Smiling Earth Gardens

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United States
Long Branch, NJ
Smiling Earth Gardens

We are herbalists and lovers of all living things. We're an urban farm located in Long Branch, NJ. We hope to share our adventures in all of this!

Our outdoor growing space is about a tenth of an acre, packed full of fruits, culinary and medicinal herbs, veggies and some chickens. Our goals are to be sustainable, eat seasonally and locally, and learn about our surroundings, backyard visitors and other nearby areas. We enjoy our foods and cocktails, especially while out in our element.

02/16/2026

Here's a Surf scoter putting on a show. I was having a hard time catching these guys, and was saying I needed to go find them. The next day, there they were. Just a few. There must have been a female too, but maybe she was diving during the show. The other male is watching, taking notes.

01/07/2026

Pruning day. We bought this tree about 15 years ago from a company called fast growing trees. Boy did it grow fast! And boy did we slack at pruning it! Now we're trying to catch up with a sh*tty battery powered saw. It'll take a few days while we charge the batteries (the saw's and Pattze's) in between. I'm the supervisor and chicken wrangler. They love to be right under wherever you're working. This is when the don't fear the sky falling??

01/05/2026

What a full and awesome day of birding today. I could get used to this no work thing.😅 We almost missed this (1) American Bittern because I was too busy with another exciting bird, which turned out to be a not so exciting kildeer. 😬 Sorry, they are exciting too. But a woman ahead of us was throwing her arms up in excitement and waved us up to point it out. I never would've seen it in that grass. But I was thinking about how cool it would be to see a bittern all day.
(2) And look at all those snow geese! So fu***ng many! Usually I see one with an identity crisis, thinking it's a Canada goose. Have you ever watched a flock of geese flying and some turn, but not everyone got the message? They usually figure it out after a bit of honking. Some don't.
(3, 4, 5) Purple Sandpiper and Ruddy Turnstones. Uncooperative ones. Please look any direction but away from me!
(6) Barnegat Lighthouse.

01/03/2026

If I didn't see this red tailed hawk fly to this perch, I could've missed it. Though I like to think I'm better at spotting birds than that. They really blend in with the natural environment, not so much black fences. I wish I'd gotten video of the girl walking on the path maybe 5 feet away. She didn't even notice this giant bird! 📱 🧌The unflinching bird was like, "yeah, whatever". And we were scared if we got out of our car 20 feet away we'd scare it off.🤣

01/02/2026

Hermit thrush. Hanging out alone. Makes sense. These guys are cool because they sit still sometimes. They also sit at a perfect level so you're not hurting your neck to look at their bums.

01/01/2026

Out with the old, in with the new. Change doesn't always happen at the best time, or when you want it, expect it, or plan for it. Sometimes it's a slow process and things can be raw and prickly, leaving parts cold, exposed and just plain ugly. But what comes out in the end is usually so beautiful, strong and fresh. 🙏
Usually chickens molt in the fall, if they molt at all. It's brought on by stress which can be caused by a number of things, often the changing daylight. Marsala's threshold for stress was the solstice ☀️. Sh*tty week for it with all this cold ❄️ and wind🌬. But she knows what to do and has places to go to escape the weather and stay warm. The girls huddle up together on the roost at night to keep each other warm too.
Happy New Year! If you're feeling like Marsala 🐔, I hope your feathers grow back quick and pretty and you find warm friends to help you through. And if you're anxious for something new and just have to tear off the old, remember to have some patience while things grow and don't be afraid to snuggle in to a comfy place if it gets rough out there! 💛

12/27/2025

I was trying to get a shot of the fluffy house finches, but they kinda get lost in the branches. Perhaps that's part of the plan? Mr. Cardinal came in to steal the show! He's also always watching for me, checking all the windows and calling for me. House finches either haven't gotten the message that I bring treats or they don't care.

12/22/2025

Just a couple snow buntings hanging out on the beach, keeping warm and preening. They flew in just as we were walking up, hung out for a bit, then flew off. Maybe they were looking for a warmer spot like we were! I've seen them on this beach for the last few years, and pretty much only on this beach. This is considered flying south for them! It sure is when you see where they breed! Very interesting that there's a space in between breeding and wintering zones where they're not seen usually. And though they migrate, there are no migration zones on the map. 🤔 They must use teleporters or warp zones. Or maybe they fly very fast at night and everyone mistakes them for ufos.

12/19/2025

The view from my desk. My friends watch me. They visit different windows to catch my attention. We have a connection through food and a bit of trust. I think rewards build some trust to a certain extent, unless they're used as bait, then it's a false trust, or a trust used for one party's advantage. I strive to keep it equal.

12/18/2025

Winter berries on Sandy Hook. I thought about harvesting some for decorations. I didn't have any tools, so it really was just thinking about it. The Holly is iconic and beautiful. The juniper could be nice in an olive oil, or a cordial of some sort. Then we saw so many birds eating them! Cedar waxwings and yellow rumped warblers, robins and finches. They need them more than I need an extra decoration! These pictures are worth a thousand meals! But I am kinda still thinking about those juniper berries... maybe just a few next time?

12/14/2025

This is my favorite! ❄️ Wake up to a winter wonderland, and watch the snow fall for hours. Walk around outside, leave a trail and see who was there before you. Listen to the quiet, waiting for the floop when the snow becomes too heavy for the little branch and falls to the ground. No squirrels or birds out, chickens hide (the sky is falling). I'll follow their lead and stay cozy too. Or I'll go for a walk to the beach, because I made this day for sitting, gazing, reading, football, snacks and warm drinks.

12/12/2025

It's been too cozy in bed to get to the beach for sunrise. Today I was only a little late. The tide was low, exposing these gems that are usually rolling under waves. Warm pebbles. Cold water.

Address

Long Branch, NJ
07740

Telephone

+17323723872

Website

http://www.smilingearthfarm.com/

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