..... Today, a lovely couple stopped by the farm. We were busy busy busy .....in the midst of workshops, making caramels, getting caramel order ready to send out, planting a few raised beds, building some raised beds, fixing irrigation, adding irrigation, setting up new water-ers for baby chicks...and, let's see what else?
I know the couple seemed a tad frustrated - I understand....someone told them to "go to The Simple Farm"...but they didn't realize...that in spite of all sorts of "activity" (see above) we really are NOT opened. . . it just looks like it. I also understand that we're in the midst of communication changes....i.e. the new website at www.thesimplefarm.net - and even that is still undergoing some construction.
All this said...here are some things you should know:
#1 Our farm is a working farm. We live here and we work here and we rest here (at least try to).
#2 Our farm is ONLY open on Thursday mornings - for the market. Those hours are 8:30 until noon. We can't have people just coming and walking around. Thursday mornings YES - other days NO.
#3 We do have lot of "activity" going on at the farm - you might drive by and see cars - BUT if it's not a Thursday morning (beginning October 17th) it doesn't mean we're open. It just means we have other scheduled things going on and unless you registered for a workshop or have scheduled volunteer work to do - we're asking that you not walk around - and that respectfully, you come back on the only day we're open - which is Thursday mornings from 8:30 until noon.
#4 Subscribe to our blog/news via email. There's a subscribe link on the NEW website. You'll have updates and when we DO change things, you'll know.
#5 Please be patient with us as we try to communicate as best we can.
#6 We've had sweet, kind - but curious people who ignore our The Farm Is Closed signs and decide to park and walk around our gardens and even come to our home and courtyard. We sweetly and kindly turn those curious people away and remind them what the sign says.
#7 We are no longer taking new Farm Members.
#8 Volunteer days (unless you are a regular volunteer and KNOW what to do) are on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. You can fill out the contact form on the web site if you are interested in giving hand...we ALWAYS have TONS to do.
#9 Thank you so much for your love and support to us - we've never been surrounded by such an amazing community of people.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Two Thursday Morning Gardening Workshops
At 9 am this Thursday morning we're offering
again our very popular workshop:
again our very popular workshop:
Beginning Gardening click HERE
At 10:15 am - we're offering this workshop.
A Hands-On Workshop - Growing Herbs
(you'll be planting) click HERE
(you'll be planting) click HERE
Jill from Sweet Life Garden and I will do a farm walk around - talking about all the different herbs we grow - medicinal and culinary. We'll tell you how to use them. You'll work with Jill on a hands-on planting herbs - starts and seeds. 10:15 am.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Like Everything Else - Goat's Milk Is Seasonal - An Important Read For All Goat Milk Lovers
Hey all you lovers of goat's milk - I thought I'd let you know - that like everything else - it is seasonal.
Every August (or around there) our Nubian goats (Crow's Dairy too) start their "seasonal"...dating. The boys (bucks) start the dating thing going. When daylight hours decrease - their hormones increase.
The south wind blows and the girls get a nice whiff of the boys cologne. This ignites the girls hormones. . . meaning - they start their every 21 days or so cycle.
The girls can get pretty weird. They act weird toward each other - they get confused as to which milk stand is theirs at milking time - they swoon and lolly gag and flag their tales while walking back and forth the boys pen - driving the boys absolutely crazy. They can even act buckish toward each other.
Now before all this swooning and south wind blowing stuff happens, most dairy goat herdsmen have already charted - which girl gets a date with which boy. Genetics, body, production etc are important.
Then breeding happens. 150 days later - babies arrive.
But this is the important stuff for all you lovers of goat's milk.
Gestation is 150 days. That means 5 months. At the 3rd month of a mama goat's pregnancy - a good dairy goat herder will DRY the girl up. This means STOP MILKING. This means YOU GET NO MILK. She gets a break. Those last two months of her pregnancy are so critical and we want her body to have a rest and give all she can to those developing sweet little babies.
Now, of course, there is the planning on staggering the dating/breeding/drying up and kidding thing. But in reality - MILK PRODUCTION DECLINES....until about 1 month AFTER the doe has her babies.
Why do I tell you this?
a. to educate you a bit about farm life on a dairy goat farm
b. to let you know that THE RAW MILK you LOVE from Crow's dairy will become less and less.
c. let you know that good, raw goat's milk IS a seasonal thing
d. cause you to think that you should buy two of your own good dairy goats
Every August (or around there) our Nubian goats (Crow's Dairy too) start their "seasonal"...dating. The boys (bucks) start the dating thing going. When daylight hours decrease - their hormones increase.
The south wind blows and the girls get a nice whiff of the boys cologne. This ignites the girls hormones. . . meaning - they start their every 21 days or so cycle.
 |
| Miss Storm and Miss Plum - photo compliments of Gretchen Goldstein |
The girls can get pretty weird. They act weird toward each other - they get confused as to which milk stand is theirs at milking time - they swoon and lolly gag and flag their tales while walking back and forth the boys pen - driving the boys absolutely crazy. They can even act buckish toward each other.
Now before all this swooning and south wind blowing stuff happens, most dairy goat herdsmen have already charted - which girl gets a date with which boy. Genetics, body, production etc are important.
Then breeding happens. 150 days later - babies arrive.
 |
| Miss Storm in labor 2 years ago. This is when she delivered her daughter Miss Plum. |
But this is the important stuff for all you lovers of goat's milk.
Gestation is 150 days. That means 5 months. At the 3rd month of a mama goat's pregnancy - a good dairy goat herder will DRY the girl up. This means STOP MILKING. This means YOU GET NO MILK. She gets a break. Those last two months of her pregnancy are so critical and we want her body to have a rest and give all she can to those developing sweet little babies.
Now, of course, there is the planning on staggering the dating/breeding/drying up and kidding thing. But in reality - MILK PRODUCTION DECLINES....until about 1 month AFTER the doe has her babies.
Why do I tell you this?
a. to educate you a bit about farm life on a dairy goat farm
b. to let you know that THE RAW MILK you LOVE from Crow's dairy will become less and less.
c. let you know that good, raw goat's milk IS a seasonal thing
d. cause you to think that you should buy two of your own good dairy goats
Herb Workshop This Thursday - correction: it's at 10:15 am NOT 9 am
We have two workshops Thursday...Beginning Gardening and Growing Herbs.
Need to know...want to know how you can truly start a garden? This workshop begins at 9 am.
The interest in growing culinary and medicinal herbs is growing and so... we want to help you get started. Growing Herbs is a hands - on workshop - it's at 10:15.
Beginning Gardening 9 am - Register HERE
Growing Herbs 10:15 am - Register HERE
Need to know...want to know how you can truly start a garden? This workshop begins at 9 am.
The interest in growing culinary and medicinal herbs is growing and so... we want to help you get started. Growing Herbs is a hands - on workshop - it's at 10:15.
Beginning Gardening 9 am - Register HERE
Growing Herbs 10:15 am - Register HERE
Two Delicious Workshops This Thursday Morning: Growing Herbs and Beginning Gardening
At 9 am this Thursday morning we're offering
again our very popular workshop:
again our very popular workshop:
Beginning Gardening click HERE
At 10:15 am - we're offering this workshop.
A Hands-On Workshop - Growing Herbs
(you'll be planting) click HERE
(you'll be planting) click HERE
Jill from Sweet Life Garden and I will do a farm walk around - talking about all the different herbs we grow - medicinal and culinary. We'll tell you how to use them. You'll work with Jill on a hands-on planting herbs - starts and seeds. 10:15 am.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
12 Domestic Arts Workshops and 12 Gardening Workshops and 1 Livestock Workshop
We're thrilled at your response to our farm's workshops.
Since staring Simple Inspiration the end of July
we've had over 120 people come through our workshops and
many of you keep coming back.
To that, we say THANK YOU!
 |
| A few graduates of one of our pickling workshops! |
The descriptions of the 12 Domestic Arts Workshops are HERE
The descriptions of the 12 Gardening Workshops are HERE
Raising Back Yard Chickens HERE
tell you friends,
co-workers, the bank teller, the grocery store stocker and the
stranger on the street about our farm (which reopens 10/17)
and our farm/garden and
home workshops!
Workshops, Farm to Table, Market
Workshops on Sunday
We have two amazing workshops Sunday afternoon along with baby chickens for sale (to those who attend the workshop)
Raising Chicken Class - click HERE
The Art of Home Made Vinegars - you'll make some! click HERE
Workshop on Thursday
Beginning Gardening 9 am - Register HERE
Growing Herbs 10:15 am - Register HERE
Farm to Table - A Little Explanation
We have two amazing workshops Sunday afternoon along with baby chickens for sale (to those who attend the workshop)
Raising Chicken Class - click HERE
The Art of Home Made Vinegars - you'll make some! click HERE
Workshop on Thursday
Beginning Gardening 9 am - Register HERE
Growing Herbs 10:15 am - Register HERE
Farm to Table - A Little Explanation
Michael and I love honoring those FM (farm members) who consistently come and work and sweat. Our way to do that is to randomly schedule an evening together at our Farm Table Arbor - potluck style - everyone brings something along with their own bottle of whatever - we provide Perrier and we provide the ambience and what-nots.
It's a lovely evening of randomness: food, drink, people, conversation. . . it's a platform to gather around the meal table - enjoy its dignity and beauty - experience a little alfresco. . . and for one heart to get to know another heart.
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