The Parkview Patch

09/12/2024

We are low on eggs right now.
Seems to be that time of year for all of our bird friends.

Not even eggs for my breakfast! That's ridiculous!

Check back with us!

09/10/2024

Lights off at night is best for birds, insects and animals and fish! No need for all night patio lights!

09/03/2024

These guys are amazing. Not so much when they showed up to our pond but it is incredible what they accomplish.

08/20/2024

Another retrograde cycle, another bird drama. Grateful for Dr Wilson at Brunswick Animal and Avian. They love when Persephone visits.

07/21/2024

The DUCK side of the Moon

07/02/2024

2024's theme

06/29/2024

Rabbits, you are officially put on notice.
No more will I save you from the jaws of Santiago. No more will I gracefully grow more than I need. You have crossed the line!

06/07/2024

But did you know?!
We are surrounded by this invasive growth.

06/04/2024

I actually saw some over in Danny Boys parking lot. It's at Furnace Run trails too.

I haven't looked for it on our property yet.

06/03/2024

Start looking at your yard. How can you help even a little? We made Bee Baths this year.

Keeping honey bee hives will not help the 3,600 bee species native to North America. In fact, it might do the opposite. The best solution to bee declines is to address underlying causes like habitat loss and pesticide use. Native flower gardens can support all bees.

05/31/2024

Skip that Butterfly Bush!

Here are a few native flowers that are better for a North American garden than butterfly bush:
- Milkw**d (Asclepias sp.)
- Bee balm (Monarda sp.)
- Goldenrod (Solidago sp.)
- Coneflower (Echinacea sp.)
- Black or Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia sp.)
- Aster (Symphyotrichum sp.)
- Joe Pye (Eupatorium sp.)
- Beardtongue (Penstemon sp.)
- Native sunflowers (Helianthus sp.)
- Evening primrose (Oenothera sp.)
- Yarrow (Achillea sp.)
- Cardinal flower (Lobelia sp.)
*find a specific species native to your region*

Butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) is a plant that evolved in Asia and is listed as invasive in at least 20 US states. It’s even considered a noxious w**d in some regions!

Being invasive means it disrupts ecosystems, displaces native plants, and causes ecological harm.

The name “butterfly bush” and the plant's showy flowers have caused gardeners to plant this species thinking with good intentions that they’re doing something helpful for butterflies.

Unfortunately, it ends up taking over large areas and killing the native plants that butterflies need to reproduce!

And while some adult butterflies might stop by for a drink of nectar, they prefer native plants and their babies can ONLY eat native plants.

Here are a few native flowers that are better for a North American garden than butterfly bush:

- Milkw**d (Asclepias sp.)
- Bee balm (Monarda sp.)
- Goldenrod (Solidago sp.)
- Coneflower (Echinacea sp.)
- Black or Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia sp.)
- Aster (Symphyotrichum sp.)
- Joe Pye (Eupatorium sp.)
- Beardtongue (Penstemon sp.)
- Native sunflowers (Helianthus sp.)
- Evening primrose (Oenothera sp.)
- Yarrow (Achillea sp.)
- Cardinal flower (Lobelia sp.)

*find a specific species native to your region*

05/31/2024

Brecksville Home Days schedule coming your way!

05/29/2024

Excited by the new packaging!
Our soy free, non gmo, etc. yadda yadda yadda food!
We get eggcited about soy free foods!

Shop Local!

🤩New Look Same Feed!🤩
We are always listening and trying to improve to bring the best products to our customers. We heard you and have upgraded our bags to better protect against moisture and the dust they leave behind. We now have a premium bag to go with our premium feed.

Thank you all for growing with us thus far!

05/28/2024

Eggs are back!
The ladies moved to their summer coop grounds and it caused a blip in egg production.

05/25/2024

Eggs are sold out! Duck and chicken.
Good thing I made my deviled eggs early.

We do have 5 goose eggs for the bold. They taste like eggs and wow your guest.

THANK YOU

05/24/2024

Barn cats available to hire!

We have two sets of cats we need to relocate to loving barn homes. Both sets are semi social.

If you, or someone you know, are looking for kitties, we would love to discuss with you!

This application will help us start the process!
https://form.jotform.com/220345414776052

05/19/2024

The pace is slower this year. No need to over do it.

05/17/2024

Some things to consider when switching out or adding new to your landscape. Natives thrive and help you regain balance in all aspects of your yard.

05/15/2024

My bestie Phyllis.

05/10/2024

Don't forget your moms!

Sometimes she is right.

05/08/2024

😂

04/26/2024

Resident rodent eradicator has passed.
We spent 14 wonderful years with Tucker.

You may have been greeted by him on your visit.

He was one of a kind and lived a life cats dream of.
Thank you, Tucker! 😭 😭 😭

04/05/2024

Julie is doing such great things! So knowledgable and in Ohio! You can find her on YT, ETSY and here.

Greetings everyone!
I think it is important for me to establish the purpose of my journey and how my direction correlates with the goals of our little farm.

My mission is to facilitate concepts of permaculture and agriculture utilizing native plants in order to gain greater value of our land; increasing communal sustainability and biodiversity while upholding wise land management that creates a greater balance with nature.

From the smallest mushroom to the tallest tree, I believe that by harmonizing ourselves on property that we can resolve issues with pest management, loss of pollinators, and reduce our footprint...all while improving the soil, our health, and environment for long term benefits.

I focus on growing native plants of the Midwest and reformatting perceptions of permaculture to educate others on the massive impact choosing plants of our gorgeous nation is better than choosing non-native plants that often are invasive and detremental.

So let's sum it up...

Non-native / Hybrids / Cultivares
* often attract pollinators, like butterfly bush from Asia but have been shown to be extremely harmful to their caterpillars.

* attract pollinators but provide no food for caterpillars, causing an entire wave of insects to perish. Many butterflies live only days or a week, and that gives little time to find a host plant for their eggs. If they spend all their time on non native plants they die without any viable offspring, which in turn may mean none to overwinter in your area and zero of that species the following year.

* as a hybrid or cultivare of a native plant, they often are not selected as a host plant or provide as much food for pollinators. They are still sold for pollinators gardens.

* very frequently become invasive (Bradford pear, bush honeysuckle, privet, burning bush, tree of heaven, ditch lilies, ect) and greenhouses will continue to sell then even when shown how horrible they are to our ecosystems. They push out more atrocious "proven winners" every year and lie and/or omit critical information from their consumers to make sales.

* are given extensive growth hormones at the greenhouse to fill their containers and send out lots of blooms, but will frequently struggle when planted and need a lot of upkeep in a garden bed.

* often do not provide food for native birds and any that do has been proven to be less nutrient dense than native options, causing birds to suffer in the winter.

* made to sell does not mean made to endure. Many gorgeous blooming plants don't make it thru the winter.

* attract more deer which bring in more ticks.

* often have much less nectar than their native counterparts.

* often are damaging to the soil, send out growth inhibitors, or do not benefit mycology colonies.

* are un-American. Yep, I said it. I love cultivated roses, hosta, and dahlias but when folk refuse to plant anything from our nation yet fly the flag I have questions.

Native Plants
* are critical host plants for butterflies and moths.
* provide homes and food for native bees.
* provide food and homes for native birds.
* provide food and homes for beneficial bugs.
* attract beneficial bugs that eat pests.
* improve and secure biodiversity.
* provide stability to our ecosystems.
* are gorgeous and unique to look at.
* many are perfect for small gardens.
* many built to thrive and survive a multitude of conditions.
* improve soil.
* often have medicinal uses.
* many have food usage.
* many have practical applications.

So I do what I do for the wellbeing of ourselves and the environment we live in. I am a small business, and I will never be dishonorable to make a sale. I will always tell folk the truth about every plant. If I don't have it, or I live further away I often reccomend local growers near you even when I have shipping options for plants.

I don't use pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides. I'll never afford to be organic nor do I plan to be classified as such. I share my journey as a practical realist and share what I can about the facts I learn along the way.

I am glad for everyone joining me on my path!

04/03/2024

The cooler is out. Self serve is open.

03/26/2024

These 2 getting crazy with the cheese wiz.
Chewing everyone else up!
Spring time - not fun time for us.

03/10/2024

Tell me I have ducks…

02/29/2024

Who wouldn't want that?!

02/28/2024

😂😂😂

02/28/2024

THAT is really great!

You've heard of seed tape, now work that for a square foot garden using 12x12" napkins.

Open the napkins up, and pull apart the two ply layers. Mix water/flour together and dot the seed layout with a cotton swab. Then place 1-3 seeds on each glue spot, replace the two ply napkin back together; gingerly pressing the pieces at the glue spots. Label, then place on a piece of construction paper to dry.

Once dry, fold up like a napkin and set aside for planting day! I like to organize mine into bags for each bed that also have the garden plan and any larger seeds. Everything is all set, on planting day you take the bag for your bed, take out the napkins and organize where they go. Scrape away an inch of dirt, lay the napkin down, scatter dirt on top. Presto!

02/21/2024

We caught Salty last light so she had a sleep over with her sister Pepper. We are attempting to house them with the Anconas in case Pepper goes broody again.