Butterflies not only pollinate plants, they also help some plants lose leaves prior to fall, prevent other plants from uncontrollable growth and help rid the environment of waste. I don't like to think about this part, but they also provide food for a number of critters. Everything about nature is important in the ripple effect, when one species of plant or animal is displaced, increases vastly in number or becomes critically endangered/extinct; a domino effect occurs and can have devastating consequences. Butterflies are so sensitive, scientist have been able to study environmental problems based on butterfly populations. Temperature changes  and rainfall to loss of habitat all cause changes in butterfly populations, migration patterns and timing. Ecologist can learn from these changes to determine the impact on the environment. A few years ago, my father was out on the land where we have the native grass program and he came upon a tree that was completely covered in Monarch butterflies. He was so amazed at the sight of hundreds of beautiful butterflies just resting on the tree. A sight to behold for sure, but we have barely seen any butterflies since then. This year we hope to learn how to make improvements to help increase the dwindling bee and butterfly population. We are looking for ways to improve not only on the ranches but also at our homes in the suburbs. Butterfly gardens are such a beautiful addition to any yard and they do not have to be big or expensive. Imagine the difference you could make if everybody in your neighborhood planted just one plant to attract butterflies! Here is a simple guide from HGTV , just click the button and get inspired! 

Growing up in suburbia, I have acquired many life skills, but none of them prepared me for work on a ranch. The first thing my family learned about ranch life is: it starts at the crack of dawn, or sometimes before dawn, or sometimes in the middle of the night. The second thing we learned is: there is no such thing as a day off. Our final lesson was the realization that at the ranch you spend time outside, lots of time outside, getting dirty, sun burned and tired. (really tired, like how do people live like this, I want to die, tired) We developed a new appreciation for farming and ranching families and they opened up a whole new fascinating world for us! We have met so many wonderful, beautiful and inspirational people since we started our journey a decade ago. My youngest daughter benefited the most by spending her summers at the ranch from the age of 11 to 18. Those early summers were without phone service, internet or television. I wish my older two could have experienced that during their early teen years. They have been able to reconnect with family and learn many things that were once common knowledge but have been lost to most of the youth of today. We want to share this knowledge and introduce you to some of these wonderful people through the pages of this website, so please drop by and visit us often for updates!