LoveTree Farmstead

Drought Continues.......sigh.

2012-01-27T11:01:00.000-06:00

The drought continues, whatever snow base we had melted down to slush yesterday...bummer.
We are going to be closed for Pizza By The Pond at least through February 12.
Please check back for updates.

No Snow!

2012-01-13T12:46:00.000-06:00

Due to No Snow.....Pizza By The Pond will be closed this Sunday (January 15th) Keep checking back!!! :-)

Sunday is Pizza Day!!!!!!

2012-01-05T12:30:00.002-06:00

According to the latest weather forecast Sunday is supposed to be AWESOME!!!!!!! Barely a breeze and SUNNY SUNNY SUNNY!!!! Our sledding hill should survive today's warmer temps since it is north facing, and there MIGHT be enough snow for cross country skiing for the independent spirit, the trails don't have enough snow to have them groomed, but this old snow is definitely packed! We will have the fire cranked up in the "Grotto" to help keep the chill off, and of course the "Beast" (pizza oven) will be hot and glowing! Remember... the Grotto is a warming hut to take the winter chill off for outdoor re-creationist's but it is still basically outdoors. During these warmer days we can get the Grotto up to approx 45-50F, so dress for it. If you can keep your feet warm, it is surprising how the rest of you is automatically much more comfortable, bring those little "toe warmer" packets if you got 'em!

Even if there isn't enough snow left for cross country skiing, it is still a GORGEOUS time to hike through the refuge since there is only a couple of inches of snow, and most of that is packed tight.

The local river and some of the lakes still have some open water which means that birds like the Bald Eagles, Trumpeter Swans and Canada Geese haven't migrated. If they aren't here on the property you may be able to catch glimpses of them just down the road near the Trade River... you may also be able to catch a glimpse of the resident otters, so bring your hiking boots and camera, and of course...your appetite!

Happy HolyDays!

2011-12-21T11:54:00.003-06:00

A lovely display of our "Noella" mold which shimmers gold in the light

As the longest day of the year approaches, it is always nice to have a reminder that spring will eventually come again. In the world of a "caver", cheese "in bloom" with it's beautiful varied assortments of microflora" (molds) will most certainly bring a smile.... but for now, even for the cheese, it is time to rest.
The temperature in the cave now hovers just below 50F, the molds grow more slowly, the cheese ages more slowly and I even find myself moving more slowly. This is the time to rest, rejuvenate, and allow the natural cycle of the earth to replenish our depleted energy reserves, a much easier task once the holidays have swiftly moved passed us!

A stack of natural mold rinded cheese waiting for their "bath".

Everyone here at LoveTree (above ground and below!) wish you all a restful and serene HolyDay Season!

Puppies, Goats, and Surprise Samplers!

2011-12-08T15:48:00.003-06:00

New winter hours for Pizza By The Pond!

We will be open Sundays from 2:00pm -7:00pm!

Ahhh yes! Brrrrrrrrrrisk weather is upon us! We have hardly any snow on the ground, only about 1/2 an inch, just enough to remind us that it really is winter, as if the cold nights aren't enough! The bellies on the goats are a bit bigger than I would normally expect at this time, looks like we may be in for some cold weather kidding, hopefully not before Christmas! The goats are currently sharing their pen with our litter of Spanish Ranch Mastiff pups, which makes one ponder...would that be a three dog or a three goat night? Hmmm

Spanish Ranch Mastiff pup not quite sure what to make of his new roommates, the goats.

This weekend looks to be above normal temperatures, with Sunday forecast to be over 35F! Great time to enjoy a wood fired pizza in the Grotto!! It continues to amaze me how great food taste when it's cold outside! We don't have enough snow yet for ski ing, snow shoeing or sledding, but it is a great time for hiking through the refuge, the land's winter wardrobe makes a fashion statement only seen at this time of year plus you can have fun looking for wildlife tracks!

Staghorn Sumac in the refuge

We also have our Gift Box Cheese Samplers now available!!! They range in price from $35.00 up to $110.00
We are having a little bit of coding problems on the order page of our website, but that should be rectified by the end of this weekend, until then, I am posting their selection below.

Our " Surprise Sampler" is a selection of the best that the cave has to offer for that particular week and is one of our customer's favorite choices.

We are known for our "rustic"packaging with  each piece of cheese being wrapped simply in white butcher paper, nestled in a bed of fresh meadow hay topped with a frond of northern white cedar and a brochure. We choose the cheese, you get to enjoy it! We ship  USPS priority mail

"Personally Yours"
The perfect size for a single person or couple that would like to sample a  variety of 3 different cheeses each in approx. 1/2 lb. increments.
$35.00 (plus shipping)

"More Cheese Please!"
A  variety of 3 different cheeses each in approx.  1 lb. chunks, the perfect size for sharing with friends.
$70.00 (plus shipping)

"It's A Party!"
A delicious selection of five different cheeses each in approx.1 lb. increments... makes a great line up for a party or perfect for the happy cheese snacking family.

$110.00 (plus shipping)

Head's Up!

2011-11-18T09:14:00.000-06:00

Just a quick "head's up to remind everyone that Pizza By The Pond is closed for the next two weeks due to Wisconsin Gun Deer season. We will re open again on December 4th, (weather pending) If you need cheese and are in the area just give us a call and see if we are around, otherewise please click on the "Where's The Cheese tab to see where we are selling in the Twin Cites on the weekends. Yes, we REALLY do sell outside all winter!

Still Cookin'!

2011-11-11T12:54:00.000-06:00

This coming Sunday we will continue to crank out amazing wood fired pizzas from the middle of our wild life refuge. The seasonal favorite "The Warmmeup" is back on the "Specials" board and has not failed to please!
Remember, we also have great cheese and even pizza dough available for sale during Pizza By The Pond!
The Grotto's warming hut is shelltered from the wind, allowing for a cozy place for picnicing and visiting. If it gets too darn breezy, we will drop all of the tarps and kick on the wood burning stove for extra heat, but even so, make sure to dress warm to ensure your comfort level especially if you want to walk about visiting the farm and animals.

A Visit To Pizza By The Pond !

2011-10-20T13:13:00.020-05:00

(a photo essay by Laura Wentz)

I went to a dog trial in Minnetrista, Minnesota, over the weekend and came home by way of Grantsburg, Wisconsin and did Pizza by the Pond.

Before I ordered a pizza I met some of the younger guard dogs.

I watched Dave milk the cows and the goats

I met Tule and Elmo's puppies.

I had the Fresh pizza and got a Just Cheese Please to go

Pizza going in the oven.

Cows grazing at sunset.

Jenny and her family showed up too. We had a great time eating delicious pizza and fudge and just sitting around talking. Dave & Mary are wonderful hosts and if you're in the area on a Sunday, you should stop in.

Laura

Baling Hay, Pup Nannies, and Whirlwinds!

2011-10-13T14:55:00.001-05:00

Ancient old Mulberry tree, trying to hold onto it's leaves during the high wind

The past two weeks has been absolutely sublime... warm and dry, perfumed by the aroma of leaves crunching underfoot. Glorious but brief! If I were "in charge", I would make darn sure that Indian Summer lasted at least until Thanksgiving!
A few days of blustery whirlwinds stole away most of our leaves, revealing the naked topography that was previously veiled by green. It's sort of like watching time rewind, the plants that are still green in the wood lots are also the same plants that are first up in the spring.

Wind rows of hay waiting for Dave to fix the baler before it rains again.

The good part of the windy days was that it became possible to dry some hay. Dave has become "one with the tractor seat" latelly, furiously trying to get up as much hay as is possible during this brief and dry stretch of time.

About three weeks ago Tule, our Spanish Ranch Mastiff gifted us with a litter of 8 pups, and two days later Setsuko, our Japanese intern, arrived. The next week, Sophie, (our British intern) joined the fray, creating the best "puppy nanny team" known to LoveTree!!!

Tule, cleaning up the greedy little pups.

All 8 pups are robust with healthy appetites...their poor mom has to eat super quick before the little buggers take over her food dish!

A pan of pups?

It doesnt matter to the pups whether the food bowl is empty or not, they will make good use out if it.

Just like Autumn, Setsuko left before we got used to her being here! With her command of the English language (which sometimes bordered on a "Charro" impersonation), coupled with her great sense of humor and compassion for the animals, she deftly knitted herself into the fabric of this farm's history. Setsuko only had a little over two weeks to spend here before she moved on to Canada, but her whirlwind visit left us scheming for ways to keep her here, what a spitfire! We miss you Setsuko!

Changes.....

2011-09-30T00:30:00.001-05:00

Fall, Indian Summer, my absolute favorite time of year, the colors are now peaking! I once turned down a consulting job because it wouldve taken me away from here during this amazing time. This season IS why we tolerate the long winters, the bizarre weather patterns and the slippery roads.

.

Brilliant Fall Staghorn Sumac

A sudden cold snap wakes us up out of our summer daze, jarring us into the reality of change

Andy's last day at the St Paul Market before going off to college.

Just for today, I want to stop time. I love the autumn, but I will sorely miss the summer. The little boy will always be my little boy, although I am so proud of him as a young man.

"Holmes Lake Apple Orchard, just down the road, open 24/7

Many beautiful changes have taken place during the last month, the apples down the road at Holmes Lake Orchard are now ready for the picking...where else can you go to a 24 hour pick your own apple orchard?

"Tule" one of our Livestock Guardian Dogs, heavy with pups.

"Tule, our Spanish Ranch Mastiff gifted us with a litter of 8 pups, photos will soon follow!

Dave was FINALLY able to beat the rain and get some hay up!!!

Jon with "Windy"

Jon, a very pleasant young man from Georgia (USA) has come to stay with us for a while to experience farming in the northwoods, he also makes GREAT pizzas!!!

"Setsuko" a cheery gal from Japan has blessed us with her presence for two weeks, and "Sophie" arrives from the U.K this coming Saturday....my goodness!

2011-09-02T09:52:00.001-05:00

Yes! We are open this Sunday!
It's been crazily busy here the last two weeks, we are all feeling the push to squeeze the most out of summer. See Dave, see Dave run, run, run!
We will update soon with more photos, I just need a new usb cord, nasty Border Collie pup ate the last one.
The tomatoe garden is saturated in red, the basil is creating it's own country, and the husk cherries are ever so slowly becoming ripe. And the cheese....the cheese is putting on age and exploding with flavor !!! It's going to be a great (and delicious) Sunday!
If all goes well today, I will be able to update with current photos of the farm and our new interns!

Hope For The Future!

2011-08-10T18:57:00.000-05:00

There's an intern in that there guardian dog "pile on"....somewhere!

Last Friday we took the three interns and our sons for a canoe ride down the upper St Croix, (the river was at a ten year high! ) Marine (our 18 year old intern from Paris) and our son, Andy, had the unique adventure of riding approximately two miles down a VERY fast river while holding onto the bottom of a capsized canoe before we could manuever them to shore...thank heavens for life jackets! Yup, it was definitely a memorable experience for our all of us. The next morning ( Saturday), Marine spent the day helping me sell cheese at the St Paul Market. As my customers greeted Marine, they eventutally asked her how her summer vacation was going at LoveTree, to which all morning that little pixie tirelessly answered (with her soft breathy French accent) "I have had a great time on the farm!" She then would lower her voice to a whisper while dramatically widening her beautiful hazel eyes and add " although yesterday.........I almost died."
Gads! She loved every painful wince that she could muster out of me infront of my customers.

What a character!

Over the past six weeks we have had the immense pleasure of hosting three amazing young interns, and now, one by one, they are leaving us...it just isnt fair. We are always excited when new interns arrive, meeting new folks is always exciting, but these three were an adventure by themselves. We never expected to fall so much in love with ALL of them...and now they leave!

Farewell to Marine at MSP ...tears, we all had tears

Marine flew out for Pairis on Saturday after the market.

Lauren feeding the calves, more tears flowed as we said goodbye

Lauren flew back to Syracuse this morning.

Kevin is so proud on that tractor, I hope we dont hopelessly enmbarass him with our tears when we say goodbye, and he thought that river was bad!

Kevin is scheduled to leave for New York next Wednesday, (doesnt appear that he has plans for returning to China anytime soon).

Our hearts are so very heavy, we already miss them. To help soften the "blow', Aurore (from Belgium) recently arrived, her perky and upbeat personality is truly a gift, even though she too will be leaving at the end of August. Since she was also on "That Gawdawful River" trip...we were afraid she was ready to leave by that Friday afternoon, thankfully, she is a curious sort and thought it was worth giving us another chance, as long as we keep her away from the river.

These three young adults milked and fed the cows, goats and sheep, tended to the guardian dogs, helped with fencing and worked in the kitchen with the pizza, rode the tractor and yes, they also helped with the weekend markets. These three were given a list of chores that needed to be accomplished, but just "how" the chores were to be accomplished was up to them. Before July, none of them had ever met the other, yet they worked out their differences, achieved compromises and developed an amazing team atmosphere all on their own.
A young Chines man of traditional values who is interested in farming, an urban Parisian young woman who loves to dance and needed English immersion skills before business school in the fall, and a fiercly independent and soulful young woman from Syracuse whose main focus is conservation of our nation's forests. To these three young adults we will be eternallly grateful, for they have renewed our hope for the future of our country, humanity and our planet.

Duck Weed and Dog Days

2011-07-28T12:05:00.003-05:00

(The Cooking Channel just called tonight and will be at Pizza By The Pond ONLY until 12:00pm
on July 31st.! We are VERY VERY bummed out because we wanted our customers to be part of this event. :-( Evidently the film crew was rerouted to another event and had to be rescheduled for an earlier flight out. "Pizza By The Pond" will be open at it's normal hours of 2-8pm. Please accept our apology for any inconvenience this may have caused you. The show (The Big Cheese) is due to be aired on the Cooking Channel in October

Relaxing on the Overlook, watching the Duck Weed grow.

No news to anyone, it's hot and muggy. The dogs know it, the livestock knows it, we know it, and the Duck Weed definitely knows it! As is typical this time of year, the "Pond" has taken on a brilliant chartreuse green layer of Duck Weed. Duck Weed is not to be confused with algae, rather, it is the smallest known flowering plant on the planet, it floats on top of the water and it has an amazing reproduction cycle in the warmer weather. It can regenerate itself every 16-24 hours under ideal conditions, which is evident on the "Pond". Not only is it prolific, but it is able to out compete soybean for protein, DW can produce the same amount of protein as soybean in one tenth the area!!!! Amazing!!! No wonder the ducks love eating it!!!
Why arent the agricultural communities harvesting DW??? Perhaps it's because there is no money in selling the seed since it seems to "magically" appear?
Wouldnt it be cool if we could figure out how to put "water wings" on the sheep so they could graze it as they float?

"Spanish Ranch Mastiff " pup, "Chubs"

"Chubs" also agrees that the "Dog Days of Summer " are upon us. He is very good about conserving his energy during these warm days, so much so that you would swear that he is stuck in 1st gear, at least compared to the Border Collie pup, "Dice"

Dice, spinning circles around "Chubs"

No matter how much taunting and pleading he does, "Dice" cant get "Chubs" to play.

"Hey "Dice", you have some pretty cool moves, spin some more!"

As far as "Chubs" is concerned, "play" consists of just laying back and allowing "Dice" to entertain him as he spins circles around "Chubs"

"Dont leave "Dice", come "chill with me!"

Unlike "Chubs", "Dice" does not have a 1st gear and is off to find a more willing play partner.....

Summer Retreat!

2011-07-15T10:20:00.002-05:00

Hot humid weather is not really a big thing when you can kick back and relax in a nice airconditioned house, but when you live in a 110 year old poorly insulated testimony to Swedish stubborness, it can be a bit of a creative challenge. We sleep with the windows open and at the first threat of sunny rays beating on the house, we hurridly run about closing them all. Losing our main shade tree in the last storm only amplified the necessity to upgrade our insulation (along with many other items!)
During the past month we have come to really enjoy the "Grotto" down by "The Pond". It has become our own version of a summer kitchen, our own mini retreat center. Since the middle of May we have retreated to the "Grotto" to celebrate a high school graduation, three birthdays, Father's Day, Fourth of July, and many evening meals on a hot summer day. A nice refreshing breeze over the shaded pond always seems to cool and refresh us, allowing us the luxury of enjoying our own "air conditioning unit" northwoods style.
Join us this Sunday for an escape from the heat, a cool picnic under the shade trees is a quick and easy way to refresh and rejuvenate your sense of well being. If it rains, we all gather under the shelter of the "Grotto", enjoying the company of each other for a spontaneous party while "The Pond " entertains us with it's backdrop of natural summer beauty. We have watched many a storm pass overhead while tucked into the hillside of the Grotto, knowing that if the storm did decide to become "very entertaining" we have a safe front row seat!

Did you hear the one about......

2011-07-07T00:51:00.002-05:00

"Say, did you hear the one about the Chinese pig farmer, the Parisian business student, and the New York vegetarian????"
That's my son's favorite phrase lately which sums up a delightful assortment of young adults that are currently staying with us due to our joining a couple of different internship programs.

. The first to arrive was "Kevin", a bright and energetic young man from China, who LOVES raising pigs but wants to learn about sheep and how to work Border Collies.
The only problem we have with this extremely well mannered fellow is that he is, well...extremely well mannered! We are constantly having to tell him to ease up on himself, he works too hard.

Kevin and "Dice"

Marine arrived a week after Kevin, wide eyed and extremely good natured, our student from Paris. She wants to live in a different culture for a month while she is immersed in English in preparation for her business studies at the universtiy. She has spent her entire life in the city, and wants a new adventure. She likes the animals but really wants to learn how to make pizza for her family. She also has a surprising sense of humor...

Marine

The day Lauren arrived in Minneapolis from Syracuse she took a taxi straight from the airport over to the Kingfield Farmers market where Dave was selling cheese. She jumped right in and proceeded to amaze Dave with how comfortable she was at the cheese table, it was immediately clear that the customers really took a shine to her. How could they not? She has a smile the size of Lake Superior!! Lauren is contemplating majoring in mycology or possibly forest pathology.

Lauren

Three amazing young adults, we are truly blessed with their presence for the next month!!

Pizza By The Pond Is Open on July 3rd, inspite of Friday's "Big Nasty"!!

2011-07-02T22:43:00.000-05:00

Fourth of July weekend kicked of with a big nasty wind and storm, Really??? I mean, was that REALLY necessary???
Geeeez!! That super nasty"big evil wind' did not leave us unscathed, it did take down one of our 150 year old maples and a few other trees, but hey, now we have some decent wood for the Pizza fire!
Thankfully the power is now back on and the roads are cleared, it's time to count our blessings and enjoy each other's company and great pizza!
Besides, I did not hand knead 90 lbs of pizza dough (by candlelight) for nothing!!!
Weather forecast for Sunday promises to be sunny and calm...we can use more of that around here !

Soggy

2011-06-23T08:50:00.002-05:00

My front yard looks like the Amazon. The hay field is chest high, the back yard is a sponge, and the lakes, rivers, and streams are fully recharged!

One very soggy llama

As a farmer it is considered VERY bad form to curse the rain, and after an eight year drought in this little corner of Wisconsin, I will refrain from doing so, I just wish there was some way we could share this moisture with Texas.

Fortunately for us, the weather is forecast to be great for this weekend for
Pizza By The Pond! "The Eddies" are going to be singing for their supper starting at 5:00pm and the "Milking of the Sheep" is due to start at approx 6:00pm .

Dave milking while under the watchful eye of one of our goats

Bring a kite! Bring a mitt and ball! Bring a spirit of adventure! Lots of fun outdoorsy things to do, or just kick back and relax and watch the wild bird population....or maybe milk a sheep or goat!

We have new "bottle babies" including three June calves and a couple of goat kids, three more cows are left to calve.

The big guy on the far left is actually two weeks younger than the other two...the boys named him
"Sir Loin"

Father's Day!

2011-06-15T17:41:00.002-05:00

No better way to celebrate Father's Day than a relaxing day in the country topped off with a fantastic wood fired pizza! Pack your favorite beverages and picnic gear and get ready to relax with a fun game of ladder golf, horseshoes, or take in a hike in the wildlife refuge. Dont forget to bring along baseball mitts, Frisbees, kites or whatever other lawn games etc you may have in mind.

Dad can also enjoy visiting with the resident animals (sheep, goats, cows and llamas), and maybe even milk a sheep (or two!)

There are 8 small "old fart" fishing lakes within two miles of LoveTree where Dad can sink his line, or easier yet,...just a little over a mile down the road is a cool little fishing spot where the Trade River enters into Little Holmes Lake. This is where the locals like to simply drop their line from the roadside bridge, makes for a quick, easy, and fun excursion.

Fishing spot at the bridge over Trade River on Cty Z

If you are more interested in a weekend "getaway", then check out our links to the left of this column. We have listed the local state parks, horse parks, and even our favorite B&B (Smoland Prairie Homestead) to get you started in your quest, along with many other areas of interest. Have fun exploring the possibilities of this unique glacial region of Wisconsin!

A June Bug,Locust, And Bulls!

2011-06-08T21:17:00.002-05:00

She's here! On June 3rd we had the first calf of the season and she is a lovely brindle named
June Bug! Her sire was a Scottish Highlander and the mama cow ( aka "Roundhead" ...Dave named her) is showing promise of being a fabulous milker! She is half beef breed crossed to a jersey (dairy breed) so we really didnt expect too much in the way of production, in fact we werent even figuring on milking her, but the way she has developed we thought that she just looked too good to pass up. She has been "fresh" (dairy term for coming into milk) for less than 3 days and she is already milking 5 gallons of milk a day on GRASS ONLY!!!! No grain whatsoever! Many dairy men would scoff at the lowly amount of 43 lbs of milk per day, but we are thrilled. It is so creamy and the butterfat is decidely jersey influenced since it is bright golden orange in color.. YUM! It's going to make great cheese!

San Marzano Tomatoes all mulched and loving the heat!

We've gone from a very cool and wet spring to record breaking temps in just a few days, we hit 100F here yesterday BLECK! Tonight the temperature is supposed to drop to 44F! Crazy weather! The San Marzano tomatoes in our pizza garden shot up close to six inches in just over the last two days during the heat spell, thanks to the compost and mulch they never even needed to be watered during the high temps! I topped dressed them with compost and then mulched them in old straw...it sure made the difference in how they fared in the heat. I planted them alongside of a mesh fence this year, hope it works well as a trellis.

Wild Honey Locusts Blossoms

Lilacs cant hold a candle to the thick sweet perfume of the wild honey locusts blossoms which surround our home. It was their lingering fragrance that made the past few days of sweltering heat bearable. I hope to harvest a bunch of the blossoms tomorrow for "Wild Honey Locusts Ash". I really do cook them down to the point of ash, and then I dust certain cheeses with them. The ash attracts some very cool molds and adds a very nice hint of flavor.

It appears that no farm is without it's bit of "drama". Our two bull calves, "Freddie" (the brown one) and "Rib Eye" were having their fair share of it today. It seems that "Rib Eye" who is obviously bigger and more heavily muscled than lighter framed and all around smaller Freddie, decided to be a bit of a "bully". Now you know where the term "bully " comes from!
Poor Freddie didnt even paw the ground, he just humbly lowered his head, waiting for the pending impact.

You can notice by comparing the two photos how much "Rib Eye's" overall heft shoved Freddie back by quite a few feet! Not to worry! There is one great leverage that mother nature endowed our little underdog with, and that is the world's great equalizer....

Horns!!! Freddie has horns, Ribe Eye does not. Little Freddie has him on the run...yes, life is good !

Lazy Day

2011-06-01T20:24:00.002-05:00

The wind has finally slowed to a mild breeze, it is a gorgeously, lazy day! Every critter on the farm seems to have shifted into low gear as they enjoy the peace and calm of this tranquil day. Even the vat of cheese seems to be sleeping as it slowly knits into a curd. ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

The chickens softly clucked their way across the yard as their guardian ,Candace, quietly looked on, she has never been one to steal Peter the Rooster's thunder.

"Dobby" and "Yoda"

As I left the cheese room I heard a commotion int the barn, it "app ears" that the kid goats were upset about something.Hmmm. Upon further inspection, the yearling calves were not where they were supposed to be and were, upsetting the goats greatly......

Shame, Shame.....

"Freddy", and "Blossom"...

Guilty as charged!!!

The beasts go back to their pens, and ......the pups get bored

They get tired of watching their "aunt" watch "her " chickens, and the chickens wouldnt play....so off they go to explore the barn.

Ahh yes, lets wake up big sister, chew up a hose and make a general mess of everything..no sense in taking the blame...we'll just go back to sleep and.....

simply blame it on the chickens!!!!!

Quick Spring Update

2011-05-26T13:22:00.002-05:00

A wet cold spring creates loads of wood violets and fresh green grass!

Wood violets on the forest floor

The cows are busy eating their way through the north pasture and are all displaying bellies swollen with calves. Since they were bred "au natural" while out in pasture, we really arent quite sure when the first calf will appear.we hope it will arrive sometime in June. Below are a few photos from the "maternity ward".

"Syrup" (our jersey cow) practicing her prenatal yoga?

We again bred our cows to a Scottish Highlander bull, so the 1/2 highlander ( "Sugar") will have a 3/4 Highlander calf...ought to be a cute little bugger!

Dave's pet, "Sugar"...1/2 Scottish Highlander 1/2 Jersey

"Sap" is half angus and half jersey and she will have a half highlander, 1/4 angus, 1/4 jersey calf.....I hope it's a bull calf, that's a darn good beef combo!

"Sap" meditatively munching away on the fresh spring grass. If you look closely at the background, you can see Dave walking a sheep back from the pasture, pretty cool!

Ramps and fiddle heads will be gracing the "Pizza" menu this Sunday along with a selection of our fine artisan cheese and locally produced meat selections.
If you visit the farm this Sunday for "Pizza By The Pond", you can watch the "Milking Of The Sheep" at approx 6:00pm. The sheep are milking their hearts out, I am so VERY happy to be making raw sheep milk cheeses again !!!!

Quiet Cove

2011-05-16T17:35:00.003-05:00

("Pizza By The Pond" will be closed Sunday May 22nd in honor of our son's

high school graduation. We will re-open on May 29th)

Geese enjoying the quiet of the cove

This past Sunday was yet one more of many blustery days that we have endured over the past couple of weeks. I know that the wind is necessary in order to usher in the warmer weather, but it can definitely erode on one's sense of humor and patience. As my capacity to endure the crappy weather shrinks, it's always good to remember,( as the wild critters know all too well) that there's no sense in wasting precious energy waging war with the weather, especially when peace and pizza can be found nestled in a quiet cove.

One of the benefits of being tucked into a hillside is that picnickers at the"Grotto" are able to enjoy a placid and quiet afternoon even though the wind may be blasting about on the higher pastures.

Ostrich fern fiddle heads

I found the best way to pick up my spirits on a dark gloomy day is to hike through the woods. Even though the morels are no where to be seen (yet!), the fiddle heads are springing up and make for a great pizza addition.

Rue (anemone)

The various ephemeral wildflowers are a true bonus and makes a daily fiddle head harvest even that much more enjoyable. Since their bloom time is extremely short lived, the daily woodland walk is always different, the previous day's flowers are gone and new ones have emerged!

Hepatica

Wild ginger

This wild ginger is not only an unusual flower, but also makes a lovely ground cover, I just might transplant some to my own yard.

SUNSHINE!!!!!

2011-05-15T10:34:00.001-05:00

Sunshine! We FINALLY have sunshine, making for a beautiful day for a walk about the farm!. "The Pizza By The Pond" is featuring fresh picked fiddle heads and ramps as some of the ingredients of choice today, along with our other different meat, cheese, and assorted veggie toppings. Down in the pizza grotto we are nestled in cozy niche that buffers us from the blustery wind that is ushering in warmer weather, a pleasant space for bird watching and pizza eating! Up by the barn we have a couple of new playful goat kids and lambs scampering about with the puppies, everyone is loving this sunshine!

Eating Wild!

2011-05-08T12:22:00.000-05:00

Super quick update since I am running late today....
Chance of rain today is not a problem, we have a rain shelter for pizza and cheese customers!
Ramps and fiddle heads have begun to emerge!!! Both will be on the Pizza By the Pond Menu today!
Just started making the jersey cow milk cheese for the season, we start milking the sheep tomorrow which means that next week everyone can watch Dave work his magic during the "Milking of the Sheep!
And we have one new goat kid (another dang buck!) and a new border collie pup named "Dice!"
I will update with photos in the next couple of days!

A Walk In The Woods

2011-04-28T17:17:00.013-05:00

("Pizza By The Pond" Opens This Sunday May 1st!)

Waking up this morning to a fresh carpet of snow was simply an insult to my dogs' and my sense of humor!
The cold temps have kept the grass from it's typical spring explosion of growth, and the wet sloppy snow makes for wet sloppy dogs. Thankfully, the snow was short lived and was melted before noon.

Poor "Pumba"

It seems that the best way to beat the "gray sky grumps" is to take off to the woods in search of wild edibles!
On the way to the woods, I met up with our wandering "nomadic sheep".Freshly shorn this week, we turned them loose so that they would have their choice of shelter during this nasty spell of weather.

"Nomadic" Sheep

Once in the wood lot, the "ramps"(wild leeks) did not disappoint, their vibrant green leaves waved in the soft breeze, promising spring's eventual arrival. The drought of the past 8 years truly hurt the ramp population and knowing that they take over 5 years to reach maturity prevents me from pulling them up by their bulbs. I'll simply clip the tasty leaves instead, they will make a fine addition to the "Pizza By the Pond" menu.

"Wild Ramps"

As I followed a path of ramps, meandering from one clump to another, the sound of splashing in the nearby little lake got my attention. Looking up I saw a nesting pair of trumpeter swans tucked into the shoreline marsh grass. The cob swam out to check me out, he posed beautifully for the photo.

Trumpeter Cob

Deeper into the woods on my way to a secluded bog, I passed the first emerging woodland flowers,(bloodroot) not yet in bloom, patiently waiting.

"Wild Bloodroot"

Best time of year to visit the little bog, no bugs! Unfortunately, no fiddleheads yet either,dang!

"Dormant Ostrich Fern"

Oh well, the tiny little coils do appear to be ready to pop, they just need a couple of warm days and then they can grow 6 inches overnight! I'm crossing my fingers that there may be some ready for this Sunday, but low night time temps may make them hold off until nest week.

Looks like I will just have to "force" myself to go for another walk in the woods before Sunday, life is so tough!

Breakout!

2011-04-22T11:41:00.002-05:00

( "Pizza By The Pond" is closed until May 1st)

Off They Go!

The sheep are rebelling! The grass wont grow when temperatures are below 40F and they are simply tired of eating hay, so over the hill they go in pursuit of greener pastures. They are just as tired as we are of this gloomy cold weather. Will spring ever get here? Maybe this IS spring this year. Maybe, just maybe.... once the cold weather stage finally plays itself out, we will automatically jump into summer? Maybe not.

I think we all secretly want to be like real sheep. We all want the freedom to be able to say , "the heck with it! I have had enough!" as we throw our inhibitions aside and charge off in a new direction hoping for the best...eating whatever we find in our path.
That's how real sheep solve their problems.
If that were to actually happen, who would the shepherd be? Who would be the one running behind us yelling expletives at our defiance, wildly waving his arms in angry frustration, loudly yelling threats as he protests our impulsive act? Would his angry rhetoric escalate, or would his behavior eventually yield to gentle, persuasive murmurs? Would he indulge us as we wander for a while, allowing us to eat our fill of the sparse morsels of the fresh sweet grass before he attempts to entice us to follow his direction?
Or would he simply say "the heck with it!" and call in the border collies?

God, Geese, A Symphony Of Peace

2011-04-13T23:46:00.000-05:00

("Pizza By The Pond" is closed until May 1st,)

There Really IS a God! The Ice is GONE!!!!

The long light of evening shimmers across the pond in a rare lonesome dance, no buzzing of bugs, no frogs chirping, just stillness. The conductor raises his wand commanding a brief moment of silence, the air is thick with anticipation of the imminent music.
The change of seasons is so subtle, it can slip by unnoticed!

Two geese nestled in a trance like repose, hidden behind the shoreline trees. The gander alert to protect his mate, yet silent, in a quiet hush awaiting the first hatch of the season.

Ewes on the hill, relaxed, grazing.....

lambs lazily napping, mamas savor their brief moment of peace....

Afterall.....

they have a trusted babysitter....

old Xena LOVES her lambs!
Life is a gift!

Ice, Lambs, Fresh Air and Yard Ornaments

2011-04-08T22:57:00.000-05:00

"Pizza By The Pond" is closed until May 1st, maybe then the snow will be gone!

The sun is shining, the mud is ever so slowly receding, and there is actually a glimmer of green grass. This week I celebrate my 25th year here on the farm, and this is the very first year that I have seen the ponds and local lakes still frozen at this late of date!

Lambs are FINALLY out on the pasture, even though there really isnt any grass to graze just yet, at least they are able to cruise about and enjoy the sunshine.

Since the pastures arent truly ready for the animals yet, (if they are all put out too soon it can ruin the fields) Dave has been creatively 'relocating " the beasts to different locations so they can enjoy the warm fresh air. Needless to say, I am not thrilled by the new "yard ornaments"...yes, that really is a cow, along with sheep and goats in my back yard grrrrrrr.

The guardian dog pups and goat kids are enjoying lounging about in the warmer temps, although the geese are loudly complaining about the lack of "swim-ability" of the ponds. The muskrats, however, have been extremely active...despite the fact that their spring time exploration has, on occasion, led to their untimely demise. They seem to insist on breaching the lambing paddock where the guardian dogs have no tolerance for their shenanigans. I will leave the rest to your imagination.

Frozen Lumps, And Sleeping Dogs

2011-03-31T21:39:00.000-05:00

"Pizza By The Pond" is closed until May 1st, perhaps by then the snow will be gone!

The weather stations claim that rain is coming our way for the next day or two, so there is actually a possibility that this white stuff may be gone by this weekend!!!!! To kind of quote Laura Ingalls Wilder "This has been one VERY long winter."!

Walking outside is a challenge, if walking is actually the appropriate term for the way we pick our way across the back yard from one lump of frozen slush to the next...with vacuum sucking mud in between. Our guardian dogs lay slumped about the barn yard, lazily gazing across the road at the neighbor's incessantly barking dogs. The penned up bored beasts attempt to goad our guardians into action.. seemingly desperate for a distraction from the mundane mud and snow. The guardians are too tired from nighttime patrols to bother with their silliness, their nights having been filled with relentless harassment from the local coyotes. They have no time for such nonsense, not when sleep is waiting.

The geese are back, honking loudly during their courting antics, and cock pheasants are seen gliding proudly over the marshes.Everyone it seems, is waiting for the green of spring.

Of Lions and Lambs

2011-03-25T10:55:00.000-05:00

The roar of the lion is drowning out the baaaaa of the lambs!

Fifteen inches of new snow with three foot snowdrifts, and it's the end of March ACKK!
The wind blew so ferociously for three days running with the end result being super concentrated lead weight snow pack which has us stymied. Our equipment is so antiquated that it is going to take a short eternity for us to move it, so we are shutting down for this coming Sunday and for the month of April. We are hoping that during the next month that the snow will just go away and take the mud with it, and then when May1st rolls around everything will be green and pretty with lambs running and jumping on the fresh pasture once again.

So mark your calendars for May 1st which will be our springtime (hopefully!) re opening for Pizza By The Pond! In the meantime, I will still be at the St Paul Farmer's market every Saturday during the month of April selling some very unique and flavor packed cave aged cheese. Just check out the "Cheese Currently Available" tab on this newsletter to see what this week's inventory looks like!

A " Winnie The Pooh" Kind of Day?

2011-03-18T13:17:00.000-05:00

Yowza!!!!! It's the first day of SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Even though there is still the threat of pending snow for later in the week, today... it is SPRING!!!!!

Pizza By The Pond will be cranking out great pizzas along with great artisan cheese this Sunday even though it looks like it's shaping up to be somewhat of a "Winnie The Pooh " kind of day....

"Tut tut, looks like rain!".

The forecasts swing back and forth from rain to no rain, but at this time of year it is always a good idea to get out the old mud gear, most importantly of all, the rubber boots.

The "Grotto" is undercover, but the walk to the grotto from the parking area is a dirt road which can be very interesting this time of year, especially if you are a six year old that LOVES to splash in muddy puddles!..(or a "wannabee" 6 year old that still loves to splash about!)

Even though it is a bit sloppy, this is an exciting time of year on the farm and in the refuge!

Any little piece of new life in the woods is a stark contrast against the crumbling old leaves and musty dank forest floor...like a newborn baby cradled by the old weathered hands of "grandpa".
I especially enjoy the bright green moss that seems to glow against spotty patches of old snow as if to be waving a banner of victory after the battle of winter.

If you listen carefully you can hear the distant call of the sandhill cranes as they migrate high over head towards their nesting grounds, announcing that new life is beginning once again!
And...

We are still in the process of lambing out the flock, they are growing in numbers by the day...sometimes by the hour! ..and yes, the puppies and goat kids are still as adore able as ever.

In order to enjoy a farm visit at this time of year, dress warm with rain gear and and plan on a muddy visit to the lambs and also a quiet trek through the woods, it's a great meditation for the day.

Of course, you dont have to stay for a farm or woodland visit, the wood fired pizza and our artisan cheese is a good enough reason for a visit to LoveTree!

The Trumpeters are back!

2011-03-12T21:11:00.000-06:00

Stood outside at the St Paul Winter Market today...wind gusts of up to 30 mph driving the temps down to 8 F...in March! GADS! I still dont understand why urban Minnesotans dont wear long underwear...I mean, it isnt like they never go outside!

(Yes, I have no shame, I actually took my own poll and NONE of my customers don "long johns")

I personally think that if someone started a fashion trend for quilted clothing so that everyone looked poofy in winter, even the most ardent fashion slave would secretly be cheering for their new found warmth!

The wind has FINALLY calmed down and it looks like Sunday will be a gorgeous day!

Lambs, lots and lots of lambs! Puppies! and of course great PIZZA!!!!!
(no, Eric, NOT puppy pizza! )

And...the first true sign of spring... the Trumpeter Swans are back!!! (time to duck and cover !!!)

There is still snow for x country skiing, but the trails are fast, if you are a skate skier that is great, if you are a classic skier it may be a bit of a challenge, but still fun! The sledding hill is wickedly fast right now!!! Yippeee!!!
Dont forget to bring your snow toys and your appetite...and your sunscreen!!!!:-)

Prelude to Spring......

2011-03-06T09:03:00.000-06:00

Yippeee!!!! After a gloomy gray week, we finally have sunshine! We need all of the sunshiny days we can get since we are now creeping up on the full peak of lambing season! It may not look look like it outside, but spring is doing it's best to emerge here at LoveTree!

We currently have a couple dozen lambs on the ground, tough little critters that were born at near zero! Soon they will be accompanied by a couple of hundred wooly bouncy buddies to keep them company.

This is a GREAT time to enjoy LoveTree's "Pizza By the Pond" ...cross country skiing, snow shoeing, or even just walking about enjoying the prelude to the change of seasons while visiting with the lambs, goat kids and puppies!!!! And , of course, dont forget about the delicious and unique pizza and cheese!

Every Saturday you can find me OUTSIDE at the winter version of the St. Paul Farmers Market (on the west side of the market on Wall Street)...alongside of the various meat, honey and bread vendors. Come enjoy the vigorous weather with us, after all a fresh cup of coffee never tastes as good as it does on a brisk winter morning :-) If your cold weather endurance just isnt what it used to be, you can take comfort in knowing that Golden's Deli is directly across the street from us, a great place to sit down and take the chill off. Of course, you can also purchase our cheese while visiting the farm during Pizza By The Pond!

The cheese that I currently have available are:

The Big Holmes( in goat)a young soft herbal goat cheese

The Black and Sassy: (aged version)a 4 month old aged soft goat cheese dusted with maple blossom ash, amazingly complex

Sweet Young Thang: a firm pasted goat cheese that in this youthful stage has a very milky/grassy finish.

That Funky Thang: an more aged frim pasted goat cheese with a robust beefy and pungent profile with a sharp nutty finish

Gabrielson Lake: A rich buttery raw jersey cow milk cheese aged since October. Very buttery with a mushroomy finish.

Ancient Blue Cedar: a limited edition of the native blue raw sheep milk cheese , the paste is hard and flinty, very grate-able .This cheese is simply loaded with native blue molds but the dry ness of the paste allows for a more "back seat " flavor profile allowing you to taste the complexity without being overblown by sharpness. A subtle tartness in the background highlights the complexity of the various blues.

It's Going to Be A GREAT Day!!!!!!

2011-02-27T08:54:00.000-06:00

The sheep are FAT! They arent getting fat, they ARE FAT!!!! We are in the final countdown to lambing which should start in the next week or so. All available fingers are crossed as we pray that the warming trend continues through lambing...temperatures above 20F can make ALL the difference in the world for the creatures.

We are definitely OPEN for Pizza By The Pond today!!!!!'
The cross country ski trail and sledding hill are freshly groomed and the weather is actually going to
co operate!!! The long term weather forecast is calling for a thaw for the rest of the week, this may be the last time we are able to ski the trails for the year! Take advantage of it while you can, but please remember, the use of the trails for x country ski ing and snowshoeing are for Pizza By The Pond customers only!

Every Saturday you can find me OUTSIDE at the winter version of the St. Paul Farmers Market (on the west side of the market on Wall Street)...alongside of the various meat, honey and bread vendors. Come enjoy the vigorous weather with us, after all a fresh cup of coffee never tastes as good as it does on a brisk winter morning :-) If your cold weather endurance just isnt what it used to be, you can take comfort in knowing that Golden's Deli is directly across the street from us, a great place to sit down and take the chill off. Of course, you can also purchase our cheese while visiting the farm during Pizza By The Pond!

The cheese that I currently have available are:

The Big Holmes( in goat)a young soft herbal goat cheese

The Black and Sassy: (aged version)a 4 month old aged soft goat cheese dusted with maple blossom ash, amazingly complex

Sweet Young Thang: a firm pasted goat cheese that in this youthful stage has a very milky/grassy finish.

That Funky Thang: an more aged frim pasted goat cheese with a robust beefy and pungent profile with a sharp nutty finish

Gabrielson Lake: A rich buttery raw jersey cow milk cheese aged since October. Very buttery with a mushroomy finish.

Ancient Blue Cedar: a limited edition of the native blue raw sheep milk cheese , the paste is hard and flinty, very grate-able .This cheese is simply loaded with native blue molds but the dry ness of the paste allows for a more "back seat " flavor profile allowing you to taste the complexity without being overblown by sharpness. A subtle tartness in the background highlights the complexity of the various blues.

End of Winter? I dont think so..........

2011-02-20T12:05:00.000-06:00

It's been quite while since I updated this blog, I have plenty of excuses but no real good reason. I suppose succumbed to the mid winter BLAHHHHHSSSSSS.

Today the east wind is hammering away at us, screaming that it is going to make good on it's threat to dump snow on our partially thawed out pastures. Good bye green grass!
I had to make the decision of whether or not to close today, which is VERY hard to do when there is still no snow flying, but I finally did it. The wind alone is making it near impossible to keep the temperature up in the warming hut and in the pizza oven. Normally the wind isnt that big of a deal here since we are tucked into the hillside, but this east wind is tenacious and pummeling us with no mercy. So today, we are closed for Pizza By The Pond.

Our more recent farm updates have included a long term loan of a wood burning heater from friends who were tired of eating pizza with blue fingers! This heater is a HUGE improvement over my poor old kitchen cook stove, which just couldn't muscle up to the task of keeping us warm and toasty during those frigid single digit Sundays. Now the warming hut is much more comfortable and pink fingers have returned!

We also have a new litter of puppies and three goat kids, all of which were born the first week of February.
The puppies are down right adorable, and the goat kids are very cute...mischief makers, but still cute ..for
now anyway!

Every Saturday you can find me OUTSIDE at the winter version of the St. Paul Farmers Market (on the west side of the market on Wall Street)...alongside of the various meat, honey and bread vendors. Come enjoy the vigorous weather with us, after all a fresh cup of coffee never tastes as good as it does on a brisk winter morning :-) If your cold weather endurance just isnt what it used to be, you can take comfort in knowing that Golden's Deli is directly across the street from us, a great place to sit down and take the chill off. Of course, you can also purchase our cheese while visiting the farm during Pizza By The Pond!

The cheese that I currently have available are:

The Big Holmes( in goat)a young soft herbal goat cheese

The Black and Sassy: (aged version)a 4 month old aged soft goat cheese dusted with maple blossom ash, amazingly complex

Sweet Young Thang: a firm pasted goat cheese that in this youthful stage has a very milky/grassy finish.

That Funky Thang: an more aged frim pasted goat cheese with a robust beefy and pungent profile with a sharp nutty finish

Gabrielson Lake: A rich buttery raw jersey cow milk cheese aged since October. Very buttery with a mushroomy finish.

Ancient Blue Cedar: a limited edition of the native blue raw sheep milk cheese , the paste is hard and flinty, very grate-able .This cheese is simply loaded with native blue molds but the dry ness of the paste allows for a more "back seat " flavor profile allowing you to taste the complexity without being overblown by sharpness. A subtle tartness in the background highlights the complexity of the various blues.

The Trade Lake Cedar is currently sold out for the season but will reappear late this spring.

We Are Getting Warmer!!!

2010-12-19T09:44:00.000-06:00

Just a few quick updates before I scoot out the door...
The wood cookstove is now in the warming hut as supplemental heat, we will do the trial run this morning but since it is the same stove that I used to actually cook on in my farm house kitchen I have total faith that it will be just great.
The ski trails and sledding hill are groomed! We are starting with just a little less than 4 miles of trails and we will add a bit more every week as the weather allows.
Remember, we supply the atmosphere but everyone needs to bring their own equipment. We dont rent iceskates or skis or snow shoes, (maybe someday).
Dont forget suntan lotion for your face and sunglasses!!!!! It is a bright and beautiful day!!!!!
Time to play!

Winter Time Updates!

2010-12-15T11:28:00.000-06:00

It's been WAYYYYYYY too long since my last post, so much for the fantasy that winter brings extra time for playing "catch up" on the farm.HAH!
We are scurrying along readying the "Grotto" for winter fun. We've been able to get the temperature inside the Grotto ( warming shelter) up to 28F when the outside temp was at -10F, and this we did by capturing the heat from the Pizza oven and sealing up the tarps better. Our goal for this week is to add a 1930s wood cookstove to the middle of the "Grotto", adding not only additional heat but also a place to dry mittens and heat up cider and cocoa yummmmmmmmmm! Once we add the cook stove I have total faith that we will be able to bring the temps up into the 60 degree (or something near)range...perhaps ;-)
We also have a friend that has promised to come out this week to groom cross country ski trails for this weekend....I am keeping my fingers crossed! Since the weather has been cold to the bone, the sledding hill has not seen too much activity, but I bet this weekend that will change, we are supposed to warm up to 15F for Sunday and that is the PERFECT temp for sledding activity. We will have a bonfire going at the base of the sled hill for toasting marshmallows and warming up.
Dont forget to check out our Pizza By The Pond on Facebook for photos of the farm and of the social activity!

Planning For Winter Fun and Pizza Altars?

2010-11-08T18:42:00.000-06:00

I can not believe that it has been almost a month since I last "blogged"! Breathlessly I have been running about in order to get the farm ready for winter, along with shifting the schedule for "Pizza By the Pond" from Thursday nights to Sunday afternoons from 1-8pm. to reflect the change in waning daylight hours. The really tough part of all of the change is that there are only two Sundays in November that we will be open since Wisconsin Gun Deer season is in direct conflict with a crowd of pizza enthusiasts chomping down on great eats in the middle of a wildlife refuge....in short, dead customers just dont make good conversationalists!

So we chose to close for the last two Sundays in November and re-open the first Sunday in December when we will find out if our new funky warming hut is up to par. I am posting a few photos of this "unique" shelter on "Pizza By the Pond's" Facebook page. The "plan" is that the pizza oven will supply the heat to the shrouded grotto, but I am more than willing to concede to a back up heater if needed. As I reviewed the photos that I took yesterday, I discovered that I must be channeling some sort of strangely flowing undercurrent of Catholicism that is doing it's best to resurface through the pizza oven... I swear it resembles more of a pizza "altar" than an oven. Kind of spooky.

We have 200 acres here at LoveTree that we will be adding to our "menu" for our customers; any pizza customer will also be welcome to cross country ski, ice skate, sled, or snow shoe. The warming hut will be a great place to refresh and refuel before continuing an afternoon of winter time fun activities and also as a place to simply kick back and unwind while devouring great pizza.

The "ambiance" is decidely unique, it seems that pizza gourmands that enjoy eating great pizza in the middle of a wild life refuge are also some of the most interesting and enjoyable characters that I have ever met. I am extremely pleased to call these folks friends, and honored that they frequent our little pizzeria in the northwoods of Wisconsin. Dave and I have been a bit perturbed as to how we are going to set about grooming the x country trails for skate skiers and classic skiers, so we asked for input from our customers. What could be a better way to design the trails than to have the folks that will be using them tell us what they want and need? Yes, I thought so too. One of our customers may even help us build a groomer, although it sure would be fantastic if I could just hire someone to do the grooming for us, at least for this year anyhow.

I am tired just thinking about the work that needs to be completed in the next month, but I have to admit that I am also excited about all of the new changes taking place, it's as if God himself is breathing new life into the farm.........hmmm.

It's In The Air!

2010-10-15T14:55:00.000-05:00

We can all feel the energy, it surges through everything in it's path, most of all...the birds. Their restlesness is evident in the migratory flocks making their final practice runs before departing south. The sandhill cranes swoop low and deliberate, necks extended as they circle the neighboring corn field looking for food to stockpile their energy reserves; as the geese circle in loose knit formations, training in this years goslings to the south bound flight patterns
It is also evident in this season's bewildered fawns who erratically and clumsily maneuver the trails and roads like impaired drunken drivers seemingly lost without the guidance of their mom, having been abandoned in favor of the company of a hormonally charged rutting buck.
I too can feel it , I find that my step has quickened with an anxious purpose....just gotta squeeze every last moment of warmth out of this season that I can! I dont dread winter, but I do fear not being ready for it. Perhaps what I fear the most is to be sitting idly inside on a very cold winter day wistfully regretting not fully absorbing all of the fleeting, but wondrous, moments of the "fall".

...like a watercolor in the rain."

2010-09-28T11:08:00.000-05:00

Scarlet, gold, green, just some of the shimmering colors that are brushing over LoveTree Farm this week.
Hopefully the clouds will swiftly continue along their path, and make room for the sun to shine through.

Last Thursday's drencher left us wet and soggy, but that did not deter loyal "Pizza By the Pond" fans who took refuge under our funky tent. One group slogged their way down the driveway carrying a cake, determined to give their friend a unique and memorable birthday party, I do believe that they succeeded!
The rain never truly pummeled us here like it did further south, we had more of a drizzle throughout the day with brief moments of short downpours. It was a bit spooky with the temperature of the rain seemingly warmer than the air, almost tropical. Global warming? Nahhhh.......................

As the sun retired for the evening, a soft misty sea of amber, crimson blush, and brilliant wet green grass framed "The Pond"...."Mother Nature" inspired by Monet?

This coming Thursday is forecast to be dry, time to get out and play!
So little time to enjoy the fleeting colors of fall in these north woods, make it worth your while!

Just a reminder that "Pizza by the Pond" will be open on Thursdays from 4:30-8:00pm through the end of October, and then in November we will switch to Sunday afternoons from 1:00-8:00pm.

Crisp air, good company, and does size REALLY matter?

2010-09-17T18:51:00.000-05:00

The crisp chill in the air is nudging us into long sleeves and hooded sweatshirts, but that isnt slowing us down on the farm! The cooler air makes for a more enjoyable early evening hike and greatly helps in keeping the bugs at bay, so much easier to enjoy the change of colors that will soon surround us.

Last week while picking apples at the "pick your own self serve orchard " just down the road, the bugs drove me nuts, I have total empathy for the poor deer that charge out into a field shaking their head in fits as they attempt to rid themselves of the relentless skeeters and gnats. Now just one week later I easily pick apples without so much as having to swat a fly away and no bug repellent required! We now have a delightful apple desert pizza, bug free!

This is indeed the magical time of year that most northern Wisconsinites revel in, it is what makes our winter bearable, and a hot humid summer tolerable.

Last night was a testimony to the locals' love of autumn as "Pizza By The Pond" was surprisingly well attended considering the unusually cool weather for
the week. Heavy, gray, and overcast skies threatened us right up until 5:00 pm when the sun finally decided that it was indeed time for a party and ushered out any remaining gloomy clouds.

Car loads of folks started to arrive spot on at opening and continued at a casual but steady pace throughout the evening, so many local "pizzavores" out for a good time!

A cross country ski club from North Branch, Mn ventured across the river to explore the pizza selection and enjoy the surrounds. They LOVED the idea of the upcoming winter pizza party on Sunday afternoons (beginning in November)...we are definitely going to redefine winter fun!

Every week we tweak the pizza dough just a little bit more and this week I think that we finally found pizza dough nirvana! It's been good in the past, but now it is achieving GREAT! Lightly crisped yet still chewy and a bit more "poof" on the outside crust. I was in the middle of explaining to a customer about the origin of the organic flour from North Dakota when the "big brown truck" arrived at the top of the drive to the grotto. I had forgotten that I had closed the other driveway entrance, but it obviously did not deter our determined UPS driver, he re-routed that old truck down into the grotto to deliver the organic flour, thrilled to have volunteers help him unload the heavy 50 lb sacks. Unfortunately he couldn't stay for pizza, perhaps next time.

We also added a campfire to chase the chill from the late diners, everyone loved it so much that we decided to start next week's "party" with a bit bigger bonfire near the overlook. ...take that as a cue to include marshmallows in your picnic basket!

Of course as usual Pauline, our "Hostess Extraordinaire" was in prime form last night.
One diner mentioned that Pauline should be on stage, perhaps join St Croix's Festival Theatre...I said,
"The world IS her stage "!

Andy's girlfriend Kaity and her family came for supper, and after being entertained by Pauline's antics they decided that they are going to start a "Pauline Fan Club" on
"Face book '. I hope they do, we would LOVE it! It is time Pauline has her due!:-)

Oh, one more thing, we actually had a "penis "contest last night...yes, I
really typed that! Three little children, two boys and a girl (all under the age of six years) were playing by "The Pond" when one little fellow made the mistake of
calling the other "penis breath" (according to his mom, he had just watched the movie E.T.)

One antic led to another and soon their squeals of laughter caught our attention...we looked down the hill to see three little kids each holding onto a stick at groin level having a contest as to who had the biggest "penis" !
The little girl won!!!
Only on a farm does that seem normal.

Life at LoveTree rambles on....

It's a Party at "Pizza By The Pond!!!"

2010-09-14T13:22:00.000-05:00

What a wild ride this summer has been!!!
It's no secret that "The Economy" has been a challenging hurdle for many folks and the stress has truly taken it's toll on many families. With this in mind we created "Pizza By The Pond " to be a retreat of relaxation, recreation and most importantly, a destination where families and friends can enjoy a sense of community and great food.. "Pizza by The Pond !!! is held weekly on Thursday nights (4:30 -8:30 pm) when we fire up "The Beast" and cook up some of the best pizza this side of Italy!!! (more info at http://lovetreefarmstead.com/pizza.htm)
Even though I am extremely pleased with the positive response to our pizzas,( http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/taste/100990809.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUqEiaDUiacyKUzyaP37D_MDua_eyD5PcOiUr)

I am even more thrilled with the unique crowd that has been attracted to our Thurday night gatherings, it is truly amazing who will show up at your door when on a "quest " for great pizza!

We supply the pizza and the unique atmosphere ( our wildlife refuge and farm) and since the pizza is currently being offered only on Thursday nights adding to the fact that a customer needs to supply his/her own comfort features (beverage,picnic blanket, table, chair etc) the end result is a convivial atmosphere of modern day foodie voyageurs! Everyone is free to ramble through the refuge or visit the farm and it's assorted animals, play a game of horse shoes or ladderball, or just sit quietly and reflect on the changes of the season.

We are having a great time meeting with this awesome crowd and plan on continuing the "Pizza by the Pond" party on Thursday nights through to the end of October when we will then switch (starting November 7th) to Sunday afternoons (1:00pm - 8:00pm) with hopes of taking this "party" through the winter when "Pizza By The Pond" will also include cross country ski ing, sledding, ice skating and snow sho ing.
So keep tuned in to watch our evolution, better yet, please be part of it!!!