Old Stone Farm

Grape Vine Weath

2012-01-06T19:06:00.001-08:00

Duck

2012-01-06T19:05:00.003-08:00

Lamb

2012-01-06T19:05:00.001-08:00

Hats

2012-01-06T19:04:00.001-08:00

Hat

2011-12-16T07:47:00.001-08:00

Cell phone cover

2011-11-04T14:51:00.001-07:00

This super cute crochet cell phone cover whipped up in just a few hours. It has a opening on the side to plug the charger.

Freezing Carrots

2011-10-10T15:57:00.000-07:00

Gourd Decor

2011-10-10T15:56:00.001-07:00

PUMPKINS

2011-10-06T14:28:00.001-07:00

Bean Seed Collection

2011-10-06T13:52:00.001-07:00

Remodel Project: Boys Room

2011-09-29T16:00:00.000-07:00

What was done:

Patch Walls
Paint Ceiling
Heat Added
Paint Walls
New ceiling fan
Cleats Added
Window Treatments
Nautical Decor

Before:

After:

Budget: $250

Gourds

2011-09-28T16:00:00.000-07:00

Here is this year's Gourd harvest. Next year I would like to add handled gourds and mini pumpkins.

Cayenne Peppers

2011-09-28T15:58:00.000-07:00

We have several strings of Cayenne Peppers drying. I wish I knew what we were going to do with them all!

Canning Apples

2011-09-26T15:50:00.000-07:00

We purchased one bushel of mixed variety apples from Elegant Farmer, located between Mukwonago and East Troy on Hwy ES.

Check it out! www.elegantfarmer.com

With the apples I made:

2 Quarts Apple Butter
7 Quarts Apple Pie Filling
9 Quarts Apple Sauce

Yum!

Egg Production

2011-09-19T11:28:00.001-07:00

We are now getting 10 to 11 eggs per day.

Scrambled Eggs

2011-09-18T09:38:00.001-07:00

Leaving my two year olds in charge of my egg basket is not something I will do again.

Canning

2011-09-10T07:31:00.000-07:00

We have canned:

Spaghetti Sauce

Stewed Tomatoes

Pizza Sauce

Dill Pickles

CayenneGarlic Pickles

Green Pepper Onion Pickles

Pickled Green Beans

Blackberry Jam

Blackberry Jelly

Blackberry Pie Filling

Cherry Jam

Hops = Beer = Yum!

2011-09-06T19:15:00.000-07:00

We also grow our own hops. We have three different varieties including Cascade, Gaulding & Mount Hood. Cascade is used in the brewing of our signature wheat beers. Harvesting of the hop at the right moisture level is critical. After picking they are dried for a few days, processed in a food processor and frozen for future use.

Did you know eating a fresh hop makes your mouth go numb?

Turkey

2011-09-06T15:00:00.000-07:00

My husband is an avid hunter and the land we live on provides quite the bounty. Here is a picture of a few of the wild turkeys enjoying our newly discovered Organic Apple Tree.

Can you find them?

Organic Apples

2011-09-06T14:56:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of 1 of 2 Organic Apple Trees that we have discovered on the farm.

My twins are two and a half -- the perfect age for putting apples into a basket as I shake the tree!

Beans & Cukes, etc.

2011-09-02T14:53:00.000-07:00

Duck & Rooster Harvest

2011-09-02T14:33:00.000-07:00

Our beautiful rooster became to aggressive. It was his time to go.

Old "Stones"

2011-09-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

Sandhill Cranes

2011-08-29T17:39:00.000-07:00

This pair of Sandhill Cranes visits our west hay field every day. Maybe they are nesting?

Bumper Crop

2011-08-26T14:10:00.000-07:00

Red Tomatoes -- Two Bushels and lots in the field! 12 Quart Jars - 2 Sauce, 10 Stewed

Yellow Tomatoes, This is my 5th bowl this size and may more in the field!

Just when I think my Green Beans are done... there are more! I have frozen 20-25 bags!

Carrots are plentiful, only 1/4 picked so far.

Cucumbers - 34 pints and 8 quarts of pickles canned -- Varieties: Dill, Onion, Green Pepper/Onion, Red Pepper/Garlic

Feeder Lambs

2011-08-15T08:27:00.000-07:00

2 Black, 2 Brown Lambs (and Pinkie)
Acquired June 2011, Expected Harvest November 2011

Japanese Beetle

2011-08-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

The Japanese Beetle has been plaguing my gardens and trees!
Solution: Hot Pepper Spray (see additional Post on Hot Pepper Spray)

Milk House Before & After

2011-08-15T06:45:00.000-07:00

Before

Add caption

After

New Roof, Added Hops & Rhubarb

Trimmed/Removed trees, made chicken house

Old skis used as trellis for Hops

Nature Alphabet

2011-08-12T06:05:00.000-07:00

To Do: Create a collection of photography that contains every letter of the alphabet!

Apple Orchard

2011-08-11T17:15:00.000-07:00

We planted 4 apple trees this year. (We got a fantastic clearance deal at Home Depot in July.) Because of a dry spell we watered the trees frequently. In addition, to prevent Japanese Beetle destruction, we have applied homemade Cayenne Pepper spray. (See Japanese Beetle post for details & recipe.

Lamb: Pinkie Pie

2011-08-11T15:36:00.000-07:00

Name: Pinkie Pie
Breed: Cotswold
Date of Birth: June 2011

Story: Pickie came to us from Old World Wisconsin. She was rejected by her mother and Old World did not have the staff/cabablities to take care of her.

We nursed (bottle fed) Pinkie several times a day for several weeks. Because of this she is very friendly, knows her name and will approach you in the pasture (unlike our other sheep).

Entry Way Flower Garden

2011-08-10T14:34:00.000-07:00

Before:

During:

After:

Changes: Paint, New Windows, New Doors, Concrete Sidewalk, Flower Gardens, Tire Sandbox, Rocked Septic Spout

Daisy's
Black Eyed Susan's
Violets
Mums
Basil
Lavender
Cilantro
Oregano
Cone Flowers
Hostas
Mint
& More

Berries

2011-07-15T16:58:00.000-07:00

We now have a Raspberry, Black Berry & Blue Berry Patch.

Front of House - Before & After

2011-07-02T16:55:00.000-07:00

Before:

After:

Removal of Rotton Deck, New Windows, New Door, Paint
Next Year I will have a flower garden with rock border along the entire front, including a stone walk

Side House - Before & After

2011-07-01T16:22:00.000-07:00

Before:

After:

Hosta, Dafodils, Tulips, New Paint, New Windows

Garden

2011-06-04T06:34:00.000-07:00

The following vegetables are planted in my garden this year. They are listed West to East.

Sunflowers
Beans
Beans
Snap Peas/Beans
Radis
Carrots/Beets/Colards
Lettuce/Spinach
Red Peppers/Green Peppers
Tomatos (10 plants each row, should have been five plants per row, with 4 ft spacing)
Tomatos
Tomatos
Tomatos
Tomatos
Pumpkins, Goards, Watermelon, Cucumbers
Cayanne Pepper, Egg Plant
Onion

Next year changes -- only 1 - 1/2 rows of beans, more room between the tomatos, more room between all rows in general, less pumpkin or planted in a different location.

Ducks

2011-06-03T17:10:00.000-07:00

We have several ducks. They should be ready for harvest this fall. They were born/purchased this past spring and are benig feed a corn-based feeder diet. They have indoor and outdoor access, but seldom go out side. We have trimmed their wings.

Chickens

2011-06-02T19:57:00.000-07:00

Garden

2011-06-01T12:31:00.000-07:00

Ginger the Horse

2011-05-15T17:03:00.000-07:00

Ginger
Breed: Appaloosa

Age: 7

Aquired: Mothers Day 2011

Color: Red Roan
Height: 14.1

Goats - Bert & Ernie

2011-05-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

Ernie (left), Burt (right), bottle fed Nubian Dwarf Goats, aquired May 2010

Homesteading

2011-02-05T08:24:00.000-08:00

Homesteading, self-sustainability - the concept of organizing resources with the goal of increasing self-sufficiency.

Why?

In touch with the environment
One with the land
Teaching my children
Enjoy the outdoors
Interest in livestock & gardening

Foodstuffs

2011-02-05T08:16:00.000-08:00

Currently Available:
Raspberries
Morels
Asparagus
Hazelnuts

Future Plans:
Vegetable Garden
Herb Garden
Bees/Honey
Lamb
Beef
Chicken (meat & eggs)
Apples
Milking Goats

Garden

2011-02-05T08:13:00.000-08:00

2011 Garden:

Marigolds
Sunflowers
Onions
Tomato
Green Beans
Pumpkin
Cucumber
Zucchini
Peppers
Snap Peas
Gourds
Carrots

Notes:

Dust w/seven when plants are 2-6 inches and again when flowering or if you see holes.
Plant the garden the last week of April, first week of May
Start Peppers and Tomatoes inside the first week of March
Make trellis from 1X1 boards tied together in the middle to make tea peas (for green beans, & cucumbers)
If you have rabbits use blood meal