My neighbor tells me winter is the time to rest, but all this warm weather has me itching to get out and get my hands in the dirt. We recently got a notice from Duke that they needed to repair a pole on the edge of our property, which would require some brush cutting to … Continue reading Winter Mulching
Guarding the Girls
We’ve had a rough few years here on the farm. With a major health crisis, job and child custody changes, crippling predation in the flock took back burner. We lost all but one duck and dozens of chickens to a hungry family of fox but just didn’t have the bandwidth to address the issue completely. … Continue reading Guarding the Girls
Late summer on the farm
This has been a very busy summer for us with a lot going on personally. In some ways it feels like I’ve had more time to spend on the garden but I’ve also had a lot of other balls to keep in the air. So, I’m happy that I’ve gotten a fair yield without a … Continue reading Late summer on the farm
Making Duck Sausage
When we did the meat bird harvest last month, we also thinned out our duck flock a little, putting some nice big duck breasts in the freezer. I have cooked duck breasts like a grass fed steak (seared then finished at a low temp in the oven) but I was looking for something else to … Continue reading Making Duck Sausage
Meat bird harvest time
It is hard to believe but the teensy Cornish Cross chicks we brought home May 16 are already ready to harvest. These birds grew so amazingly fast, putting on weight almost before our eyes. May 16 June 2 June 23 At 7 weeks old, the males are coming out at 6-8.5 pounds dressed; females at … Continue reading Meat bird harvest time
First Pickles of the Season
We went to Michigan for a week and came back to a garden beginning to produce and flower beds that had turned suddenly into a jungle. It is nice to get away, of course, but takes a lot of prep before we leave and produces a long to do list upon return. I felt a … Continue reading First Pickles of the Season
Waste Not, Want Not: Leeks
Winter 2018 I started leeks from seed to plant in my garden. They grew well and I ended up setting them out in the early spring. These leeks spent all of last summer, fall, winter and this spring in the garden. I kept waiting for them to get bigger but they mostly stayed smallish. Now … Continue reading Waste Not, Want Not: Leeks
Slow Summer Mornings
This is my favorite summer ritual - slow mornings on the front porch with my breakfast and dog snuggles. I’ve set up my front porch like an extra room, with a comfy bench, coffee tables, and rugs. Most of my house plants summer on the porch too. It feels homey and welcoming. Usually Toby wanders … Continue reading Slow Summer Mornings
Purple Sourdough & Margaritas
My neighbor Rita was telling me about these blue Butterfly Pea flowers she ordered in the mail. They are said to have all kinds of miraculous healing and health supporting properties. Plus it dyes your food or drink a lovely shade of dark purple so that’s fun. Rita gave me a jar of dried flowers … Continue reading Purple Sourdough & Margaritas
A Meditation in the Woods
I’m working at Long Branch today and sat down for a minute to rest in the woods. I had to share this lovely moment with you all. I love the music of the birds in the woods and the way the sunlight dances on the ground as the leaves sway in the breeze, in the … Continue reading A Meditation in the Woods
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