Antiquity Oaks

Antiquity Oaks Antiquity Oaks was created as a homestead by the Niemann-Boehle family in 2002 and is now a teaching farm, educating others in sustainable living skills.

In 2002, the Niemann-Boehle family moved to the country to start growing their own food organically. Over the years, their children grew up and moved away, and today Antiquity Oaks LLC has become a teaching farm where people can attend classes, participate in residential farm internships, and volunteer to learn more about sustainable living.

Growing up with dislocating kneecaps, leg braces, and bone surgeries shaped how I think about what we’re capable of. Eve...
08/28/2026

Growing up with dislocating kneecaps, leg braces, and bone surgeries shaped how I think about what we’re capable of. Even after my knees were finally fixed, I discovered that overcoming the physical limitation was only part of the story.

In What “I Can’t” Really Means, I share how those childhood experiences taught me to question the stories we tell ourselves about what we can and can’t do.

Link in the comments!

People often ask how I find time for so many things. One answer is surprisingly simple: I stopped watching television an...
08/26/2026

People often ask how I find time for so many things. One answer is surprisingly simple: I stopped watching television and discovered that it wasn’t a sacrifice, but a way to make more room for the life I wanted to live.

In my latest On the Banks of Mud Creek post, I share why being intentional about what I say no to has helped me say yes to so much more. Read Where Do I Find Time?

Link in the comments!

Sometimes the animals who come to the farm don’t turn out to be what we expected — and Sprocket is a perfect example. 🐶W...
08/24/2026

Sometimes the animals who come to the farm don’t turn out to be what we expected — and Sprocket is a perfect example. 🐶

We brought him home thinking we were getting another border collie who could eventually help with herding. Instead, we got a sweet, goofy, frisbee-obsessed dog with absolutely no interest in herding and a tendency to do everything on his own terms.

But Sprocket turned out to be exactly what we needed. He became the perfect playmate for Meadow, gave me some of my work time back, and brought even more love and cuddles to our family.

❤️ Read the story of our accidental bearded border collie and how he found his own place on the farm.

Farm life has a way of reminding you why strong bones matter! Last October, I took two major falls within six days — one...
08/22/2026

Farm life has a way of reminding you why strong bones matter! Last October, I took two major falls within six days — one while moving goats and another when Meadow came barreling into the back of my legs at full speed. So when I recently had my first bone density scan and learned that I have mild osteopenia in my lumbar spine, I was very glad I had decided to get tested.

I had no idea my bone density was declining, and I didn’t want a broken bone to be my first clue. Now I have information I can act on through exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle changes — and naturally, I’m digging into the research so I understand the WHY behind all of it. Because whether we’re talking about our goats, our farm, or ourselves, you can’t fix what you don’t measure.

Read the full story - link in the comments!

When we moved to the country, I imagined a peaceful, idyllic life like the ones I had read about in books.I didn’t imagi...
08/19/2026

When we moved to the country, I imagined a peaceful, idyllic life like the ones I had read about in books.

I didn’t imagine standing frozen in a barn while our livestock guardian dog attacked my daughter.

I didn’t imagine spending hours in the emergency room.

And I certainly didn’t imagine coming home afterward and milking nine goats at midnight with hands so exhausted that I could barely aim the milk into the bucket.

After six years on the homestead, that night forced me to confront something I hadn't wanted to admit: this wasn’t Walden. It wasn’t Little House on the Prairie. And we had no idea what the next chapter would bring.

Honey, This Isn't Walden is the prologue from my memoir and one of the hardest stories from our early years on the farm.

Read it at the link in the comments. 👇

One thing we've been talking about a lot lately is the importance of creating space in our lives.Space to think.Space to...
08/13/2026

One thing we've been talking about a lot lately is the importance of creating space in our lives.

Space to think.

Space to breathe.

Space to notice what's happening around us.

For some people it's meditation.

For others it's gardening, walking, reading, journaling, or sitting quietly with a cup of coffee.

What helps you slow down and reconnect with yourself?

I'd love to hear your answer.

It started with a carton of “cage-free” eggs.What Deborah thought those words meant — chickens outdoors in the sunshine,...
08/13/2026

It started with a carton of “cage-free” eggs.

What Deborah thought those words meant — chickens outdoors in the sunshine, scratching in the grass and chasing bugs — turned out to be very different from reality.

That discovery became one of the moments that pushed her family toward an idea that probably sounded a little crazy at the time: move to the country and grow their own food, despite having zero farming experience.

In her latest On the Banks of Mud Creek, Deborah shares the story behind that turning point — and what happened when “if you want it done right, do it yourself” became a whole new way of life.

🥚 Read The Egg Label Lie That Changed Everything: link the comments!

Sometimes life on the farm doesn't go according to plan.Deborah expected one energetic Border Collie puppy. Instead, she...
08/07/2026

Sometimes life on the farm doesn't go according to plan.

Deborah expected one energetic Border Collie puppy. Instead, she found herself bringing home a second Border Collie to help keep the first one entertained.

It's a funny story filled with unexpected lessons, plenty of laughter, and the reality of sharing life with incredibly intelligent working dogs.

Read the full post: link in the comments!

❤️ Anyone else end up with more animals than originally planned?

When most people hear the word "meditation," they imagine sitting cross-legged for hours trying not to think.The reality...
08/07/2026

When most people hear the word "meditation," they imagine sitting cross-legged for hours trying not to think.

The reality is much simpler.

Mindfulness can be practiced while sitting in a chair. Walking slowly through the woods. Listening to birds. Watching sunlight dance on the water.

Research consistently shows that even relatively short mindfulness programs can improve well-being and reduce stress.

That's encouraging because most of us don't need one more complicated thing on our to-do list.

Sometimes we simply need permission to pause.

Our meditation retreat is tomorrow, and there are still spots available.

Have you ever tried meditation before?

08/07/2026

The deadline to register for this Saturday's retreat is Friday at 5 pm.

Address

13128 E 2700 North Road
Cornell, IL
61319

Telephone

(815) 358-2450

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