White Mountain Urban Farms

01/14/2026

As of today, so far in 2026 we have we have caught and released seven Ricky Raccoons.

01/14/2026

12/16/2025

How an Egg is Formed

The formation of an egg inside a hen is an extraordinary process that takes place in just 24 to 26 hours.

Key Stages
Ovaries: The yolk begins its development as an ovule.
Oviduct (Fallopian tube): The mature yolk passes through.
Fertilization: This can only occur if a rooster is present.
Albumen (egg white): Layers of protein gradually form around the yolk.
Shell: Calcium carbonate builds up to create a strong outer protection.
Cloaca: The completed egg is finally laid.

Structure of the Egg
Shell
– a hard protective barrier.
Shell membranes
– providing an antibacterial defense.
Air cell
– a small pocket that stores oxygen.
Germinal disc
– the starting point of a potential chick.
Yolk
– nutrient-rich and packed with energy.
Albumen (egg white)
– water and proteins that cushion and protect.
Chalazae
– twisted cords that keep the yolk centered.
Egg formation is truly a natural wonder, showcasing both complexity and efficiency in the animal world.

12/16/2025

Building Steep Hügel Beds: A Smart Way to Boost Garden Productivity

Steep hügel beds — a creative twist on traditional hügelkultur — are becoming a go-to choice for gardeners looking to improve soil health, save water, and increase yields. Popularized by permaculture expert Sepp Holzer, these tall, sloped beds offer several impressive benefits:

🌱 Why Steep Hügel Beds Work So Well
• Less Soil Compaction
Their sharp angles discourage walking on the surface, keeping the soil light, airy, and full of life.
• More Growing Space
The vertical design dramatically increases the planting area, allowing a wider assortment of vegetables, herbs, and flowers to thrive.
• Easier Harvesting
Because the beds rise above ground level, you can pick produce with far less bending — making garden tasks more comfortable and accessible.

Steep hugel beds bring efficiency, resilience, and abundance to any homestead or backyard garden.

12/16/2025

🍇🌿 Pruning Grapevines the Right Way: Spur Pruning Explained 🌿🍇

Pruning is one of the most important tasks in grapevine care.
Without proper pruning, vines grow into a mass of tangled shoots, producing weak growth and poor-quality grapes.
Spur pruning is a traditional and highly effective method that keeps grapevines healthy, productive, and easy to manage—especially in small gardens, backyard trellises, and espalier systems.
Below is a clear and complete guide to spur pruning and why it plays a key role in successful grape growing.

1️⃣ Purpose of Pruning
A grapevine left unpruned focuses energy on producing long, dense canes instead of high-quality fruit.
This results in:
Overcrowded shoots
Poor airflow
Smaller, less flavorful grapes
Increased risk of fungal diseases
Spur pruning helps redirect the vine’s energy into a controlled number of buds, ensuring vigorous new shoots and better fruit production each season.

2️⃣ What Is Spur Pruning?
Spur pruning is the technique of cutting back selected canes and leaving only 2–3 buds, known as spurs.
These buds grow into the fruitful shoots for the upcoming season.
This method differs from cane pruning, where 8–12 buds on a long cane are left intact.
Spur pruning is compact, tidy, and ideal for:
Small vineyards
Pergolas
Garden trellises
Horizontal cordon training
Espalier designs

3️⃣ How to Perform Spur Pruning (Step-by-Step)
✔️ Step 1: Remove Old Wood
Cut away last year’s woody, unproductive canes close to the main trunk or cordon.
✔️ Step 2: Select a Healthy Cane
Choose a young, strong cane that produced well the previous year.
✔️ Step 3: Cut to 2–3 Buds
Trim the cane, leaving only 2–3 buds—this becomes your spur.
✔️ Step 4: Make a Clean, Angled Cut
A slanted cut helps water drain away, reducing rot and bud damage.
✔️ Step 5: Leave 1 cm of Wood Above the Top Bud
This protects the bud from drying out and prevents die-back that can weaken the spur.

4️⃣ Key Benefits of Spur Pruning
Produces stronger, more fertile shoots
Improves airflow for healthier vines
Simplifies vine structure and management
Reduces disease pressure
Supports consistent, predictable harvests year after year

5️⃣ Common Mistakes to Avoid
🚫 Leaving too many buds → leads to weak shoots and poor grape quality
🚫 Cutting too close to the bud → causes drying and potential bud loss
🚫 Keeping old or weak wood → drains energy without producing fruit
Correct pruning results in fewer but better shoots.

6️⃣ Best Timing for Spur Pruning
🌬️ Winter Pruning (December–February)
Best for structural cuts and shaping the vine.
☀️ Summer Pruning (June–July)
Remove excess side shoots and thin foliage to improve sunlight, airflow, and fruit ripening.

7️⃣ Essential Insight
Spur pruning builds the foundation of a productive grapevine.
With careful, precise cuts, you set up the plant to channel its energy into vigorous new growth and sweet, abundant clusters every single year.

12/16/2025

Love this.

I built a grass-growing tray for my chickens so they can enjoy fresh greens throughout the year.
A simple wooden frame filled with soil and topped with wire mesh lets the grass grow while keeping the roots protected from eager pecking.
It’s an inexpensive project that supports a healthier, more satisfied flock.

12/16/2025

Picked up some free steer poo! Our wintering plant's are in for some good nutrition. We will continue I need to feed the soil all winter.

12/16/2025

Next project underway.

12/16/2025

We are currently doing this now. Building swales for sustainable water management to retain God's gift of rain here at the farm. Our guests will be able to see our research in action as we build this complex adaptive system. Our #1 goal is building soil.

Stop Letting Free Water Go to Waste: How to Slow, Spread, and Sink Rainwater

During a heavy rain, have you ever noticed how much water pours out of your downspouts and straight into the street?
That runoff represents wasted resources that could be nourishing your landscape instead.

The example below shows a simple yet highly effective Low-Impact Development (LID) technique used in a backyard.
This method—often called a bioswale or infiltration trench—transforms rainwater from a flooding nuisance into a powerful garden asset.

What Is Happening in This Setup?
Rather than allowing the gutter to release water onto a driveway or splash block, the homeowner uses a downspout extender to guide the flow into a gently curved, hand-dug trench.
The Trench (Swale): This shallow channel temporarily collects rainwater.
The Berms: Soil removed from the trench is mounded along the sides, forming raised planting areas.
The Outcome: Water gathers in the trench, slows down, spreads out, and gradually sinks into the soil.
Plants on the berms benefit from deep, natural irrigation.

Why Use This Method?
This approach follows a core permaculture principle: slow the water, spread it across the landscape, and let it sink into the ground.

Natural Irrigation: Every rainfall provides free watering. Because the moisture infiltrates deeply, plants develop sturdy, resilient root systems.

Flood Prevention: Capturing water where it lands keeps it away from vulnerable areas like foundations and reduces stress on municipal stormwater systems.

Pollution Reduction: Instead of sweeping debris and chemicals into local waterways, the soil filters the water as it sinks.

Improved Drought Resistance:
The soil acts as a reservoir.
After a significant storm, moisture can remain available to plants long after the rain has stopped.

How to Build One Yourself
Step 1: Observe
Watch where water naturally flows during a storm.
Keep any swale at least ten feet away from your home’s foundation, and avoid steep slopes unless you have expert guidance.

Step 2: Dig the Swale
Create a trench approximately 6 to 12 inches deep and 12 to 18 inches wide.
Digging on level ground allows water to pool and soak in.
Adding a slight slope (around 1 percent) directs water toward another feature, such as a rain garden or pond.

Step 3: Build the Berm
Place the soil you removed from the trench onto the downhill side, forming a ridge that holds the water in place.

Step 4: Plant the Area
In the trench, choose plants that prefer damp conditions, such as sedges or rushes.
You can also fill the swale with gravel or mulch if you want to use it as a path.
On the berm, plant species that will appreciate the deeper moisture.
This area is ideal for vegetables, berry bushes, or pollinator-friendly choices.

Step 5: Apply Mulch Generously
Covering exposed soil with wood chips or straw prevents erosion and helps retain moisture throughout the system.

12/12/2025

This will be our first time attending this light show. We will take a short video to share later.