Behind the Scenes Pt. 4: Thanksgiving at Zero G: Grounded, Grateful, Grit, and the Next Launch

Thanksgiving on a small farm is more than a holiday and isn’t just a date on the calendar—it’s a deep breath between seasons and it’s a pause between missions. The rush of summer markets and fall chores slows just enough for us to look around, take a breath, and notice what succeeded this year. We gather with family and friends, pass the rolls, and take stock of everything we’ve been given: the first spring hatch, the late-summer abundance, the small wins that stacked into real momentum, and the people who stood beside us through it all. We’re thankful for full brooders, we are deep into hatching our next generation of breeders, and quiet sunsets, for healthy birds, and for the good kind of tired that comes from work that matters.

For many farms, this week marks not only the pivot point but also the hinge of the season. The notes from spring hatches and summer trials turn into winter plans. We’re buttoning up housing, dialing in winter routines, and reviewing notes that tell the story of the year—what thrived, what stumbled, and what we’ll refine next. This time of year we are also dialing in lighting schedules, simplifying chore routes, and making sure our recordkeeping is ready for the new breeders are hatched to support us next year. Winter is our design studio—time to refine the day-to-day so spring can explode with fewer surprises.  On our place, that looks like fresh bedding, tidy feed bins, winter lighting plans, and a whiteboard that’s already filling with ideas for next year’s classes, hatches, and breeding projects.

It’s also a family holiday in the truest sense. Farms are built on teams, spouses, kids, friends, neighbors, and a community that cheers when a tough day finally breaks your way. Around the table we swap stories, laugh about the misadventures, and remember why we chose this life: to build something tangible, to lift others where we can, and to keep learning together. Whether you raised your first Coturnix this year or simply stopped by to say hello and ask a question, you’re part of that story.

We’re grateful for the community that makes this possible. Customers who value local food, and ethical and humane care. Students who ask sharp questions and leave with confident checklists, and for students who show up ready to learn. Neighbors who lend a hand when weather misbehaves. Mentors who share hard-won lessons. And families who keep the home fires going when chores run long. Farming may look solitary from the road, but it’s actually a team sport.

We’re especially thankful for the little birds that make big things possible- small, resilient, astonishingly productive—and for the way they remind us that consistent care and a calm plan can turn little efforts into big results, a few minutes saved by a better feeder, a steady light program, a logbook that catches patterns before they turn into problems. They’re resilient teachers—quiet proof that simple systems beat heroics.

Looking forward, we’re excited to keep building. Expect clearer guides, refreshed class dates, and a few behind-the-scenes upgrades to how we share what we learn. We’ll be testing streamlined brooder setups, tightening biosecurity routines, and improving how we track feed, health, and production so we can publish more practical, step-by-step help for new keepers. If there’s a topic you want us to tackle—incubation myths, winter housing tweaks, genetics basics—tell us. Your questions shape our roadmap. Winter is our design studio for more ways to connect around quail husbandry, incubation, and small-farm resilience.

To our fellow farmers and homesteaders: may your tables be full and your barns be calm. May your waterers run, your bedding stay dry, and your lights click on exactly when they’re supposed to. May you get just enough rest to dream up a better workflow—and the daylight to make it real.

And to everyone who joined us this year—whether you took a class, picked up eggs, shared a post, or simply cheered us on—thank you. Your support turns long days into meaningful ones, and it fuels the next launch. We’re honored to be on this journey with you and excited to keep it rolling in the year ahead.

From our family to yours, happy Thanksgiving. Here’s to gratitude for what is, and courage for what’s next. May your table be full, your home warm, and your plans bright

-Zero G