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Is the sun finally here to stay? I sure hope so, cause my fields are still buried under a bit of snow, though fast melting. Farming and gardening have few guarantees, especially when it comes to weather. When tending the land within our modern landscape you are constantly torn between 'land time' (which is based upon weather, climate, soil moisture, winds, the seasons, and neighboring wildlife) and the modern human schedule of appointments, errands, and following a clock that doesn't care when the sun comes up or goes down. Spend too long deep in one set of time and it can be hard to adjust back to the other. But watching seeds you put into soil with your own hands, eating food you grew from those seeds, and watching flowers bloom on their own schedule helps ease us back into 'land time'. There's a fresh batch of microgreens for this week so you can feed yourself from your local land and, if you are looking to plant some seeds of your own, there'll be a restock of seeds heading to Homesteaders by the end of the week!  Microgreens aren't only for salads! Add them into your next taco night for an extra dose of healthy and yummy. Featured is the Mild Mix with broccoli, kale, cabbage, and choy. Pick up some each Thursday from 12-1pm at the Libby Chamber! What are Microgreens?
Yes, that is the gate to my main growing field. and yes, that is still a good bit of snow. But, the sun is out and daytime temps are in the 40s so the melt is fast! If my impatience lingers I may just use an old trick of sprinkling a little wood ash onto the snow to help it along ;)
What's available this week?
Where to find it all?
The Mini Microgreen Market of course, running all winter! Thursdays from 12-1pm at the Libby Chamber of Commerce *come inside where it's warm & toasty while the micros are chill in their mini cooler*
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These days I feel as busy as a bee even if there is nothing to plant or pollinate yet! Each week my list of seeds to sow is longer and ever growing, but if you've found some seeds you no longer want or have questions about how to save those varieties you love, come to the Seed Swap this Saturday, March 11th from 12-2pm at the Amish Farm to Market Store in Libby, MT. I'll be there with some farm-saved seeds to swap and share as well as giving an Introduction to Seed Saving and answering your burning questions.  Don't let the name fool you, the Mild Mix is the wildest blend kale, cabbage, and broccoli □. It's just a mild kinda wild! What are Microgreens?
What's available this week?
Where to find it all?
The Mini Microgreen Market of course, running all winter! Thursdays from 12-1pm at the Libby Chamber of Commerce *come inside where it's warm & toasty while the micros are chill in their mini cooler* We humans are fickle things. In October and November I'm eager for the snow to return. Running outside at it's first sign in a tshirt and relishing the feeling of blistering cold. In March I'm begging it to leave. Pleading. Cajoling. Giving Promises. If only it would go and the warmth and sun and green and growing return. I've forgotten what it was like to feel comfortable in a tshirt and sandals outside, to not have frozen fingers and feet stuffed into boots. I've forgotten the ease of not needing to plan extra time to scrape ice off my windshield or carry water to the hens. I've forgotten what summer feels like and, even though I know better, a part of me almost wonders if it will ever return. And, usually, in this deepest place of despair and grumpiness and cabin fever, the Sun suddenly shines. Almost as if she wants to ensure the grandest entrance, the greatest appreciation for her shine, and the biggest welcome for her return. So I make sure I run outside in a tshirt and feel the warmth of her shine, turn my face to her face, and smile and laugh and give her the greatest, most ebullient standing ovation possible, for she is what helps the green things to grow  If you've never grown them, you rarely get to see the glow up the micros go through! In a few hours, they go from barely germinating to full on reaching for the sun What are Microgreens?
 The cats have been enjoying the odd day of sunshine here and there, but not so much the other days of wind and cold and snow. And, honestly, neither does this farmer. Sheesh! Doesn't the weather know I've got projects to get done in the field before too long that can't be done with a foot of icy snowpack in the way!
What's available this week?
Where to find it all?
The Mini Microgreen Market of course, running all winter! Thursdays from 12-1pm at the Libby Chamber of Commerce *come inside where it's warm & toasty while the micros are chill in their mini cooler* These days I feel as busy as a bee even if there is nothing to plant or pollinate yet! Each week my list of seeds to sow is longer and ever growing, but if you've found some seeds you no longer want or have questions about how to save those varieties you love, come to the Seed Swap this Saturday, March 11th from 12-2pm at the Amish Farm to Market Store in Libby, MT. I'll be there with some farm-saved seeds to swap and share as well as giving an Introduction to Seed Saving and answering your burning questions. Don't let the name fool you, the Mild Mix is the wildest blend kale, cabbage, and broccoli □. It's just a mild kinda wild! What are Microgreens?
What's available this week?
Where to find it all?
The Mini Microgreen Market of course, running all winter! Thursdays from 12-1pm at the Libby Chamber of Commerce *come inside where it's warm & toasty while the micros are chill in their mini cooler* Half Moon? What!? Why? So many others do bimonthly newsletters on the Full and New Moon. They always get the attention. They always get the fandom. They always get the importance. The Half Moon, also called quarter moon, but when you look at it with your actual eyeballs it isn’t quarter, its half! (it’s a celestial pet peeve of mine) Half Dark. Half Light. And each switching sides every time. One time growing in light, the other time growing in dark. It isn’t the pause between the inhale and the exhale, it *is* the inhale and the exhale. It is the middle road. The wait is nearly over! Free the Seeds in Kalispell is this Saturday, March 4th. It's one of my favorite events for meeting old and finding new plant people. There are workshops, presentations, booths, and, of course, a whole lot of FREE seeds! Check out their website for details on all the fun stuff, including a presentation by me, Megan of Dragon's Breath Farm, on Edible Garden Weeds.  As the moisture and the microbes break down the protective coating on the seeds (allowing them to wait until their environment is best for their thriving) they begin to germinate and grow forth to the light, whether that be the grow lights for now or the eventual sunlight
 Without the proper balance, they might not grow or they will abort in the most common fashion called 'dampening off' where a healthy seedling gets too wet, bogged down and dies.
Sometimes the first stage of growth happens outside of our vision. It happens in the dark, warm, wet soil where the seed sheds its coat.
Future Learning OpportunitiesAre you ready to step into the wilderness? Saturday, March 4th: Free the Seeds in Kalispell I'll be giving a presentation on Edible Garden Weeds: The Accidental Harvest. Stop by for all the free presentations, info booths, and, of course, free seeds! Tuesdays in May: Troy Adult Education Program I'll be teaching a Spring Wildflower & Native Plant ID class on Tuesday evenings in May and early June. Two indoor classes to cover the basics and two outings to meet all the wonderful spring plants around Troy. Sign-ups to be announced later. Seasonal On-Farm Foraging Classes: Dragon's Breath Farm Come learn about commonly available seasonal edible plants in our region. We'll meet the plants, learn about their edible and also medicinal qualities, proper foraging etiquette, and taste the wonders of the wilds. I'll be updating the schedule as we get closer to spring. What's available this week?
Where to find it all?
The Mini Microgreen Market of course, running all winter! Thursdays from 12-1pm at the Libby Chamber of Commerce *come inside where it's warm & toasty while the micros are chill in their mini cooler* Since the weather seems determined to scarper my best laid plans for outside work, I've turned my attention to fixing the inventory problem on the online store. The best solution, if not the easiest or quickest, is to rebuild the store on my regular webpage. This is working well since I'm adding new products anyways so being able to format it from the ground up again is nice. It does mean it will take me a few weeks to get everything transferred and formatted. So, don't hold your breath just yet, but the new store is coming! And, of course, this newsletter is the best way to hear about it once it's here. Until then, stay warm and keep dreaming of the inevitable spring! Almost forgot to mention that you can now get a selection of flower seeds from the farm at Homesteaders in Libby! Look for my little display of local, farm-saved seeds to add a bit of color to your world  Microgreens are a great way to chase away the cabin fever blues and give hints of all the good green things to come! What are Microgreens?
 My sister gifted the hens and I an automatic feeder that opens up to reveal the food when they stand on the pedal! They are in training mode right now so it is locked open but they flocked (□) to it right away. It keeps their food dry and locked up from varmints (you must read that with an old timey accent lol) so that I don't have to be out their with their food first thing! It gives me a chance to focus on other tasks in the morning knowing they aren't gasping for grub The kittens are almost as grumpy as me about the renewed cold and snow  When it's cold outside what better place to snuggle than on a warm blanket that may have a heated blanket underneath ;)
Where to find it all?
The Mini Microgreen Market of course, running all winter! Thursdays from 12-1pm at the Libby Chamber of Commerce *come inside where it's warm & toasty while the micros are chill in their mini cooler* We are back to our normal Thursday delivery schedule! Now there won't only be microgreens available, but also some Dragon's Scale Salve, Herbal Infused Body Oils, and Dried Flower Bouquets. They'll be listed online soon, adding photos, writing descriptions, and getting all the shipping and delivery settings finalized isn't a five minute task. Until then, I'll bring a sampling a items in each Thursday, but if you want to look over something specific, let me know!  The radishes like to grow thick and tall like mini trees, their canopy reaching for the light What are Microgreens?
 Even if one of the big flower-giving holidays is gone, you can still get flowers for yourself or anyone else without having a holiday to remind you. Might it even be more special to give or get flowers on a day when there is no outside incentive to?  And when it's wet from either rain or melt outside, the kittens get a little help to use up all their extraordinary energy What's available this week?
Where to find it all?
The Mini Microgreen Market of course, running all winter! Thursdays from 12-1pm at the Libby Chamber of Commerce *come inside where it's warm & toasty while the micros are chill in their mini cooler* Half Moon Newsletter Half Moon? What!? Why? So many others do bimonthly newsletters on the Full and New Moon. They always get the attention. They always get the fandom. They always get the importance. The Half Moon, also called quarter moon, but when you look at it with your actual eyeballs it isn’t quarter, its half! (it’s a celestial pet peeve of mine) Half Dark. Half Light. And each switching sides every time. One time growing in light, the other time growing in dark. It isn’t the pause between the inhale and the exhale, it *is* the inhale and the exhale. It is the middle road.  Even as winter fades away and the days bring more rain than snow, the nights remain cold bringing with it the Ice Season  As the snowpack melts in the warmth of the sun and freezes again at night, and as I get to walking around the land more as outdoor tasks ever so slowly begin to increase (along with my desire to get outside into that finally warm sunshine) the ice begins to build and you can start to feel a little like this usually fluffy, round Lodgepole Pine; worn down and weighted by the lingering effects of winter and the burgeoning hope of spring  But all this temperature wavering across the ice/water boundary also means the sap begins to rise. Pretty soon these Cottonwood buds will be dripping with it's deliciously resinous and aromatic sap. Something that is a nuisance to some but medicinal to all. And those plump buds are what unfurl into the leaves that allow the trees to harness all that solar power from the summer sun.  And just as the trees use this time of transition to prepare for the growing season, so do I!  This is when I begin to clear out the washing and packing area where all the veggies and flowers are trimmed, bunched, bagged, wrapped, and made ready for market. This is when I take stock of all the supplies and packaging needed for the season and order anything I'm out of. This is when I finish cleaning and packing all the farm-saved seeds so they'll be ready for all you gardeners out there. This is when I go out and begin preparing the greenhouse for the tsunami of seed starts that will soon be moving through, with a little bit of help from a mostly ineffective work crew  And it's when I have some of the last opportunities for deep rest before the work of seeding, watering, and tending those same seed starts from spring until autumn. It's the same cycles that the trees and other perennial plants have learned and it's one that humans have mostly forgotten, but are maybe returning to: the cycle of rest and growth.  It does not serve any system to grow constantly, even in climates that lack snow, there is still rest in another form or another time. For if we don't take the time to rest, to recover, to build foundations, to set down roots, we tend to topple over. So even if that warm spring sun is telling you to jump into action, rest a last moment instead. Pause and let winter finish in it's own time and enjoy the warmth of the sun before you use it to grow. Future Learning Opportunities Are you ready to step into the wilderness? Saturday, March 4th: Free the Seeds in Kalispell I'll be giving a presentation on Edible Garden Weeds: The Accidental Harvest. Stop by for all the free presentations, info booths, and, of course, free seeds! Tuesdays in May: Troy Adult Education Program I'll be teaching a Spring Wildflower & Native Plant ID class on Tuesday evenings in May and early June. Two indoor classes to cover the basics and two outings to meet all the wonderful spring plants around Troy. Sign-ups to be announced later. Seasonal On-Farm Foraging Classes: Dragon's Breath Farm Come learn about commonly available seasonal edible plants in our region. We'll meet the plants, learn about their edible and also medicinal qualities, proper foraging etiquette, and taste the wonders of the wilds. I'll be updating the schedule as we get closer to spring. What's available this week?
Where to find it all?
The Mini Microgreen Market of course, running all winter! Thursdays from 12-1pm at the Libby Chamber of Commerce *come inside where it's warm & toasty while the micros are chill in their mini cooler* No Mini Microgreen Market this week as those greens will be coming to town this Saturday, February 11th at the Sweetheart Market instead! And it won't be just me but lots of other vendors showcasing your favorite local small businesses. And I won't have just microgreens but a lot more special stuff for your special sweetheart. I've been working away in the cabin all winter to bring you great new products from the farm. Some things have really been cookin' away in cool darkness since last summer just waiting for the right time to be turned into some magical salves, infused oils, and essences. And while the field sits sleeping under it's blanket of snow, I've been letting my creativity run wild with new crafted projects full of color, shine, and quality. If you're as eager for spring as I am, you can also find my full line of farm-saved seeds to get ready to let your garden run wild! So why not spend a wintry Saturday inside with your favorite farmers market vendors getting a little something to feed your body, feed your soul, and maybe feed that connection between you and someone you love?  So fresh and so green with the promise of Spring The all new line-up of Herb Infused Body Oils. Made with Organic Sunflower Oil that is perfect for all skin types, not too greasy, not too dry, and infused with farm-grown and wildcrafted herbs. Each jar comes with a little spoon so you can dish it out as fast as you like! While many budding herbalist can look up how the plants can restore and balance the physical body, they also help restore and balance our spirit too. Each label is printed with what this plant does best, their superpower.  This is the first of the line-up of Essences: Winter Solstice: Dark Moon is a space & time essence made on the near convergence of the New Moon and the Winter Solstice, to be exact it was the day after the Solstice just as the Sun is returning to life while the Moon was dark. Use it to help expand your internal space so that you can carry more light and shine brighter. The Dragon's Balm get a rebrand, Dragon's Scale Salve! Still the same great blend of Organic Olive Oil infused with all the best farm-grown and wildcrafted herbs from my father's formula melted into beeswax to form a salve that will help soothe away your own dragon scales. It's now in tubes for an easy and less messy application, available in two sizes, and with minimal plastic in the packaging. And then the new woven beaded bracelets and rings: All made with my own two hands using the ever beautiful Miyuki beads and 14k gold clasps and connectors. The shine and sparkle is impossible to capture in a photo so why not check them out in person? Each bracelet design is unique and will only be made once as I create the patterns from seasonal inspirations. The rings are each available in different sizes so you can find just the right fit and I can repair any bead that breaks or thread that wears down. Each piece will come with a gift box or bag.  The kittens are as eager for spring as I am and had to carry out a quality control inspection of my box with hide tanning goodies including all the tools, materials, and a salted deer hide to get me ready for my spring course on natural hide tanning! So, if you know (or are) a hunter that doesn't use the hide, you can bring them to me! What's available this week?
Is it almost another Thursday again?! you betcha! Me and my micros will be in the Libby Chamber from 12-1pm this Thursday, and if you can't make it then but are in Libby, I might just be able to bring them to you!
What are Microgreens?
These Dried Flower beauties will be making their debut at the Sweethearts Market on Saturday, February 11th. Why not show your sweetheart your everlasting love for them with a bouquet of everlasting flowers?!
Where to find it all?
The Mini Microgreen Market of course, running all winter! Thursdays from 12-1pm at the Libby Chamber of Commerce *come inside where it's warm & toasty while the micros are chill in their mini cooler* The Sweetheart Market February 11th from 10-6pm at the Ponderosa Room in Libby |
AuthorI'm Farmer Megan with a life full of cackles, clucks, quacks, weeds, crazy kitten, and one tiny, senior, blind dog. Archives
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