Gardening and Crops

We see our land as a living entity. Its gifts to us include a garden, a vineyard, an orchard, a patch, a bed, woodland, a pasture, a pond, a hollow, a creek bed, and a meadow. It uses the sun for nourishment, the water for its livelihood, the wind for spreading its life. With an open ear and a caring eye, the caretaker can provide for the changing needs of the land. We, as a family of the land, harvest from all aspects of it while being attentive to any ways we may give back to this life giving circle. Our living land provides for our needs and that of the animals. Come and learn of the many ways that you, as a caretaker, can help to be more attentive to the needs of this changing land. Come and be encouraged to see your world as a circle of complete balance. Utilizing all things in the enhancement of the whole. Call it being “Greener” if you will. Say it is “Organic”, “All Natural”, “Bio-dynamic”, or “Eco-friendly”. Words cannot describe a heartfelt caring for, appreciation of, or sense of longing to recognize, the land as a living thing. Come feel and experience the need to see land as something to be acknowledged. See how your life can be changed and enhanced with just an awakening of your wisdom of nature.

We garden and process all foods with canning, freezing and root cellaring. We forage for foods for ourselves and that of the animals. Being grass based in our animal raising allows us to not only harvest the sun and its energy but to also use nature’s perfect food, grass. We are lovers of making hay! It is our favorite time of year. Sure it is itchy and sweaty work, but to us it’s all fun. To be preserving our sun’s energy in the form of a bale of hay is nothing but amazing. It is all beautiful sights, sounds and smells during hay season. To us it is very much a big part of the circle. Come and share the joy of a hay season. You’ll never look at grass the same way again.

The pond on the farm is always a place to sit and learn about another world under water. Its life seems to spill out all over its banks. Every little being relying on one another to complete its circle. While life under its blanket is busy at work all kinds of activity is happening right on its surface. Our ducks and geese take their part in the circle very seriously. From eggs to meat, from protection to entertainment, they are always busy at work. A trip from the pond thru the creek to the hollow shows an eco-system busy at work to keep things clean and moving.

We also feel that our wood land is a large part of our circle. Time and circumstances create the falling of the living wood on our farm. Our saw mill is the answer to using the material left behind. A constant watch is kept over our woods to monitor its viability. Trees downed by age or weather are cleaned-up and considered for lumber used on the farm. Any leftovers or damaged wood is then used for heating in our many wood burners (outside and inside) and wood cook stoves. Come learn about the saw mill and how to use the wood land for the benefit of the whole.

Our farm considers the land in everything we do. The selling of tracks for ATV and UTV use is another way of considering the land. Being out in nature awakens the need to change our thinking when creating waste. A day out riding or working in the woods can be very rewarding to the body and spirit. Our tracks help you to be part of the earth without leaving a large “footprint” upon it. Information and pricing on tracks can be obtained by calling Max or emailing at offmuddin@zoominternet.net.