It’s has taken me since February until today to actually get back to “beginning” Spoon Mountain Farm’s blog . I can’t even begin to tell you how many changes have occurred. For one, this is now a solo operation. The life partner has moved on. This is bringing new changes and ideas to the concept. They are good. It is all good. It will be different but wonderful. New solutions will replace other solutions and everything will move along in harmony with nature and the Divine. I have great faith in this.

So let me tell you about the Farmer’s Market in Stuart. VA! It  is open on Friday mornings from 8 to 12 AM and that is where you will find me most religiously every week. All the venders are WONDERFUL! I could never say enough positive things about these farmers and how hard they work to bring delicious quality produce to the market and to your table. If you can’t make it on Friday mornings you can find the market open on Tuesday afternoons beginning at 3:00 PM.

Spoon Mountain Farm currently contributes by offering several items made here. First up is the amazing  mohair yarn produced  by the happy Angora goats who reside here on the mountain. It is offered in completely gorgeous natural white in a  light sport weight  blend of ninety percent mohair and ten percent merino wool fiber. the spinning mill tells me the merino is added to help with the consistency of the spinning process. I also have some that I have dyed her on the farm using food grade dyes and a natural acid mordant.

Right now, I have a very limited amount of hand spun Angora fiber. I am sort of keeping it as a pet, not wanting to part with it, but I have more raw fiber out with a local hand spinner and that may be available as prime knitting season approached. On or around the end of October I should have some natural charcoal grey light sport weight yarn coming back from the mill. I am really happy abut this. Last year I bought a black goat and named him Socks. That says it all. I think his fiber will make the best socks you could ever put on your feet. Given the property of mohair fiber, they should last you for years to come, offsetting the initial investment price. Believe me, it is worth it!

If you want to learn the basics of knitting on any given Friday morning, bring along a pair of knitting needles and a bit of worsted weight yarn. Any kind will do, but the better needles to choose will be between sizes 6 and 10. Why? Well the bigger the needle, the fast the swatch works up and that is helpful when you first begin. Who doesn’t like almost instant gratification. Once you learn you’ll have a wonderful life long skill you can enjoy for years to come. It’s never to early or too late to learn, so come on along and take a free lesson on a beautiful autumn morning.

Now moving on to other items. We have a growing  assortment of natural skin care   products which are made here using all natural ingredients. Included in the recipes are such things as bees’ wax , organic coconut oil, vitamin e and natural and organic herbs, this product line was born out of a workshop I gave on how to make your own. A participant came back and said she really didn’t want to keep making them, but she would like to buy some of balm, because she found not only did it keep her lips soft and moist, it was great for her cuticles,elbows and other places where she experienced a little winter dryness. Voila! A product line was born. It’s in it’s infancy but it’s growing prettily which some retail venues recently added. You can look to Greenberry House in Meadows of Dan where you will find Leslie creating amazing creations in fiber and also many interesting collectible and books It’s a perfect place to stop and browse and knitters can bring their friends and hubbies along and be certain they will have ample opportunity to browse the many interesting things the shop offers. You can find a basket of soothing and relaxing Spoon Mountain Farm products  currently at the Woodberry Inn in Meadows of Dan. The Inn is right off the Blue Ridge Parkway.  If you need peaceful accommodations or a relaxing meal, try the Inn. The menu is lovely  and all choices are freshly prepared. The full bar and dessert menu round out your dining experience in an  atmosphere that is fresh and clean with lovely windows overlooking the property.

Spoon Mountain Farm’s additional staple Farmer’s Market product is homemade Biscotti freshly made each week with only the best ingredients and of course farm fresh eggs produced here by a happy flock of eight hens and a mighty fine rooster. All the girls and their fella have a free range outing every afternoon allowing them to scratch and peck as nature intended. Did you know chickens have something like 32 vocalizations? They communicate their emotions vocally and cluck to each other. Non chicken owners may be skeptical of this information, but spend a year or two with your own flock and you will be a believer.  I know when they lay and I know when they are disturbed and when they are contentedly bedding themselves in for the night after being off on the afternoon outing. There is a lot to love about chickens besides those beautiful brown and other colored eggs.