Binnings share secrets of self-sufficient farming

MAUD, Texas — Among the changes seen on this slope of the pandemic may be a new focus on farming and other efforts at self sufficiency. Early on, with panic buying and supply chain complications, various provisions got scarce at the height of COVID. Some people took notice and are taking steps to reduce the risk in the future.

Debbie and Eddie Binning of Binning Farms in Maud, Texas, run a full-fledged farm and raise a variety of animals and plants. Active participants in the local farmer’s market scene, they also became aware of the increased interest in farming and decided to offer their experience to help others get started.

“We’ve been farming since ‘88,” said Debbie Binning. “It was a side thing most of those years, but we built up what we do over time, as well as raising three kids here. Now, this is our post-retirement occupation.”

This past Saturday, they had a group of eight students of various backgrounds wanting to learn more about this craft and how to go about it. Some decided that, after taking a hard look, this is not what they should dive into at this time. Others, like Scott Chille, formerly of Juneau, Alaska, and recently moved here, has already begun the process of starting a farm and was there at the Binning place to gain more insight.

“I was an IT director at an Alaskan hospital,” he said. “I still do that remotely, but I’m in the process of building up my farm.”

Chille has set his farm there in Maud, not far from the Billing place.

“I came here to be self-sustaining,” he said. “Running a farm is right up my alley. Such a thing is possible in Alaska, but for various reasons, it is more complicated there.”

He has begun with chickens and has begun setting up a garden.

“Ultimately, I want to go with beef, rabbits, goats, maybe an orchard at some point,” he said.

The Binnings led the student through their farm, showing off cattle, chickens, turkeys, rabbits, ducks and more. The farm was was full of life and the craft that the Binnings put into the place.

“We want more people to be interested in farming, to try it out,” Debbie Binning said. “More to the point, we want to help people do it right. … We want to help them not make the mistakes and set up a good, self sufficient farm.”

(For more information, contact Debbie and Eddie Binning at 903-293-3839.)

Staff photo by Junius Stone ■ On Saturday, students at Binning Farms admire the healthy rabbit population. Rabbits require lots of care, but offer lots in value. “They are good eating, but if you eat just rabbit, you will starve,” said Debbie Binning. “The meat is too lean and missing essential nutrients to survive on it alone.”

Staff photo by Junius Stone ■ Debbie Binning shows off a turkey chick at Binning Farms. “Turkeys are easy to raise, self sufficient in many ways,” she said. “However, as babies, they have to be taught to eat. Also, they easily get cold, so you need to keep them warm.”