Bert Nelson

Three Nigerian Dwarf goats are about to arrive at Bright Raven Farms, and they bring a lot of personality with them. In this introduction to the breed, we cover where they come from, what makes them remarkable as small-farm dairy animals, and what life with them actually looks like. The first entry in our full care guide series.

Compost is the foundation that everything else in a healthy garden is built on, and the bulk of what you need to make it is already in your kitchen and your yard. In this article, we walk through choosing a system, balancing your materials, and knowing when it's ready. The most important thing you can do for your soil, and a great place to start.

Willow weaving is one of the oldest land-based crafts in human history, and it's alive and growing at Bright Raven Farms. In this introduction to the craft, we cover the material itself, the varieties we're establishing on the property, and the basics of how the weaving works. A living skill worth learning.