Ashmore Acres

10/07/2022

Goodnight from the night shift crew . 🌙 🐓 💫 🥚
Last night we gathered the hens because for the time being this part of our story is being put on hold.
For now we will no longer be raising chickens or selling eggs.
To say this is hard sounds trivial and can’t come close to describing how we feel as a family about this decision, but, we are finding peace and hope in the hard and gratitude for the last 7.5 years of this venture that has been our beautiful, often muddy and stinky, life.
This farm was a big dream that miraculously became our reality and as we tucked our kids in tonight we reminisced about so many of the crazy stories and lessons that have come from raising more than 6,000 chickens, 12 turkeys, 11 goats, 1 dog and numerous baby kittens. That’s a story to be told and we are all better because of it. There is no other way we would choose to raise our kids and for that opportunity we are eternally grateful.
Thank you for sharing in this wonderful journey along side of us. Our customers and our community have became our friends and it’s been our pleasure to know you and work with you. Best to you all.

08/27/2022

“Big, black, berry,” I emphasize the b sound for my soon to be kindergartner. “What do all those words start with?”
“If it’s not big and black, don’t pick it, okay,” I keep going.
Ira has his own idea.
“You pick, mom, and then give them to me for the bucket,” he says after giving careful thought as to how not to get poked by the thorns.
The berries I gently place in his hands form a heart that I don’t see until he’s asleep and I’m scrolling.

Picking blackberries always leads me to muse.

They are so delicious and they just grow, wildly, all around me.

Why is it that even when my hands are full of big, ripe, berries I always try and reach for one or two more? Do you do that?
There is always one more right there to grab.
Most of the time this leads me to drop one or more berries that I already had or loose my balance and fall into the thorny bush.

Why can’t I just savor what I have?

Stop for a minute and empty my hands before reaching for more?

If I can’t reach it without getting hurt, do I still reach for it? Is it worth it? How bad do I want it? Do I ask for help? My hair is stuck on a thorn and my hands are full.

The kids all left to play tag among the hay bales and while they are gone I pick more than while they were helping. 🤔 I think they were eating more than they were picking.

I walk over to where they are and they come to me, running for the berries. Gage asks me to open my mouth and as I do he launches one up and at me. I catch it between my teeth, second try. He starts throwing them at his siblings, trying to start a war I presume and I draw the line. “If you don’t pick them you don’t get to throw them.” “Save the berries for the ice cream,” we all agree this is the best idea.

There were years when Jeff and I didn’t have blackberries on our property and we would drive to all the places we knew they were and climb up his big tall roof ladder to reach them.
Now here we are, surrounded. ❤️

07/15/2022

07/04/2022

When the little cutie banging on the window to get your attention and tell you he’s awake is randomly patriotic. Happy 4th of July from .

06/29/2022

This was my view last Friday night and will forever be imprinted on my heart. He knew us and loved us so deeply and often I felt him helping us carry our loads.
Today was just a normal day until a nice stranger pulled up and told me our dog had been hit on the Guide and that he didn’t make it.
R.I.P. Hercules. 💔 💔 💔
You weren’t much of a farm dog but you were a strong, loyal, lovable, protective, sometimes naughty but always nice and easily excited part of our family. We will always love you and be forever changed because of you. I know you’re still watching out for us. Night night puppy.
❤️❤️❤️

06/23/2022

We hope you will join us tomorrow morning at 8:30am for our summer series Farm Yoga.
Bring your kids to frolic on the farm while you breath and connect with nature and your inner most self.
The perfect start to your day and the beautiful sunny weekend. ✌🏻 ☀️

06/16/2022

No yoga today! See you next Friday!!

05/18/2022

The abundance of May rain has put a bit of a damper on our plans for springtime Yoga on the Farm but we are excited about kicking this off TOMORROW!
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We hope you will come out and join us! Our goal is the create a space to gather and connect. Connect with nature. Connect with our whole selves. And connect to one another.
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Some of my favorite things about this time of the year are laying on the soft earth, breathing the fresh air, and listening to the birds and chickens sing while my kids run around, playfully exploring. It’s amazing how rejuvenating it feels to be outside after such a long winter.
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My friend Alicia will be leading us through a beautiful, grounding practice to help align our body, mind and soul with the earth.
The class will be $10 and kids are free to come and play alongside or around the farm, whatever you’re comfortable with.
Invite your friends!
See you at the farm! 👋

05/08/2022

I don’t know how this happened but I know those are my kids’ un**es on my blueberry bush in my backyard 😭
I see you, Momma’s.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of you!

04/11/2022

S•P•R•I•N•G

All the pastel eggs are pretty and everywhere.

02/14/2022

One Valentine on my chest, keeping me from getting out and washing eggs. One sharing the fire and laying at my feet (how/when did the husband/cat roles get reversed?!)
One at morning seminary. One waking up to their alarm, and a few upstairs still in dreamland.
I hope your day is filled with love. ❤️

01/14/2022

In a little corner, of a big world a little boy pulls a big fence with all his might.
And a little brother watches and picks his nose while a father hoots and cheers from the other end of the field.
And the big world turns and the little children grow and all these little moments create the big lives they are living.