Four Oaks Farm

If you've noticed eggs have been a little harder to come by lately, you're not imagining it.

Every summer, my hens remind me that they have their own schedule, and it doesn't always match mine. 😄

Just a couple of months ago, I was swimming in eggs. Then summer arrived, the temperatures climbed, and a few determined ladies decided they'd much rather hatch chicks than lay eggs.

Whenever I'm home, I open the gate so they can spend the afternoon scratching through fresh grass, hunting for bugs, and just being chickens. When I'm away, they stay in their fenced yard where I know they're safe from any loose neighborhood dogs.

They're healthy, happy, and living life on chicken time... which means they're not especially concerned with my egg inventory. 😄

That's one of the realities of keeping a small flock. I can't ask for more eggs when demand picks up. All I can do is take good care of the girls, collect what they decide to give me each day, and trust they'll bounce back when the weather cools off.

If you've been lucky enough to snag a carton lately, thank you! And if you've been waiting patiently, I appreciate that too. ❤️

(The sunshine in these photos is from a prettier day than today. The girls are currently navigating mud instead of green grass. 😄)

It's been a little quiet over here on Facebook, but definitely not around the farm.

From a distance, things look pretty peaceful. Two high tunnels, a freshly mowed pasture, and a summer evening that almost makes you forget how hot it's been.

Step inside those tunnels, though, and it's a completely different story.

The tomatoes have finally decided it's time to ripen. The cucumbers are producing faster than I can keep up. Blackberries have been keeping me busy, and I've got a confession... the okra got the better of me for a few days. I looked away just long enough for a handful of pods to go from "perfect" to "better suited for baseball." Lesson learned. They're getting daily check-ins now, and I'm starting to harvest beautiful, tender okra again.

I've also been picking peppers, herbs, carrots, beets, celery, ground cherries, and more as summer settles in.

Thank you to everyone who's been supporting Four Oaks Farm this season. Whether you've picked up an order here at the farm, met me at KU Med library, or found me through Market Wagon, I truly appreciate it. Every order reminds me why I love doing this.

What's your favorite thing to eat this time of year? 🍅🥒🌽

🐦 A rainy morning surprise at the farm!

Spotted a few pairs of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at our sunflower seed feeder this morning. The male is one of the prettiest birds I've ever seen — jet black with a brilliant red patch on his chest. The female looks nothing like him, brown and streaky with bold white head stripes that make her look like a tiny hawk. Such a cool bird!

They're just passing through on their way north, so we feel lucky they chose our feeder to stop and refuel. Nothing like a couple of unexpected visitors to make a grey morning feel a little more special. 😊

Apologies for the photos — rainy day + dirty window screen = not exactly National Geographic quality! 📷😄

🌿 Farmer Liz

Found this stunning Luna Moth resting on our garage wall earlier today — and honestly, what a treat! These beauties are nocturnal and only emerge for a short window in spring, so spotting one out in the middle of the afternoon is a pretty rare thing.

What makes them even more fascinating is that adult Luna Moths don't have mouths at all. They live just about a week, can't eat a thing, and spend their entire adult life focused on one goal: finding a mate. Even those gorgeous long trailing tails have a purpose — they spin in flight to confuse bat echolocation and throw predators off course.

Short life, big bag of tricks — and she chose our garage wall to spend her afternoon. One of the most stunning moths in North America, right here at the farm. I'll take it! 🌿