Sorry I wasn't smart enough to catch a picture of this.
After laughing uncontrollably at the multiple weather warning and advisories, (the sub zero temps and wind chills may be getting to me ) and running a few errands before the <1/2 mi visibility gets here; I sat down by the wood stove in mom's rocking chair with a cup of homemade cocoa. I looked up and noticed the first bird at the bird feeder at the Flynn Creek Farm. It is a smallish black and white woodpecker catching up on suet before the temps drop again. This is a wonderful life.
a
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Friday, November 22, 2013
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
The Blessing of Bees
After spending the last few weeks helping to harvest the apples in the orchard, I am reminded of the importance of bees.
Restoring an old orchard that has been neglected like the one we've been working on takes a holistic, long-term approach. We've been working on restoring the soil fertility (especially the mycorrhiza), welcoming natural predators (bats, spiders, sheep in the summer) back to the land, practicing appropriate and not over zealous pruning, and generally caring for the whole system. We've already seen a larger percentage of surviving trees than we thought we could bring back to health and production. Each year, the quality of produce goes up. The first year we were lucky to get cider apples. This year we had some delicious dinner table apples and maybe, just maybe, even a small few that might make a couple months in storage. While we are no where near finished bringing the orchard back, we are taking the right steps to get there in a few more years!
Through those years we hope to keep our closest allies, the honeybees. Bees are the magic pollinators on the farm. Not only do they pollinate the apple blossoms, but they work on the veggies in fields by the house and the herbs and culinary flowers, too! Because we focus on a full, seasonal system that includes natives and wild habitat along with our delicious food, the bees have food near by that is safe and organic all year round. Luckily, we have strong healthy bees working beside us on the farm.
A few of you who have stopped by our farm stand have mentioned your own interest in becoming beekeepers. Talking to Les directly can help you find more specific resources. However, in my spirit of thanksgiving to the wonderful bees, I thought I'd share a documentary that I have seen recently called Vanishing of the Bees from 2009. It's even on Netflix! This movie highlights the concerns over thousands of bees disappearing and decimating the bee population. Even if you have no intention of starting your own hive or planting food for bees, this video is produced well and tells an important story we should all be paying attention to.
I'll be back on the farm this weekend to help harvest more apples. Hope to see you there!
Restoring an old orchard that has been neglected like the one we've been working on takes a holistic, long-term approach. We've been working on restoring the soil fertility (especially the mycorrhiza), welcoming natural predators (bats, spiders, sheep in the summer) back to the land, practicing appropriate and not over zealous pruning, and generally caring for the whole system. We've already seen a larger percentage of surviving trees than we thought we could bring back to health and production. Each year, the quality of produce goes up. The first year we were lucky to get cider apples. This year we had some delicious dinner table apples and maybe, just maybe, even a small few that might make a couple months in storage. While we are no where near finished bringing the orchard back, we are taking the right steps to get there in a few more years!
Through those years we hope to keep our closest allies, the honeybees. Bees are the magic pollinators on the farm. Not only do they pollinate the apple blossoms, but they work on the veggies in fields by the house and the herbs and culinary flowers, too! Because we focus on a full, seasonal system that includes natives and wild habitat along with our delicious food, the bees have food near by that is safe and organic all year round. Luckily, we have strong healthy bees working beside us on the farm.
A few of you who have stopped by our farm stand have mentioned your own interest in becoming beekeepers. Talking to Les directly can help you find more specific resources. However, in my spirit of thanksgiving to the wonderful bees, I thought I'd share a documentary that I have seen recently called Vanishing of the Bees from 2009. It's even on Netflix! This movie highlights the concerns over thousands of bees disappearing and decimating the bee population. Even if you have no intention of starting your own hive or planting food for bees, this video is produced well and tells an important story we should all be paying attention to.
I'll be back on the farm this weekend to help harvest more apples. Hope to see you there!
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Do's and Don'ts: Farmer's Market
The Modern Farmer recently posted an article of Do's and Don'ts for Farmer's Markets. I agree that the Farmer's Markets presents an interesting situation on etiquette. It's not like shopping in Walmart and it's not like shopping in a pricey boutique. After attending farmer's markets for years as both producer and consumer, I have my own set of Do's and Don'ts. It differs from the article. I think it gives a little more respect to the producer when you are walking around the smaller markets. The East Troy (village of 3,000) farmer's market is vastly different from Madison Capital Square market on Saturday. Smaller markets demand more communication between consumer and producer. Plus, I think those at the larger markets would appreciate it, too!
Do: Take samples or ask for a sample. I don't think you should just grab something and then after it's in your mouth claim it as a sample. Producers love to show off their hard work and convince your taste buds you can't live without that yummy cucumber. However, producers have a right to delegate how much of a sample you get. It is free to you as a consumer, but not to the producer.
Do: Ask tons of questions! Consumers have a right to know where their food is coming from. Every farmer at the market is not organic. Every farmer is not working on soil health. Not every farmer picked the produce recently. Knowledge is power!
Do: Bring your own reusable bag. The farmer's market is the PERFECT place to show off your stylish eco-bag. Producers usually have some plastic bags, but it's so much nicer when we all consider sustainability. :)
Do: Ask for quantity deals. Most producers have extras at home or are willing to work with you if you are canning or making your own hard cider. Some items are only sold off the farm for legal reasons. You might not notice a sign advertising a producers' special deals, so ask!
Don't: Skip people in line. Yeah, this is a crappy thing to do. Producers work hard on giving as much speedy attention to everyone as they can. Patience will reward you and keep others happy, too.
Don't: Return food. I'm sorry but I completely disagree with the article above. Returning food is gross. It's touched a bunch of other peoples' hands, been rolling around in bags, and been standing out in the heat and often sun for longer than it should be. If food is accepted as a return, it can't be sold to someone else for food safety reasons. Maybe if it's a canned good or something in sealed container, but for our fresh veggies and fruit, no thanks. That being said, if you have a serious problem go back and talk to the producer. Most people are willing to accommodate you in some fashion. (On a side note, we sometimes get people asking for returns when they don't understand what fresh food means. One woman asked for a return on our farm fresh eggs because the yolks were too yellow. She didn't understand that a healthy egg should have a bright and deep yellow color to it. We gave her back her money but also explained why they were great. Sadly she had already thrown all the eggs out!)
Don't: Come to the farmer's market right at close. The fresh items will always be at their best early in the morning or opening of the market. You are cheating yourself by waiting till the end. Producer's don't mind selling to you as they pack up (well, most don't), but remember that these veggies have been out in the heat and sun all day and need to be put in a cooler right away.
Do: Take samples or ask for a sample. I don't think you should just grab something and then after it's in your mouth claim it as a sample. Producers love to show off their hard work and convince your taste buds you can't live without that yummy cucumber. However, producers have a right to delegate how much of a sample you get. It is free to you as a consumer, but not to the producer.
Do: Ask tons of questions! Consumers have a right to know where their food is coming from. Every farmer at the market is not organic. Every farmer is not working on soil health. Not every farmer picked the produce recently. Knowledge is power!
Do: Bring your own reusable bag. The farmer's market is the PERFECT place to show off your stylish eco-bag. Producers usually have some plastic bags, but it's so much nicer when we all consider sustainability. :)
Do: Ask for quantity deals. Most producers have extras at home or are willing to work with you if you are canning or making your own hard cider. Some items are only sold off the farm for legal reasons. You might not notice a sign advertising a producers' special deals, so ask!
Don't: Skip people in line. Yeah, this is a crappy thing to do. Producers work hard on giving as much speedy attention to everyone as they can. Patience will reward you and keep others happy, too.
Don't: Return food. I'm sorry but I completely disagree with the article above. Returning food is gross. It's touched a bunch of other peoples' hands, been rolling around in bags, and been standing out in the heat and often sun for longer than it should be. If food is accepted as a return, it can't be sold to someone else for food safety reasons. Maybe if it's a canned good or something in sealed container, but for our fresh veggies and fruit, no thanks. That being said, if you have a serious problem go back and talk to the producer. Most people are willing to accommodate you in some fashion. (On a side note, we sometimes get people asking for returns when they don't understand what fresh food means. One woman asked for a return on our farm fresh eggs because the yolks were too yellow. She didn't understand that a healthy egg should have a bright and deep yellow color to it. We gave her back her money but also explained why they were great. Sadly she had already thrown all the eggs out!)
Don't: Come to the farmer's market right at close. The fresh items will always be at their best early in the morning or opening of the market. You are cheating yourself by waiting till the end. Producer's don't mind selling to you as they pack up (well, most don't), but remember that these veggies have been out in the heat and sun all day and need to be put in a cooler right away.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Fall Fermentation
I thought I'd pass this great opportunity on to our readers. Not too far away in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, October 4th-13th, the Fermentation Fest will occur. This festival includes tons of amazing classes and talks on ways you can connect to your food. From canning tips to making your own sourdough bread to wine and hard cider making to homemade cheese production you'll explore the vast ways fermentation plays a vital role in our food. There is also a farm and art tour that gives you time to explore the region and, most likely, see some of that great autumn color of Wisconsin! It looks awesome; I hope to see you there!
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Oriental - Baby orn
Silks are starting to show on our Re orn variety. Harvesting Baby Ears, putting in jars with 1/2 tsp salt per jar, then 1/2 water - 1/2 vinegar. Blue variety is in tassel. Rest to follow/
Will harvest 1st pears/apples late this week. Will trim apple limbs/trunks (not alive) this week. Grape vines, will be trim as well to allow light into the fruit.
Still fighting improper plant growth. mow - mow - mow
Will harvest 1st pears/apples late this week. Will trim apple limbs/trunks (not alive) this week. Grape vines, will be trim as well to allow light into the fruit.
Still fighting improper plant growth. mow - mow - mow
Posting
My keyboar has lost two letters, so sorry for the "No Posts". Will get you all up to spee when I get it repair.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Working Hard?
So, obviously the blog posts have gone by the wayside. Sorry about that! The summer is the busiest season. There is weeding and watering, harvesting and replanting for fall crops, and all the livestock. No matter how much you love what you do, there are days when you need a little more to keep you going. My (the almost witty daughter) favorite way to keep inspired is to listen to podcasts while doing field work. I thought I'd share a couple of my audio crushes right now.
If you are feeling like food is boring or you just don't really care anymore, try The Food Craftsman. It's new and has so far focused mostly on California creators. I have hope that as it continues and its audience expands we'll hear more from around the country. The show is short and sweet with great quality. I finish an episode feeling inspired and energized on all the awesome things we can do with the food we eat, not to mention exploring niche business markets!
Scott Mann is brilliant and has created a vast network of very talented people working in permaculture and agriculture. The Permaculture Podcast features interviews with some of the brightest and most entertaining people. It focuses mostly on permaculture which is the agricultural system focusing on care of people, care of earth, and care of surplus. This is manifested in everything from solar power to food forests to local banking. This podcast serves as both an introduction to the many varied world of permaculture and expert details found no where else. It has also quadrupled my reading list, which is an impressive feat! Our farm isn't necessarily a permaculture farm but many of the tenants cross over to our mission and work.
Pat and Les will be back soon with more pictures and updates on the farm. In the meantime, let us know what your favorite podcasts are. How do you stay inspired to use local foods and organics?
If you are feeling like food is boring or you just don't really care anymore, try The Food Craftsman. It's new and has so far focused mostly on California creators. I have hope that as it continues and its audience expands we'll hear more from around the country. The show is short and sweet with great quality. I finish an episode feeling inspired and energized on all the awesome things we can do with the food we eat, not to mention exploring niche business markets!
Scott Mann is brilliant and has created a vast network of very talented people working in permaculture and agriculture. The Permaculture Podcast features interviews with some of the brightest and most entertaining people. It focuses mostly on permaculture which is the agricultural system focusing on care of people, care of earth, and care of surplus. This is manifested in everything from solar power to food forests to local banking. This podcast serves as both an introduction to the many varied world of permaculture and expert details found no where else. It has also quadrupled my reading list, which is an impressive feat! Our farm isn't necessarily a permaculture farm but many of the tenants cross over to our mission and work.
Pat and Les will be back soon with more pictures and updates on the farm. In the meantime, let us know what your favorite podcasts are. How do you stay inspired to use local foods and organics?
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
How To: Start Chicks
Gather round for questions and answers on topics of your choice. Sit down and relax or take a little walk. If your a bird watcher,bring your binoculars - several of the nestlings are just beginning to fly.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Bee stings and Parkinson's disease
Q. Within a week of having a reaction to a bee sting (the
skin was hot, red, swollen and blistered), the tremors in my right hand
and jaw disappeared. I’d had them for three years and had just gotten a
referral to see a neurologist.
My mother and her mother had Parkinson’s disease, so I suspect that is where I was headed, though I hadn’t been officially diagnosed. Have you heard of this before?
A. There may be scientific support for your response to bee venom. We were somewhat surprised to discover research demonstrating that bee-venom injections have benefit against Parkinson’s disease (Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, September 2012).
The Michael J. Fox Foundation funded a study of bee-venom therapy in a mouse model of Parkinson’s. The results were positive. French researchers are recruiting subjects for a clinical trial (MIREILLE) to assess the value of bee venom in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
This from today' St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Maybe that is why providence brought me another bee swarm yesterday??!!
My mother and her mother had Parkinson’s disease, so I suspect that is where I was headed, though I hadn’t been officially diagnosed. Have you heard of this before?
A. There may be scientific support for your response to bee venom. We were somewhat surprised to discover research demonstrating that bee-venom injections have benefit against Parkinson’s disease (Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, September 2012).
The Michael J. Fox Foundation funded a study of bee-venom therapy in a mouse model of Parkinson’s. The results were positive. French researchers are recruiting subjects for a clinical trial (MIREILLE) to assess the value of bee venom in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
This from today' St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Maybe that is why providence brought me another bee swarm yesterday??!!
Saturday, June 15, 2013
New Bee Swarm!!
This is a more "blond" hive than the other we already have at the house, but still some darker color on about 20% of the workers. More drowns than I would like to see, but the price was right!
WELCOME LADIES!!
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Specialty corn and squash/pumpkins!
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Website Woes!
Well, the past couple weeks have been interesting on the tech side of things. Me, your almost faithful webmaster Danni, has had a host of server issues (ha ha see what I did there . . . host. . .server). Those issues have finally been solved. Now, it's on to getting things up to date and functioning properly.
The web form for CSA memberships is down right now for most users. If it's not working for you please call (920-210-1238) or email (blacksheeppat@gmail.com) directly to sign up for your CSA this year. The form should be fixed by the end of the day. However, we want to get people signed up as quickly as possible before the first week. If you've been procrastinating or debating signing up, I strongly encourage you to call and talk to Pat or Les about the CSA and what it can do for you.
Youtube videos should also be posted tonight. I'll post a link to our channel on the homepage of our site when we go live. This is our first adventure into a new internet community. Please welcome us there and come watch our videos for tips and updates on how the farm is growing. Let us know in comments what you'd like to see us cover. Better yet, subscribe and tell all your friends to, too!
The web form for CSA memberships is down right now for most users. If it's not working for you please call (920-210-1238) or email (blacksheeppat@gmail.com) directly to sign up for your CSA this year. The form should be fixed by the end of the day. However, we want to get people signed up as quickly as possible before the first week. If you've been procrastinating or debating signing up, I strongly encourage you to call and talk to Pat or Les about the CSA and what it can do for you.
Youtube videos should also be posted tonight. I'll post a link to our channel on the homepage of our site when we go live. This is our first adventure into a new internet community. Please welcome us there and come watch our videos for tips and updates on how the farm is growing. Let us know in comments what you'd like to see us cover. Better yet, subscribe and tell all your friends to, too!
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Update!! 6-2-2013
Well, looks like the rainy period is over. After the last two years of drought, we are not complaining!! Will work on getting the next sweet corn and the popcorn in by tomorrow night. Onions and most potatoes are up, no CPB's yet! Shallots are coming up, some specialty corn, first sweet corn, and should have some squash, pumpkins, melons, and cucumbers breaking ground. Pat has a lot pf the transplants in the ground, and they are starting to take off and go. Still a lot of weeds to get under control, always something!!
Plan to make grass hay in about a week. Will be nice to have some put away for next year, and some to sell!! Need to get pasture program going as well. The animals have been keeping well fed though as we keep cleaning up.
Plan today to plant pumpkins/squash, popcorn?, to wet to work ground. Selling fresh harvested greens, spinach, and hope to add chard, kale, and scallions by mid-week. Customers include CSA members and "River's Edge Market"!
Still have local openings for CSA members. First distribution mid June!!
Plan to make grass hay in about a week. Will be nice to have some put away for next year, and some to sell!! Need to get pasture program going as well. The animals have been keeping well fed though as we keep cleaning up.
Plan today to plant pumpkins/squash, popcorn?, to wet to work ground. Selling fresh harvested greens, spinach, and hope to add chard, kale, and scallions by mid-week. Customers include CSA members and "River's Edge Market"!
Still have local openings for CSA members. First distribution mid June!!
Thursday, May 23, 2013
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