FARM UPDATES

Often the winter months are used to recover a little bit as we feed hay to the sheep and cattle rather than moving them through the pasture. Early this month we took the pigs in, so we are pig free for a few months. We processed most of our laying chickens (stew birds are back!). No lambs yet, but next month's newsletter will probably have an update on baby lambs. We had a hydrant break and frozen pipes in our vacant farm house, but that is the extent of my complaining because I'd rather focus on a couple of fun and big farm decisions!

First big decision was that we got a puppy! His name is Pete. The sweet little rat terrier was bred on a farm to do rat terrier things. There will be a lot of training, but so far he seems to be enjoying the new sights and smells at Root & Sky. He goes over to the farm with me and plays with Louise, our livestock guardian dog. He will run in circles around the sheep and then has plenty of puppy naps on our laps between chores. We think that there are very few vermin on the farm, but hopefully Pete will keep it that way in between snuggles on the couch.

I have written about this possibility a few times, but we have decided to start our permaculture orchard! I started down this farming path in Glen Ellyn with five raised beds for veggies and a dozen fruit trees, blackberries, raspberries, cherry bushes...I really enjoy raising fruit and look forward to hopefully offering our selections to you in the future! How is a permaculture orchard different from a conventional mono-culture orchard? We will incorporate methods to grow our produce in a more sustainable way by using nature to help with disease, pests, and the overall health of the orchard. Just one example is that we will be planting in trios. We will grow at least three different species of trees in a single row, so an apple is never grown next to an apple. The pattern could be: apple, honeylocust (used to fix nitrogen in the soil for the fruit trees), pear, apple, honeylocust, plum, apple, honeylocust, paw paw...this pattern will not eliminate all pests, but there is a good chance that a pest will inflict less destruction than an orchard that have fifteen plum trees in a single row. The pest will have to work to find another tree, which could lessen the damage. By having so many different species of trees, if there is one species that does suffer from frost damage, disease, etc, there is a good chance a different species will do just fine and help spread the risk of a complete lost fruit year. That is just one of many symbiotic ways to help grow a successful permaculture orchard. I could, and probably will, write way more on this subject, but if you are interested in learning more, I'm trying to emulate Stefan Sobkowiak of Miracle Farms in Quebec. He has a wonderful video - The Permaculture Orchard: Beyond Organic.

We will have six rows that are one hundred fifty feet long, with room for expansion if we so decide. There will be 84 trees of apples, pears, apricot, sweet and sour cherry, plum, paw paw, persimmon, peach, nectarine, and honey locust. There will also be a couple hundred shrubs and other plants such as gooseberry, raspberry, goji berry, honeyberry, blackberry, juneberry, lingonberry, arctic kiwi, aronia, cranberry, hazelnut...anyway, we will be having a huge planting week in April!

I will be taking pre-orders on some extra plants if anyone is interested! Pricing is lower than two of the more reputable online sources. Some I have grown previously, while others I am also growing for the first time. I do a LOT of research, so if you have questions feel free to ask, but I encourage looking online for more info at Stark Bros or Raintree for additional information on these plants.

I will probably not be able to deliver plants shortly after they arrive because I am going to be very busy planting myself (probably around April 13th?). They will be mostly pick up orders unless I have extras and feel good about keeping them in pots until the end of the month for the regular April delivery day. If you would like to help support the farm while also adding edible landscape plants to your home, please let me know soon if you'd like anything from below!

$15 each - Chicago Hardy Fig (Retail $25) - If you scroll through my Instagram, you will see some pics...Can be planted in the ground with some branching dieback in winter, but also can be an attractive potted tree.

$15 each - Viking Aronia Berry (Retail $27) - Clusters of white flowers in spring lead to blueberry sized berries that are rather astringent, but when cooked and a sweetner is added it makes a lovely syrup or jelly.

$12 each - Hinnonmaki Red, Jeanne or Black Velvet Gooseberry (Retail $19) - A few seeds and thorns on these plants, but I love fresh, but they are more known for their excellent jam.

$5 each - Nova or Heritage Raspberry (Retail $7) - You plant one every couple feet because they send out runners from the mother plant, and in a couple of years they fill in nicely. I suggest a trellis to keep the branches from falling over.

$15 each - Phoenix Tears Goji Berry (Retail $30) - Eaten fresh or dried, these little berries have more carotene than carrots.

$10 each - Geneva 3, Anna, and Meader Hardy Kiwi (Retail $26) - Yes, kiwi can be grown in our climate! They are fuzzless and the size of a grape. They take a number of years before getting fruit. Please read about them because they grow on large vines that require good support. I plan to run them on an arbor or two. You need a male (Meader) for pollination. Hesitant to offer because I want to hear about success stories and this one is probably the plant that I am least confident in getting fruit. At least you get an attractive vine out of the deal?

$10 each - Red Sunset Ligonberry (Retail $15-30) - I'm giving them a shot, but they prefer acidic soil like the blueberry, which is difficult in our alkaline soil.. I have some pines that could help, but sunlight could be an issue.

$12 each - Czech 17 or Cinderella Honeyberry (Retail $25) - I'm very excited about this plant despite not trying one yet! I might get a few berries this year. Comparisons to raspberry, apple, pear, blueberry, blackberry...Fruits before strawberries! Cinderella will be a smaller plant so extra care needs to be taken for these plants. One of each is needed for pollination to get berries.

I'm going to stop there, but I will probably also have paw paw trees, persimmon trees, elderberry, and a few others. Please shoot me an email if you'd like email updates.

Fiona watering our newly planted nectarine tree at our previous home in 2010.

SALES INFO

I will be delivering Tuesday, January 25th. If you are interested in placing an order, please send an email with the items you'd like and I will send a quote total. I do have whole ducks for $8 lb. I'm sorry, but we are out of both chicken and duck eggs until March. Chicken is nearly sold out except drumsticks and stew birds. Out of a couple cuts of beef like ribeye and flank steak, but beef is decent supply.

Beef/Pork Package $160 ($180 value)
Beef Arm Roast, (2) Stew Meat, (2) NY Strip Steak, (3) Ground Beef, 1" Pork Chops (2/pk), Pork Shoulder Roast, (2) Ground Pork, Brats (4/pk)

Grass-Fed Lamb (rotationally raised on pasture and the forest)
$12 lb Ground Lamb
$19 lb Lamb Chops (4/pk)
$14 lb Shoulder Roast
$15 lb Shoulder Steaks (2/pk) - 2 lbs)
$15 lb Leg Steaks (2/pk - 2 lbs)
$12 lb Leg of Lamb (3 lb half or 6 lb whole)
$18 lb Rack of Lamb
$9 lb Shanks
$14 Lamb Stew
$4 lb Lamb Bones

Pastured Duck
$8 lb Whole Duck (avg 2.5 lbs)

Pastured Chicken
$5.50 lb Drumsticks (5 per pack)
$5 lb Wings (10 per pack)
$3 lb Necks
$3 lb Stew Chickens
$4 lb Liver SALE $2.50 lb

100% Grass Fed Beef
price per lb
$9 Ground Beef
$10 Beef Patties (4/pk - 1 lb)
$22 NY Strip Steak (.6 lb)
$15 Bone-in Sirloin Steak (1.4 lb)
$17 Tri-Tip Steak
$20 Skirt Steak
$9 Chuck Roast
$9 Arm Roast
$10 Stew Meat / Beef Kabobs
$11 Rump Roast
$11 Sirloin Tip Roast
$10 Short Ribs
$7 Soup Bones
$5 Pet Food
$6 Liver
$3 Suet
$3.50 Dog Bones or Knuckle for Bone Broth

Pastured Thanksgiving Turkey - $5 lb SALE

Honey:
$30 - 3 lb jar

Forest Raised Pork
Heritage bred pigs raised in our forest and moved weekly in non-winter months. Also, given organic feed to supplement with acorns, walnuts, and greens.
(price per lb)

$13 Pork Chops (2/pk) - Bone- in 1" (1.4 lb)
$14 Pork Chops (2/pk) - Bone-in 1/2"
$15 Butterfly Pork Chops (2/pk)
$10 Fresh Brats, Italian Links, Polish Links - 4 pk
$8.50 Breakfast or Italian Bulk Sausage
$11 Breakfast Links
$8 Ground Pork
$8 Spare Ribs (2.75 lb)
$8 Shoulder Roast (3 lb or 5 lb)
$16 Regular Bacon
$16 Jowl Bacon (1.1 lb)
$3 Pork Neck Bones

Thank you everyone for reading and supporting the farm! Any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us!