A recurring theme that is emerging in these posts is the portrait gallery. I occasionally select some of Brennah's photos (with her permission) which highlight the inhabitants of the Farm and Sanctuary. Brennah captures the magic of each of her subjects exquisitely and you are often the first to see her most recent work. A young Kildeer next to the pond Tiger Swallowtail butterfly on Teasel plant A true ...
Catnip is one of several types of plants we have on the farm to help keep the mosquitoes at bay. There has been a noticeable difference since we've added them to the landscape. Unfortunately, the wilder parts of the Sanctuary, that don't have these plantings, are currently still plagued with the little buggers. Our hens, Amelia, Little Wing, and Chezabu hanging out among some catnip and hops This video shows how much the ...
We had a relaxing gathering yesterday. It was spent mostly sitting in the shade of a mulberry tree whilst sharing a potluck together. We were serenaded by a catbird, one of which Brennah captured in this photo a few days prior. Gray Catbird by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLC According to the Cornell Bird Lab, "Catbirds are secretive but energetic, hopping and fluttering from branch to branch through tangles of vegetation. Singing males sit ...
Brennah has been practicing her skills with her new telephoto lens. Here are a few or of her recent portraits of CHFS creatures. What a joy it is to provide a healthy habitat for all the wild spirits who pass through or reside on this land. May the Holy Guardians encompass all places of sanctuary and protection, all places of retreat, healing and restoration of spirit, that those seeking enclaves of quiet peace may find healing of ...
I am currently recovering from some sort of illness that struck me a couple of days ago. In any case, I feel well enough to make a post, so here goes. The farm produce is flourishing, with the exception of some cabbage moth and slug damage to the brassicas. In the picture are some onions and cress in the hoophouse. The cress is some that reseeded itself, so we let it grow along with the other vegetables ...
I snapped a few photos this vapory morning to share with you all. It rained steadily all day yesterday (Sunday), giving the plants another good soaking. The wild creatures all seem to be quite happy. Also a baby dragon has come to live at the Farm. I can't wait for Sarenth and Silverleaf's little Charlotte to see it. She loves the "glass chicken" decoration we have in the lemon balm patch. It's lovely ...
Though the pond is still under construction, it's already beautiful and teeming with life. (Be sure to watch through to the end to see who's making the chirping noises in the video.) And the recent rains have added enough water to be able to have a good sense of what it will look like when it's complete. https://youtube.com/shorts/MR0PB1G9tP8?feature=share The site plan for the pond area is to have a small campground on one side ...
wild rose by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLC By August 1st, the wild rose pictured here will be a newly forming rose hip. Likewise, the wheat in the fields will soon be 'headed out', and ready for harvesting. Depending on the type, it will be harvested in July or August in Michigan. "The time of Lughnasadh is a time of the beginning of reaping (of grains) - of revelling in the height of summer, and ...
It was great to have Alyssa and daughter, Allie come out on Saturday for a work day. They finished harvesting the garlic scapes, weeded a flower bed, and dug and planted a bed of thyme plants which we started from seeds earlier this spring. They also helped me transplant a paw paw tree seedling to a wetter area where it will hopefully be happier. Between chores, we sampled some of my elderflower cordial ...
A few more photos from the Farm and Sanctuary to greet you today. A lone cicada wing found lying in the fire circle, festive nasturtiums in the gardens, and creatures often looked at with annoyance all have their own joyous spirits and beauty. cicada wing by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLC nasturtium flower long-legged fly by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLC nasturtium flower garter snake ...
June 2021 The last week has brought us an excess of rain and caused the creek to overflow and the water table to swell. Fortunately yesterday there was no rain, so the water went down a bit. We were able to slosh through ankle deep water on the trail back to the creek and take the pictures you see here. The bridge was just barely above the water and it is flooded on both sides, throughout the ...
We are happy to invite you to our June monthly Walk and Bonfire! It is this Sunday the 27th at 2:00 p.m. There is a chance of rain, but we're keeping our fingers crossed that it will work out. If not, I'll let you know and we'll postpone to the 4th of July. I've noticed that having the gathering on holidays actually makes it easier for some people to attend. Of course for others it has the opposite ...
https://youtube.com/shorts/whMiZs6y1yk Summer Solstice 2021 "Even in the height of summer, we remember that winter must come. Yet it is that shift in day length, that change, that triggers blossoms to set fruit. Life is built upon cycles. Beginnings reach culmination, and decline, which opens the way for something new to begin. Much as we might want to cling to every bright possibility, we must open our hands and let go for potential to manifest. That ...
Summer Solstice Sunrise, 2021 - by Jean Greeting To The Summer Solstice Glory of the Day-Star, hail! Lifter of the Light, Burnisher of the Sky. Gifts of love to earth are bringing, Summer's shimmer, dew's delight. Dancing be the heart within us, Open be our souls to bliss, Courage vanquish every shadow, Greet midsummer with a kiss. by Caitlín Matthews Photo: Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary Solstice Sunrise, by Jean
Along with the Sanctuary land, which includes beautiful woodland and wetland areas with trails, we also operate a permaculture farm and enjoy sharing the farm experience with our members as an added bonus. Today I wanted to give you an update on how the farm is doing with several photos of the annual crops we're growing right now. garlic in the front garden A few of our chickens Basil ...
Yesterday while we were walking in the woods, we came across three American Woodcocks sitting quietly in the leaf litter. They were so quiet in fact, that they almost got trampled. It looked like they were perhaps a mama and her two young chicks. In the photos, you best can see the length of the Woodcock bill on the young bird. In the last photo you can try your luck seeing if you can spot the two ...
On Thursdays we have a volunteer work day from about 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm. I wish I had gotten pictures of our trail-blazing crew yesterday, but as sometimes happens, I was caught up in the moment, and I think everyone else was too. We had marked out a trail beforehand, putting stakes in to show the way, and our crew of Caitlin, Sarenth, Brandon, Brennah, and I headed out with a machete, a saw, a couple ...
One of the priorities we have in designing the "non-wild" spaces of the farm and sanctuary is to choose multi-functional plants. In this video, you can see the bumblebees gathering nectar from the blossoms of the comfrey. I've also seen many other pollinators, and even hummingbirds, sipping from the comfrey flowers. Comfrey is likewise a medicinal herb used in salves for healing wounds, and occasionally a tea (for very specific conditions - not to be used long-term ...
Jean, Brennah and guests A fun little episode from our May Member Walk and Bonfire was the appearance of this butterfly. Brennah spotted it and stopped to take some pictures - two of which I've added to this post. The young lad was especially interested, and Brennah explained that the butterfly is called a Mourning Cloak, and is one of the earliest to appear in the spring. Because they come out so early, there ...
In our May gathering, one of the areas we walked through on our tour was the hoophouse. Cabbage and Leeks When we look at growing crops through the lens of healthy ecosystems, it requires that we think of all the elements involved and what they want and need to be healthy. Chard, Leeks, Onions, and Milkweed Some of the things I touched on during the tour, is how we ...