Coconut Grove Urban Farmstead

02/03/2023

Hello CocoGrovers

Welcome to season 4.

This Season Coconut Grove is excited to announce: we are moving locations!
Following the Cowboy Trail as they say. With our move we hope to gain further mentorship and integration into Agrarian ways, specifically in the ways of permacultural community and capacity building.

This time last year we held our inaugural Coffee Pot Weaving workshop. I would like to invite you all out to a closing Coffee Pot Weaving.

Coffee Pot Weaving is a Social Skill Building gathering focused on weaving. All skill levels welcome because we encourage communal teaching and learning.

When: Saturday at 10am (weaving occurs outside, some blankets provided-please bring more based on your baseline temperature regulation, bring mitts to keep your weaving tools warm, bring your own chair, and anything else that will help you feel comfortable as an individual in a group setting *coffee, pot, weaving materials/tools etc... water/ tea, snacks, cozy socks)

Where: Coconut Grove 53215 RR 272 Parkland County (follow the road to the Yurt)

Details: Parking on site (but must be a good driver), Farm road is in good condition currently but always expect a Rough Road Ahead, bathroom on the farm is a composting toilet aka a bucket and sawdust- must be comfortable with same.

During the workshop I’ll show you how to make a Bull Rush Hat (like the one pictured) for the coming garden season if you’d like, or come and work on your own project.

If you’d like to bring your own weaving material, please do, otherwise I’ll take you on a walk to collect material (willow, bull rush, cat tails, dogwood)

Please come and enjoy this work shop by donation- funds raised will help our farm move safely and comfortably to our new location.

If you cannot make the weaving, and still want to help see us off our email is [email protected]

Ps,

Lost but not forgotten, the Pirate ensures Coconut Grove is forever, because in the Early Dawn, there is Love and Fantasy.

Sincerely,

Coconut Grove

21/01/2023

Our Ground Cherries Last Year were awesome! Dylan made an amazing ground cherry and spice jam this fall that we still enjoy from our pantry.

It was our first time growing ground cherries, so were excited to plant them again this year!

Acorn Squash was also a favorite. Fried in Chicken Schmaltz, I guarantee you'll want to eat nothing else for the rest of your life haha

Our Sign Up for our Harvest Memberships Start Feb 1st! Message Us for any Questions or Check Out our Website

18/01/2023

What's Geotrichum Candidum Got to Do With It? EVERY THING!

Geo is found all over the world, from your skin to the soil beneath your feet. Its responsible inpart for the Creamy Brie you enjoy during the holidays... If its real cheese anyway!

As this Fungi eats it's way into the centre of the Fresh Goat Cheese, an umami flavour takes over the cheese as it breaks down and ages. This causes the cheese to soften and become gooey!

I made this cheese at the course I took from last year. Since then, we've been making our own cheeses here at the farmstead courtesy of Dolly and Parton. 🐐

Winter is tough for a couple of raw milk lovers, as our ladies are pregnant again! We will soon be back to cheese making come summer! Can't Wait! Stay tuned for some baby pics!

18/01/2023

Patty Pans ARE COMING back this year! We were swamped a few years ago with these squash 😂

We dreamt of them, ate them for breakfast and even made edible plates with them, just to get through the sheer amount of squash we had haha! I think our members had them growing from their ears as well!

If you like these fun looking squash even just a little, join us for our 2023 Harvest Membership! Sign Up Starts February 1st 2023

16/01/2023

Dylan tells me that the FIRST production carrot was purple and came from Afghanistan... I believe him, do you?

Dylan also says that the carrot was modified over the years from a plant called Queen Anne’s Lace (wild carrot).

So if people have been growing carrots for over 4000 years. I wonder what the carrot will look like by the end of my time growing them.

Here is to another 4000 years Carrots 🍻

14/01/2023

Winter Blues, Warm Up To Summer Greens! Looking out at our frosty garden, I can't help but dream about a fresh garden salad with a Dill and Raw Goat Yogurt Dressing🐐❤️

From the Picture it looks like our Harvest Members received, some tasty salad turnips last year! 😋

The turnips are smaller, more flavourful and have a buttery flavour went roasted. Garnished on a salad they add a nice caramel flavour to your meal. We loved them raw or mixed in with red pickled cabbage and raw goat cheese on top.

As our season approaches what are you most looking forward to?
🥒🥬🐛

13/01/2023

Trusty Dusty learning how to hunt this past summer 🐭

Dusty had never lived on a farm before meeting us but has quickly found his place here

11/01/2023

We've been growing wine cap mushrooms for a couple of years now and LOVE THEM! They will bloom overnight, and surprise you in the morning during chores.

These mushrooms can get to be the size of a dinner plate and have a strong nutty flavour. We dry and store them for winter use in soups and gravy! For the first time last year, we were treated to two blooming cycles in the spring and fall.

We will be making these beauties available on our homestead menu this summer, so stay tuned for their availability!

11/01/2023

🐛

08/01/2023

Exploring with the dog pack

05/01/2023

Throwing it back to last year's pulled pork picnic!

05/01/2023

Is it too soon to say spring is almost here? We can't wait here at the farm! 🐓

What vegetable do you like eating from the farmer's market or home garden?

03/01/2023

Chances are you've heard Hank, but have never met him! Come visit us this spring and sign up for our Harvest Membership available February 1st

01/01/2023

Day 1, Year Four, Here we go! Hope y'all are having a great start o the year! How did you celebrate the new year? Here at the Farm we ran around the yurt bare foot, a tradition in the family!

#2023

01/01/2023

Well with a final new years push Dylan and I cranked out the last bit of the siding. We're pretty happy with how the stable turned out.

In -40 deg temps, the passive solar design + body heat, brought the inside temp to -20! On cold nights we also supplement the animals with heat lamps and a warm snack. 🥞🌞

Total cost for the stable so far, not including time and heat lamps, is maybe $100! Our beautiful friends hooked us up with siding and roofing!

The gap in the front where the pile of bricks is located will eventually house a little heating unit. We'd love to get a green house built on the front of the building to make the most of the heat generated.

Lots of love to you guys in the New Year! Come check out how our farm is changing come the start of our growing season 🌱🛖

👎

31/12/2022

What a gorgeous last morning of the year! Today we got up early to finish the last few things on our stable build. We’re racing to get it all finished up before the new year!

Wish us luck!

14/12/2022

Watering Hole - Everyday we make our way down to the watering hole to bring fresh water to the animals. I love the hike down the the creek to burst open the over night freeze. The ice is like glass when it freezes this fast as it caps off the flow below.

Im debating covering the hole with an insulated lid. Let me know what yeah think 🧊

26/11/2022

We Grew this WaterMelon 🍉

It was exhausting 😴

22/11/2022

Logging Part Two

17/11/2022

🐈‍⬛ 🐕 🐈

08/11/2022

My Gargoyle’s perch here.

Dusty my Moonlight 🌚 and Gerry my sunshine ☀️

A fox went and Killed our AppleJack- the chicken raised by the duck.

I’ll miss him. He was a good Rooster and went and visited his mom often.

28/10/2022

Micheal

09/10/2022

Willow Weaving Workshop! Chicken Coop Build! Come learn how to weave by building a chicken coop here at the farm!

If your interested in weaving or alternative permaculture construction, volunteer and get involved by messaging us directly.

We’re flexible to include you whenever you may be free. So message us about your availability and get started out here today!

05/10/2022

A few pics of the Coco Grove Farm Animals

03/10/2022

Stocking up for winter!

Hope your gardens were abundant for you all this season!

30/09/2022

Drying out some peppers for some home made chilli flakes and hot sauce! I might try and smoke some this weekend in our new smoker!

21/09/2022

Baby’s first Stanchion.

Farmer Tom looking after some Hoofs Today 🐐❤️

18/09/2022

18/09/2022

❤️

18/09/2022

Haha! A year in review part 5: