Can you really call yourself a homesteader or self sufficient if you don’t bake with sourdough? For the longest time I was scared of starting sourdough! But it is far easier than I ever imagined. Though.. I have to admit we went the easy way out and got an established sourdough starter from my sisterContinue reading “Starting our sourdough journey”
Author Archives: mrs.russ
Welcome to The Ridge: Ankou the Great Pyrenees
We have exciting news on The Ridge.. our pack has expanded! This month we welcomed our future Livestock Guardian Dog, Ankou the Great Pyrenees. It took a lot of planning and research for us to welcome another working dog into our home, especially a Great Pyrenees. Great Pyrenees require a lot of room, and mostContinue reading “Welcome to The Ridge: Ankou the Great Pyrenees”
How to make happy pups
One of our favorite things to do is to make treats for our animals – especially our hard working farm pups! This is also one of Freya’s favorite activities as she loves helping in the kitchen. Making your own dog treats is a great way to become more self sufficient, and also maintain a limitedContinue reading “How to make happy pups”
2023 in review
And just like that, 2023 is a wrap. As we look back on last year we’re incredibly grateful for everything we have accomplished so far. What a wild ride! This time last year… We had just built our fence.We had no garden.We had no livestock. We were just starting from scratch! But as we allContinue reading “2023 in review”
That’s a wrap! Our first Farmers Market season
We have been long time Farmers Market patrons, but it always seemed like a far fetched dream to actually be a vendor at a market ourselves. A few years ago during our wedding weekend we stumbled upon the Greene Farmers Market here in downtown Stanardsville. We instantly fell in love with the quaint market fullContinue reading “That’s a wrap! Our first Farmers Market season”
Happy Birthday Piggies!
Our lovely piggy princesses are one year old! We celebrated their special day by showering them in treats, and lots of belly rubs of course. Their gotcha day is still over a month away, but we figured they deserved a big day of celebration for their birthday. One way we celebrated was by making themContinue reading “Happy Birthday Piggies!”
Our eggs at Ravens Ridge
If you have reached out about eggs, you know the first question I ask is: “Would you like eating eggs or hatching eggs?” This is usually because we do not keep our laying hens with roos. So if you’re purchasing eating eggs and hoping to pop a couple in your incubator.. I have bad newsContinue reading “Our eggs at Ravens Ridge”
Recipe Spotlight: Quail Egg Omelette Poppers
So if you know me, one of the only ways I’d eat eggs for the longest time was in the form of an omelette. A few holiday’s ago, my family got me a Dash Deluxe Electric Egg Cooker. If you don’t have one already, this little kitchen gadget is a lifesaver. (Full disclaimer if youContinue reading “Recipe Spotlight: Quail Egg Omelette Poppers”
Community Giveback: Little Free Fridge in Charlottesville, VA
When we embarked on our micro farming journey, we were driven not only by the love for growing food but also by a strong desire to give back to our community. It’s an incredible feeling to witness the fruits of our labor translate into positive impact, and we recently had the opportunity to take aContinue reading “Community Giveback: Little Free Fridge in Charlottesville, VA”
New on The Ridge: Certified Pullorum Tester for NPIP Program
Hello there, fellow poultry lovers! I’m bubbling over with excitement to share some wonderful news with you all. Drumroll, please… I recently became a certified Pullorum tester through the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) for the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)! It’s a milestone I’m thrilled to achieve. As a lifelong poultryContinue reading “New on The Ridge: Certified Pullorum Tester for NPIP Program”
Ravens Ridge Micro Farm 