Stories from the Farm

Window Seat Reservation!

For Laura it started like this: She and Lauren were in the market pig paddock reviewing morning care procedures. Phone rings. Voice rings with equal clarity, “I’m okay but I need help”. Then Laura repeats out loud hoping Lauren will help her make note, “Grain. Eggs. Those scraps of plywood. Screws. Drill.” “Somewhere between Exit […]

Art, Nature and Farmer Emeriti Gossip

Vincent van Gogh apparently said “Keep your love of nature, for that is the true way to understand art and more.” As the crowd delighted in the great acts and delicious food (thanks Lee) at the Compost Cabaret – true mastery, I marveled that the inverse must also be true. So much energy and talent […]

Meet the Mountain Goats

Ok, they are dairy goat kids, but with mountain names, this year’s theme.  Nine have arrived so far, with 1 or 2 more does due this week and then the Boer goat does are due in April. Plenty more goats, piglets and poultry to name this year so do send in your name suggestions in the […]

Compost Cabaret

  Saturday, March 24th will be an evening of steaming hot entertainment with music and poetry sure to warm your heart and soul – all to benefit Highfields Center for Composting’s programs to Close the Loop on local food systems. Singer songwriter Kris Gruen, tops the bill with guitarist Brian Clark.  The Roaring Dandelions (blues […]

Minds on Soils and Seeds

Our attention this week has turned to seeds, plants and soils — and it hasn’t been the sudden onset Spring that sent us that direction, but it does have an impact. New Tools We have a fun new tool/system on the farm for seeding (and most importantly) transplanting some of our crops.  The Paper Pot Transplanter! […]

Cycles of Life

These cycles of compost and plants and our animals lives are amazing.  This week we anticipate two notable points on that continuum.  Goat kids should be arriving any moment with their bouncy enthusiasm and curiosity about their new world.  They always bring smiles to those nearby. This week we will also say goodbye to two pigs […]

Kidding Season, here we come!

Swing Low, Sweet Pregnant Goats…… Somehow that tune comes to mind these days as I work with goats.  The girls are wide and hanging low.  They still think they can squeeze through some tight spaces, but it just isn’t true.  Their kids are experiencing their final in-utero growth spurt and soon the bouncing bundles of […]

Thematically Speaking

As we welcome in March, thoughts turn to the new births that we will soon welcome.  Kidding will be first – starting March 11th (or so) and then  some piglets are due mid-April and shortly after will be the arrival of baby chicks. There are many preparations on the farm: making sure spaces are ready, […]

Spring Fever

As the days get longer and the sun a bit stronger, some of life on this farm starts to get some springfever.   I always notice it first with the hens. While they enjoy their indoor arena with last season’s pasture brought to them in the form of hay, come mid-February they seem to get […]

New Favorites

This week, we found a new favorite food writer & a new beloved food. Clotilde: Chocolate & Zucchini   Clotilde, a Parisian, has some sass, flexibility and passion in her approach to food and eating seasonally.  She provided us with beautiful inspiration in this mid-winter period when at some moments we pine for summer’s veggies and […]