Standing Oaks Farm

Standing Oaks Farm We are a family farm passionate about growing quality, nutritious food through soil health and organic practices.

06/03/2026

Last year we could NOT get our carrots to germinate! šŸ˜© We faithfully watered with sprinklers every day, and even tried twice a day. Nothing seemed to work. So then I decided to give it another shot, but be much more hands-on. While watering with the hose, I happened to notice something peculiarā€¦ the water seemed to be rolling right off the soil! šŸ¤”

After taking a closer look, I discovered the water wasnā€™t even penetrating below the top layer. After doing some research, I found out I had hydrophobic soil. Yep, apparently my soil was afraid of water! šŸ˜±šŸ˜‚

So this year weā€™re tackling the problem head-on. 1st weā€™re giving it lots of exposure therapy by using a broad fork to and lots of water with an organic surfactant to deeply pe*****te the soil and dissolve the waxy outer shell that has developed around the soil particles.

Then weā€™ll move to some physical therapy by adding a nice thick layer of compost. šŸ˜†

Since beneficial soil organisms donā€™t thrive without moisture, Iā€™ll be adding organic fertilizers and mycorrhizal fungi to help rebuild soil life. Thankfully, our wood chip pathways act like giant sponges, helping hold moisture in the garden even during dry spells.

Farming is definitely one giant science experiment sometimes!šŸ„•šŸŒ±

06/02/2026

So sad šŸ˜ž All of our spring crops have been eaten by either rabbits or ground hogs.

What do you do to combat these rodents?? We had our dog last year which I believe kept a lot of them away. Sadly he is no longer with us.

05/27/2026

Healthy soil doesnā€™t act like a bucket.

It acts like a sponge.
Reposted from

When fungi, roots, worms, and organic matter build structure, the soil creates pore spaces that capture and store water.

05/27/2026

A little farm update:

So we had a rabbit/groundhog invasion over Memorial Day weekend while we were away campingā€¦ and ALL our broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are gone. Just p**f! šŸ˜­ Most of our lettuce and some radishes too.

So much work went into caring for those seedlings and getting everything planted. I guess next year we may need to overplant much, much more and also learn better ways to keep the critters out! We really thought the row cover would be enough of a deterrentā€¦ but apparently not. šŸ˜…

What we still have growing are garlic, carrots, onions, green onions, radishes, beets, and a little lettuce. And honestly, Iā€™m especially thankful for those carrots!! šŸ˜‹šŸ„•

Maybe next spring will be our year! But for now, we keep moving forward. Pretty soon weā€™ll be planting tomatoes, peppers, herbs, celery, zucchini, squash, watermelons, and pumpkins. Weā€™ll also continue succession planting lettuce and carrots throughout the season. šŸŒ±

And then comes fall ā€” another chance for broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, and more.

So just because things arenā€™t working out the way we hoped right now doesnā€™t mean we give up. We take the loss and the day or two to grieve, then we press on, learn from the setbacks, and look ahead with hope for the good things still to come. šŸ„°

Our goats, as cute as they are, we didnā€™t just get them to be pets. Around here, every animal has a purpose! šŸ˜„There is s...
05/14/2026

Our goats, as cute as they are, we didnā€™t just get them to be pets. Around here, every animal has a purpose! šŸ˜„

There is so much work that goes into running a farm, so weā€™re always looking for ways to save time and energy where we can. These cuties have officially been hired on as land management apprentices!! šŸŒæšŸ

Their job? Clearing out woody brush, vines, invasive weeds, and thorny shrubs. And the best part isā€¦ thatā€™s exactly what they LOVE to eat! Goats are browsers, which means they prefer brushy plants and shrubs over grasses. Unlike cattle and sheep that mainly graze on grass, goats would much rather snack on the messy overgrowth weā€™re trying to get rid of anyway.

Hard workers and adorable too ā€” not a bad combo! šŸ¤

Iā€™m on mission to get more veggies in my familyā€™s diet! One of the first fresh veggies that will be harvested here are r...
05/13/2026

Iā€™m on mission to get more veggies in my familyā€™s diet!

One of the first fresh veggies that will be harvested here are radishes. Iā€™ve only ever had them in salads but Iā€™m trying out some new recipes!

Have you ever had roasted radishes as a side dish?! Tonight Iā€™m serving them alongside our chicken enchiladas.

If itā€™s a winning recipe Iā€™ll save it and share again when the radishes are ready for harvest so you can try them! šŸ„°

05/12/2026

So we have a couple new additions to the homestead! Can you guess what it is??

Iā€™ll give you a hintā€¦ we were up last night until 11:30pm fixing fencing. Quite a scene! I was the official flashlight holder. šŸ™„šŸ¤Ŗ

One important piece of building healthy soil is keeping it covered instead of leaving it bare šŸŒ±Right now, weā€™ve been usi...
05/09/2026

One important piece of building healthy soil is keeping it covered instead of leaving it bare šŸŒ±

Right now, weā€™ve been using leaves to do that. Weā€™ve tried cover crops in the past, but havenā€™t had much success yetā€”between seeds not germinating well and the deer coming in for a snack before anything can really get established, itā€™s been quite difficult. šŸ˜…

As you can see in the photos, we are definitely not short on leaves! But weā€™re not giving upā€”weā€™re planning to try cover crops again in some beds this fall.

Keeping the soil covered has so many benefits:

It helps prevent soil erosion. When heavy rain hits bare soil, it can break apart those soil aggregates and wash nutrients away.

It helps retain moisture that would otherwise evaporate in the sun. Soil life depends on that moistureā€”bacteria, fungi, even worms all need it to survive and do their job.

And over time, those leaves (and future cover crops!) break down and feed the soil. Itā€™s a simple, natural way to add carbon and nutrients right where theyā€™re needed.

Healthy soil = healthy plantsā€¦ and weā€™re learning more about that every season šŸ¤

I just LOVE creating beautiful spaces around our home šŸ¤ Thereā€™s something so life-giving about taking one little area an...
05/07/2026

I just LOVE creating beautiful spaces around our home šŸ¤ Thereā€™s something so life-giving about taking one little area and turning it into a place you actually want to slow down and enjoy.

This year, Iā€™m focusing on our front porch ā˜•ļø A cozy spot to sip coffee in the morning, spend time in the Word, or just sit and visit with family and friends. Thatā€™s the goal anyway!

Since itā€™s mostly shady out there, Iā€™ve been planning around plants that actually thrive in the shadeā€¦ and coleus is such a stunner for that šŸ˜ The colors and patterns are just incredible!

I started some from seed this year, and Iā€™m so excited to see how they turn out. The photo below is just a little peek at the kinds of varieties they can grow intoā€”each one so unique!

They are annuals, so they wonā€™t come back on their own, but Iā€™m planning to save seeds from my favorite plants so I can grow them again next year. Thereā€™s just something so special about that process šŸŒ±

I canā€™t wait to watch this space come together!

When weā€™re making decisions about how we grow our crops, everything comes back to one simple question:ā€œDoes this benefit...
05/06/2026

When weā€™re making decisions about how we grow our crops, everything comes back to one simple question:

ā€œDoes this benefit our soil health?ā€

That filter guides every choice we make. Because healthy soil isnā€™t just good for todayā€™s harvestā€”itā€™s the foundation for resilient crops, sustainable practices, and the future of our farm.

And it goes even deeperā€”when our soil is healthy, the food we grow is more nutrient-dense, full of the minerals and vitality our bodies need. šŸŒ±

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8101 Vassar Road
Millington, MI
48746

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

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