Earth Day on the Ranch

April 22 is celebrated as Earth Day. I kind of feel like every day is earth day on the ranch. We are in the business of taking care of this gorgeous piece of earth that we get to call home. 

Today I am taking a break from the kitchen and sharing what Earth Day means to us here on the ranch. I have some behind the scenes photos that I think you will enjoy.

This is a sponsored post in partnership with noosa yoghurt and La Sportiva, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I get so caught up in my work and sometimes realize that it has been weeks since I’ve gone out on the ranch. I mean, seriously how ridiculous is that? We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful, peaceful place and I forget to even look up from the computer.

We recently got a Ranger and I have really enjoyed riding around with the guys doing the evening cow check. It’s always awesome to see how things change from day to day out in the pastures.

The dogwoods are blooming and the grass is getting greener every day. Springtime is definitely my favorite time of year.

During the spring, the weather is perfect- not too hot and not too cold. I can grab my La Sportiva Hail Jacket if it’s a little cool and head out for some fresh air.

The other day, I set my phone and computer aside. I grabbed my favorite noosa yoghurt and headed out to the deck for a few minutes of the quiet. It made my day so much better. I have to make a habit of this.

Every morning I go straight for the coffee pot and then immediately to my computer and start working. I’m pretty sure this is not the healthiest choice I could be making.

Heading outside with a cup of coffee is a much better idea! I’m not really one to choose a word to focus on each year but I’m really trying to be more mindful to actually enjoy the wonderful things in my life.

Our ranch is really in the middle of nowhere. With that comes a quiet that most people do not experience. We are mostly surrounded by the sounds of nature. It really does offer a calmness that I enjoy and probably take for granted.

On the ranch we have so many different kinds of trees. Huge oaks that have been around for more than a century, isn’t that amazing? I just love the old oak trees.

We have hickory, elm, bois d’arc, cedar, pines, pecans, black walnuts, sycamore, and so many more that I don’t even recognize.

I think many people think of Oklahoma as the flat plains, but here, we have hills and lots of brush and trees as thick as a forrest, which keeps the wind from blowing non- stop. I sure don’t miss the winds that we had in Wyoming!

We are also fortunate enough to have a little creek and a few natural springs here on the ranch. Live water is truly a blessing and we do all that we can to preserve these natural resources.

My husband spends a lot of time taking care of this land. He rotates the cattle often, so that pastures are not over grazed. He clears brush and weeds to promote healthy pastures.

He has the ability to see what the place needs for improvement and preservation. I can see it when he is finished but I don’t have much foresight.

The land is our business, if we do not take care of it, we are out of business. I didn’t grow up on a ranch but I have sure to come to love this way of life. Now if I can just slow down enough to enjoy it a little more!

It’s easy with the hustle and bustle of every day life to forget the really important things like caring for our planet. I really appreciate the mindful companies that make it a priority to do things that lessen the negative impacts on the environment.

I was inspired by reading noosa’s commitment to caring for the honey bee population and how they reclaim all of the water used on their farm and factory in Bellvue, Colorado. Not to mention the community support and mentoring of other entrepreneurs ( you know I love that!).

I first heard of noosa yoghurt on instagram, then I saw it in the store and gave it a try. I was hooked. I love every flavor I have tried. If you haven’t tried it, you have to add it to your shopping list!

I was super excited to find it at the small town grocery store last week. It is my favorite.

• noosa is made in small batches on a family farm in Colorado with wholesome ingredients: all-natural whole milk from happy cows, fresh fruit purees – made using the ripest, juiciest fruits and a touch of wildflower honey.  
• noosa is full of calcium, protein and probiotics. The majority of the sugar in noosa comes from the natural sugars in lactose (milk), fructose (fruit) and honey.

I love noosa for breakfast or as an afternoon snack. The salted caramel is literally better than ice cream. Seriously! It’s so good that I hide it in the back of the fridge so the kids can’t find it!  (Not kidding!)

You can join noosa’s Cream of the Crop Fan Club to stay in the loop for all things noosa!

La Sportiva is headquartered in Ziano di Fiemme, Italy at the base of the Dolomite Mountains. From the beginning our mission was to create a durable, rugged shoe for the local farmers and mountaineering guides.

The Hail Jacket I received is light weight and just perfect for any outdoor activity. I’m also dying for a pair of their hiking shoes!

• As La Sportiva grew into a global business they expanded our product offering to include new categories in technical footwear, apparel, and ski hard goods. Their love of wild and beautiful places is what drives them to make the best technical products for mountain-based sports.  Theu are constantly innovating and refining their product line to reduce environmental impacts and to provide better products for our customers. 
• From PFC Free shell jackets to apparel featuring Bluesign approved fabrics & organic cottons, to the Eco Series of climbing shoes (featuring 98% recycled materials) La Sportiva is committed to providing not only the best technical products available, but to protecting and preserving the places they love.

I love supporting brands that take their environmental impact seriously just like we do here on the ranch.

I’d love to hear your Earth Day stories and let me know if you have any questions about the ranch. I love to hear from y’all!