Homestead 1839

09/02/2026

Random little tidbit🦋

Nature doesn't use a calendar! The monarch migration isn't timed by a date on a map.

When nighttime temperatures drop and strong winds blow from the north, it signals a shifting cold front. Because monarchs are too delicate to fight heavy headwinds, they actively wait for these northern breezes to act as a natural conveyor belt. They catch the thermal air currents and literally "ride the north wind" south toward Mexico, saving their energy for the 3,000-mile flight.

🌸🌻Be on the 👀out for this years Butterfly migration walk late next week!

09/02/2026

08/25/2026

Fun fact! Nature doesn't use a calendar! The monarch migration isn't timed by a date on a map.

When nighttime temperatures drop and strong winds blow from the north, it signals a shifting cold front. Because monarchs are too delicate to fight heavy headwinds, they actively wait for these northern breezes to act as a natural conveyor belt. They catch the thermal air currents and literally "ride the north wind" south toward Mexico, saving their energy for the 3,000-mile flight.

🌸🌻Be on the 👀out for this years Butterfly migration walk late next week!

08/23/2026

The dream is getting closer to reality!
What was once a space we made do with, but never quite in the way we truly needed is being transformed into a food safe preservation kitchen that will help the Homestead make even greater use of its harvest. This new initiative will allow fresh, locally grown food to be preserved for distribution during the off season, reduce food waste, expand educational programming, and create more opportunities for our community to learn, gather, and grow together.

The space has been framed, insulated, finished, and painted. Plumbing, electrical work, lighting, heating and cooling, equipment installation, and many of the finishing details have also come together. We are incredibly grateful to IOWA HANDYMAN Jordan Prado & Diewold Plumbing, our volunteers, and everyone who has contributed their time, skills, materials, and encouragement to move this project forward.

None of this would have been possible without the truly generous support of one of our benefactors, Kim Hunsaker. We owe her a tremendous amount of gratitude for her belief in our mission and vision.

We still have some hurdles to overcome before the kitchen is fully operational and hope to start programming by next season. Thanks to all who continue to support this work and we cannot wait to see this kitchen filled with fresh food, learning, laughter, and community!

07/15/2026

Sold out! Spots filled up fast this week! Check back next week for another pop up!

Raspberry Picking Pop-Up This Friday 7/17, 8:30-10AM

Only 10 spots are available this week, so don't wait! Be sure to sign up fast before they're gone. $5.00 Suggested cash donaton on site.

We can't wait to see you in the raspberry patch! 🌿

There is no required admission fee, but we suggest a $5 donation per person to help support the care and maintenance of the berry patch.Event Details:Date:…

07/12/2026

Update! I think there’s some interests! Lol. Just hold tight and keep checking back. I will have Saturday dates available soon for August probably starting the 2nd weekend. It’s not a good idea to harvest flowers when it’s super hot. So I will keep an eye on the weather and have that be one of the deciding factors🤗 Thanks for your interest!

Would anyone be interested in a casual Saturday Morning Bouquet & Berry Experience at Homestead 1839?

We recently invited a few lovely friends out to wander the gardens, pick flowers, and create their own bouquets. It was such a fun morning that we thought we'd see if others would enjoy it too!

This isn't a formal class just a relaxed Saturday morning in the gardens. Wear your muck boots, bring your garden gloves if you have them, and come enjoy getting your hands a little dirty.

For a $25 suggested donation per person, you'll:🌼 Pick your own flowers and create a beautiful bouquet to take home. Harvest fresh raspberries while you're here.🌿 Enjoy a peaceful morning in the gardens while supporting Homestead 1839's mission of growing organic food, teaching garden skills, and building community.

We'll plan these for Saturday mornings, weather permitting. If there's enough interest, we'll schedule our first one soon!
Would you or someone you know enjoy this? Comment below or send us a message if you'd like to join us! 🌻💚

06/29/2026

Now that our "secret project" is finally out, we wanted to share what our main focus will be for the rest of the season at Homestead 1839.
Many of you have been asking about our veggie boxes and fresh flower bouquets.

While we won't be offering them this season, it's because we're dedicating our time and resources to two exciting priorities:

🌱 Growing and donating fresh produce to our community.

🥒Bringing our new commercial preservation kitchen to life so we can expand educational programming and preserve the harvest for seasons to come.

Although our regular offerings are taking a pause this year, 🐝 Sure to follow our page and keep an eye out. We still have some fun pop-up opportunities planned!

Raspberry season is almost here, and we'd love to invite the community to come pick their own berries and also wander through the flower gardens and harvest a fresh bouquet to take home🌻🌸

We will share dates and details soon!

Thank you for supporting Homestead 1839 as we grow, give back, and build something that will serve our community for years to come. We can't wait to share this journey with you! www.homestead1839.org

06/26/2026

After months of planning, dreaming, and working behind the scenes, we can finally share the news!
Keeping this project a secret hasn't been easy, but today we're thrilled to let everyone in on what's next for Homestead 1839. This has truly been a community effort, and we're so grateful for everyone who has believed in our mission along the way.
We're excited to share this article about our biggest project yet. We hope you'll take a few minutes to read it when it comes out tomorrow and if you're as excited as we are, please help us spread the word by sharing it with your friends and family!
The future is looking bright, and we can't wait to bring this vision to life. ❤️
Appeal letters are in the mail with all the info! Donation link: www.homestead1839.org

Mollie and Tobin Krell are transforming a long-unused outbuilding at the non-profit Homestead 1839 into something new for the community: a preservation kitchen designed to extend the life of fresh,

06/23/2026

Early Morning June vibes☀️🌻🥒🍆🫑🦋 With all the rain it’s been a challenge to keep up but the pollinators are loving all of it🫶🐛🕷️

05/19/2026

Board meeting night so I made some Mini puff pastry ground cherry tartlets made with last season's harvest. Try adding goat cheese and honey for a sweet and savory mix.🤤🤗🥰 love spoiling my board🫶

*Laura Blanchard-totally thought of Evelyn with this one🫶