The Valley

Our little farm is nestled in a larger valley, ridged by Dug Ridge, Pine Ridge and Chestnut Ridge. The Poplar Springs Valley was home to many families over the last 250 years.  Those families were drawn to the cool, deep spring, the fertile land, and the rich forested woods. Across the country, small communities, like…Read More

The star of the homestead

I have talked about the homestead buildings as being the star of our homestead show, and some folks give me a strange look. There are incredible gifts everywhere around, and all are magical.  When I look around in the early morning and the rolling hills are covered in fog, the reds, oranges and browns of…Read More

Deer Proof Muscadines

I love muscadines, and my Dad grows some of the best you can put your hands on. I’ll start muscadines in the fall for next year, in the meantime, I’ll enjoy the fruit of these which come in a deer proof setting about 15 feet up in the tree.  

Chainsaw Therapy

My grandmother had a saying – you can let a lot of stress out the end of a hoe. With three boys, I imagine she understood that better than many. For me, I find that a little chainsaw therapy goes a long way. That said, Saturday was a full bore release. I had a friend…Read More

Nothing wrong with that

I’m sitting here watching a brush pile shrink from a 4 foot high pile of dry wood, to ashes. The fire is dying down now, the chickens are settling into their coop, and the lightning bugs are coming out. There are a hundred things that need to be done.  I need to clean up around…Read More