Laird Woodland Farm and Agrarian Studio

11/07/2024

This is just a little reminder to myself: you will be grateful for everything you plant in late summer when you feel so done with everything.

Here is a happy little fall harvest of bok choy, mizuna, green onion and some wee daikon radishes.

11/01/2024

10/28/2024

07/25/2024

On a busy day you know what can slow you down?
Tying herb bundles.
Yep. I had to slow down and focus on the herbs and that is just delightful.

07/18/2024

Widening the context of all intellectual work and of teaching - perhaps to the width of the local landscape… To bring local landscapes within… “the boundary of consideration”
Professional people of all sorts will have to feel the emotions and take the risks of amateurism. They will have to get out of their “fields” so to speak and into the watershed, the ecosystem, and the community; and they will have to be actuated by affection.

Wendell Berry

I just found this quote in a pile if my papers. Obviously it was once taped to the wall. I think this is as key for farmers as it is for scientists, teachers, theologians. urban planners and architects.

How do we learn to be “Actuated by affection” and how do we find “the width of the local landscape” within our disciplines?

07/11/2024

It all began… there are so many stories I could slot into this but I will start with this one. It all began while trying to research the history of the Arkansas river and its tributaries.
I started this research because I am connected to this river. I can leave my home and head north, south, east or west and I will cross the Arkansas and it’s tributaries the Chikaskia, the Ninnescah or East sand creek.

But history for a River is hard to find. I come up with a hand full of statistics. Little pin hole glimpses into this river.

I want to know more about water.

06/28/2024

If you are a Kansas local you can find our teas and herbs at the store in Yoder, Kansas. Right now we have Chamomile tea jars, Marshmallow mint tea, Motherwort, California poppy and Lemon balm. Next month we will have Tulsi tea, Joy tea and a fresh collection of our bulk apothecary herbs.

06/26/2024

When in Georgia…peach and pecan salad. Featuring fresh basil (I brought a lb with me from home because I could not leave it behind) cheese curds from and a surprise find of organic greens from (thank you!)

06/21/2024

Beau wrote this blurb for his work at , and I thought it was just lovely.
"I’ve been thinking of you a lot this week as we scurry about the farm, harvesting, preserving, cleaning up, and enjoying the long summer days. Yesterday was the Solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Kristen, the kiddos, and I spent a late evening enjoying a simple feast of farm-rased & community-grown foods. It was delightful - Italian Wedding Soup with meatballs raised by our friends at JAKOfarm, better than we could have produced if we had raised them ourselves. We toasted with a sparkly beverage splashed with our own concoction of elderflower liquor, raising a thankful glass in honor of the sun for all its myriad gifts. Oh, and Lavender ice cream with the thickest, richest of cream, as we watched the sun set over the native prairiegrass ridge. Just perfect. I hope the same for you as the dog days of summer set in in earnest."

06/17/2024

Tulsi is back in abundance! The drying trays are packed with this beautiful, fruity, aromatic herb. This year, we are cultivating all the different types of tulsi to experiment with and to observe how they thrive on our farm. What do you think of tulsi? Do you have a favorite variety?

05/31/2024

🌿The harvest is always so beautiful this time of year!

Thank you for the beautiful pics.