Queen Anne’s Lace has long been known as an herbal remedy and natural dye source. The shades can range from yellows to greens. In this first experiment we got a very pale shade because the concentration of plant material was quite low. Gather a larger amount of flower heads...
Blog
2018 Fall Releases: Knitting patterns and natural skincare
It’s about time! For the past several months you’ve seen and heard me allude to a few new products and I am finally ready to share more information about our 2018 fall releases. The Knitting Patterns Inspired by the scenes of Vermont near our homestead, I developed two new...
24: Mary Lake – Shepherd, Shearer, Slaughterer
These days, the sheep industry is experiencing a scarcity of slaughterhouses and trained shearers, as any experienced shepherd can tell you. So it’s rare, and wonderful, to find a woman like Mary Lake who had the interest and tenacity to learn both trades and make them into her twin...
How to Dye Wool with Fresh Lichen
There are a few species of lichen that grow prolifically in the woods around our house, and I’ve been wanting to use them for a dye for quite a while. After gathering them and preparing a fermented ammonia dye vat last year, my first experiment didn’t turn out as...
23: Joseph Morel – Sustainable Farming at Eastman Farm
Despite growing up on a Vermont farm himself, Joseph Morel of Eastman Farm didn’t think that there would be an opportunity to continue this way of life while raising his own family. But through perseverance, developing community with neighboring farms, assistance from the Vermont Land Trust, as well as...
Tasting Big Llama Bräu with Scott Russell
A few weeks ago we met up with Scott Russell at the homestead. Scott had been kind enough to develop a special beer recipe for Gage Hill Crafts called Big Llama Bräu, and we enjoyed the brew day with him. Now it’s time for the moment of truth with...
Beer labels – How to Make and Apply Your Own
As home brewers, we’ve all been there: you want to save money and resources by reusing your bottles, but it’s hard to remove the sticky label glue from the glass. The easiest — and least expensive — way to create a removable bottle label is to use an item...
How to Dye Wool with Butternut Hulls
A few months ago, our generous neighbor gave me some butternut hulls for dyeing. Butternut are a hardwood tree that were at one time very common across New England. Unfortunately, over-harvesting for the furniture industry has led to their scarcity. It may not be possible to locate a sustainable...
22: Michael Hampton – Master Knitter
Michael Hampton founded his fiber mill around the same time that we got our first sheep, which was a fortuitous coincidence. Over the years he milled several beautiful yarns for us. Recently, Michael has taken a step back from custom milling to focus on his own projects, including completion...
Summer cocktails: refreshing drinks for hot days
When it’s this hot out I like to cool off with summer cocktails with fruity flavors that bring to mind afternoons relaxing on a tropical beach. These summer cocktail recipes are easy and delicious, with our without alcohol. Blood Orange Spritz Blood orange soda Lime wedge Gin or vodka...