Weekend Fun..............

Growing season is almost over so it is time to transition into some weekend fun! Vending events will be in order until the holiday season! We will have the opportunity to offer folks something beyond the standard flower pots plus introduce customers to "Fairy Gardening & Miniature Landscapes". Watch our Schedule Page to see the events we will be participating in as they are confirmed!

Cat Tested & Approved............

" I love this one"

" Maybe"

 "A little tight"

"Works for me"

"Catnap Time"

After our pots are removed from the molds, allowed to dry, sanded and finished, we set them out on pallets to weather and season a little before we take them to sell. About dusk each evening all the farm cats gather and for some reason move from pot to pot and put their seal of approval on our work. I do not know what their fascination with the pots might be but it has been an almost nightly job for them as long as there are pots on the mat to test. 

This all began when my wife determined to make a papercrete bird bath. We have the top of an old BBQ grill that is used as a mold to make a large shallow bowl. A bowl was made with no drain holes and after it was dry was filled with water. The papercrete composition being somewhat porous did not hold water long. It soon became a favorite place for the cats to curl up in. Now it's "First Come-First Served".....

August Rebound.......

The Spring/Summer festivals, vending events, and conventions had completely eliminated our papercrete pot inventory. We had scheduled the month of August to relax and gather ourselves for the Fall season. Our usual venue is to change hats and vend for another company through the Fall and into the Winter months but due to an unscheduled back injury we had to change our normal routine. Peggy and I spent the first three weeks of the month building an inventory to allow us to vend at a few select craft shows this Fall. 

When I was young I abused my joints and muscles and they accepted it begrudgingly! Now that I'm 65 years old the same abuse results in a serious revolt by said muscles and joints and they issue a reminder at every opportunity! All that said, I'm enjoying my days more and more. I can sit in the shade, play in the mud, listen to all the sounds of nature, and turn today's trash into tomorrow's treasures!!

Newest Design in Papercrete.......

First we build them!

Then we fill them up!

Found a clam shell bowl that we thought suitable for a mold and was pleased with the results.

New Items in Papercrete.........

We have add several new shapes and colors to our inventory. Molds that were gathered in the past are now being put to use. Unusual shapes and colors are always in demand and it is our aim to serve our customers. This ten sided container is the result of using a wooden tub built like an old wooden barrel. The mold has to be soaked in water every few days to keep it from "fallin' to staves" when the wood dries out and shrinks allowing the metal bands that hold it together to become loose.

An enlarged version of our regular rectangle trough is becoming very popular with our customers. They have been purchased almost as fast as they dry and get displayed at the farmer's market. We make these troughs in natural grey, buff, and terra cotta in color. The mold was made from old pallet wood and a piece of wooden siding. Looks like I will need to make an additional mold or two of the same size to keep ahead of customer demand.

Mini Gardens and Succulents.................

Mini gardens, succulents, and papercrete containers are a natural match but it is a combination I seldom use. That may change as I did enjoy putting this combination together today.

Summertime Mini Gardens............

The gardens we make in the Summertime allow us to install plant material and let it get established and mature a little before we add other elements and accessories to the garden. Trees, shrubs, and ground covers recognize that they suddenly have added soil to grow in and respond by rapidly expanding to fit the area. The same happens in almost any sized garden. Allowing the plant material to establish a little makes the placement of other elements a lot easier. Try growing your plants for a month before adding extra material and see of your finished gardens don't look a lot better. You will find you will need a lot less accessories to make your gardens seem full also. Sometimes "Less is More" in the making of miniature gardens.............