Farm Blog

Stories from the heart of Hawthorn Farm.

Our Recent Posts

Bigger is Bigger

Do Unto Ponies

Caught Up... To What?

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Willpower, or Lack Thereof

Under my instigation, Daniel and I have each been on a $50-a-month grocery store budget. Guess who's having a hard time with this challe...

Food Security Blanket

"What a lot of work these goats are!" say visitors. "I'd hate to have to be in the barn to milk them twice a day, every day." "Yes, it's...

Are You Sitting On a Plow Pan?

The moldboard plow is an amazing tool. It slices soil and turns it over, burying the previous crop to make room for the next. As it ski...

Appropriate Use of "Literally"

My transition from urban to rural has illuminated many English phrases I grew up with. I'm not even sure the current generations of kids...

Be Kind to History

Duke and Dolly are old horses. I don't know how old, or what kind of horses they are. They came to me as "Amish ponies from Iowa" and t...

Down With Comfort, Up With Pleasure

In the years since our hand-harvested food challenge, I notice that I don't have to work as hard to feed myself. I also don't enjoy feed...

Farm Girl Goes Wild

Daniel and I have taken a mountain trip together every year since 2011. We backpacked on our first trips. Then we went out from a basec...

Death. Why Take It Personally?

Yesterday, Jenn walked out of a chicken house gingerly holding a rat trap. A large rat scurried back and forth inside as I took the cage...

A Love Letter to the Future

In October of 2009, I walked into the north pasture and sat next to a four-year-old European chestnut tree. I've been back every day sin...

Reframing Success

2019 has been a year of humility. My wild idea of adding horse power to the farm has been one setback after another. Big Blue the truck...

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