farm & garden roughdraftfarmstead farm & garden roughdraftfarmstead

WHY WE BLOG.

For a couple of off-the-grid small farmers, blogging can be a bit ridiculous at times. It seems ridiculous when we are driving into town each week to check email in the public library. It seems ridiculous when I am making Jesse pose with his ax mid-swing to get the right picture. It seems ridiculous to chase our giant dog around the farm each Wednesday for his weekly appearance on the website.But the truth is, as insane as it sometimes is, this blog is incredibly important to us. We started two years ago, simply documenting our journey, using the blog as a space to share and a way to motivate us to stay creative. And over time, we started connecting with people. In small ways at first, but then in real, tangible connections that led to actual friendships.This blog literally built our cabin. You readers built our cabin. We now have friends all over the world, some we have met and some we hope to meet someday, friends that wouldn't exist without this site.So as much as we like living in the middle of nowhere, and as terrible and artificial as the internet and social media can be, there is good here. There is value. Our trip to Louisville last week was proof of this - as we stayed with some of the best human beings I know - friends we would not have if not for this here blog. We spent time gathered around their table and in their kitchen, sharing stories and meals (and donuts), and Jesse and I were motivated and inspired and uplifted and encouraged - what more can you ask of your friends?So as we continue to live a life striving to disconnect, trying to free ourselves from dependence on oil and electricity and corporations, we will never stop connecting in ways that matter - with the people we love and the mouths we feed. Thank you, Tim and Emily and Molly, for reminding us why we write this silly blog.- Hannah.breakfast at the harvest house.

Read More
travels roughdraftfarmstead travels roughdraftfarmstead

LOUISVILLE.

We are heading back to the farm today.....and we are so ready. We had a perfect vacation: plenty of relaxing, over-the-top amazing food, making lots of new friends and visiting with all our favorite people. But home. HOME. There is nothing like it. This whole trip was basically a giant food tour - from one restaurant to one coffee shop to one donut shop to the next - our poor bellies are more than ready to be back to a diet of simple veggies. We are eager to be eating our own good food again, to be physically active again, very ready to squeeze our big pup!Here are some photos from the weekend in Louisville. Once again, the city did not disappoint us. We will write some more about our time in Louisville later, but right now - we are heading south to Bugtussle.- Hannah.why louisville mural.So many murals in this city.leatherhead.This shop is (and smells) incredible.holy grale.Holy cow, Holy Grale - you are wonderful. sweet gifts.Best hosts ever. rowan.Best baby ever. husband.Best husband ever.eiderdown.Eiderdown continues to be perfect. please and thank you. Please & Thank You boasts the best chocolate chip cookie in Louisville - I won't argue with that.antique shopping. An antique shop in a warehouse - we spent hours and hours getting lost.sunergos.Up before the sun (per usual) on a rainy Sunday at Sunergos.harvest.Brunch of a lifetime.

Read More
travels roughdraftfarmstead travels roughdraftfarmstead

SO LONG, LEX.

eduardo korba mural.We are leaving Lexington today and heading to Louisville for the weekend. Louisville is one of our favorite cities, and we are excited to visit with friends (old and new!), eat lots of amazing food, hopefully trying some new places but probably ending up at our old faithfuls.But of course, before we left we had to visit Spalding's Bakery. It was literally the only thing on our list that was an absolute must. Spalding's was a tradition in my house growing up, and I happily shared  it with Jesse once we were married. Although I don't eat much of them anymore, I would consider myself a donut connoisseur - and Spalding's donuts are the best donuts. Definitively. There is nothing like them.If you live even remotely anywhere near Kentucky, it is worth your time. Seriously! Spalding's isn't a hip coffee shop selling cronuts, it is a bakery that sells only regular glazed donuts since 1929. It is perfect. OBVIOUSLY not a part of a balanced nutritious breakfast, but a very occasional treat? Yes, please.spalding's. spalding's. donutsss donutsss*We did NOT eat all dozen of these. We could have, but we didn't.*

Read More
travels roughdraftfarmstead travels roughdraftfarmstead

STAY-CATION.

Hannah and I have been saving a little money over the season to afford us a small vacation. Well, vacation might be the wrong word for it. What we're really doing is taking a few days to go see the folks in November up near Lexington, and we're truly looking forward to it––to a tiny, ahem, stay-cation.We're excited to see family. We're excited to see some friends. And we're excited to take advantage of two of our favorite towns––Louisville and Lexington––a bit like a tourist might get to. Which brings me to the reason for posting this: What's going on in Lexington and Louisville in mid-November?Where should we eat? Where can we catch some good music? Where should we grab a lively cup of coffee... a cold pint of beer? What about art museums? Exhibits? Antiques stores and thrift shops? We know these cities fairly well, but new things seem to be popping up every day––what are they!?I should add that although we chose to stay in Kentucky to see our family and because we didn't have a lot of money to do otherwise, we also chose to take our vacation here because of how good Kentucky has been to us these past two years and how proud we are to be from this wonderful and ever-evolving state. In essence, we really wanted to give back what little we could, so please leave us a comment and help us build our plans to do so!- Jesse.louisville.

Read More