simple doorstop [not another sheep!?]

January 8, 2013 by Breeze Hill Farm

This is such a wonderful idea I just had to share with my readers!!

I had a bit of left-over burlap from my recent lampshade makeover. I thought I would use it to re-cover a brick doorstop.

Not much to this project, simply add a little cotton batting and wrap the brick with burlap…as if wrapping a gift. I used a dab of hot glue to hold the seams in-place and then, with needle-and-thread, stitched them down to tidy them up.

I scanned a sheep pic into my computer and transferred the image onto muslin. I top-stitched around the sheep with black thread to highlight the image and then simply whip-stitched it to the brick.

And there you have it…never enough sheep… I guess!

View original post

Changes Underway

January 8, 2013 by Breeze Hill Farm

Some people take down their web presence when they are making changes and updates. I probably would if I knew how to! Instead, the next few things that I do to this Blog will be shared with everyone..sorry. Like I said yesterday, bear with me.

So I’m trying to come up with a lot of great content to share with everyone who might be interested in what I have to say and share, along with having a page or two devoted to Local (local Co-op’s, Farmer’s Markets, etc.).

OK, so here we go. Like I said yesterday, if this starts to get on your nerves…there is a comment section right here on the Blog…tell me!!

More To Come!!

2012 Where Did It Go?

January 7, 2013 by Breeze Hill Farm

Each new year I always find myself wondering where the last year went. 2012 is no exception. Looking at my last Blog entry from March of 2012, I find myself amazed at how life can get in the way of, well, in the way of everything no matter how small or large. Somehow we come out on the other side, dust ourselves off and carry on.

This entry today is not going to be one of those “Holiday Letters” that we so don’t look forward to. We had our stuff..you’ve had your stuff. We all know stuff happens! This entry is more about the upcoming year..the changes that we will be making as far as the farm and business, with a lot of “look at what just happened’s”. I’ve made a couple of appearances changes today and there will be more to come. One thing that I did was tied the Blog to Facebook. I am going to rely on you all to tell me…STOP!! or keep going with this. Bear with me on this, it may take some time to get everything the way I want it.

That’s it for today. Let’s see how this looks and I’ll get back to making more changes.

Before I forget…Happy New Year!!

Spring Is In The Air..

March 13, 2012 by Breeze Hill Farm

Aaaah! Spring! It’s that time of the year when flowers are starting to bloom, trees are budding, the grasses are greening up and the garden is calling.

Now is the time to start moving manure from the barn up to the garden plots and to start tilling that “black gold” into the earth but this year things will be a little different in one of the plots. We have decided to grow potatoes for markets. Soil preparation for these beauties does not include manure as an amendment..so there will be less hauling than in years past. Can’t wait to see the lush green plants starting to pop up!

Each market season we have noticed that Spinach and Carrots are limited, so to do our part in answering the call for more of these foods, we have increased our garden area to add several raised beds for carrots and a second garden spot for spinach. Then of course there will be the usual cast of characters..tomatoes, okra, cukes, squashes, eggplant and lettuces.

On a different note, all of chickens seemed to be loving the warmer weather and longer days already. We have eggs everywhere! Our chickens are totally free range so as a result egg collection closely resembles an Easter Egg hunt each day. That’s OK though it is worth it when we are able to put together a carton of eggs that look like this…

Thank you girls…

Next on the list for our Spring “to do’s” will be sheep shearing. That’s always exciting too..when we get the chance to see what this years growth looks like. By the winter being mild, it doesn’t look like we will have the usual bumper of wool. We will be adding Cashmere this year to our fibers available. Friends of ours are getting out of the cashmere business but they still have 10 goats that need to be combed..so yes, I volunteered to do the combing. Payment for this job..we get the fiber! There will be some pretty cool rovings and yarns available in the fall!

Maybe I’m wrong..look at all that wool!

Well that’s all for today. I’m afraid if I keep writing, I’ll wear myself out.

Container Gardening Fans Read This…

March 7, 2012 by Breeze Hill Farm

We have come up with a wonderful product for all of those Container Gardening folks out there. It is our new Natural Growers Pack.

What is it and what does it do you may ask? It is a water retention and fertilizer system that is made from 100% all natural and organic materials. When you container garden or grow house plants, you are always faced with watering your plants..even if you are on vacation. Using our pack limits the need to constantly be watering your plants as the natural sheep wool acts as a sponge absorbing water and holding it for longer than just soil. The added bonus..you get a pack of sheep manure compost to add to your soil as a natural fertilizer.

These are all of the supplies you need to use this pack:

The contents of the pack, a container, your plant or seeds, plus soil.

Start with an empty large to extra large container. Line the bottom of the container with the enclosed sheep wool. Now take the wonderfully rich in nutrients package of sheep manure compost and blend it with your soil..place in your container on top of the sheep wool. Add your plant. Water. That’s it..easy peasy!

It is a wonderful system for container vegetable gardening. By using this all natural system you eliminate the need to continuously fertilize your plants too. Your container tomato plants will be the envy of the neighborhood!

The Natural Growers pack is available in our ETSY store, through Fall Line Farms Co-op, Local Roots Co-op, The Great Big Greenhouse in Richmond, VA and more locations are coming soon as we fill orders. You, of course, can buy them direct through me and we will have them at local Farmer’s Markets this Spring and summer.

Do something good for your plants and make Mother Nature smile at the same time..oh yes, and each time you purchase/use one of these Natural Growers Packs you are supporting a small family owned sustainable farm business!