Longleaf Breeze

Our first driveway just followed an old logging road. It traveled up a too-steep incline, took a hard left, then down a gentle slope to the lodge. We now have a shorter, nearly fla...

In the South we normally have a really low percentage of organic matter, because the soil is active all year. We’ve learned to keep our organic matter rich by keeping something gro...

We’re converting Veg Hill to almost all raised beds. This should help us control weeds better, land should look spiffier too. The main disadvantages are the cost of the beds and th...

When the muscadines are done in a few days, our fruit season will be over. We’re pleased with the blueberries, muscadines, and figs. Our blackberries aren’t sweet enough. Still wai...

Our big agenda this fall will be the "Veg Hill Reboot," a sort of "do-over” for the vegetable garden. This is the brainchild of the Farmer-in-Chief, who' hoping it will bring the w...

We hope all the distractions that have pulled us from the farm this summer are behind us now. On Veg Hill, it’s about weeds and keeping up with the okra. In the orchard, we have bi...

Installing a stout, generous clothesline was the right decision for us. Ours is quiet, it saves energy, and it never breaks down. Whether it’s the right call for you will depend on...

After two years of planning and a year of construction, we’re ready to call the lodge more or less complete. Today we talk about how we’re already using it, what we’re already lear...

We use simple strategies at Longleaf Breeze to keep our electric bills down. Changing light bulbs and turning off lights helps, but the big savings come from using as little air co...

Three years after we planted our first fruit trees, we’re finally seeing fruit we can enjoy eating. This is our first production year for blueberries and muscadines. The figs, appl...

We spoke about resilience Tuesday to the Central Alabama Master Gardeners Association. Today’s podcast is a summary of that presentation. We cover our work to grow more of our own ...

Our lives changed instantly when Lee’s accident left his left arm hanging limply by his side. We’re hoping for full recovery, but meanwhile we keep the farm producing by lowering o...