luna acres

The weekend before Christmas we innoculated some logs we had downed with phoenix oyster mushroom spawn. A dozen or so were off as gifts, but a hefty pile remains for us to start next season. We set up in the greenhouse which was wonderful, warm and dry and not windy. I wish we would have it to use all winter, but we need to get it down soon. It makes a fantastic workspace. A successful day. Until next time, Angela Kelly

the pile of logs we cut brought down today It was a cold weekend, yesterday was stormy from rain to snow. Today was a bit better, scattered showers and flurries but it stayed primarily cloudy and windy. We finished bringing down some logs from the trees we downed about a month ago, we are going to inoculate them tomorrow. It felt good to get out in the cold and break a sweat. It's been awhile. Jonathan looking around the greenhouse Until next time, Angela Kelly

When we were in and out of the greenhouse during the storm this weekend (trying to keep the ice and snow from crushing it) we were surprised with several clusters of blue oyster mushrooms on one of our few remaining logs. They were a nice little winter gift, I'm glad we caught them when they are still small, we will try to pick them at just the right time. Welcome, winter. It's nice to see you too. Until next time, Angela Kelly

Success and Failure - Mushroom logs were a big hit. We sold all the ones we had back in August, all of which fruited at least once. Next year we need to do a bunch more, several varieties and sizes, and keep a separate stock pile for ourselves. Success and Failure - The straw baskets we did in early spring were doing great to start off, until the water problems started. When the well began messing up and we couldn't water them regularly there was nothing we could do. I think they are a bit too labor intensive, and that next year we should put more concentration on the logs. Success - The demand. Everyone at the market we sold at were interested in the mushrooms, we had customers asking for them every week. Hopefully next year we will have them to sell more often, if we focus on logs and keep a watchful eye on our own stockpile. I think this concludes my little success failure series.  It has been a crazy year, I can only imagine what next year will bring our way. Live simply, Angel...

our first ever shiitake mushroom, on a log we inoculated in the spring the new bird day pen There you have it, our first shiitake mushroom ever. See more about the happy poultry here . Until next time, Angela Kelly

our (messy) greenhouse, with new misting system installed phoenix oyster mushrooms blue oyster mushrooms Zae the Protector We are producing mushrooms, slowly. We are thankful that the demand is behind us, we sell out very fast when we do have mushrooms at market, and there are always more people interested. Live simply, Angela and Jonathan

We harvested our first phoenix oyster mushrooms this week, and this weekend we inoculated five more straw baskets which will fruit in a few weeks. A big thanks to Chris and Eli from Fantastic Fungi for their great spawn! Now we just have to fight off the beetles that are attacking them! I have been researching and so far it seems the best options are bug juice (made from smooshed beetles and water) and Neem (a natural plant oil that deters and kills pests.) We worked super hard today, and tomorrow we will be taking a little time off to visit with both of our dad's for Father's Day.  We hope you have a great weekend, make time for your dad's too! fruiting baskets lighter shelf underside ^_^ new greenhouse setup the baskets are growing and growing Live simply, Angela and Jonathan

We did our first round of full size straw baskets last weekend, and today we unwrapped them and the mycelium has taken off quite nicely. We are slowly but surely getting there! full size baskets close up of the fungus mini baskets are still a going Live simply, Angela and Jonathan

Our mentors in the mushroom world invited us down to visit and see the inner workings of straw cultivation before our first big try on our own. It was great to be back there, surrounded by what we hope is our future. It was a lovely trip.             Until next time, Angela Kelly

photo from this time last year, when we just arrived on the farm. There are still two long weeks until spring officially begins, but I can feel it in the air already, despite snow this week. I have been pre-spring cleaning by organizing, re-arranging and decorating the office, the den, and the bedroom. I didn't realize how much I felt like I didn't live here, didn't belong here, until now. When we moved back from the farm so much had changed, we had a house full of people, and while I love them all dearly it felt as if this was no longer "our" home. I'm trying to change that. Now that the house is quieter I am trying to spread our things out of the bedroom (which has been incredibly cluttered and stuffy) into the rest of the house. And you know what? It feels really good. Next week I plan to start spring cleaning, but first- a big farm work weekend (since the weather is going to be so beautiful and spring-like.) The list includes finishing the first r...

We had our first harvest of blue oyster mushrooms from the logs Chris from Fantastic Fungi helped us inoculate. This is a big step towards our goals for the homestead. We should have about ten different varieties growing when we get home, which should be a good start for making our living at markets! Until next time, Angela Kelly