What A Great Season

As we wrap up the Farmers Market season and start preparing for our winter production of cheeses we are filled with gratitude for all the folks who have come out to support the farm. Our monthly events have been fun and we have met so—many new people. The food, the drinks, the laughter, and all the kindness have us looking forward to planning next year’s gatherings. Having Winter Ridge Natural Foods take us on as a new local vendor made our products more available. We love working with them. Our farm store is a hit and I am excited about doing some tastings, holiday gift boxes, and goodies this coming season, so watch us on social media or sign up for our newsletter for updates.

We had two calves born this summer, Tulah and Primo, and are expecting our third around Thanksgiving, so stay tuned.

Lucy, our English Lab had 9 puppies and all of them are in great homes and are doing well. I LOVE that I get to see most of them as they grow up

Thank you again for being a part of our artisan creamery, we are grateful for you.

Terces

Getting Ready

As the end of Winter nears and glimpses of Spring appear we find ourselves getting ready for more sunshine, working out of doors, a bigger presence at the Sandpoint Farmers Market, and seeing more people. There is some hibernation that happens when it is cold, windy, and snowing and soon it will be time to open the doors and windows and swim in the lake.

The cows are ready too for brighter days and basking in the sun on green grass, the chickens are in search of green as well.

Our cheese inventory will offer a larger variety and more cream, butter, and milk as well.

We are working on a newer version of the farm store as well and can’t wait to host some cheese tastings!

SEE YOU SOON!

Matthew and Terces

As The Year Ends

Looking over our website tonight just to see how current it was I discovered that this BLOG has fallen way behind! What a full year it has been, my last post was about the farmhouse being finished and now here I sit in the newly remodeled “Cabin” as Lightning Creek is reaching flood levels from all the unexpected rain and melting snow. What was an amazing swimming hold this past summer and into fall has now become a white water phenomenon!

The covered deck on the Cabin (newly rebranded from the manufactured home it once was) starts to be assembled next Monday. Chris has been building it Timber Frame style in his shop curing the wet weather.

Our three calves, born this summer are weaning and so those mama cows are generously giving us 18 gallons a day so I am busy producing aged cheeses for next Spring and Summer Farmers Market. We sold all we had on the racks in the aging room so I had plenty of room.

Fresh cream is a big bonus, as there is only ULTRA pasteurized for sale in local marjkets, which quite frankly has no real value. Keep your eye on our online store if you are interested in FRESH RAW CREAM.

Ok, so now you are updated as we head into the Christmas season.

We wish you all the BEST of the Christmas Season, May you enjoy your time with loved ones.

Love, Terces and Matthew

Farmhouse is done

While it did take longer than we originally thought, don’t most things, especially construction! We are so happy with how it turned out and Emma and Mariana are thrilled to be moving in. The farmhouse was the home of eight children and their mother in the fifties and beyond and when we invited the three sons to come take a look with their wives it was so much fun as well as so moving when they began to tell stories of growing up there and all the events that had taken place. There is nothing like returning to your childhood home to bring up old memories, laughter and gratitude for what was and for what is now.

We are neighbors with two of the sons and are so grateful to be here. Their knowledge of the land and the area are a wonderful resource.

Next we will remodel the older manufactured home that is here and look forward to rebranding it “The Cabin”, stay tuned. Our family (26 of us) are coming for family camp in July and then we will dig into the next project.

In the meantime we hope you are enjoying the long days, beautiful starlight skies and the unbelievably beautiful sunsets and sunrises of Spring.

Spring is here!

While the snow was melting, not long ago, Matthew and I kept commenting on how wonderful it was going to be watching Spring burst forth. Well, its here and it is fabulous. There isn’t a day that we don’t notice some new leaves or buds or birds, the endless arrival of new life is everywhere and living in our camper has us up close and personal with it all.

It has been a while since I have lived in four seasons and it occurs miraculous just how quickly the green grass appears after the last of the white snow has melted. Our creek and river and running nearly full force as we fall asleep to the sound of it each night.

The swallows have arrived, robins are everywhere and the knock knock of the woodpeckers can be heard especially in the mornings.

The greenhouses have been moved, the cat tunnels opened and salad greens, cilantro, onions, kale and radishes are being harvested. There are blossoms on the berries and all the fruit trees have flowered. It is a beautiful sight to behold.

The cows are loving the pasture and roam deep into the woods exploring new ground daily. Ida, our first born calf here is now 2 plus months and is strong, capable and independent.

Baby chicks are now roaming without heat lamps in a chicken coop and the older birds are laying daily. We have long days here and enjoy the daylight that lasts well into the evening.

Matthew has planted close to 100 trees and has planted both a perennial and annual flower gardens, we are awaiting our hand pump to put on our well in the center of the farm.

Diary production is well under way and the community is grateful for the local supply of raw dairy.

Stay tuned for updates on the remodel of the old farmhouse as it nears completion.

Enjoy the sunshine and all the new life, let’s give thanks for all of it. Happy Spring

Love, Terces

Living simply, simply living.

I have thought for a while now about adding some farm notes to our website, just to share more of the day-to-day of our journey with you. I usually have those thoughts when I am sitting under a cow, milking, with the quiet beats of the pulsator creating a gentle background sound that lulls me into a more meditative state of mind. I have to be careful not to let my mind drift off as milking requires me to be tuned into the needs and movements of the girls I am milking. When I don’t I usually find myself looking for a bandaid and some shea butter.

we have moved into our camper van on the farm and spend our mornings and evening around a campfire We think we are past our last hard freeze so we turned on the hot water heater in our outdoor kitchen, which is a blessing, so I hope we have read the weather correctly.

We are one week out from our first Farmer’s Market and are getting things ready, trying to anticipate all we will need, we are also preparing to open up a Farm Store at the farm, so its been fun imagining what retail sales might look like, and looking forward to sharing the farm with local folks.

We bathe in an old clawfoot tub in the cow barn, filling it with a hose from the milk room, and honestly, the simplicity of a hot bath before climbing into bed in the camper is such a treat. I hope that as we develop more here on the land I don’t loose sight to the beauty of a simple life.

Love, Terces