the latest soap from one of my classes- cinnamon swirl with anise scent (like biscotti)

The past four days have found us busily packing up car and truck loads and heading to the new farm several times a day….and wandering around the place with our mouths open wide with amazement, then painting in the house, pounding posts in the ground in preparation for fencing- which hopefully arrives tomorrow.

the sunrise at the new place!

Until we have the fencing up, the animals stay at the old place. The main concern with fencing isn’t keeping the animals in, but keeping vicious predators OUT. This is my main worry, as my animals are my dearests, and also a very important part of making our farm be a farm. I have so many to keep safe; 260 ducks, 15 goats, 2 pigs, and for instance the 25 turkeys being raised for Thanksgiving, and what would happen if some coyote or stray dog, or bear or wolf (?!) gets in there and kills them? I’d be heart- broken to fail at keeping my animals safe, but also at a loss for the farm and all the people looking forward to their bird for their special feast. It is our responsibility to keep them safe from all perspectives. Also- our NEW hoophouse arrived today, which is wild, we weren’t expecting the delivery until next week. My friend Kellie came out today with me to help do some settling in stuff, and as we drove up the hill, there was a giant semi sitting by the driveway.

the semi by the driveway, Andrew, Kellie and the delivery guy Erik, post unloading....

WHAT?? Well, that’s right, our 30 x 60 hoophouse had arrived, in pieces of course, which we unloaded with the help of the very nice driver (who wasn’t obligated to help us unload whatsoever). He has sled dogs up in northern WI and is looking for country land as well. He said, so what are you doing with this hoophouse? I explained the diversity of our farming plans for next year, and he said “so you mean like organic?” Amazing how organic and sustainable farming is making it’s way into the mainstream culture. Well, it was not so long ago that this was the normal way of farming- small, localized, diverse, providing for the farmer’s family and then a bit beyond…. giant agriculture, pesticides and artificial fertilizers are all fairly modern. Anyhow, the move is officially started, I want to thank everyone for their offers of helping! It may come that we need some serious help with some projects coming up, but for now, we’re truckin’ along, and getting to know the place . I had a realization that mostly, I want everyone to be able to enjoy this place once we are all settled in. Thinkin’ farm party mid to late October!

ducklings!

This link is the slideshow is part of an incredible exhibit Laurie Schneider has put together, which will be in the Eco-Experience Building at the MN State Fair this year! I am so honored to have had Laurie choose my farm as one of three she followed through this season. She’s quite an amazing photographer. Thank you Laurie!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFeor11Ve2

feta-----cut into slabs to air dry for a couple days

august is hot in wisconsin, metallika chillin' and may's all inquisitive about the camera

some of my lady ducks

The Thanksgiving turkeys, enjoying summer on LTD Farm

So, in line with all this goodness, comes a man who sees my dream, and we fall in love. He’s studied permaculture design principles, and has his own business doing stonework design installations in and around the Twin Cities, which is very successful.  He’s been growing organic vegetables, but is not so familiar with farm animals, despite being raised in a family that farmed conventionally: pigs and cattle and soybeans and corn. He loves how I am with my animals, loves my philosophy behind raising them with care, respect, gratitude, compassion. He also loves the intimacy of small scale farming, and he strives for self sufficiency, both close to my heart. We started working on a plan for farming together the following year. Andrew and I have also been friends for years, he is someone I have always respected for his integrity and hard work. 

we're pretty silly together too....

Shortly after developing our 2011 farm business plan, a call comes from Cassie- one of my soap class students…her Co-Worker has some land for sale east of Amery. Now- you hear this kind of thing alot. Nevertheless, I call the owner, we decide to go see it that very day. Andrew has a good gut feeling about it even before we see it. My two younger sisters come along for the trip out there, and we are blown away at what we see. 39 acres of pristine land, untouched for 20 years. A little house, a bit ramshackle, but charming and liveable. A couple out-buildings, but mostly, this land takes our breath away. The owners have bought a place in Hawaii, and were just about to call a realtor- the next day in fact. But they are self described “old hippies” and had been focusing on the power of positive thinking and put good vibes out, hoping the right people would come along. And we did. Now we have signed the papers and this place is ours starting September 1st.

The new LTD Farm land, with an oak amidst the diverse Wisconsin savanna

I had set up my 2010 farm plans as a single woman, farming on 1.8 acres. I had no clue how I was going to make it happen, but I did. The three most important things to me were (and are): humanely raised and harvested animals, spreading confidence and homesteading skills, and connecting people directly with their foods. The response to these mantras has been so heartening. People do care about their food, about the people who raise it and they care about the earth around them. They make choices and connections to farmers who are doing it right. Not everyone is able to raise farm animals, but they can choose the best, most conscientious farmers to do it for them.

little blue with the giant, joyful pigs, Roxy and Matilda

When Food Inc. came out, most people were absolutely horrified at the facts that are so clearly laid on in this documentary. The industrial food system is disgusting, for the people who work within it, and for the animals who are merely meat commodities. The majority of farm animals in this country are not treated as beautiful beings who will nourish us. Look at the health of this country- I’ll go out on a limb and say that there is a direct connection between our nation’s terrible state of health overall and the meat that is generally consumed. If you eat miserable foods, you probably will be making a route in your body for that misery.

Next year, we are ready to take on so much more than was ever possible on my 1.8 acres. This week we are beginning the move to our new farm land of 39 acres, and will begin setting up the infrastructure for LTD Farm. Next year, we’ll be raising a few more pigs, a few more turkeys, continue bringing the best, freshest duck eggs to Co-ops in the Cities and, through our CSA, be personal farmers for even more wonderful customers. We’ll be hosting numerous workshops on the farm in 2011, covering a large range topics – permaculture design, fermenting, poultry processing, goat care, soap making, homebrewing, canning, cheesemaking, dry stone landscaping, pickling, humane harvesting, sausage making….and much more. We’ll have all of them posted here on the website, so keep in touch. Let us know what you’re looking for as well, it is our mission to be your personal farmers! Thanks for everything…