Homestead From Hatch

06/01/2026

1 month old, and really seeing the difference with the roosters combs starting to show.

05/30/2026

Really looking forward to being a part of this collaboration with other local homesteads and producers. It's great to be part of such an amazing and supportive community.

The Lions Head Farmers Market is every Saturday from 9am to 12pm, and they stay open until 1pm on holidays. Hope to see you there!!!

We're excited to share some awesome news!! A handful of us homesteaders and small producers up here on the Northern Bruce Peninsula have been invited by the to participate in their Farmshare Table Program! We had a few zoom meetings and have decided to give it a go! 🤝

Starting June 6th, we will begin taking turns attending the market with our available produce pooled together on one convenient table for market patrons to buy. This means more options and quantity for our customers and a chance to join the market when we may not have had a chance to with limited produce on our own.

We all feel great about collaborating with one another and are looking forward to adding our high quality produce to the market and getting to mingle with all of you! See you at the Market, June 6th and look for the Farmshare Table Sign!! 😁

05/28/2026

Talk about bed head. These birds have been really developing their feathers, but still have the fluff on their heads.

And for some reason, they enjoy jumping into their food. I sat there and watched them take turns. They were not eating, just exploring l.

05/27/2026

3 weeks old, and we can now just start to distinguish which are hens and which are roosters. Although they will stay together for a few more weeks.before being separated.

They are growing quickly, so soon they will get to have some outdoor time, which we always look forward to.

05/26/2026

This plum tree looks quite happy with all its blossoms. Such a beautiful site to see.

We have 2 other plums, all different varieties. One of these just started to set blossoms and the other has not started yet.

05/18/2026

2 weeks ago it was snowing, and today it's summer like weather. I need a slow progression to acclimate from freezing to sweating 🥵.

And yeah, I complain about all weather. Unless it's 55 degrees, overcast and no bugs, than you will just see pure smiles and a work drive like no other. And the good news is thats in the forecast later this week 😊

05/17/2026

2 weeks old, and having a great time in the brooder. They keep getting access to larger spaces, and it looks like they are enjoying playing with each other, and practicing their fighting skills.

So fun to watch them.

05/16/2026

Cabbage and cauliflower are planted and survived their first night in the ground.

The screen still looks brand new, and hopefully having this in place all season will keep the cabbage moths out.

05/11/2026

Who needs store bought chicken burgers when Steph can make these from our own birds.

Earlier this year we had a freezer issue, and in a rush to save the meat we ended up spending a few nights pressure canning chicken and beef.

Since that point we have had quite a few meals using this canned meat, and they have all been great, and fast. It's worked so well that we plan to do more canning of our meat birds this year.

Fast delicious meals that are shelf stable and don't take up any freezer space. While it's more effort up front, we think it will be worth it.

This recipe just used the canned chicken, along with an egg and some bread crumbs. Fried up to get a nice crispy edge, and add your favorite toppings 😋

05/10/2026

The theme today was divide and conquer! Although we were both battling a common enemy, just in different ways.

Steph spent time in the tree orchard pulling weeds from around the trees. Getting ahead of it now before they get larger and are harder to remove. Spending the time now saves a lot of time later.

Chris cut and placed cardboard between the garden beds, and covered it with a layer of wood mulch. This is the same approach we took last year and it worked well to keep the weeds from the paths. By spring the cardboard was gone and most of the mulch had broken down. Anything that was left was raked into the center path.

Most of the watering system is in. We still need to test it and address any loose connections or leaks, but getting the initial setup ready is a good feeling.

All the garden beds have also been topped with a healthy amount of compost, and are ready for planting. Potatoes are in, and we expect to have cabbage and cauliflower planted this week.

Progress is being made everyday.