The Guernsey Moo Crew (our dairy herd) are really enjoying the cool spring temperatures and lush forages of the last several weeks. Its hard to believe after all those April thunderstorms but we could actually use some rain now…the pastures are drying up and growth has slowed down quite a bit.
Pictured above behind the cows paddock are our portable layer shelters with the green roofs. Ideally we like to move them over areas recently grazed by the cows so they can scratch through the cow pats and distribute the fertility more evenly while clearing up the fly larvae.
We have all six of our Mobile Range Coops in operation now. We use those primarily to protect the meat chickens from weather and predators while they grow out on pasture - they are floorless portable greenhouse-like structures pictured below. Five have Freedom Ranger chickens in them at various stages of growth and the sixth has young turkey poults that are three weeks old. We move them every morning to a fresh patch of grass as pictured below.
Join our Saturday farm tour to see them up close, as well as the cows and pigs and chicks. Every week at 1:00 PM through Thanksgiving. This is a 75-90 minute guided tour around the farm on a hay wagon, with stops to visit all the different animals we raise. Reserve your seats on our website or purchase tickets in the farm store.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP PLANT FLOWERS THIS WEEKEND
Our flower farmer Anna Guziak is experiencing some health issues and is unable to get her Dahlias and flower seedlings planted this spring. She is looking for any volunteers that can help this Saturday and Sunday between 10 AM and 7 PM. If you are available for a few hours and don't mind getting your hands dirty, please call or text Anna at 847-912-0143 and let her know when you can help. Meet in the parking lot by the picnic shelter.
MORE “MEET THE MAKER” EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
On Saturday May 16th (tomorrow)- Fisherman Mark from Bering Bounty will be back to serve up samples of his wild-caught Alaskan seafood with cooking tips and recipes from 10:30 - 2:30. And lots of fun fishing stories to boot!
In the coming weeks we have a great line-up of additional local food growers and artisans scheduled to visit our farm store:
Sunday May 17th - Chef Ernesto from El Molcajete sauces will be back to sample more of his moles and salsas from 10AM-1PM.
Saturday May 23th - our very own Mallory, founder of Tourmaline Hearth will sample and talk her extensive collection of tallow lotions, cremes, and balms from 10:30 - 1:30.
Sunday May 24th - Karolina, our onsite vegetable grower will be back to talk about the spring growing season, what's coming ripe soon, and how to sign up for a weekly share of her fresh veggies.
Stay tuned for more Meet the Maker events coming in June!
FARM STORE UPDATE
We are holding over a few items for sale this week in the store, including Chicken Wings and Chicken Legs (save $2/lb. on each), as well as Beef Snack Sticks and Beef Fat.
Fresh organic produce in the store this week from our onsite gardens: Mint, Chives, Red Radishes, Swiss Chard, and Kale. From our network of downstate farms: Oregano, Rhubarb, Ramps, Radishes, Lettuce, Spinach, Carrots, Cabbage, Sweet Potatoes, Asparagus, and Turnips.
Other organic produce in the store includes Oranges, Pomelos, Mandarins, Lemons, Avocados, Celery, Beets, Garlic, Shallots, Ginger
And we have a wide variety or organic, Non-GMO seedlings available!
Grown on our farm by Karolina (Blacksmith Acres) include:
Broccoli De Cicco, Chard Rainbow Blend, Eggplant Black Beauty, Purple, Kale Mamba F1 Kale (lacinato type) & Kale Winterbor (green curly)
Peppers: Pepper Red & Pepper Yellow
Tomatoes: Tomato Cherry Bomb (Red, Cherry), Tomato Mimosa (Grape, Orange),Tomato Damsel (Pink, Slicing), Tomato Harvest Moon (Slicing, Yellow), Tomato Unity (Red, Beefsteak) & Tomato Hot Streak (Red/Yellow Streaks, slicer)
From Aleks at Pocket Garden Farms we have the following seedlings:
Herbs: Parsley, Sage, Thyme, Oregano, Genovive Basil, Lemon Grass, Garlic Chives, Lavender, Rosemary, Holy basil, Cinnamon basil, Thai basil, Lettuce leaf basil, Ashwagandha, root beer hyssop & more!
Peppers: Black Magic Jalapeno, Early Jalapeno, Craigs Grande Jalapeno, Thai Hot, , Guajillo, Ancho Gigantea, Paprika, Red flame cayenne & Jimmy Nardello
Misc. 6 pack Onions, Asparagus, Double pearl yarrow, Early cabbage & Celery
Peppers: Black Magic Jalapeno, Early Jalapeno, Craigs Grande Jalapeno, Thai Hot, , Guajillo, Ancho Gigantea, Paprika, Red flame cayenne & Jimmy Nardello
Misc. 6 pack Onions, Asparagus, Double pearl yarrow, Early cabbage & Celery
With just a few weeks to go before we start processing again, we have a quite a few whole pasture-raised chickens left. Save and buy a bundle of chickens online , for home delivery or curbside pickup. Or purchase 5, 10, or 15 lbs. of chicken wings for your next party HERE.