Taking Stock
January 2026
Since we have a five week old at home, I’m operating on scattered sleep and scattered braincells, so I thought that instead of a narrative recap of 2025, I’d turn our usual format into a census of sorts to celebrate all the creatures living on the farm.
What’s been happening?
The work on the farm continues to be centered on the peonies. All told, we have ~900 one year old plants, ~100 two year old plants, and have a dozen landscape peonies that need to be migrated out into the rows.
On the edible side, we have two mature apple trees and five apple rootstocks waiting to be grafted in the spring. We also planted fifty raspberry canes this summer. Two mature maples, one in the front yard and one in the backyard, supplied us with enough syrup that it might last until the next batch is ready. We’re also lucky to have wild plums in the ditches, wild blackcap raspberries and shortleaf raspberries to forage from.
On the native side, the oak trees on the farm continue to inspire us, and we continue to slowly try and free them from the buckthorn that’s sprung up all around them. The buckthorn is joined by burdock at the top of our invasive species list.
Turning to livestock, we brought three new sheep to the flock to keep Big Sis company. The two goats, Magni and Modi, continue to amuse us and all six are doing yeoman’s work in our buckthorn clearing endeavor.
Chief Joe the Rooster was the only chicken wily enough to survive from 2024, but we raised two batches of chicks and now have 19 hens and 3 roosters.
Willmar continues to occupy his post as the only farm dog, and Mau Mau continues on as the only farm cat.
On the wild side, we’ve enjoyed all of the woodpeckers, blue jays, chickadees and other birds that visit our feeders. Not so enthusiastic about the deer that visit to munch on everything, but the flocks of turkeys in the spring are always welcome. Though we haven’t seen them, we have heard coyotes, great horned owls and barred owls.
Of course the most exciting news was that we welcomed a new farm-hand in November, Sigurd. He’s not ready to do chores yet, but his brother Herbert has been helping out in the mornings and I’m sure that he’ll be ready to teach him as soon Sigurd is old enough to toddle along.
What’s ahead?
No extensive plantings are on the horizon for 2026. We want to keep dialing in our peony care and experimenting with cover crops. If the orchard fence ever gets up, more fruit trees will follow.
On the livestock side, we’re excited to welcome bees to the farm in partnership with our friends Ben and Amanda. I’m also set on getting some geese as part of an experiment to “automate” some of our weeding around the peonies. We may also let the chickens hatch a few clutches of eggs this spring to keep the flock healthy.
What’s on our minds?
We’re tired right now and grateful for the slower rhythms of winter. The cold and snow outside have made staying cozy our top priority. January will be more of the same, though there’s some buckthorn cutting and woodworking that needs to be done, too.
We’re so grateful for all of you that follow along and we wish you the best in the New Year!!
Your contrary farmers,
Julie, Kristofer, Herbert and Sigurd (and Willmar the Labrador, too)