Wild persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is a beautiful, flavorful, nutritious fruit native to central and eastern North America.  The internet is rife with misinformation. While it is true that many persimmons ripen after frost, there are selections which ripen reliably...

So many fruits in full bloom: plums, currant, nectarine, and peaches. They are a full month ahead of 2013.  Project budburst (see resources) is a useful tool to help us evaluate the changing climate and its impact on our own plants.  A frost may prevent any fruit from...

Cuttings for these plants were given to me by my Uncle Ernie who farmed outside of St. Louis from 1930 to 1960. While I visited one weekend, he gave the vines to me and said “stick these in the ground, they’ll grow”.  I wish he was still with us so I could learn from h...

Dr. Daniel Chamovitz articulates brilliantly in his 2012 book the amazing behavior of plants in response to their environment.  I did not know the parallels between human and plant senses.  I am so glad to now explore this more and find ways that this information migh...

These early brilliant greens are often referred to as weeds. Weeds are commonly defined as plants in the wrong place, which is where you have decided you don’t want them. Here at the Farm, many plants scorned by others are celebrated by us. Exquisitely flavored, healt...

Biomimicry

..life creates conditions conducive to life. It builds soil; it cleans air; it cleans water; it mixes the cocktail of gases that you and I need to live.

Net fertility farming: We should be growing fertility. And, oh yes — we get food, too. Because we have...

I am privileged to be the hostess to 9 honey bee hives.  I am not a “keeper” as I have no idea how to make wax or raise the larvae.  I am a “hostess” in that my greatest duty is to make sure that the bees have what they need to meet their basic needs (food, water, shel...