Spring eggs!!!

It may be cold yet, but can spring be far away when the chickens start laying eggs again. For those who know our flock, they are what we refer to as "ranging" free range chickens, they tend to go "where no chicken has gone before". We do not artificially change their natural light period, so they stop laying in Wisconsin winters, but as spring approaches, some of the more daring heritage breeds start laying again due to longer days. They taste GREAT!!!!
We do supply some local educators with a few fertile eggs for hatching later in the spring as well, and hope to be selling farm fresh eggs from the farm soon!

Our standard bronze turkey has started to "display" again as well. But he stays in the barn, so will post pictures when the sun shines again. I'm told that will happen. Pat had a picture, but it doesn't do his beautiful coloring justice like being in the sunshine does.

We should start finding goose eggs soon too. They are great for the pastry chefs, as they make baked goods really fluffy and light. We have a two chicken egg recipe for pancakes that when you substitute one goose egg, you almost double the number of pancakes produced, and the ones you get are 1/2 again thicker. Yummy!

Garden plans!

Check the calender for classes Pat and I will be doing this spring. They are our chance to give back to the community our lessons learned from college through the ones taught by experience from the school of hard knocks!

Hope to see you at one class at least this spring!!

Hot Peppers

We have a new twist on "hot peppers"! We always try to have a pepper for sale that is for chili seasoning - ie, HOT HOT HOT. We found a person who could eat the one we had by itself, so we went looking again. This one is a 160 day growth period and requires at least 85 degrees F to germinate. We couldn't find any other surface we could get and keep hot enough except the wood stove. Soooo - we really have "HOT" peppers started for this years CSA and wholesale market.

Spring is Coming!!!

Always makes me feel better to see flowers in bloom, even if there is still snow on the ground!

Guys - Valentine gift!

Idea to make her feel special tonight, especially if money is tight as it is for many of us. Make her a salad, through in a few rolls on the side, and if you can afford it, a nice bottle of "local" wine. My favorite for the salad is spinach, kale, some beet greens, tomato, and to top it off, some culinary flowers to add color, taste, and the thought that you went to the trouble of getting her flowers you both could enjoy. Yes, you eat the culinary flowers! At this time of year, I would add some bacon, fried and patted dry, crumble over the top as a garnish, with the flowers as well! Share in a large bowl with two forks. For a light dressing, some vinegar and oil with a little water and some favorite fresh herbs finely chopped. You could do a "fancy" meal for you both at home for less than going out, and mean a whole lot more from the effort you put into fixing it for you both.

Sunshine!!!!

Spring is coming! Sun is out, some of the deep snow is melting, and the greenhouse furnaces are shutting off during the day! The upper house here at East Troy actually had the top vent open yesterday because it got to warm inside. Things should start moving and growing again, as the best they could do in the dark and cold was hold their own.

We are getting phone calls and e-mails about our CSA 2.1. Feel free to contact us, get the information you need to make a decision on where your food comes from, set up a visit to our operation, or whatever you need! We are excited about the prospects of this new approach to getting your summer veggies.

THINK SPRING! That was the theme last time we spent at Basic's in Janesville as we passed out spring flowers to eat!)

New to our site?!

If you are new to our site, feel free to go back several pages on the blog to see pictures of our products and animals.

Stay warm, and get your CSA order in while there is room!

Our animals!

Our animals are wishing spring with its fresh green grass and warmer temperatures would come soon! Until then, a little corn for supper - followed by the ever popular pumpkin feast for dessert is always welcome!!!

Mouse in a maze!

With all the paths and lanes we have now dug out of our 20+" of snow we have a maze with 4 to 6 foot side walls. Now I know what that danged mouse looking for his cheese feels like!

Ground hog day!

Today is the day we get to find out if this winter will keep dragging on or come to an early close! Our dog Sara doesn't like ground hogs at all, haven't seen one for months. If they are around, probably would have a hard time getting to the top of the snow drifts to check his shadow, and to much snow blowing and clouds to be able to see anything anyway!

So as the saying goes, if he sees his shadow, 6 more weeks of winter! If he doesn't see his shadow, we'll have six more weeks of winter! .... or something like that?