Carol Ann Sayle
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Nov 19 2009, 8:28 amWeird Weather Means Summer Plants in Fall
Unusually warm temperatures make eggplants and tomatoes spring from the ground during radish season.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Nov 17 2009, 8:14 amWhen the Farm Gets Unwanted Gifts
Frustrated pet owners drop their unwanted dogs and cats at the author's doorstep. What to do with these orphans?read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Nov 10 2009, 8:19 amTamales: Mexico's Comfort Food
With winter closing in, the author finds herself craving the dish, made of corn meal, cheese, and more.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Nov 3 2009, 8:11 amWhy I Eat Meat
After attending a panel about the hot topic of eating animals, the author reflects on the end of her 18 years as a vegetarian.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Oct 30 2009, 8:04 amFighting Hunger with Food and Music
Life on the farm isn't all hard work. The author hosts a party for hundreds of people for a good cause.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Oct 28 2009, 8:32 amAddicted to Tractors
Every male farmer starts with just one--but, as the author knows, soon enough that multiplies into a fleet of four or more.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Oct 23 2009, 8:18 amWhy We Grow Strawberries
Cultivating the fruit requires a host of less-than-ideal farming practices. Why the author does it anyway.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Oct 7 2009, 8:07 amOn the Farm, There Are No Leftovers
Whatever remains after the market goes to the farmers, a local soup kitchen--or the hen house.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Sep 28 2009, 8:13 amIntervention in the Hen House
After watching Ping Ping the hen brood over chick-less eggs for days, the author is forced to take action.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Sep 23 2009, 8:27 amRaising Chicks in the Kitchen
Cool, rainy weather forces the author to bring her 79 newly purchased chicks into the house to keep them warm.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Sep 18 2009, 8:24 amRecession Fears and Fruit Theft
The author wonders if desperation will drive people to steal and sell the pears that grow on her farm.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Sep 15 2009, 8:20 amAs Summer Ends, A Need for Green
The oppressive heat makes the farm's plants die early, creating a desire to see something growing again.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Sep 1 2009, 8:22 amAre Exotic Vegetables Worth the Trouble?
As the demand for exotic foods increases, the author asks if they're worth the pain of growing them.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Aug 28 2009, 7:08 amGetting the Farm Camera-Ready
When The Wall Street Journal comes to photograph the author's house, some tidying up is in order. read more
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On the Farm
Aug 24 2009, 8:19 amA Loner Hen Makes a Secret Nest
A reclusive hen surprises everyone when she disappears and is later caught incubating eggs in a secret nest.read more
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On the Farm
Aug 10 2009, 8:26 amCrops Surrender to the Sun
Even after the plants drop their final sun-burnt fruits to the ground, the work on the farm isn't over.read more
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On the Farm
Jul 24 2009, 8:19 amPeppers Beat the Texas Heat
After trying to extend salad season, the author realizes peppers, not salad greens, have it made in the shade.read more
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On the Farm
Jul 21 2009, 12:45 pmEggs Without Fear of Salmonella
Food producers go to to great lengths to keep salmonella out of eggs. The author offers simpler methods.read more
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On the Farm
Jul 7 2009, 8:20 amSummer Heat Takes On The Tomatoes
The sweltering summer heat wreaks havoc on the farm's system for naming fruits and vegetables.read more
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On the Farm
Jun 30 2009, 8:12 amBeans, Okra Fight the Texas Heat
Water is scarce in the Texas summertime, causing even the farm's toughest plants to whither.read more
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On the Farm
Jun 24 2009, 8:11 amWhy Tomatoes Make Smelly Houseguests
Tomatoes are stored in the air-conditioned guest room to stay cool. But sometimes, they go bad.read more
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On the Farm
Jun 15 2009, 8:15 amLettuce: A Farmer's Ideal Crop
Lettuce isn't just the base of a good salad. It plays a crucial role on the farm by keeping other plants healthy. The author describes the process of saving one year's lettuce seeds for use in the next growing season and explains how the plant works to support other parts of the farm as well.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Jun 8 2009, 8:18 amFrom Garden Weeds to Salad Greens
Eating weeds in salad puts garden pests to good use--plus, they are packed with nutrients. The author explains how she and her husband discovered the joys of eating amranth, lambs' quarters, and purslane--and why others should follow their lead. read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Jun 2 2009, 8:17 amThe Challenge of Growing Tomatoes
They taste great in sandwiches and salads, but tomatoes are hard work for the farmers who grow them. Tilling fertilizer and compost into bed after bed is no fun, especially in the Texas almost-summer humidity. But there's also a satisfaction in knowing the plants will grow into tomatoes to be enjoyed.read more
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On the Farm
May 25 2009, 7:10 amThe Downside of Year-Round Farming
For farmers in Texas, the start of summer means one thing: time to harvest in the blistering heat. Farmers in other parts of the country enjoy more forgiving weather, but they miss out on the joy of being able to provide their customers with fresh produce 12 months a year.read more
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On the Farm
May 20 2009, 7:45 amCan Small Farms Feed the World?
Whether or not organic farming can work globally, it already plays a vital role in nourishing communities, bringing them together, and providing them with healthy, fresh foods. And it also provides an invaluable opportunity for the farmers themselves to connect with the world around them.read more
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On the Farm
May 18 2009, 7:25 amWhy Backyard Chickens Are a Trend
The author says more Americans are raising chickens in their own backyards and reaping the benefits of fresh, organic eggs--even if Slate says otherwise. Even if chickens can be a challenge to their owners, the benefits of having them often outweigh the negatives. read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
May 15 2009, 7:27 amFor Spring, Outdoor Dining, but Also Rain
An outdoor meal for 54 -- yes, 54 -- is threatened by the coming Texas rains. But the show must go on. Starting with strawberry cocktails, here are the dinners 11 full courses, all of native Texan cuisine.read more
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On the Farm
May 11 2009, 8:11 amThe USDA Visits the Hen House
Austin's small farmers prepare to protest a food safety regulation that could burden them unfairly. The author explains why the National Animal Identification System could invade her privacy, increase the amount of work she has to do, and cut into her bottom line if it's enacted.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
May 8 2009, 8:20 amThe Tomato Plant's Mischievous, Tiny Foe
A welcome rainstorm after a stretch of drought leaves the farm brimming with life and ushers in a period of happiness and harmony. But a visit from some tomato-loving pests that leave pollen-like markings on the plants they attack ruins the honeymoon.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
May 5 2009, 8:25 amPoppies are Weeds, But You Gotta Love 'Em
What to do when beautiful weeds compete with lucrative but less eye-catching flowers? The author struggles to pull out plants that are pleasing to the eye but understands that the farm can't survive when it's weedy. She ends of saving a few bunches, just for beauty's sake.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Apr 30 2009, 8:21 amMovie-Star Chickens, Adjusting to Farm Life
Three actor-chickens were left at the farm after the filming of an indie movie wrapped up. They've miraculously escaped the fate of factory farms, but it's clear they miss the spotlight, so they try to grab attention any way they can.read more
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On the Farm
Apr 27 2009, 8:05 amRhubarb: Dessert From the Farm
The challenge: to grow Rhubarb, a northern crop, in Texas. Yanks love it in pies. It can also be in pudding or, with this recipe from Deborah Madison, made with berries and candied ginger.read more
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On the Farm
Apr 20 2009, 8:28 amAustin's Funky Chicken Coop Tour
Over 250 aspiring "chickenists" visit the hen house in honor of the city's first Funky Chicken Coop Tour, and the author finds out first-hand what life is like inside the coop. read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Apr 17 2009, 8:15 amIs There New Interest in Production Farms?
In cosmopolitan Austin, surprisingly high interest among locals in a reals working farm calls attention to changing values. Some, it seems, are seeking to repossess the knowledge and skills, once common, of their subsistence farmer ancestors.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Apr 14 2009, 8:00 amA Visit From the Rooster Hobo
Recession-minded city folk are buying chicken eggs. Surprise, surprise--some of the baby chicks turn into roosters, which make a lot of noise. Those urban roosters get abandoned, and often end up here, where they cause real trouble in the henhouse.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Apr 8 2009, 8:04 amPlanting, with a Helping Hen
Aided by Tootie J. Tootums, head hen of the Henhouse, tucking in 1,400 baby heirloom tomato plants that, in a few months time, will delight even the most discerning tomato aficionados.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Apr 2 2009, 8:24 amThe Happy Disbelief of Our First Rain
An unfamiliar sound in the early morning hours brings the promise of relief from a year-long drought. Rain, after three long months, finally has finally arrived on the Texas farm. Stunned family and friends barely know what to do with themselves.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Mar 27 2009, 8:45 amAphids, Tiny Harlots On the Loose
Multiplying prolifically, they're the scourge of farms, flying in on gusty, dry north winds. Or they are placed on the vegetable plants by their pimps, the fire ants. We cannot abide the aphids, as they obviously don't possess morals, and are greedy to boot.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Mar 23 2009, 9:30 amOnesy: The Little Hen That Could
A small red hen named Onesy survives the skunk attack that killed her sisters -- but barely, and she becomes an outcast among her competitive cousins. But a bit of help and nurturing puts her back in the pecking order.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Mar 19 2009, 8:45 amCompost: Come On In, It's Warm Inside
The pile doesn't care if it's Sunday morning and you're tired. It's hot and it wants to be turned. A compost pile is full of living beings, you know, and while the tiny critters don't complain, they do want to keep on living. Getting down and dirty on the farm.read more
Photo by Carol Ann Sayle
On the Farm
Mar 17 2009, 8:04 amLittle Farm in the Big City
Boggy Creek Farm has been thriving in Austin for generations. Farming just two miles from downtown isn't always easy, but it is well worth it. Running the stand at the Austin farmers market and getting to know the regular customers is just one of the many joys.read more
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Carol Ann Sayle
Carol Ann Sayle is co-founder and co-owner of Boggy Creek Farm, a five-acre urban, organic farm in Austin, Texas.full bio
Books by Carol Ann Sayle
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