The Blog Barn

January Thaw

North Star Homestead Farms, LLC   -   Jan 18, 2014 - By Ann, Laura, and Kara

So, last week, we all nearly froze to death.  And yes, I had been hoping for something a little warmer—something above zero.  But temperatures hovering around 30 degrees, while nice for the winter athletes in the area, is an utter messiness on the...

Crazy Cold

North Star Homestead Farms, LLC   -   Jan 18, 2014 - By Ann, Laura, and Kara

I’m not trying to be dramatic, but it’s colder than colder than cold outside today.  Schools are canceled across the state and even in Chicago, eight hours driving time to the south.  A pure arctic blast sweeps across the Northland, plummeting...

Finding Joy in the Little Moments

North Star Homestead Farms, LLC   -   Jan 18, 2014 - By Ann, Laura, and Kara

Farming can have its moments of drudgery:  mucking barns, cleaning chicken coops, weeding the garden, mulching the potato patch—the sorts of projects that make our summer interns grumble and groan.  And then there are the tastefully unpleasant tasks,...

Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference     (go to: smallfarmconference.com) Date: Feb. 1 st , 2014 Place: Grand Traverse Resort, Traverse City MI I look forward to this conference. Put together by farmers for farmers.  It is...

Farm Apprentice Opening

Sunnyside Mtn Farm   -   Jan 18, 2014 - By Ali_1

Hello hello! Farm apprenticeship opening available for the 2014 season. Sunnyside Mtn Farm is a no-till/low till, non-certified organic market garden producing an array of veggies, herbs, strawberries, raspberries and a diversity of cut flowers for a small...

2014 Seed Starting Plan

Arcadia Farms   -   Jan 17, 2014 - By Katie

Earlier this month I shared the 2014 Main Garden Plan for Arcadia Farms (and you can see it by clicking here ). I’m still working on plans for the Fenceline Garden because I’d like to transition it from a garden of annuals to a space for perennial fruit and...

Chaparral herb can cause liver and kidney damage

CAROLINA HERBS!!!   -   Jan 16, 2014 - By Elaynn

  The herbChaparral refers to three herb species: Larrea tridentata, Larrea divaricata and Larrea mexicana, a/k/acreosote bush, greasewood, or hediondilla Scientific/medical name(s): Larrea divaricata coville, Larrea tridentata (DC)...

CASCARA SAGRADA (Rhamnus Pursbiana) a/k/a sacr...

CAROLINA HERBS!!!   -   Jan 16, 2014 - By Elaynn

  The native Americans used this for hundreds of years as a laxative. Cascara Sagrada was accepted in medical practice in the United States in 1877. The bark should be dried for at least one year before using.  Fresh cut, causes...

Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)

CAROLINA HERBS!!!   -   Jan 16, 2014 - By Elaynn

BLACK COHOSH(Cimicifuga racemosa)  also known as black snakeroot, rattleweed, rattleroot, bugbane, bugwort, squaw root   Do not confuse black cohosh with blue cohosh or white cohosh. These are unrelated plants. The blue and white cohosh...

Bluegrass Farmers' Market Winter Warmer Uppers...

Bluegrass Farmers Market   -   Jan 16, 2014 - By Kentucky Proud

It looks like we might get hit with another round of winter weather...hopefully not nearly as cold as the last blast! The great news...only 85 days and a wake up until we'll be opening our 2014 market season! :) Mark your calendars because April 12 th is...