Small Farms Sitemap - Page 2 2013-05-25
Preparing for Winter
Winter is upon us! At least here in northern Vermont - you may have a bit more time. But, it's coming! So, what do you need to do? Make sure your
The Gritty Underside of Urban Farming
I found this post over at The Stir: Urban Farming Horrors! 5 Dirty Backyard Chicken Secrets. It gave me a good laugh - but it's also a very apt reminder, if
Canning Rocks!
Canning Across America is a great resource for canning and preserving food. According to their website, the group is a nationwide, ad hoc collective of
New Year, New Goals
A shiny new year - a great time to assess where you are, where you want to go, and if you're not living it yet - time to plan your small farm dream. What
Let There Be Light!
If your hens have mysteriously stopped laying, especially if you live in a northern area, the culprit just might be a lack of light. Hens' pituitary glands
Renewing the Countryside
Renewing the Countryside is a non-profit organization devoted to, well, I'll let them use their own words: Renewing the Countryside strengthens rural areas
Farm Together Now
I wanted to share a great new farming book with you: Farm Together Now, by Amy Franceschini & Daniel Tucker. The book's subtitle, A portrait of people,
Pick New Chicks
Have you gotten a hatchery catalog (or two, or three) in the mail yet? I have. I'm already trying to decide what new layers I want to add to the flock this
The Peace Corps Needs You
Looking for a change of pace? The Peace Corps is seeking volunteers with agricultural experience to serve as technical agricultural specialists in developing
Plant a Fall Greens Bed
It's not too late to plant some delicious lettuces, kale and chard to take you through fall and into winter. In many places, you can grow hearty greens
September: National Honey Month
It's National Honey Month! If you have bees, you are probably harvesting some honey right now. If not, it's a great time to read up on keeping bees in
It's Not Easy Being Bees
Newly-named 2010 MacArthur Fellow Marla Spivak knows something about the tough times honeybees have been going through. She's an entomologist whose work
Supermarket Farmers Markets?!?
File this under What's Next? - supermarkets are now advertising themselves as farmers markets. How, exactly? They're setting up displays of produce and
Urban Chicken Revolution
Chickens In The Yard (C.I.T.Y.) of Salem, Oregon has a mission: to promote the legalization of backyard chicken-keeping in cities around the country.
Anti-Flu Tincture
Elderberries are a great herbal ally for warding off flu, colds and other viruses. Make some elderberry tincture -- it's easy and even, I daresay, fun! Take the
Underground Dog Fences
We just finished expanding the boundary for our dog's SportDOG In-Ground Fence system. These fences work by transmitting a radio frequency (RF) along a
The Buzz About Bees
A few months ago, New York City lifted its ban on beekeeping, removing them from the rosters of venomous insects in the Health Code's register. The New York
Not Too Late to Plant!
Need to plant something to fill a bare patch of ground right now? Think you can't get started with your food plot this year? You can! Just choose from one of
The Incredible Edible Egg
Remember that slogan? Our hens are in full laying mode with these long summer days! Are yours? If you're overwhelmed with eggs, here are some tips:
Show and Tell: Chicken Coops
That's the coop my husband and I built for our chickens last summer. It was a fun and fairly easy project that was easy on the budget, too. Have you
Energize Your Compost Pile
If you'd like to try something new, consider diving into biodynamic farming. While biodynamic agriculture is a complex and complete ecological system of
Artichokes in New England? Why Not?
They're not just produce from California anymore. Vermont growers are taking interest in trying to grow crops not typically associated with the cool, short
Wordless Wednesday: Wood
It's that time of year again! Photo © Lauren Ware
Can Food Save a Town?
Right here in my very own backyard, something extremely cool has been going on. We're so lucky to live in an area with a wide array of fairly new
Build a Better Brooder
Are your chicks arriving any day? Scrambling (pardon the pun) for a brooder setup for their first few weeks? It's easy to set up once you think outside the
Weird Spring Weather
Northerners: don't get fooled into complacency if your April has been warmer than usual. Here in northern New England, we're expecting a little
No Raw Milk for Wisconsin
A Wisconsin senate bill that would have legalized direct farm-to-consumer raw milk sales was vetoed by the governor yesterday. Gov. Jim Doyle cited public
Strawberry-licious
It's strawberry season in many parts of the country, and if your mouth is watering at the sight of endless flats of berries, or if you're enjoying the local
Chefs Partner With Schools
The White House has recruited chefs in their efforts to bring healthier school lunches to America's children. Michelle Obama held a Let's Move! event on the
Reality Farm TV?
Tomorrow night on Planet Green, a new kind of reality TV show will debut. It's called The Fabulous Beekman Boys. The boys are Josh and Brent, two city
2010 Eat Real Festival
Okay, it's still a little ways away - August 27-29, to be exact, in Oakland, California. But the 2010 Eat Real Festival looks like a great opportunity to get to
Moon Phase Planting
Wondering about planting by the moon? What all those biodynamic farmers are talking about when they say they're spraying a preparation onto their crops or
Sustainable Food Gets a Boost
The San Francisco Chronicle recently reported on a National Research Council report that endorses sustainable food, by which they mean everything from the
Get Ready for Sugaring Season
It's getting close to time to tap the maple trees and gather their prolific sap, boiling it down into delicious maple syrup. Whether you're using lines or
Help Bring Food to Haiti
Food First is an organization committed to bringing much-needed food to Haiti. They're working with farmers in other areas of Haiti to get food to people in
USDA Drops NAIS Animal ID Program
Are you breathing a little sigh of relief, knowing that you don't have to worry (anytime terribly soon) about barcodes on your beeves or ID tags on your
Farming Conferences
It's the weekend of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) Vermont conference in Burlington, and many farmers and homesteaders are making the trek to
Beginning Farmer Program Is - Beginning!
The USDA's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program is getting under way. More than $18 million is being made available for programs for beginning
Preserving Food
Now, although it's not food-preserving season yet, it's not a bad time to dust off your canning jars, take stock, and make a plan to start gathering what you'll
The Care and Feeding of Seedlings
If you haven't started your seeds yet, it's definitely time to get going, but don't despair. Some seeds, like squash and cukes, should only be started four
Urban Beekeeping Takes Flight
Have you been dreaming of keeping bees but thwarted by the fact that you live in New York City? Well, rejoice, because NYC's Board of Health just lifted a
Wordless Wednesday: Sugaring
Okay, I know it's a teeny amount, but we are just starting our sugaring season here. (We're on the late side of things as we had to scavenge some maple
What's an Heirloom, Anyway?
Vegetables are sometimes referred to as heirloom or heirloom variety. This basically means that it is a variety of vegetable that was grown before
Embrace the Cycle
It can be tempting to start farming without realizing what you're getting into. A few chickens, maybe some ducks, even a goat or a couple of sheep - it's all
Internet in the Boonies
Do you live out of reach of DSL, cable or cell phones? I do. And as I sit here at the library because I've exceeded my 30-day bandwidth limit on satellite
Wordless Wednesday: Wireless
I won't leave this completely wordless. This is my new Internet receiver; it is fixed wireless, bouncing off an antenna on the top of the mountain I live on,
Locking Season
November and December are sometimes called locking season here in the North - the time to put things away, cover the wood pile, put the snow tires on the car,
Learn More This Winter
As winter blankets much of the United States and the active farming season winds down for many of us, it's a great time to brush up on some skills, learn
Happy New Year!
Well, it's a new year and a new decade. Did you make some resolutions? What new projects are you planning for your farm this year? New crops, new livestock, or
2010 Goals: Make It Happen
So, you've set your goals - now to get the ball rolling, right? Here's some info to get you started. Each goal is linked to information on how to achieve it.
Planning Your Season
I always plant too much. It's some kind of sickness. I plant like I'm feeding my entire town of 170 people. Of course, my soil still needs improvement, so my
Urban Homesteading Hurdles
Sometimes it just isn't that easy to get a small flock of chickens or a few goats - or even grow a big veggie garden. Although the laws in some cities are
Get Your Hens Ready for Winter
Now's the time to start thinking about that chicken coop and how the girls are going to like it when they stay in it 24/7, with no fresh grass and bugs to
Grow Garlic This Fall
Garlic - yum! Who doesn't love garlic? And now's the time to prepare your soil, order your bulbs and choose your varieties. Will it be Inchelium Red Garlic, a
It's Elderberry Season
I feel lucky that when I bought this land, it came with three established elderberry bushes. When we first moved in, I wasn't quite sure what they were (it
Using an Almanac
The newest editions of the United States' two most popular almanacs, The Old Farmer's Almanac and Farmers' Almanac, are published every September, so the fresh
Sell to Local Restaurants
Do you sell your food to local restaurants? If not, it's definitely something to start thinking about. With a growing awareness of local food, many restaurants
White House Farmers Market Underway
In cool farm-related news, the White House has opened a farmers market to run through the end of October on Thursday afternoons. Although they're not selling
Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food
The USDA recently launched a new initiative - Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food. Its aim is to begin a national conversation to help develop local and regional
Are You Ready?
I don't know about what things look like in the rest of the country, but in the Northeast we're having a spell of unseasonably cold weather and potential snow
Last-chance Garlic
I know it's a bit late for some of us northern gardeners, but if your soil hasn't frozen yet, you can still get some cloves of garlic in the ground this fall
Drowning in Produce? Sell It at the Market
Even if you've only been growing for your family, you may find yourself in midsummer with an overload of eggs, zucchini, lettuce, even elderflower syrup,
Got Eggs?
This is our year off from new chicks, but I know that many folks who got chicks this spring are gearing up for egg production now or within a month or two. If
Getting Started in Farming
Often it can be overwhelming to know just where to start with your farm. A business plan is a good place to begin, if you're planning to earn any income with
HR 2479 - What Does It Mean for the Small Farmer?
By now you've probably heard that HR 2479, the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, passed in the House by a vote of 283-142, on July 29th. The Senate will
It's National Farmers Market Week
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has declared August 2-8 National Farmers Market Week. If you're not already doing it, bringing your farm products to one
When Less Is More
I've been reading The Power of Less by Leo Babauta, of Zen Habits, this week, and reevaluating all my farm projects in light of his mantra: Do Less. Get More
Yes You Can
Canning is a great way to preserve the abundant harvest. And for diehard homesteaders, it's a core strategy for getting through winter on food you grew
Extend Your Season
We've had a few crisp nights here in the north country already, although in some respects it feels like summer is only getting underway (the sun is finally
Small Farming 2.0
The farmer's market has set up shop on the Internet! With websites like LocalHarvest.org and EatWild.org, where buyers can find produce near their zip code, and
Pasture Your Chickens
Want to pasture your chickens, but think you have too many for a small, portable chicken coop? Think again. You can do it! Coops don't have to be tiny to
Harvest Longer With Succession Planting
Hey, all you lucky folks already pulling in the first of this year's harvest! Be sure you continue to plant, especially crops like lettuces (if it isn't too hot
You Know You're a Farmer When...
When did you first feel like a farmer? Was there a moment, a task, a milestone you reached when suddenly things clicked and you felt like a true farmer? Or
A Little Help From Uncle Sam for Beginning Farmers
The USDA is currently offering incredibly low interest rates - 1.5%! - on up to 45% of a farm mortgage for beginning farmers. They define beginning farmers as
Urban Farming "A Revolution"
A recent article on CNN chronicles the growth of urban farming, growing significant amounts of food in cities. What's unique about this piece is its focus on
Happy Food Independence Day!
Food Independence Day is a movement to source your Fourth of July food as locally, sustainably, and deliciously as possible! Here's a snippet from the
Balancing a Job with Farm Life
It's July, and there's too much to do and not enough time to do it in. I know I'm not alone! I work full-time as a freelance writer, and when the work day is
Home Sweet Homestead
I love July! It means finally getting to eat entire meals that are totally grown on our little homestead. This was today's lunch: egg salad with homemade
Pick Your Chicks
It's baby season on the farm! Chickens remain the most popular first farm animal for beginning farmers and homesteaders, and baby chicks are so much fun.
Education, Down on the Small Farm
According to The Boston Globe, the youngest generation is enjoying spending weekends and vacations down on the farm, helping with chores and learning about
Farm Needed for Design Make-Over
Do you direct market your products to consumers via a farm stand or other means? Is your farm's website and logo in need of a redesign? Don't even have a logo?
Get the Scoop on Coops
This is what I've been busy doing with my weekends. Building a movable chicken coop for my 3 dozen hens. It is actually a little bit undersized for that
Chickens Invade Cities and Suburbs!
Whether it's the recession, a greater connection with where our food comes from, because they're fun and easy, because the eggs are delicious, or all of the
Eat What You Grow
The earliest harvests are often the most tenderly delicious. So far we've enjoyed dandelion crowns, fiddlehead ferns, dandelion greens, all gathered on our own
Learn About Biodynamics
Wondering about planting by the moon? What all those biodynamic farmers are talking about when they say they're spraying a preparation onto their crops or
Summer Interns Down on the Farm
The New York Times reports that many more young adults are choosing unpaid summer internships on organic farms, citing a growing movement of local food
Send Me Your Questions.
I'm compiling FAQs for the site and would love readers to send in questions you may have about small farming and homesteading. From raising animals, to
Time to Order Chicks.
From left to right in the photo are some of my hens: a Buff Orpington, a Barred Rock, and a Partridge Rock. Even if it's not quite warm enough to start your
It's Sugaring Time!
With temperatures peeking into the upper 30s here in northern Vermont this past weekend, everyone's thinking about tapping maple trees and getting maple
Moving Baby Chicks Outdoors.
A poster asked, Hi Lauren. We just ordered our chicks, Buff Orpingtons, and was wondering how long they need to be kept inside. We're in New Hampshire and the
About.com Newsletter Alert!
If you subscribe to Small Farms Newsletter, or some of my fellow Guides' newsletters, you may have recently received spam that appeared to come from About.com.
Get Ready For Spring!
Although it's still firmly - or squishily - mud season here in Vermont, spring's official start on March 20 has those of us in northern climates rejoicing. We
Get Spring Started Early With Season Extending Tips
Do you live in the far North like me, where there's still snow on the ground? I admit things are pretty muddy here, but I live at a significant elevation and
How Much Wood is in a Cord?
© Lauren Ware Many small farmers heat their homes with wood. It's cost efficient, especially if you can harvest your own wood from your land. But many of
Seed Catalog Time!
Anyone else drooling over seed catalogs yet? Can you believe it will ever be spring? Before we know it, it'll be time to dig our hands into warm, fresh soil
What Are You Growing to Sell?
In our forum, a poster asks what might produce might be good to grow and sell at the farmer's market or other venues. I threw out a few suggestions below, but
What's New for You This Season?
I can't quite believe it's the end of January already! Maybe it's all the snowboarding I've been doing. Getting outside and enjoying the snow seems to make
Sweet and Fuzzy...
Feel free to tell me if I'm suffering from cabin fever, but I'm imagining those in warmer zones might be looking through hatchery catalogs, getting ready to
Where Are Your Hens Laying?
Lately, my hens seem to think that a particular corner of the coop is the best spot for their eggs. Do you find a lot of floor eggs - eggs laid on the
Are Your Chickens Ready for Winter?
The days are getting short and the nights feel brisk. It's around this time of year that my chickens often slow down their egg laying. Sometimes they molt
Gardening Season Isn't Over Yet!
Although fall is well under way (here in the north country we are already having frosts), I'm still harvesting delicious veggies from the garden with a few
Planning Next Season's Animals? Consider Sheep.
If you're like me, as soon as the snow flies and the garden is put to bed, you're planning and dreaming for next year. What new and delicious heirloom
How to Make Elderberry Tincture - DIY Herbal Tincture
Learn how to make elderberry tincture - perfect for fighting winter viral infections from colds to flu - step by step with this tutorial.
How to Make Elderberry Tincture - DIY Herbal Tincture
Learn how to make elderberry tincture - perfect for fighting winter viral infections from colds to flu - step by step with this tutorial.
How to Make Elderberry Tincture - DIY Herbal Tincture
Learn how to make elderberry tincture - perfect for fighting winter viral infections from colds to flu - step by step with this tutorial.
How to Make Elderberry Tincture - DIY Herbal Tincture
Learn how to make elderberry tincture - perfect for fighting winter viral infections from colds to flu - step by step with this tutorial.
How to Make Elderberry Tincture - DIY Herbal Tincture
Learn how to make elderberry tincture - perfect for fighting winter viral infections from colds to flu - step by step with this tutorial.
How to Make Elderberry Tincture - DIY Herbal Tincture
Learn how to make elderberry tincture - perfect for fighting winter viral infections from colds to flu - step by step with this tutorial.
How to Make Elderberry Tincture - DIY Herbal Tincture
Learn how to make elderberry tincture - perfect for fighting winter viral infections from colds to flu - step by step with this tutorial.
How to Make Elderberry Tincture - DIY Herbal Tincture
Learn how to make elderberry tincture - perfect for fighting winter viral infections from colds to flu - step by step with this tutorial.
Season Extension - Starting Spring Seeds Early And Harvesting Late Winter Crops
Want to get a jump on planting crops and your food garden this season? With season extension ideas like cold frames and polytunnels, you can get your small farm or homestead garden going earlier than you ever imagined.
Hobby Sugaring - How to Collect Maple Sap and Make Maple Syrup
Do you have some sugar maples, or even just one maple tree, on your land? Then you can make maple syrup. I'll give you the rundown on equipment and the sugaring process so you can get started.
Grow Blueberries - How to Grow Blueberries
Instructions and tips teach you how to grow blueberries on your small farm or homestead.
Maple Sugaring Supplies - Supplies You Need For Making Maple Syrup
This handy list breaks down all the supplies you need for hobby maple syrup production.
Cover Crop - Rye - How to Grow Rye, Cereal Rye, Winter Rye as a Cover Crop
Learn when and how to plant cereal rye as a cover crop on your small farm or homestead.
Cover Crop - Buckwheat - How to Grow Buckwheat as a Cover Crop
Learn when and how to plant buckwheat as a cover crop on your small farm or homestead.
Cover Crop Basics - How to Grow a Cover Crop
Cover crops are a great way to add fertility, suppress weeds, and fill a niche in your small farm crop rotation. Learn when, how and why to plant them, and which ones to choose for your needs.
Cover Crop - Clover - How to Grow Clover as a Cover Crop
Learn when and how to plant clover as a cover crop on your small farm or homestead.
Cover Crop - Hairy Vetch - How to Grow Hairy Vetch as a Cover Crop
Learn when and how to plant hairy vetch as a cover crop on your small farm or homestead.
Cover Crop - Sorghum-Sudangrass - How to Grow Sorghum-Sudangrass as a Cover Crop
Learn when and how to plant Sorghum-Sudangrass as a cover crop on your small farm or homestead.
Home-built Chicken Tractor - : About My Chicken Coop
Share how you built your coop - did you use plans? Make it from recycled and scavenged materials? Buy a coop already built or assemble it yourself? And share a photo of it!
How to Freeze Sweet Corn
How to Freeze Sweet Corn
Financial Farming Difficulties
Financial Farming Difficulties
Plan Now for a Fall Harvest
Plan Now for a Fall Harvest
Are Your Chickens Eating Their Eggs?
Have you ever had problems with chickens eating their own eggs? I have, from time to time. Since they seem to be in a phase of doing this yet again (as well as
Surprise Chicken Coop - : About My Chicken Coop
Share how you built your coop - did you use plans? Buy a coop already built or assemble it yourself? And share a photo of it!
My City Girl Farming Chicken Coop - : About My Chicken Coop
Share how you built your coop - did you use plans? Make it from recycled and scavenged materials? Buy a coop already built or assemble it yourself? And share a photo of it!
A DIY Chicken Coop - : About My Chicken Coop
Share how you built your coop - did you use plans? Make it from recycled and scavenged materials? Buy a coop already built or assemble it yourself? And share a photo of it!
How to Know When to Pick Sweet Corn
How to Know When to Pick Sweet Corn
A Farmer in the White House?
In October, before the Presidential election, Michael Pollan, a champion of small farming and local foods, wrote a letter to the future President-elect, asking
Raising Turkeys, Part 2
Raising Turkeys, Part 2
Making Fermented Foods
Tips for Marketing Small Farm Products
Tips for Marketing Small Farm Products
Eggs From Pastured Poultry: Surprising (?) Health Benefits!
The folks at Mother Earth News have been compiling nutritional data on eggs from hens who feast on pasture - fresh grass, bugs, and all the goodness they
Making Fermented Foods
Making Fermented Foods
Treats for Your Chickens
Treats for Your Chickens
Frozen Eggs - What to Do With Frozen Eggs
If it's wintertime, your chicken eggs might have frozen. Can you still use them?
Orpington Chicken - Breed Profile
Learn all about why to choose one chicken breed over another with this breed profile of Orpingtons, a dual-purpose chicken for meat and eggs.
Rhode Island Red Chicken - Breed Profile
Learn all about why to choose one chicken breed over another with this breed profile of Rhode Islands, a dual-purpose chicken for meat and eggs.
Ameracauna Chickens - Breed Profile
Learn all about why to choose one chicken breed over another with this breed profile of Ameracaunas, an egg-laying chicken breed that lays unique blue eggs. This breed has a related mixed-breed called Easter Egger.
Speckled Sussex Breed Profile
Learn all about the Speckled Sussex, a dual-purpose chicken for meat and eggs.
New Hampshire Red - Breed Profile
Learn all about why to choose one chicken breed over another with this breed profile of New Hampshire Reds, a dual-purpose chicken for meat and eggs.
Plymouth Rock Chicken - Breed Profile
Learn all about why to choose one chicken breed over another with this breed profile of Plymouth Rocks, a dual-purpose chicken for meat and eggs.
When You Get Your Chicks - Raise Baby Chicks Right
Raising baby chicks doesn't have to inspire fear - with this guide you will get your baby chicks off to a great start.
McMurray Hatchery Review - Review of Chick Supplier Murray McMurray
A review of Murray McMurray hatchery chicks, one of the biggest hatcheries in the United States.
Freedom Ranger Hatchery Review - Review of Chick Supplier Freedom Ranger Hatchery
A review of Freedom Ranger Hatchery, which provides meat birds aka broilers that free range and pasture well.
Chicken Breed Profiles - Chicken Breeds for the Small Farm
Once you've decided to keep chickens, you need to pick from over a hundred possible chicken breeds to find the one that is right for your farm or homestead's needs. This handy list will help you pick a dual-purpose breed that is a good fit.
Build the Bottom Frame - How to Build a Movable Chicken Coop or Chicken Tractor
The first step in building your movable chicken coop is to build a frame that will support the rest of the structure.
Build Frame of Chicken Coop - How to Build a Movable Chicken Coop or Chicken Tractor
The chicken tractor we built was an A-frame, but you can build a box or something with a shed-type (slanted) roof. It's up to you.
Build Roosts - How to Build a Movable Chicken Coop or Chicken Tractor
Most laying hens prefer to roost on poles or branches when they sleep at night. Broilers or meat birds don't require roosts.
Build Nest Boxes - How to Build a Movable Chicken Coop or Chicken Tractor
Every chicken coop needs nest boxes. Be sure to include nest boxes in your chicken tractor design if you keep laying hens (chickens for eggs).
Build Doors for Nest Boxes - How to Build a Movable Chicken Coop or Chicken Tractor
Shield nest boxes from blowing rain and wind by making clever doors that serve as access to clean, fresh eggs in your movable chicken coop.
Build a Door and Close in the Coop - How to Build a Movable Chicken Coop or Chicken Tractor
There's not much point to a movable coop if you can't close the chickens in it and move them to a new spot.
Build a Roof - How to Build a Movable Chicken Coop or Chicken Tractor
Protect your sweet little chickens from pouring rain! A roof is an essential part of a chicken tractor.
Attach Wheels - How to Build a Movable Chicken Coop or Chicken Tractor
The key is
Compost in Biodynamic Farming - How to Make Biodynamic Compost
Learn how to make biodynamic compost preparations and use them to enhance your biodynamic compost.
How to Build a Movable Chicken Coop - Designing and Building a Chicken Tractor
Learn how to build a simple chicken tractor or movable coop for your laying hens' needs. What are the essential elements of a design?
Projects
Do it yourself! Here are some ideas for projects you can do on your small farm or homestead. You'll find everything from canning food to building a chicken coop.
Is a High Tunnel Right for Your Farm?
Hatching Baby Chicks Naturally
Hatching Baby Chicks Naturally
Is a High Tunnel Right for Your Farm?
Is a High Tunnel Right for Your Farm?
Marketing Your Farm Products
Marketing Your Farm Products
Photo of the Week: Peak
Photo of the Week: Peak
Organic Farming: Actually Better Than Conventional?
Nature published a new study that shows that organic methods result in better pest control and larger plants than conventional methods when it comes to
Do I Need a Rooster for Eggs?
I'll give you the scoop on roosters and hens. The short answer: you don't need a rooster for your hens to lay eggs. But, there's more to it than that.
Feeding and Watering Your Chickens
Feeding and Watering Your Chickens
Farmers Markets - How to Make a Bundle at the Farmers Market
Learn how to sell your small farm's produce, meat, eggs, dairy and poultry at the farmers market. What are the best strategies for success?
How Much Wood Is in a Cord?
Do you heat with wood? Want to be clear how much wood you're really buying when you buy
Are Eggs From Hens on Pasture More Nutritious?
You know the eggs from your grass-eating, pastured hens taste better, but are they really better for you than supermarket eggs?
Sustainable Agriculture - What Is Sustainable Agriculture
Definition of
Definition of Acre
Wondering just what an acre of land means, anyway?
Definition of Chicken Tractor
Just what is a chicken tractor, anyway? Is it a tractor? No, it's a type of movable chicken coop.
Definition of Cow
Just what do farmers mean when they say
Definition of Heirloom Vegetable
Heirloom what? Find out what it means when someone says they're growing an heirloom vegetable.
Definition of Organic
Organic, sustainable, beyond organic, humane? Confused? We'll sort it out.
Pullet - Definition of Pullet
What kind of chicken is a pullet, exactly?
Definition of Brooder
What do people mean when they say you need a chick brooder for your new chicks?
Definition of Candling
Wondering what
Definition of Cover Crop
What is a cover crop? Why might you plant one?
Kombucha - Definition of Kombucha
What exactly is kombucha or kombucha tea?
Scoby - Definition of Scoby
What exactly is a scoby?
Definition of Drone - Honey Bees
What's a drone in beekeeping?
Definition of Nuc Colony - Honey Bees
What does a beekeeper mean when he or she is selling a nucleus colony or nuc?
Definition of Package Bees - Honey Bees
What does a beekeeper mean when he or she is selling package bees?
Definition of Queen Bee - Honey Bees
What's a queen bee?
Definition of Brood - Honey Bees
What does it mean when a beekeeper refers to brood?
Definition of Eggs - Honey Bees
What are eggs in beekeeping?
Definition of Foundation - Honey Bees
What is foundation?
Definition of Frame - Honey Bees
What is a frame in beekeeping?
Definition of Langstroth Hive - Honey Bees
What is a Langstroth hive?
Definition of Larvae - Honey Bees
What is honey bee larvae and what does it look like?
Is It Safe to Order Baby Chicks at an Online Hatchery?
Are you wondering if your precious new baby chicks will survive shipping from an online hatchery? I will address common concerns about shipping baby chicks.
Bees for Sale - Buying Honey Bees Online - How and Where to Buy Package Bees
Bees for sale! Are you a beginning beekeeper who needs to buy package bees or nucs? Learn how and where to order honey bees online.
Prepare for Beekeeping - Get Started With Bees - Beekeeping For Beginners
If you're starting a beehive this year and you're a beginner, learn what you need for a successful beekeeping operation.
Bee Suit Review - Beekeeping Protective Clothing - Bee Equipment Review
A review of the Mann Lake LTD Economy bee suit - bee protective clothing for the beekeeper.
Types of Honey Bees
Don't know whether to get Italian, Carniolan, or Russian honey bees? This is a guide to types of bees for the beginning beekeeper.
How to Build a Raised Bed - Build and Fill a Raised Bed for Gardening
Learn, step by step, how to build a raised bed to grow plants in. Grow strawberries, tomatoes, or any vegetable in a raised bed. Excellent choice for urban homesteaders needing to conserve space.
Build a Raised Bed - Cover Bottom of Bed
The next step is to give your raised bed a proper bottom so that weeds can't come through.
Build a Raised Bed - Line the Sides
Depending on the material you used to construct your raised bed, you may need to use weed block to line the sides of the bed as well as the bottom.
Build a Raised Bed - Fill With Soil
The next step in building a raised bed is to fill it with your soil or soil mix.
Build a Raised Bed - Plant It Out
The final step in building a raised bed is the most satisfying and fun - filling it with delicious vegetables, gorgeous flowers, or yummy fruits!
Keep Chickens in the City - Top 10 Tips for Urban and Suburban Chicken Keepers
Many people successfully live in the city or suburbs and have a small flock of laying hens. With these tips, you can keep your neighbors happy and avoid any written warnings or fines.
How to Keep Bees - A Beginner's Guide to Beekeeping
If you're ready to start beekeeping, you've come to the right place. Learn how to set up your hive, when to harvest the honey, and what supplies you really need to keep honeybees.
Types of Hives - Learn About Langstroth and Top-Bar Beehives
Can't decide which type of hive is best for your backyard beekeeping operation? We'll demystify the types of beehives and help you figure it out.
Top 5 Cover Crops for the Small Farm or Homestead
Learn about five of the best cover crops you can pick for your small farm or homestead: how to grow them, when to plant them, and more.
Seed Suppliers - Seed Catalogs - Where to Buy Seeds for Your Homestead, Garden or Farm
Learn where to buy the best seeds and garden supplies for your small farm and homestead. Use this list of seed suppliers and seed catalogs for your farm and garden planning.
Honey Bee Supplier Review - BeeWeaver Apiaries Review
A review of BeeWeaver Apiaries, a supplier of honey bees and queens.
Beehive Review - Rossman Apiaries Standard Beehive Review
A review of the standard Langstroth beehive from Rossman Apiaries.
Beekeeping Supplies - Smoker, Hive Tool, and Feeding
A smoker, hive tool, and supplies for feeding your honey bees are all smaller, but just as necessary pieces of beekeeping equipment.
Beehive - Start Your Langstroth Hive - Beginning Beekeeping Supplies
Learn about what parts make up a beehive, specifically a Langstroth bee hive.
Buying Bees - Ordering Package Bees - How to Order Honey Bees for Your Beehive
Are you a beginning beekeeper who needs bees? Learn how and where to order honey bees online.
Should You Keep Bees - Decide Whether Beekeeping is Right for Your Farm
Learn what you need to consider when deciding whether to keep bees in the city, country, on a small farm or homestead.
Protective Clothing for Beekeeping - Veil, Gloves and Bee Suit
The proper clothing can help protect you from bee stings. What do you really need? A veil, gloves, a bee suit - all of it? Find out.
Parts of a Beehive - How to Make a Beehive for Beekeeping
Learn the essential components of a beehive and how to put one together to keep bees. Whether you're a beekeeper in the country or city, you'll need a hive to get started beekeeping.
How to Clean Chicken Eggs
Learn all about how to clean your chicken eggs so that they are safe and healthy for eating and selling to consumers.
Build Your Own Brooder - How to Build a Brooder for Baby Chicks
A DIY brooder setup for your chicks is one of the simplest ways to save money while raising chickens. Get some ideas for what to use for a safe, comfortable brooder - including heat lamps, waterers and feeders, bedding and temperature monitoring.
Beekeeping Supplies - How to Take Care of Honey Bees
Here's a list of what you'll need to get started beekeeping!
Biodynamic Agriculture - Learn About the Biodynamic Preparations
Biodynamic farming, or biodynamic agriculture, is a method of farming that is sustainable and, some say, was the first modern ecological farming method. Learn about the biodynamic preparations that you can use to enhance soil fertility on your small farm or homestead.
Chicken Coops - How to Build or Buy a Chicken Coop
Ready to bring those baby chicks home, but need to build or buy them a chicken coop before they feather in? Never fear. I will help you figure out what you need to know so you can give your chicks a healthy, durable home.
How Bees Make Honey - Learn How Honeybees Make Honey
Learn how honeybees take nectar and make it into sweet, delicious honey.
Design a Small Farm - How To Design a Small Farm
How to design a small farm or homestead. Planning the first year on your small farm. Deciding what animals to keep, what crops and vegetables to plant, and how to arrange buildings and gardens. Making a plan for the future.
Get Your Chickens to Lay Eggs in Nest Boxes - 5 Tips for Getting Hens to Lay Eggs in Nest Boxes
Do your chickens lay their eggs everywhere but in the nest boxes? These tips will have you collecting fresh, clean eggs out of the nest boxes in no time.
Design a Small Farm - Plan the First Year on Your Farm or Homestead
You know where you want to end up in one year, or five years - with a successful small farm. How do you get there? I'll help you take your dreams and make them reality.
Egg Eating - Why Chickens Do It and How to Stop It
Have a problem with egg eating among your laying hens? Learn these crucial tips to stop your chickens from eating their own eggs. Your investment in those hens will pay off with fresh, delicious eggs that you get to eat instead of your hens!
Collecting and Cleaning Chicken Eggs: How to Collect, Clean and Store Eggs
Are your chickens laying so many eggs you don't know what to do with them? Learn how to properly collect, clean and store your laying hens' eggs.
Fencing on the Farm - Electric Net Fencing
Electric net fencing is a popular choice to keep poultry and sheep contained on the farm. Learn the pros and cons and decide for yourself whether electric net fencing is right for your management method.
Woven Wire Fencing - Woven Wire Fence on the Farm
Learn about woven wire fencing, a good choice for many types of livestock on the small farm.
Barbed Wire Fencing - Learn About Barbed Wire Fencing on Farms
Learn about the pros and cons of barbed wire fencing on the small farm.
Fencing on the Farm - High-Tensile Wire Fencing
High-tensile wire or woven wire fencing can be a low-cost, long-lasting fencing solution for the small farm or homestead. Especially suited to sheep and cattle, it is also useful for horses and goats.
Fencing on the Farm - Poly Tape and Poly Wire Fencing
Electric tape or wire fencing, often called poly tape or poly wire, can be an effective temporary fencing solution for many animals on the farm.
What Is Sustainable Agriculture?
You may have seen the term
Raised Beds for Farming
Growing, Washing and Selling Baby Salad Greens
Growing, Washing and Selling Baby Salad Greens
Feeding and Watering Your Chickens
Feeding Bees in the Spring
Feeding Bees in the Spring
Hunker Down and Read
We're in for a cold spell here - the next three or four days are looking, well, like we'll be in the deep freeze. With weather too cold to be outside for
Start a Farm
Want to start farming but don't know where to begin? Start right here!
7 Easy-to-Grow Plants for Beginning Farmers
If you're just beginning your small farm or homestead, try these 7 easy-to-grow plants.
7 Easy-to-Grow Plants for Beginning Farmers
If you're just beginning your small farm or homestead, try these 7 easy-to-grow plants.
A Coop of One's Own
Inspecting a Beehive
Inspecting a Beehive
A Coop of One's Own
A Coop of One's Own
Time for Fall Hive Maintenance
Time for Fall Hive Maintenance
Baby Chicks This Spring
Baby Chicks This Spring
How to Grow Sprouts on the Small Farm
Making Maple Syrup
Making Maple Syrup
How to Grow Sprouts on the Small Farm
How to Grow Sprouts on the Small Farm
Starting a Farm or a Farm-based Business?
Starting a Farm or a Farm-based Business?
Start Gardening Early
Itching to get your hands in the dirt? Well, if you're lucky enough to have minimal snow cover, you probably can. Starting seeds early just requires a bit
Fresh, Delicious Microgreens
Fresh, Delicious Microgreens
Fencing on the Farm
Ordering Package Bees Online
Ordering Package Bees Online
Requeening a Beehive
Requeening a Beehive
Chefs Partner With Schools
Raw Milk Debates Rage On
An op-ed in The New York Times the other day discusses the protests going on in Wisconsin after the Raw Milk Act, which would allow sales of raw milk in the
Training Farm Dogs
Training Farm Dogs
New Farm Book Reviews
New Farm Book Reviews
Start Your Hobby Farm
Start Your Hobby Farm
Gifts for Farmers
Gifts for Farmers
Gifts for Farmers
Snuggle Up and Read
Snuggle Up and Read
Farming Tasks for April
Are you planning your month today? Things are really picking up steam and the busy season is almost here. Here are some tasks to make sure you put on your list
Tips for Getting Bees Through Winter
Tips for Getting Bees Through Winter
Winter Farmers Markets
Winter Farmers Markets
Specialty Crops on the Small Farm
Specialty Crops on the Small Farm
Chilly Chickens?
Chilly Chickens?
Turkeys: Raise Your Own
Turkeys: Raise Your Own
Selling Chicken Eggs
Store the Harvest
Store the Harvest
Build a Root Cellar
Build a Root Cellar
The Cost of Good Food
I found this blog post by Bob Comis at grist.org and it resonated with me. Comis presents a very real and vexing problem facing the small farmer: how to
Fizz Up Your Kombucha
Fizz Up Your Kombucha
Selling Chicken Eggs
Selling Chicken Eggs
Get Supplied
Get Supplied
Think Different: Warré Hives
Think Different: Warré Hives
Protecting Bees from Bears
Feeding Your Bees
Feeding Your Bees
Finding Grants, Loans and Information
Finding Grants, Loans and Information
Got Eggs? Make a Frittata
Got Eggs? Make a Frittata
Pumpkin Shortage
Pumpkin Shortage
Help for Young Farmers
Help for Young Farmers
Photo of the Week: Tractor
Photo of the Week: Tractor
Extend the Season
Extend the Season
Protecting Bees from Bears
Protecting Bees from Bears
Raising Chickens for Meat
Raising Chickens for Meat
Farmers and Irene
Elderberry-licious!
Elderberry-licious!
Fall Cover Crops
Fall Cover Crops
Photo of the Week: Bear Attack
Photo of the Week: Bear Attack
Raising Baby Chicks Right
Raising Baby Chicks Right
Photo of the Week: Farm Breakfast
Photo of the Week: Farm Breakfast
Benefits of Bartering
Benefits of Bartering
Organic Poultry Farms Cleaner Than Conventional
Organic Poultry Farms Cleaner Than Conventional
Farmers and Irene
Farmers and Irene
Of Bees and ....Beef?
Photo of the Week: Blueberries
Photo of the Week: Blueberries
Extreme Homestead Makeover, Anyone?
Extreme Homestead Makeover, Anyone?
Photo of the Week: Sunflower
Photo of the Week: Sunflower
Wordless Wednesday: Peekaboo Hens
Wordless Wednesday: Peekaboo Hens
Wordless Wednesday: Farmers Market
Wordless Wednesday: Farmers Market
On-Farm Processing
On-Farm Processing
Saving Seeds
Good Fences Make...
good neighbors. They keep animals in, keep predators out, and keep different species of animal separate from one another if needed - or keep males from females
Of Bees and ....Beef?
Of Bees and ....Beef?
CSAs in Alaska
The Challenges of Farm to Table
The Challenges of Farm to Table
Farm School for Women
Farm School for Women
Link Love: Food for Thought
Link Love: Food for Thought
Defending Organic Farming
Defending Organic Farming
Wordless Wednesday: Homegrown
Wordless Wednesday: Homegrown
Wordless Wednesday: Happy Hens
Wordless Wednesday: Happy Hens
Grass Fed Dairy Gets a Boost
Grass Fed Dairy Gets a Boost
USDA Value-Added Grants Now Open
USDA Value-Added Grants Now Open
CSAs in Alaska
CSAs in Alaska
Bring Your Products to Market
Buying Baby Chicks
Buying Baby Chicks
Summer Solstice
Summer Solstice
Gifts for a Father Who Farms
Gifts for a Father Who Farms
Farm Stays
Farm Stays
Wordless Wednesday: Fuzzy
Wordless Wednesday: Fuzzy
Bring Your Products to Market
Bring Your Products to Market
The Cost of Good Food
Where's the Meat?
One of the biggest challenges facing any community trying to create a local food system is the bottleneck created by a lack of slaughterhouse facilities.
Wordless Wednesday: Chick
Photo © Lauren Ware
Wordless Wednesday: Chicken Whisperer
Chickens + children = FUN!
Wordless Wednesday: Promise
Wordless Wednesday: Promise
Wordless Wednesday: Beehive
Wordless Wednesday: Beehive
Wordless Wednesday: Buzz
Photo © Lauren Ware
The Hard Lessons
I found this article in the Burlington Free Press by Melissa Pasanen really interesting. Sterling College, in Craftsbury, Vermont, offers degrees in
Wordless Wednesday: Still More Bees
Photo © Lauren Ware
Brewing Up Goodness
Wordless Wednesday - Tomatoes
Photo © Valerie Rose
Seeds, Seeds, Seeds
Wordless Wednesday: Signs of Spring
Photo © Lauren Ware
Wordless Wednesday: Christmas Trees
Still Shopping for the Farmer on Your List?
Did you wait until the last minute again? Well, never fear. Here are some great holiday gift ideas for your favorite farmer. Think functional. Tools,
Wordless Wednesday
Photo © Flickr user moonjazz
Got Eggs?
My 38 hens are producing roughly 20 eggs a day. Not bad, especially considering 16 of them are on their third winter of production. I do suspect a good
Small Farms in the News
With the economic recession fully upon us, it seems that small farms and homesteading are making the news more frequently. From more folks in New Orleans
Small Farms Are Growing in Number
According to some recent news reports based on the US Census of Agriculture, the number of small farms is growing. The US Department of Agriculture conducts a
Planning a Garden for Family Eating
Are you planning to eat from the garden this year? Do you want to grow enough to last you through winter and into next spring, so that you can really slash your
The Politics of Food: The Proposed Farm and Food Bills
HR 875 is a bill currently introduced in the House of Representatives. There is a similar bill in the Senate, S 425, and several other related pieces of
A Vegetable Garden at the White House!
Obamas Prepare to Plant White House Vegetable Garden - NYTimes.com Yay! Our First Family will indeed show their support for local food and small farming by
Farm and Food Bills: What About the Small Farm?
The New York Times ran a piece on Friday from Greenwire.com about the reaction of small farmers to the handful of bills in Congress right now (HR 875 just one
Start Your First Victory Garden
With even the Obamas plowing up the South Lawn for a White House Victory Garden, why not tear up some of your sod and plant it with luscious veggies for
Joel Salatin on the Big Screen
A new documentary is opening on June 12th. Called Food Inc., it contrasts and compares large industrial agriculture with small, diversified farms like Joel
Farmers Raising Specialty Market Crops
Ever thought about raising food for a specific cuisine or culture? Have a local demand for specialty crops? If you have wondered about how other farmers are
Farm to School Opportunities
The national Farm to School program is taking off in many parts of the United States! More and more schools are setting up programs where they purchase food
A Healthy Harvest From the White House Garden
The White House Garden, planted in March, is now producing, and First Lady Michelle Obama invited students from nearby Bancroft Elementary, who have been
Farming as a Social Movement
I was very pleased to discover the irresistible fleet of bicycles, a visionary and engaging blog by Severine von Tscharner Fleming, a young farmer and director
Wordless Wednesday
Breaking new ground is always tough. By now the potato plants are in the ground and starting to take off. To the left outside of the photo is the space we
Where Do Your Chickens Live?
When it comes to raising chickens, there are a lot of options. What you choose might depend on where you live and the amount of land you have available to you.
The New Generation of Farmers
Small-scale farming gets more coverage every day, this time in The USA Today. This piece focuses on two interesting points about the small farming movement:
Eat Your Weeds!
With all this rain, my garden is completely overrun with weeds. I was pretty excited, though, to find out that most of the weeds are edible - and delicious!
Barter is Booming
With everyone strapped for cash, bartering - simply trading goods or services you have for those you want - has been on a steady upswing. Bartering and
Wordless Wednesday - Blueberries
Thirty pounds of freshly-picked blueberries for freezing. What are you harvesting? Photo © Valerie Rose
Wordless Wednesday - September
What does September look like in your neck of the woods? Photo © Lauren Ware
Wordless Wednesday - Wood
How is your woodpile coming? Photo © Lauren Ware
More Cows Not Always a Good Thing
The dairy industry has been in crisis for quite a while, but this piece in the New York Times highlights some of the downsides of ever-increasing levels of
Saving Seeds
Do you save the seeds from your homesteading garden or crops from year to year? Seed saving can be a boon for the homesteader and market grower alike, allowing
Farm Aid 2009
Yesterday, Farm Aid 2009, a music concert to benefit small farmers, was held in St. Louis, featuring musicians Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave
Wordless Wednesday
Photo © Lauren Ware
Hobby Farming Gains Popularity
The Associated Press reported last week that more Americans are starting small-scale and hobby farms. Farms under 50 acres grew 15 percent last year according
Wordless Wednesday
Photo © Lauren Ware
Poultry Protection
As I was driving down the road this morning, I saw a massive red-shouldered hawk take flight and powerfully flap its wings as it flew along the road ahead of me
Wordless Wednesday: Hawk
Photo © Flickr user brad.schram
Fresh Food in Winter
Getting frosty in your neck of the woods? It sure is here. But even when the nights are cold, you can continue to grow vegetables. For those in southern
If I Could Turn Back Time...
Have you ever thought back on your years of homesteading or farming and considered what you would have done differently, knowing what you know now? Or do you
The End of a Tough Season
For farmers in the Northeast, at least, this growing season was a very hard one. Incessant rains and cold weather led to late blight, and it was hard for
Wordless Wednesday: Puppy
He dares you not to think he is adorable. Not exactly a livestock guardian dog, but a farm puppy nonetheless. We are teaching him about not chasing - and
Vertical Farming? It's Moving Up in the World
Rooftop gardens have recently become all the rage in urban environments, making use of space that has access to sunlight and is otherwise wasted to grow
National Farm-City Week is Underway
The National Farm-City Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to linking urban dwellers and farm families. With a grassroots, educational focus, National
Wordless Wednesday - Heritage Turkeys
Heritage turkeys stroll the grounds at Springfield Farm in Maryland. Photo © Flickr user ExperienceLA.
Wordless Wednesday: Christmas Trees
Photo © Flickr user busymommy.
Gardening Season Isn't Over Yet!
How Much Wood is in a Cord?
Maple Sugaring Season is Coming
Send Me Your Questions.
Fact Check: What Might HR 875 Mean for Small Farms?
Weekend Warrior: What Are Your Weekend Plans?
Small Farming 2.0
Where Do Your Chickens Live?
Are You Affected by Late Blight?
Wordless Wednesday - Tomatoes
Poultry Protection
Magazines for Winter Reading
Curling up by the fire with the post-Christmas relaxing going on full force? How about some great magazine recommendations to keep you busy? Most of the small
Wordless Wednesday
Photo © Lauren Ware
Wordless Wednesday - Spring Preview
Photo © Lauren Ware
Wordless Wednesday
Sprouts are easy to grow and remind us that spring is coming - after February! Photo © Flickr user swanksalot
Grow a White House Garden
Grow a White House Garden
Not a fan of poring over seed packets? Just want to grow the easy basics while you focus on breeding livestock or beekeeping? Or do you want to be just
Wordless Wednesday: Baby Chicks
Photo © Lauren Ware
Cool New Idea: Crop Mob
The Crop Mob is a group of folks who show up at various farms in the North Carolina area and help with farm activities. Sort of a Web 2.0 version of barn
Maple Sugaring Time!
We have had temps above freezing for the past few days. The dirt roads are turning into mud, the birds are singing, the - the sap is running! Is the
Maple Sugaring Time!
Wordless Wednesday: Cute and Fuzzy
Photo © Lauren Ware
Wordless Wednesday: Cuteness Overload
Photo © Cindy Heir
Farming Tasks for April
Wordless Wednesday: Silkie
Photo © Cindy Heir.
Wordless Wednesday
Photo © Flickr user Nicholas_T
Wordless Wednesday: Almost May
Not quite wordless: Always remember that Mother Nature has the last word. Photo © Lauren Ware
Farmers Markets, Emphasis on "Farmers"
Are you gearing up to sell at a farmers market this season? What do you think about the presence of resellers who purchase wholesale produce to resell at the
Roundup Ready or Not
First Monsanto developed seed stock for corn, cotton and soybean that was resistant to Roundup, a pesticide used to kill weeds en masse across acres of crops.
Roundup Ready or Not
Wordless Wednesday
Photo © Flickr user Amy Loves Yah
Home Sweet Homestead
Are you more of a homesteader than a farmer? Is your focus becoming self-sufficient rather than reaping in the profits at the market (ha! a little farm humor
Wordless Wednesday
Photo © Flickr user SummerTomato
This Land Is...The Government's Land?
A family dairy farm in Rainville, Vermont may lose their land to the federal government in the name of protecting the US-Canada border. The Rainville family,
Pasture Perfect
If you have even a small number of acres, you can pasture poultry. If you have a little bit more, you can pasture sheep, goats, and cows. Many people feel
Small Farms - Not Growing After All?
Food activist, author and professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, Marion Nestle wonders in a recent post at The Atlantic
Wordless Wednesday
Photo © Flickr user MyArtfulLife
Wordless Wednesday: Motherhood
Photo © Lauren Ware
Wordless Wednesday
Photo © Flickr user Find Your Feet
Wordless Wednesday: Harvest
Photo © Lauren Ware
Food Independence Day
Show some patriotism - support local food - and local farmers! Food Independence Day, a campaign coordinated by Kitchen Gardeners International, in partnership
Food Independence Day
Wordless Wednesday
Wordless Wednesday
Wordless Wednesday: Farmers Market
Photo © Ed Yourdon
Making a Living at Farming
A recent article by Heather Rogers in The American Prospect brings up some really big issues surrounding small-scale, local farmers - even in an age of
Growing High-end Produce for Chefs
The New York Times recently ran an article on a new phenomenon: farmers who provide chefs with unusual, heirloom, and specialty vegetables for their culinary
Growing High-end Produce for Chefs
Farming Fanatics
The Boston Globe reports an uptick in farming-related endeavors in Massachusetts in the past few years, citing figures from the US Department of Agriculture
Wordless Wednesday: Making Sauce
Photo © Lauren Ware
Wordless Wednesday: Watermelon
Photo © Flickr user moreno0101
A Kinder, Gentler Veal
Veal has earned a reputation as a particularly inhumane meat: formula-fed calves raised confined to crates too small for them to turn around in. But that
Protect Your Poultry
As I was driving down the road this morning, I saw a massive red-shouldered hawk take flight and powerfully flap its wings as it flew along the road ahead of
Protect Your Poultry
Wordless Wednesday: Elderberry Season
Wordless Wednesday: Elderberry Season
Wordless Wednesday: Elderberry Season
Healthy Eggs From Healthy Hens
The widespread egg recall has many people thinking about getting their eggs from local farms instead of the supermarket. Are you experiencing an increase in
Wordless Wednesday: Tincture Time
Wordless Wednesday: Tincture Time
Wordless Wednesday: Fall Foliage
Photo © Lauren Ware
Wordless Wednesday: Peak
I ♥ Vermont. Photo © Lauren Ware
Wordless Wednesday: Pressing Cider
Photo © Lauren Ware
Wordless Wednesday: Corn
Photo © Lauren Ware
Building Food Communities
This New York Times Magazine essay in the October 8, 2010, edition of the paper has been quietly working on my subconscious for the past couple of weeks. I keep
Women and the Food Movement
I enjoyed this piece by Tom Philpott over at Grist.org about the lack of media focus on the capable and powerful women in the sustainable food movement. I admit
The 2012 Farm Bill: What's It Mean For You?
The 2012 Farm Bill is arguably the most important work of the next Congress - for farmers, at least. Its scope is massive and it can be hard to understand
Wordless Wednesday: Snow
Already? Yes. Chickens are ready for winter; are your animals tucked in? Photo © Lauren Ware
Wordless Wednesday: Snow
Urban Farming Revival in New Orleans
This blog post by Tracie McMillan for The Atlantic talks about the upsurge in urban farming, thanks at least in part to the New Orleans Food and Farm Network.
Disappearing Apples?
What? You heard right. Heirloom apples are in danger of extinction, reports Slow Food USA. Just eleven apple varieties make up more than 90 percent of the