SPRING 2024
It has been quite some time since I have entered anything in this site.
Fast catch up:
Fall 2023 –
- Participated in a couple of Farmers’ Markets in Greenville.
- The other vendors are wonderful, supportive group.
- Learned how much product needs to come to each event (saves me a lot of time and muscle).
- The canopy I ordered requires two people to set up and there is only one of me. Will be ordering a different canopy.
- I was thrilled to share what I love—about the ittybittyhomestead garden, how to dehydrate herbs, and canning. It was a lot of fun!
- Gained insight into what products people are looking for and will be adjusting my gardens as needed.
- Put the gardens to bed for the winter. Over wintered the marshmallow, ginger and turmeric. All raised beds were cleaned and covered with heavy plastic sheeting and all pots cleaned and moved inside for storage.
- Moved Vicks plants inside the house for the winter
Winter 2023 -2024
- Further defined the ittybittyhomestead brand.
- Fleshed out more of the product line.
- Started ordering plants in December.
Spring 2024
- Signed up for desired Farmers’ Markets.
- All in all, it was a great year.
- Opened the garden beds in April.
- Ordered/received five 5-tiered plant stands – 3 on wheels that allow me to move about based on needs of herbs.
- Marshmallow and ginger did well with over wintering – great growth already this year.
- My 2 Vicks plants are huge. Started propagation of 56 cuttings from 1 plant. (Less than 1/3 of the plant) in April. May- cuttings are growing well. Will bring to Farmers’ Market to sell. Vicks plant smell and act like Vick’s Vapor Rub.
- Part of building business is offering products that support gardening. My sister and I have put together 110 garden stakes. These will help attract pollinators.
- Also am offering Seed Balls. These are clay balls that have wildflower seeds in and on them. The idea is to toss these balls where you would like to see wildflowers growing. To keep it fun, we have hearts, squares, balls and triangles.
- May- 225 edible plants/herbs/spices are in the garden. So pretty and so easy to take care of.
- New product- Rhubarb BBQ sauce. It is soooo good.
- Froze lots of celery at the end of the growing year in 2023. Was going to dehydrate it this spring. When the celery thawed, it turned brown, gross. Threw it out. Won’t do that again.
- Daughter-in-law and granddaughters are asking for tea. Put in several different kinds of herbs to make tea. Will let you know how that works out.
- Drastically cutting back on jellies and jams as this isn’t the focus of the bittyhomestead brand. I will offer a few varieties such as Christmas Jam, Rhubarb Jam, and Pepper Jellies.
- Increasing the types of herbs and spices offered. Brought in 18 additional types.
- Increasing the number of spice blends offered. Will be growing the number offered from 6 to 29. This will not happen overnight!
- Developed 2 trifold brochures for getting the most from your herbs and spices and how to use them.
- Working on a recipe to include with the purchase of each spice mix, herb and spice.
- Have worked diligently to keep prices down. Will not be raising prices from last year!