We are really pleased to be holding two new events this year 2018.
As our young fellow is getting older and wanting to play with more friends... Mama is offering to facilitate a playgroup. We have been part of a homeschooling co-op and he has really blossomed, so given my experience with arts in education we decided to join forces with a neighboring farm and create something similar a bit closer to home. Cubs & Kits, a parent & child playgroup.
I was really inspired on our recent trip to visit family and friends in Ireland and the UK by the number of community/ support groups that were transforming our friends lives.I live by the philosophy: "if you can't find it, make it"... So I decided to offer to facilitate a Woman's Circle to create just that kind of support. With the intention of exploring creativity, inspiration and healing I have put out the invitation to other women to join a monthly circle. Bridget's Fire

Everything is greening-up despite the cool and damp spring. The ponies are shedding shaggy winter coats and going a bit mad for the emerging grass. There are so many herbal allies springing up: Motherwort, Houttuynia, Mullen, Lady's Mantle, Istatis or Woad (remember the blue Pict warriors, it is both antiviral and antibacterial: good protection for going into battle!) So now it is time to preserve the bounty of Spring and Summer.
Dylan is once again making tinctures from fresh plants and creating those "hard to find" formulas for treating Lyme Disease, which seems to be an unacknowledged epidemic. Almost everyone I meet has either had Lyme or knows someone who has it. We highly recommend Stephen Harrod Buhner's books on Healing Lyme and Healing Lyme Disease Coinfections.
We are offering individual formulas simples, or a consultation and specially made herbal mixtures designed to assist healing your particular symptoms.

It has been a wild year, so full and so changeable. I guess that is always the way. My grandmother always used to say "you must take the good with the bad, but look for the good". Life is always a mixed bag... you choose what you take from it.
The dry summer made it hard for a lot of crops to really thrive, and put an strain on us having to carry water for every plant and creature. But as you can see our basil did amazingly well and now the freezers are full of pesto. Mari is the Pesto Queen.
The army of baby ducks that were Perran's spring present have grown and were overwhelming us for much of the summer. I never knew ducks could eat so much, nor be so loud! Finally three found a new home and there has been peace and quiet ever since.
Dylan has had a some building commissions: woodsheds and a really neat camping a-frame. The mill has meant he can create wonderful structures from our own hardwoods, and mill just the right sized boards for his projects. I huge old Butternut fell in early Autumn. I was out harvesting garlic, and heard a few tell-tale, cracking groans from the old beast. He crashed down with an almighty thump and if I had not run like a rabbit from the garlic patch I'd have been grazed by his top branches. We know have a beautiful supply of butternut milled up.
Dylan has been out in the woods splitting seasoned wood and filling firewood orders as fast as he can. As soon as a chill hits the air, everyone wants wood. We also have a new dump truck which is taking the pain out of firewood delivery.
And after all the dry summer, with only a rare flush or two, this last icy rain storm brought out the biggest flush of mushrooms we have had yet. I harvested three baskets full, maybe 8 or 10lbs. of log grown shiitakes.
We have been harvesting herbs for tinctures and teas before the frost can get them, a few more are still standing. Soon the garden will be put to bed and its loving bounty preserved for the cold time. The warm and cozy time, the time of making crafts, hugging the fire and sharing stories is drawing closer as the winds grow colder. Cup of tea, anyone?

This past weekend we had a fabulous time at the inaugural Berkshire Mountains Faerie Festival in Adams, MA.
We had a faerie Apothecary & Curiosity Shop, selling handmade woodland crafts, locally grown herbal skin care, moss gardens, cards, books, and more. There was such a wonderful response from folks that we have decided to set up a shop online so that these things can be purchased after the festivities are over. The shop is being built and we'll let you know when it is open for business. Thank you to all who supported us and those who helped out on the day.We had a faerie wonderful time!

Ponies, ducks, ducklings, a new rooster plus the handful of new felted creatures... this place is brimming with life. Even the daffodils are willing to show their heads. All the seeds and soil amendments are in, the greenhouse is getting tidied-up. Some seedlings are starting in the house. The ponies are in training to get the fields cultivated. It feels good to begin a new season.

With the help of the heat and the rain, our gardens are really growing. If we can only get all the plants in the ground. Transplanting from the greenhouse into the field is a major task. We have decided to mulch both our fields this year in the hopes of increasing fertility. Still trying to locate old hay bails to keep the weeds at bay.

We have a pack of marauding guineas who seem to like to nibble everything we put out and dust bathe in the newly sown beds. Trying to work out a solution... a few guineas are on the market, cheap.

Speaking of markets, we have produce at Wild Oats Coop and The Store at Five Corners. So if you are in the Williamstown area look out for our goods.

Mari & WindRose have started creating woodland-inspired cut flower bouquets. Here are a few to delight your eyes...

We've have finally made it to the warm part of the year. And yet as life seems to be flourishing some things keep dying. Life and death always side by side.
Our fierce and beloved Snowy (guinea hen, and mother of the clan) passed away this morning. We have no idea what happened. We have also in the last two months lost out other two female guineas, Minnie and her sister. Minnie and her sister may have been egg-bound but I can't find any details about it on any forums.
Jesus el Diablo P Morgan has sat with her body most of the day, returning again and again to be with her. As humans we completely ignore how much animals know and feel. He loved his mate as much as I love mine.

It has felt like a very slow spring. There are a few green things showing their heads in our cold north facing valley, so there might be hope for us yet, if the poultry doesn't polish them off first.
The birds have been out scratching and foraging and our eggs are fantastic! What a difference having greens and bugs makes to the colour and flavour of the yolks.
Mum and I dyed our Easter eggs with natural dyes this year. Lovely. Red onion skin are my favourite, red cabbage and turmeric are good too. The beetroot didn't really give good colour.

Despite it being a frustrating year for Sugaring, we have managed to make 7 gallons. It is dark and smokey, what was being labeled Grade B Dark Amber, but all the maple syrup labeling is changing this year... I think it will just be Dark Amber now. More next year and we have wonderful plans for a round Sugar House with a reciprocal roof.

Dylan has managed to inoculate more logs with Shitake spawn, build a new tool shed, level the area where our High Tunnel is going (this year fingers crossed!), mill all the wood for the tools shed, haul all the sap across the stream, boil the syrup down, plant a whole new batch of fruit trees, plan this year's crops, teach me how to graft apple scions on to our trees and take on a new job. And that is just a bit of what he has done this April. I am knackered just looking at him.

The guinea babies all grown up. we are getting set for Maple Season, lots of sap, lots of syrup, lots of fun :-)