EP#02 | Meet Francesca Duvall, founder of Alchemist Farm, the world’s first humane chicken hatchery. In this episode, Emma and Francesca discuss ethical practices in chicken farming, innovative solutions to industry challenges, and the surprising intelligence and personality of chickens. Learn how regenerative farming can transform soil health, reduce food waste, and reconnect us to the land. Francesca shares her journey of building a zero-waste, solar-powered farm and offers actionable insights for anyone interested in sustainable living or backyard chicken keeping.

About the Guest: Francesca Duvall, Founder of Alchemist Farm

Francesca Duvall is a pioneer in humane chicken farming, operating Alchemist Farm in Northern California. Her hatchery is powered entirely by solar energy, uses biodegradable packaging, and emphasizes ethical treatment of chickens. She also educates others through online classes, social media, and monthly live video chats, inspiring a new generation of chicken keepers to embrace sustainability and humane farming.

About the Animals: Chickens are remarkable creatures known for their intelligence, adaptability, and contributions to agriculture. Beyond providing eggs, they play a crucial role in regenerative farming by enriching soil and reducing food waste. With over 30 unique vocalizations and distinct personalities, chickens are fascinating animals that connect us to nature in profound ways.

Episode Takeaways:

1. Ethical farming practices can challenge and transform the chicken industry.
2. Regenerative farming with chickens enriches soil, promotes biodiversity, and reduces dependence on synthetic fertilizers.
3. Chickens are intelligent, social creatures that enrich human lives and mental well-being.
4. The chicken industry faces ethical challenges, such as the treatment of male chicks and misleading marketing practices.

Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Introduction to Francesca Duvall and Alchemist Farm [00:01:30] The vision and ethics behind humane chicken hatcheries [00:08:00] Industry challenges: male chick euthanasia and warehouse farming [00:15:00] Exploring regenerative farming and rotational grazing with chickens [00:25:00] Chicken intelligence, personality, and the human-chicken bond [00:35:00] How backyard chicken keeping reduces food waste and improves well-being [00:45:00] The power of ethical consumer choices in reshaping food systems [00:55:00] Fun facts: Chicken neck anatomy, gender determination, and unihemispheric sleep

Quotes

1. “Chickens give us so much with so little—they’re the perfect gateway animal to sustainability.” – Francesca Duvall
2. “Cage-free doesn’t mean what most people think. True transparency is key to ethical farming.” – Francesca Duvall
3. “Every action we take on the farm is about respecting the natural world and each other.” – Francesca Duvall

Resources:

1. Alchemist Farm
2. Vital Farms
3. Francesca Duvall on LinkedIn
4. Mikko’s Choice
5. Human Animal’s Podcast YouTube