The Mushrooms Are Blooming!

The Mushrooms Are Blooming!

The Shiitake Mushrooms are BLOOMING! Get your fresh shiitake mushrooms – cultivated on oak and maple logs. Pick up from Spring Bird at your convenience. Delivery options available within 20 miles of Spring Bird. We currently have 3 or 4 lbs blooming this week with 

The Mushrooms Are Coming!

The Mushrooms Are Coming!

Last Spring, we inoculated 100 logs with shiitake mushroom spawn! This Spring – like – in a few weeks- these logs will begin to fruit with fresh, log grown shiitake mushrooms! We will be selling both fresh shiitake mushrooms as well as the whole logs 

Building Shiitake Mushroom Branding

Building Shiitake Mushroom Branding

I’ve been working on some branding elements for selling our log grown shiitakes. What do you think about these color schemes? More on shiitakes coming soon. . . and hopefully a resurrection of the Spring Bird Newsletter! 

Fresh Off The Log Shiitake Mushrooms

Fresh Off The Log Shiitake Mushrooms

A couple of days ago, Pat harvested this bunch of log grown shiitake mushrooms. They are our last mushroom harvest until Spring, and they tasted delicious sauteed in butter! In actuality, this Fall, we’ve had a couple of months of harvesting mushrooms from oak logs 

Food Forest Farm Fence Complete!

Food Forest Farm Fence Complete!

Wait a minute . . . is that a new fence at Spring Bird!?  Why . . .YES!  We* did recently finish the installation of the fence surrounding our once and future Food Forest Farm AKA our Multistory Agroforestry System AKA our Multifunctional Woody Polycultures.  

Swan, Snake and Flower

Swan, Snake and Flower

A new upcycled Jean Jacket for Fall! This one features some of my favorite animals, who have been calling to me. Swan is powerful disguised as elegant. Snake is soft and regenerative. The flower opens up to possibility. If you are interested in making this 

New Blue Triangle Jean Jacket

New Blue Triangle Jean Jacket

Blue Triangles of Abundance! Get your new favorite jean jacket in time for Fall Jean Jacket Weather!!!! This Jean Jacket is made of: Jacket itself: 100% Cotton Applique: Upcycled cotton and linen fabric, cotton and bamboo threads SIZE: Small Brand: Wild Fable Measurements for this 

Pucker Up to Cornelian Cherries

Pucker Up to Cornelian Cherries

During these last weeks, life has manifested many, many bowls of cherries! Most days, you can find Pat and I harvesting from three cornelian cherry trees that seem to have exploded this year with their sweet-sour fruit. Cornelian cherries are popular in Turkey, Iran, Eastern 

First Steps in Mushroom Cultivation!

First Steps in Mushroom Cultivation!

This month, Patrick has been harvesting oak and maple logs for shiitake mushroom inoculation! For now, he is stacking them (about 100 logs) in the shade of these yew trees.  At the end of the month, we will be drilling holes in them, stuffing the 

Maple Syrup Season!

Maple Syrup Season!

A few weeks ago, on our way to Milwaukee, I noticed maples being tapped in someone’s backyard.  I smiled. Temperatures in Northern Illinois must have reached above freezing during the day and below freezing at night. This sap seeking process is a seasonal ritual that 

Caps For Sale!

Caps For Sale!

The sun will come tomorrow – or if not tomorrow – very soon! When the sun does show itself again, Keep its beautiful rays off of your face while supporting your favorite team – be it team berry, mushroom, snail, or leaf! Which is your 

Donut Ornament!

Donut Ornament!

Oh those donuts! They’re dough delicious! Here’s a hand stitched donut ornament made from upcycled, hand dyed fabrics – including a  vintage napkin. This cake donut is apparently frosted in raspberry glaze and adorned with fun sprinkles.

Donuts and Coffee

Donuts and Coffee

Coffee and Donuts! Coffee and Donuts! Coffee and Donuts, today!  That’s my song celebrating this beautiful dunking duo, and here is my artwork.  Happy Wednesday!

Donuts So Good You’ll Go Nuts

Donuts So Good You’ll Go Nuts

Happy Fat Tuesday!  This is my favorite holiday – for obvious reasons. How do you indulge today?  In past years, we made pancakes for dinner or ate chocolate for breakfast. Tonight we are going to make a rich and creamy mac and cheese and homemade