The Forest Farm

01/17/2025

Our northern homestead where we planted the pines sits right on top of underground rivers that feed our springs. It’s one of the reasons we are restoring habitat, to provide a healthy recharge system for groundwater to percolate into the aquifer. Our main home also sits near wetlands, so we are making efforts to maintain healthy soil so nutrients aren’t washed away by rains. How can you help the ecosystem in your little corner of the world?

The state has been slow to adopt rules to protect Florida's endangered springs. While a boom in residential construction has increased the amount of groundwater being taken from the aquifers.

01/15/2025

Great timing! I’m excited about our habitat restoration of longleaf pines in north Florida, but we have also planted slash pines at our home in Plant City. This is the first year that we have had enough needles drop so they can be raked and mounded for free, attractive mulch, a classic southern look. Strongly encourage you to add a few to your landscape!

01/14/2025

Yep, that’s mud on my face, but that’s also the look of exhaustion and satisfaction after planting 125 yellow longleaf pine saplings…in the rain…in the low 40s.

01/12/2025

PROVISION. How have you seen God’s provision in your life this week? For me, it came from simple bags of neck bones, pried out of the bottom of the freezer, buried under the “choice” cuts of meat from a pig and cow we purchased last spring. I don’t know how this southern girl didn’t know about this humble delicacy, but DANG! I have been missing out! Thanks to those “scraps” and a lot of patience, we now have delicious meat for soup and stew, divided in convenient freezer bags, perfect for those busy nights when I don’t want to cook. There’s also multiple jars of shelf-stable bone broth, full of collagen for our aging bodies. Even the skimmed fat was used to make suet cakes for our chickens, which they instantly began to devour. That provision still required work on my part, but I think I’ll look at discards a little differently now, and try to see God’s provision in unexpected places.

01/08/2025

These crisp mornings are too chilly for this Florida girl, but the sunrises certainly are vivid!

12/31/2024

New year, new habits, starting with a chicken victory! Every pullet went to bed with the big hens without having to be helped tonight! Woohoooo! Doing the chicken dance in excitement! No, they aren’t roosting yet, but this is a big step and such a relief for us.

12/28/2024

A colorful start to the morning on the farm, and it’s planting day! Excited to be digging in the dirt to transplant seedlings, sow seeds, and pull weeds. What’s your plan for the day?

12/26/2024

Hope your Christmas was merry, bright, and peaceful.

12/23/2024

My favorite time of day. The sun has dipped, the bats are flying, and our little corner of the world rests.

12/22/2024

Found a plant I didn’t recognize in the chicken run today. Was surprised to learn that it’s chia! I tossed some rancid seeds out for the chickens two months ago, and one germinated! Apparently it only flowers when nights are longer than days, but it’s also frost sensitive. Since pollinators love it, I think I’ll plant more and try to protect from the occasional cold snap.

12/21/2024

Crisp Florida day, but the blue sky and hydrangea were showing off.

12/19/2024

The girls are mad because their scratch feed ran out. Alright, alright, I’m going to get more!

12/18/2024

Hubby flew the coop to Christmas shop, so time to dust off the Vince Guaraldi piano score for Charlie Brown and delightfully play a bunch of wrong notes. The don’t mind. 🤣 🎶 🎹

12/17/2024

Have you seen these in your oak trees? These are oak galls, and they show a symbiotic relationship between the tree and critters, like wasps, bacteria, or nematodes. The critter lays eggs in the tissue of the tree, and the plant tissue then swells and grows around the eggs, protecting them until they mature and emerge as insects. It doesn’t typically harm the tree, and contributes to . Look up, and check out your oak trees!

12/16/2024

The homing pigeon decided that this is his new home. Meet “Homer,” the newest resident on our crazy little farm.

12/15/2024

This is what happens when I forget to turn off the game camera. 🤣 I hope “Ms. Buffington” brings a bit of joy to your heart this morning, since JOY is the theme for this third week of Advent.

12/13/2024

Chicken selfies with Corabeth on this beautiful Florida day. 🥰 Anyone else have a theme for naming their chickens?

12/11/2024

I know our goal has been biodiversity on the farm, but this is the first deer we have had in 10 years of living here!!! Mission accomplished? 🤣😮🤯