Odd Duck Gardens

08/26/2024

Tomorrow is the last Oconto County Farmers Market of the season, so be sure to stop out and support this amazing community event! I am so sad to say that Odd Duck Gardens will not be attending as a vendor this week due to a conflicting commitment. Thank you so much for all of your support in all of its forms this season. I miss you all already! Plans are already in the making for next year and I'll be sure to post updates here and there, so stay tuned. :)

As usual, find some of the best local vendors around on Highland Square in Oconto Falls, Tuesday 4-8.

08/23/2024

There isn't much that I've wanted more in my adult life than to start a vegetable farm. Fear kept me from my dreams for a long time. I thought there was no way I could ever afford to get the land and tools that I would need, so I gave up on the idea long ago. Then I came to a point that I just couldn't wait anymore.

I may not have much financially, but I am pretty thrifty and creative, and I have a very supportive and loving family. Turns out I didn't need much more than that because I started Odd Duck Gardens LLC with almost nothing, other than a very modest emergency savings and my inherited resourcefulness. This year was such an adventure, and slowly but surely, I'm filling in the gaps. Going to keep dreaming big!

If you have a dream, don't let fear be what keeps you from chasing it. You can do it! :) Here are just a few ways that I've been able to make it work as a first-year farmer (check captions for more details).

08/19/2024

Just two markets left for the year at the Oconto County Farmers Market! Spending much time reflecting on this year and planning for the next. Stay tuned later this week for some behind the scenes pics of how I "make it work" as a first-year farmer. Back to the present, here is what I'll be bringing to market this week:

Red Cabbage
Red Beets
Green and Red Curly Kale
Poblano Peppers (the promised bucket load)
Iko Iko Bell Peppers
Mini Bell Peppers
Jalapenos
Purple Kohlrabi
Heirloom Flat Green Beans
Fennel
Basil
Parsley
Dill

Hope to see you Tuesday, 4-8 pm on Highland Square in Oconto Falls! :)

08/12/2024

This week at the Oconto County Farmers Market, I've got what you need for a week full of interesting salads! This is what I'll be bringing to market this week:

Butterhead Lettuce
Arugula
Premium Greens Mix (No-Lettuce)
Kalibos Red Cabbage
Green and Red Curly Kale
Fennel (with Fronds)
Iko Iko Bell Peppers
Jalapenos
Poblanos
Basil
Baby Dill
Parsley
Purple Kohlrabi
Heirloom Flat Green Beans (small quantity)

It's been a busy week at the farmette and in the kitchen. Started a big batch of sauerkraut, made stuffed Iko Iko peppers, and lots more with goodies from the garden. As someone who loves to cook, I choose to grow vegetables that add exciting flavors and colors to the kitchen.

Thank you for your continued support, and I hope to see you at the market on Highland Square in Oconto Falls this Tuesday (4-8). :)

08/05/2024

**Temporary location change for the Oconto County Farmers Market this week for National Night Out** Find us this Tuesday, 4-8 at the Oconto Falls High School. The weather forecast is looking pleasant, lots of fun activities are planned, and there are just four markets left for this season, so you won't want to miss it! Here is what I'll be bringing to market this week:

Caraflex Cabbage
Jalapenos
Iko Iko Bell Peppers
Mini Bell Snacking Peppers
Garlic
Fennel
Green and Red Curly Kale
Basil
Baby Dill
Parsley

In the coming weeks, I hope to have another big pile of poblano peppers, red cabbages, some fancy salad greens, more beets, green beans...we'll see. :)

My selection is a bit limited this week for a few reasons. I had a couple of crop failures, the biggest one being the cucumber beetles ravaging my cucumbers and summer squash. Also, my late season focus this year is building my soil quality with cover crops, instead of planting more cash crops. Buckwheat and sunn h**p are in the garden now, and in September I will be planting oats and peas. These plants are doing a lot of work for me by preventing erosion, adding nutrients to the soil, out-competing weeds, and so much more! Lastly, still dialing in on my planting timing. Lots of valuable lessons this year and big plans for next year. :)

08/04/2024

⭐️⭐️ Tuesday August 6th the farmers market will be held at Oconto Falls High School for National Night Out! You won't want to miss this fantastic event!! ⭐️⭐️

07/31/2024

This is so heartwarming! I’m so thankful for all of the people in our community involved with and supporting this market. So many treats grown and prepared by passionate people. The Oconto County Farmers Market makes being a locavore (one who eats primarily local foods) so convenient!

07/29/2024

It's been a happy harvest day at Odd Duck Gardens, getting ready for the Oconto County Farmers Market (Tuesday, 4-8 in Oconto Falls). All these cabbages have me dreaming of my favorite Polish 'kapusta' recipes. The remaining patch of rainbow carrots saved some of the best for last. And I must say, the kale was breathtakingly beautiful this morning. Here is what I'll be bringing to market this week:

Caraflex and Golden Acres Cabbage
Green and Red Curly Kale
Jalapenos
Iko Iko Bell Peppers
Rainbow Carrots
White Kohlrabi
Fennel
Basil
Parsley
Dill
Maybe...Mini Bell Peppers

Spent the weekend expanding Garden One, adding 4 more 50' beds and 3 short beds. After tarping off the space for a few months, I rototilled, incorporated premium quality compost, and formed the beds with a shovel and a rake. Planted an experimental cover crop of sunn h**p to help build soil quality, and next year they'll be ready for some exciting new crops! :)

07/23/2024

Working hard to finish up getting ready for for the Oconto County Farmers Market, happening every Tuesday in Oconto Falls through August, 4-8 on Highland Square. My kitty Luna is sending sunshine to all on this cloudy day :) Here's what I'll be bringing to market this week:

Orange and Rainbow Carrots
Caraflex and Golden Acres Cabbage
White Kohlrabi
Lollipop Radishes
Fennel
Iko Iko Bell Peppers
Jalapenos
Green and Red Curly Kale
Chard
Parsley
Basil
Dill
Golden Beets

Hope to see you soon! :)

07/19/2024

Are you or someone you know ready to take their gardening skills to the next level? I’d like to take the time to shout out to the Organic Vegetable Farm Manager apprenticeship program I took part in over the last couple of years. I was able to advance my farming skills from zero to pro in no time, without accumulating student debt, thanks to this program through the Wisconsin Technical College System and Fairshare CSA Coalition. I owe extra gratitude to my farm educators at Full Circle Community Farm. The farm owners were so open to sharing all that they know about operating a farm business and what it truly means to be organic. They answered my endless questions, and thanks to them I’m living my dream of owning my own farm business. Please tell anyone you know that is considering a career in agriculture about this registered apprenticeship because we need more farmers! 😊

Two-year, competency-based program where apprentices work with experienced farmers to develop their skills and learn the ins-and-outs of what it takes to run a successful farm business--from seeding and transplanting to sales and marketing.

07/15/2024

Howdy, everybody! Getting ready for another Oconto County Farmers Market, Tuesday 4-8, on Highland Square in Oconto Falls. I'll have some of my very own recipes for you to take and turn some of the less familiar veggies into your new favorites :) Here's what I'll be bringing to market this week:

Cabbage (Caraflex and Golden Acres)
Carrots (Orange and Rainbow)
Fennel
Lollipop Radishes
Beets (Red & Gold)
Jalapenos
Poblano Peppers
Iko Iko Bell Peppers
Curly Kale (Green and Red)
Basil (Green and Red)
Parsley
Rainbow Chard

It's been a busy week cleaning garden beds and cover cropping with buckwheat, harvesting garlic from the home garden (to be used as seed garlic at Odd Duck Gardens next year), hoe hoe hoeing, thinning the new plantings of carrots and beets, and so many more mid-summer farm chores. Farming is simply a never-ending to-do list, and I love checking all those boxes!

07/14/2024

The fennel forest at Odd Duck Gardens is a space I love to get lost in. This vegetable is packed with flavor, so crisp and light. Juice it along with cucumber, chard, apple, lemon, and ginger, and add a basil garnish for a full sensory experience. It also makes a party pleasing salad when combined with kale, apples, raisins, sunflower seeds, and a lemony thyme vinaigrette. Try something new and ask me for the recipes at the next Oconto County Farmers Market on Tuesday. :)

07/08/2024

Hey, veggie fans! Keep your holiday energy going at Red, White, and Blue night at the Oconto County Farmers Market, Tuesday 4-8, on Highland Square in Oconto Falls! Summer is here, and with it, more fresh treats are being harvested at Odd Duck Gardens. The weather is going to be hot, hot, hot soon, so this will be the last week for romaine lettuce. Meanwhile, the pepper plants are loving the warmer temperatures. Here's what I'll be bringing to market this week:

Mini Romaine Lettuce
Fennel Bulbs
Poblano Peppers
Jalapenos
Sugar Snap Peas
Red/Gold/Cylindra Beets
Orange and Rainbow Carrots
Lollipop Radishes
Green/Red Curly Kale
Basil
Baby Dill
Parsley
Caraflex/Golden Acres Cabbage
A few limited quantity items that will be put out throughout the evening

Always plenty to be grateful for during the growing season. Today, I was thankful for my sandy soil that could soak in the inch of rain that came down in about 15 minutes this morning. Thoughts are with all of those impacted by this year's wet weather.

07/02/2024

A last minute change of plans, but you will still be able to enjoy Odd Duck Gardens produce this week! The Oconto County Farmers Market is unfortunately cancelled tonight, but a big thank you to Milk and Honey Café for allowing me to set up in their lot this afternoon. :) I will be at Milk and Honey Cafe on Highland Drive in Oconto Falls, from 2-6ish pm. Check out my post from last night to see what I'll have available. Hope to see you soon!

07/01/2024

Hey, veggie lovers! Looking forward to seeing you all at the Oconto County Farmers Market tomorrow night, 4-8 on Highland Square in Oconto Falls. The rain alternating with cooler, sunny weather has been making magic happen at Odd Duck Gardens. Pulling the baby carrots you saw last week allowed for those left behind to triple+ in size, and they are oh so sweet! This is what I'll be bringing to market tomorrow:

Jalapenos
Mini Romaine Lettuce
Sugar Snap Peas
Red Beets
Golden Beets
Cylindra Beets
Orange Carrots
Rainbow Carrots
Caraflex Cabbage (Excellent for 4th of July Cole Slaw!)
Golden Acres Cabbage
Baby Dill
Parsley
Rainbow Chard
Basil (?)
Salad Turnips

As always, thank you for supporting local foods! Each purchase you make at Odd Duck Gardens is one step closer to my goal of scaling up to a 1-2 acre market garden, where I plan to sell all of my produce as local as possible. My 1/10th acre garden I am farming now is the perfect learning space for now, and I am so grateful to be able to share the bounty with all of you.

06/27/2024

‘Lettuce’ inspire you to think beyond salads.. :) My homegrown iceberg lettuce makes a tasty vessel for stir-fried ground pork. Mixed in some freshly dehydrated parsley and topped with my red and green basil, this dinner is stuffed with local ingredients.

06/24/2024

Hey there, veggie lovers! Got a head start on harvest today, thanks to my new climb-in cooler and the beautiful weather. Going to have some fun new additions to the selection this week at the Oconto County Farmers Market, Tuesday 4-8 pm:

Baby Carrots
Baby Rainbow Carrots
Red Beets
Golden Acres Cabbage (small quantity)
Salad Turnips
White Kohlrabi (last of this planting)
Iceberg Lettuce
Green Basil
Red Basil
Parsley
Baby Dill
Rainbow Chard

Notice peas didn't make it to the list...the deer did an excellent job of breaking in over the rainy weekend and pruning all of the peas that were ready for harvest. Did some fence reinforcement with help from the family, and hopefully some will be ready soon. Stay tuned!