A special visit

The Parisienne Farmgirl and family are coming to the Maple Cottage for a visit!

Stay tubed for photo ops!
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Twenty Ten Youth Hunt

Someone is very pleased...
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The first signs

Of Fall are appearing!
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The Pumpkin Cake Recipe is coming!

Here is a photo of these delicious babies! I will post the recipe soon so stay tuned! Also, you are invited to our 2nd Maple Valley Farm off-grid birthday party on October 16, 2010 at 11, 1 or 3 pm. Call the farm to reserve you and yours spot. Only $5- ages 2 and up for the party with a small petting zoo a horse drawn hay ride, one of these cupcakes with fresh squeezed local cider and your farm tour!
Maple Valley Farms 616-566-8481

You...

So many guests have eaten here over the years... We welcome more tonight! When will you be at our table? We welcome you and yours...
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CSA Appreciation Dinner tonight!

Grass fed beef roast, pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, apple pie, homemade bread and squash!
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Look!

Or gook in PA swetze! Remember these diamonds in the rough...
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One of these will take out...

Quite a few chickens in a night! It is 40lbs plus and bigger than our dog! Yikes!!!
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Das es tite tegay to G'May!...

I want to see what you all are up to with decorating for fall!

Isn't this "fally" and beautiful! This is my Momma's front porch she decorated for fall.

Don't be shy! Add below so we can all see what you have been decorating for fall, inside or out!

Who will be next?

The Buddy Burger

Properly named after "Mr. Serious", our son! You too can try some of Maple Valley Farms Grass Fed Burgers at O'Tooles, Latitudes, on occassion at The Blue Cow Cafe, Republic and Rockwells! Be sure to tell them Maple Valley sent ya there!
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Fall is in the air here at the farm!

wowza! The horses are feelin' friksy in the cooler temps... their coats are getting a little thicker too..

We have quite a few guests coming to visit us
in the next 8 weeks...
some of them, well, you will just have to wait and see who they are :)
what are you doing to spruce your place up for fall?
We would love to have you and yours stay a while at the Maple Cottage!

During a restaurant delivery

You must stop and enjoy one of your own grass fed burgers @Rockwells, GR...
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Today's restaurant deliveries

Grass fed beef, concord kombucha brewed in the Maple Valley ,macintosh apples and buttercup squash!
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The Maple Valley off-grid Homeschool is back in session!
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The Great Him

At our morning hymn sing at the breakfast table!
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2010 apple offerings and more!

We are pleased to announce local "low spray" apples once again. Please pass this information to your friends and family as the pricing is good for everyone!

Jonagold apples- beautiful, great for storage and very multi-purpose $15 a bushel (same price as last year)

Macintosh apples - great for canning and more. Please note, these are 2nds (see photo of actual apples below, just picked) but very nice -$10 a bushel

Winter squash- butternut and butter cup great for storage! 2/$1

Have your orders to the farm by September 21st via phone or email. First come, first served!

In the spirit of farming, family and faith,

HomemakerAng and family

Maple Valley off-grid Farm Angela@maplevalleyfarms.net
616-566-8481

www.maplevalleyfarms.net

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We are just loving this fall weather...

We are stuffing our bellies as the season seems to bring us more wonderful "new" foods... Apple pie, squash and more!
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Remembering...

We are enjoying a beautiful day on the farm harvesting fall embellishments from our gardens...
And we are remembering 9 years ago today how our family's "small world" was changed forever...
I will never look at America the same again...
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starting somewhere...

It can be very intimidating to try to start to learn something new... but if you have some faith and just a little bit of initiative...

and you are willing to fail but learn from your mistakes

you might be surprised on what you glean... in more ways than one!

from your first harvest....

you might fall in love with your new hobby

and make it one of your past times!

Just 6 short years ago

I decided not to be intimidated and take the plunge

into gardening and growing our very own fruits and vegetables...

I never thought my new adventure would turn into a passion...

I never knew how much I would enjoy and get a thrill out of eating all of our own...

we have made many mistakes...

But we have learned so much...

imagine if I never tried something new, just six short years ago... What are you waiting for? 2010 canned grape juice from our concord grapes

Please grab this button and feel free to post on your site...

Please leave a comment below if so choose to promote this button on your site... Thank you!

Our concord grapes

65 lbs. Of grapes yields 28 quarts of grape juice concentrate so far...
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The Great Him

Eating heirloom tomatoes with scrambled eggs on bread for his breakfast...

I love watching my children eat!
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this moment...

He (The Gentle Giant) is deep in thought, hard at work and loving life...

If you would have told us 19 years ago we would have 6 children, live on an off-grid farm and farm for a living... We could have only hoped to believe you but never could have...

When we pray and ask God "What is next"? "What will my life turn out like"? I know why He keeps it a "secret"... Could we really handle it all at once? Little by little our stories, our LIVES unfold... Page by page...

But I still wonder "where will I be 19 years from now?...

2010 organic herbs harvest

A sampling of our harvest... I always like to "see" the herbs on the stage and dry some bunches this way and then more simply in another way.

From left to right may I introduce you to: fennel, basil, dill seed, stevia, oregano, cilantro seed, rosemary, mint, sage, cayenne peppers, Muzak garlic and faithful lemon balm...

These players will be enjoyed all winter and into the spring until "the next generation" takes over for them...

What are your favorite things to dry? I have a "ton" of fennel root as well... Any suggestions friends?
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Our grape harvest 2010

Eager helpers!
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This hand is not mine...

These children of ours are as eager as ever to learn the old arts of canning and more... Even when momma's enthusiasm wanes at the end of the garden season... :).

Our 16 year-old (she will tell you only 6 weeksish shy of 17) is canning one of our CSA member's family recipe of "chicken giblet stock" with fresh garden herbs, onions, garden carrots and garlic!

Momma is enjoying a cup of tea and thankful for eager hearts...

Our daughter is even more excited to can our grapes into juice that sit on the other end of this very stove today!
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Canning and more canning...

The concord grapes on our farm are ready early! Today we are harvesting and canning our own grape juice, later this winter to be opened and sweetened with honey or our maple syrup. Yesterday we butchered 37 chickens and today we are pressure canning giblet stock with carrots and herbs from the garden! We try to use every part of the animal here...
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You are invited this Saturday, September 11, 2010 at our Maple Valley off-grid Farm

This would be a great family activity!

Farming with Horses‬ with Montcalm Community College

‪Taught by Maple Valley Farms. The cost is $53.‬

‪Learn the basics of farming with a team of Belgian horses. Experience farming using old-fashioned methods while learning the techniques of harnessing, using tools, hooking up implements and driving. A hearty farm lunch will be served in the farmhouse at Maple Valley Farms. A $12 fee is payable to the instructor for the meal. This course will take place rain or shine, so be sure to dress appropriately for doing outside farmwork. Participation is limited to those ages 12 and older. Please note: Restroom facilities are outhouses.‬

‪XPER 290 01‬

‪Sat, Sept. 11, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.‬

‪Class will meet at 2902 Amble Road, Coral

Call Montcalm Community College to sign up today! 989-328-1260
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Drying some of our organic stevia

For teas this fall and winter! We will break off a piece to sweeten our Maple Valley mint and fennel tea!
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