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Burger Night
is closed for the season but watch for pop-ups!πŸ”πŸ’š

BN 20: Apples, DIY & Homesteading

posted on

September 14, 2024

Hello from TF!!

[sorry, a bit long, since this is Tuesday & today's emails in one. πŸ˜¬]

We originally purchased this property because we wanted to grow some of our own food and become self-sufficient.

As we tried finding ways to leave the day jobs and generate some income, we started selling some of the excess, like meats and soaps and then decided we much preferred bringing folks to the farm instead of the farm to the city and that's when Burger Night was born!

So while we may not exactly be homesteaders right now like we originally envisioned, we strongly encourage others that are interested in learning anything about anything and to do whatever they can!

Live in a tiny city apartment? Make sourdough!

Anyone can go to the farmers market and get to fermenting!

Make your own apple cider vinegar (seriously, nothing could be easier and Bragg's is no longer good, another food lost to corporate control). 

We were crazy overwhelmed trying to learn every single skill (we even had a milk cow) so the more you can learn now, before you have the land or the farm, the better and easier it'll be!

Currently on your property and already doing it? Keep adding more and more skills to your repertoire! Maybe it's time to see if there are things you don't know....have you fermented your own hot sauce to enjoy on all those eggs yet?? Or, have you made your own mead from all your honey?? What do you know about knots?

And, no matter what, you can start compiling or growing your library of resources now.

Remember, the Internet is dead. AI has killed it - you can trust nothing your eyes show you on there now and forget googling for answers, the answers are all bought and paid for, it's a "good ol' boys club" now and finding answers will require some work.

Good ol' books. Knowledge and experience written down for you to learn from. By folks actually doing it (not an algorithm). 

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What do you want to learn? 

(also, we're thinking about winter workshops so hit reply and tell me what you would prefer to learn in-person!)

The problem is that these authors are not you, we all have different resources, abilities, etc, but you don't know what you don't know, so you just gotta start. Kinda like how our steep hills throw most of the pastured pig stuff right out the window but we didn't really realize that until we started doing the things. 

Just do it. (ugh, corporate even took "just do it".)

If you lose your house, the stock market crashes, your car is repossessed, you WILL sill HAVE your knowledge and your skills. 

You can't lose what you know. Even if the wifi is off. 

I mean, not that any of those things are going to happen but learning new skills is very empowering.


Even if you don't become a homesteading hero and never own a square foot of ground, it will help you appreciate the folks doing it even more!

Suddenly $10 for a loaf of sourdough is worth every penny, driving to get a gallon of A2/A2 milk in the afternoon? wow. how easy life is. $20 for a quart of health-creating sauerkraut? why so cheap? $10 for happy beyond organic eggs? I was paying more for artificial multivitamins I peed out! $20 for a lb of organically raised 100% gf/gf beef delivered to my door with a few clicks....I'm not sure life can get any better. πŸ˜„

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Food making kits!
Not pictured: drink making kits: beer, mead, wine and more!
(Also, make an awesome gift!!)

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Think you can't make your own loaf of bread? Wrong. Andy makes amazing bread with almost zero effort! (He got his recipe from Laos at Lazy Monk Brewing, so see? It's all about spreading knowledge and encouragment!)
You can definitely do it too. 
πŸ₯–πŸ€©

Farm Store Sales

For the readers or library-builders we've got books for sale on: 

  • fermenting
  • chickens
  • canning
  • sourdough
  • raising bees
  • raising chickens
  • general self-sufficiency
  • homesteading how-to
  • and more!

For the doers, we've got the following kits and supplies on sale

  • Sourdough
  • Seed kits: flowers, herbs, salsa, pizza, veggies
  • Quick pickles
  • Fermented pickles
  • Kombucha starter kit (will make enough for the rest of your life!)
  • Fermented hot sauce
  • Cheese making: Italian or Mexican
  • Wine making: pinot grigio or cabernet sauvignon
  • Beer making: IPA, Ale or Oak-aged ale
  • Hard cider
  • Hard seltzer
  • and more!

And finally, for the person who is a little bit of both and also wants to TRY what others have done, we have this week's Bundle of the Week! (Also great if you like saving as much as possible.

  • 8 products homesteaders produce (pork sausage, sauerkraut, tallow skin cream, sourdough crackers, honey, beeswax candles, apple pie jelly, maple syrup
  • 2 DIY kits (seeds & pickles)

Over 20% off at just $74! 

Shop the Sale

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Homesteaders Sampling Kit is the Bundle of the Week!
We would be able to ship or deliver this, just hit reply that you'd like to order one since it's not listed in the online store.

AVEnue Orchard is back on our farm Friday AND Saturday, slingin' their amazing homemade products and this week's BOTW will feature their Apple-Jalapeno jelly, along with fresh apple, pepperjack and more. 🍎🍏🍎🍏 

Burger of the Week: Applejacks Burger

  • Avenue Orchards Apple-Jalapeno jelly
  • Apple slaw
  • Pepperjack cheese
  • Smoky bacon
  • 100% grassfed beef patty
  • A toasted ciabatta bun
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The Applejacks Burger is a another new one, so no picture yet, but check out how productive one of our little apple trees was this year! Not too bad for literally doing nothing except cutting off a branch every couple years. Well, we did plant that comfrey around it a long time ago, but that's it.
Don't know why there's comfrey everywhere? Ask me! (or grab one of those aforementioned books. πŸ˜‰ Also, feel free to take some!)

Thursday, September 12

Save 20% on the Burger of the Week

Trivia is over for the year. :( :( :(

Andy still has that gosh darn day job and there is SO MUCH we want to get done this fall so I'll be bartending so he can work.

I'm always happy to ask you some questions whilst pouring beer though so maybe I should say "organized trivia" is over, the questions can go on.

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Friday, September 13

Meet the Makers! 5ish-8ish

Bring your questions and get ready to try some unique products you didn't know you loved & needed! πŸ’š
 
AVEnue Orchard

Try their infused syrups before committing to a bottle, be sure to try the savory ones too, like the black umami garlic and they have drink mixes!! (Reminder about upcoming holidays!)

LIVE MUSIC from "Q" aka Quenten Brown, 5-8pm

Singer, songwriter, art teacher, artist, and landscaper, ”Q”, aka Quenten Brown, has spent the last 20 years running the ridges, playing every bar, front porch, beer garden, private event that he can, and enjoying the experiences that each unique venue brings along the way.
The result is an engaging uplifting experience for both performer and audience. Songs are delivered with a wink and a nod, ensuring that all are β€˜in’ on the curious experiment that is a live performance.

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This is our first time having Q at the farm!
You can expect to hear music by the Black Crowes, Mellencamp, Stevie Ray, Tom Petty, and Springsteen and a few originals too!

Saturday, September 14

LIVE MUSIC from TravAce, 5-8pm

TravAce is a seasoned singer-musician with a voice that will warm your soul. He has kept the party alive across the Tri-State Area for 25+ years. He plays everything from Classic Country to Classic Rock and sprinkles Party Anthems in between. His voice and guitar will bring the energy wherever he plays solo or with his band. 

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Another first-timer! TravAce is a seasoned singer-musician with a voice that will warm your soul. Let's warm his with a warm welcome!

Sunday, September 15

Family Day! Buy one get one FREE kids meals all day! 

Speaking of kids....

Save the Date 

Family Fun Day, Sat, Sept 28

Every day is a family fun day, but the 28th will be a little extra special with some help from our friends. Hope you can join us!

UPDATES & REMINDERS

The "ish"s are back on Friday and Saturday night closing times since it gets dark early and can get very cold early. We may close at 8:30 if the weather and darkness lead us to believe no one else is coming, so if you are coming after 8pm, call or text to make sure the kitchen will be ready for you!

The bar and fire keep going until everyone's had enough though. So no hurry there. Just one more. :)

End of the season is coming ❄

Sunday, October 6th is our official last Burger Night of 2024.

We may do pop-ups on the weekends if the weather is nice, depends on how the pre-winter projects are moving along. Let us know if you want to help! 

Now get out there and make something!! (and we'd love if you came to enjoy the music, food and beer others are making on our farm soon too.) 

Your farmer & project-loving friend, 

Stephanie Schneider

p.s. Only 3 more weeks after this one! 

More from the blog

Last Official Burger Night Weekend

Good morning from Together Farms!Well, the end is here. Seems a bit surreal this year.Perhaps because it's basically still summer-like outside? Maybe it's because it's finally stopped raining (although we have now swung a little too far in the other direction πŸ™„)? Perhaps because we had such a fun team this year that we do not want the end to come? They got you. Maybe we just don't want to stop seeing your smiling faces? Maybe it's because we have no more trees left to fall on anything? πŸ˜‚Hard to say for sure. All I know is that it's time and we are going to eek out every last bit of the 2024 season that we can!! As we have done every year, this week's BOTW is Dealer's Choice.  Burger of the Week: Dealer's Choice You've trusted the kitchen this long. (I mean, look at those faces.....how could you not trust them??)You will have the option to say spicy or not spicy. You can tell us if there are things you loathe but otherwise, you have to sit back and wait for the results.  A surprise burger! πŸ₯³ Farm Store Sales πŸ” Don't worry!! We are NOT going to leave you hanging all winter! In the farm store everything you need for an EPIC Burger Night at HOME is on sale!!  Ground beefBaconCheeseBacon-onion jamBreadGluten-free bunsSaltPepperButter The only real question is what kind of burgers are YOU going to make???  Thursday, October 3 Open 4pm - 8:30ish pmDealer's Choice BOTW is 20% off!! Friday, October 4 LIVE MUSIC with Ethan Todd, 5-8pmAn acoustic mix of country, country rock, and heartland rock. Ethan is a 22-year-old singer/songwriter proudly from MN. His music incorporates artists from styles ranging from country, bluegrass, blues, rock, and folk. Some of the covers you could expect to hear….Tyler ChildersRandy TravisMerle HaggardBuck OwensEaglesBuddy HollyJohnny CashTom PettyJohn MellencampBruce SpringsteenJohn PrineJim CroceTurnpike TroubadoursHank Williams/Hank Jr. etc, etc, etc! Live music has been added to Friday night!! Weather is looking perfect!  Saturday, October 5 LIVE MUSIC from Jeff White, 5-8pm Jeff began honing his songwriting skills working the red-eye shift as a taxi driver. Railroad conductors, heartbroken men & women after bar close and wild out-of-towners were all frequent riders who freely opened up about their personal lives. Their late night conversations were all inspirations to the genesis of his upcoming career as a songwriter and entertainer.Jeff has toured the lower 48 from coast to coast as well as England, Scotland and Wales, singing about the realities, illusions and the wide emotional spirit of love and life in America. Much in the vein of Johnny Cash, Jeff writes and sings his own songs but also performs unique interpretations of other songs he admires. He has 6 albums under his belt and one is with Charlie Parr & international folk music legend, Greg Brown. Americana/Alt-country from the hills of Western Wisconsin. Blending warm tones, reverbs, delays & vibrato with outlaw grit, Jeff White sings of love, loss & lust with an Americana vibe.We are so excited to have Jeff back on our stage!! Sunday, October 6 Family Day! Buy one get one FREE kids meals all day! UPDATES & REMINDERS Sunday, October 6th is our official last Burger Night of 2024. We may do pop-ups if the unpredictable weather cooperates but since we have no idea what tomorrow might bring, much less 2025, we'd recommend that you plan accordingly!! Bring a flannel! It's getting chillier now and even if it's nice while the sun is out, once it goes behind our hills it cools down fast.If you are coming after 8pm, call or text to make sure the kitchen will be ready for you!The bar and fire keep going until everyone's had enough though. So no hurry there. :)The farm store is open all winter! We just don't know our hours yet, we'll announce them as soon as we have a solid plan.Thanks for doing life with us! Hope to see you on the farm for some fall fun!!  Your farmer & friend,  Stephanie Schneider Burger Night is open, rain or shineThursday & Friday 4pm-8:30ish pmSaturday noon-8:30ish pmSunday noon-7pmMonday & Tuesday farm store only open: 10-6pm

BN 21: Spotted Cow BOTW + Free beer x2 🍺🍺 MadLee live music Sat 🀩

Hello from TF! Feels like we just talked and yet, there's more I need to tell you. Never a dull moment here....still waiting on that Norden Road reality show.Although I will say, we are getting one tiny step closer with all the reels and photos we've been sharing! If you haven't stalked our facebook, instagram or tiktok for a little while, go check 'em out!  Burger of the Week: The Spotted Cow πŸ„ Spotted Cow beer cheese sauceOnion tanglersApplewood smoked bacon100% grassfed beef pattytoasted pretzel (or brioche) bun Another fan favorite BOTW! Also we forgot to advertise beer mugs until a few weeks ago so we have a LOT of frozen mugs for you! Goes [chefs kiss] with this BOTW. πŸ˜˜ Plus you get FREE BEER every time! Farm Store Sales πŸΊπŸ§€ All our beer & cheese products (so a lot!) on sale in the farm store and online this week!!All cheese is Buy 3, Get 1 FREE!(or for those of you with a cheese drawer instead of a veggie drawer, Buy 6, get 2 Free!) Thursday, September 19 We are so thankful for this rain! It's been awhile & our sandy soils were very dry so hopefully we get some late fall grass growth and can keep the cows off hay for as long as possible!  However! It does suck when it rains on a Burger Night day and it says it might rain tonight (from 6-8. seriously?). But you should know by now that: Wisconsin weather is the most unpredictable thing in the world (right next to the timing of my emails πŸ˜„)andyour skin is 100% waterproofandno matter the weather on Thursdays it's always worth it to save 20% on the Spotted Cow Burger of the Week!! πŸ˜‹ Friday, September 20 Reminder that after Labor Day Friday live music is not scheduled until we can know if the weather is going to be perfect. So, no live music because rain is kinda predicted....looks iffy. Let's just hang out!!Enjoy some ASMR in-person. Watch the birds. (download the Merlin app!)Slow down and really notice the flowers and bees and water lilies and dragonflies and butterflies. Maybe sample each beer...... 🍻 Currently on tap: Spotted Cow (of course)Cowbell Cream Ale (Bloomer Brewing)Blackberry and once that's gone, Cranberry Lemonade Beer (Sand Creek)Downtown Brown (Pearl Street)Fluffhead (Zymurgy)Gunpowder (The Brewing Projekt)Honeycrisp Hard Cider (Maiden Rock Cidery)Minnesconsin (Hop & Barrel)Mudpuppy Porter (Central Waters)Oktoberfest (Lazy Monk)Warped Speed (Lake Louie)Bonus: if you get rain in your beer, you just got MORE FREE BEER!!! Saturday, September 21 LIVE MUSIC from MadLee Band, 5-8pm Voted #2 Best New Band in the Chippewa Valley! A new duo comprised of Maddex Larson & Paige Lee (top 10 finalist for best female vocalist in Wisconsin!) is hitting the TF stage for the first time ever. They play a variety of music, singing old and new favorites you can’t help but sing along to. We've been waiting for these two for awhile now! The accolades from all the locals are crazy, people LOVE them! πŸ€© Can't wait to host them on the TF band stage! Come support your local musicians! Same weather comments as the ones above for tonight....show will go on, rain or shine! Sunday, September 22 Family Day! Buy one get one FREE kids meals all day!  UPDATES & REMINDERS Family Fun Day is Sat, Sept 28th. Sunday, October 6th is our official last Burger Night of 2024. We may do pop-ups if the unpredictable weather cooperates and we have no idea what 2025 might bring so plan accordingly!! Closing Earlier??The "ish"s are back on Friday and Saturday night closing times since it gets dark early and can get very cold early. We may close at 8:30 if the weather and darkness lead us to believe no one else is coming, so if you are coming after 8pm, call or text to make sure the kitchen will be ready for you!The bar and fire keep going until everyone's had enough though. So no hurry there. Just one more. :) Hope to see you on the farm soon!  Steph & the TF family 

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