S & T Farms

This is our journey from the big city to rural life. In 2010, we bought a 110 year old homestead in Central Michigan. Most of the original farm has been divided and sold off but we have the original farmhouse and one of the old Amish built barns on 5 acres.

5 acres doesn't sound like much to most people, however, we've discovered just how busy this piece of land keeps us. Each summer is spent in a flurry of activity with maintenance and all of the projects we race to get done.

I have a nice garden and have learned to can and preserve the harvest. Each year I add to the garden as well as my herb beds. I grow culinary and medicinal herbs. Each year I also learn to make something new with the herbs. We regularly use homemade laundry soap, toothpaste, lotion, muscle rub and various other remedies that I've made here on the farm.

Each summer I harvest wild rasberries, blackberries and blackcap rasberries. We take trips into the woods to collect wild mushrooms. I take walks around the property several times each summer with my field guides attempting to identify more native plants. There is such an abundance that I haven't tapped into yet.

In 2013, I added to the lineup with 12 Buff Orpington hens. Shannon built the Taj Majol of chicken houses and they live quite comfortably while supplying us and a couple of customers with fresh, hormone free eggs. The difference in the eggs is amazing compared to store bought.

So far for 2014, we have increased the garden size and surrounded in with 6 ft chain link fence. Well...we received the fence by a very, very generous gift. I don't think I'll have to worry about deer anymore! We also turned the garden to open up more space in the yard. This unfortunately means that I am dealing with unworked ground this year. The weed fight will keep me hopping.

We have added to the flock with 2 turkeys and 6 more chicks. I believe I have one 1 rooster out there but the jury is still out. We also raised 12 cornish cross meat birds. Shannon did a great job building a chicken plucker and we had our first butcher-fest last week. It went really well and the birds are quite tasty. We are taking orders for the next round of meat birds now.

This brings us all up to date on our progress. It is the quick version and I hope to post more photos and info to fill in the blanks.