Jack Pine Farms

05/16/2026

It’s that time of year….

05/09/2026

We’ll be making this with our powerhouse pastured eggs this weekend!!

05/07/2026

Gooooood morning fam!!

Rufus rules the day.

05/03/2026

We are with The LWC at The Homestead today for this year’s Well-Being Summit. Come have your chakras aligned, take a sauna and cold plunge, enjoy a yoga class!!

We have our ultra fresh, 100% pastured chicken eggs and amazing maple syrup from Sengelaub Farms/Sugar Bush.

🧡

05/02/2026

Hired a tick control crew…

04/26/2026

I mean....yes? 🤣

The mourning dove is known for building one of the simplest—and flimsiest—nests in North America.

And yet, it thrives.

Here’s what their nests are like:

1️⃣ Minimal materials: usually just 3–5 small sticks
2️⃣ Quick build: often completed in a few hours
3️⃣ Loose structure: eggs can sometimes be seen through gaps
4️⃣ Occasional failures: nests may collapse in bad weather
5️⃣ Flexible locations: trees, shrubs, and sometimes unusual spots like ledges, planters, or human-made structures

Despite this, they’re incredibly successful:

1️⃣ Widespread and abundant: one of the most common native birds in North America
2️⃣ Large population: estimated in the hundreds of millions across the continent
3️⃣ Frequent breeding: typically 2–6 broods per year, depending on conditions
4️⃣ Unique feeding: both parents produce “crop milk,” a nutrient-rich food for chicks
5️⃣ Fast development: young leave the nest in about 12–15 days

Their survival strategy:

1️⃣ Spend less energy on nest construction
2️⃣ Reproduce frequently throughout the season
3️⃣ Balance higher nest loss with higher reproductive output

This isn’t poor design.

It’s an evolutionary trade-off.

Build light. Reproduce often. Keep the species going.

04/19/2026

Had a hen turkey get hit by a car. I was able to salvage almost all of the meat.

But what was really interesting was this - the eggs!! In various stages of development. I’ve seen pictures, but this was my first time experiencing this. Super interesting how they are in a cluster, kind of like flower petals. 🌻

04/19/2026

You can literally gamify anything. I call this one sugar shack Tetris. 🗂️

04/14/2026

So glad it’s Spring. But I’m remembering Fall with fondness.

I pick wild staghorn sumac when it’s ripe and luscious. I make a tea of sorts, then magically turn it into wine. It is my favorite!! I got this years batch a little sweeter than I like, but it is still delicious. It’s better aged a year but I didn’t make enough…. This batch won’t make it that long.

Wild Staghorn Sumac has an exceptional amount of antioxidants. High levels of Vitamin C. Anti-Inflammatory properties.

Some studies suggest it may help stabilize blood sugar levels but I am sure the sugar I added to the mix counteracts that…

Maybe it’s a health drink? 🍷

04/12/2026

Sundays at the sugar shack. 🧡