Building fertility.

Apricot Lane Farms officially has two new compost piles, almost three – one day we’ll have as many as 6.  Aren’t we big.  The picture above shows one of these piles in front of the trees it will one day nourish – my heart’s a flutter.  No puny piles here, but 100 – 200 foot rows designed to create compost for our many thousands of hungry fruit trees.  Merging the detailed approach Biodynamic farming and 130-acres of production is not easy, but holy cow, does it feel good.  From a cook’s perspective, every effort is for one singular goal – great food.

Brilliant orange yolks.

The first little egg from our small beginner batch of Barred Plymouth Rock hens is finally here!  Only took 22 torturous weeks of waiting.  Weeks spent holding our breathe with each peek into the nest; rocked with disappointment, until – WE GOT AN EGG!  A bigger thrill than any stupid roller-coaster I’ve ever endured.

Cows? Yup.

On Tuesday, our barnyard family is going to gain some girth, in the form of three Highland Cattle.  Actually, three & 1/2.  One heifer named Firefly is pregnant.  Her ultra-cute name makes me like her already.  The 21st century part of it is – I actually watched John bid on and win these cattle from my computer at the farm.  He almost lost the second heifer, when a (semi-illegal) bid snuck in last minute, but they re-opened the bidding, allowing John to win the little lady.

Who am I kidding, she’s not little at all!  These cows are huge.  Huge.  And we’re going to have three of them.  Today, my eyes are staring at my screen just a little wider than usual.

Food Magic

Like the effects of a bad high-school rumor, coconut oil came out of the 80′s with a horrendous reputation.  Demonized for its saturated fat content, you’d have thought that every heart attack began with tub of coconut oil and a spoon.  The clarification that I believe went unnoticed was the difference between organic, unrefined coconut oil and the highly refined hydrogenated version.  The media is beginning to scrub the graffiti from poor coconut oil’s locker, touting the possible connection between unrefined coconut and heart health, but there’s another beautiful story about the positive effects of coconut oil that has thus far, gone largely unnoticed.  And folks, it could be huge.  Here’s why…

The Duck ICU

Two weeks ago, a shipment of 100 teeny tiny baby ducks arrived at the Post Office for Apricot Lane.  Perfect timing in preparation for the on-slot of snails in the spring, these Khaki Campbell ducks will be replacing many hours of labor spent spreading organic snail bait.

And I thought baby chickens were cute…

Homemade Organic Sweet Feed

Figuring out how to herd sheep into and out of the pastures each day was a bit challenging, until we figured out the magic trio – a red bucket, a bell and a treat called Sweet Feed.  Sweet feed is a grain mixture with a bit of molasses in it, and let me tell you something, sheep go mad for it.  They will follow you to the ends of the earth by the sound of that little bell and the looks of that bright red bucket. 

Two little lambs…

Minutes before sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner, John got a call from Sarah that a lamb was birthing.  Out the door without a thought, we all made it in time to realize that we actually didn’t…  The baby was stuck and had died from a complicated birth. The blessing became that our arrival & help resulted in the mother’s life saved.  Around the table, we gave thanks for companionship to ease the void of loss.  The fragility of life surrounds and penetrates when living on a farm.

Only you.

Often my relationships start with a powerful case of infatuation, as was the case with my cast iron skillet.  For months, I fantasized about having one.  Finally, I found and purchased a heavy-bottomed beauty at a second-hand shop.  (To be safe, I’d suggest purchasing a skillet that says “Made in the USA” on the bottom.  There are rumors that skillets made in China have been found to contain toxic metals.)  Problem was, I didn’t one single clue how to use it.

Like a big ‘old bear hug.

I’d like to share a dish with you…

One of my favorite ways to begin a homemade dinner with friends is to offer up a vibrant dish of super chunky salsa. In the photo above, I am serving a version of this salsa on a large chip that our Apricot Lane Farms landscaper, Fernando, brought back to us from Mexico; however, I typically serve this dish in a pretty bowl with a side of organic blue corn tortillas or homemade seed crackers.  I use the term “salsa” loosely, as this type of dish could technically be considered a side or even a salad. But the vibe is simply too generous and abundant to be buried within a meal, instead serving to welcome friends front-and-center with a laid-back, yet plugged-in gesture – like a big ‘ole bear hug. 

Project whistle.

For a long bit, whenever I’m determined to learn something new, it feels near impossible, or maybe a little closer than near – like pretty much totally impossible.  Not the often caffeine-induced moment of inspiration, that moment’s totally cool and confident.  It’s the long pause after the initial spike, when I’m typically reaching for chocolate, desperately trying to recreate my initial high.