Reserve Your Space Now!

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!

It seems that we have had  a few seats come available in our Cheese Making 101 class set for August 7. Our space is still very limited, so we wanted to offer these few openings to everyone. You can register right here on  the blog! Just click on EMAIL on the right column. Once we've responded to you, then you'll be able to pay your $15 deposit through paypal at pastymes@visuallink.com . Or, if you're old fashioned just pop us a check in the mail or leave it in the shop. Easy-peazy!

We're super excited about this class, and there will be more classes and doings on The Farm in the months to come! Stay tuned everyone!

 

~Cheese Making 101 part 2~

It is our pleasure to RE-announce our Cheese Making 101! The new date for the class is Aug. 7.  from 10-12. Now, due to the overwhelming response and interest in this class, we are offering it on a first-come-first-served basis. Space is limited, so sign up early. ($15 deposit due @ registration) The price is still $35 (this means remaining $20 due day of class) 

Interest is SO large for this class, that we are working now to get the next class scheduled with the teacher. However, because we don't know when this will be, you shouldn't Provolone signing up for this class. (Sorry, couldn't help myself)

Just drop an email, or give the Farm a call!

                                       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We also want to announce our new Farm Hours. (For Cow Share Owners only)

Mon- Sat. 9am- 7pm

Sunday 12-4pm

(If you are interested in becoming a Cow Share Owner, or if you want information on the other services we provide- then by appointment only at this time.)

Thanks for making a note of this change.

~To Bless Another~

So, Saturday begins with chores- just like any other farm day. But then we get a call from Sis up in Michigan. It appears that a friend's son from her church is in need of some help. Can we possibly give it to him?

http://www.80daysacrossamerica.com/

It appears that Ben's bike is having some mechanical problems and we are the closest folk with the ability to help. So The Farmer hops into his truck at 9:30 pm and drives out to Jefferson, MD where Ben is stranded. Together they loaded the bike and all of his gear into the truck and drive back to the Farm. Ben sleeps here and it is so wondreful to be able to share what we have with him. It's amazing how God brings us all together in times of need.

Sunday morning dawns and the Farmer and Ben drive into Winchester. They take the bike and Ben into Element Sports to see about getting the bike fixed. The folk there are so much more than helpful, going over every inch of Ben's bike plus fixing the broken small gear thingy for a very nominal fee.

After the bike is fixed, the Farmer returns Ben to Jefferson, MD. so that he can resume his trek across America.

Good luck, Ben. Our prayers are with you.

Please Don't be Bleu...

Cheese accept our apolocheese. 
Our much anticipated  Cheese Making 101 class has been Provoloned.

Back in the late 1800's, Fromage when the farm house was being built, I doubt there was much interest in electricity.But our wiring is old and sometimes life intervenes. How wonderful it would be if, when things did happen around here, we could fix them immediately....

So our Cheese Class is being set back, and as soon as we get things up and running here in the kitchen again, we'll give everyone advanced notice.  There's Stilton's of interest for this class so much so that all of  you couldn't fit into one time slot. (How wonderful is that?!!?) So if our new date (when we get it) isn't Gouda for your schedule, we'll be able to put you in the following class. After all, everyone will then be able to make their own cheese and Edam up!

Ok, OK, I think I've milked this cheese-pun thing for long enough now..seriously, I'm Feta up..

And We're Not Just Talkin' Turkey!

Ahhh, Spring is  in the air and we turn to love. Love comes in many forms. Romeo and Juliet. Bonny & Clyde. Sampson & Delilah.
Christmas & Thanksgiving.


Yup, ya got that right: Christmas & Thanksgiving. Our 2 new start crossed lovers at Pine Grove Farm .

 

These turkeys were gifts from a very generous Cow Share Holder. They were brought in this week and have already set up "house". Christmas has even laid her first egg!

Alas and alack: as with all good love stories, ours comes with it's own bit of drama. You see,they arrived last Friday afternoon and were soon strutting around the farm yard acting as turkeys will act. Thanksgiving likes to show off his manliness, and true to form, was all puffed up with nowhere to go. Christmas was just a bit more curious about her new home , and thought she'd take a stroll.

By late Saturday afternoon, she had seen the whole yard and was bored. So Christmas walked,

and walked, 

and walked,   and walked.


And the Farm Family looked, and looked, and looked, and looked. We'd not wanted Christmas to come that badly since we were kids! But no Christmas, and it was getting too dark to see. The search for Christmas had to be put off until morning. *sigh*


On Sunday Christmas still hadn't come. And, by now, Thanksgiving was feeling the loss of his lady.

He moped around the yard, seeking his love. 

Then comes Monday. The Farmer's Daughter gets a call from a childhood friend, "Do you know anything about turkeys?" This friend asked.
"Yeesss,"she answered sheepishly
"Well, my Grandparents have this turkey that showed up the other day....."


In her desire to see the grass on the other side, our Christmas crossed the creek (Turkey Run, how apropos), and meandered over 1/4 mile to Grandma's House. 


Well, she was returned to her Thanksgiving as soon as possible.

So when you visit us, remember our new love birds and remember that Thanksgiving likes to impress with his plumage. He's just a big softy at heart

~God Bless,

Pine Grove Farm

*1/2 A Day In The Life*

What do we do all day here on the Farm? We thought you'd never ask! (But since we didn't have the camera around during the morning work, we can only show you 1/2 of it! heehee)

We finally were able to finish the green house! Can't wait to see what a difference this will make in our veg production this year...

Here's The Farmer putting the finishing touches on..

And here she is! All ready for cold weather....so I guess we'll have to wait for some. =)

The Farmer's Daughter helped to put in a small portion of our pepper plants. This is just one of our raised beds:

After MUCH weeding, tilling, and planting, the peppers are all tucked into their new bed!
                                             "TA-DA!"


We've been working to clear the site of the Old Woolen Mill here on the Farm in order to build it up as a barn. With the Farmer's wonderful excavation work, we're now able to see how much work we have left to do. It's great to see a dream take shape!

And here's the happy couple now: The Farmer and The Farmer's Wife! (Couldn't get them in the same shot, ........




We're just too darn busy around this here place! =)

*Come, Learn to Make Cheese With Us!*

Cheese, Please !

--- Making Cheese on your own can seem daunting, but only until you learn a few easy steps. Nature intended milk to convert to cheese for longer storage, and all you have to do is learn to understand and guide the process so that you can end up with the type of cheese you desire.

In this beginner's class, we will start with basic cheese recipes, such as Rennet Cheese, Chevre' and a basic hard cow's milk cheese. We will also discuss Latin American "White Cheese" and Ricotta. Also, along with cheese, butter, and yogurt. Recipes and sources for cultures, enzymes, molds, and molds (yes even the yucky looking green stuff!) will be distributed.

Sample cheese and crackers as you learn.
Class includes:
~Cheese samples
~Recipes
~Sources List

Class Fee: $35
Starting June 19, 2010 @ 10:00 am