one of the ugliest buildings on the farm getting a redo

Here she is! AFTER (below picture scroll down this post)We have been busy redoin this building next to our house. Nothing major, just cosmetically, ya know, the FUN PART! Still, lots of plans for it. I think it is actually in better shape than the house :). Its HUGE and has an upstairs as well... I think we have 11 outbuildings here. LOVE LOVE this door now. Look at the doors on this beast below how UGLY they were!!!! LANTERN was a garage sale find, in fact, I have more of them I believe... THE DOORS were here in a pile of junk when we bought the place so I just painted them with leftover paint from our last home.
window boxes

the horrendous and ugly shop building BEFORE PHOTO. the huge window in front made it even worse so we covered them a touch with the shutters above to make the window seem not like a gymnasium window! The Gentle Giant and I built the shutters together all from materials we had, in fact, EVERYTHING you see redone was all things we had, wood, doors, paint, ties to hang garland, all the nature in the boxes, and we had a RIOT! We still need to do a little more on the shop. I am not crazy about the roof lines, but can't do much about that :). I was inspired by this gal and her link helped to inspire and to get me crackin' along and I even added some sweedish flair to the shop.

I would have liked to have this photo first but I can never figure out how to do this!

Featured visitors to Maple Valley off-grid Farm

We had a wonderful visit yesterday with the Jeremy's and their 3 beautiful kinner all the way from Boston, Massachusetts. They were visiting family locally for the holiday and wanted to visit the farm. We have a delightful afternoon over turkey soup with fresh garden sage, homemade bread and butter, garden cabbage slaw, cranberry sauce, tea and pecan and apple pies! It was a wonderful gut time! They are a lovely couple and currently are remodeling their 200+ year old home. Please come again!

The Maple Valley Mercantile is OPEN for business!

NEWSLETTER

We have interrupted this broadcast to bring you an announcement:

To all newsletter subscribers, no worries, your Nov/Dec newsletter is coming but we are waiting on the arrival of an attachment to your subscription. I know you will not mind the little wait when you receive your newsletter :)

In the practice of farming, faith and family,

The Management
Maple Valley off-grid Farms

off-grid games tonight

Excuse the strange lighting in the photos... You must remember that we live without electricity :)... Here we are playing Horseopoly of course (what else would a farm family play? LOL)... We had tons of fun and it actually gets quite competitive. I like games to relax, the Gentle Giant likes to WIN and strategize and then it seems not so gamey anymore for me but the children LOVE it. They team up together to win as well and it usually ends up in loud laughing and yelling and tons of fun! perfects all math skills and reading and more. The children don't even realize they are learning, not that they would mind anyway...

it is the time of year where it is getting dark earlier... We seem to do chorin', eat supper and then have family time at a much earlier time than summer of course. Seriously, we may even be in bed by 9:30 pm! You know the gist, "early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise!" Well, lets just say we've got the healthy part covered, we are on the road to the wisdom part and well, that is all... I think it would have been better said "makes one healthy, happy and wise"... We definitely have the happy part covered and thats really all that matters isn't it? What are you doin' tonight? Be sure to check back here tomorrow to see the Gentle Giant in Horseopoly action!

two of our very best friends!

Jim and Pearl... a team through thick and thin 17 years in the making... they are so loyal to one another, they work as a true team, they never leave each other's side... they have never betrayed one another... through sickness and in health, for better for worse... I can't imagine one without the other and I am sure they would "say" the same! Animals are amazing creature's created by God for us to have dominion over and to help, in this case, on our farm! We are blessed to have them and we consider them part of the family. They have taught us so much!

I better get the pressure canner out!

A wonderful day! I have been busy shipping soap packages and all of our friends got together with us and the guys had a huge hunt fest and then we all enjoyed dinner around the big farm table here at Maple Valley Farm! Now, I have a lot of pressure canning to do. We also were getting ready to can 2 pigs this week but we will keep them alive a little longer and now the deer come first! If any one has some extra quart jars, I could use some and you could get some wonderful stew in trade, all cooked and ready to go, just open up the jar!

We would love to meet you!

A week from today you could be right here with us enjoying this!

Email us or call the farm to reserve your spot at 616 566 8481. We now can also bill you by PAY PAL!

We would love to have you come to Maple Valley off-grid Farm so we can meet you and warmly welcome you here!

Your hosts,
~Homemaker Ang and the Gentle Giant~

PS. Wondering if a course at the farm is worth it? Read some of our reviews here

New NEWS here at the farm

Maple Valley off-grid Farms officially takes PAYPAL now for all courses, goods, services, CSA memberships and more! We also are opening our new online exclusive "off-grid store" in a few short days! STAY TUNED!!! Lots of excitement around here from the Maple Cottage to the new online off-grid store!!!!

If you would like to sign up for any course here at Maple Valley farm, be sure to let us know as spots are filling up quickly!

The Christmas luncheon with optional cookie exchange

The Thanksgiving organic style makin' take pie class (next week Wednesday!!!)

Great GIFT idea: Homemade Laundry Detergent Course

January 2010 ICE CUTTING DAYS here at the farm!

Come to the farm and see the old-fashioned art of cutting ice from our pond and stacking all the wonderful blocks in our ice house all by our Belgian Team of horses! Oh, and don't forget to enjoy the HOT cocoa, cookie and warm up in the shop by the woodstove! Be a follower here so you do not miss when we will be cutting ice and keep checking out our Local Harvest Site as well! It will be here before you know it!

Today's surprise on our nature walk

We scored big time on bittersweet! Lots more not shown!

True, true! We are "localvores" and you can be too!

Selecting Michigan-grown and processed foods helps keep food dollars circulating in our local communities, strengthens Michigan’s family farms, improves the quality of life for our citizens in both rural and urban areas, and preserves the state’s rich and diverse agricultural heritage.
In fact, for every dollar spent locally, three to seven different local businesses are impacted before that dollar leaves the local economy. If every household spends just $10 per week of their current grocery budget on local foods, we’d keep more than $37 million each week circulating within Michigan. All of us can benefit from that sort of economic shot in the arm.
Michigan vegetables, Michigan potatoes, Michigan apples, Michigan cherries, Michigan turkey, Michigan sugar, Michigan dairy products - the list goes on and on. Michigan products also make great gifts, so give a taste of Michigan to everyone on your list! Many Michigan specialty food companies and retail stores offer gift baskets filled with the bounty of our state, from fine wines, jams and jellies, fresh apples, and dipping oils, to spice mixes, honey, pancake mix, maple syrup, dried cherries, and so much more. Non-food agricultural products like wool items, soy candles, or clothing made from corn also make great gifts, so shop around and be creative!
In addition to food traditions, many Michigan families may include a fresh Christmas tree as the centerpiece of their holiday celebrations. Michigan’s Christmas tree farms are a huge part of our agricultural tourism industry in Michigan. Many family holiday traditions include a trip to a Christmas tree farm this time of year to choose and cut the perfect tree.
Michigan ranks third in the nation in the number of Christmas trees harvested, supplying approximately 3 million fresh Christmas trees to the national market each year. Michigan also produces and sells more than a dozen Christmas tree varieties on a wholesale level -- more varieties than any other state. Our state has approximately 42,000 acres in commercial Christmas tree production, with an annual farm gate value of over $41 million. The industry receives an additional $1.3 million in sales of wreaths, cut boughs, garland, and other cut greens. For every Christmas tree harvested, Michigan Christmas tree farmers plant three new trees for future harvests.
After the holidays, there are many uses for recycled real Christmas trees. Many communities chip the trees and use the chippings for mulch, hiking trails, playground areas, animal stalls, or landscaping. Whole trees are recycled for an even greater variety of uses: river shoreline stabilization, sand dune erosion prevention, marshland sedimentation, fish habitat, winter garden decorations, wild bird feeders, even hazardous chemical clean-ups.
By visiting a Christmas tree farm and selecting a real, Michigan-grown Christmas tree for your family holiday celebration, and by purchasing Michigan-grown and processed food and agriculture products for family meals or as gifts, you help strengthen Michigan’s family farms.

courtesty of Michigan Department of Agriculture

to the tune of "wouldn't ya like to be a Pepper too!" "Wouldn't ya like to be a localvore too!"

Be one of the first to follow this location!

introducing:

The Maple Valley off-grid Cottage

and so it begins

I do a lot of sewing this time of year and the Gentle Giant does something else

our team of belgians, Jim and Pearl, taking some R and R

Do you ever wonder

If horses and such

Like all grasses

Equally much?

Or are some grasses

Like spinach and prunes

And others like

Coconut macaroons?

~Aileen Fisher~

pictures inside of the farmhouse today

Looking south from the guest bedroom The "Sellers Estate" Guest Bedroom from the front door looking in
a faux fireplace but we actually have 3 fires going in different spots today

my favorite spot to read

looking west

The master suite

the farm is always a work in progress...

UPDATE! Holiday Cookie Exchange!

After much consensus, you are all invited to this but YOU DO NOT have to participate in the cookie exchange if it seems to much this time of year. Come and visit Maple Valley Farm, inside and out, decorated for the season! Eat a wonderful farm lunch and enjoy a horse drawn hay or sleigh ride (depending on the weather which one) only $30- (suggested donation) and enjoy a free gift from Maple Valley Farm as well! Sign up soon as this should fill quickly!

December 5, 2009 10 am - noonish

Come to a Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanza cookie exchange and celebrate your heritage! Please bring your HOMEMADE gooiest, fattest, sugary and wonderful good favorite family recipe Holiday cookie. You will bring 8-12 dozen and we will let you know the exact number as the class approaches. You will leave Maple Valley Farms with a wonderful assortment of holiday cookies! Please come prepared to “re-transport” your goodies home. Then enjoy a wonderful Christmas luncheon at the farm! A special farm tour will be available this day with the animals all in their glory! The farm will be decorated with our family heritage as well. Don’t miss this special time at Maple Valley Farm! Suggested donation is $30-. Please call the farm to reserve your spot no later than December 1, 2009 by 6 pm. Hope to see you! ~Angela~ 616 566 8481

a great soap making class at the farm today!

We had a beautiful day today here at the farm! Besides making soap (we ate alot!) here is part of the menu.... Maple Valley Farms very own Squash and apple sauce... Grass fed beef with curry, our Maple Syrup drizzled on top and butter was stuffed in the organically grown squash...The table before the guest arrived with Leelanua Snickerdoodle Coffee and gift bags! Our official sponsor's today (and free gifts from) Johnny Seeds (Maple Valley Farms exclusive seeds) and Green Prints Magazine! Thanks Pat!

Maple Valley Farm's tasty pumpkin cakes with cream cheese frosting and nutmeg spice topping! (I ate 3 of them :) ) Don't feel bad you missed these cakes, we will have plenty of goodies at our organic Pumpkin Pie Make and Take and we are officially inviting YOU! Here is a photo of the peppermint soap we made.... Wrapped in raffia as well as some added wild rose hips from Maple Valley Farm! On the left of the soap is an Osage orange. We decorated the table all in Michigan nature... Rose hips, chestnuts from our tree and Osage oranges!

Here is homemade cranberry sauce (Michigan Cranberries of course) drizzled with our very own honey over Maple Valley Farm's goat cheese from our Matron Goat Sylvie...

We also had Beautiful weather today, again unseasonably warm, and a wonderful day to take a Belgian Horse Drawn Hay Ride for the farm tour! Thanks to our wonderful Guests, Lisa, Nancy, Linda, Amy and Sherry for coming out to the farm today! (more pics of yesterday here) And if you would like to see more photos of today from different angles simply become a friend of Maple Valley Farm on facebook!

farmers have fun too

After a successful harvest season we are taking advantage of unseasonably warm temperatures! even a day for berkies!
eating his first "pig dinner" at the house of flavors... a boy after momma's own heart!

pickin' milk weeds on the beach

the pig dinner in all it's glory!

drawing important lines in the sand!

kitty cats runnin' on the beach!

a day at the beach in November! who knows what a day of weather will bring in Michigan!

Turn up your speakers as you are invited to a special event!

A SATURDAY EVENT AT THE FARM!

DECEMBER 5, 2009 10 AM - NOONISH

Come to a Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanza cookie exchange and celebrate your heritage! Please bring your HOMEMADE gooiest, fattest, sugary and wonderful good favorite family recipe Holiday cookie. You will bring 8-12 dozen and we will let you know the exact number as the class approaches. You will leave Maple Valley Farms with a wonderful assortment of holiday cookies! Please come prepared to RE-transport your goodies home. Then enjoy a wonderful Christmas luncheon at the farm! A special farm tour will be available this day with the animals all in their glory! The farm will be decorated with our family heritage as well. Don't miss this special time at Maple Valley Farm! Suggested donation is $30-, mature children (prefer over age 10) $15- with parent. Please call the farm to reserve your spot no later than December 1, 2009 by 6 pm. Hope to see you! ~Angela~ 616 566 8481

we have been busy making homemade cider!!!!!! all from our very own apples!!!!!

okay, it should be translated to this:

The children made apple cider from our very own apples all on their very own and surprised me, and its good!

I should add that whenever I say "we" on this blog, usually means the children :) but not always, but a lot of the time!

pics coming... computer is on the fritz as well as camera. OH NO!

Another new class at the farm!

***NEW*** Homemade Laundry Detergent Makin’/Take…

December 1, 2009 10am-Noon
Come spend a day at Maple Valley Farms and learn the art of making homemade laundry detergent. This powdered recipe is easy and you can choose your very own scent for your soap. You will take home a 1 quart Mason style jar of soap all ready to go and the easy recipe. Wow your friends this Christmas with this lost heirloom art of homemade laundry detergent. You will also enjoy a bountiful farm lunch with most food organically grown from Maple Valley Farms. Enjoy a Belgian Drawn Farm tour as well. All laundry detergent ingredients will also be for sale this day so you do not have to drive all over town to find some of these difficult things. So grab a friend, your farm apron and take some time away before the holiday rush and enjoy some time in the country. This class should fill up fast, so please call the farm at 616-566-8481 to reserve your spot. ~$50~ Hope to see you and a friend! ~Angela~

Maple Valley Farms Pumpkin Pie Makin'/Take

Homemaker Ang's Pantry gettin' ready for you!

***NEW***Pumpkin Pie Makin'/Take Organic style...November 25, 2009 10am-12:30ish pm

Be ready for Thanksgiving the next day and we have the messy farm kitchen for you to leave behind for A "make and take" Pumpkin Pie Time! Come to Maple Valley Farm and enjoy making an organic Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie in a wood fired cooked stove! Mostly all organic ingredients for your pie: Allspice, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, cloves, milk and more! The pumpkins for the pies were organically grown right here at Maple Valley Farms, as well as the eggs and milk! You will take home a completely baked pie that is warm so come prepared to transport. We will provide an aluminum pie plate for you, but if you would like to bring your own normal size pie plate (for that homemade farm feel), that will be great as well! Each pie cost suggested donation will be $60, but DO NOT get your pilgrim dress up in a bunch as this cost pays for 2 guests and includes an organic Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie to take home, a hearty farm lunch with most things right from the farm (see our reviews)and a wonderful horse drawn Belgian hay ride (weather permitting) farm tour! Additional guests from your family are only $12! Additional pies are $15- Please specify goat or dairy milk for your recipe. Please call the farm if you have any questions. This class will fill up fast so make your reservation early by calling 616-566-8481 and then mailing your check. Hope to see you! And BRING a farm apron!

A new class at Maple Valley Farm

***NEW***SOAP MAKING CLASS: November 11, 2009 10am-noon

Come and enjoy a beautiful day at Maple Valley Off-Grid Farm and learn the art of soap making. We will make 2 easy recipes, 1 scented with essential oils and exfoliant and the other soap plain. Take home 2 bars of homemade soap with you! You will also enjoy a hearty farm lunch with food organically grown right here from the farm! You will have plenty of time to make this recipe for your Christmas gifts this year, but don't wait to sign up as this class should fill up fast! We will have soap ingredients for sale as well so you do not have to drive all over town to get these later. Soap making class is $45- and that includes your class, the 2 soaps, recipe, your hearty farm lunch and Belgian farm tour! Why not grab a friend and come enjoy a day in the country! Call 616-566-8481 to reserve your spot before sending your check. Hope to see you! ~Angela~

It's not to late and a great link!

This Tuesday, November 3, 2009 10 am - 12:30 ish pm... Learn the art of making soft (goats) and hard (dairy) cheeses. Eat a wonderful and hearty farm lunch... All food is mostly grown here right at Maple Valley Farms! Enjoy a farm tour (inside and out, weather permitting but its lookin' to be a beautiful day) and receive a FREE video from http://www.cheesemaking.com/ (a $24.95) video. All this: only $30-!!! Bring and friend and enjoy. PLEASE call the farm 616-566-8481 today to reserve your spot as its to late to mail it in. See below for a review with photos and meet Sherry... a new found friend and kindred spirit. Oh the joy of teaching classes here on the farm as I (we) have the wonderful privilege and blessing to meet new friends... Some come to the farm seeking solace from life's busy paces to see how we live in the country and beside nature... Others, live just about as we do and come to align with this life. And that is Sherry from Russ-Stick Acres... Go on over and say hello and read about the last cheese class here at Maple Valley Farm...