It’s hard to see with a flashlight when the batteries are running low. It’s frustrating to tackle a project with a cordless drill that stops working halfway through. Keeping your batteries charged makes life easier because your tools work correctly when you need them. The most important tool on a farm or homestead is…you! It’s […]

We are coming into our third harvest season in a couple of months. Hard to believe. I am sitting outside in one of my spots, watching the leaves fall around me. It’s one of those days where I can close my eyes and hear them falling onto the forest floor. It is unseasonably warm today. As […]

In today’s fast-paced, impatient society your farm product has to compete with a lot of visual noise out there. It’s easy to be seen on social media, but it’s harder to get noticed. The images on your website, Facebook page, or wherever you choose to advertise need to work for you.   Here are a […]

Laws are made to protect people. I feel strongly that abiding by laws is important for the peace of society and overall well-being of the community. However, as a homesteader it’s easy to find yourself bogged down by bureaucracy.   As farmers, homesteaders and do-it-yourselfers, we are faced with unique challenges in the nature of […]

Selling Produce at Local Farmers’ Markets Tips and tricks to make finding your niche at local farmers’ markets easy. Your local farmers’ markets can be festive cultural outings for you and your family. It is a place where friends and neighbors connect, children are welcome, and people reunite with foods from their past. Our farmers’ markets […]

If you’re trying to break into the world of homesteading, you’re probably weighing options for getting land. This is especially true for young or novice homesteaders who don’t have much familiarity with all of the available options. But it’s not so confusing as one might think. You just have to cut through the jargon and […]

Branding is all about the image and voice you present to the world! It’s the look, feel and readability of your message. First, let’s start with your logo. A logo is simply a symbol that represents your business. You can use letters, pictures, a mascot, and icons. Think of it as a visual mark that […]

A young couple with a strong work ethic, a dream, a sensible business plan and a desire to get back to their agricultural roots recently produced a new dairy farm licensed to begin raw milk dairy products, and sell raw milk in New England. Even with an often-saturated milk market, Mavis and Chris Newton have discovered a […]

We plant rows of sunflowers every year here in the gardens at Pleasant Valley Farm. These beautiful flowers provide a surprising number of benefits! Our garden field is roadside, next to our farm stand. Each spring it’s exciting to see tidy rows of vegetable plants. But as the season progresses, it seems each year the […]