Pear Leaf Blister Mites

Pear Leaf Blister Mites

Many pests, and pathogens, are adept at overwintering among leaf litter, dormant buds, and bark. This means that for fruit trees the dormant season is often the best time to try to remedy pest problems noted in the orchard during the previous year. Last season, as the...
Farm Expansion: Where The Dream Meets Reality

Farm Expansion: Where The Dream Meets Reality

Be forewarned, this is something of a personal rant, but with the expanding organic, and sustainable food movement, coupled with the continuing loss of small scale workable land in this area, I do have to wonder just how many others are as frustrated as we are at the...
Seeds 2013: Something Old, Something New

Seeds 2013: Something Old, Something New

Although we’re only a few weeks into winter, seed starting has already begun here on the farm.  Our long, mild, growing season doesn’t give us a lot of time off. Last year we were distracted through most of winter, and early spring, with bringing our first...
Cheese Making: Whole Milk Ricotta

Cheese Making: Whole Milk Ricotta

It’s the New Year, and this year one of my resolutions is to make more cheese. Not necessarily to eat more cheese, but make more of the cheeses that we use the most often. We’re looking forward to our own fresh goat’s milk in spring, but in the...
Lotus & Minnie: Santa’s Little Helpers…

Lotus & Minnie: Santa’s Little Helpers…

It’s Christmas Eve, and there’s a lot of excitement on the farm, as the Curbstone Valley elves, and Santa’s little helpers, are busy with last minute preparations for the holidays. The Christmas decorations are up. The presents are wrapped, and...