Farmstead Feed: Jill shares the latest from the Farmstead Desk
Meet Tiger Lily: Homestead dairy cow
Tiger Lily (Mark calls her) or Striped Cow (as Frank dubbed her) is the newest member of the milking line-up. She joined us in December as a "commercial dairy rescue." She was for sale from the dairy because she has an udder irregularity. One of her back quarters...
Meet Ruby from the dairy cow herd share
What herd share is complete if you don't know your cows? Even in a big dairy cow herd you get to know certain cows and they may earn themselves a name. In a small herd like ours, and most herd share herds, the cows all have a name and a presence. We thought it's only...
A milk day and a product review
Milk. It's a thing we do every day. Once a day. Every week. All year. Some days collecting the milk is awesome, some days it's a little challenging. Mark is gonna tell you a bit about that in his "day in the life" video. We do the milking for our herd share members....
A Good Business
Our business isn't exactly a glory business. Custom chicken processing. But it's a service and we are professionals. Even the ten year old. These kids are awesome, and our business has facilitated so much good for them: understanding the finances of a business (they...
Gathering is a revolutionary act
Gathering is a revolutionary act. There's a great power in gathering with like minded people. When you choose to step out of the flow of "normal" life, it helps a great deal to have folks to lock arms with, to connect to, for help and support. That is how you...
Guardians of the Birds
Livestock Guardian dogs (Great Pyrenees, to be exact) save the day! Do you know you almost didn't have access to Northern Michigan's best pasture raised chickens? Our second or third year here on Baker's Green Acres, we had predators that got nearly as many chickens...
The Gathering: Anyone Can Farm
The Anyone Can Farm Tribe Gathering was a success! Check out the fun!
Anyone Can Farm Tribe Day Happenings
We hope you'll join us for a fun day of learning and fellowship! Here's the basic plan: Event time schedule: Time Event Speaker 8:00: AM Coffee's on! 9:00: AM workshops Josh Cross: Bees Parker Holmes: grazing cattle 10:30: AM workshops Jill Baker: Eat Your...
Chicks on Grass
Around here, you know it's spring when the chicks arrive. It's kind of like watching for the first robin or the swallows. Spring is arrived when the phone rings and it's the Post Office and they say, "You're chicks are here!" Spring isn't the best time for brooding...
Homestead Dairy Cow
Mark's been talking about the Homestead Dairy Cow, sharing his experience and knowledge. Want to know good breeds to get? What equipment is good for a homestead dairy cow? How to graze your dairy gal? Check out these videos. We milk (or will soon) 4 different...
Spring and visions
It's Spring! April is an odd time, a transition time on the farm. We're still cleaning up winter, but summer's energy isn't quite there yet. No snow. No grass. So, what are we doing? Preparing. Entertaining visions of the possibilities of the summer. That includes:...
A Little Pig Tale: Lessons from the homestead
The homestead is a teacher. Some lessons are easy. Others, not so much.
Homestead Hog Harvest
Homestead Hog Harvest isn't just a class. It's an experience. "Never underestimate the power of a bloody handshake." --a former class member The class always starts with people wearing name tags standing in a circle around Mark, looking at each other a little...
Homestead Economics: more than money
The bottom line of your homestead farm's economics. Are you all about a good environment for the kids? Making some money? Having good food to eat? Helping your local community? All of the above are possible and important. The economics of a homestead is about the...
Teaching them the ropes: homeschool on the homestead
Farming on a small farm is a family affair, which makes a homestead a great homeschool tool. Everybody participates to the best of their ability. It's surprising, too, how much ability kids can have! One of the things that has kept us going all these years has been...
It’s CSA chicken season (Almost)!
The snow is melting. The sun is shining. The kids are shedding their snowpants and coats. Spring! That makes me think about Chickens. Also, my chicken corner in the freezer is almost empty, so that makes me think about spring and chickens, too. This week I've worked...
Reading Lists for the homestead
Books are a homestead farmer's best friend. Right up there with YouTube and Google. And older farmers. On our LIVE YOUTUBE Q&A programs, we've been asked what books we use as resources and reference. There's a whole list right here: Homestead Farm Books The...
The value of a life: Homestead Hog Harvest
This is our project this weekend: teaching a valuable homesteading skill. Appreciating your food and knowing that it was raised, harvested, and prepared with care from field to plate is part of a healthy lifestyle. Your food is your nourishment and an investment you...