Rescue Carol Messina Rescue Carol Messina

A new horse friend at Sweet Farm!

Join us in welcoming Brenda to Sweet Farm! She arrived last week, after being rescued from life as a buggy horse by a friend of ours. Her owners could not afford her care and had stopped feeding her, so it was urgent that she get out of that situation immediately...but our friend did not have a home for her yet! So she will be staying at Sweet Farm for at least several months, until her own accommodation is ready for her.

Read More
Sustainability Carol Messina Sustainability Carol Messina

Sustainable Resolutions

The start of a new year is the perfect time to make resolutions that align with your values and contribute to a healthier planet. Living sustainably doesn’t always require dramatic changes, but small, thoughtful shifts in daily habits can make a big difference. Here are four simple, impactful resolutions to help you live more sustainably in 2025…

Read More
Sustainability Carol Messina Sustainability Carol Messina

Celebrate a Sustainable Holiday Season

The holiday season is here, and it's a time to reflect on the past year, spread joy, and connect with loved ones. But it's also an opportunity to think about how we can make our celebrations more sustainable. With a few mindful choices, we can reduce waste, save energy, and help protect the planet—all while still enjoying the warmth and magic of the holidays. 

Here are some simple ways to make your holidays more eco-friendly this December:

Read More
Sustainability Carol Messina Sustainability Carol Messina

Sustainable Thanksgiving: Skip Black Friday & Embrace Conscious Choices

As we approach the holiday season, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how we can enjoy the traditions of Thanksgiving while being mindful of our environmental impact. This year, let’s consider forgoing the frenzy of Black Friday in favor of a more sustainable, intentional approach to the holidays. Here are some simple yet impactful ways you can make a difference this Thanksgiving season:

Read More
Rescue Carol Messina Rescue Carol Messina

FIVE new turkey ladies!

We welcomed 5 new turkey ladies: Fred, Larry, Jerry, Mako, and Butternut. These girls came from yet another sanctuary that is sadly having to close its doors and rehome over 100 animals. A few of these sweet girls had the ends of their toes and beaks severed when they were babies, as is standard practice on factory farms, but with love and care they are all thriving now. We can't wait to watch their personalities blossom in their new home with Callum, Brenda, and Bella.

Read More
Agriculture Carol Messina Agriculture Carol Messina

November in the Garden

Saving Successes and Seeds

We are still harvesting the stray winter squash, pumpkin, and roses, and getting the last of the garlic into the ground. November is the best time to make notes on the current season before we rush headlong into the holiday season and forget everything we are so sure we will remember. It's a time to save seeds from this year's favorites, and to start thinking ahead. Read on for guidance on how to record this season so you can get a jump start on next year...

Read More
Rescue Carol Messina Rescue Carol Messina

We have 15 rare-breed hens who need names!

New faces alert!! We recently took in 25 retired breeding chickens, and 15 of them are hens in need of names! 

Will you help us name them? For a donation of $75, you can name one of our beautiful new hen friends, and you can even let us know if there is a specific breed of hen you would like to name! Your donation will help us get these girls set up for long and healthy lives with the rest of our main flock!  

Read More
Agriculture Carol Messina Agriculture Carol Messina

October in the Garden

The best time to garden

Happy October! As the leaves turn vibrant shades and the air becomes crisp, it's the perfect time to enjoy the beauty of fall in our gardens. Here’s what you can focus on this month to keep your garden thriving and get prepared for winter.

Pumpkins, gourds, and apples are everywhere we look in October. Sunflowers, coneflowers, roses, and chrysanthemums are in their glory. It's time to cozy up and start to really prepare for the colder months. But there is still so much more gardening to enjoy before that happens!

Read More
Sustainability Carol Messina Sustainability Carol Messina

Is there such a thing as a sustainable Halloween?

Halloween can be surprisingly wasteful due to the sheer volume of single-use items and disposable products associated with the holiday. Many costumes are made from synthetic materials that contribute to landfill waste, while plastic decorations and disposable tableware add to the environmental burden. The candy industry often relies on excessive packaging, generating significant plastic waste, and many carved pumpkins end up in the trash instead of being composted. Additionally, the energy consumption from elaborate light displays can contribute to a larger carbon footprint. All of these factors combined make Halloween one of the more wasteful holidays if sustainable practices aren’t considered.

Read More
Sustainability Carol Messina Sustainability Carol Messina

What is Underconsumption?

What is Underconsumption?

You've probably heard this term being thrown around lately. But what does it mean and why is it "trending"? Underconsumption is the practice of deliberately consuming fewer resources and purchasing fewer goods. It’s about shifting focus from quantity to quality and prioritizing experiences and sustainability over material accumulation. This doesn’t mean depriving yourself, but rather, making intentional choices that align with a more sustainable lifestyle that focuses on what's important rather than what's new or popular.

Read More
Agriculture Carol Messina Agriculture Carol Messina

September in the Garden

As summer waves goodbye and autumn begins to make its presence known, September is a pivotal month for gardeners. It’s a time to transition, reflect, and prepare your garden for the cooler months ahead. Here’s your guide to making the most out of your garden this September!

Read More
Agriculture Carol Messina Agriculture Carol Messina

August in the Garden

This is the best part of summer! Unlimited tomato sandwiches, fresh salads every night, and we're all at our absolute healthiest! Lots of veggies slow way down in the heat of July and August, but those are exactly the ones you should start growing now!

Read More
Agriculture Carol Messina Agriculture Carol Messina

July in the Garden

So. Much. Zucchini.

It's that time of year. Gardeners everywhere are sneaking zucchini into every meal, baked good, and probably onto neighbors' porches as they sleep! Ever wonder if there is a better way to handle all of July's riches? Read on!

Read More
Agriculture Carol Messina Agriculture Carol Messina

June in the Garden

The mad dash to get things planted has ended. Can you sit back and rest on your laurels now? Well guess what! You can do anything you want! You can let your garden just do its thing until harvest time and hope for the best. 

But do you want to get more out of your garden? There are a few things you can do to make sure that you have a great harvest!

Read More
Technology Carol Messina Technology Carol Messina

Climate Tech Accelerator: Brekland

Brekland is an emerging innovator in the agricultural tech landscape, developing a pioneering technology to shield crops from the devastating effects of spring frost. This technology represents a crucial intervention in the fight to improve agriculture’s resilience to extreme weather and decrease economic loss. The challenge of spring frost has long plagued farmers, causing up to 95% loss in perennial crops (e.g., grapes, fruit and nut trees, coffee). 

Read More
Sustainability Carol Messina Sustainability Carol Messina

Have a Sustainable Summer!

As summer approaches, it's the perfect time to bask in the sun, enjoy the outdoors, and embrace all that nature has to offer. However, it's also essential to remember our responsibility to protect the environment and promote sustainability in everything we do. With that in mind, here are some tips for having a sustainable summer:

Read More
Sustainability Carol Messina Sustainability Carol Messina

The True Cost of Fast Fashion

"Fast fashion" is a term applied to inexpensive clothing that is generally of poor quality, manufactured quickly, and with the intention of being disposed of and replaced when the next trend surfaces. Fast fashion thrives on a business model built around speed and disposability. It churns out new styles at breakneck speed, encouraging consumers to constantly update their wardrobes with the latest trends. This relentless cycle of production and consumption comes at a significant cost to the environment.

Read More