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SUNSHINE FARM

SUNSHINE FARM

Millennial homesteaders on a plant-based hobby farm in Upstate New York

Chickens

Ethical and Humane Ways to Add Chicks to Your Flock

Silkie chicks hatched by broody hens

Chicks are Coming! | April, 2017

baby chick

Welcome to the Sunshine Farm Baby Chicks | April, 2017

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I’ve always been one to question things. And I’ve always been one to challenge things. At times it’s made me a bit argumentative or “stubborn,” and for most of my life I saw it as a bad thing, that I had a “difficult” personality. And I often wished I were different, easier, more likable. But God doesn’t make mistakes, and I truly believe our weaknesses are also our greatest strengths. • • My questioning, stubbornness, and challenging nature makes me passionate about social justice, and has turned me into an advocate for changing the broken systems we have created, whether it’s the food system, the health system, or injustices towards other human beings, animals, and the environment. • • It also helps when it comes to gardening. I always want to push the envelope, try things that are unusual or uncommon, and see what can be done. And you know what? Sometimes it totally fails, but other times it’s a huge victory and I experience such immense joy. Like harvesting this artichoke, or starting a large permaculture garden and having many successes in the first year. • • Do you have parts of yourself that you don’t love? That you’re ashamed of, or scared to embrace? Friend, you were made perfect, and your perceived weaknesses are also your biggest strengths. So let them shine! 💫
The garden teaches me lessons every day. Little and big, if I’m just willing to listen. • • Sometimes I skip days on Instagram because I just don’t have words to share, so I look through photos, looking for a message or something that will encourage or inspire. I never want this to just be a thing I check off my list. I always want it to leave someone with some kind of positivity or meaning. • • I was drawn to the picture of these pole beans and I thought about how much a simple bean plant can teach us about growth. As they grow, they find their support. They look for something strong to hold onto, to lean on, so they can produce growth and fruit. They send out tendrils that hold tight to their support. They never let go, they don’t waver, they are firm. • • I want my life to be that way, I want to grow confident in my support, knowing fully what I am holding onto, and not letting go, no matter what conditions I face. For me, that’s faith, my Creator, the One whose love I will never fully fathom. It may not be the same for you, it may be family, or love, but make sure it’s worthy of fully supporting you. A support that will not fail you, even when you’re holding on with everything you have. • • We all need something to cling to, something to help us grow and give us stability. Like these beans. There are so many lessons in the garden, nature in so many ways mirrors our lives. What is the garden teaching you?
Who knows what adventures this trailer will take us on! The first big adventure is going to be restoring this 31ft. trailer and remodeling it into a modern, light, and homey space. Super inspired by the gorgeous work of @themoderncaravan, @mavistheairstream, and @agracekuhn if you’re looking for some accounts with amazing Airstream renovations! • • So what’s next? Well we are going to be balancing wrapping up the barn renovation and also getting some small work done on the Airstream before the cold sets in soon. • • I’ll be sharing the most on our YouTube channel, I’m also sharing updates on the blog, and I’ll occasionally share pictures and stories here as well. The work never ends at the Sunshine Farm!
We’re starting a fun adventure! Follow along on our YouTube channel (link in bio). 💫
Eat the 🌈. What’s your favorite color fruit to harvest? I think mine is PURPLE!
A few months from now, these grasses will be covered with snow, the horses coats will be teddy bear-like, and it will be too cold to spend lots of time outdoors in the garden watching them graze and play. • • And I will enjoy the rest, the time to dream, plan, and anticipate the arrival of Spring. Just as I enjoy this season. The season of abundance, of never-ending garden tasks and kitchen counters so full of produce I can hardly find anything. • • I’m not afraid of winter coming, I’m not heartbroken that the growing season is already more than half way over, I feel very content with the rhythm of the seasons, and the opportunities they all bring. Opportunities for learning, personal growth, adventures, and reflection. • • This weekend I’ll prepare for fall as I plant rows of carrots, radishes, beets, and broccoli starts. And I’m really looking forward to a nice cool and sunny weekend (with high temps in the 70s, wohoo!)
I did it! My first year, I grew an Artichoke in NY. Don’t let anyone squash your dreams. They will try to, I can promise you that. Is it atypical? Who cares! Is it hard? Even better! My (not so) little Artichoke inspires me to dream big and surround myself with people who encourage me and lift up my dreams, not squash them. 💫
A taste of what we’re harvesting these days. Every day we pick tomatoes, peppers, kale, and pull ready onions from the ground. I walk around eating all the ground cherries I can find, and marvel at the squash hanging from the trellises and the tiny cucamelons forming. • • It’s so sweet to me to pick our food, reflect on its beauty, and bring it inside to prepare a meal. Whether we make delicious tomato sandwiches, potato tacos, or zoodles with creamy pesto sauce, it brings so much happiness into our lives. There’s no painful slaughter process or having to reconcile sad emotions over loss of life. It’s just easy, simple, abundant. I love it this way, and that’s why we do it. • • Of course gardening has its low moments. When pests come in and take over, when you find most of your squash destroyed by vine borers. But I’m learning to embrace the bad with the good, because without the challenges, or the hardships, would the highs and the wins be so great?
I want to tell you a story, so let's jump back to a couple years ago. Those of you who have followed me since the beginning may remember this horse, and the story of her. We moved to the Sunshine Farm in the winter of 2016, after I dealt with some confusing and scary health issues, and decided life is too short to wait for your dreams. My incredibly husband, Chris, was willing to take the risk with me, so we bought the farm, with a goal of having a couple of horses. I had always dreamt of having horses, it was one of my biggest desires and hopes, and buying the farm was a step towards that coming true. As spring approached on the farm, we decided to start looking for horses. We couldn't just get one, they are highly social herd animals, so two at once was the plan. First we found our little guy, Justin, and he quickly showed us his huge personality and spunk. I never thought I would have a miniature horse, and he had made it impossible to imagine my life without one! So much horse in such a little package. Then we found the horse pictured here. Faelynn. I met her, got to know her, and then adopted her from the local humane society. But.. it wasn't meant to be. She was extremely anxious at our farm. To the point of being really dangerous to me and to Chris. Her history of abuse and neglect showed itself, and we weren't up to the task of taking on such a challenge for our first horse. I was heartbroken, and felt incredibly defeated. And guilty. Really guilty that I couldn't be what she needed, and that she went back to the humane society. God doesn't end our stories there though, he carries us through and brings us to something better. And that's just what he did with TJ, the kindest horse with a gentle personality, just what I needed. And I'll share more about him tomorrow.

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  • About
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