Hill Valley Farm

10/11/2024

Old slow machines give more time to enjoy the view. Buckwheat cover crop.

04/10/2024

Mr. Rooster brought a stick to a gun fight and was putting on a big show to protect his ladies from an over watching breeding pair of Bald Eagles.

11/20/2023

$400 in parts, 16.7 man hours of work/research and two weeks of down time later, I have $200 worth of corn in the bin and gained $201 in knowledge. .

10/23/2023

2023 corn harvest started yesterday

09/21/2023

Come spend a few hours of your Friday evening with us tomorrow as we share some ideas.

On this tour, we will discuss ways to increase the diversity of farm products and income streams. Ben and Brittany McMurray will share their experiences in year-round stewardship for pastured pigs. They will showcase synergies between crop production and livestock.

08/17/2023

Stuff breaks on the farm. Start ‘em early. Start ‘em with safety.

08/03/2023

You can spend an arm and a leg on professional hydroseeding or you can hire Eli’s Budget Friendly Erosion Control. The proprietary process is guaranteed or your money back! Step 1-put weedy rye seed in bucket and allow siblings to throw over desired control area. Step 2-find old weedy hay bales and repeat the process. Step 3-wait for rain, then watch your susceptible area grow nice and green. Minimal cost. Minimal labor.

08/02/2023

One new experiments completed. Clover for seed is not typically produced in our region. It is finicky to dry plus the seed is very small and light. After some internet reading I developed a rough plan and it worked out with a moderate learning curve. No 25lbs/A isn’t great (or economical), but it was a good learning experience for my newest acquisition- mid 1960s vintage JD 40.

This red clover stand was established spring 2022 under a buckwheat, sunflower cover crop and then allowed to mature this summer. It will continue to grow to provide “free” nitrogen and organic matter for an upcoming corn crop.

07/21/2023

After some decent rains the past few weeks, this buckwheat stand is looking nice and the bees are loving it.

07/12/2023

We are hosting a free farm tour/knowledge sharing event through Crosshatch. Register at the link below. You don’t need to be a “farmer” to learn something while attending.

On this tour, we will discuss ways to increase the diversity of farm products and income streams. Ben and Brittany McMurray will share their experiences in year-round stewardship for pastured pigs. They will showcase synergies between crop production and livestock.

06/23/2023

Eli had had lots of fun on tractors this week.

06/15/2023

“Thank goodness for rain and puddles. Less so for brothers…”-Nora.