10 Natural Fertilizers To Use in Your Garden
Natural fertilizers for the garden are derived from organic sources and provide nutrients to plants in a way that mimics nature's own processes. Here are some common types of natural fertilizers you can use in your garden:
Compost: Compost is made from organic matter such as kitchen scraps, yard waste, and plant materials. It is rich in nutrients and improves soil structure and moisture retention.
Manure: Animal manure, such as cow, horse, or chicken manure, is a valuable source of nutrients for plants. It should be composted or aged before use to prevent burning plants due to high nitrogen content. There are a couple of types of manure that do not need to be aged, Goat, Rabbit and Alpaca. They can be applied directly to the garden and worked into the soil.
Bone Meal: Bone meal is made from ground animal bones and is a good source of phosphorus and calcium, which are important for root development and overall plant growth.
Blood Meal: Blood meal is derived from dried animal blood and is a rich source of nitrogen. It promotes leafy growth and is particularly beneficial for nitrogen-loving plants.
Fish Emulsion: Fish emulsion is a liquid fertilizer made from fish waste. It is high in nitrogen, phosphorus, and trace minerals. It is usually diluted with water before application.
Seaweed and Kelp: Seaweed and kelp extracts contain a wide range of nutrients, trace elements, and growth hormones. They promote plant growth, improve soil structure, and enhance plant resistance to stress.
Green Manure: Green manure refers to cover crops, such as clover or alfalfa, that are grown specifically to be turned into the soil to add organic matter and nutrients.
Coffee Grounds: Coffee grounds are a good source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. They can be added directly to the soil or used in compost.
Wood Ash: Wood ash, derived from burned wood, contains potassium and some phosphorus. It can be sprinkled sparingly around alkaline-loving plants, but be cautious as it can raise soil pH.
Worm Castings: Worm castings, also known as vermicompost, are the nutrient-rich waste produced by earthworms. They improve soil fertility, structure, and microbial activity.
When using natural fertilizers, it's important to follow application instructions and avoid excessive use, as it can lead to nutrient imbalances or harm plants. Additionally, consider conducting a soil test to determine any specific nutrient deficiencies in your garden, which can help you choose the right natural fertilizer. Using these natural fertilizers can replace chemical products traditionally used for the last several generations to improve your soil and plant growth.
Check out our Resource Library for printable information sheets to help you with your farm and garden needs. Check back for new information added weekly.
Homesteading Why’s… Is this Your Season to loosen the Reins or Tighten Them up?
Homesteading why’s. What does your health have to do with it?
LIving a “simple” life is not always the easy life. Wouldn’t it be easier to just buy the processed foods that are on the shelf in the grocery store and eat and live like the majority of the country does? The time that it takes to grow your own food, to preserve it and prepare it. I sometimes think that our whole life revolves around food! Well it kinda does.
Maybe that’s nourishment, maybe that’s food for our soul, maybe they’re one in the same. Growing your own food puts a whole different connection to what we eat and how it heals our body and soul. Connecting us to nature and the earth. Understanding that God has a plan for each of us and accepting the challenges.
Accepting the challenges and the hard work to make it possible to nourish our bodies in a way that builds and heals, rather than fills us with harmful ingredients and pesticides. Let’s just say it’s not for the faint of heart. Since I left my full time job a few years back, I have never worked harder in my life! Growing, preserving, learning, managing and physical labor.
My daughter and I were having a conversation the other day about what makes people stick with this way of life. We have watched many that seem like they have strong opinions, loosing up about their convictions. Especially when they have a passel of kids to feed! Our conclusion was that it is really hard work, and it takes so much time and effort to feed everyone and keep up with all the activities. It is a full time job, people are busy and most need to go to work outside the home.
There are seasons in life, some busier than others. Sometimes we have to make choices about how to manage our time to accomplish what we need to do. That might mean buying the can of tomatoes or box of pasta rather than canning the tomatoes for the year from the garden or making the fresh pasta with ingredients that you trust. Maybe you can choose to spend the extra to buy the ones you know are the better choice for your health.
For me, health started our food and homestead journey. Starting with some pretty severe food allergies that popped up out of nowhere. As I now know can happen with the onset of autoimmune disorders. Which in turn can come from a life of eating foods and living with chemicals around us that can harm our bodies.
Until you reach that moment in life when its a do or die situation. When your body actually tells you “No More!” Until then you may or may not choose that box of pasta depending on the day. Depending on your schedule and your season in life.
Seasons change and morph into the next. If you are in one of those seasons where it’s hard to find the motivation and time, hopefully you can choose healthy. Choose good ingredients, and foods that heal your body rather than harm. Eat Clean, and get through and know that the next season will come and you can morph back into what you know helps your body and soul. Do the research on what goes into commercially grown foods and find a small farmer if you can. Maybe you can’t nail it this season, but maybe next season you do better. Your body will thank you later!
How to Maximize Your Garden Flowers for Beautiful DIY Bouquets
whimsical Flower Garden
Dahlias
Pinching Back to Encourage Plant Growth
One technique that can help you achieve maximum blooms in many cut flower varieties is pinching back. Pinching back involves removing the terminal bud or the tip of a stem, encouraging the plant to branch out and produce more flowers. So let’s talk about which cut flowers you should pinch back to maximize blooms.
Zinnias are popular cut flowers known for their vibrant colors and long-lasting blooms. Pinching back zinnias when they reach about 6 inches in height will help them become bushier and produce more flowers. Pinching back will also prevent them from becoming tall and leggy, ensuring that you have a fuller and more compact plant.
Chrysanthemums are beautiful fall favorites with a wide range of shapes and colors. To encourage more branching and abundant blooms, pinch back the top inch or two of the stems when they reach about 6 to 8 inches in height. Repeat the pinching process every few weeks until mid-summer. This will result in a bushier plant with more flowers.
Dahlias are stunning flowers that come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. Pinching back dahlias when they have three to four sets of leaves will promote more lateral growth and a fuller plant. This will lead to an increased number of flower buds and a more abundant display of blooms.
Cosmos are delicate and daisy-like flowers that add a touch of whimsy to any arrangement. Pinching back cosmos when they reach about 12 inches in height will help them branch out and produce more flowers. Pinching back will also prevent them from getting too tall and floppy, ensuring a more compact and robust plant.
Sweet peas are highly fragrant flowers cherished for their charming blossoms. Pinching back sweet peas when they have three to four pairs of leaves will encourage lateral growth and more flower production. By pinching back the growing tips, you'll also prevent the plant from becoming top-heavy and promote a sturdy and bushy plant.
cosmos
when pinching back flowers, it's essential to use clean and sharp pruning shears to avoid damaging the stems. Also, make sure to remove any spent blooms (dead heading) regularly to redirect the plant's energy towards producing new flowers. For a list of which flowers flourish when pinched visit my info library for a printable chart.
By employing the pinching back technique on these popular cut flowers, you'll be able to maximize the number of blooms and enjoy fuller, more abundant flowers. Giving you plenty to make DIY arrangements. Experiment with pinching back and see how it transforms your garden and floral displays into a masterpiece.
My Top 5 Garden Go-to’s to Save Time
Gardening can be very time-consuming, especially if you're just starting out, yet it can be very therapeutic and rewarding. This is a list of my top 5 go-to’s for saving time in the garden.
Gardening can be very time-consuming, especially if you're just starting out, yet it can be very therapeutic and rewarding. Sometimes the overwhelm wins out on the therapy of spending the time on what makes us feel whole inside because we let ourselves be swayed by the restriction of time and excuses.
Instead, spend that time thinking of it as therapy. It has been proven that grading reduces stress. So let’s start with a few ways to keep it less stressful. With a few tips and tricks, you can make your garden flourish without spending all of your time tending to it. Here are my top 5 garden go-to's that will help solve your time dilemma:
Drip irrigation
Drip irrigation is a system of watering plants that involves delivering water directly to the plant's root system. This method is more efficient than traditional sprinkler systems, as it reduces water waste and helps to prevent fungal growth. By installing a drip irrigation system in your garden, you'll be able to reduce the amount of time spent watering your plants, while also conserving water.
The reason I list this first is because in the planning process, this is the first step. If you are using weed cloth to plant in or mulching, your drip lines need to be under the cloth or mulch to be more successful. Side note to this, add a timer to your water system. Your plants will thrive, the consistency does a lot for the root system and growth, plus you don’t have to panic about setting that sprinkler or moving hoses. This was a game changer to my gardening journey.
2. Mulching
Mulching is the process of covering your soil with a layer of organic material such as leaves, straw, or wood chips. It helps to retain moisture in the soil, prevent weed growth, and regulate soil temperature. By mulching your garden, you'll be able to reduce the frequency of watering and weeding, saving you time and energy.
My favorite mulch is wood chips. As the chips break down over the seasons they help build better soil that is less compact. Basically adding compost as the mulch decays.
We use a combination of mulching and weed cloth. If you have an abundance of weeds in your area, sometimes mulching is not enough. We have Morning Glory (Bind Weed) here and it comes right through mulch and sometimes through the weedcloth. We opted to plant most things in weed cloth which hopefully will slow down the Morning Glory eventually and we mulch areas like dahlias and potatoes that don’t thrive in weed cloth.
Also be sure what your mulching with does not contain seeds or seed heads. This can create a huge headache on it’s own.
3. Companion planting
Companion planting involves planting two or more crops together that have a mutually beneficial relationship. For example, planting marigolds alongside tomatoes can help to repel pests and improve soil quality. By utilizing companion planting in your garden, you'll be able to reduce the need for pesticides and fertilizers, saving you time and money.
You can find a printable Companion Planting Guide in our Resource library to get ideas of what companions would be helpful to you. Our resource library has other gardening helps to browse through as well.
4. Raised beds
Raised beds are a gardening technique that involves planting in soil that is higher than the surrounding ground. This method provides better drainage, reduces soil compaction, and allows for easier access to the plants. By using raised beds in your garden, you'll be able to save time by reducing the need for digging and weeding, while also improving plant growth.
We have just recently started adding raised beds to our garden areas. It can be a big investment and feel pretty permanent but the advantages take the win and they look so finished and bring a different element to your gardens. Mulching in a raised bed is super simple and makes them even easier to care for.
5. Composting
Composting is the process of breaking down organic materials such as food waste, leaves, and grass clippings into nutrient-rich soil. Using compost as a natural fertilizer can help to reduce the need for chemical fertilizers, saving you time and money plus the health benefits of getting away from those chemicals.
We have really gotten into our composting this year! Buying compost on a large scale in our area proved to be very difficult and costly. We spent about 4000$ on this last year alone. Which mentally made me ill because we raise beef. Why on earth should I not make my own compost! We had to get a few things figured out before we could make that happen. On a smaller scale it proves to be much simpler, start with food and garden scraps, some leaves and a pile that you can water and turn and you have a good start to a system! You can find more info on composting in our Resource Library.
By utilizing these five garden go-to's, you'll be able to save time and energy in your garden while still achieving a beautiful and bountiful harvest. The work is enjoyable and when you get a chance to just admire your efforts, that feels nice!
Happy Gardening friends!
Raised Garden Beds…Why or Why Not
Gardening with raised beds. I dream of a romantic garden with raised beds, pathways lined with flowers and trellises overhead. Twinkle lights and a cafe table to enjoy a glass of wine in the evening.
Raised garden beds are a great way to grow your vegetables, fruits, and herbs. They offer several advantages over traditional in-ground gardens. Let’s talk about the benefits of raised garden beds, and a few negatives to be realistic.
The Benefits of Raised Beds
The first thing that I always think of is the romantic feels of a beautiful garden space. With raised beds, trellises, twinkle lights and a place to sit and have tea or a glass of wine in the evening. The grass pathways and beautiful rows of raised beds. Archways to walk under, with the smells of flowers wafting from above. Beautiful paths with loveliness growing along the sides. OOOLALA! That is my dream garden in a nutshell!
Raised beds can provide many benefits
So I’ll stop dreaming and get to the facts, such as improved soil and drainage. This can allow you to put your garden anywhere, rather than picking a spot that has decent soil or a large level area. Building up soil for in-ground gardening can take years when starting at a deficit. Raised beds allow you to use the best soil you can get your hands on.
Maintenance can be far less time consuming than in-ground gardening. Tilling is not required, simply loosening the soil is all that is needed. Weeds are easier to control, especially if you start with a barrier before adding your new soil.
By choosing the height that works for you, gardening becomes more accessible for people with all abilities. Bad knees? Bad back? Hard to get up and down? All of these things can be helped by raised beds. You just need to plan carefully, considering limitations.
A Few Cons for the List
The Expense
This honestly kept me from doing raised beds for years. Building materials are very expensive. Dirt can also be very expensive. There are a few things you can do to help but it probably won’t be free garden space.
Look for second hand materials. You can often find items on Facebook Market Place, Craigs list or a local Buy, Sell, Trade group
Be creative! Think of ways to work with what you find. Maybe it’s metal roofing or fence posts or even rocks (that’s hard work) but be creative on how you put together the beds using the materials you find. Some of the most beautiful gardens I have seen are from a variety of resources put together in creative ways!
Permanence…
Once you build your raised beds, you’re probably not going to move them. Plan carefully and think long term.
Side note, Caution
I often hear advice to line the bottom with cardboard to make a barrier, killing weeds under the cardboard. I just recently had a very costly experience with this. Some cardboard is treated with chemicals. I had a very large cardboard box an item was shipped in. Unknowingly to me, the cardboard must have been treated with some sort of chemicals. I used this cardboard to line milk crates to grow pre-spouted flower bulbs for our flower farm. This is a normal practice for many flower farmers. All of the bulbs in the crates with that particular cardboard died within a month. The crates with other cardboard are doing well. This was the only difference between the crates of plants. Use with caution.
In Conclusion
Raised beds can be a beautiful addition to your landscape and a great way to garden. Usually the maintenance is far less and soil quality can be controlled quickly and easily. They can be expensive so be realistic. Maybe adding a few each year will help make it more of a viable option when the budget doesn’t allow for it all at once.
Be creative, a garden can be an expression of self. An artistic piece if you want it to be!
Happy Gardening Friends!
Let’s Talk Dirty
It’s so important to understand that we must give our dirt back what we take from it. The more we grow and take, the more we need to replace in order for our crops to be filled with nutrients. This does not have to be chemical based as became the norm after World War II. There are better options.
A few soil management practices that will improve your garden this year…
It’s so important to understand that we must give our dirt back what we take from it. The more we grow and take, the more we need to replace in order for our crops to be filled with nutrients. This does not have to be chemical based as became the norm after World War II.
There are better ways than being dependent on purchasing expensive and dangerous chemicals and weed killers.
Soil Management
Soil management is the practice of preserving and improving the health of soil. This is very important to maintain productivity and support plant growth. It is essential for agriculture and forestry, as well as landscaping and gardening. Soil is the foundation of life, and its health impacts the health of our food systems and the environment.
So Complex Yet So Simple
Soil is a complex system composed of minerals, organic matter, water, air, and living organisms. It provides the physical, and biological support for plant growth. Soil health is essential for food security and sustainability, as it affects crop yields, water quality, and biodiversity.
Soil management practices aim to improve soil health and productivity by reducing erosion, increasing organic matter, improving soil structure, and enhancing soil fertility.
Soil Management Practices Include:
Conservation tillage: Reducing soil disturbance during planting and cultivation, leaving crop residues on the soil surface, and maintaining soil cover with cover crops or mulch. This reduces soil erosion, increases organic matter, and improves soil structure.
Crop rotation: Alternating different crops over time to reduce disease and pest pressure, improve soil fertility, and increase organic matter.
Nutrient management: Applying soil amendments to balance soil nutrient levels and maintain soil fertility. It also involves minimizing nutrient losses to the environment. This can be achieved by adding chemical free alternatives like minerals, compost, manure, and worm castings.
Water management: Managing soil moisture levels through practices like irrigation and drainage to optimize plant growth and reduce soil erosion. Soil with root structures hold water far better than tilled empty soil.
Soil testing: Analyzing soil samples to determine soil nutrient levels, pH, and other characteristics.
Why Does it Matter?
Firstly, it is essential for food security and sustainable agriculture. Healthy soil is necessary to maximize crop growth and yield. Sustainable soil management practices can help ensure that our food systems are resilient and productive.
Secondly, soil management is critical for environmental sustainability. Healthy soil is a key component of the earth's carbon cycle and plays a vital role in mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration.
Finally, soil management is important for maintaining ecosystem services such as water regulation and biodiversity.
This is Why We all Need to Talk Dirty Now and Then..
It all boils down to food security and environmental sustainability!
By implementing sustainable soil management practices, we can improve soil productivity, reduce environmental impacts, and ensure that we can continue to support human needs and maintain healthy ecosystems for generations to come.
Happy Gardening Friends!
seedlings
What’s Happening in April / A Few Nutritional facts on Pasture Raised Chicken
The asparagus is peeking up little heads! A sure sign it must finally be spring!
The Cut Flower Garden
More seeds are being planted every day! Such a busy time, Getting the ground ready to plant and getting seeds started, It’s a whirlwind or activity! This year we are changing a bit of our focus. We are spreading out our planting area, not really growing more but giving ourselves more room to be comfortable. The beds are a bit narrower, less stretching over the beds, less back ache. More divided flower areas. More definition between flowers types.Last year we tried to cram too much in a tight space, which led to areas that were not easily accessible with wheelbarrows and carts. This made weeding nearly impossible! So I’m just giving myself more room to move around and enjoy.
We will have a large amount of Baby’s Breath this year. I spoke with another flower seller near by who mentioned having a hard time finding Baby’s Breath, and having the same experience ourselves last year for a few weddings. We decided to plant multiple plantings of it throughout the season to have a continual supply and we are in the perfect climate to grow it.
Vegetables
The veggies are being started right along with the flowers and the green house is filling fast at this point. Onions are in the ground, and I finally feel safe that I can plant a few more hardy plants like Kale and lettuce. I’m one that likes to be safe rather than sorry and will hold plants longer in the greenhouse rather than plant and lose them. We had a couple of nights just last week that hit the low 20’s.
Beta Hatch
We are participating in a study for Beta Hatch. If your not familiar with the company it is local to our area, located in Cashmere, WA. Their facility grows and converts mealworms and their byproducts into high-performance nutrients for animals and plants.
The product we are using is called Frass. An organic byproduct of the mealworms. We are using the Frass on flowers, vegetables and the alfalfa field this year. Our study will be comparing the Frass treated plants with plants that are treated with regular compost made from mostly cow manure and wood chips.
We will be applying with a compost tea style application, spraying directly onto plants. We will compare growth rates of plants and yields of product, flowers and vegetables. As well as pest pressure throughout the season, longevity and overall health of plants. We are super excited to be participating in this study!
Chicks
Our second batch of chicks came this week from Murray McMurry Hatchery. These are egg layers, and will be providing this falls chicken eggs.
We actually took a season off from egg layer chickens last year after we had a raccoon problem. We have had ducks over that time and just used and sold duck eggs. I’m excited to have chicken eggs again this year, mostly because the clean up of the actual egg is much easier. Ducks are messy critters! They love the mud and it shows when you collect the eggs.
Meat Birds
The first batch of meat birds are growing fast and looking great! They are getting close to the half way point already. Only 4 weeks to go till processing, I can’t wait to have some fresh chicken in the freezer! They have so much more flavor than what you get commercially.
Here are a few facts about pasture raised chicken to ponder on…
Pasture-raised chicken tends to have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, essential for heart health, brain function, and reducing inflammation in the body. This is because they have access to a variety of foods in their natural environment. This includes grasses, seeds, and insects, which are rich sources of omega-3s. Plus the feed they are eating is soy and corn free, non-GMO and organic.
Pasture-raised chickens tends to have higher levels of vitamin D than commercially raised chicken. Because they have access to sunlight which helps them produce vitamin D in their skin. Vitamin D is important for maintaining strong bones and teeth, supporting the immune system, and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.
Commercially raised chickens are often given antibiotics and hormones to promote growth and prevent disease, which can potentially lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other health risks. Our Pasture-raised chickens will not be given antibiotics or hormones, which makes them a healthier option.
I hope you all are enjoying some nice weather finally and getting your gardens ready! Happy planting, Happy Growing,
Jen
Trap Plants, Decoys for the garden
Decoy or Trap plants in your garden. How they can be beneficial to saving your crops from unwanted pests. A list to get you started and an explanation of how they can work for you.
Eggplant is a trap plant for the Colorado Potato Beetle
What is a trap plant? Trap plants are literally decoys for other plants in the garden that you want to save from insects or other pests. These would be planted away from the plants you want to protect. The idea is, the decoy collects the insects and is then either treated or destroyed to eliminate the pests. These are planted ahead of the actual crop plant.
There are a couple of different ways to use trap plants.
One is to use the same species as a sacrificial lamb so to speak. Plant them ahead of your main crop and they will basically collect the insects and serve as food for the pest. Be sure to destroy the decoy plants before the bugs move to your actual crop. This is very important, the insects will not just stay on the decoy plant for the duration.
Different species- Use a different species of plant that the same insect can’t resist. Something more attractive to the bugs than the crop you want to keep. These plants must be planted in time to bloom and intercept the bugs migration pattern.This sounds very technical, but really its not. If you have ever noticed that specific bugs hit the garden all at once? Then if your able to fight the battle and win, they don’t seem to pose much of a problem after that.
Tomato or Hornworm
For example, last year we grow about 42 tomato plants in an all new garden location. We had no idea how the bugs and other pests were going to be for the season. All of the sudden the horn worms were eating the tomato vines like crazy. You don’t look for a couple of days and BAM! all of the sudden total devastation. The first day we picked off just over 100 of those nasty green worms, the second day was the same. Third day was more like 40ish. Then from there after there were only a few here and there. The goal was to catch them before they had a chance to enter their next stage of the lifecycle, which is a cacoon that will hatch next year into the hummingbird moth. By later in the season there were none to be found. Nothing was sprayed to keep them away, we just got past that part of the season and their cycle from egg to worm.
The following is a list of some of the trap plants I’ve been able to find in my research. It’s not a complete list I’m sure but a start to get you going with this idea if it’s new to you.
Decoy Plant Attracts
Amaranth Cucumber Beetle
Collards Cabbage worms
Dill Tomato/ Hornworm
Eggplant Colorado Potatoes Beetle
Marigolds Root nematodes
Millet Squash Bugs
Mustard Harlequin Bugs
Nasturtiums Aphids
Okra Tomato Aphid
Radish Flea beetle, Harlequin bugs, cabbage maggot
Sorghum Corn Earworms
Sunflower. Stinkbugs
Zinnias Japanese Beetle
So will this solve all of your pest issues?
Probably not, but if you want to be conscientious of using chemicals in your garden and/ or using a more natural approach, this may prove to be very benificial in controlling pests in your garden. This works with the life cycles of the pests and plants to help trap and eliminate harmful bugs that waste your garden and your hard work.
Other considerations…
Campanion planting serves as a natural bug deterrent to keep those pesky bugs away from your plants. Personally I like to do some of both styles in my garden. Where it’s possible to companion plant, I do. Yet if it’s a bug I tend to have a big problem with, you bet i’m willing to sacrifice a few plants to save a big crop. I’ll sacrifice the eggplant any day for my potatoes!
You can find a companion planting guide in our Resource Library that has great ideas and graphics plus other helpful garden guides. The guide is ready to print and take to the garden with you so it’s handy. I actually laminated mine to have in my garden supplies but that might be a bit extra haha!
Happy Gardening Friends!
Farm Fresh, Pasture Raised Chicken
First batch of chicks are here! We are excited to offer pasture raised chicken this season.
Pasture Raised Chicken for sale
We are raising pastured chickens this year. I personally can’t wait to eat these, and to offer them to you as well. I’m tired of buying chicken from the grocery store that taste like cardboard and is tough. Trust me, this is not due to cooking technique! My husband is a BBQ master who has been involved in competition BBQ. He knows how to cook a good chicken!
Happy chicks in the brooder
Our first batch of broiler chics arrived yesterday from Metzer Farms in California. They arrived safe and sound to our local post office, which was also great. I was a bit nervous about receiving the order due to a terrible past experience with the postal service. This was before we moved to a smaller agriculture area. I actually had avoided ordering from a hatchery since that time. Yesterday we had a great experience!
Joel Salatin style brooder and chicken tractor.
Andy has been in the shop working hard the last month or so, squeezing in an hour here or there when he can. Building an amazing chicken brooder and the first of the chicken tractors to get the season started. The chicks will spend the first three weeks happily in the brooder, safe, warm and happy. Plans for the brooder and the tractor were sourced from Joel Salatin’s book Polyface Designs.
Redbridge Farms feed
Sourcing quality feeds in our area can also be a challenge. Sourcing any livestock and farm supplies is honestly nearly impossible to find in our area. We live in what’s considered an “agricultural area” yet here that means orchard and not livestock. We happen to find Redbridge Farms on a YouTube video and they have been awesome to work with! The food is freshly ground and looks amazing, If I didn’t know better I might put it on my yogurt in the morning! It is both soy and corn free. None of those dried out crumbles that don’t resemble grains whatsoever. We are so excited to feed this food to both our laying hens and meat birds this year!
Pick Up Dates for Meat
We have three set dates for meat pick up for chicken and will be ending the season with Pasture Raised Turkeys in Late October. We are so excited to offer fresh, pasture raised meat on a smaller scale. It is often hard for families to purchase a half or quarter animal, such as beef and pork. It’s a big upfront expense and often the logistics of where to store it make it very difficult for people. Buying a few chickens at a time is much easier for many who want to eat better without the stress of where to store it.
I hope you will join us on this adventure, offering you a better choice in where your food comes from. These birds have fresh pasture daily and the best of soy and corn free grains to eat as well.
Number of birds available are limited to 50 for each date. They must be reserved and prepaid to save for you.
Pick up dates are-
Chicken-May 8th
Chicken-July 9th
Chicken-August 12th
Turkey- November 5th
Consider Regenerative Farming. What Can it Do For You?
Rotational grazing with different types of animals will help build soil and grow heathy pastures without chemical fertilizers.
Consider Regenerative Farming. What’s it all about…
Regenerative farming is the agricultural practice that aims to improve the health of your soil, promote biodiversity, and enhances the ecosystem. Here are some thoughts on why you should consider using regenerative farming:
Improved your soil health: Regenerative farming practices, such as crop rotation, cover cropping, and reduced tillage, can improve soil health by increasing the organic matter in the soil, water-holding capacity, and nutrient availability. When you till and disrupt the soil you disrupt the biomes in that soil. Have you ever watched a freshly tilled field when the wind blows? Much of that precious top soil is blown away and disappears into the atmosphere. (Or as dust in your near-by house) Healthy soil leads to increased crop yields, better quality crops, and reduced erosion.
Climate change: Healthy soil stores more carbon than degraded soils, which can help reduce atmospheric CO2 levels and slow global warming.
Biodiversity conservation: Regenerative farming practices promotes biodiversity by providing habitats for a variety of plants and animals. This can lead to improved pest management, pollination, and soil fertility. By rotating crops and using cover crops you are also less likely to have pest issues. Root patterns and root break down also play a key role in this. doing so will help you achieve a more nutrient rich soil, continuing to grow the same crop in the same space year after year depletes your soil of certain nutrients that plant requires. By switching up crops this can be balanced.
Reduced dependence on synthetic inputs: Regenerative farming practices can reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which can be expensive and have negative impacts on human health and the environment. A great way to achieve this is by using rotational grazing methods with various animals. Manure is great fertilizer and 100% natural. The idea of rotational grazing allows the grasses to be eaten, but not over eaten and one animal spreads the manure of the other and offers different bonuses to the soil. The cattle graze and leave manure piles, the chickens break up the piles and eat the bugs in them by scratching them around. This in turn spreads the manure so as not to leave a dead spot in the grasses and fertilize to the fullest potential. This is simplified of course but you get the meaning.
Increased resilience: Regenerative farming can increase the resilience of farming systems by promoting diverse crop rotations, less erosion, and enhanced soil health. This can lead to greater crop yield, reduced costs on fertilizers, and better adaptation to changing weather patterns and other environmental stresses.
These five points can be quite a process in the beginning to put into place but making even small changes on your farm can make a difference.
Think about starting with one small change or on one section of your farm. Over time these changes can be significant! The benefits will be great and you will save in the end, both financially and with the health of your land. Maybe it’s a field you plant every year or maybe you try a no-dig garden this year.
Consider using less pesticides and more natural forms of pest management. Start strong with companion planting in your garden. Replenish your soil with a nice layer of compost instead of a chemical based fertilizer. Use manures or fish products to add nutrients back into your soil. There are a lot of options available when you start looking for alternatives, don’t be afraid to try something new!
Rotational grazing with different types of animals will help build soil and grow heathy pastures without chemical fertilizers.
THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF SPRING
Spring is just around the corner, still a bit chilly but it’s defiantly coming.
Queen Anne’s Lace
Spring is Coming…
Spring feels a bit delayed as far as warmth goes, but isn’t probably all that far off as normalcy of seasons go. It’s now time to wrap my head around going full swing with all the happenings of the farm. Going to bed physically exhausted instead of mentally.
Flowers and Vegetables…
More seeds are being started weekly, as the last frost date draws near. The planning and calculating how long each crop of vegetables and flowers need to thrive and harvest. Which prefer cool temps and which prefer heat? How many successions will I need to grow enough of this flower to produce all season long? Is it too late to start that kind and get a good crop?
Meat Chickens…
The fist batch of meat chickens will be arriving in a couple of weeks. Is the food ordered, Is the new brooder complete? Is everything in working order that needs to be for that adventure? Will they show up alive? (always a fear of mailing chicks) Can we sell enough of them to make the investment viable?
Cows: Beef and Dairy…
We run a very small herd of cows, the fist calving just started and we have a few more to come. Babies are always exciting yet comes with the worry that everything goes as planned. Fresh milk! I can’t wait to have fresh milk on the farm again. This definitely adds to the work load but I do love it!
Daylight Savings Finally…
Daylight savings helped a wee bit, just giving that feeling of a little more time in the evening. For some reason it’s easier to have the daylight on that end of the clock, which I know makes no sense. Still the some amount of minutes of daylight, yet my body prefers it and functions just a little bit better.
My Wish For You…
I hope your spring finds you healthy and happy. Ready to hustle and bustle through the busier times of the year. Ready to enjoy sunshine and warmth. The smell of fresh cut grass and flowers in bloom is just around the corner.
I hope your heart is filled with joy and your hands are full with good works,
See ya again soon!
The Feeling That Spring May Never Arrive
The Feeling That Spring May Never Arrive
March 10th and yet another day of snow…
The wind is blowing, the flakes are flying sideways and then changing its mind and twisting and blowing the other direction.
And yet I’m choosing to be thankful for the temperature because it hasn’t dropped down so very low. This morning is a mild 34 degrees. Yet the wind certainly has a bite to it.
My only peace is in knowing that it will only last for a day or two and the sun will eventually come.
As slow as the spring is arriving, maybe it’s just a last moment to breath deep before the busy season arrives.
Take the moment and breath in this last bit of the slow season. The rush of spring on the farm will hit very soon and you won’t have a spare moment to look back.
Do You Know Where Your Food Comes From?
Beef processing day, check out those steaks!
Beef Processing Day - Beautiful Steaks!
Processing a whole beef in a day is a lot of work! The work is so worth it!
One of the projects we felt was important when we moved to our current farm was a commercial kitchen/butcher area that was able to handle butchering our own beef and pork. We have had so many bad experiences with having our meat processed over the years that this was a top priority. One year we had meat with dead flys in the packaging, a few times the amount of meat was very short, and this last year a whole pig came back rancid and not worth eating. The real bummer of this one was that we had the place to do it our selves but felt like we didn’t have the time and made a rushed decision. These were not the same butcher shops each time either.
When you consider the cost of the animal, feeding it for a year, then butchering cost, all to have it come back with a taste that was not good! The longer the meat sat in the freezer, the worse it tasted. A total waste! The only way we felt we could avoid these things was to do it ourselves! Now 3 years later, we have processed around 4 pigs and around 6 whole beef. The first few we took to a local shop and learned the process, working with them to learn the trade, then when we collected enough equipment and got our butcher area set up we started doing it completely on our own.
The cuts of meat are getting better and less goes to ground beef and pork these days with a bigger variety of nice cuts. Knowing all that has gone into each and every animal from birth to butcher insures the best quality! A product that we are very proud of! The taste of the fresh beef is beyond what we imagined would be!
Do you know where your food comes from?
Spring Is In The Air
Spring Is In the Air
Signs of life! Spring is in the future!
So apparently I live in a very tiny little micro climate. Our snow has been gone for a week now. And signs of life are sprouting up. This morning is a balmy 41 and it feels amazing! The ducks are swimming in their pond and producing muddy eggs for me to wash but I’ll take it! Our neighbors both up and down the Coulee are still covered in snow, as well as the rest of the Wenatchee valley. But here I sit, enjoying my little spring moment and soaking up every moment I can. I know we still have some “winter weather” to come and always some February squall of weather but that’s OK because this helps my soul get through the dark days of January.
Life with a Dachshund
Life with a Dachshund
If you have a dachshund you will understand. If you know you know
This is my bestie Gretta Bean, she got that nick name because she was like a coffee bean, right color, right size and full of zip! We mostly just call her Bean now. This is her new “baby” that she is fiercely protective of and has to have it near her at all times. Well, until she rips it’s guts out in about a week. Then she will carry it around limp and de-stuffed for another week or so. She takes it to bed with her, and carries it from room to room and gets really upset if the other dogs try to touch it. Dachshunds are one of a kind! Hard to understand the extent of their quirkiness until you live with it! We couldn’t love her more!
Time to Refresh After a Long Hot Summer of Hard Work
It all begins with an idea.
Flower season wrap-up, Putting the garden to bed. So much learned, so many plans for next season. My head is full, my mind is happy, my heart is peaceful. Rest my beautiful ladies of summer, I’ll see you again in the spring, when we are both rested and refreshed.