By Rachel Conlin

On this particular July morning, with an overcast sky, Tim backed the truck up to the old log barn. Getting the first lamb in is difficult enough, but getting a couple more in without the first ones escaping is a challenge. We loaded three ram lambs and took a moment to look around in the dim morning light at the rest of the herd. They generally sleep close to the barn being guarded from predators by our guardian livestock dogs. Suddenly Tim called out, “there’s a baby!” My first response was to think he was joking around. Our lambs are born between November and February, with an occasional late being born in March or early April. This is July. Sure enough, amongst the herd, one of our Finn sheep-Gotland cross ewes had a very wet lamb on the ground beside her. Knowing that she may possibly have more, we lead her into the barn and put her in a stall with her lamb. There wasn’t much time to adore the new baby; Tim had to get to work. We drove down to the farmhouse and he headed out in his truck. [Keep reading…]

By Rachel Conlin

Being a farmer and an entrepreneur is never dull. There is always a vast array of things to do and that need to be done. Throughout the day I literally ‘change my hat’ many times. This suits me fine. I may be tired at the end of the day, but always content and never bored. The summer months are particularly very busy; the vegetables are ripening and calling to be picked and preserved, maturing lambs are ready to go to market, and goat milking is at its prime, bags of wool require spinning. With all these jobs other chores tend to appear, like fencing, egg collecting….I could go on, but you get the idea. Add to this the fact that we live in a rural area that is quickly becoming a prime tourist destination. Running my farm market alone keeps me hopping. [Keep reading…]

Landscaping With Logs for a Whimsical Garden Design

Incorporate log rounds into your garden design for an earth-inspired touch. Landscaping with logs is easy, not to mention free!

By Craig Braunschweig

All You Need to Know to Eat Good, Grass-Fed Meat

Learn how to choose and use inexpensive cuts of grass-fed beef, free-range chicken and pastured pork for better nutrition and out-of-this-world flavor.

By Deborah Krasner

Photo by MARCUS NILSSON

Growing Grains

Growing, harvesting, milling and using amaranth, corn, wheat, oats, rye and triticale.

By John Vivian 

Kiva Zip is a great resource for small farmers! Learn more here. 

Support local farmers on Kiva Zip with peer-to-peer lending. 

“Hi! I am Dr. J, the lady with a white hat in the picture. As a holistic family medical physician, I made a commitment to the well-being of my patients and the earth. I have since come out of the exam room into the lives of my patients and their families as an organic farmer. By growing healing foods, I assist in preventing and intervening in disease, holistically.

With climate change, high tunnel food production has been a priority in the commitment to sustainable agriculture. This loan will allow us to get 24 additional feet of high tunnel production space onto our NRCS EQIP program.

This high tunnel will produce salad greens, root crops, tomatoes and specialty crops as well as the last round of chickens for soil fertility. With climate change, high tunnel food production has been a priority in the RAFT-PC training. The high tunnel will allow trainees and the community at-large to learn skills in extended growing season production.”

To become a lender on Kiva Zip click here.