Thankful for the Days

By admin | Published November 22, 2011

The bees are snuggled up for winter, our first meat chicken experiment is tucked away in the freezer. I am spending my days getting ready for Charlotteville Holiday Market 2011. (Click on link to see video).

Holiday Market 2011

I have begun to bring some topiaries to market and am thinking of making some suet as well.

This is part of my idea to make Black Friday “Green”. Instead of shopping at the crazy sales, spend the day after Thanksgiving making gifts for the holidays and then celebrate Small Business Saturday shopping at your local retailer, craft fair, Holiday Market or order online from Grubby Girl!

As the holiday Season is upon us, I am thankful for so many things: Life on the farm, my friends and my family. I hope everyone has a peaceful and joyful Holiday Season!

Now off to the Grubby mines to make some soap!

Posted in Balms, Bees, Farming, Oils, Products, Salts, Scrubs, Soaps, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Going on a Farm Tour, everybody, don’t you want to go?

By admin | Published August 24, 2011

Last year, we participated in the Market Central Farm Tour and were amazed by the response.
We counted over 50 people at the early bee talk! We also sold out of honey early in the day and that lead to disappointed visitors in the afternoon. This year, we will have more honey at the Farm Tour than last year (although our 2011 crop is dwindling!) The energy in the apiary this season was on building new hives, so honey production was down. One of these year we will have a bumper crop and will be swimming in honey!
We will also have plants, eggs, Grubby stuff and perhaps even some watermelons!
Meet the horses & chickens, check out the apiary, and, if you are so inclined, try a hand at splitting some wood…

Our woodpile

Come see our giant woodpile!

Come on down on Monday, Labor Day – September 5, 2011 for the 3rd annual Meet Yer Eats Farm Tour. Market Central has put together a great day of activities for foodies and farmies alike! The 2011 farm tour brochure is available for download now on their website, and you can buy a ticket online, too!

Some of our neighbors are participating this year, so there is a nice Louisa loop. Us, Poindexter Farm , and Forrest Green Farm.
Hope to see y’all!

Posted in Bees, Farming, Gardening, Products, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Dog Days of Summer

By admin | Published July 31, 2011

Oh it’s hot here! And dry! All the water from the rain barrels has been used and we are being careful watering to not overtax the well. Ginger, our newest addition, has found a great way to cool off.

We are also happy to announce, in addition to our website and the Charlottesville City Market on Saturdays, you can now get Grubby Girl from Patchwork Farms-Fall Line Farms, an online farm co-op. Next week, they are running a great promotion in celebration of Virginia’s Farmers Market Week, Fall Line Farms will be offering a special discount on registration. Between August 7 and 13, membership in the co-op will only be $10. Please let your friends and family know. This is a great way to try it out!

Visit their website http://flf.luluslocalfood.com/ to check out all the farms, find a convenient pick-up spot and place your order.

Today was busy in the apiary. I did the final honey collection and summer check.

Honey in the hive

I began feeding the hives that are struggling and found that Queen Virginia was lost. The other bees were robbing her hive and there was no sign of brood or a queen. This is the hive that had some hive beetles last time I checked on it, and my hive beetle trap worked! The hive must have just been too weak, or the queen was lost and I didn’t notice in time. Ah, the trials and tribulations of beekeeping….

Hopefully, all the other hives will survive this summer and have a great fall to get ready for winter!

the hive formally known as Virginia

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Grubby goes a-blogging

By admin | Published April 15, 2011

Welcome to our totally redesigned website. Now I can blog! Hopefully, there will be enough interesting things happening on the farm to keep it fresh. At this time of year that shouldn’t be too hard. I’ve been splitting hives,

Queen Diana's hive, ready to split!

getting the gardens ready, enjoying all the daffodils, dogwoods and fruit trees. And, of course, working in the Grubby bunker making soaps and lip balms.

Posted in Balms, Bees, Gardening, Soaps | Leave a comment