The Greenhouse Effect!

Display set up at a local business

I apologize for not blogging for too many weeks to count!  There has been too much going on to even sit still to think about, let alone WRITE about.



I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and if you celebrate Christmas, then I hope it was very merry with lots of family and friends sharing the moments with you.

Felted Valentine Hearts

I received gift items to make my life easier both on the farm and for my business  www.heartfeltbasketsandgifts.com .

Something that I'd wanted for a LONG time, but could never quite decide what type I'd use the most, is a GREENHOUSE!

Well, I got a tiny one for Christmas to allow me to begin to my seeds even earlier.  It's very, very small, but I think that in the long run I will have more success and less frustration.

It's adorable, but sturdy, and I think situated in the right location will enhance its longevity. It's going to be set up in the south-facing guest room!

I can start seeds in this!

I have decided to challenge myself----  85% of what I eat must have been grown on my farm.I won't be starting this challenge until June. At first I thought I may want to begin in March with growing things in cold frames and the greenhouse, but decided that I need to do some more research first on more items I can grow year round here in KY.

My kids have laughed and have asked if I plan to grow peanuts for my PB & J sandwiches (not to mention--Reese's Cups!) My farmer friends have begged me to add the condition "or food that my neighbor grows"! I think they think that I will starve if left to my own device! Hmmph! It makes me all the more determined to prove I can.

It's not that I don't know where my food comes from, so this isn't a "get in touch with the food chain" sort of activity. Nor does this stem from many of the other terrorist scenarios I hear frequently.  This is really just a challenge to make life more interesting for me on the farm!  (hee, hee)

Not too many years ago, most people did have a garden because it was necessary...not just a hobby! Usually, every year we grow the typical garden vegetables, plus we also have the berries and fruit trees that produce different fruits for several months. Up until now, we have mostly just eaten things fresh from the garden and canned jams, jellies, pickles, etc. But, now I plan to plant enough vegetables for canning produce to last a year.

Christmas Day (evening), I made Orange
Marmalade from organic oranges from
family living in Florida.

I have a wonderful pressure canner that will begin to get a heavier work-out! I will NEVER forget the time last year after I had canned some green beans, I asked my farmer neighbor if he had a few extra beans that I could have or buy so that I could can a few more quarts. He showed up later that day with the flatbed of his truck piled high with the bean plants!! He told me I could have them all, if I didn't mind "picking" them!
I stood there with a bewildered look on my face!

Certified, "Kentucky Proud"!

A Felted Wreath from Wool
shorn from my sheep and llamas.
~created on my farm~

Last Friday, HeartFelt Baskets & Gifts received its certification from Kentucky Department of Agriculture to be considered Kentucky Proud! This isn’t a complicated or difficult process, but it was exciting to receive nevertheless.

Felted Wool bag
(shorn, felted, and sewn)
~created on my farm~

I had filled electronically earlier this summer, but something must have gone haywire and they didn’t have the application. 

Hand Spun Yarn from Voyager,
one of the male llamas
~created on my farm~

When I hadn’t heard back from them, I decided to send another electronically and follow up with a hardcopy application.  

Wet Felted Eyeglass Cases
~created on my farm~

That did the trick and just a few weeks later I was thrilled to find the approved packet in my mailbox.

Hand Spun Yarn from Serendipity,
one of our female llamas
~created on my farm~

All the items that HeartFelt Baskets & Gifts sells are grown, harvested, processed, and created  right here on the farm.

Strawberry Jam
My brother loves to say, "It's the best in the world!"
~created on my farm~

Wheatweaving
Simple ornaments created from braided wheat
~created on my farm~

This won’t be a long blog, but wanted to make this status public.  Help spread the word.

Felted Hearts
Shorn Wool and dyed
~created on my farm~

Going Green in the Bluegrass!   

I will display the Kentucky Proud logo!