded and have continued raising animals at Homestead. In addition to more than 250 pigs, they raise other ethically raised livestock, including chickens, turkeys, and sheep.
The couple have returned more vital than ever and offer a wide range of meat, produce and homestead goods for sale. The future of farming is in local small-scale regenerative operations that can supply products directly to consumers.
Way to pave the way, Monica and Jen!
