Spring is farm improvement time.
Concrete pad and pallet wall. Keeping fertility on the farm. Or, as we joked when we were putting it together, this wall is to keep manure in – not to keep people out.
Produce For Sale
Our current crop of black beans, heirloom corn, and hard red winter wheat is currently available.
Farm Photos
This is a funky porridge-type loaf: the #newfarmhand demanded milk in his granola the other day, which I questioned because he usually doesn’t like it...and sure enough, he didn’t want it after that. So since I hate wasting food, I put a lid on it and tucked it in the fridge...and then folded it into this loaf. 🤷🏻♀️ 2nd loaf of the year. I lowered the hydration a little - I think my wet hands and board during folds & lamination may have been raising it too high in the end and made the last loaf too loose. #winterbaking #sourdough #organic #wholegrain #arapahoehrww @janiesmill #localflour #localgrain #chicagofoodies #organicflour @artisangraincollab @chicagobreadclubAlso yesterday: #winterbaking continued with more crackers, this time a honey cinnamon graham cracker recipe developed by @monicakassrogers and found on @janiesmill blog - but this time the whole grain flour was our #arapahoehrww (milled by Janie’s Mill) and we used animal cookie cutters because that’s how you keep 3-year-olds interested. 😁 Yum! #wholegrain #crackers #grahamcrackers #homemade #localflour #organic #organicflour #therecipesaidcrackerssotheyretotallynotcookiesright? @chicagobreadclub @artisangraincollabToday’s #winterbaking project: more crackers! These are super simple sourdough crackers - discard starter mixed with about 1/5 olive oil, a little salt, and crushed dry herbs. Wish I had used fresh starter instead of a really sour one I had in the fridge (these want a slice of mild cheese on top), but will definitely try this way again. No rolling out dough! #localgrain #sourdough #crackers #organicgrain #localfood #organic #arapahoehrww @chicagobreadclub @artisangraincollab“Mom! It’s a combine harvester!” #newfarmhand creation #farmkid #imagination #makingdoToday’s #winterbaking project: whole grain cheddar goldfish with totally unnatural food coloring kneaded in at the last minute. The #newfarmhand assisted and approved. #wholegrainbaking #localfood #localflour #goldfish #organicfarming #chicagofoodies #organicgrain @artisangraincollab @chicagobreadclubFirst of my Q1 weekly loaves. This year, like last year, I am making a commitment to myself to bake at least one loaf of bread each week from January through March. I think this one has about half our whole grain #arapahoe hrww flour, and the rest bolted from @janiesmill . #newyearsresolutions #wholegrain #organicgrain #localflour #bread #sourdough #naturallyleavened #wonkyscoring #stillbetterthanthegrocerystore #ottawaillinois #localfood #winterbaking #farmersinwinter @artisangraincollab @chicagobreadclubNew year, new #winterbaking season starts off right with lemony taralli that use about 40% our whole grain flour. Baked with / recipe from my partner’s mom, whose family roots are in Puglia. Taste tested by the #newfarmhand of course. #italian #christmas #newyear #cookies #taralli #lemon #wholegrain #wholegrainbaking #localflour #organicgrain2019 was my toughest year of farming by far. Year #10. Toughest weather year my older relatives and neighbors have ever seen. I’m looking forward to the new growing season. #dontletthedoorhityouonthewayout #2019 #newyear2020 #bringiton #organicfarming #illinoisagNews Briefs
Events
Our annual Farm Tour & Tea is cancelled for 2019 due to an extremely wet planting season (we expect that some things might not be planted by the last week in June). We hope to host a potluck party on the farm later in the season instead. As soon as we have set a date, we’ll let you know here and via social media.
