tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76385919162566726392012-02-05T19:13:09.617-06:00Sustainable food for a sustainable futureYellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.comBlogger761100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-85268118035328714922012-02-05T19:13:00.000-06:002012-02-05T19:13:09.625-06:00

Lately we've been plugging away at starting our seedlings.  Today we started some red celery and asparagus chicory seeds. Today at YellowTree Farm from YellowTree_Farm on Vimeo.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-80557319232817594442012-01-31T16:57:00.001-06:002012-02-02T17:14:34.976-06:00

Meet Ms. Murray!   Ms. Bill Murray, today A while back, roughly 6 years ago, for no particular reason, Justin and I thought it would be amusing to give our first flock of seven hens masculine monikers.  Bill Murray was the first bird we named.  It was a no-brainer.  I'm a huge Bill Murray fan.  Old stuff, new stuff, SNL or Wes Anderson movies - it doesn't matter.   Baby Bill Bill is a bantam

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-44409318930540471352011-12-21T15:21:00.000-06:002011-12-21T15:21:05.867-06:00

It's been a loooooong time since we've bothered to blog about anything.  Fall came to a close very quickly, the farmers market ended, but we still had many tasks to accomplish before the frosts of winter set in.  One thing that kept Danielle busy in the cool-but-not-quite-cold months was her trip to the island of St. Martin.  She left right around Thanksgiving for a weeklong trip to be in her

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-19124514113187886042011-09-20T20:13:00.005-05:002011-09-20T20:38:23.505-05:00

"Life isn't about [making money].  It shouldn't be about that."In case you missed it last Friday, Justin was featured during a segment on KWMU's "Cityscape" program.  Collaborating with Sauce Magazine, Cityscape aired a story on urban farming in St. Louis. Producers caught up with Justin to get his take on what caused him to become passionate about urban farming as a way of life.   If you missed

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-54626623684453285182011-09-16T09:02:00.001-05:002011-09-16T09:03:39.049-05:00

For those of you not familiar with this video yet, several weeks ago the popular food chain Chipotle uploaded a video of Willie Nelson covering Coldplay's "The Scientist," with computer animation accompanying the song. Don't view it as just a commercial for Chipotle, however.  The company commissioned the video to emphasize the importance of developing a sustainable food system, and I think it

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-6610105190215688232011-09-06T20:56:00.005-05:002011-09-20T20:17:54.199-05:00

We can't believe it's been almost four months since we last wrote a blog post! Spring turned into summer, and summer produced some crazy hot, hot temperatures, and what else can we say? We've been working tremendously hard these last few months out in the fields, at the markets, and around town. Now for a brief little recap:You might already know that our grow space at our homestead in Affton

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-71414066179732652742011-05-17T20:02:00.008-05:002011-09-20T20:19:43.375-05:00

Spring has sprung, and our crops are growing, and as such our back door is seeing tons of activity as Justin and I travel from inside to outside, and vice versa, with gardening tools, plants, and other items.  However, we're not the only two coming in and out of the house; mosquitoes are, too.  Last night, for instance, I managed to swat a half dozen blood suckers.  Although, swatting with my

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-3402350735407641092011-04-25T20:26:00.002-05:002011-04-25T20:28:19.989-05:00

At YellowTree Farm, we're big on gleaning and foraging.  Open your eyes; there's plenty of food all around us just going to waste. Bamboo shoots are in season right now, and we're selling plenty of them at the Maplewood Farmer's Market.  Fresh, springtime bamboo shoots are considered a delicacy all over Asia, and they're an excellent source of fiber, protein, vitamin C, potassium, vitamin E, and

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-32915087558154786172011-03-21T11:21:00.000-05:002011-03-21T11:21:50.815-05:00

Thinking about raising your own flock of chickens for eggs? Wondering if a goat would make a great lawnmower? Next month, we'll be teaming up with the people at Brick City Gardens to lead a workshop on raising livestock in an urban setting.  You can learn the in's and out's of caring for and maintaining a variety of animals like chickens, ducks, goats, rabbit and quail.  We'll teach you a myriad

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-43710217476791181552011-02-18T13:08:00.003-06:002011-09-20T20:35:16.319-05:00

It's true.  We've decided to do a CSA this year, with pickups to be held at our booth at the Schlafly Farmer's Market.  We're doing things a little differently than how typical CSAs are set up:  We are offering shares in more affordable tiers of $500, $200, or $100.  This is structured so that you get to enjoy our specialty produce and still have enough money in your pockets to spend throughout

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-34428939698686068512011-01-25T10:24:00.000-06:002011-01-25T10:24:12.219-06:00

We've been on "goat watch" for the last few weeks, as two of the does at our Waterloo location were pregnant.  We spent entire weekends and much of our spare time on weekdays waiting for the girls to give birth, and they finally did just the other day (within days of eachother, too).  We've now got three kids:  Two males and one female.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-35344081574504203292011-01-12T15:38:00.001-06:002011-01-12T15:38:41.420-06:00

We'll be at Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood at 7pm tonight for Slow Money St. Louis' first meeting.  Slow Money is a wonderful organization, and we're very excited about St. Louis starting up their own chapter.  We're even presenting our plans for 2011 at the meeting, so you should stop by to hear more about what we've got in store for this year!

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-63089463484514209122010-12-20T08:30:00.008-06:002010-12-20T20:00:50.514-06:00

With it being just hours away from the official start of winter, we don't want to let the seasons change without providing a recap of all we've been able to accomplish this fall. If you've been following us on Twitter or Facebook, you know we built ourselves an outdoor kitchen last summer (primarily to beat the heat while still being able to cook amazing meals).  In the early part of fall we

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-11743035351151405682010-11-25T11:59:00.001-06:002010-11-25T12:00:12.876-06:00

First and foremost, thank you to our neighbors:  Mike, Cheryl, Megan, Bob, Sharon, Craig, Kevin, John, etc.  They generously let us use their land, they give us encouragement, they build things for us (Craig built both our beehives and our composter), offer us help (especially John, our bee mentor), and they never complain.  We couldn't do what we do without the supportive neighbors we have.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-73478725107859519992010-10-21T20:32:00.001-05:002010-10-21T20:34:51.074-05:00

At YellowTree Farm, we're always thinking of ways to remain productive during the colder months.  Late last summer, we decided our cold-weather project this year should be growing microgreens.   Microgreens are a tiny form of edible greens produced from the seeds of vegetables, herbs or other plants.  They're used in a variety of ways, including as salad components and as garnishes.  Microgreens

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-52312270296498504192010-09-20T10:10:00.000-05:002010-09-20T19:33:32.595-05:00

Genetically engineered animals are inching dangerously closer to our dinner plates today, as the FDA commences public hearings on whether to approve gene-altered salmon for human consumption.AquAdvantage® Salmon (AAS) is the creation of Massachusetts-based AquaBounty Technologies. The company boasts that AAS "reach market size twice as fast as traditional salmon," thereby creating a more

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-81545479794153520212010-09-04T15:14:00.000-05:002010-09-14T21:47:15.180-05:00

The recent recall of salmonella-tainted eggs has highlighted once again the problems with industrial animal production: Inhumane treatment + unclean facilities + questionable practices = diminished food security. So we figured now's a good time to fill you in on our latest venture: raising naked neck chickens.Naked necks, also called "turkens," can be found in pockets across the globe. Rather

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-26108189330079431402010-08-23T20:34:00.000-05:002010-08-24T20:23:33.484-05:00

The End of Food, by Paul Roberts"The very meaning of food is being transformed: food cultures that once treated cooking and eating as central elements in maintaining social structure and tradition are slowly bring usurped by a global food culture, where cost and convenience are dominant, the social meal is obsolete, and the art of cooking is fetishized in coffee-table cookbooks and on television

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-51343765924831522412010-08-23T20:08:00.000-05:002010-08-23T20:31:31.575-05:00

Want to go a little further in your fight to help the environment? We all eat, but have you ever taken into account the massive amounts of packaging tied to the food we consume? Being more conscious about how to reduce food waste is one of the easiest ways we can make a difference environmentally.Danielle works a typical 9-5, and she used to spend upwards of $50 per week on lunches from nearby

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-40811238201509981372010-08-06T10:27:00.000-05:002010-08-23T20:54:33.496-05:00

Animal Factory, by David Kirby"Nature did not intend for animals to live by the hundreds or thousands, crammed together inside buildings, raised with pharmaceutical products, with no access to grass, sunlight, or the clean, healthy scent of outdoor air.""Many Americans have no idea where their food comes from, and many have no desire to find out."

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-40828919001540145842010-08-01T16:53:00.001-05:002010-08-01T17:04:07.624-05:00

Not only did our Matt's Wild Cherry win highest brix at yesterday's The Good, The Big, & The Ugly Tomato Festival, but our tomatoes are also featured in this month's Sauce Magazine, on stands now. Check out the stunning photos of our tomatoes taken by Greg Rannels.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-88510527415112448552010-07-28T19:17:00.000-05:002010-07-28T20:22:59.845-05:00

In the past, the Missouri Botanical Garden hosted an annual tomato contest awarding cash prizes for those who grow "the best tomatoes." Sadly, 2008 was the last year they hosted this contest, right after we began growing our own tomatoes at YellowTree Farm. Thankfully this year, Justin took the initiative to form a group of people to help organize The Good, The Big and The Ugly Tomato Festival!

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-34285823930073777992010-07-18T21:22:00.000-05:002010-08-14T13:13:56.251-05:00

...and we hope his singing gets stuck in your head.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-55636137997079162102010-07-18T21:01:00.000-05:002010-07-18T21:13:30.698-05:00

Only a week left until Justin's canning class at Kitchen Conservatory. Join Justin for a hands-on tutorial on canning as a way of preserving summer's bounty all year round. He'll teach how to make a decadent-yet-healthy tomato sauce, how to pickle fresh corn, and how to preserve cipollini onions in balsamic vinegar and French walnut oil. Everyone taking the class gets to go home with a jar of

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-18535779633162988992010-06-20T19:06:00.001-05:002010-06-30T21:47:26.980-05:00

Out of all the tomato varieties we're growing this year, Matt's Wild Cherry stands out. It's an heirloom tomato, originating from Mexico. Diminutive in size, it's packed with totally-perfect-umami-tomato flavor. They're perfect for snacking, and we've been popping them into our mouths like candy for weeks. The best part? The plant seems to be yielding a ton, so it seems as though we'll enjoy

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-15898919131527085192010-05-27T15:37:00.000-05:002010-05-28T17:50:12.842-05:00

While providing 10 tips for shopping at farmers markets, the folks over at Serious Eats make an excellent point about why small-scale farmers may not be certified organic:"The fact that produce is not labeled organic doesn't necessarily mean it's swimming in pesticides or is a qualified member of the Dirty Dozen. Sometimes it's quite the opposite. Some of the best farms, where a single farmer can

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-55840883530145000912010-05-14T18:26:00.000-05:002010-05-14T18:34:25.778-05:00

We grow nasturtium, and a lot of it. Sure it's pretty to look at, but did you know it can be used multiple ways in the kitchen? The leaves are edible and great in salads. The flower petals are edible as well, and make excellent garnishes on just about anything: salads, cakes, and even deviled eggs (like these we made and garnished with nasturtium flowers, radish and guanciale). An added bonus:

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-87923316312552527112010-05-05T12:30:00.000-05:002010-05-05T12:42:09.961-05:00

With mosquito season upon us, you should know you have a right to opt-OUT of pesticide fogging. St. Louis, Missouri sprays May-October. Residents can call (314)727-3097 and ask to be put on the Do Not Spray list. You can also call (314)615-4BUG to find out nightly spraying routes in St. Louis County. We strongly encourage folks who live in other parts of the country to research who to contact in

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-32072524318380360612010-05-03T20:12:00.001-05:002010-05-03T20:17:38.934-05:00

It's only May 3rd, and not to gloat too much, but we've got ripe tomatoes in the garden! Mainly it's our sungold cherry tomatoes that are ripening the fastest, and they are so very sweet. Here's a peek at what's growing right now:

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-71447390783809294412010-04-20T21:21:00.001-05:002010-04-20T21:25:24.765-05:00

...a duck baby, that is. Say hello to the first duckling to be successfully hatched by YellowTree Farm!

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-85988961398009434292010-04-19T09:44:00.000-05:002010-04-20T21:20:10.717-05:00

This week (Wednesday, April 21), PBS will be airing the acclaimed documentary, Food Inc. If you haven't seen it yet, you should. If you've already seen it, you could probably benefit from watching it again. It's a crucial movie for anyone who eats - and, well, that includes everyone. Consider this YellowTree Farm's official endorsement.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-68083447664706155052010-03-22T19:27:00.000-05:002010-03-22T19:42:57.788-05:00

For the second year in a row, the folks at Slow Food St. Louis have been generous enough to award us with grant funding. Last year we used the proceeds to help cover the costs of soil amendments, heirloom seeds, and poultry. This year, we're very excited to use the grant money to help support our newest endeavor: raising squab! We sourced three Texan Pioneer breeding pairs and brought them to

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-17275358879879014562010-03-22T19:18:00.000-05:002010-03-22T19:26:16.756-05:00

We're featured in the cafe section of the current River Front Times! It can be found on local newsstands now. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out here, and be sure to view the slideshow.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-18152191488130027222010-03-12T15:06:00.001-06:002010-03-12T15:13:45.915-06:00

We don't use pesticides at YellowTree Farm, we use bugs. These mantises were hatched recently in our greenhouse, and we keep dormant ladybugs on hand to assist when needed.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-36706087673566482052010-03-12T12:38:00.000-06:002010-03-12T12:59:49.410-06:00

Late last month, the folks at GOOD magazine provided a lovely tutorial on the basics of creating a verticle garden chock full of edible plants. Edible gardens are terrific space-savers. Check out the tips from GOOD, and also our friend Fiona's lovely indoor verticle garden, below:

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-62398980822727253142010-02-09T11:31:00.001-06:002010-02-09T12:31:04.587-06:00

This year we are teaming up with our friend Kelli Best-Oliver and are offering a variety of vegetables and herbs available for pre-order. Provided next to some of the names of items below is a link where you can search for descriptions of the particular varieties. To pre-order, please either e-mail (justin@yellowtreefarm.com) or twitter @YellowTreeFarm.Vegetable plantsCeleryEggplantLeeksOnion (

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-70361363985612071382010-01-26T18:14:00.000-06:002010-01-26T18:41:15.593-06:00

Now that 2010's in full swing, here's a look back at our first year...

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-44012351942663695222009-12-31T19:05:00.000-06:002009-12-31T19:17:31.022-06:00

We're nearing the end of the holiday season, which means our mailbox is receiving a slew of seed catalogs from all over the country. We've been browsing their pages since the middle of the month, slowly making a list of what we need to buy for 2010, and keeping in mind the seeds we saved from last year's growing season.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-77539596388987247102009-11-26T15:58:00.000-06:002009-11-26T16:07:09.104-06:00

YellowTree Farm wishes everyone a happy Thanksgiving! ...and for your entertainment, check out these "turkeys" from the 4th annual Todomundo Thanksgiving Turkey Molding Competition!

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-61828495321025697472009-11-25T10:42:00.001-06:002009-11-26T16:12:29.301-06:00

From celebrity chef Eric Ripert, on his outing to Costco..."I am freaked out. Costco depresses me. I know everybody doesn't have the same opportunities I do to visit farm stands and little markets, but I will fight to the end for inspirational shopping. Costco doesn't even look like it belongs on our planet. It could be on the moon. It has no relationship to the outside world as I know it. The

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-37804476595106825932009-11-25T10:14:00.000-06:002009-11-25T10:39:35.296-06:00

The folks over at The Business Insider compiled a little slideshow providing a glimpse into the world of the typical Thanksgiving turkey. Take a look, and this year be thankful for what it took to get that bird onto your plate.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-24636275042186265622009-11-14T10:00:00.000-06:002009-11-15T13:30:12.311-06:00

As the nights grow longer and the weather turns colder, there's still work to do on the homestead. This is how our kitchen cabinets look these days. We've been canning a lot: turning crabapples into mustards, making jams and butters, and finding various ways to preserve our green tomatoes.We're still waiting on our fall crops of broccoli, beets, and kohlrabi to grow bigger. Meanwhile, our

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-16510010147939765592009-10-10T19:37:00.001-05:002009-10-10T19:49:18.416-05:00

The folks at Farm Aid and Homegrown came to town last weekend and it was a huge success. We were graciously invited as guests to the Farm Meets Fork dinner that Friday night. Chefs and farmers from all over the area came together to provide delicious bites to eat in the Central West End that evening. The food was great and it was nice to see so many familiar faces. Saturday was the Homegrown

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-77932481296075521222009-10-10T19:11:00.001-05:002009-10-10T19:18:00.034-05:00

Herbs (fresh, for drying, herbal teas, and/or already dried):black opal basilchamomilegenovese basillavender thymemajoramnasturtiumoreganopurple basilsageshishosummer savoryszechuan buttonstarragonthymetulsi tea/holy bailwinter savoryLocally foraged pears

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-73488470759448482742009-10-10T17:04:00.000-05:002009-10-10T19:02:15.523-05:00

Our Daily Bread (2005) reveals the little-known world of high-tech agriculture. In a series of visually stunning, continuously tracking, wide-screen images that seem right out of a science-fiction movie, we see the places where food is cultivated and processed: surreal landscapes optimized for agricultural machinery, clean rooms in cool industrial buildings designed for maximum efficiency, and

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-40539147945520826042009-09-22T08:42:00.000-05:002009-10-10T17:16:27.452-05:00

With summer officially at a close, these were three books that kept our minds turning all season long...

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-60483897767133149712009-09-18T10:18:00.000-05:002009-10-10T19:19:14.207-05:00

With this year's Farm Aid concert taking place here in St. Louis, YellowTree Farm is pleased to announce that we've been invited to participate in the Urban Country Fair - an event taking place at Tower Grove Park the day before the big concert. There will be live music, food, demonstrations, and games. We'll be there to provide information about urban homesteading. If you want to learn more

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-47800620867827551732009-09-15T09:45:00.000-05:002009-10-10T19:20:15.630-05:00

Though our past attempts (here and here) didn't work out so well, our third attempt at hatching eggs has worked out great! Justin created a different DIY egg incubator, this time by using the top freezer portion of an old refrigerator. We ordered a half dozen blue Orpington hatching eggs, and we're lucky enough to have 4 little chicks hatch and survive. With such a successful hatch, we're

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-68324303956767325902009-09-10T09:00:00.000-05:002009-10-10T18:16:59.428-05:00

YellowTree Farm's pairing up with Chef Gerard Craft of Niche to teach a cooking demonstration class at Kitchen Conservatory tonight! Titled "Farmer and the Chef: the Craft of Food" Justin and Gerard will transform our vegetables and herbs into delicious dishes for the sold-out crowd. We would have promoted the event earlier, but tickets went fast!

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-91689459563373058492009-08-08T13:10:00.000-05:002009-10-10T17:17:11.369-05:00

The end of July was a busy time for us. Most notably, we no longer have goats - for several reasons. But we do, however, have about 45 pounds of goat meat in the freezer. We also participated in a couple benefits for Slow Food St. Louis: Earlier in July at a special dinner held at The Crossing where some of our produce was featured on the menu, and also at Slow Food's annual Art of Food

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-39382243120171350032009-07-11T12:44:00.000-05:002009-10-10T17:17:22.410-05:00

Available now:carrotscelerycucumberherbs:black opal basilchamomilegenovese basillavender thymemajoramnasturtiumoreganopurple basilsageshishosummer savoryszechuan buttonstarragonthymetulsi tea/holy bailwinter savory lettuce greenspearspeppers (mild)peppers (stuffing)plumspotatoessquashUpon request:chanterelle mushroomshoneyrabbitAvailable soon:melonstomatoesOur produce and herbs are organic,

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-11742844933966054952009-06-27T13:08:00.000-05:002009-10-10T17:17:33.423-05:00

Our heirloom Carola potatoes are ready to be eaten, and we've been digging some up throughout the week for dinner. They're absolutely delicious! ...delicate skin, buttery, mild, and soft. It's so nice to be our own source of fresh, chemical-free, local potatoes.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-61039392820235298242009-06-24T16:00:00.000-05:002009-10-10T17:17:42.635-05:00

Our goats, Gumby and Gidget, have really come out of their shells lately. We watch them play fight and nuzzle with each other, and get into mischief around the chicken coop. Our neighbors think they're a hoot, too.The baby rabbits are getting bigger each day. Since we have such an abundance of salad greens, mustard, kale, chard, and cabbage, we try to supplement their feed with a feast of

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-3182971011304467642009-06-20T08:39:00.000-05:002009-10-10T17:17:53.296-05:00

Here's a look at what's growing right now. It's June and we've got tomatoes on the vine starting to turn; peas, dry beans, and green beans being picked each night; cucumbers and eggplants are flowering; and the corn's grown taller than the both of us.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-2643216926846387782009-05-31T19:40:00.000-05:002009-10-10T17:18:01.388-05:00

We've lagged behind on the blog posts lately, as the wonderful springtime weather has allowed us to get plenty of work done around the homestead. May was eventful: We've had two litters of rabbits born, tasted honey from our bees and collected some bee pollen, and eaten salads nearly every day made from our own greens. The bok choy grew in quite nicely and we've enjoyed eating that a few times

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-52210642330104212202009-05-07T20:38:00.001-05:002009-10-10T17:18:12.589-05:00

The goats are getting settled in. They're fun to have around and they're certainly more quiet than most of the dogs in the neighborhood!

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-53819373224355752532009-05-02T13:27:00.001-05:002009-05-02T15:12:01.299-05:00

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-11376124822785920802009-04-23T20:31:00.000-05:002009-10-10T17:18:25.439-05:00

We picked up a little over 20,000 Italian bees on Monday. I have to admit, I was scared at first. Turns out they're friendly! Our neighbor, Craig, kindly built us two hives and we put them up on our roof. This is going to be a fun adventure.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-87836755147041853362009-04-15T21:19:00.000-05:002009-10-10T18:17:29.404-05:00

Morels are out! I've had a great time lately going out in the woods and foraging for mushrooms. Finding your own food is very rewarding. Who would of thought the wild onions and wild garlic tasted better than the morels? I will be focusing on wild greens on the next adventure - dandelion greens, ostrich fiddlehead ferns, lamb's quarters, and whatever else I happen to stumble upon.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-35067344482723427982009-04-11T19:24:00.000-05:002009-10-10T19:20:46.046-05:00

Thank you to Slow Food St. Louis! We were awarded a biodiversity grant by Slow Food St. Louis to help fund some of our projects. The proceeds will go towards the aquisition of rare Java, Partridge Plymouth, and Araucana chickens, as well towards our continued work with over 70 different varities of heirloom vegetables.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-46908639644945831902009-04-08T22:54:00.000-05:002009-10-10T18:17:51.324-05:00

We inadvertently grew white asparagus! Our compost got dumped over the asparagus bed allowing no light in. The result, enough white asparagus for a meal. The crop should be this year. They have been in the ground for 4 years.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-66006231203462694562009-03-19T20:34:00.000-05:002009-10-10T17:25:21.272-05:00

So THIS is what our driveway looks like these days! We had a truckload of compost delivered earlier in the week. ...moving all this compost up the hill and into our backyard is certainly going to be a challenge.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-58680478809922719852009-03-17T19:38:00.000-05:002009-10-10T17:25:30.953-05:00

The grass is coming up! We're finishing the removal of the sod in our yard and our neighbor Mike's yard. Time to grow food instead of a lawn!

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-36451097303442067712009-03-13T09:06:00.000-05:002009-10-10T17:25:39.060-05:00

We are so excited to announce that we have two Nigerian Dwarf goats reserved from Deborah at: www.nigeriandwarfdairygoats.com - a young doe (pictured) and a small whether to keep her company.Here are some facts about Nigerian Dwarf goats, and goat milk:The goat was the first animal to be domesticated, besides the dog.Nigerian Dwarfs are small, and typically aren't taller than 21 inches

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-48517253941702572972009-02-27T21:21:00.000-06:002009-10-10T17:25:46.391-05:00

Our composting worms arrived in the mail the other day. Their new home is the compost bin situated beneath the rabbit hutch - worms love rabbit poo, they break it down fast. We took this idea from some of our old farming books. If things go alright, we should have millions of worms by mid-summer that will be used in our other compost piles. This system of vermicomposting eliminates our

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-35610754287673971582009-02-25T13:07:00.000-06:002009-10-10T18:18:07.859-05:00

We found a local source for blackberries and black raspberries plants. Gene over in Alton, IL is supplying us with as many as we need. Only $2 each! If you would like Gene's contact information so you can get some for yourself, let us know.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-26063510577291527362009-02-24T22:31:00.000-06:002009-10-10T19:21:55.123-05:00

We took a trip out to Fulton, Missouri over the weekend and picked up some chicks from a local hatchery. We got a few araucanas, some silver laced wyandottes, and a handful of bantam seabrights. They should start laying eggs around the end of July.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-59756515908627641772009-02-15T21:11:00.000-06:002009-10-10T17:26:15.083-05:00

Well, our first attempt at incubating eggs didn't work out so well. Much to our disappointment, none of our cinnamon queen eggs hatched.We're trying again, though, with a couple dozen quail eggs. We've managed to keep the temperature more stable than last time, and hopefully we'll have better results. These little eggs should start hatching around February 25th.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-75451769134229849712009-02-11T15:11:00.000-06:002009-10-10T18:14:38.982-05:00

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-37656080205565969592009-02-09T12:58:00.000-06:002009-10-10T18:18:51.523-05:00

In a measure that spells out trouble for all animals, the Food and Drug Administration approved last Friday the first ever drug made from genetically engineered animals – in this case, a blood thinner derived from goat milk.According to reports, the drug is produced by first injecting human DNA into goat embryos. These embryos then get implanted into the wombs of surrogate mommy goats. Not long

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-41578079789247535972009-01-22T13:03:00.000-06:002009-10-10T19:22:47.160-05:00

It may seem like a ton of seeds for only 2300 square feet of garden, but with our new biodynamic farming practices, all of these seed varieties will be fully utilized:asparagusbeansyard longgreenLinda Sisco's bird eggfavaKentucky wonder snapbeetsDetroit redBurpee's goldenblackberriesbroccolicabbagepremium late flat DutchNapacarrotsAmarillo yellowChaterneyHerculeslunar whiteoxheartpurple hazeSt.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-76353985197036130442009-01-10T21:01:00.000-06:002009-10-10T18:16:23.721-05:00

NPR's All Things Considered ran a little piece this evening about the growing popularity of people raising backyard chickens in urban settings. We can only hope that the movement will gain even more momentum in the near future, causing municipalities nationwide to loosen up on their livestock regulations. You can listen to NPR's story by clicking here.

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-92122028936744192482009-01-09T20:17:00.000-06:002009-10-10T17:27:06.696-05:00

Justin finished making our first incubator earlier this week. With sustainability in mind, he fashioned the incubator out of an old kitchen cabinet, a used water heater thermostat, two used lighting fixtures, and our old weather thermometer. We found an automatic egg-turner off eBay, and stuck some Styrofoam in there for added insulation. Unfortunately, the water heater thermostat doesn't seem

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-19049972032558381272009-01-04T18:42:00.000-06:002009-03-19T20:34:00.652-05:00

Meet the newest additions to our homestead!We picked up a trio of breeding rabbits today - two sisters (below) and an unrelated buck (the silver guy up above). They're about 10 weeks old and should be ready to start breeding in the Spring. We're still thinking up some suitable names... any suggestions?

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-24038867707705635242009-01-02T12:03:00.000-06:002009-10-10T18:15:42.270-05:00

YellowTree Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17062350370705874571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638591916256672639.post-84862588279319016152009-01-01T11:12:00.000-06:002009-10-10T19:21:25.668-05:00

The two of us at YellowTree Farm are really excited about 2009, and we have some big plans in store for the coming year.First, I finally quit my day job selling cars right before the holidays so that I can concentrate all my time and energy on gardening and caring for animals. Fortunately, while much of the nation's economy is struggling, Danielle managed to land herself a better job and starts

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