Category Archives: Uncategorized

First, Do No Harm: The Hippocratic Oath for Farmers

I think I can safely say it’s spring now. Why, it hasn’t snowed in over a week! We FINALLY tilled up 18,000 square feet of gardens yesterday, and planted the first of the peas and carrots. It’s all rather overwhelming, … Continue reading

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The Three “Rs” of Farming: Weeding, Writing, and Relationships*

*Reprinted with permission from Homestead.org, with the title Learning Curves on Rural Roads: Three Lessons for Every Homesteader. Way back in 2011, when my husband and I ditched our rat-race city lives to lead a “simple” life in the country … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Agrarian, Farming, Free range chicken, New Farmers, Organic, Small Farms, Uncategorized, Virginia Farms | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Choose something like a farm

It’s been a while since I wrote anything for this little blog. I know, the off season is when we farmers who write should have lots of time and introspective energy to tap away at our keyboards. But I was … Continue reading

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A Day in the Life of a Microfarmer

That photo on the left is me after digging potatoes during a heatwave in June. But this year, when hasn’t there been a heatwave? And yet there is work to do outside, even when the radio blares advisories to stay … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Agrarian, Farming, Free range chicken, New Farmers, pastured poultry, Small Farms, Uncategorized, Virginia Farms | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Chicken Tender

Way back when we were beginning farmers in 2011, we rarely rose with the chickens. We took to shutting the windows at night so we wouldn’t hear our roosters crow at dawn, and even strategically placed the coop away from … Continue reading

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Bye, Bye, Buddy

Now that we’re almost grown-up farmers, beginning to get some hard-won clues, we’ve learned to make some tough decisions. Like the decision to get rid of Buddy the Rooster. He was Angel’s companion when she was struggling to grow in … Continue reading

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A long, dry, spell.

It’s been a long dry spell. This week we saw our first rain in over six weeks. The last rain corresponded with my last blog post, so it must be time to write again. To be honest, these past few … Continue reading

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The stuff dreams are made of

You might not usually think of winter as the exciting season on a farm, but that’s probably  because the sight of a very large truck driving across your back four acres billowing 9.1 tons worth of clouds of a powdery … Continue reading

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Twelve Days of Christmas at Glean Acres

I must admit, December 25th came and went in our home without much hullaballoo. In fact, I just finished wrapping presents today. With our parents in other countries and other relatives in other states, and without a T.V. and trips … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Agrarian, Farming, Free range chicken, free range eggs, New Farmers, Organic, pastured poultry, Small Farms, Uncategorized, Virginia Farms | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Top Ten Clueless Farmer Blunders from Season One

It’s December 10th. Our last market day of 2011–our first season as farmers. While we sold out of most of our goodies, we left loaded down with gifts of greens, sweets, and festive greenery from our fellow farming buddies. For … Continue reading

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