Kerusso Farms

06/21/2025

2025
Beautiful…now to add White and bright pink!

06/28/2023

Today was our lavender harvest. I am thrilled! There are few things as lovely as running your hand over lavender flowers or the aromatic scent of it floating in a room.

I neglected them last fall. Pruning did not occur and I was actually surprised to see buds this spring. Its a 98% increase from 2022 harvest in which nothing budded, assumingly due to to frost.

You will notice they are “reaching” for the sun. I will relocate them fall 2023 to a fuller sun area.

What uses would you have for fresh cut lavender?

05/29/2023

Remember the garlic we planted on Feb 18, 2023 in the middle of a winter reprieve here in MI?

This was May 3… guess it looks pretty good!

02/18/2023

Gorgeous Garlic day…
36*F

Here is the back story:
The Farm has taken a back burner to family challenges and the need to bring in additional income.

We had fabulous garlic for many, many years and we called it Kerusso Gold. We ate, sold at farmers markets and offered it to our CSA members.

In 2017/18 we decided to downsize, sell the ol homestead and travel. That meant our stock went to other gardens. We worked on our home but ended up staying put and pushing my (Mellissas) dream of traveling on hold a bit longer, then 2020-21.

In January I asked if any local friends happen to have seed garlic. Our friend Michele said she had some our original bulbs and blessed us with a couple pounds.

The excitement in James’ face to hold that garlic was priceless…

So here we are. Trying to revive
Kerusso Gold.

09/02/2022

Tis the season folks.

1 yellow & 2 red medium onions

10 varieties of tomatoes - approx. 4 cups diced (This is a challenge to visit your local farmer or farmers market)

2 cups of fresh cilantro

2 - 3 jalapenos (I used 2 varieties, one purple & one green)

1 -2 nectarines

4 - 6 tomatillos (I used both green and purple for color)

1 whole lime or lime juice

sea salt

Dice the onions, tomatoes, tomatillos & nectarines into similar sizes. (tiny) The idea here is that you get a piece of every type of ingredient onto your chip!

Pile the cilantro and chop it in multiple directions, but not too small, the green gives good contrast.

Thinly slice the jalapenos and then cut into tiny bits, you can always add more heat but you can not take it back out. I removed the seeds.

Slice the lime in half and squeeze out the juice while trying to get all of the juicy bits too.

Sprinkle with salt and lightly combine all of the ingredients.

While it's delicious to eat right away, you could also refrigerate it, for an hour or so, to let the garden fresh flavors meld together.

11/08/2021

Last week….

11/07/2021

When the Butcher calls with a last minute opening, what would you do?

On our farm, we have always preferred on farm dispatch. That means the animal is killed humanely in familar place on the farm. It keeps the animal from being flooded with anxiety/stress hormones and makes for a calm environment.

As with many farmers, it has been difficult to schedule this as those providers are BOOKED UP!

This week, a local butcher that only receives the animals live said they had openings for 2 of the three.
My uncle and I (Mellissa) spent a couple hours on Wed just before sunset loading them.
We auccessfully loaded
O N E

Lets just say there was not much cooperation on the part of the pigs. I got my leg jammed into the side of the barn by these 225 # “generally gentle giants” and was left with TWO still on the farm! 🤨😔

Thursday afternoon we were notified if we could get the other two there by FRI morning at 9:00am, they would do the last two.

The photos are of our moonlight serenade to the piggies. James created this wonderful Chute that we were confident would work!
All they have to do is walk into this unique hog hauler!

************
Epic FAIL.
************
We stayed up until midnight trying to coax and move them into the trailer.
I (Mellissa) got up at six and worked until 8:30am

With. No. Success.

In fact, as of Sunday- one is still holding out and will not enter for his meal. I guess when he gets hungry enough he may change his mind!

Safe to say its never boring around here..,

10/19/2021

Lavender harvest with a cute helper!

07/13/2021

This little piggie went to market
This little piggie stayed home
This little piggie had roast beef
This little piggie had none
This little piggie cried
Wee wee wee
All the way to your house!

…we have two boars ans one gilt left from our litter of piglets

Breed:
Glouchestershire Old Spot mix
Friendly
Born April 12
Ready to go to plumpen up for the
Fall pig roast or
Freezer meat.

Message us for details!

04/14/2021

Spring has sprung and so have these little creatures... 11, not bad for a first time momma!

06/11/2020

More 🍅 I am in love with 🍅 🍅 🍅 🌱

By Donation to the boys who are managing this, their pics are in the previous post!

Open Thurs 6/11. 3pm-7pm or make arrangements for pickup by messenger.

Blessings!