Karrie + Gordon Nesbit’s 100 Acre Makeover

Karrie and Gordon Nesbit “accidently bought 97 acres” about two years ago outside of the college town where they met Bloomington, Indiana – where they hadn’t lived in about 25 years. They were only seeking about one acre to “put up a shop for woodworking projects and have a garden,” but ended up with nearly 100 acres! They bought the …

Bashobean Farm Gives ‘Em The (Freshest!) Greens

“Technically we’ve existed since 2019,” Spencer explains, “but we had microgreens even before that.” Both Spencer Riegler and Amanda Bankert, the husband and wife duo behind Bashobean Farm in Manton, Michigan; come from professional careers, but – like most CoolBot customers – craved something more fulfilling.  “Amanda was a counselor, and it was very draining,” says Spencer. “So she spent …

Cured meat

How Long Does Cured Meat Last?

Cured meat seems like a terrific counter to meat’s limited shelf life. But how long does it actually last? Here we’ll dig deep into the process of curing meat, why it works as a method of preservation, and learn how long cured meat lasts. What Is Cured Meat? Essentially, cured meat is a way of increasing the product’s shelf life. …

Carol Ptak Talks Success During Covid At Gryphon Ranch

“Behind every successful rancher, there’s a wife that works in town,” laughs Carol Ptak, claiming that is every rancher’s unofficial motto. Carol is delightfully voluble, charismatically imparting her wisdom upon us regarding the local cattle ranching industry and how it’s been affected by the pandemic. She’s bright and energetic, describing how Gryphon Ranch, a modest cattle ranch in the Arizona …

Our Most Unique CoolBot Build Yet: Matt Aderhold’s Silo

Matt Aderhold transitioned from his career in residential homebuilding construction to inside sales of construction equipment about six years ago. Now he manages a large rental fleet of heavy machinery and sells supplies, which grants him more benefits than his previous work. Growing up in South Dakota, Matt has been an avid hunter his entire life, since about the age …

top crops for small farmers

Top 16 Crops for Small Farmers

Small farmers have much to consider when choosing their crops. How much does it cost to plant an acre? How long will the crop produce? Are the labor requirements high or low? Is the crop in high demand or high supply? Is the crop prone to failure with an early or late frost?  Farming requires accepting a certain amount of …

home cured meat

The Modern Rules to Home Meat Curing

Prosciutto, salami, chorizo, pepperoni, bacon, and pastrami are some of the most common types of cured meats. Most people will buy these items in a store or a restaurant, but they do not have to be exclusive to the professionals! Curing meat at home is easier than many people may realize, and it can produce extremely satisfying results. Today, let’s …

meat hanging

An Expert’s Guide to Meat Hanging

Hanging meat isn’t overly complicated, and you can even do it in your own home. But what are the steps involved in this age-old tradition?

hydrocooling for produce

Hydrocooling: The Dos and Don’ts for Your Crops

One of the best ways to maintain market-ready freshness to your fruits and veggies is to have a solid post-harvest cooling system in place. Use the tips below to find out if a hydrocooler might be right for you! What Is Hydrocooling? Hydrocooling is the process of bathing fresh produce in freezing water to remove heat. Methods of cooling fruits …