FARM HAPPENINGS
What a change in weather since last week! Cloudy, cool, breezy and 69 degrees today - didn't hardly work up a sweat on morning chores. This has been an unusually wet and cool summer but ideal for growing grass and forages for the livestock. And for growing lots of forbs (what some might call weeds).
What a change in weather since last week! Cloudy, cool, breezy and 69 degrees today - didn't hardly work up a sweat on morning chores. This has been an unusually wet and cool summer but ideal for growing grass and forages for the livestock. And for growing lots of forbs (what some might call weeds).
Many years we have an abundance of chicory growing in our Wisconsin farm pastures. Chicory has a deep tap root and is loaded with minerals and phytonutrients, so the cows actually prefer it over other plants when it is young and tender, but once it matures the stems get thick and tough and they will only eat the flowers and buds. In the picture above from last week you can see the abundance of blue chicory flowers in a paddock right after I moved the herd in. Got me wondering if all those blue flowers will infuse a hint of chicory flavor to the beef we harvest over the next few months?
This past Wednesday we processed another batch of our soy-free/corn-free chickens, and will have fresh (not frozen) whole and 8-piece cutups available in the farm store through Sunday while supplies last. Anna is also putting a limited number of these on the website for online purchases, for store pickup or home delivery.
Fresh local and organic produce in the farm store this weekend includes mini-watermelons, sweet onions, red and black plums, carrot bunchers, green beans, sweet potatoes, honeycrisp apples, gold zucchini, slicing tomatoes, and pickling cucumbers.
And yesterday I picked up our July beef harvest from the processor, so we have a restock on all varieties of steaks, roasts, organ meats, bones, and my new favorite chopped steak patties. Anna also had our processor make some beef hot dogs and summer sausage from the July beeves, so we have those items back in the store after a long absence.
Don't forget to bring us your paper and plastic bags to reuse, and come say hello to all the farm animals on one of our hay wagon farm tours which start at 1 PM every Saturday. This week Kitt, our farm manager is guiding the tour. Reserve your spots online or purchase tickets in the farm store.
Graze On…
Cliff, Anna, and the Farm Team
1 comment
My teens and I did the farm tour a few weeks ago. They really enjoyed it as did a couple of toddlers that were with other families. I’m just sending this comment as a recommendation for other families. Well worth the trip and the time.