Winterberry shrubs for striking winter color
October 26, 2023 By Cori Off

Everything You Need to Know to Grow Winterberry

Introduction: As we move from the lush greens of summer into winter’s tans and browns, the garden need not be devoid of color. Winterberry shrubs (Ilex verticillata) are a stunning addition to any winter garden, providing vibrant bursts of red berries that stand out against winter starkness. As a bonus, these shrubs provide forage for birds and other wildlife, and are somewhat deer-resistant. Winterberry is native to much of North America and thrives in zones 3-9. In this guide, we’ll explore the steps to plant and care for winterberry shrubs. Selecting the Right Variety: Before you rush out to buy winterberry, it’s crucial to choose the right varieties for your garden. Winterberries are dioecious, meaning they have separate…

The Goats of Tanglefoot Farm
October 10, 2023 By Cori Off

Mini-Nubian Goats: Charming, Friendly, and Surprisingly Practical

Introduction: One of reasons we bought our micro-farm was to gain control of our food supply. Our ultimate goal is to grow or raise our own healthy food to the fullest extent we can. We started, as most folks do, with a vegetable garden. Then we added laying hens, and after that, meat chickens for protein. We hope to add pork next year. But this year, I decided to address our lack of dairy animals. We are dairy junkies; milk, butter, yogurt, sour cream, and cheeses are part of our daily diet. Unfortunately, our farm is far too small for cows, or even full-sized dairy goats. Happily, we can support a small herd of miniature goats. Among the…

Proven Fall Garden Prep
September 30, 2023 By Cori Off

Proven Fall Garden Prep for Stunning Spring Crops

As the days grow shorter and the crispness of fall fills the air, avid gardeners know that it’s time to turn their attention to preparing the garden beds for the upcoming spring. Fall garden bed prep is a crucial step in ensuring healthy, nutrient-rich soil that will support robust plant growth when the growing season returns. In this article, we’ll explore essential tasks such as amending the soil, weeding, utilizing occultation, and incorporating cover crops to set the stage for a thriving garden in the months ahead. Soil Amendment: Nourishing the Earth Fall garden prep is an opportune time to amend your garden soil, to replenish the nutrients depleted during the growing season. Compost, well-rotted manure, and organic…

A Monitor-style barn for the animals
September 13, 2023 By Cori Off

Our New Barn: A Valuable Farm Addition

This Spring we drove to Colorado and picked up three baby goats from Wings of Whimsy Ranch. These impossibly cute mini-Nubians were reserved since last October, but still made it to Tanglefoot without a completed barn to live in. Oh, we had started, but the usual constraints (time and money) kept us from completing it on time. All this to explain why we found ourselves constructing a barn in July and August, the months that any Oklahoman with a lick of sense strives to stay indoors under the AC. In the world of farming, sometimes the most rewarding projects are the ones born from an immediate need, creativity, and a willingness to jump in with both feet and…