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Regenerative Design
Journal Teachings, reflections, analysis and case studies from land, life and business that regenerate.
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Week 11 & 12 in zone 7A/6B - Frost Returns, Mushrooms Flush, and Spring Systems Accelerate3/16/2026 In the Sun & Bloom Permaculture Farm School Village Journal, we document the real-time unfolding of a diversified regenerative farm in Zone 7A / 6B —where ecological processes, soil-building systems, seasonal rhythms, and community-based enterprise converge. Through weekly reflections from the land, we explore how working farms can become living classrooms—cultivating resilient food systems, restoring soil health, and nurturing relationships between Earth, People, and our shared Future. Week 11–12 Field Journal - Frost Returns, Mushrooms Flush, and Spring Systems Accelerate
Ecological Context Spring continues to tease us here in Zone 7a. Week 11 brought several warm days that felt unmistakably like the beginning of the season. Soil temperatures began climbing, animals started moving more actively across the pastures, and many trees began showing the first hints of buds preparing to open. But as is often the case in early spring, winter had one more reminder for us. A frost rolled in Sunday evening (3/15) and had plans to continue through the early part of this week as we write this entry. These temperature swings are part of the rhythm of farming in this region — warm encouragement followed by a reminder to move carefully. Still, the warmth before the frost allowed us to push several important systems forward across the farm. Animals Transitioning Back to Pasture One of the first shifts last week was moving animals. The chickens were relocated from the orchard area in the front of the property back toward the rear pastures. As they transition out of their winter feeding patterns, they begin exploring the pasture again — scratching, foraging, and redistributing nutrients across the landscape. We also moved one of our Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dogs closer to their new location to help protect the flock. Across the farm we’ve been watching the animals adjust to the seasonal change. The goats, sheep, and even the pigs are beginning to roam much more actively as the warmer weather encourages fresh growth and exploration. These transitions are always a reminder of how integrated animal systems are within regenerative farming. Their movement, manure, grazing patterns, and curiosity all contribute to shaping the land. Perennial Systems Waking Up Another encouraging sign of the season is happening across our perennial plantings. Our elderberry row, which we planted last year, is beginning to show its first buds of the season. Elderberries are a remarkable perennial crop — resilient, productive, and incredibly valuable both nutritionally and ecologically. Once established, they provide abundant berries that support pollinators, wildlife, and people alike, while requiring very little soil disturbance. Nearby, our mother blackberry and raspberry patch is also beginning to wake up. This planting serves as our propagation area, where we take cuttings and divisions that will eventually expand into larger berry plantings across the farm. Over time these mother plants will help us establish acres of berries while also allowing us to offer nursery plants to the community. Propagating strong cultivar varieties ensures that growers can start with vigorous, productive plants adapted to our region. Perennial systems like these are an important part of regenerative farming. While annual crops feed us each season, perennials build long-term resilience into the landscape — producing food while stabilizing soil, supporting pollinators, and requiring fewer inputs over time. A Beautiful Flush of Shiitake Mushrooms One of the highlights of the week came from the forest. After the warm weather and moisture, our shiitake logs produced a beautiful flush of mushrooms. For several days we enjoyed fresh mushrooms for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — one of the joys of establishing long-term forest food systems. Seeing those logs fruiting also set the perfect stage for the mushroom workshop we hosted this past weekend. A Walk Into the Forest and an Ecological Learning: Mushroom Workshop This past weekend we welcomed a small group for our Mushroom Log Inoculation Workshop. Participants joined us for a day that started not in the workshop space, but in the forest itself. Rather than beginning directly with drilling and inoculation, we first walked together through the woods to discuss tree identification and forest ecology. Much of the conversation focused on white oak, one of the best species for shiitake log production. The discussion went deeper than simply identifying a tree and cutting it. We talked about ecological decision-making. In many areas of our forest, white oaks are beginning to play an increasingly important role as other oak species — particularly red and black oaks — face disease pressure and decline. Because of this, we encourage workshop participants not to simply harvest the first white oak they see. Instead, we look for clusters of white oak, often growing near a large “mother oak” that produces abundant acorns. In contrast, isolated young white oaks — especially those growing alone or in very small groups — may represent the next generation of canopy trees, capable of spreading acorns and regenerating the forest. Those trees are better left standing. By approaching mushroom cultivation through this ecological lens, participants learn not just how to grow mushrooms, but how to interact with forest systems responsibly. After the walk, we returned to the shop to inoculate logs together. Most participants who attended have land of their own, which means these mushroom systems will now begin spreading beyond our farm. That’s always one of the most rewarding parts of teaching. The Big High Tunnel Is Now Planted While the workshop was unfolding, we were also racing the weather to finish preparing our largest high tunnel. The 50 x 21 tunnel is now fully planted. Current crops include:
Managing Frost in High Tunnel Systems The frost that arrived this week reminded us why season extension systems matter so much. Outside temperatures dropped as low as 18°F. Inside a high tunnel, however, we typically maintain temperatures 5–15 degrees warmer, even without the sun present, simply through passive solar heating (sometimes, when the sun is present, we can have 20 F outside and 60 F inside the tunnel). To further protect newly planted crops, we covered all the rows with agricultural cloth (row cover). Row cover adds another 5–10 degrees of frost protection, which is often enough to carry crops safely through cold snaps. In our flower tunnel we even added an additional tarp layer to ensure the young plants remained protected. These layered systems — tunnel, row cover, and careful crop timing — allow us to push production weeks ahead of outdoor planting. Spring Signs Beneath the Soil: Earthworms One of the small but fascinating signs of spring that appeared this week happened not in the tunnels or the forest, but right on the soil surface. During the warmer evenings we began noticing earthworms coming to the surface to mate. Earthworms often emerge during these damp spring nights when temperatures warm just enough to trigger this seasonal behavior. It’s always exciting to see them in our clay soils. Interestingly, we saw the largest numbers in areas where the soil surface was bare or lightly covered, though that doesn’t mean worms are absent from our garden beds. In the beds themselves we tend to see more decomposer worms working through the organic matter we add regularly — compost, plant residues, and mulches. Earthworms and decomposer worms play slightly different roles in the soil ecosystem. Earthworms move vertically through the soil profile, creating channels that improve soil aeration, water infiltration, and root penetration. Their movement helps loosen heavy clay soils and transport nutrients deeper into the ground. In regenerative agriculture lingo, we say that these worms improve soil aggregates. Decomposer worms, on the other hand, specialize in breaking down organic materials near the surface, turning plant residues and compost into biologically active soil. Both are essential partners in a healthy soil system. Practices like minimal soil disturbance, adding organic matter, and avoiding heavy tillage allow these underground communities to thrive. When worms are active, the soil is alive — and living soil builds resilient farms. Later this spring we’ll be diving much deeper into soil life during our Master Composting & Soil Regeneration Intensive on April 25, where we’ll explore how to intentionally feed and build these underground ecosystems through compost systems and regenerative soil practices. Seeing the worms surface this week was a simple but powerful reminder that much of the real work of farming is happening beneath our feet. Preparing the Farm Store As these crops continue developing, we’re also preparing to reopen the Sun & Bloom Farms store. Over the coming weeks we’ll begin offering:
Orders will be placed in advance, allowing us to harvest and prepare everything fresh for pickup. Our CSA members will have first priority, but we will also open availability for additional community members. We still have a few CSA shares available for anyone interested in joining the season. Spring Egg Production Returns Another unmistakable sign of the season is coming from the chicken coop. As the days lengthen and temperatures warm, our hens have quickly ramped up egg production again. Even though we experienced a brief return of frost this week, a short cold spell usually isn’t enough to send chickens back into winter production patterns. It would take a longer stretch of cold and short daylight hours for them to slow down significantly again. The main driver of egg production is actually daylight. As spring approaches and the days grow longer, the chickens’ reproductive systems are naturally stimulated by increasing light exposure. Combined with warmer temperatures and more time for foraging, the hens shift back into their most productive rhythm. Right now our chickens are spending their days free-ranging across pasture, scratching through grasses and insects while being supplemented with organic feed. That combination produces deeply colored yolks and nutrient-dense eggs. We’re already taking egg orders now, and eggs will also be available when the farm store opens along with early greens and vegetables. If you’d like to see just how much production jumped this week, we show the full egg harvest in our latest farm journal video. Watch the field walk-through on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_00igMNZl_E One More Chance: Mushroom Workshop – March 21 After the success of this past weekend’s workshop, we have a few spots remaining for our next Mushroom Log Inoculation Workshop on March 21st. One thing participants shared with us afterward is how much they appreciated the broader ecological approach we take. Rather than simply demonstrating inoculation techniques, the workshop includes:
Participants also work with three-foot logs, which produce significantly more mushrooms over time compared to shorter log systems. Our goal is not just to teach a technique, but to help people build long-lasting regenerative food systems on their own land. If you’ve been considering joining us, this upcoming workshop is a great opportunity. Looking Ahead Even with frost still lingering this week, the momentum of the season is unmistakable. Seedlings continue to fill the propagation space. Animals are returning to pasture rhythms. High tunnels are planted and protected. The forest is producing mushrooms. Spring systems are coming alive. And as always, we’re grateful to share the journey with this growing community. Upcoming Opportunities Mushroom Log Inoculation Workshop – March 21 Hands-on forest farming skills. Details and Register here: https://www.sunandbloomfarms.com/store/p88/mushroom-log-workshop-lebanon-missouri.html Farm Store Opening Soon Fresh greens, microgreens, eggs, and more. CSA Shares Available Join the season and receive priority access to farm harvests. Details and Purchase Here: https://www.sunandbloomfarms.com/producecsa.html Upcoming Workshops More learning opportunities are on the way. Master Compost & Soil Regeneration Intensive:Details and Register here: https://www.sunandbloomfarms.com/store/p89/master-compost-soil-regeneration-intensive.html Watch the Field Journal in Motion If you would like to see these systems in motion — the compost steaming, the seedlings growing, the mushroom logs stacked — we invite you to watch this week’s Field Journal video on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SunAndBloomFarms Subscribe to our Permaculture Newsletter Receive reflections like this — free, oncex, twice, or more per week — directly in your inbox: https://mailchi.mp/sunandbloomfarms/sjcl3tqy3f |
AuthorLucian and Anna Maria Archives
August 2026
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