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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 …
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!
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 …
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 …
The Land Conservancy’s “Women’s Learning Circle” gathered at Wanda Farm (Harvard, IL) this past Friday! Joe took us for a hayride to visit their pasture-raised pigs, cows, and chickens. Beyond learning about rotational grazing, Joe spoke passionately about caring for animals in ways that not …
This afternoon, I had the pleasure of weeding and harvesting the neglected, upper meadow asparagus patch. For those of you who have never toed around in an asparagus patch, let me paint you a word picture before you look below for a more visceral vision. …
When the mushroom spawn arrived, our patio became an inoculation station. Fortunately, sunshine also made its glorious appearance – lighting and warming our tasks. We were working with shiitake spawn from various strains and logs from red oak, white oak, and sugar maple, which Pat …
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 …
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 …
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.
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!
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 …
A pickled ornament – guaranteed to keep for eternity – to be hidden on your Xmas tree – and found on Xmas morning by the child most motivated to be the first to open a present.
A portrait of a table set with a platter of pickles! Pickles make a meal special. They’re a bit extra – a briny bonus.
Pickles! We love pickles so much. I’m surprised that we haven’t made any of our own (other than quick refrigerator pickles). I bought these sour sweethearts from the local grocery store, Deli 4 You, in Algonquin – where you can source your bulk pickles directly …