The Fair Acre

2 Acre Micro Farm • Permaculture • Animals • Rainbow Eggs • Self Serve Farm Cart
(3)

09/03/2024

We are saving all excess produce from the garden for off season use. The Harvest Right freeze dryer has been fun for our teenager and his candy gig but is proving to be a great tool for preserving vegetable from the garden we would typically sell or toss to the animals.

The farm cart is an extension of our home. What we grow and do here is rooted in feeding our family and sharing with you. Next year when we plan the garden, I will be mindful of this new tool and plant extras so we are still able to share.

Thank you for supporting our little farm 🤎

08/31/2024

As Autumn begins to whisper through the California heat we begin to harvest and wrap up the summer garden. Pulling leeks as they are ready is one of the fall flavors I am most excited about.

Potato leek soup on a crisp October night is only around the corner.

I’m already set for what’s going in the ground this fall.

We will layer the garden with rich compost and plant brassicas, lettuces, beets, carrots, garlic and onions.
🥦 🧅 🥕 🧄 🥬

08/27/2024

This puppy love experience has been a gift.

There is nothing quite like puppy love and after this experience I truly understand the phrase used so often in young love.

Loving these puppies and caring for Delta through this last 3 weeks has gifted me a more open perspective on motherhood and the selfless season I am in in my own life. Watching livestock babies join the farm is a bit different, the demand on the mama is not so tireless. Mama does mama and baby just follows. Puppies are very much helpless at birth like an infant. No sight, no hearing, can’t change their own nappy, can’t walk and rely 100% on mama.

The difference is the puppy process is hyper speed in comparison to the human experience so it’s been able to prove that this season I’m personally in will be gone before I know it. It has taught me to want to dance in the madness while I’m here instead of running through it trying to get to the other side.

What a gift these little chunky pups have been and what a memory we have made as a family.

Are you interested in a Kangal livestock guardian pup? One of these fluff balls can join your family and farm as early as September 30th.

08/27/2024

What is colostrum?

Colostrum is the first form of nutrition humans (and other mammals) receive from breast milk and it plays a vital role in building a baby’s immune system. It develops during pregnancy and lasts for several days after birth. As it’s so rich in nutrients, it’s sometimes known as “liquid gold.”

Colostrum provides all the nutrients and fluid newborns need in the first few days after birth, as well as helps protect them from illness or infection. Compared to breastmilk, colostrum is higher in protein, slightly lower in sugar and significantly lower in fat. It also contains more antibodies, immune cells and growth factors.

Studies have suggested that colostrum can play a role in:

Boosting immune function
Enhancing athletic performance and recovery
Promoting better brain function
Improving gut health
Promoting skin elasticity
Reducing inflammation
Supporting bone health
In addition to these potential benefits, colostrum contains lactoferrin, which has antibacterial, antitumor, antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects.

Compared to mature milk, colostrum has more fat, protein, vitamins and minerals, growth factors, cytokines and nucleotides that provide immune support, and less lactose. But, the concentration of these compounds decreases rapidly in the first three days of breastfeeding, with the exception of lactose content.

We freeze dry colostrum from the first 2-3 milkings after calving when the concentration of the above nutrients are highest. If stored correctly the colostrum will last many years. In this case, it is used regularly in our smoothies, coffee, ice cream, etc.

As we roll into the cold and flu season this is one more line of defense in our all health. Bacteria and viruses don’t thrive in our bodies and I attribute that to the many things we do to keep immunity, gut health, and cellular function a top priority.

We only collect colostrum 2x each year when our family dairy cows have a calf. You will find a limited number of raw, A2A2 colostrum packages in the farm cart. When they sell out the next offering will be in April 2025.

08/24/2024

This life is far from glamorous but it sure is beautiful 🤎

Pockets full of duck eggs
Shirt full of chicken eggs
Milk buckets in both hands
Everyone is fed and happy
With our pup in tow

Gratitude

08/19/2024

It’s almost time to pick our volunteer pumpkins from last year’s compost pile. 🎃

As we begin to prepare for the Autumn it reminds me just how much of life we spend preparing for the upcoming season.
Whether that be the literal season, the next season of parenting our littles, or the next season of our person lives and growth, we are always preparing. We were created with thought and intention and we are to create with thought and intention.
As you prepare for your next season, take a moment to consciously plan and be present in the planning. This process is what makes us feel prepared instead of overwhelmed by the inevitable rolling of time.

Create the life you want to live don’t live the life that unexpectedly shows up.

Here’s to the fall vibes I eagerly await.

07/29/2024

The farm cart is stocked with eggs, nut butter, honey and a variety of jams. We stock the cart each day with what is available from the farm and kitchen.

With these 100°+ days running the freeze dryer has not been an option. Candy coming soon with this drop in temps this week. We will post to our story as soon as it hits the cart!

07/19/2024

No fancy caption, no heartfelt post.
Just a moment of gratitude. ✨

06/30/2024

Summer Gardens are beginning to bless the tables of the families who planted them in the beginning of Spring.

I know the level of excitement when I get to make that first sammie with sliced garden mater, when I cook a meal and don’t have to drive to the market but instead take a stroll through the garden, or when I’m picking fruit from the orchard that we tended to for the 11 months that each tree isn’t bearing fruit.

They say that it’s cheaper to buy a zucchini from the store than it is to grow one in a backyard garden. I say that the cost is not why we garden. It’s the therapeutic value, it’s the nutritional value, it’s the self sufficiency, it’s the skill building, it’s the joy when the kids are picking berries and snacking outdoors. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The value far outweighs the costs.

I knew nothing about gardening just a few years back. I could grow a zucchini and a tomato, that was the extent of my skill set. Today, with the help of friends and family that know far more than I do, I have beautiful mixed gardens and a small orchard. I’m by no means a master but as always we have failed forward and figured it out.

Grow yourself a garden— it will heal your soul, nourish you body and ease your mind.

06/21/2024

Everything on the farm has come with a learning curve. We do not come from a farming background so we have chosen to fail forward every day, season and year.

This is your public service announcement 📣
You do not have to know how to do something. You only have to be willing to start and have faith that you can and will do it.

Say hello to our little friend, Rainbow. The calving process and training has been a big learning curve. I didn’t do it perfectly but Rainbow is thriving and we are taking it one day at a time. I have learned a lot this go ‘round. What was once the unknown is now a process I am better prepared for. I know what I will do differently next time. The variables are endless and there is always something to learn. I’m sure the plan will not go as expected and I will once again learn something to take forward for the next calf.

That’s what life has become for us— A series of experiences that refine, expand, and humble us.

06/14/2024

They may not grow up to be homesteaders/farmers but the skill sets, lessons, and closeness with nature will all add up to a collective experience and education that will carry them forward in their journey.
My hope is that they take the principals of joy, the lessons of discipline, a foundation in nutrition and wellness, and a pride in the land the provides them the things to sustain life into their personal journey and future families.
Our job as parents is a strong foundation. They will get to choose what they continue to with and what they will forgo. But the tools will always be in their tool box as they walk their path in life.

🤎

06/03/2024

I have a unique relationship with idealism. It can be the thing that drives me to create a world I want to live in. It can also be the thing that makes me feel like what I have is never good enough. It’s a love hate relationship.

What I’ve learned is when I feel like I’m not good enough, life isn’t good enough, x/y/z isn’t good enough all I need to do is walk outside and sit in gratitude for all that I already have.

Harvesting from the garden always brings me back to center. It reminds me that joy in life is not found in the big, shiny things but in the little things like plucking lettuce and berries with the kids so we can gather around a table and remember what life is really all about. Love 🤎

05/29/2024

I collect eggs at least once each day.
That means I’ve collected eggs a minimum of 1,460 times here at the farm.
That means I’ve had a minimum of 1,460 moment of gratitude here at the farm.
That means I’ve been in awe of God’s creations a minimum of 1,460 times.
That means I’ve collected more than 1,460 eggs to feed our family and community since being on the farm.

What I’m saying is, so many people ask me if I do this (farm duties) EVERY day, many times in the tone of “man that’s a lot of work”. And yes, it IS a lot of work. BUT, the saying goes, if you do what you love you’ll never work a day in your life. Every time I’m out “working” I don’t see it as a have to buy a get to. I GET TO live this life. WOW! That is powerful. I get to have so many moments of gratitude, growth, faith, fulfillment, wonder, and appreciation.

This life is not easy but it sure is fulfilling. I have never felt more in alignment with where my place is in this world than I do here. I will forever live in gratitude to the God of my understanding for putting this opportunity in front of me. This little farm has changed my family’s life and I owe it all to Him. 🤎

05/27/2024

Sometimes an ewe will reject her lamb. You don’t always know why it happens but to save it’s life it needs a human to step in and take over.

Que the curtain-
This little guys was rejected by his mama. The owner stepped in and knew she had to get him milk and keep him warm. Bottle babies are a lot of work. Feeding every four hours like an infant and they tend to become glued to your hip calling out for you if you are not near.

This little guys owners are a busy family and the feeding commitment was not an option. We temporarily have him and will live him up. He is heading to Garden Valley to be a bottle baby until he is old enough to become a lawn mower.

Our farm philosophy is all animals have a purpose, no pet livestock. We have made one exception to this rule, we do have 2 fainting goats that are purely for entertainment and kids pets. But all others either need to be breeders or provide food. I couldn’t bring myself to bottle feed him and mark him for the freezer so we found him a loving family that will let him help by keeping their property cleared.

It’s a win win for this little guy today.

05/26/2024

I’m the girl that brings fresh sourdough and raw butter to the gathering.

There is something about sourdough baked with love and intention that feeds more than just your stomach. Add in raw butter, fresh from the cows on the farm and the nourishment has a depth that is felt in the soul.

THIS is why we walk this path. A slow food life is anything but slow if you are talking about the daily schedule. But it is slow in the terms of intentional eating, internalizing the food as you eat it.

When you slice into a fresh loaf, slather it in butter and take a bite it is never mindless. You are present, filled with gratitude for the animals and hands that provided, truly feeling into the act of nourishment.

Our culture has shifted to a way of eating that is thoughtless, on the go, empty of everything except the calories. I invite you to find local artisan bakers, meet your local farmers and homesteaders, source ingredients for a meal 100% local from the producers that pour their hearts into what they provide. When you sit down to eat that meal it will provide something we’ve all been missing for far too long. I can’t sum it up in a single word but you will know it when you feel it. 🤎

05/23/2024

Wild Radish

It grows voluntarily on the farm and this year we are going to take advantage of that.
We will eat the root and let the cows and chickens eat the tops.

•Leaves•
Can be eaten raw or cooked, but are best when young and before they become bitter. They can add flavor to salads and are slightly peppery raw but milder when steamed. To prepare wild radish leaves for a salad, you can wash them, remove older leaves and thicker stems, roughly chop, and blanch in boiling water for a few minutes.

•Flowers•
Can be added to salads and taste like raw broccoli heads. They are pink and have a radishy bite.

•Seedpods•
Can be eaten raw or cooked when young and tender, but become tough and segmented as they mature. They can be eaten raw in salads or pickled and preserved.

•Roots•
Have a sharp bite and can be roasted or sautéed as a side dish. To prepare wild radish roots, you can peel off the tough outer layer, dice, and cook in boiling salted water for 45 minutes. Cooked roots are mild and can be seasoned with salt, pepper, and butter.

05/19/2024

Welcome to our little corner of the internet.

I don’t often share photos of us or talk about us because the passion is about sharing what we do on the farm with you in hope that you may think, if they can do it so can we/I.

So, let me introduce ourselves. We are Randy and Shelly Fair. We moved out of the city 4 years ago to raise our 3 young boys in the country. The starting vision was about a life for them that looked more like digging in the dirt and climbing trees than sitting on an iPad in a neighborhood where kids no longer play freely outside together.

This vision quickly shifted as we closed on the farmhouse 2 weeks after the 2020 shutdown began. A rapid snowball effect took place in our lives that year (a story worthy of it’s own post) leading us in a direction I can only attribute to God’s call.

The call to raise our boys (and quite frankly ourselves) on a small farm, learn to grow and raise our own food, steward the land and rewild our souls. We heard it and thought- we have NO idea how to do any of these things. With wild faith and willingness we began what we call “our journey back to the land”

We have failed forward as we’ve walked this path. We’ve killed more trees and plants than I can count, we’ve lost animals, we’ve had setbacks but we’ve also filled our freezers with meat, canned/preserved more fruits and veggies than we have room to store, and so many we did it moments.

Our story is still unfolding. The work is never done.
We are here to learn, grow & share as we go. We are grateful you are along for the ride. Thank you for supporting us and the farm.

Are you curious what we have on the farm?

30+ fruit trees, vines & bushes
Dozens of edible/medicinal perennials
Seasonal garden
Compost pile
60+ Laying hens
Seasonal meat chickens
Quail ( # varies)
Ducks ( # varies)
2 Geese
A handful of sheep ( # varies)
2 fainting goat pets
2 Jersey milk cows and yearly calves for beef
A pig (as needed)
2 Kangal dogs to protect the animals
1 rabbit (rescued, pet)
1 beehive
A self service farm cart
And 3 free range boys (14 & 7 year old twins)

05/08/2024

The good ole farm woman knows-

Wise Advice from a Farmer's Wife

Whenever you return a borrowed pie pan, make sure it's got a warm pie in it.
Invite lots of folks to supper. You can always add more water to the soup.
There's no such thing as woman's work on a farm. There's just work.
Make home a happy place for the children. Everybody returns to their happy place.
Always keep a small light on in the kitchen window at night.
If your man gets his truck stuck in the field, don't go in after him. Throw him a rope and pull him out with the tractor.
Keep the kerosene lamp away from the the milk cow's leg.
It's a whole lot easier to get breakfast from a chicken than a pig.
Always pat the chickens when you take their eggs.
It's easy to clean an empty house, but hard to live in one.
All children spill milk. Learn to smile and wipe it up.
Homemade's always better'n store bought.
A tongue's like a knife. The sharper it is the deeper it cuts.
A good neighbor always knows when to visit and when to leave.
A city dog wants to run out the door, but a country dog stays on the porch 'cause he's not fenced-in.
Always light birthday candles from the middle outward.
Nothin' gets the frustrations out better'n splittn' wood.
The longer dress hem, the more trusting the husband.
Enjoy doing your children's laundry. Some day they'll be gone.
You'll never catch a runnin' chicken but if you throw seed around the back door you'll have a skillet full by supper.
Biscuits brown better with a little butter brushed on 'em.
Check your shoelaces before runnin' to help somebody.
Visit old people who can't get out. Some day you'll be one.
The softer you talk, the closer folks'll listen.
The colder the outhouse, the warmer the bed. ❤

04/28/2024

Do you have a tribe, community, support group?

Looking at this photo a friend snapped while helping me with our hive today made me reflect on my community. Like a hive, we all work together to get sh*t done.

Once we began farming/homesteading I quickly learned that my community would become an integral part of what we do here. I have always been a “do it myself” kind of human and while that holds true in some areas it isn’t realistic in most. I have come to learn to rely on my people and the relationships I’ve been able to create in doing so are priceless in my life today.

•I lean on my community when we plan to step away from the farm for a weekend.
•I lean on my community when it’s time to harvest animals for our family.
•I lean on my community to help me raise and care for our 3 young boys within the very full life we lead.
•I lean on my community to guide me through this farm journey. (bees, gardening, animals, building)
•I lean on my community for support on the days that feel heavy and the days that need celebration.

What I’m saying is… It takes a village! That’s how we were created to live, in community. We were never meant to wear the weight of it all. It was breaking me when I lived life thinking it could do it all without help.

Just for today, I am grateful for my people and the guidance, support and help we offer each other.

04/26/2024

May their little hands always be in the gardens, loving on animals and playing in the dirt. When the day comes that they are grown I pray they are teaching the little hands they are raising to do the same.

What we are doing here is bigger than the present moment. It’s a path toward a future that will look different for them than what it did for me. May we rewild their souls deep enough to carry it forward to the next generation.

Some call our children feral. We call them free. Free to play unsupervised, free to explore, free to run, free to learn, free to be whoever they were born to become with as few conditions as possible along the way.

04/20/2024

Cow kisses 😘

You all know I LOVE our cows. Many of my thoughts about the farm and someday a larger farm involve cows. They are animals that you must create boy boundaries with and create mutual respect.

I am often asked if cows have personalities. I can’t speak for all cows but Jersey cows have BIG personalities.

This is Willow. She bellows every time she sees me and if I do not walk to the gate and say hello she doesn’t stop. She’s our bigger girl and knows it. She is heavy in her feet, doesn’t care to snuggle but will give me a smooch. She’s calm in the stanchion and used to be the first in to milk. Magnolia stole that spot after calving. That’s a dominance thing between the two girls and I let them work that out. Willow now waits patiently and when Magnolia is done comes down for milking when I call her name.

I have a healthy fear of these girls. I am aware that cows, like humans, can have a sudden mood swing regardless of their daily demeanor. We are always cautious. Our kids are never aloud around the cows without us. Education is key.

Even so, they are a favorite. For us and many followers. Having never been a farm girl this has been a journey of trial and error. (it’s my human design. Feel free to ask me more about this. I am happy to share and refer you to an amazing Human Design coach ) I will always fail forward toward my dreams and I am grateful you are along for the ride.

04/18/2024

For the first time in 3+ years of running the farm cart we had noticeable theft. My heart feels a little broken, my mind wants to be angry, my body feels tired.

I have always known that running a self serve cart comes with this possibility but I believe in the good in our world and we wanted to share what we do here at the farm with others without fear of the darkness that we may encounter on the this journey.

What I know is that it most likely is none of our faithful followers here on social media but I felt it necessary to share the hard times as much as we share the good. We will continue to stock the cart but you will soon see a camera posted so that we can try to deter this from happening in the future.

My heart always said if someone steals something they must be in desperate need and was okay with that but they didn’t just take a single item they took a lot and they took mostly from our teenage son who is working hard to offer fun freeze dried treats to our followers. He learned a hard business lesson on loss today.

We want to thank our loyal customers and let you know that you mean more to us than the loss we encountered. The cart will continue and together we will keep local food going to local residents. 🤎

04/14/2024

Sourdough does not have to be complicated.
all the crazy accounts telling you otherwise. Don’t overthink it. Learn the basics.
I’m time it will become a rhythm that works around your life and schedule.

Here are the basics I recommend-
• FEED IT REGULARLY. If you skip a day or two NO BIG DEAL. Feed it daily until it at least doubles in size and it’s good to go.

• Make your dough when it hits it’s PEAK (doubles or more in size but hasn’t fallen) This doesn’t have to be spot on and your dough will rise either way but you will get the best results at the peak of its activity.

• If life gets BUSY, throw her in the fridge. You can pull her out a month later and feed her a few days in a row and she’ll come right back to life.

• PLAN your bake around your schedule not the other way around. If you have to rearrange your day to make bread you aren’t going to enjoy the process.

•DON’T strive for perfection, go for edible. Beautiful, fluffy loaves will come in time with learned experience. Very rarely will you fail so hard it’s not edible. The goal should edible bread over beautiful bread.

•ENJOY the process. Don’t worry. Don’t overthink. Don’t beat yourself up. JUST BAKE. There will come a day when it all feels natural and you no longer have to think much about the process. The excitement over the dough and bake will fade but the excitement over breaking bread with family and friends never will.

As you grow and learn all the tips and tricks you see on the social media will become helpful instead of intimidating. You will use what works for you and forgo the rest.

Now go find a healthy sourdough starter and bake yourself a loaf. We stock dehydrated starter with instructions in our farm cart if you don’t know a friend that can share with you.

04/13/2024

Ryder is at for the Children’s Market today from 10-1.
For all of our candy fans- has all the freeze dried candy available today, come stock up!

04/11/2024

The Turkish Kangal (Kahn-Gaul)

The Kangal Dog is noted for his solid temperament. Temperament is of prime importance in Turkish villages today and in the past - aggression towards humans or stock is never tolerated. Kangal Dogs are gentle with livestock, children, and pets. Compared with other livestock guard
dog breeds, Kangal Dogs tend to be more people-oriented and less standoffish. They are often great judges of character and they will accept visitors or workmen at their home much more reliably than other livestock guard dog breeds. Owners describe them as gracious with welcomed visitors. People who own other livestock guard dog breeds and Kangal Dogs, describe their Kangals as the more intelligent and clever.

Kangal Dogs hear or sense disturbances in the distance and bark in response. They prefer to intimidate those who threaten their flock or family but they will attack animal intruders. At first, they will place themselves between the threat and their stock. If their warning barks are ignored, they will confront the predator with a roar and an attack if necessary.

An adult Kangal will throw their shoulder against a wolf to knock it down and then attack the throat and hind legs. Kangal owners see these same behaviors in play. Kangal Dogs will reliably guard against small predators as well – raccoons, opossums, and coyotes, as well as bir

Kangal Dogs grow up slowly, even compared to other livestock guard dog breeds. They can be goofy and adorable as puppies but they are also famous as powerful chewers and diggers. They will also roam large distances if given the opportunity.

Around two or two-and- a-half years of age, Kangal Dogs suddenly leave their puppyhood behind and become more serious, protective, and watchful. Although many Kangals who are raised with stock from puppy hood are reliable at a young age, others need your patience and supervision until they mature.

Via Kangal Dog Club of America

04/09/2024

Let’s talk Cheese 🧀

With 2 dairy cows on the farm cheese had to be a part of the story for the economics to add up. Learning the craft can be intimidating because of the science and details involved. A good friend once told me, “Make the cheese, if it doesn’t come out like expected it will still be edible.”

This has been true so far. Ricotta (pictured) is a simple cheese to make, no aging, not much science. And, it is sooooo good warm and fresh on crackers. When I’m in a pinch and need to use up milk I make ricotta.

1 gallon of whole milk
1-2 tsp citric acid
Salt to taste (I don’t salt ours)

Heat milk to 180-190°
Stir in citric acid 1 tsp at a time until you see it begin to coagulate.
Let sit for 20min with a few slow stirs during this time.
Pour through a fine mesh strainer. The longer you strain the dryer the cheese.

We prefer our moist and spreadable so I strain it very little and put it in a container that last about a week in the fridge.

Eat it on a cracker with fresh jam, dollop it on homemade pizza, put it in lasagna, sprinkle it on salads or eat it by the spoonful while it’s still hot. It’s an easy cheese that is a Fair Acre favorite.

04/09/2024

We don’t keep many “pets” in the farm.

Thumper came to us as a house pet that needed a home. I couldn’t say no. We slowly transitioned him outside and he prefers to free range the yard. We have 2 large LGDs that have grown to know he belongs here.

The reality is that someday a predator may get him. It’s not a nice thought but his free ranging lifestyle is better than being kept in a cage with little to no attention. Which is what happens to most pet rabbits after the newness wears off for the child that talked their parents into getting them the pet.

He greets me every morning and follows me up to the barn for a handful of pellets. He gets alfalfa hay every time I feed the cows and he runs around happy, joyous and free eating all the things that grow at the farm.

He hasn’t became a nuisance in my herb garden yet but he will mow down the strawberries so we have them fenced to keep him out. As you can see he stands next to them dreaming of the day he figures out how to get in.

We will love him for all his days and let him live his free range life here at the farm.

04/09/2024

Member Monday Spotlight! Let's a give a warm welcome to The Fair Acre who joined the Farm Bureau just a few short months ago! 🤝 We are grateful to have them as a part of this wonderful community!

🍞 Come out and shop their farm cart for seasonal items from the farm & kitchen. They stock the red farm cart at 9 am daily. Follow their social media stories for inventory updates!

📍3653 Oak Canyon Lane, Vacaville, CA 95688

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Vacaville, CA
95688

Website

https://msha.ke/thefairacre

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Videos

DIY Snack Cup

The rhythm of sourdough 🎶 Making bread and milking cows are two things that quiet my mind and allow me to be fully present. It’s a rhythm and a flow that creates the feel good vibes. #sourdough #bread #baking #homestead

Today we embark on the bee keeping journey. We live next to a 30 acre apiary with 100s of hives but there is nothing like learning something first hand. Bees are fascinating. Bees are vital. Bees are our friends. Let the honey making commence. 🍯 #beekeeping #homesteading #farmlife #newexperience #bees #honey

Canning OJ is so simple! If you have an orange tree with an abundance of oranges. I highly recommend you put some up for later in the year when the season is over. Juice oranges Pour into sterilized jars Water bath in full rolling boil for 15min Let cool Put up to enjoy after you’ve picked the last orange from the tree. #OJ #orangejuice #canning #preserving #citrus #fruit #homstead #farmlife

New Year 2024 Word of the year: intention This word has been weighing in my heart this week and it seems fitting to share this with you. I journeyed through the morning feeding the animals taking clips as I went. I made my way inside to make buttermilk pancakes for the kids and have a cup of coffee. I pondered a long intentional post to share overthinking how relevant or important others would feel it was. In the end, all that felt relevant was the importance it holds for our family. The farm has grown a lot in the almost four years we have been here. Mostly through intentional decisions but some of it through chance and blind faith that it would all come together. This year I want all decisions made to flow through one question; What are my intentions? This queation brings me from my head to my gut and assesses how it feels and why I feel. Being able to remain in alignment is important to me this year and it will take sacrifice and commitment to walk this path we have chosen for our family. I have big dreams for this tiny farm and how I want to share this work with the world. One intentional decision at a time we will continue to pave our way through this journey back to the land. Thank you for following along. We wish you a blessed year filled with gratitude, love and joy. 🤎

Update: SOLD OUT Thank you to everyone who came out to support the farm. We look forward to next weekend! • • Donut Day If your would like us to have gluten-free available please drop a request below.

Wild duck lands at the farm.

Everyday brings adventure here at The Fair Acre.

Here at the farm we strive for little food waste. This means we either use it ourselves or feed it to the pigs or chickens. Over ripe bananas make delicious banana bread. —Cinnamon Swirled Banana Bread— ★★★★★ 4.7 from 31 reviews Prep Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 70 mins Total Time: 1 hour 30 mins Yield: 8 Swirls of buttery cinnamon sugar swim throughout the moistest banana bread that’s out of this world delicious! Ingredients BATTER: 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted 1 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 4 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1–1/2 cups) CINNAMON SUGAR SWIRL: 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon 6 thin slices of banana, for garnishing Instructions Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan and set aside. In a large bowl, melt the butter and let cool slightly. Whisk in the sugar then the eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour and baking soda. Fold in the mashed bananas until just combined. In a small bowl, use a fork to stir together the cinnamon sugar swirl ingredients until thick and well combined. If your swirl is too thick to swirl, add an additional tablespoon of melted butter until it is thin enough to swirl. Note: if it’s too thin, it will just spread and not hold its swirl as the loaf bakes. Spread 1/4 of the batter evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Dollop 1/4 of the cinnamon sugar mixture over the batter in the pan and then make a nice thick swirl through the batter with a table knife or bottom of a wooden spoon. Place 1/3 of the remaining batter evenly over the first layer and swirl with 1/3 of the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture. Place 1/2 of the remaining batter evenly over the second layer and swirl with 1/2 of the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture. Spread the remaining batter evenly over the top and dollop with the rema

Chicken First Aid Yesterday we found a chick that had been pecked. We assume it was being picked on, it’s one of the smaller chicks in that group. Once it was pecked and blood was drawn all of the chickens began to go after it. “Why?” You ask….. Chickens are attracted to red. All animals are naturally attracted to the color red. It’s a signal that food is right here. Red signifies blood and injury. It’s a signal of weakness and others are attracted. Attraction to red is instinctual. It’s one of the reasons why waterers and feeders for chicks have red bases. The chicks are drawn to the red and investigate, they find the food and water and start eating, it’s like a shining beacon to them. Back to the baby Welsummer chick…. We acted quickly and isolated her and treated the wound. This is how we handle proud flesh wounds: •Isolate the animal •Rinse and cleanse the wound (In this case we just rinsed with saline solution) •If the wound needs a chance to crust over, apply Farnam Wonder Dust and allow a scab to form over a few days. (We didn’t feel that was necessary here) •Apply Farnam Blue Lotion to the wound 2x daily until the animal has healed. The Blue Lotion benefit is that it covers the red and stops other animals from being attracted to the wound. In some cases, it allows you to keep the animal within the heard/flock. In our case we will keep this chick isolated to keep her safe until she is fully healed. If you stuck around and read this entire post, she now needs a name that reflects her strength and courage. Drop a suggestion below 👇 If we pick your name and you are local we will gift a dozen eggs to you.

Meet Quackers 🦆 She came from Metzer farms here in California. She is sitting on a clutch of eggs. Duck eggs take ~28 days to hatch. This will be our first duckling hatch and it will be fun to watch her mother the ducklings. Quackers is a Khaki Campbell. Khaki Campbell ducks are one the most popular domesticated breeds kept in the United States. This attractive breed was created by crossing Runner, Fawn, and Rouen ducks. They are a superb multi-purpose duck breed for both large and backyard homesteads. Khaki Campbell ducks are excellent egg layers and sitters as well. This duck breed is commonly referred to as a multi-purpose type of duck because you can successfully raise it for its delicious and moist meat. #homestead #farmlife #ducks #ducklings #khakicampbellducks #microfarm #selfsustainable #animaleducation