Something Dawned On Me

Daybreak across the meadow
Dawn’s early light

When you’re a small or part-time operator and you compare yourself to a social media influencer or a giant in any given field, it is tempting feel substandard. The more educated we get at Bird’s Nest Garden Farm, the more we realize what we’re not doing as ideally as possible. The accusations drip down: we’re not organic enough; we’re not regenerative (beyond sustainable) enough; we don’t collaborate or host enough; we don’t move our livestock frequently enough within our rotational grazing system.

Somebody dropped something: getting a grip on the tail end of… a tail!
Sheep graze grapes on a deadhedge
Two lambs eating the grape salad I planted on the “dead hedge.”

One self-administered accusation goes like this: “You didn’t plant the woody plants thickly enough within your baby tree/pasture (“silvopasture”) system. And this is actually technically true. But occasionally, something you’ve done right smacks you in the face. 

I found a red oak seedling in the current livestock pasture paddock. There are no red oaks on our property or immediate environment that we did not plant. 

Red oak seedling
The red oak seedling sprouts to the right of the white stake.

Where is the closest possible parent red oak to this seedling? 

Meadow scene at bird's nest garden farm
Pasture with white stake marking the seedling.

Planted over 25 years ago, the parent oaks soar at the far right edge of the forest in the background of the picture above.

Wildlife are co-creating the biodiverse treed savanna pasture we seek.

Win-win.

Adios 2020

 

While we’ve been spared the worst outcomes of the pandemic up to this point, it still feels very myopic to focus on our homestead experience given the state of the world.

Perhaps that’s why I’ve had such a hard time updating the blog this year. That coupled with my general dread of writing has meant a big lag in blog entries. I’d much rather tell a story through photographs. So here we go.

I’ve cobbled together a selection of pictures to get you through the 2020 season and up to date on the farm. It sure is nice to look at all that colourful produce right now.

Continue reading “Adios 2020”

How Do We Plan For Spring?

What a spring it has been for all of us- all around the world. We hope from wherever you are reading this, you and your loved ones are safe and well.

chickens and nest boxes at Bird's Nest Garden Farm
These girls have been practising sheltering in place all winter. About the time we humans got stuck at home, they got access to the big wide world. Go figure.

Here at Bird’s Nest Garden Farm, we are four weeks into our new stay-at-home lifestyle.

When I say “new,” this is for the other members of my family. I rarely venture off the farm at this time of year. It’s been a pleasure to have company at home, despite their need to be often glued to their screens for work and school purposes.

Probably just like you, our family is looking for entertainments other than zoom meeting gaffs and watching yet another webinar.  We’ve undertaken numerous projects aimed at keeping our bodies occupied and out-of-doors while distracting us from disheartening pandemic updates. Continue reading “How Do We Plan For Spring?”

Our Methods

Bees, butterflies and birds are welcome partners in the gardens.

We create and improve habitat for our wild neighbours through the use of pollinator gardens and the planting of native trees and shrubs.

We use no synthetic fertilizer, herbicides or insecticides on the farm.

Our growing methods encourage soil health. We rely on compost, minerals and no-till growing methods to feed our soil biology.

Each summer sees a different group of livestock moving across the pasture to enhance the soil biology and diversity.

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Food and Community

Bird’s Nest Garden Farm is our off-grid homestead located a good 20 minutes north of Wiarton.

With our friends and visitors, we exchange experiences of gardening with nature, small-scale farming, permaculture and off-grid living. 

Visitors to our place experience a beautiful regenerating landscape while breathing the fresh air of the countryside. The Bruce Trail is nearby for excursions into the forest.

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