Farm Updates
- Planting Our First Wine Cap Mushroom Bed
We have been wanting to try growing mushrooms on the farm for a while now, and this week we finally got a wine cap bed in the ground. Wine caps (Stropharia rugosoannulata) are one of the easiest mushrooms to grow outdoors, and they thrive on the kind of woody, organic material we have plenty of around here.
- Starting Seedlings: From Seed Tray to Garden Ready
Every year around late winter, the farm starts to come alive again indoors. Long before the last frost, we are already filling trays with seed starting mix, labeling varieties, and watching for the first tiny sprouts to push through. Starting seedlings from seed is one of the most rewarding parts of the growing season, and over the years we have learned a few things that make all the difference.
- Our Chickens: From Backyard Flock to Farm Staple
We first started keeping chickens about a decade ago with a small backyard flock. At the time, they were much more pets than livestock. It was just a few hens happily scratching around the yard, producing enough eggs for breakfast and the occasional baking project. We made plenty of beginner mistakes, learned as we went, and slowly grew more comfortable caring for them.
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- The Duck Dilemma: Weighing the Pros and Cons on the Farm
One of the things we always strive for on the farm is a balance between what we enjoy, what works well, and what makes sense for the long-term health of the farm itself. Lately, we have been having ongoing conversations about our ducks and whether they will continue to have a place here for the years ahead.
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- Farm Update: Quiet Days, Busy Bees, and Market Prep
Life on the farm does not always bring big, dramatic stories, and honestly, we would not have it any other way. This week was full of those small, steady rhythms that keep the farm moving forward, even when things feel pretty quiet.
- Adventures in Beekeeping: A Swarm in the Apple Tree
Back on May 4th, we installed a Carniolan/Italian hybrid nuc into one of our hives here on the farm. From the start, this colony was strong but always had a bit of a "swarmy" temperament. Despite our best efforts -- adding space, monitoring closely, and giving them plenty of room to expand -- sometimes when bees decide to swarm, there is simply no talking them out of it.
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