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There’s a quiet question sitting at the edge of many kitchen tables, shop conversations, and pasture walks right now: What happens next? Across the Midwest—and especially here at home—farms are facing a turning point. The land is still good. The knowledge is still here. But the bridge between generations? That’s where things get uncertain. Some farms have no clear transition plan. Others have eager next-generation farmers but no clear pathway in. And many are somewhere in bet

photo credit: ReSprout (left) Sierra Flower Farm (middle) Landon Gilfillan(right) Every winter in northern gardens, while the snow piles up outside and the coffee pot works overtime, farmers and gardeners start dreaming about seed trays, greenhouse benches, and the promise of spring. One seed-starting method that has gained popularity in recent years is soil blocking . Some gardeners swear by it, while others quietly return to their trusty plastic trays after one messy attem

FINALLY. We've made it through all the false springs into warm weather...and then the unseen enemy comes in for an attack. There’s a certain romance to spring on the farm. The calves hit the ground. The lambs start bouncing. The chickens lay like they’re trying to win a blue ribbon. The snow melts and the fields begin to breathe again. But as the mud thaws… so do the parasites lurking in our fields. And while no one is pinning spring deworming photos on Pinteres t , it might

Calving and lambing season is equal parts miracle and mayhem. There’s nothing quite like early spring on a Minnesota farm. The snow is almost  gone, the mud is definitely here, and the barn is full of mamas who are either calmly chewing cud… or acting like they’ve never seen a baby before in their lives. If you’ve ever wished for barn cameras so you could sleep for more than 45 minutes at a time — you’re not alone. Of course, the one time you run inside for coffee is the exac

Raising pigs . We've all been there...pleading with a sturdy pig to follow us back into their home while they couldn't care less-they may even run away and squeal. Well, it's a job that’ll test your patience and your grit, but it’s also mighty rewarding. When I first started out, I learned real quick that pigs aren’t like cows or chickens – they’re a bit more independent and sometimes ornery. MOST of the time they're ornery. They’ve got a mind of their own, and you have to

Reader's note: This blog is just a dip in the big pool of information you can find on the topics. We've added some links to great resources for each method. If you’ve ever wished you could grow more food without needing more land, vertical gardening and food forests might be your perfect solution. Both methods focus on maximizing space while working with nature instead of against it—making them ideal for homesteads, backyards, and even small urban lots. Vertical gardening  is

If winter has you dreaming of green things and warmer days, February is your moment to get your hands in the soil — even if it’s just indoors for now. For Zone 3 growers especially, this is the month where the gardening season officially begins  (at least in our hearts). 🌿 Vegetables & Herbs to Start Indoors February is prime time for slow growers that need a long runway before transplanting outdoors. Top priority starters: Onions & Leeks  – These take their sweet time, so e

Ordering chickens in 2026 feels different than it used to. After the chick shortages of 2025, many farmers and backyard flock owners are approaching their orders with more intention—and a few more questions—than ever before. Availability isn’t something we take for granted anymore, and planning ahead has become part of the process. The first question most people face is simple but important: what do you actually need from your flock?   For some farms, production still comes f

In coffee shops and diners before sunrise and kitchens long after dark, the same conversations keep surfacing: What does farming look like in 2026?   There’s a weight to the question this year. Funding is tighter. Grain prices have slipped lower than many expected. Margins feel thinner with every invoice. At the same time, cattle prices are sitting at historic highs—bringing opportunity, yes, but also uncertainty about how long the cycle will hold. For many producers, this co