Self-taught farmers confidently raising chickens, ducks, geese, and pigs. Our focus is on practices that are environmentally harmonious and respectful to our livestock. We appreciate the beauty around us, clean eating, fermenting, and responsibly utilizing the bounty of the land. If you like thinking for yourself, continuous learning, and connecting with the homesteader lifestyle, check us out.
It’s a sunny Saturday here on the farm, and it’s been unusually warm. Temperatures yesterday hit 80F and are forecasted to be in the 80s (currently 84F now) for the remainder of the weekend. The combination of high humidity and temperatures makes for some uncomfortable days working outside, a reminder of the real heat and humidity that are just around the corner.
Continue reading “Around The Farm: Too Warm, A Bit Too Early”
We’ve known about a skunk living under the barn’s tack room for a while. It sprayed in the barn a couple of times, then stopped (thankfully). While we didn’t necessarily want a skunk living there, we decided to just try to co-exist with it.
Continue reading “Around The Farm: Solitary Striped Skunk”
Each morning, I watch the birds at the feeders from the kitchen window. There are large birds (Blue Jays, Red-Bellied Woodpeckers, cardinals) and small birds (titmice, nuthatches, finches, sparrows, chickadees, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers). Doves (mostly Mourning and the occasional Ringneck) mill around on the ground, looking for scattered seeds. And while I watch those birds going about their business, I’m not thinking about the pandemic, the climate crisis, ongoing destruction of the environment, or the many social issues we’re facing; instead, I am enthralled by bird life.
Continue reading “Musings: The Benefits Of Birdwatching”
The cold and snow are upon us, making the very act of living more challenging for wild creatures. I suspect that the canid tracks above may be from a coyote, as they appear a bit larger than I would expect from a fox (though we have both here). Other tracks, mesmerizing in their own way, were left by other animals and invite imagining their destinations and their difficulties during this time of year.
Continue reading “Haiku: Clandestine Crossing”
When we were recently gifted some incredibly fresh deer liver – the possibilities made my mind spin: pan-seared, pressure cooked with rich gravy, in congee…so many options! Any would have been wonderful, but we decided to go with the method that would best showcase the liver’s flavor: pan searing.
Continue reading “Offal, Not Awful: Delightful Deer Liver”
As forecasted (good on you, meteorologists), snow has arrived. It began snowing early this morning while I was out doing the farm chores and continues even as I write this post. Now it actually looks like winter…and – better yet – it sounds like winter.
Continue reading “Haiku: The Sound Of Snow”