tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21595282188377667322024-03-13T04:03:54.880-07:00The Secret Garden of Madisontmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159528218837766732.post-42657190183899566922013-01-05T13:50:00.000-08:002013-01-05T13:50:11.698-08:00<h2>
Good Bye 2012 Welcome 2013!</h2>
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I cannot tell a lie, 2012 was a bummer, I just never got back on track after the fire, so the resolution for 2013, get back to living, enjoy every day, accept if it doesn't get done there's is always tomorrow. That said, let's get caught up.</div>
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The business! Where to start? First there is a brilliant new website thanks to Mara Morken and Alex Fogarty. It is truly beautiful and I can never thank them enough for all the hard work and talent they brought to the site. Make sure you check it out.</div>
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www.secretgardensoapofmadison.com </div>
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The holidays were INSANE, so busy, so many wonderful new friends and customers. Thank you all for a great Holiday season. </div>
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On to 2013, this year will be offering the same great soap and lotion with a few new additions One addition I'm very excited about is a new soap scent for the little ones, looking for a name, thinking about calling it Kids after the baby goats. I've decided for Valentine's Day to do something special for all the men in my family. A wonderful new shaving soap with Bentonite clay for added slip. I will have this available late January in a gift set with a boar bristle brush . The ladies will not be forgotten with a new scent Calyx in lotion and soap. For spring I will be mixing a gorgeous Hyacinth scent, perfect for Easter and don't forget Fizzee Eggs for the kids! Thanks to my husband's insistence I will also have a collection of ready made gift baskets. My thoughts are to have a green scented basket, a floral scented basket and a seasonal scented basket. These will be available at all my upcoming shows. The basket would include a jar of lotion, a 4.5 oz soap bar and a soap bag for $25.00. Please check the website for my entire gift basket collection. I have started a favor collection with Ounces, a perfect 1 ounce round suitable for any occasion. These favors are just $2.00 each which includes the soap in your choice of scent, customized front label, back ingredient label, ribbon in your choice of color and a glassine bag. I am always happy to do custom orders, let me know what you're thinking of and we can work together to make it happen. Right now I'm working on a beautiful Celtic cross soap for an upcoming Communion, what a perfect favor! This one is so nice it may become part of the favor line permanently.</div>
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The animals are doing great, our friend Pedro did a month long visit in October and we have three happily pregnant goats due at various times in March. Please call if you'd like to visit the kids, I only keep them for a very short 8 weeks. At this point we have Kota, Oreo & Miss Brownie lounging around and enjoying the peaceful winter months before all hell breaks loose when the kids arrive. </div>
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I do still have a few chickens, they have slowed down a bit due to the shorter days, but we still have plenty of delicious fresh eggs. I saw a new way to make scrambled eggs. Instead of premixing the eggs, crack them directly into a sauce pan with two pats of butter melted in the bottom. Whisk gently as they cook. As they start to firm up a bit add another pat of butter and a bit of milk. Scrape the sides until done, so good! The show I saw it on served it on toasted croissants with chives. I serve it on a plate with ketchup, your choice. </div>
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The garden is in a new planning stage which is causing great controversy here. I would like to try square foot gardening, which is basically raised beds with a special soil formula. My hubby says I'm nuts, (duh! like he doesn't know that yet), dig up the soil add a little manure and you're good to go. We made the mistake a couple years back of putting hay down as a mulch, well it wasn't salt hay, it seeded and my garden is solid hay. I don't want to add chemicals because really that defeats the whole point of growing your own veggies. The square foot gardening eliminates my seed ridden soil. I see a heated debate coming, please feel free to weigh in your opinion! I also found in the Burpee seed catalog a wonderful new corn seed suited for pots, there is no discussion on this one, I know just where they'll be growing next year.</div>
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Another new addition to the family is a very naughty pup named Lucy. She loves to chew, rip, bite, beg and basically terrorize the whole family, on the good side she loves to sleep on your lap and has the sweetest eyes. She is a perfect fit for an imperfect family. Kitty is still here, she still avoids us most of the time, but it just makes the moments she does say hello more special. Perhaps that's a life lesson? My last goal is to re establish my bee hives. First I miss seeing them busily flying in and out of the hive. Beyond that I truly would enjoy the most local honey I could get. Next I need to see what kind of condition my hives are in and if by some chance they are OK to order some packages of bees.</div>
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I hope you all have a wonderful New Year, that you have the extra time we all need, the simplicity we all want, and our families close, safe, and healthy.</div>
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Tracee</div>
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tmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159528218837766732.post-67507810264076559862012-08-12T19:00:00.000-07:002012-08-12T19:00:03.559-07:00The New BlogWelcome back to the Garden. It took six long months for us to come back to our house and finally I feel like I'm home. The blog has a new look to match my new website to be launched early this fall.
I have begun restocking all the soap, trying to head into the holiday season with full shelves. During my hiatus I started with a few new scents, White Gardenia and Wisteria to name a few. I also created a very special bar for the men & women who kept my family safe. I found a wonderful smoky scent to honor firefighters, police and all people who protect and serve. The bar is called Hero and for each bar sold a $1.00 donation goes back to Madison Fire Department. The old favorites are still here too including Grandpa's Lilac, Madison Rose and Blue Hydrangea. One of my favorite new addition is the Drunken Goat Bar, a lovely goat shaped champagne scented bar, wonderful in the shower!
I have concentrated on making mostly the 8 ounces bottles of lotions, available in several fragrances as well as special orders. The 5 ounces jars can still be purchased on the website, secretgardensoapofmadison.com
Milk bath fizzees eggs have been reworked as well and now have honey & shea butter...a perfect bath after a day in the pool. Available in 1/2 dozen cartons for just $10.00
I have also created a lovely spa line using only essential oils. This line includes a sea salt milk bath, available in a quart size glass milk bottle. The salt bar, each batch has two pounds of European sea salt, uplifting bar and calming bar and lastly the cleansing bar with honey & nutmeg. Along with this collection is the new bath teas with goat milk, just pop the whole bag right in the bath for a fragrant soak. The teas are available in three blends, soothing, pampering, and healing...especially good during cold & flu season.
The gift basket collection has grown the most. There are now nine different baskets to choose from ranging from the basic basket with a single bar and bath bag to the garden basket with a sampling of everything here at the garden along with two sweet little bird guest soaps.
For the fall I will have pumpkin apple butter, cranberry, chestnut brown sugar and harvest. These fragrances will be available in 4.5 ounce bars as well as leaf guest soaps, five leaves to an organza bag.
It's time to milk the goats! I will keep the blog updated with all the news an events here at the garden. Hope to see you soon.tmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159528218837766732.post-63032417844963840832012-01-18T18:00:00.000-08:002012-01-18T19:06:00.758-08:00Fire DiaryFirst and foremost a very special thank you to the firefighters and police who responded so quickly and handled things so well. Second a special thank you to Chubb for being kind and responsive. Third a special thank you to IRS (Insurance Restoration Specialists) they came and did an inventory, cleaned and got us ready for the next step. They also listened to a sometimes overly emotional woman and her crazy rantings. Lastly to all of you, your calls, prayers, meals, and yes even gift cards are overwhelmingly generous. I can't imagine such kindness exists in this world. I'm renewed with a hope for our future. My cup overflows.<br /><br />Now highlights of my crazy life. Goats and chickens seem unaffected by the fire. They are checked on 3 times a day, and visited often by whatever workers are at the house that day. This will continue for the unforeseeable future.<br /><br />We have taken up residence at my in-laws house in Chatham Township. Let me explain that my in-laws house is huge, my house is not. You would think that this would be a treat, not so. Two seniors in a perfectly clean house full to the brim with stuff is NOT the place for a very large family who "live" in their surrounds. I think there is going to be a whole lot of screaming going on. Not a complaint, I'm lucky to have a place to live, just an observation.<br /><br />Highlights of the week... <br /><br />Myself, Joe, a firefighter we are friendly with, and my brother in law. Brother-in-law to firefighter "So could you list exactly everything Tracee did wrong?" Really? <br /><br />Phone rings as I'm driving to my house to feed the animals, Joe frantically explains Christians teeth are bleeding and he thinks his gums are swollen into his braces. Long story short double root canal with another one pending. Really?<br /><br />Lovely woman calls to bring dinner over, catches me at a low point, sobbing into the phone I tell her to come whenever she wants, she feels so bad she brings me chocolate cake. I like her!<br /><br />Jim the gentleman in charge of clean up at my house calls me into the living room and wants to know who the pretty blonde women is in the wedding photo? Well that's Joe's first wife she's so darn pretty I keep the picture up. Really? To hell with new mattresses I'm getting plastic surgery.<br /><br />I keep saying that everything happens for a reason, sometimes the reasons are not clear at the time. I've come up with a theory. I wanted balance and simplicity. Here is an opportunity to be very realistic about what a person really needs to be happy. It will be like starting from scratch in a way. The house will be spotlessly clean. We will go through all the clothes that we have and be smart about what we keep and donate the rest. All of you have taught me how much an act of kindness can mean to someone. The meals you provided brought my family together around a table with excellent food and allowed us to be "normal" in very abnormal times. You kept us warm with coats and clothes. You brought me to tears too many times to count, I feel so blessed to be apart of this community. Your prayers and kind words at just the right time to keep me going. I will never be able to thank you enough, but I do promise to always help when I can and give what I have to anyone in need. Thank you for renewing my faith in people.<br /><br />My soap is quiet for the moment, but as usual I have BIG plans. I'm hoping to set up shop here at my temporary residence in the garage. I have a new soap mold in the works, a lovely little 3-D bird I'm going to call Zippiddee. He will be available in Blue Hydrangea scent to start with.I had ordered a new tree display with little nests for Zippiddee to perch in right before things went to hell in a handbag, it arrived this past Thursday and is beautiful. I'm creating a special fragrance in honor of all of you called HERO, it has a nice smoky scent...kidding about the smoke, it will smell "heroic". I'm also thinking about a powdered milk bath in glass pint size milk bottles enriched with European and Dead Sea Salts. <br /><br />A lot of plans, I know, I have to plan to keep from going crazy. Soap is my therapy, gives me something to get ready for so I don't dwell on this mess.<br /><br />A final thank you, you can never know what everything you've done has meant to me and my family. My sincerest thanks.tmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159528218837766732.post-75302643848288696692012-01-12T09:02:00.000-08:002012-01-12T10:23:02.729-08:00Friday January 6th 12:30ishFor those of you that do not know, there was a fire at my house on Friday. I was the only one home except of course for my animals. I foolishly lit a candle in my basement laundry room to combat a terrible smell coming from that room. I proceeded to shut the door and go take a shower. I heard the smoke detector go off while I was chatting on the phone in my bedroom.<br /><br />When I opened the laundry room door both the washer and dryer tops were in flames. I ran upstairs and filled my milking pot with water, thinking I could handle things myself and my husband would NEVER find out. Half way down the stairs to the laundry room the smoke was too thick. I changed course ran to the house phone and dialed 911. The phone rang 3 times and the line went dead. The fire had burned the wires. I immediately opened the front door and shoved Ruby, my dog out. I ran upstairs to my room where I had left the cell phone and ran down dialing 911. Then I did something else wrong. I returned to the kitchen to open the back door. I didn't have time to find my cat and was thinking she could run out if the doors were open. <br /><br />The kitchen was completely engulfed in thick black smoke. It was like swallowing water. I made it back out the front door to claim Ruby and wait. Within in minutes a Madison Police Officer had Park Avenue blocked off. The firemen were only seconds behind. Everything moved in slow motion. I tried Joe's cell over and over, no answer, called his job, no one knew where he was. I was frantic. It's terrible to watch as everything you have is in danger and you can't stop it. <br /><br />Thankfully a good friends husband came and placed a chair in the center of the yard and put me in it. Stay put, you're too close to the smoke. My brother in law and niece arrived next. I could breath again. An officer came over to talk to me and asked where my husband was... me being who I am answered without thinking. He must be with his mistress, no one can find him. The look on the man's face made me realize he thought I was being serious. I quickly told him I was a ridiculous woman and to not put that in the report, when times are tough I get sarcastic. Another of my more endearing qualities. It turns out Joe was on Rt. 10 picking up Andrew's skis for ski trip that night. <br /><br />Imagine his delight to find not 1 but 4 fire departments at his house. I guess there is no keeping it from him now. We all stood there watching as firemen went in and came back out. Fans were placed to pull the smoke from the building. A mess. The men removed the now melted washer & dryer,as well as a great deal of ruined stuff. The boys arrived home next. Joseph, my oldest, shaking his head asked, "What did you do now Mom?" I guess sarcasm runs in the family. The boys picked up Gracee and they went to my in-laws Chatham house. You better call your insurance agent someone advises, My cell is dead, of course, I borrow a phone and start the calls. Everyone is so nice and accommodating. Chubb is well worth the investment.<br /><br />Joe and I stayed until we were allowed to grab a few essential with an escort. It's very hard to sort through your underwear drawer with a burly fireman watching. I don't know about you, but there are underwear for show and then there is underwear for comfort. This situation called for comfort. I gathered things for everyone and my engagement ring, what made me think of it I don't know. Back outside to watch as final inspection were made so that the house could be turned back over to us. I didn't want it back, I just wanted to hide, our things, our memories, how bad would the damage be. Upon inspection we found that the basement was gone. Heat from the fire had melted DVD players, the can lights had melted onto the couch, such destruction from one little glass jar candle. <br /><br />Well the laundry room didn't smell anymore, now the whole house smells and there isn't a laundry room. The fire had been contained to the basement, smoke and water had hit the kitchen, the living room wall had been removed to check for additional hot spots. Smoke damage throughout. Our house is unlivable. I pack up my truck with the few belongings I had gathered and head to my temporary home generously supplied by my in-laws. I leave Joe and my brother in law to try and get a bit of electricity to the milk freezer and to the furnace so the pipes would not freeze and the milk would stay frozen. What had I done?tmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159528218837766732.post-75956359332368313552011-12-30T14:49:00.000-08:002012-01-05T08:45:52.035-08:00New Year's ResolutionsI've had so many things on my mind lately, too much perhaps. I have one very specific resolution this year that has many parts to it. The base of it is balance, I resolve to find balance in my life. I tried simplicity, guess what simplicity is very complicated! I need to step back and get organized. Christmas was exhilarating, so hectic, such positive feedback for the business and the animals, but in the wake of such activity is chaos. Everything including months worth of paperwork, is in complete disorder. The soap kitchen looks like a tornado went through, only a few misshapen bars of soap remain, excellent soap, imperfect in appearance I'll call them ugly bars. The shows were a blast this year, too many wonderful, creative people, not too mention the customers...just amazing! Which leaves me with a dilemma, where do I go from here? The numbers aren't in so I may not be profitable, that's a BIG concern. I can't get to the paperwork with soap to make, wrap and sell plus work at the day job and of course maintain a relatively large family and small farm. I need HELP, but can't afford to pay a full time person, begging the boys to take over my email blasts, which haven't happened due to lack of time and of course the paperwork. Offered to pay $10.00 an hour and they could work at their leisure just keep track of their time. They said no, hmm, this IS a problem! What teenager doesn't need money? Perhaps things are too easy here, too many gimme's, how do I fix this? <br />Do I leave the day job and take the big risk and handle everything myself? This really isn't the economy to give up your job and open a business, it's one thing as a hobby that pays for itself, depending on it for income is a whole other thing. Terrifying! <br /><br />I tried something new this year, an open house, it wasn't really advertised, but none the less did very well. I think it is something I will try again for Valentine's Day. So far I am scheduled for The Chocolate Festival January 22 at the Dolce Hotel in Basking Ridge. It is a fundraiser for the NJ Youth Chorus. In honor of the occasion I have created a chocolate scented soap loaded with cocoa butter, it's yummy! Having trouble with the name though... maybe Chocolate Goat? Also premiering will be Sweetheart Rose, Forbidden, and Champagne all packaged and ready to give for Valentine's Day. I may even bring a couple of my Drunken Goat bars just for fun. There's a little story that goes with that bar. As some of you may know we're having quite a bit of trouble breeding Oreo, she can be pretty nasty, she has attacked every male she's had the displeasure of meeting. Finally we actually borrowed a buck named Pedro to spend a couple of weeks here and hopefully get the job done. Oreo was less than pleased. I had a crazy thought, maybe a little wine would loosen her up, it being her first time and all. After presenting my idea to Joe I was promptly informed that I was nuts, well duh!, isn't that oblivious at this point? Joe would not allow any alcohol consumption by the goat, but Drunken Goat soap was "born" A lovely champagne scented goat shaped bar. We have no idea if Pedro had any luck with Oreo or anyone else for that matter. I guess we'll find out in the next few months, based on current food consumption they are ALL pregnant! Other goat news an absolutely lovely lady by the name of Betty has expressed an interest in our goats. As of April, if no one is expecting, Brownie, Blossom and Violet will be moving to Betty's place. My heart is breaking, but I know it is the right thing to do. Betty will love them as I do and I can visit anytime. Maybe we will have new babies in April/May and it all starts over again.<br /><br />The chickens are at the end of their time, we're down to just 1 or 2 eggs a day. Enough for us, but many disappointed friends looking for fresh eggs. Our new flock will arrive in February. This flock will have a diet rich in Omega 3 producing eggs also loaded with Omega 3, cool huh?<br /><br />Thinking about starting up the bees again in the spring. I will order nucs from Better Bee and have talked a gentleman by the name of Steve to help mentor me this time around. Maybe we'll have honey this summer!<br /><br />The veggie garden stands barren and frozen, ready for next season. This past year was a huge disappointment with the veggies. Blight took all my tomato plants, squirrels took what the blight missed. Bean were only OK, no peppers, no zucchini. I don't know what to say. I will try again this year, different seed company and more chicken poo. <br /><br />Upcoming shows <br /> January 22nd The Dolce Hotel<br /> March 18th Paramus High School Craft Show 10:00 till 5:00 <br /> April 29th NJPAC 2:00 till 6:00<br /> May 6th Ridgewood Spring Craft Fair 12:00 till 5:00 <br /> May 20th NJPAC 2:00 till 6:00<br /> June 2 & 3 Chester Craft Show <br /><br />An open house in either late January or early February <br /><br />Applying to both the Chatham Farmers Market and Madison Farmers Market for the season, maybe the Morristown or Summit Market as well.<br /><br />More shows to be announced, check the website and facebook page for regular updates and hopefully email blasts monthly.tmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159528218837766732.post-21948496246671951672011-06-24T05:28:00.002-07:002011-06-24T06:59:01.867-07:00A very late updateHi All,<br />I do apologize again for the lateness in my posts. I was speaking with someone yesterday that reminded me people really do read my blog to keep up to date on the happenings here on my "farm".<br /><br /> The chickens are laying a bakers dozen almost every day. We are up to 14 dozen eggs in the refrigerator PLEASE come and get some if you need them before my family rebels and starts throwing them at me. Kids can not live on eggs alone.<br /><br />The veggie garden is doing very well. I already have small green tomatoes on most plants. The weeds are waging quite a stand this year. It took me three days to clear the garden, I should probably start back at the beginning again. Late last night two animals got into a terrible fight, not sure what kind of animals but it was awful. I couldn't sleep afterwards and my thoughts turned to the weeds and how similar people are to gardens. We all have the potential to be beautiful productive gardens then the weeds come...selfishness, greed, laziness, you get the idea. Like I said it was very late at night and it seemed very poetic at the time. I tried planting potatoes this year, but was too late and I don't think we will see any yield. Live and learn. Beans look excellent, I'm growing a purple bean in addition to the regular crop this year only a few plants came up, but I'm excited to taste them. I have this new idea rattling around in the back of my head, one of those ideas that bring my husband nothing but work. I would like to have a root cellar to store crops over winter and I would like to plant a fall crop this year to stock the root cellar with. How cool would that be?<br /><br />I have no bees, the pick up date for my packages was postponed and there was a conflict with my schedule that could not be rearranged. We will start again next year and hopefully have better luck. I do miss watching there comings and goings. Bees are quite beautiful if you take the time to observe their constant activities.<br /><br />The goats are so wonderful, Kota has proven to be a wonderful mother. The babies are growing by leaps and bounds. Brownie has taken her role as Aunt to heart and plays and teaches the little ones. Oreo is a bit more disagreeable, I think she may be a bit jealous of Kota's family. She has become quite a head butter, no one is safe from her wrath anymore. The babies are a constant source of entertainment. They run, jump and frolic all day long. Willow thinks she is a lap dog and enjoys sitting on your lap and chewing whatever she can get into her mouth. Violet & Blossom LOVE to chew your hair, it can be a little frightening when they all jump on you at once. They have all settled into their new big shed that Amish built and constructed on site in about 6 hours. The Amish rock. I really respect them and think we should all take a page from their book. They put themselves last, community and others all come first. I think our society would benefit from a little of that logic. I was driving the other day and was sitting at a stop light. A gentleman all dressed for work was running across the street in front of me, he fell at the sidewalk, pretty badly from what I could tell. He proceed to pick himself up and continue to the gas station. I felt bad for him but continued on my way. Coming back down the hill from my short trip I saw the same man pouring gas into his car from a can. All I could think was I should buy this guy a cup of coffee, what a crap day he was having. I've been there, I talked myself out of it thinking how stupid I was being. I should have bought the coffee. I'm going to try and follow my gut from now on.<br /><br />Da' business. I love soap making, when I get down into my soap kitchen I'm so happy!! The soap is getting better and better. I make a batch almost every day except when there is a show. I made Blue Hydrangea Wednesday and today is Grace. I'm a bit low on lotions but fingers crossed my order of my jars will arrive today. I've also decided to add a 16 ounce bottle of lotion with a pump to the line. I've had several requests for them, I've just got to come up with a way to label them nicely. I've posted a picture of my new booth set up-gorgeous if I do say so myself. My sweet husband found a very talented sign painter at the Chester Craft Show and had a sign made up for the booth. It's just perfect. The artist's name is Terri Palmer, no relation, but she made the mistake of signing her work T. Palmer, could be me hee hee. I have been allowed to join the Madison Farmer's Market Thursdays 2:00 till 7:00 and the Chatham Farmer's Market Saturdays 8:00 till 1:00. My first Madison market was wet but successful. This Saturday Willow, Violet, & Blossom will be joining us at the Chatham Market. Stop by check out the new booth and visit with the girls.<br /><br />Lastly I have to say I've changed, I'm a completely different person in some ways. I used to love clothes, I never left the house without makeup, spent a fortune on haircuts, I worried about what everybody else thought. I still love clothes, I just buy them at Tractor Supply. I still wear eyeliner when I'm going somewhere, well most of the time and my haircut of late was Joe trimming my bangs in the kitchen because I could stand them in my eyes anymore. I look a little like one the Marx brothers. I still care what people think, just not as much and not enough to change myself without careful consideration. Have a wonderful summer, I will write when time permits, no more promises I can't keep. Great reads "The Dirty Life Memoirs On Farming, Food, and Love" by Kristin Kimball "Just Like Heaven" by Julia Quinn a lovely beach read, and lastly I'm in the middle of "Surviving The Apocalypse in The Suburbs" by Wendy Brown. I know the last one seems a bit on the extreme side, but it's really interesting and it never hurts to have an idea of what you would do if things were to change. In the book she talks about a life without oil and all the things connected with it. How to start really eating locally & seasonally, taking responsibility for yourself, your food, pretty much everything. Now I want a wood burning stove to supply heat to the house and to cook on if necessary. Poor Joe Palmer, he shouldn't have bought me that Look Book, I just keep reading and getting more ideas :)tmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159528218837766732.post-29124435814081901312011-04-27T17:40:00.001-07:002011-04-27T18:33:22.011-07:00The babies have arrivedOn April 25th at 3:00am Kota delivered triplet girls while I slept. I heard a small cry and thought someone had once again locked our cat Mrs. Dash outside, when I went to investigate I soon realized it was not Mrs. Dash, it was the new kids. I was able to help Kota clean and dry off her new girls. Kota is a wonderful mother who is very attentive to her new family. The babes are nursing regularly and seem to have grown already. Kota had a bit of trouble but I think we are through the worst and can just enjoy this wonderful time.Our ladies are Violet, Blossom, and Willow. Willow will stay on here with her Mom, Violet and Blossom are going to hopefully be adopted. I would truly love to keep them all, but I don't think Madison would be too keen on that :(<br /><br />We've run into a problem with our new packages of bees, the pick up date was pushed for the 2 time back to June 4, which happens to be the last day of school for my class, something I cannot miss. If you know of anyone with packages to sell, I'm very interested.<br /><br />My seedlings look great with nowhere to plant because of all the rain. There is plenty of time I suppose.<br /><br />The chickens are doing better we got 6 eggs tonight, not great, but better.<br /><br />This a very busy time with the soaps, wholesale I've just been ask to make soap for a wonderful lady's catering company. I'm so excited to be working with her! I'm also doing wedding favors for a small reception. Upcoming shows are Shannon Bauer's House Party this Friday and Saturday, please see the invitation below. Sunday is the Summit Street Fair from 11:00 till 5:00, it should be a great day! May 12th is the Madison Green Fair from 3:30 till 7:30 at the Museum of Early Trades. The new babies should be making their debut at the Green Fair. Today we made Zucchini Flower Soap, the house smells so good, it's so cool to be able to create something so beautiful and useful.<br /><br />I think now that we've actually had an animal give birth here we can be considered a real, but small farm, Weeping Tree Farm to be exact.<br /><br />Time to check the new kids and give them their nightly hugs and Kota her graham cracker treat.tmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159528218837766732.post-5981066087123309172011-04-19T13:13:00.000-07:002011-04-19T17:40:12.852-07:00A heavy heartHello All,<br />I write today with a heavy heart. My gardening guru/ nemesis who I have written about often has suffered a true tragedy. His son passed away suddenly, I missed the service because I found out too late. I cannot imagine the heartache he must feel at this time, I have lost so many important people in my life and sometimes it seems unbearable, but a child would be to much to bear. Please send your good wishes to my very dear friend.<br /><br />My notes on the garden will be short as well as late. The seedlings are doing well and I will move them this weekend out to the greenhouse. Nothing to be done in the garden...it's too WET!!!<br /><br />We are picking up two packages of bees on May 27th to restart our hives. We are trying Italian queens this time, supposedly they like to stay "home", and not swarm. I don't know why I think that is so funny but I do ;)<br /><br />My dear sweet Kota is so pregnant, it painful to just watch her move. She barely fits through the door of her house. Her due date is April 26th and we check her 4 times a day for any signs of labor. My good fiend Kristen has generously volunteered to help with the birthing, something neither of us has done before. Kota fortunately has done it before so I will follow her lead. There is a tremendous website with more goat info then any one person should have, it has been a lifesaver for me. It's my goat bible. If you're interested it is fiascofarm.com check it out. We are going to try to video the birth of our new kids and will post it IF it works and I can get one of my boys to be the camera man.<br /><br />Upcoming shows: Wednesday April 20th Normandy park School, Morristown 6:00 - 9:00<br /> Sunday May 1st Summit Street Fair 11:00 - 5:00<br />I am doing a house show at a friends on April 29 & 30th, I will post the invitation, look for it.<br /><br />Lastly, we have invested in a new goat house. It is 12 x 20 and should be up and ready by the 2nd week of May. I believe this calls for a Barn Raising even though the actual raising will be done by some wonderful Amish gentlemen. My thought is an open house/ garden party the end of May maybe early June. The gardens will be in (if it stops raining) the window boxes planted, and baby goats will be frolicking. Of course the soap will be around for sniffing if anyone is interested. All will be welcome, just bring a treat to share. I'll post an invite as soon as the babies arrive and I figure out a good date.<br /><br />I almost forgot I would like to start calling my little hobby farm Weeping Tree Farm. I don't know the legalistic to doing that, or if there even are any. I particularly like to initials of my new farm name. I think it suits us.<br /><br /><br />Wishing you the joy and heartache of family. Love is never perfect, perfect is boring. I will never be boring.<br />Traceetmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159528218837766732.post-57766849299429456022011-02-27T18:31:00.001-08:002011-02-27T19:09:17.541-08:00SundayHello all, just a very quick update. I'm very tired and I just want to go to bed. I stayed up last night to watch the Love Saga on the Hallmark channel. Think cheesey paperback novels all set on farms of the past. The best part of the saga was the movies went in sequential order, a continuing journey through these peoples lives. I had to record the last two movies the whole thing ended at 6:00 this morning, I made it to 2:00am.<br /><br />Today we cleaned all animal housing, the goats and chickens are resting peacefully on completely clean bedding. It will last till the morning when they mess it all up again, kind of like my house. I'm in charge of the chicken coop while Joe handles the goat house, both jobs have there hazards. There is a chicken we have dubbed Pecker, nasty old bird who loves to peck ANYTHING. As I was cleaning the dropping board today she decided it would be just great to take a chunk out of my head. I'm going to eat her. Joe on the other hand was shoveling out Oreo & Brownie's side of the pen, Ore, I guess was quite fond of her mess and Joe was really ticking her off. Every time Joe bent over to scoop up shaving she would ram him as hard as possible in the backside. It was the funniest thing I've ever seen. Finally she got totally fed up with him and went for the front side, Joe took her down with the sleeper hold. I wish I had a camera so I could share with you how completely ridiculous a grown man looks wrestling a goat. I'm laughing so hard right now I can barely see. Ain't life grand?<br /><br />Sad bit of news, we checked the bees today and both hives are now gone. My one weak hive did not survive this winter. Joe and I are trying to figure out if we should try again next year or not. I love beekeeping, I just don't know what to do.<br /><br />My gardening guru/nemesis Tony has already started his pepper & eggplants. I guess I better get a move on. His plants will be 2 inches high by Monday morning. I'll start tomorrow.<br /><br />Soap News! I'm almost afraid to write this in case something unexpected happens. The Frelinghuysen Arboretum of Morristown is going to feature Secret Garden in the Haggerty Education center. There will be a picture of me, a small bio and a display of 6 soap fragrances in the lobby. The soaps will be 3 ounces for $4.00 and be labeled for Friends of the Frelinghuysen Arboretum. Cool huh? I hate pictures of me, I asked if I could just put a picture of the goats, but they said no, people want to see me. God knows why. Anyway if you're around the Arboretum in April & May stop in and check it out.<br /><br />Well, I've got to get some sleep, back to work tomorrow.<br />Good night all...tmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159528218837766732.post-61190544355470641622011-02-20T07:29:00.000-08:002011-02-20T08:04:04.311-08:00I have to add this little story I got today in my email from a good friend, it made me think, maybe it will mean something to you too.<br /><br /><br />Carrots, Eggs, & Coffee! <br /><br />A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee. You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again. <br /><br />A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. <br /><br />Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word. <br /><br />In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.' <br /><br />'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied. <br /><br />Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. <br /><br />Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?' <br /><br />Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. <br /><br />'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? <br /><br />Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? <br /><br />Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? <br /><br />Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavour. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? <br /><br />May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy. <br /><br />The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. <br /><br />When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. <br /><br />Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying. <br /><br />This week has been relatively uneventful, a good thing in my world. The goats are well and eating way too much of their favorite hay. Two emergency trips to Tractor Supply to restock are just too much. I've go to look for a local source for hay. Bees are quiet, I hope the hive will survive this very cold winter. That little tease of a warm day makes spring seem too far way. I love the spring, everything new and fresh, the smell of the potting soil as I start all my seeds even all the mud is great.I made potting soil soap, it smells just like a big bag of seed starter when you first add the water, wonderful, probably will never sell but I love it. The chickens are laying like mad, best flock I've ever had Meyers Hatchery has wonderful birds if you're ever in the market. The weather keeps them inside a bit more, twice the clean up but think of all that fertilizer for next year. Everything is a circle, everything effects us all, I hope I can teach my children that.<br /><br />I did a show a Livingston Mall, met some wonderful crafters and got some good tips. I also came up with a new table set up, but forgot the camera, it's good I think. I'm going to try and set it up again and get some pic's to share with you as soon as the snow melts. New shows so far are Normandy Park School in Morristown April 20th 6:00 till 9:00, hopefully the Green Fair here in Madison no date yet and I'm sending an application out to the Chester Craft Show, it's juried so I'll just have to wait and see if I pass inspection. I think this is the year for a Garden Party, I'd like to invite my favorite crafters to set up out back and invite anyone who'd like to stop and enjoy the garden, shop, meet the critters including baby goats and make new friends. I'm thinking late May if the yard drys up on a Friday during the day. I'll check the Farmers Almanac for a good date.<br /><br />I'm talking to two different ladies who may be including my soap in their line ups for this spring, I'm very excited and hopeful we can come to a mutually agreeable and profitable arrangement. Please keep your fingers crossed.<br /><br />I almost forgot, I hope you all had a happy Valentine's Day! My husband, being who he is, came up with such a unique and thoughtful gift I have to share it with you. He search his favorite place to shop...ebay and found two lovely vintage soap dishes to start my new collection. He said that when we get our store (do you love this guy?) we can make a display wall of vintage soap dishes either behind the counter or in the restroom. Too cool! I'm a very lucky girl. On that note I will end this post hoping that the adversity we face makes only coffee. I will be a breakfast blend, I like the sunrise and new beginnings.tmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159528218837766732.post-33182620639628934792011-02-07T18:00:00.000-08:002011-02-07T18:58:00.034-08:00It's been a long time...I seem to have broken my promise to keep this current, I'm going to try very hard to come up with just the right schedule. Perhaps soap making Monday thru Friday, Saturday barn chores, and lastly Sunday will be for blogging? I will figure it out. <br /><br />It would be impossible to recap so many months of activities so just highlights. The balance of the summer was relatively uneventful. Goats did very well, the babies are beautiful and no longer babies. I lost 1 hive of bees and the second hive was pretty weak by fall. We have our fingers crossed the hive will survive this snowy winter. The garden lays quietly waiting for spring. I have purchased sooo many seeds in hope of spring. I will start planting in the next few days. I start them in my sun parlor, (my husband's whole family calls the room that, who am I to disagree)soil, water, a space heater, plenty of sun and they will grow. Truly a miracle, something so small and insignificant creates the very plants that feed my family and friends. I'm going to try to grow a few new things this year, including potatoes, purple potatoes, how cool is that? The chickens are tremendous, the best flock I have ever own. We are still getting about a dozen eggs a day. In fact I have about 12 dozen eggs right now, they are yours if you want them, just let me know you're coming. The holiday season was tremendous, I still can't believe the response we had to our soaps and our new milk & honey lotion.<br /><br />The big news is Kota, my 4 year old goat is expecting. The Saturday after Thanksgiving Kota was in season, for those of you unaccustomed to this technical term, she was in the mood for love. I called my friend Amy, better known as the goat guru, and we loaded Kota in the Astro van and drove to Stillwater to meet Spencer. You would be surprised how many people stare at an Astro van painted a great deal like the Scooby Doo mystery machine with a very excited goat staring out the back window. It made the trip even more memorable. When we arrived there were no candles, music, or quiet conversation, it was straight to business. To say the least Spencer and Kota are very good friends now.<br /><br />New soap scents! I'm doing so many new fragrances for 2011. I've decided to go with categories. Florals, of course, new this year blue hydrangea & sweet pea Green Scents<br /> bamboo & hemp (my fav), Veggie Scents tomato leaf & zucchini flower and my crazy impulse scent potting soil, it smells just like a new bag of damp dirt, I LOVE IT!!! No one else does yet, but you never know. The lotion is awesome, I'm probably not suppose to say that, but it really is! I'm doing 5 scents sweet grass, lettuce, gardeners, zucchini flower, & lemon grass sage. I put it in these 5 ounces plastic bail jars, the old fashion kind with the silver latch. Very cool.<br /><br />I'll be at Livingston Mall this Sunday the 13th from 11:00 till 6:00, come visit. Check out the website secretgardensoapofmadison.com, I met a new friend who's going to help me improve the website to better reflect our business and be able to take credit cards. WooHoo! Lastly, I will do my best to update my blog and keep anyone interested up to date on the happenings here at Secret Garden.<br /><br />A great read that I highly recommend "The Seasons on Henry's Farm" by Terra Brockman definitely in my top 10 books.tmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159528218837766732.post-42456257323014625042010-07-11T19:29:00.001-07:002010-07-11T21:37:12.166-07:00Sorry for the delay...Well my promise to keep this blog updated definitely wasn't kept. Sometimes life gets busy, too busy to even stop and think. My new goal is to just slow down. These past weeks my oldest son Joseph got his driving permit, I have to admit he is a very good driver. My son Andrew graduated 8th grade another Palmer at the High School. Christian made it onto the honor roll at MJS and Gracee earned her deep water badge at the pool I couldn't be prouder of my kids!<br /><br />All is well here at the garden, I really don't even know where to start so many things have happened here in the past two month. I did go to Fishawak in Chatham and had a great time and made some wonderful contacts. One lady I met came over to not only interview me for the Madison Patch but has taken the time to teach us how to trim the goats hooves and actually trimmed them twice now. Thank God it's harder job then you think. Check out the article and slideshow at www.madisonpatch.com, it's really cool, the ladies did a tremendous job. This Saturday I went to Maplewoodstock. It started pretty slow, major storms were in the forecast, but once the weather finally broke it was a pretty successful show. The music was great and I'll be back next year for both days if they'll have me. Tuesday I'll be at Whole Foods for the local vendors Farmer's Market from 2:00 till 6:00 come check it out. I'm sending an application out to the craft show at Frelinghausen Arboretum in December, keep your fingers crossed, I think it could be a great show!<br /><br />Now to my garden, let me just say WOW! My tomatoes have become a great green tomato forest, next year I've got to space them out better. Lots of big beautiful green tomatoes, can't wait to eat them. Cayenne peppers are doing very well and we have found 4 watermelons growing on the vines creeping all over the place. Cucumbers, beans and zucchini have already found their way to our table. The cucumbers are doing so well I've gotten to try the Cucumber Cream recipe, it has grated cuke skin as well as cucumber puree. It's still curing but I can't wait to try it. It will be ready for the first Farmer's Market in Chatham.<br /><br /> I took a chance and bought a mystery collection of container plants from Park Seeds, the window boxes are spectacular, I hope I can make them look like this every year. The whole property looks just beautiful it's really too hard to describe. I'm still bouncing around the idea of a garden party, I think it would be so much fun. Joe & I spend so much time working on the yard we forget to enjoy it. It would be a shame if no one saw it this year.<br /><br />The chickens are doing so well, we're still getting around a dozen eggs a day. One of our hens has gone broody, which means she wants to have a family, she sits on her eggs and gets quite agitated when you try to gather the eggs. I feel bad for her but with no rooster there won't be any chicks:( Although it is kinda of funny to watch Joe gear up with his beekeeping gloves to take the eggs out. The language that comes out of the coop is not G rated, if you ever got pecked you'd totally understand. With the terrible heat wave that went through here last week Joe installed a fan in the coop to keep the girls cool. I think he's in the wrong line of work he is a natural with all the animals even the ones that attack him hee hee hee. <br /><br />The bees have again left us... beekeeping may not be in my blood. I have one hive left and will have no honey again this year, very sad. I do see the current hive working away in the garden which is one benefit I will happily take.<br /><br />The goats are growing so quickly! I have taken away the 2:00 feeding and I'm slowly cutting the other 2 bottles down to ween them completely by September. Kota is a very spoiled goat. After she is milk she chases me to the back door where she waits impatiently for her treat, either a carrot or 3 sugar plums, the plums being my personal favorite too. She is starting to slow down a bit with milk we're getting 3/4 to a gallon of milk a day. Still more than enough for the business right now. The babies and Kota do go together into one pen after the night milking. Kota has taught them to pull leaves off trees and play the way goats do. It's really something to watch. <br /><br /><br />The soap is doing very well. Lettuce and Lemongrass worked out well. I did get an order for a baby shower and found a great new fragrance that I'm calling Oh Baby, it reminds me of Loves Baby Soft. The other kid scents are Butterfly Garden, Innocence's, & Giggles. All very sweet. I'm making personalized labels for the shower "Baby Palmer", (an example only, no babies here unless they're goats) I was thinking about maybe approaching the local kids clothing store here in town and see if they might be interested in carrying the kids scents. Several of the customers at Maplewoodstock suggested I approach a shop called 165 in Maplewood, who knows maybe I should go more wholesale. <br /><br />I've changed so many times in my life, always reinventing myself, but this new direction has made me the most content. I love these animals, I love doing these crazy things, like making soap from milk, chasing escaped chickens through the woods, meeting people at these shows and sharing what I've learned with anyone who will listen. I sat with my nephew on my lap and taught him how to milk a goat. A skill he'll probably rarely use, but he was so proud of himself. How cool is that? I wish I could open a camp for kids and let them experience the things I'm doing here. Growing veggies, caring for animals and in turn the animals caring for us with the wonderful food they produce. It's hard work but satisfying. Live simply so others may simply live. Kids should know this, it makes for a more full-filling life and a better place to live for everyone.<br />Check out the new photos, I'll post when I can, have a good night.<br /><br />Traceetmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159528218837766732.post-33015869931376532010-05-06T17:34:00.000-07:002010-05-06T18:44:51.265-07:00A little of my soapboxMy hope was to update my blog every Saturday, as you can see I'm late, very late. It's another goal. I think I'll break from my usual rantings about the garden and just write what's on my mind. <br /><br />I did have 2 shows this past week, one was a green fair and I did OK, the other was a fundraiser which I completely tanked at, such is life. My next show should be the Chatham Borough Fishawak Festival on June 12th and of course Maplewoodstock in July. I may have my soaps at a local business which is very exciting, we're just ironing out the details. A business course may be in order for me in the future.<br /><br />The most interesting part of these shows are the people. I've always enjoyed people watching, but to listen to them is remarkable. I met two very impressive young ladies from Drew University. I was lucky enough to have them stop by and feed the babies and we got to chatting. I can only hope my own kids will be so on the right track at the same age. The one question these ladies asked me was why am I doing this, I've been trying to figure it out ever since. I started with the chickens to show my kids a different way of life and give them a sense of responsibility. It didn't work by the way. Then the bees were to help pollinate the veggies and flowers with the bonus of honey as well as to help care for a creature that is so very important to our planet. The goats were just the next logical step, a kind of backyard homesteading. But why am I really doing this? Have you ever felt true peace, I know corny, but to be outside with my animals or in my tiny soap kitchen creating something wonderful, it gives me a sense peace. I'm happy,I mean really happy, I don't need anything else. Do I think every one should do this, absolutely not. I think everyone should take the time to find something that makes them HAPPY no matter what it is. If you do what you love you will have no choice but to be successful. Success should never be measure in things, but in joy. The older I get the more I appreciate the people in my life and the things just don't mean all that much. It's just stuff. My soapbox... the girls know what I mean :)<br /><br />Quick updates, I have 250 bean plants sprouted in the greenhouse, now that's a lot of beans. Zukes are up as well as 2 watermelon plants no yellow squash yet :( about 60 tomatoes and countless pepper plants. This weekend the plan is to plant out the front porch and garage window box, maybe till the garden. I was planning on do the veggies and back window boxes around the 17th.<br /><br />The chickens are amazing, I promise to get those pic's up this week. Still 12 to 15 eggs a day. I'm selling them at my school as well as TJS if you're interested just stop by, $3.00 a dozen. I'll give you the .50 tour and maybe you can feed the babies.<br /><br />I did finally feed the bees,syrup NOT sugar, next I must get 10 new frames for the new hive. We don't want another swarm. Keep your fingers crossed that the frames arrive in time.<br /><br />The goats are just fun. Still about 10 lbs a milk a day from Kota. The babies are growing way too fast and are very funny. They do these jumps and kicks that just blow me away.<br /><br />The soap is getting better and better. Kota's milk is so rich it pours into the molds like silk. I did start 2 new fragrances, one on the recommendation of my best friends mom. Lettuce a very clean scent and sage lemongrass, which will replace my coffee and cream as a wonderful kitchen soap. How yummy do they sound! Next will be cucumber cream. <br /><br />I hope that everyone finds this "thing" that I've found. I'm 43 almost 44, (my birthday is the 25th yeah me!), which I explained to my daughter is about 1/2 dead, and I've finally found what I love to do I'm a bit of a late bloomer. I know I'm terrible and I say ridiculous things but to know me is to be entertained by my ridiculousness. My family will always be my greatest accomplishment, but my "backyard homestead" is my personal joy. I think I'm going to start dreaming of a farm, not too big, maybe 10-15 acres with a nice big barn, chicken coop and a milking parlor, oh the cheeses I could make! I will write again soon.tmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159528218837766732.post-53575718773725956362010-04-17T04:56:00.000-07:002010-06-11T11:59:17.313-07:00ChaosI don't even know where to begin, it feels like so much has happened! As per my last post the goats have arrived and are settling in to their new home. The peas are growing very nicely. The babies are now laying about a dozen eggs a day... holy crap! The bees are working tirelessly on honey production. I had my very first craft show. We've had many visitors to our little garden the past 2 weeks, and I'm lovin it! Nothings perfect or 100% clean but God we're having so much fun. That's the overview, now let's get down to the nitty gritty.<br /><br />The veggies are doing nicely in the greenhouse, my petunias aren't as healthy as I would like, the peas are about 4 inches high, the little swiss chard that grew is about an inch high and doing so-so. Tony the gardening guru has already planted beans and zucchini out, he wins again. Hopefully this week end I'll get a little lettuce outside and I'll start the beans and zukes in the greenhouse.<br /><br />The babies are no longer babies they are CHICKENS. A very pretty flock, I am adding pic's today. They have almost gotten the hang of laying in the nest boxes, I have my dummy eggs in there show them but there is one chicken who loves to lay under the ramp. There is always one in every family, human or otherwise.<br /><br />Goats, who knew? I'm quickly becoming the talk of Madison. I started out as the chicken lady, then the bee lady, now the crazy goat lady who makes soap. My mother always said I'd have a reputation, I just don't think this is what she meant. Milking is alot harder then it looks. I almost have sympathy for all those teen age boys in the backseat of cars, well you know what I mean. My first attempt at milking was bright and early on a Sunday. The sun was breaking through, the air was crisp, I had my bright, shiny new milking bucket and pure determination. I entered Kota's pen and tied her gently to the post and gave her yummy sweet feed, sat down, took hold and was promptly knock over and Kota was gone. Grace immediately started yelling, thinking I had been trampled to death in the little pen that I was attempting to do something so foreign in. After 3 more failed attempts I called Patty, the real goat lady crying at 6:45 on a Sunday morning. The goat hates me and I'm never doing that again! I stormed inside and got the bottles for the babies, Oreo and Brownie, to hell with Kota I thought, I hope she explodes. Well, the babies are charming. They jump right in your lap and drink a bottle in about 3 minutes. Just adorable. My confidence back on track and a long and soothing conversation with Patty I decide to make another attempt. This time I take her outside of the little house and tie her to a tree, better, ,more room to run like hell if she flips on me again. She looks like she really might explode. It was a feeble milking, but it was a milking. Next time I brought the big guns, my husband, which has become the routine here. We head out together at 6:30, morning and night and talking quietly and milk our Kota. It has become a wonderful part of our day, still not perfect milkings but definitely better. I'm getting around 9 to 10 1/2 pounds of milk a day, which is about a gallon and a 1/2. That's alot of milk. The babies are growing so quickly, they are bottle feed 3 times a day 7:00, 2:00, and 7:00. Not to be missed if you'd like to stop by. Kids are acrobats, who knew, they jump and well, frolic, (never thought I'd use that word) all day. The newest trick is when someone sits on the log in their pen and leans forward the 2 of them jump on your back and use you as a launching pad. Hopefully they will out grow this. Too much fun.<br /><br />The bees are busy and a bit neglected, the goats have been overwhelming. I will be back on track this week.<br /><br />My first craft show was yesterday, it went very well. I sold out of Grandpa's Lilac and French Lavender. Everyone was so nice and helpful. I was more than a little nervous. I had taken a break from making soap thinking that if I didn't do well at this show I would rethink the business. The deal I made with myself was if I sold 1/2 my stock at the show I would continue on. I brought 108 bars of soap and sold 58 bars. Looks like I'm in business. Time to make the soap. I will be at the Madison Green Fair this coming Thursday downtown 3:30 till 7:30. After that, Maplewoodstock is the other definite in July. I'm appling to Chatham's festival in June. Very exciting.<br /><br /><br />My boys have informed me that no one else in Madison has to do the weird chores they do. Nobody has to feed baby goats or close up chickens. I told them they are absolutely right, aren't they lucky! Joseph informed me he was leaving for college as soon as possible. I told him he better work on his grades. The rest grudgingly do the required work except for sweet Grace, she is up each morning early to bottle feed her babies. They come when she calls and follow her down their side of the pen when she leaves. There is a waiting list for play dates, if your interested talk to Grace. Every child that visits feeds a baby goat, collects the eggs, and Grace is now teaching them to sew pillows. Not a bad deal for a play date. Maybe a should charge a fee? lol<br /><br />Beyond all that I'm tired, but it's a good tired and things are starting to really fall into place. Destiny, I believe in it, I know some may scoff but the choices are ours to make, take a chance, you never know. I tell my kids I'm giving them pavers, how they choose to lay them for their life path is completely up to them. I can only give the foundation. Time to fix breakfast, fresh eggs from coop and a cold glass of milk? I hear them waking up...tmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159528218837766732.post-54017637691171519982010-04-09T07:06:00.000-07:002010-04-09T08:24:55.570-07:00The goats are coming...Today is a bit gloomy, it should burn off by this afternoon, so I'll take this chance to write about the past week and a half. As of April 1st I became a registered business in the state of New Jersey as well as receiving my tax ID number, so that I may join in the local craft shows. Very exciting and a little scary but nothing ever happens without taking a chance. I will be at Grace Church on the 23rd for their Spring Fling and I just got my acceptance letter from Maplewoodstock on July 10th. I'm still waiting to hear back on the Green Fair here in Madison and I'm hoping to participate in our Farmers Market as well. Enough business on to the garden.<br /><br />I have the first signs of peas and swiss chard appearing outside in the garden. Yeah! I have about 65 tomato seedlings doing very well. Onions peppers, geraniums, and assorted flowers also coming along nicely. Unfortunately my friend who was willing to adopt the chickens has still not shown up, fingers crossed today will be the day. I may have to cut back on some of my garden plans for this year just because there is just too much going on. I'm considering adding 2 crepe myrtles to the yard to add interest to the goat house gate. I'll add a pic let me know what you think. The next big thing I would like to add is seckle pears, if you have ever eaten one you'll know why having them is well worth the effort. Delicious.<br /><br />My dear sweet baby chickens are HUGE and need to move to their permanent residence. The other day Gracee and I were headed out when a chicken took a slowly and leisurely stroll across the driveway. The girls have figured out that if they "fly" full speed at the screen door to the greenhouse they can dislodge it just enough to escape. Park Ave and chickens are NOT a good combination. I have about 10 dozen eggs from the babies in the frig right now if anyone is interested, there's no charge for these eggs since they are still on the smaller size, just let me know. I have one beautiful Barred Rock who has discovered the joy in pecking EVERYTHING. She got my finger last night and when I turned my back to gather the eggs she promptly took a nibble of my backside. I, in turn gave her a poke, our chosen way of chicken discipline. I have to say this is a beautiful flock of birds each with a different personality and hysterical to watch. I highly recommend chicken keeping to everyone. They are entertaining pets and the bonus is fresh eggs.<br /><br />Now to the goats, they arrive tomorrow morning. We are so not ready, but like everything we do we somehow pull it together. I think we just work better under pressure. My order from Hoegger Goat supply arrive, all kinds of neat goat things that I won't bore you with but that I find very exciting. We have decided to give the goats only natural medicine keeping them on that organic vibe that we are striving for. The fencing is up and the gate will be done today. The boys and I are cleaning the pen area of any pricker bushes to keep the darlings safe. The biggest thing left to do is find a way to separate the small goat house so that mother and daughters are separate but still visible to each other. Until the babies are weaned from their bottles they may try to suckle their mom, which I know is the natural way but babies that are hand fed tend to be gentler and more people friendly which is a high priority here. I can't wait to milk my first goat... the things I get myself into. lol. I did make a promise to my husband that this was it, no more big projects for a while. I think I'm pushing him over the edge. As soon as the girls arrive I will post pictures.<br /><br />The bee issues have been resolved! First I made contact with a fellow beekeeper right in Chatham whom I'm very grateful to know and plan on picking her brain for beekeeping knowledge on a regular basis. On the advice of Bob Hughes, the state apiarist right hand man, I kept my current hive intact and ended up buying a 3 lb package of bees from Brian Rowe and installed them in their own hive this past week. We are back up to 2 active hives and should have honey from at least one this season. I am feeding them, but only sugar syrup I don't know if I'll ever do the granulated sugar again. Too painful. Bees are amazing workers, well at least the ladies are, the gentlemen, aka drones pretty much just hang around waiting for a virgin queen. I'll let you draw you own comparisons on that. <br /><br />Back to the business. I found a potter with the help of Georgia VanRyzin that produces the most lovely lace imprinted soap dishes. I'm working with her now to add them to my shop. The hand knit washcloths will be ordered this week, God willing. I have also found a packaging that I'm very happy with. It is completely biodegradable in keeping with our Earth conscience business. I found a wonderful company call Poole and Sons who is making my display boxes, I will post those too when they arrive this Monday. They also had 1/2 bushel flat baskets that might work for gift basket, maybe something in line with Goodness from the Garden, fresh veggies, soaps, preserves, Gracee's aprons, soap dish and towels. What do you think? I'd like to get something like that as a gift. Just a thought. I'm up to over 300 bars made and the number just keeps going up. I try to make at least one batch a day giving the soap ample time to cure before the craft show season starts and the bonus is it makes the house smell great. My favorite soap this week is Milk & Honey. My skin is so soft, I'm not even using my moisturizer. Maybe the bee stung me because it smelled the honey? Food for thought. I think that about covers everything. I better get back to it, or the goats will be in my sun parlor with the seedlings and my husband will definitely leave me for someone more sane.<br /><br />I almost forgot, I am going to do a Garden Party, it will be an open house sometime in late May. I have to introduce the goats to society... a deb ball for livestock, you can only find an event like that here in my garden :)<br /><br />Traceetmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159528218837766732.post-6673743053772980832010-03-27T19:25:00.000-07:002010-03-27T20:52:55.266-07:00Good Night from the Garden<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Were you ever so tired you could barely move? Spring causes that here in the garden. It's a riot of colors, growth, and mud, it's messy and beautiful I just love it. Our magnolia tree is full of white flowers and the daffodils are starting to grow, my peonies are pushing their way up. It's time to get the screen porch ready for lazy warm afternoons, good books, and cool drinks. I have the next 2 weeks off and have great plans for tremendous progress with all our projects but of course as the saying goes the best laid plans of mice & men. I'm also thinking of throwing a garden party, more on that later though, too many other things to think about right now.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Tomatoes went in today, tomorrow I'll start more lettuce & the herbs. Tony has kindly offered me a flat of his lettuce which I can't wait to pick up. No progress in the garden itself, the peas and swiss chard have not sprouted yet and my dog Rubie decided to do a dance in the one row. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they grow at all, only time will tell.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">My Araucanas have started to lay, little blue-green eggs. The Rhode Island Reds & Welsummers are doing a pretty good job too. The big girls are still here and laying the occasional egg as well. Hopefully this will be their last week end in the garden. The sun room is over-flowing with seedling. I really do need my greenhouse.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Great progress on the goat house! Joe & the boys got the whole thing up except for 1 roof panel which will be completed tomorrow. We've got to get the foundation down and then move the shed up to the mini pasture we've outlined for the new additions. I can't wait for the girls to arrive. I really need the milk. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">After last week I've just avoided the bees altogether. I don't forget easily and my neck still hurts to remind me. We've got some really nice warm weather moving in around Thursday, maybe I"ll go out and open them up then. I might even make an attempt at feeding them again WITH full beekeeping gear on. The only thing with the gear is the veil is too big and always falls in my eyes and honestly I feel ridiculous all dressed up like that. It's easier to move in regular clothes and the neighbors don't freak out as much when you don't look like your from the CDC.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The soap molds have been revamped and work beautifully! I'm adding some pic's of the molds and the freshly cut soaps. Today at my favorite butcher, Green Village Meat Packing, they asked if I'd be interested in leaving a display of soap there. Crazy right? Seems he tried my werewolf soap and loved it. I have a fundraiser on April 23rd at Grace Episcopal Church, I'm always on board for a good cause. I'm trying to get into the Green Fair here in Madison on April 29th. I just hope I have enough soap. I did make contact with another crafter who represents a group of ladies who help support their families and communities by making these awesome hand knit cotton wash cloths, I'm very excited to start carrying her line. I'm also working very hard at talking a good friend of mine and potter extraordinaire into designing and making soap dishes for me. Since my soaps are made without fillers or preservatives they do "melt" more easily then the factory made types, a good soap dish is indispensable. If you really think about it though, isn't it a good thing the soap melts in water, that way it rinses off your skin easily too. No icky film, just clean skin. Perfect.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Good night from the garden,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Tracee</span></span></div><div><br /></div>tmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159528218837766732.post-78877502363635843512010-03-20T13:29:00.000-07:002010-03-20T16:40:46.166-07:00Surviving the Garden<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">I am sitting here after a run in with a very unhappy honey bee. She taught me a lesson and the proof is on my neck. I'm now sitting, waiting for the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">anaphylactic</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;"> shock to take me to a better place. If I start talking about a bright light you know it's the end of the road for me. If these are my last moments I figure it might as well be writing about how the end came about.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">I did get some seeds started, the peppers are just starting to peek out of their pots and the geraniums are going wild. I would like to start my tomatoes at some point today and it seems it's time to plant peas & </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">swiss</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;"> chard outside. This is my first experience with either plant and I'm very hopeful. I do have a gardening guru/ nemesis, Tony, the crossing guard at my daughter's school. He is a true old school Italian gardener and knows EVERYTHING. Every afternoon at 3:15 I get his seedling report, and somehow he is always a day ahead and an inch taller. He also always shares his bounty with me, so I never complain, but silently I do vow to beat him just one time. He is really in my head now.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">The babies are laying quite well now, at least 3 eggs a day. I still have been unable to get in touch with our adoptive chicken family yet, so the big girls are also still maxing and relaxing in the coop. Poor </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">Delila</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;"> is getting shaggier by the second, she is like a car wreck, you just have to look. I've added pic's for your amazement.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">The goat house has had slow progress, it's still in the box, although we did manage to remove the direction book that came with it. I just hope my marriage is strong enough to survive the construction. We are heading down to Tractor Supply this evening to pick up the goat fencing, posts, goat & chicken chow, and maybe a pair of new overalls for me. It just doesn't get any better then that!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">Now to those @#*% bees. Joe and I attending the first beekeeping meeting of the year. "Is there a doctor in the hive?", pretty clever huh? It was jammed packed with really surprising uses for all bee products, including honey, stings/venom, and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">propolis</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">. Now to my sting, a very seasoned beekeeper explained the time has come to feed the little darlings. I bet you didn't know you feed bees, wait till you read what they eat. She recommended granulated sugar on a piece of slit paper. I have fed my bees a sugar syrup that is pour into a top feeder, never straight sugar. I'm game, I'll try anything once. Well guess what, paper blows in even a slight breeze. Bees really don't like you to repeatedly crush a piece of paper on top of them and then pour 2 lbs of sugar on top of the paper. Final score Bees 1 Tracee 0. I'm still typing, so I think I'm going to survive but man does that sting hurt. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;"> I'm selling the soap as fast as I make it. People love it, they are buying it as gifts as well as for themselves. I'm sending out my first show application this week. I should be showing my line at </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">Maplewoodstock</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">. It's a cool art and music festival held in my old stomping grounds at Memorial Park in </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">Maplewood</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;"> on NJ July 10</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">th</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;"> & 11</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">th</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">. I will get some shots of my displays for you to check out. Joe has crafted a new mold for me with a lovely curve to hold your thumb as you use the bar. The first time out the results were less then perfect. The soap somehow adhered to the swoop and would not release, a double batch of milk & honey soap is now cut into chubby rectangles sans swoop. Live and learn. We're making our second attempt tonight after Tractor Supply. I think I will make 2 batches, an unscented bar that I've had a special request for and maybe Gardner's Bar in honor of the start of the season to sow.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">If that's not enough I have started a really interesting read called "Radical Homemakers, Reclaiming domesticity from a consumer culture" by Shannon Hayes, try saying that 10 times fast.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">It is really excellent and hits home for me. A short quote from the book that I loved so much I had to read it out loud to my family follows; </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">"A true home is inhabited by souls who live, breathe, eat, think, create, play, get sick, heal, and get dirty. It will wither in an antiseptic condition. A true home pulses with nonhuman life - vegetable patches, yeast, backyard hens, blueberry bushes, culturing yogurt, fermenting wine, and sauerkraut, brewing beer, milk goats, cats, dogs, houseplants, kid's science projects, pet snakes and strawberry patches."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">As I read this I took mental note of all the things in that list which already or soon will be in my home. I may just be on the path to radical homemaking and I just wouldn't have it any other way. If nothing else I do feel better about my housekeeping.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">Surviving the garden!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;">Tracee<br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663300;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div></div></div>tmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159528218837766732.post-36784043044255907262010-03-11T17:53:00.000-08:002010-03-13T12:57:19.027-08:00Little Eggs<span style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">A very busy week here at the garden, the most exciting news of all is our babies have stared to lay their first eggs.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> Check out the pic's I think the little dark brown ones are my favorite, they remind me of chocolate Easter candies. The big girls will be moving to a new home in Jockey Hollow. I will miss them but it's time for them to retire, not to mention I need my greenhouse.<br /><br />It's time to start the seeds. This year I'm growing all heirloom varieties of vegetables. I found a wonderful company called Heirloom Seeds that sells the Victory Garden, a collection of 76 different vegetable seed. I've already got some of my flowers for the window boxes sprouting in the sun room. I make my own little paper pots out of old newspaper, they work great and can get planted directly into the ground so as not to disturb the roots. Today I'll start onions, chives, peppers, snap dragons, and lisianthus. There is nothing like the smell of potting soil in the winter, it means spring must be close.<br /><br />On to the latest construction, the goat house is going to be coming late, so as a temporary measure we are building an 8 x 10 aluminum shed. The shed will become our honey house late this summer when the goats permanent home finally arrives. This is our first year to extract our very own wildflower honey.<br /><br />Lastly the Soap Biz, I made, in my opinion, a really cool sample box that I brought to work for a quick critique. I ended up selling bars of French Lavender, Gardenia, & Grandpa's Lilac. I made a new batch of French Lavender tonight, the house still smells lovely.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">I wish I could send scent through the internet, I know that sounds ridiculous, but the soaps are almost intoxicating and it's hard to put into words, you have to experience it. The fragrance just makes you stop and enjoy. I"m always catching family & friends down in the soap kitchen inhaling all the different bars.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">I think I even wash my hands more now trying all the different kinds. </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">I added some shots of the sample box and wrapped soaps, let me know what you think. Everyone's buying them as Easter gifts, what a great idea, why didn't I think of that?At least now I know what to get my mother-in-law.<br /><br />It's funny I feel like I searched my whole life for my nitch, what I really wanted, I would have never guessed that my true joy would come from this new road we are now traveling on as a family.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Waiting for spring here in the garden,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br />Tracee</span></span>tmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159528218837766732.post-39160398130301387272010-03-06T05:32:00.000-08:002010-03-08T17:11:23.000-08:00Welcome to the Garden<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Let me start by stating I live in a very suburban area, lots of big houses and little yards. I have the opposite, a little house and a nice size yard. I used to dream of a big house with lots of room and stuff. Then destiny stepped in, the owner of a lovely bookstore- Sages Pages-recommended a book," The Reasonable Life" by Ferenc Mate. Everything changed and I, being who I am, dragged my whole family along in the quest for a reasonable life. There are six of us, my husband Joe who can build and fix everything and anything, he is the foundation that all these crazy dreams get built on. Joseph my oldest is 15 and completely brilliant, anything technical is handled by him. Andrew is 14 and probably one of the funniest, most kind hearted people I have ever met and a great builder as well, he keeps me smiling. Christian is 12 and a lot like his Dad very creative and able to build from just an idea, he's my go to guy. Then comes Gracee, just 8, very creative and artistic, she is my designer. I guess that leaves me, I'm the dreamer, looking for a better way for my family, a simple way that makes sense for us and doesn't impact anyone else. Our new goal is to live simply so that others may simply live.</span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Don't let me mislead you about us, my kids are teenagers . Every step is an up hill battle, one that I do not plan on losing. My husband & I have absolutely no farming background at all. Everything we do is with knowledge gained from books, the internet and friends. Basically we're flying by the seat of our pants. I cannot change the world, but I can change the way my family views it and what is truly important in it to us. Hopefully they will pass that knowledge on to their families.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Everything has been happening in steps, slow expensive steps, who knew simplicity could be so hard. It started with chickens. Twelve wonderful girls who have served us many fresh eggs in the past two years. Next came the green house, why pay for seedlings when it's so easy to grow your own. Maybe even extending the harvest to the colder months. Yeah right! Then comes the new chickens, nineteen of them to replace our old house hens who pretty much enjoy sunshine and food and haven't laid an egg in about a month. Can you say chicken stew? The nineteen babies live in the greenhouse temporarily so there goes the 3 season harvest, but that's another story. Not to be forgotten, we also keep bees, this we did end up taking a course on at Rutgers University. The bees not only produce lovely wildflower honey, they also help pollinate my ever expanding garden. Now the BIG move, we're getting goats. Three to be exact Dakota, soon to be known as Daisy, the mother of two beautiful does, Marigold and Rosie. Get the garden theme? From these beautiful ladies will come delicious raw goats milk to be made into so many wonderful, healthy things including soap. The business is born <b>Secret Garden Soap of Madison. </b>I make, with the help of my family, animals and the good earth, lovely all natural hand made soaps. This is our adventure and I'm posting it with hope of inspiration, shared goals and advice from more seasoned simplicity seekers like me. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Welcome to the Garden,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Tracee</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><br /></span></div></div>tmpalmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784298682651425798noreply@blogger.com1