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Test day is my favorite day.
Testing 3 experiments today that we started just about a month ago.
We recreated our Grand Champion mead from 2022, but wanted to see what other yeasts might do to the formula.
So we did 5 gallons each using two new yeasts for this recipe, but also a 5gal batch of the original yeast cuz why not make more of the award winning original?!
Happy to report these have some definite promise! Now, we'll re-rack and wait for some bulk aging.
Missed opportunity, if you ask me. Mead is delicious.
I wish you could smell this 1st picture! The bees are already packing away some gorgeous honey. This frame is already about 80% capped. Didja know that bees won't cap honey until it is the correct moisture content that makes it not spoil? (Less than 20% moisture, but ideally between 17-18%.) Honey is hygroscopic, meaning it will absorb moisture from surrounding air if left open.
Also, totally not sorry for sharing yet another stunning pollen pic. This rainbow from nature never gets old.
We did our hive inspections this afternoon and both splits that we recenlty did look great!
The other 2 hives that made it thru the winter are doing some weird stuff, but nothing concerning yet; we'll just watch, wait and see how they handle it.
Also - snapped this absolutely gorgeous frame packed full of ALL OF THE POLLEN! 😍🤩
MAJOR upgrade for the homestead this weekend. Prior years' gardens didn't often feel worth the work, as the deer, bunnies & others (even a loose horse once) would completely destroy a huge bulk of what we'd plant. 🫎🐇🐎
NOT THIS TIME! 💪🏼
Pat worked super hard and drilled in 28 x 6in dia posts, and then put up some welded wire fencing. We still have to get real gates made for the ends and one on the side, but this is a BIG accomplishment! 🎉 And, we also need to get and spread more chips, as this is a no-till garden.
The garden is also 98% planted. Only about 3 more things to go in. But after 2 back-to-back all-dayers out there, we're beat! 🥴
Today, Pat and I tried something new! We made two splits!
We had all 4 hives make it TO spring, but only 2 made it THRU spring. Fortunately, the remaining 2 were very strong, so we acquired 2 new queens and made a couple of splits.
A split is when you take brood and food from a strong hive, and split it off with a new (purchased or raised) queen to make a new hive.
🤞 this will get us back up to 4 hives!
Check out that gorgeous queen and all those pollen colors!
In honor of Dolly's recent , I wanted to share a little "how it started vs how its going"...
Guess somethings never change 💜
Another (almost) , and more homestead work going down at VonD's.
Patrick got seven more fruit trees in the ground today, and some nice headway on the new layout for the lasagna garden.
Not to mention the 65-ish grafted trees that are resting in the shop til the timing is right (not pictured).
Please enjoy some waking up sights from the orchard 🌱
I know spring has been arriving in fits and starts here in Wisconsin... but a quick little reminder: You can help out a ton by not clearing and cleaning out your yard debris, gardens, flowerbeds and other such landscaping until the daytime temps are consistently above 50F.
Native bees and many other pollinators are still relying on natural habitat of yards, lawns, ditches, woods, prairies, and other feral horticultural systems.
Besides, who doesn't need another valid excuse to skip some chores?!
Don't forget, is also almost here! You can read more about this important initiative at: https://beecityusa.org/no-mow-may/ . You can also find out how to help your hometown become a !
Long time; no post! Have no fear... we're still here!
If you remember back to last July when we started this ... we made some serious progress on the hügelkultur bed today! Hügelkultur is a German word that means hill culture or mound culture. It is a permaculture method of no-till, raised beds.
The haskap and blueberries have been transplanted and we cannot we to see how this fills in 🙃
(Last 2 pictures are from July, for refresher.)
Colder weather getting you down? Could use some local gold to boost you back up?
Need some teacher, co-worker, or secret Santa gifts? Stocking stuffers? We've got 1lb & ½lbs of local, wild honey.
Shoot me a message or email for pricing & pick up options!
POV: you're a high-end, designer, house hippo, and your head is too heavy for you to hold up on your own during chin scratchies.
TL;DR: Purpose is important to our mental health and so are useful skills with a tangible output.
Today, I spent the day with my mom at the Farm, starting to learn to sew. I never learned when I was young, despite attempts to teach me. The functionality and independence of it appeals to me now as I get older. I think adult-ish Missy may be slightly more patient than younger Missy. Anyhow, amongst the great day we had together, a couple of things struck me, or were reaffirmed for me.
1st: Purpose. Doing things for a reason. And tasks/activities having a tangible outcome. My belief in purpose grows the more I accomplish things with skills and my hands (or my hands and some form of tool(s)). The more things I do that I can see a tangible, 3-dimensional product from, the more grounded and at peace I feel. Extra bonus if its something I can share with someone else (a food item, sourdough starter that helps them do purpose-ful things, etc.). And these don’t seem to be just little onie-hits of dopamine-type moments of good feels. These are lasting waves of serotonin-type good feels, leaving me calm, grounded, and genuinely happy.
2nd: core/basic intelligence. As I paged thru the 1940’s copyright manual for my Gramma’s Singer sewing machine, that she used every day, I was in awe of the level of skill, mechanical aptitude and smarts that we used to need two generations ago to use basic, daily, household tools (such as a sewing machine). It reminded me of the meme that says something about a car’s manual used to tell us how to adjust our valves, and now it tells us not to drink the battery’s acid.
So why am I posting these musings on a homestead based social media page? My opinion about this is the “easier” things get, the less good in general we become. Mental health issues are at an all-time high. Knowledge about physical skills, tasks, labor is at an all-time low. Desire to do the things is even lower. There’s a quote: “Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.” And I feel we’re in the midst of this.
So what? We’re in control of our purpose. So, what would you love to learn first?
POV: your mom gets home from work, and you won't make eye contact cuz you "helped" by un-putting away all the blankets & toys she *just* put away before she left for work.
This weekend's adventure is dog treats!
Pumpkin, banana, and healthy organic, heirloom grains from makes up this Waylon & Dolly approved snack.
If you know Waylon and his egg-waiting habit, he converted those skills to treat-waiting. He just ✨️KNEW✨️ they were in the oven ...
Twelve dozen of them put away for delayed deliciousness...
I've been dabbling in the sourdough world. For a couple reasons ... one, I've heard that the fermentation process can make the grains (flour) easier to digest and cause us less digestion issues. Two, I love baking, and I love fermented foods, so why not?
One thing I've learned I DON'T love about sourdough, however, is the discard! It feels so wasteful. So, this weekend, in addition to a standard sourdough loaf, I dabbled with a few discard recipes, too.
Apple Cider Donuts,
Bagels,
Cinnamon Rolls, &
Pancakes
They all turned out amazing and are definitely keeper recipes.
Last week, Pat and I had the opportunity to share a demonstration with the monthly homeschool club that meets at the Fall Creek Public Library.
We discussed apple history, varieties, had an apple tasting and even showed them what grafting looks like! 🍎🍏🌳
Thanks for having us! We always love to share our passions with learners!
Thanks to Niblett's Apple Shed for donating the apples for our apple tasting!
Today, Pat & I made our annual date-day trip over to Wagner's Market to pick up cabbages for our kraut batch. Tomorrow, we start the fermenting goodness!
TONIGHT! Come see me & Jackson Family Farms tonight from 530pm-7pm to pick up ypur fresh local honey & beef! I'll also have some other apothecary items from my shop for sale!
See you soon!
Jackson Family Farms & I will be at the Seymour Town Hall THIS THURSDAY, Sept 7th, from 530-7pm for a little pop-up shop!
Come get you some local honey & apothecary items and family-raised beef!
If you're local to us in the Chippewa Valley, WI, 2023 honey harvest is now available! Reach out for pricing & pick up!
Apple season started today at VonD's with our only fruitful tree this year, the Gravenstein.
An early season variety, this fruit has a tart flavor, and it is mainly used as a cooking apple, especially for apple sauce and apple cider. It does not keep well, and it is available only in season. It also makes an amazing apple butter.
It is believed to have originated in the 17th century or earlier, and Gravenstein is Danish for Gråsten, meaning "graystone", after Gråsten Palace.
Fun fact: it was the source for apple sauce and dried apples for the U.S. troops in World War II.
Peep the bestest helper ever, guarding the harvest.
This view never gets old.
Golden hour sun streaks or misty foggy sunsets.
I can't get enough ... 😍
Ok - imma go on a rant here ...
Tell me how dropping your local feed store/ mill to one day per week is a good call, and helpful AT ALL for small, local, family farms? Or the youths who are still doing great things in 4H, FFA and local fairs...?
Next, tell me how a short time later, CLOSING these same feed mills is an even better idea?
Tell me you're trying to destroy small town, rural America and family farming, without telling me ... I'll go first ⬆️😡🤬
I was honored to be invited as a guest on another podcast. These are really so much fun to do, and I love sharing about our story and our journey!
On this discussion with Charlie and Brittany of BEAR Discussions, we kinda verbally wander all over the place and back again about where VonD's started, how we're doing right now, and where we're going.
Charlie Walker and a variety of special co-hosts travel throughout the Chippewa Valley having BEAR Discussions that are informative, entertaining, and interactive. Business Expansion AND Retention (BEAR) is an economic development strategy that proactively connects existing businesses with each other to discuss, share ideas, and improve community collaboration. Through these discussions the audience will gain motivation, insight, and appreciation for entrepreneurs and the important role that businesses play in developing a community-highlighting why the Chippewa Valley is a great place to raise a family and a business!
You can check it out here: https://www.spreaker.com/user/chippewa/missy-vircks-final
Today, we started the first of our Hügelkultur beds. This first one, once ready, will have blueberries & haskap berries. What better way to use an old, p***y popple tree that needed to get cut down anyhow.
This is step one; pile up big logs and layer with branches. Next steps will be to fill in with other organic/compostable matter including compost, dirt and woodchips.
Last pic is a common example how they look when complete.
It's pollinator week!
One little-known-thing you can do to help honeybees is provide a water source for them.
A hive can use as much as a quart per day during peak heat / season.
A pet bowl like this one with a rock or marbles in it provides the bees with a landing / exit zone so they don't drown.
Lovely & light wild violet syrup on wholesome and delicious einkhorn protein pancakes for breakfast is a perfect start to a full day of to-do's!
Morning adventures. 💛🤍💜
If you're interested in heirloom, organic, fresh ground flour, check out their website and I can be your pickup person if needed, if you're one of my local WI peeps. I have been able to bake with the einkorn all purpose flour twice now, and it was lovely!
This is Pat's cousin's new adventure. They're planning out a delivery route into WI.
She has the order system set up to work to place your own order/pmt now, and select MN-WI pick up route or something like that.
If you're not local to me or them, give them a follow anyhow and learn some stuff! 🙃
https://www.vondraegerconceptions.com/, https://linktr.ee/vondraegerconceptions
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MAJOR upgrade for the homestead this weekend. Prior years' gardens didn't often feel worth the work, as the deer, bunnies & others (even a loose horse once) would completely destroy a huge bulk of what we'd plant. 🫎🐇🐎 NOT THIS TIME! 💪🏼 Pat worked super hard and drilled in 28 x 6in dia posts, and then put up some welded wire fencing. We still have to get real gates made for the ends and one on the side, but this is a BIG accomplishment! 🎉 And, we also need to get and spread more chips, as this is a no-till #permaculture garden. The garden is also 98% planted. Only about 3 more things to go in. But after 2 back-to-back all-dayers out there, we're beat! 🥴 #permaculture #growyourownfood #knowyourfarmer #oldladyskills #prepping #homegrown #preparednotscared #canning #homesteading
If you're local to us in the Chippewa Valley, WI, 2023 @VonDraegerConceptions honey harvest is now available! Reach out for pricing & pick up! #homesteading #madeinwisconsin #madeinEauClaire #bees #beekeeper #beekeeping #honey #honeyharvest #chippewavalley
[Sound UP! 🔊] Soothing sounds of summer. Did you know beekeepers live longer than other professions on average? It's believed to have something to do with the frequency in which bees vibrate aligning with the frequency needed for joy/calm related to our vagus nerve 💛🐝 #liveonpurpose #homesteading #bees #beekeeper #beekeeping #wisconsin #midwest #eauclaire #chippewafalls #orchard #vagusnerve #vagusnervestimulation
Did a walkabout the orchard today and confirmed that basically all of the apples and most of the pears are in fact girdled, and unable to be saved. 😢 On a plus side, here's your official permission to NOT clean up your yard yet. Leave it be until it's consistently above 50°F so that over-wintering wild pollinators can wake up on their own time. 💜
Video theme: T E A C H Pass on lost / forgotten skills Return to simpler roots Self sufficient How can we connect? #liveonpurpose #eauclaire #eauclairewi #chippewavalley #homesteading #madeinwisconsin #wisconsin #midwest #handmadesoap #homemadesoap #knowyourfarmer #growyourownfood #community #connect
MAKING ALL OF THE THINGS today! Getting ready for some restocks, new products, a new retail partner & a fall art / makers fair! #whywouldicleanthehouse #meetthemaker #liveonpurpose #handmade
So ... how did we do?! Have a watch! 👇🏻
We're here! Sunshine and Sweat are all set up in the SUNSHINE! Stop by Banbury Place today and check out all the local artisans. We're here til 6!
After last weekend's install and this week's cold weather, we were a little nervous about our girls! 🥶 We checked on them today, and they all looked pretty good! We spotted 4 of our 5 queens, and saw them bringing back some gorgeous pollen already! 😍 Bonus: so far, they also seem to be calmer than last years' bees, so here's praying that stays! 🤞🏻 #homesteading #liveonpurpose #bees #beekeeper #savethebees #eauclaire #eauclairewi #chippewafalls #chippewafallswi #chippewavalley
Tree planting day today at VonD's! 4th year adding to the orchard. Everyone is loving the sunshine! #homesteading #madeinwisconsin #madeinEauClaire #midwestisbest #homegrown #knowyourfarmer #eauclairewi #eauclaire #orchard
Is there something you wish you knew how to do? Give a listen quick, and let me know below! (: I am drawn to connecting with others, but especially women, who are starting to see the world differently around them. I would love to connect with you, too. How can we add some purpose and meaning to our lives? #awakenotwoke #purpose #preparednotscared #handmade #madewithlove #eauclaire #eauclairewi #homesteading #madeinwisconsin #wisconsin #midwest #handcrafted #handmadeisbetter #supporthandmade #makersofinstagram #meetthemaker #bees #beekeeper #honey #meadery #mead #handmadesoap #homemadesoap #soap #knowyourfarmer #growyourownfood
Spring time is both beautiful and heartbreaking ... only 1 of 9 hives we tended last season made the winter so far... but this; this sound is beautiful music.
Happy New Year from the VonDraeger family. - Missy, Pat, Jake, Cora, Waylon, & Dolly
I wanted to share a little more about Halos of the St. Croix Valley and my donation plan for #givingtuesday ... Give a watch, and leave me a comment below about your favorite local charity! Local businesses - hit me up if you wanna join in this donation plan! Use code 4FER3 at www.vondraegerconceptions.com/shop to get 4 cold process natural soap bars for the price of 3, and help contribute to Halos for the whole month of December!
Align your dollars with your beliefs. Today, #tiptuesday, I share some info about how to align your dollars with your beliefs and control your own supply chain. Let me know how I can help you do this! #gocrickets #votewithyourdollars #liveonpurpose #handmade #eauclaire #eauclairewi #homesteading #madeinwisconsin #wisconsin #midwest #handcrafted #supporthandmade #makersofinstagram #meetthemaker #ladyboss #womanownedbusiness #mompreneur #bees #beekeeper #honey #mead #homemadesoap #soap #knowyourfarmer #eatlocal #buylocal #growyourownfood #canning #grabyourballsitscanningseason
I said I'd be sharing more tips about self-sufficiency, sustainability, and such. In this short video, I share a tip for how to lock open your slide, if you don't have a lot of hand or upper body strength. Drop me a comment ⬇️ and tell me how it worked for you! #behindthescenes #homesteading #meetthemaker #ladyboss #womanownedbusiness #womanpreneur #mompreneur #beprepared #liveonpurpose #vondraegerconceptions VonDraeger Conceptions
align with your authenticity... What skills or talents would you wish to know or learn in the current state of our society? How can I help? #handmade #madewithlove #eauclaire #eauclairewi #homesteading #madeinwisconsin #wisconsin #midwest #handcrafted #handmadeisbetter #supporthandmade #makersofinstagram #meetthemaker #ladyboss #womanownedbusiness #mompreneur #bees #beekeeper #honey #savethebees #meadery #mead #handmadesoap #homemadesoap #soap #knowyourfarmer #growyourownfood #canning #grabyourballsitscanningseason #jesus
Thank YOU to everyone who stopped out at the Crafty Apple Fair yesterday! I loved visiting and sharing my passion & my products with you all! Here is the WINNER from the drawing for the gift basket containing a 9oz jar of honey, 2 VonD's Soaps, a Mrs VonDraeger's Bees Lip Balm, and a coupon for future purchase! Check your email if you're Lisa Jones! 🎉
Dry run! Everything is coming together nicely for Saturday's show at @autumnharvestwinery ! #handmade #madewithlove #eauclaire #eauclairewi #homesteading #madeinwisconsin #wisconsin #midwest #handcrafted #handmadeisbetter #supporthandmade #makersofinstagram #meetthemaker #ladyboss #womanownedbusiness #mompreneur #bees #honey #beekeeper #savethebees #meadery #mead #handmadesoap #homemadesoap #soap #knowyourfarmer #growyourownfood #canning #grabyourballsitscanningseason
Liquid gold! 🍯 Bottling some of our small 2021 harvest today. We ended up with approximately 12 gallons. Not a lot, but more than last year. And we're also still working on establishing hives. So, we're pretty happy with the yield. #handmade #madewithlove #eauclaire #eauclairewi #homesteading #madeinwisconsin #wisconsin #midwest #handcrafted #handmadeisbetter #supporthandmade #makersofinstagram #meetthemaker #ladyboss #womanownedbusiness #mompreneur #bees #beekeeper #honey #savethebees #meadery #mead #handmadesoap #homemadesoap #soap #knowyourfarmer #growyourownfood #canning #grabyourballsitscanningseason
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