Whenever a new Google Review rolls in, I cringe. I'm not a big fan of how opinionated we've become as a society. There is something about the way things are done in the city that I try to avoid in my business, and I wonder, will our customers understand that curation? I want the Farm Store to be NOT CITY somehow. But what exactly does that mean? What exactly is it that makes our business stand out in that "indescribable" way? When I started the Farm Store on William's place b

First crop hay is all in - meaning baled and pulled from the fields. Now that the sun is shining, much of second crop has been cut and William will likely rake and bale it tonight and tomorrow. Once second crop is all in, he'll turn to combining the rye then rake and bale the straw for the gardeners who shop our store. In a few weeks, third crop hay will be ready and he'll start the cut, rake, bale rotation all over again. Note: We usually get three crops of hay a year...occa

The Ultimate Midsummer Realization Not that any of us here in the Midwest want to be reminded of winter, but every now and then on a hot, humid summer day, our minds wander in that direction. As I pondered the idea that I am stuck in the house because of heat and not cold, I munched on one of my frozen cookies and thought, "Dang, this is the BEST way to eat these chewy, old-fashioned style cookies!" These are better than a frozen Snickers Bar—the chew factor is absolutely per

Too HOT to play outside... The weeds are growing so fast I can see them reaching for the skies, but it's either too durned hot or too durned wet to be outside. So, I turn my attention to indoor creative fun. On one hand it miffs me getting stuck inside in the summer but for some reason taking a rest to make crochet baskets with yarn ends has been quite entertaining...dare I say addicting! A large basket of bits and pieces of yarn in all sorts of colors ended up in one of Will

Our Cookie Coop is full of all my favorites. I'm not about fancy dancy. These cookies are farmy and that means toothy, rustic and old-fashioned. You won't find any piped glazes, but you're sure to find a dense chewy cookie that will remind you of the kind Grandma used to make. The cookies aren't actually in the chicken coop, of course, but I jokingly call the freezer where we keep them in the store, "The Cookie Coop!" Cute, eh? Why freeze the cookies? Because frozen chewy coo

As you get ready to plant your veggie gardens, don't forget to plant an heirloom tomato or ten. One of our neighbors, Ruth Viste, who passed away a couple years back, made herself world famous with her love of tomatoes knowing that in the summer garden, there is nothing better. The article below from August of 2004 written by Star Tribune food writer, Rick Nelson was passed around today by Mary Anne Wise (Cultural Cloth Founder) to those of us who knew Ruth. In her email, Mar

Remember back when there was one garbage can in the kitchen and one big can in the garage that Dad or Brother would haul to the curb for weekly pickup? Or, perhaps you remember a weekly trip to the dump where household trash could be left for scroungers before the dump crew burned the pit? Maybe you even remember your own family having a burn pit for the occasional odd items considered garbage. Nowadays, most households have many garbage containers: one for recyclable paper,

Love is in the air and so is the richly enticing smell of freshly baked bread! Today on this April Fool's Full Moon, I like to think that we've got it all wrong about the fools amongst us. Instead of a foibled failure, the fool is the leaper, the one willing to take risks, the fun one who rises with spontaneity and is happy to relish life to its fullest. And that full moon! Wow! It kept me awake all night last night trying to teach me how the world should be. It told me to pr

Maple Cooking & Roasting Weenies It's all getting so confusing, isn't it? During COVID, gas prices plummeted and people from the metro areas FLOCKED to the farms for a sense of space and freedom and safety. Now, we feel like we're in some sort of lock down again, but people are staying close to home this time. They feel compelled to remain vigilant observers - protectors of their neighbors and the fragile collective - and also worry about overspending and gas prices. We're no

Happy Year of the Fire Horse William and I were talking over coffee this morning about the pull technology has over the body and mind. Out here on the farm, often by necessity, real bodily adventures are required. Yes, sure, we gleefully and robotically sit in front of our phones pondering answers to questions, following our favorite content creators or triangulating the weather forecasts (!), but we also spend a lot of time with our physical bodies building, making, and doin

One thing that has become very apparent since I bought my little farm and moved to Western Wisconsin is that no matter the chaos and noise in the outside world, here I am calm, quiet and peaceful. Being in nature and breathing deep into the long views and pastoral landscapes has centered and regulated my nervous system, and since my first days away from the city, I have wanted to share this magic with others. This year I intend to offer a variety of FARM EXPERIENCES for guest

This morning over coffee, William and I were discussing a variety of farm frustrations. Calves can be born and not "take" to mom, rooster brothers can suddenly fight, sheds can collapse under snow load, wood stoves can start puking smoke into the house when the chimney is plugged, sewer pipes and water lines can freeze...the list of these at times sudden and chaotic farm problems goes on and on. William handles all of these mishaps with calm composure. He expects them. He fix

Brenners Witness Kilauea Eruption #40 2025 was a year of quiet contemplation for me. A year of observing and strategizing. A year of living in worry and frustration. A year of feeling homeless despite being home. Funny, I've felt that way before in my life. Let me explain. I’m from St. Cloud, Minnesota - a place sometimes called “White Cloud” because of the inherent everyday racism pervasive there. In fifth grade, 1979, a Vietnamese family moved into my neighborhood. That was

I've had a few friends and family reach out to say, "Are you okay? You haven't been blogging...what's up?" Oh, I'm sorry! Yes, I'm fine. I'm resting, snuggling in, slowing down and nesting. I'm great...just taking cues from Mother Nature. After the insanity of what felt like a non-stop Fall harvest, I needed a little breather is all - the chance to move in my own directions rather than sloshing around in the waves of farm demands. I don't think I stopped picking raspberries u

Lady Liberty Cap It's been said that the eggs at Lake View Organic Farm are the absolute best! Yes, so true, but diggity dang if they aren't our biggest rarity! Our new flock is finally starting to lay, but before you go and get all excited, know we're looking at a dozen a day if we're lucky. It's that time of year when chickens start to slow down their laying altogether, so eggs are a major luxury here on Lake View Farm. First come first serve only. We don't take egg reserva

We've all heard the expression, "Make hay when the sunshines," but have you heard the expression, "Got window?" This one I had never...

A couple years ago I started listening to audiobooks with my library card and the Libby App. This pairing has dramatically changed my...

Sometimes I just can't bear to harvest veggies from the garden because, well, they just look so durned cute right where they are! A row...

In the Spring when we set out to plant, the land looks so vast and barren. "Oh, another plant in this row will be fine," we think. Then,...

Come to view our SUNFLOWER FIELDS August 8-18th this year. LOCATION: Our viewing field is to the NORTH of our big red barn along 200th...