Happy Easter!

Wishing Everyone a Happy Easter!

~ Rob ~

Happy New Year!

2012 was a crazy year and I am a little happy to see it pass. There were some really great things that happened, and a few that I would much rather just move past and put behind me. It has been a year of change and self reflection leaving me excited for the possibilities of what 2013 may hold! I am looking forward to more big changes and adventures while I journey down this path.

For me the winter solstice signified a time for new beginning. The days between the solstice and January 1st are a time to reflect, dream and plan with New Year's Day being the starting point to take action.

With that being said, here are some of my goals for 2013:

• Build a 2nd larger greenhouse
• Expand the gardens to be able to grow more of our own food
• Fence in the gardens
• Put up a 12' x 20' high tunnel for winter growing
• Build a garden shed
• Install rain barrels
• Set up a drip irrigation system
• Attempt to get into the local farmers markets to sell seedlings, flowers and herbs
• Get the school garden started
• Put in blueberries, raspberries and grapes
• Grow more varieties to preserve for our winter food supply
• Plant mostly heirloom varieties and save seeds for following years garden
• Work towards becoming more self-sufficient, growing even more of our food
• Read more organic gardening, farming and homesteading books
• Develop more of my own products
• Redesign website to include information on organic growing
• Organize blog posts to provide information from starting seeds to harvesting crops
• Take more steps to keep me moving towards my dream
• Work less, play more
• Try to live more in the moment! 

What are some of your goals or resolutions for 2013?

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!!

~Rob~

Shared at:

Tilly's Nest

Taking some time off to enjoy my family ...

With the holidays drawing near, I find myself extremely busy preparing for Christmas, filling and shipping the last of the orders, and traveling to look at new jobs for my business.

Instead of stressing myself out trying to do everything that I think I need to do,  I am going to slow down so I can spend more time enjoying my wife and my children. 

I have some big changes planned for the new year and I hope you will all continue to follow me along my journey! I have made many new friends and really appreciate all the inspirational and supportive comments. I have enjoyed reading everyone's posts and stories and look forward to seeing what the New Year has in store!

I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday season and I will be back in January!

~Rob~

Making the Holidays Handmade

Fretwork angel ornament.

Each year we pledge to make most of the holiday gifts we give away to family and friends, but we usually end up way too busy to get everything done. We do however always find time to make new ornaments for our tree, sometimes creating keepsakes from items saved from our vacations.

Sea shell angel ornament - shells from out Cape Cod vacation.

If you don't have the means or time to make gifts yourself, there are several online shops that have many talented artist who sell their handmade items.

Some of my favorite places to shop for unique gifts are:

ETSY

FarmMade

and 

Goodsmiths

Carved snowman ornament

We also prefer to buy at local shops rather than at the big box stores or malls. We have several shopping villages close by like Old Mystic Village and often take day trips to Quechee Gorge Village in VT.
One of our favorite places to shop for food gift items is The Woodstock Farmers Market in Woodstock, VT. They also have an on-line store which makes it easy to send gift baskets to out of state family, friends or my business clients.

Carolina snowflake ornament.

We are looking forward to the day when we finally have our farm and can give more gifts like canned tomato sauce made from our heirloom tomatoes, or dried herbs, herb infused oils, and other items grown or raised on our farm!

Dried hot peppers from our garden.

Do you prefer handmade gifts for the holidays?

Shared at:

The Backyard Farming Connection
The Chicken Chick 
Deborah Jean's Dandelion House

What are you thankful for ...

I am thankful for:

A beautiful, loving and supportive wife, 

 two beautiful and intelligent daughters,

having a loving family and caring friends,

my health, and the health of my family,

being able to do what I love, and earn a living at it,

being able to share my life with my two dogs, four cats, two ducks and a rabbit,

(even though some days I feel like taking them to the pound!)

living in an area where I can experience the spectacular colors and wonders of nature,

and being able to appreciate it,

 having had a grandfather that instilled in me the love of gardening,

a grandmother that taught me how to cook,

and having had the opportunity to spend part of my life with them both,

  being on the path that I am on in life,

 and having the means and support of my wife to be able to keep following it!

What are you thankful for?

 

Shared at:

Tilly's Nest: Down Home Blog Hop
The Backyard Farming Connection

Happy Holidays!

The summer and fall vegetables have all been harvested, the cold frames have been planted with the winter crops of kale, lettuce, carrots and transplanted leeks & onions, the garden beds have all been covered with leaves to protect them from the freezing northeast winter (if it ever gets here) so now it's time to reflect on the successes and failures of the past growing season, start planning next years crops and enjoy the holidays spent with friends and family!

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Holiday season!!

Happy Easter!

Pysanky Ostrich Egg - this was a collaborative effort by my wife and I.






Part of our family tradition is to make Ukrainian Pysanky Eggs every year in the spring. This tradition was sparked by a memory of seeing pysanky eggs displayed at my grandparents house when I was a child. It was until later in life that we saw a pysanky egg kit in a craft store and decided to give it a try - we have been hooked ever since!

Pysanky Goose Egg

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Easter!

Warm wishes...

Wishing everyone a Happy & Healthy Holiday Season!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

This year, since we are vegans, we decided to adopt a turkey from Farm Sanctuary. Through their Adopt-A-Turkey Project donations go towards the care of rescued turkeys living at their sanctuary and educating the public about the plight on factory farms.

Happy Halloween !!!