Foolish Raven Farms

Foolish Raven Farms Foolish Raven Farms is a small homestead growing into a way of life. Now – let me qualify a few things right up front.

We have moved to our homestead, and started down the next phase of our growth here at the new Foolish Raven Farms. What an awesome new experience, and I can't wait to explore the new skills, relationships and life paths this will create. The Farm has been run as a sustainable, organic farm, which we are excited to continue and maintain. The previous farmer and I both are not interested in getting

the organic "Certification", but the farm will be run as an organic in concept farm, as I strive to make the best choices for improving the homestead as I can make. My concept for Foolish Raven Farms started with the realization that as I was progressing through my life, I was learning quite a number of skills that had application to the technological world, and lots of theory and philosophy about our reality as humans, but I was learning close to nothing about how to do “real” things. In everything that I say on this website and my blog, I am stating my opinion. It is my goal to learn new things and always try to keep an open mind… and I can almost guarantee that at some point I am going to say something that will be disagreed with by someone or everyone. I am always willing to discuss and talk about any viewpoint, but that is what we are talking about: Viewpoint. My opinion and yours don’t need to be the same. I want to learn from everyone I meet, but reserve the right to not agree with you while still thinking you have every right to disagree with me as well. So, let’s get back to the word “real” that I used above. I originally set out to learn a few skills that were totally foreign to me (gardening, raising rabbits, woodworking, etc.); and as my knowledge started expanding, my desire to know more expanded as well. This has led me to various new things, but most of them can be grouped under a really rough interpretation of the self-sufficiency / homesteading label. Being in a very urban setting has created some specific challenges to this path. It often seems odd, even to me, to call a relatively small apartment a farm, but I do not wish to be completely ruled by my current limitations. I am an avid grower of vegetables via hydroponics, and look forward to putting this into practice on a larger scale soon with either apprenticing myself to someone on their farm or getting land of my own. I have experimented with small livestock in the past, but give my current place, choose to wait on this aspect until I have a more outside space to further this goal as well. It is my intention to share information with people as I learn in my blog, and share things that I produce with anyone whom I can give value to. This website is to be my portal into sharing my road to becoming as functional a productive homestead as I can be. That being said, be patient with my website as it grows, as I don’t really know what will be added in the future as I expand my projects.

03/23/2019

So CUTE!

So - I checked a huge box on the farmstead/homestead accomplishment list today.  I took 3 of my accidental roosters, and...
08/01/2018

So - I checked a huge box on the farmstead/homestead accomplishment list today. I took 3 of my accidental roosters, and some of my hens that were aging out, to the processor today. ...And now have 8 wonderfully packaged birds of quasi-self-sustained meat in my fridge and freezer.

I cannot imagine my twenty-something self looking forward to the life I currently have, but am so grateful for all of the happiness that it brings me. It is humbling to think of how much further I have to go as I make these baby-steps forward to my eventual goals with the property - but I am also in awe of the fun things that I have done in the past 4 years.

Two other points:

I have to give a shout out to AA Poultry Processing, who made my first processing experience feel easy, and without knowing it, took a HUGE stress out of the entire chicken venture as I look to the future and my wishes and plans.

And second - I'm curious if anyone out there would have interest in Foolish Raven Farms chicken in the future? I certainly did these birds as a dry run for my own thoughts of doing broilers for my personal use - but is there a desire in the folks local to me or in Duluth that would warrant me producing more birds than I can personally use?

Chick Update - all chicks seem to be shaking off the travel blues and seem strong.  Updated Picture now that they are a ...
02/07/2018

Chick Update - all chicks seem to be shaking off the travel blues and seem strong.

Updated Picture now that they are a little less traumatized. :)

Day 1 of experiment: "How tough ARE day old chicks?"I jest, but I am faced with the question from a logistics standpoint...
02/07/2018

Day 1 of experiment: "How tough ARE day old chicks?"

I jest, but I am faced with the question from a logistics standpoint of when it is best to order new chicks for the flock to replace out older birds or losses, and one of the answers that I have rejected in the past due to weather concerns has been - count 4 months back from when you need eggs for sale, and order in February.

EVERY piece of information and standard ordering practices has always said that you can't order birds this early because it is too cold... Well... um... It is -2 degrees F out, and I just picked up 26 healthy chicks out of an order of 25 (26 shipped).

Now - I totally admit that it is too early to fully judge any losses or long term health, but so far, I think my standard supplier, Ideal Hatchery, and my local post office, ROCKS! They have never let me down as far as delivered health, even though they are coming from Texas! The only time I used a Michigan supplier, I had massive losses in transit and it took 2 days longer. :)

I promise better pictures as time goes on, but for initial reports, over half have been running around and quite spunky.

One small story that really hammers home just how small these guys little brains are... :) Once I had dipped all of their beaks in water (general consensus is you kind of have to teach them what and where water is) - All of them were clustered around outside of the main heater - a little Brinsea yellow heater - screaming that they were cold... I watched a few accidentally stumble under it, and they happily stayed there basking, and others were running around exploring and going in and out from under the heater. 15 minutes go by, and still the main group is huddled, chirping up a storm, mildly colder under just the overhead ceramic heater. I decided to try to help - and I gently pushed all of the group under the heater. Instant quiet... To the point of my slight worry. But they were just all finally happy, and have now started to venture back out once they individually warm up.

Gosh I love new chicks. :)

Post script on picture explain and to possibly eliminate explanations - the picture with the temperature was a picture 1 minute after unboxing, and they had not yet had time to clump... the "spread" that is seen is less "good heat distribution" and more "what the HECK just happened" from disoriented chicks.

07/15/2017

Quick post - We are AWASH in raspberries.

If anyone is in the area (Iron River, WI) - and wants to pick raspberries today, we are buried in raspberries! :)

Pick your own and we can talk about really cheap prices. Just don't have the manpower to get to them all this weekend and don't want them to go to waste.

Message me if you have any interest.

A quick picture celebrating the return of Raspberry Season. Our supply out in the farm stand is growing daily as the har...
07/12/2017

A quick picture celebrating the return of Raspberry Season.

Our supply out in the farm stand is growing daily as the harvest starts. Stop by to pick up some fresh picked raspberries while the season is jumping!

I am so happy to have my Farm Stand up and operational!  :)  Current offerings:Farm Fresh Eggs - $4/dozRhubarb Jelly - $...
07/12/2017

I am so happy to have my Farm Stand up and operational! :)

Current offerings:
Farm Fresh Eggs - $4/doz
Rhubarb Jelly - $6/jar
Raspberries - $4/ 1/2 pint container

Ask about pick your own raspberries and a very limited amount of rhubarb that is left - either message me or give me a call.

Through the heat of the summer, our eggs and some of our other offerings are located in the refrigerator inside the white farm stand. Feel free to drop by and pick up some up any day of the week. Prices and payment instructions are posted inside the farm stand.

Thank you for your support of our growing business, and check back for more offerings to come!

Anyone need eggs?  Joel is heading to town tomorrow.  And, we got some busy ladies making eggs. :)  Not sure of timing y...
04/28/2017

Anyone need eggs? Joel is heading to town tomorrow. And, we got some busy ladies making eggs. :) Not sure of timing yet but... we can figure that out! :)

Egg Delivery coming this weekend on Saturday 4/29/17 to Duluth, MN. Message me if you are interested in being on the list. :)

Egg Delivery coming this weekend on Saturday 4/29/17 to Duluth, MN.  Message me if you are interested in being on the li...
04/28/2017

Egg Delivery coming this weekend on Saturday 4/29/17 to Duluth, MN. Message me if you are interested in being on the list. :)

04/12/2017

Making a Duluth, MN Egg Delivery run tomorrow 04/13/2017. Let me know if you would like any of our Farm Fresh Eggs delivered to your doorstep on my delivery route. :)

Our current offerings are:

Farm Fresh Eggs - $4.00/Dozen
Soap -- Currently on sale for $2.50 per 4oz minimum bars

& I currently still have 4 raspberry jam from last season selling at $5.00/jar

Feel free to Comment or message me directly for more information.

Our latest and greatest!  We tried not to pick and Alex looking cat but did NOT succeed!   He's more orange than buff.  ...
10/11/2016

Our latest and greatest! We tried not to pick and Alex looking cat but did NOT succeed! He's more orange than buff. Very lovely little dude!!!

I want to introduce our newest employee out at Foolish Raven Farms. :) So far, he has agreed to work for room and board - plus all the mice he can eat.

His name is Moe, Mosley, or MoMo - depending on which other human that you ask. He is a two year old, former resident of Texas. He hasn't really opened up about his former living situation other than that, but he is very friendly and doesn't seem to be too road-weary, so we're all assuming that he hasn't lived to vagabond of a life so far.

So far, he seems to be taking to the job of guarding the sleeping humans and patrolling the night shift, so we are feeling very lucky to have him here. :)

I want to introduce our newest employee out at Foolish Raven Farms.  :)  So far, he has agreed to work for room and boar...
10/11/2016

I want to introduce our newest employee out at Foolish Raven Farms. :) So far, he has agreed to work for room and board - plus all the mice he can eat.

His name is Moe, Mosley, or MoMo - depending on which other human that you ask. He is a two year old, former resident of Texas. He hasn't really opened up about his former living situation other than that, but he is very friendly and doesn't seem to be too road-weary, so we're all assuming that he hasn't lived to vagabond of a life so far.

So far, he seems to be taking to the job of guarding the sleeping humans and patrolling the night shift, so we are feeling very lucky to have him here. :)

09/03/2016

Latest additions to our Foolish Raven flock. :)

Hello Everyone!Our Chickens here at the Farm are finally getting ahead of demand for eggs - and we have farm fresh eggs ...
08/24/2016

Hello Everyone!

Our Chickens here at the Farm are finally getting ahead of demand for eggs - and we have farm fresh eggs available for sale. Our quantity that we have available changes often - so if you are interested, call or message us to check on availability.

For those of you in the Iron River, WI area or Duluth/Superior, check with us about delivery options.

We are offering eggs for $4.00 per dozen.

Spring cleanup/Construction under way.  Eagles and Hawks - bu**er off!  :)It is not yet the most put-together build I've...
04/20/2016

Spring cleanup/Construction under way. Eagles and Hawks - bu**er off! :)

It is not yet the most put-together build I've ever started, but at least the chicken buffet is less open for business.

Dog proof - Check
Eagle proof - Check
Weasel/fox proof - Well... hopefully they stay away until the evening when the doors are everything proof.

Chicken raising in the woods without dogs seems to be a slightly Herculean task, but I'll eventually get it handled. :)

03/23/2016

My partner in crime on the Podcast has an article published out in Duluth Budgeteer News - Read the original article there or on her website.

Article appeared in Duluth Budgeteer Sunday March 20, 2016 under the title Food sensitivity is nothing to sneeze at

03/22/2016

Heyo, Everyone! I wanted to drop a quick note regarding podcast scheduling - my life has been total chaos this past while as I dealt with some health issues. We're going to try to re-start going soon, so bear with us.

01/15/2016

Seed List adds for this year from Johnny Seeds: Green Manure mix – mix contains field peas, oats, and hairy vetch Medium Red Clover Zucchini- Dunja and Raven Onions – Patternson and Pumba Tomatoes – Brandywine and Amish Paste Sunshine Squash Pumpkin – Winter Luxury Cilantro Chocolate Mint – if we ca…

01/09/2016

Hello Everyone - We're back after a short break for the holidays.

News on the Farm:
Starting to get pullet eggs
Electricity and the impact on heat/water on the farm
Judy Project - Minute Mentor
Composting revisited
Main Topic: Farm + Work that pays the bills

12/22/2015

Music Intro and End used with permission by Sara Thomsen – Excerpt of song, Everything and More, from Album Everything Changes.www.sarathomsen.com/

12/17/2015

Podcast Episode 3

Pricing of eggs – just noticed that 2.99 was local egg price, but farm local eggs at the co-ops have stayed what their prices are at 3.99…

12/03/2015

Hello all... I very giddily, shyly and happily post out a new endeavor that we are starting... A Foolish Raven Farms Podcast. :)

Let me know what you think.

General Introduction to us and our “farmstead”. Intro to our Rabbits and our chickens. Our Farming Ethics or thereabouts, and our general format plans for the podcast.

06/27/2015

Short video of the new flock and their first time outside the coop. I have kept them confined for a bit to make sure they call the coop home, but now I'll be getting them out as much as possible, as predator protection makes it possible to leave them outside more and more.

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Iron River, WI

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