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June 22: Michaela Farm Event!

Affectionately known as the Barn Bash, the farm will be celebrating all things Michaela Farm! There will be farm tours, live music, a dinner of produce and beef from the farm and a silent auction.

Tickets are $50 and can be obtained by calling Sue Siefert at 812-933-6460 by June 10.

Festivities start at 4:00 PM with drinks, appetizers, tours and silent auction. The Farm Fresh Dinner Buffet starts at 6:00 PM followed by live entertainment. Dress is farm casual.

Procedes benefit Michaela Farm's efforts in replacing its antiquated farm equipment.

 
 
 

 

 

Michaela Farm
Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg

Michaela Farm, embodying the Franciscans spirit, nurtures sustainable relationships among land, plants, animals and humans, and utilizes farm resources to fulfill its goals.
                                                        -Michaela Farm Mission Statement

 
 

Experiment:  Raised bed gardening on straw bales!
Becky and S. Marie are trying an experiment of raising vegetables on the top of straw bales.  Four to five inches of dirt is placed on the bales and then the planting and growing begin.  Take a look at the early summer plants taking root in the pictures below.  Better yet, stop by and check them out for yourself on your next trip to the farm store.  They're on the hill next to Antonia House and accross from the store.  You're always welcome!

     
 
           
               June News
Our lovely spring weather is making it a joy to be out in the gardens planting, caring for plants and harvesting early growing crops.  Becky Miller and S. Marie Nett have been busy harvesting asparagus getting about 30 pounds a day.  They are challenged by the ever increasing grass growing just as well in the asparagus field.  The asparagus will probably last another three weeks before it will be done for the year.  There is some available for purchase in the Farm Store.  They are also harvesting spinach, rhubarb, radishes, scallions and lettuce from the gardens.  Soon there will be broccoli.  The row cover is doing a great job of keeping the bugs off the veggies and hopefully the mariguolds and nasturtium flowers that were planted around the tomaoes and squash will keep the bugs away from those plants.
 
Becky and Bridgette just recently attended their first Farmer's Market of the year in Greensburg on Friday, May 17th.  It went well and people were very excited about the asparagus.  They are looking forward to these Friday Markets which open from 2-6 PM every Friday during the growing season.  Selling at this market lets more people know about MIchaela Farm while also fitting into the work week when staff is available to sell the produce.  Of course, there is always fresh produce at the Farm Store.
 
The Farm has plans to install a number of 55 gallon rain barrels which will harvest water from Antonia House roof and garage for use on the herb gardens and the garden used by the residents of La Claire House.  Chris hopes to have some of the barrels in place on the Antonia House porch in time for the Farm Event coming up on June 22.
 
S. Carolyn Hoff will be guiding several groups this summer who want to come and do projects at the Farm.  She has  list of things that need to be accomplished and one of those is finishing the labyrinth that is two-thirds fininshed now.  Another project is painting the Barn doors and the office porch.  Carolyn also takes groups on tours of the Farm when they call ahead and set a date.  Your prayers are requested for these groups for their safety while at the Farm as well as for successful experiences on our treasured piece of God's creation.
                                                              -exceprt from Community News by S. Janet Born
 

Other Farm News

The Council has approved an initial experiment in rainwater harvesting for Michaela Farm.  A number of 55 gallon rain barrels will be used to harvest water from the Antonia House roof and garage for use on the herb gardens and in the Antonia House garden used by the residents of La Clare House.  Current plans are to have the system operational in time to harvest some of the spring rains.


 
Welcome to Michaela Farm! The farm derives its name from Sister Michaela Lindemann, one of the first women to join the new congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis in 1851, who began directing the work on the then newly acquired land in 1854.

Merging agriculture, education and spirituality, Michaela Farm builds on and enfleshes the Franciscan value of "just relationships with all Creation." This value is core to our attitudes toward Earth and is a source of inspiration and motivation for our work. We express this value by these actions:

  • Simple living
  • Seeing all (creation) as "kin"
  • Respectful use of resources
  • Striving for sustainability
  • Gratitude, hospitality and sharing

Michaela Farm is located among the rolling hills of Southeastern Indiana.