Brunk Farmstead Oregon

05/18/2026

Sign up now for the June 13 class!

05/17/2026

Winter sowing isn’t risky—it’s a smart, natural strategy. ❄️🌱
Cold temperatures, moisture, and freeze–thaw cycles help break seed dormancy, leading to stronger roots, tougher seedlings, and perfect spring timing.

These plants don’t just survive winter—they depend on it.

1) Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)
• Needs cold stratification to germinate
• Produces stronger plants for monarch support
• USDA Zones 3–9

2) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea)
• Cold boosts germination rates
• Develops deep, resilient taproots
• USDA Zones 3–9

3) Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
• Germinates more evenly after winter exposure
• Grows faster in spring
• USDA Zones 4–9

4) Spinach
• Cold improves germination success
• Leaves grow sweeter and tougher
• USDA Zones 3–9

5) Peas
• Cool soil builds strong root systems
• Sprout quickly with the first warmth
• USDA Zones 3–8

6) Lettuce
• Prefers cold soil for starting
• Becomes more heat-tolerant later
• USDA Zones 3–9

Sow in winter.
Let nature handle the rest when spring arrives. 🌿

05/17/2026

Great volunteers, hard workers with a good sense of humor as well. 10 visitors today, what a fun day!

05/10/2026

05/10/2026

So beautiful around the grounds! Come by tomorrow for a tour on Mothers Day! 12-4

05/09/2026

Blacksmith class today!

05/09/2026

Tin can art and button bouquet s today! So much fun!

05/06/2026

Setting up for our Tin can art and button bouquet art workshop for this Saturday at 10am. We have 4 spots left. Call Christy 360.451.9183 to sign up.

05/05/2026

Zucchini doesn’t thrive in empty, bare soil—it actually performs better when surrounded by the right companion plants. The space under its wide leaves can be used smartly to boost growth, attract pollinators, fight pests, and protect the soil—all while your zucchini spreads and produces. 🌱
Nasturtium works as a trap crop, pulling squash bugs and aphids away from your zucchini.
Marigold releases a strong scent that helps repel pests like squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and aphids.
Borage brings in pollinators, increasing flower fertilization and improving fruit production.
Radish loosens compact soil with its deep roots and is harvested before zucchini takes over the space.
Bush beans naturally add nitrogen to the soil, feeding heavy-producing zucchini plants all season.
Garlic acts as a natural antifungal, helping prevent powdery mildew on leaves.
Oregano spreads as a low-growing mat, repelling pests while tolerating shade from large zucchini leaves.
Dill attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and parasitic wasps that control pests.
Calendula not only adds color but also draws helpful insects to your garden.
Sweet alyssum creates a fragrant ground cover that attracts predatory insects and tiny wasps.
Lettuce grows quickly in the partial shade under zucchini, giving you an extra harvest.
Thyme forms a dense, aromatic layer that suppresses weeds and helps deter vine borers.
Planting smart companions beneath sprawling crops like zucchini means more food from the same space—and far fewer pest problems. 🌿

05/04/2026

251 likes, 11 comments. "30 DYING American Crafts Your Great-Grandparents Mastered by the Age of 15"

05/02/2026

Opening day at Brunk house. Stop in 12-4p.