tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34719887577490411012012-01-15T15:50:42.133-08:00HomemakerAngnoreply@blogger.comBlogger51100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471988757749041101.post-49279906081245784922010-01-01T11:34:00.000-08:002010-07-29T15:11:22.804-07:00<strong>During your Master of the Land Course we will be presenting the following and you will be engaging in these events hands on: </strong><br /><p>How to make cold-press soap (you will take home 1 batch of soap about 15 bars)<br />How to make laundry detergent (you will take home a quart of soap)<br />Animal husbandry<br />soil management<br />cooking on a wood cook stove<br />heating with a wood cook stove<br />splitting wood<br />having an ice house<br />aspects of gardening<br />incorporating children of all ages into farming and choring<br />pumping water from the ground<br />farm "construction"<br />the basics of making farm cheese (we will try to eat this on the menu while you are here)<br />pressure canning<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">water bath</span> canning<br />making bread and baking in a wood fired cook stove<br />composting<br />how to purchase an "off-grid" type farm and what to look for<br />farming with horses:<br />**harnessing, shoeing, what is a sound horse, driving horses, etc.<br />treadle sewing ( a basic overview)<br />the emotional aspects of living off-grid and off the land<br />**marriage wise, family wise, incorporating homeschooling, and more<br />sources of power to live off grid<br />**gasoline engines, briefly about windmills, flex shafts, oil lamps, pressure lamps (NOTE we will not discuss solar energy or wind power)<br />mending fences<br />maintaining plumbing in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">frigid</span> temps, cold water in hot temps<br />cleaning the barn(s) properly<br />grazing rotations<br />farm improvement times of year<br />farm sustaining times of year<br />lighting an off-grid home<br />off-grid babies<br />brief shop machinery<br />using an outhouse literally<br />farm up keep<br />keeping good records/book work<br />water supply to a home<br />water supply for a farm<br />driving horses for farm and transportation<br />minor machinery repairs<br />caring for an off-grid beef herd<br />constructing a lane<br />bartering/trading (a big part of our farm)<br />raising chickens<br />raising goats<br />raising pigs<br />depending on the LORD to provide all of your needs according to His riches!<br />power ratios (belts, pulleys etc.)<br />defining and using farm machinery (horse drawn)<br />fuel types<br />refrigeration<br />off grid garbage care<br />slaughtering a chicken and eating for supper<br />understanding limits for workloads, temperatures, hours of day, etc.<br />off-grid laundry with a wringer washer and drying on the line<br />starting a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">CSA</span></span></span><br />organic gardening<br />You will be OUTSIDE most of the time but in for some of the home skills in the farm kitchen<br />off-grid farm housekeeping tips<br />frugal tips along the way<br />MORE things not listed<br /><br /><strong>You possibly may be included in these following events hands on as well if you sign up for the May-September (hint, hint you have a better chance) course weeks as these are seasonal and weather, animal permitting:</strong><br />the hands on aspects of gardening, planting, sowing, reaping, WEEDING<br />running a small produce stand<br />milking goats and/or cows<br />hoof care of horses and goats<br />slaughtering a hog and eating for supper some of it<br />calving<br />baling hay with horses<br />growing alfalfa, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">spelt</span>, etc.<br />planting field corn<br />cutting and harvesting ice with horses (January/February)<br />planting from seed<br />pruning of orchards<br />harvesting<br />maintaining a large variety of produce<br />ice days (January/February)<br />sale/purchase of animals<br />different aspects of animal husbandry (shots and/or worming practices)<br />and much more because with farming there is a lot of surprises and no absolutes!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>You can learn much more about Maple Valley Farms from our <a href="http://www.maplevalleyfarms.net/">website.</a></strong></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3471988757749041101-4927990608124578492?l=masterofthelandschool.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>HomemakerAngnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471988757749041101.post-67429206494704062922009-12-31T10:55:00.000-08:002010-07-29T15:12:39.398-07:00The Maple Valley Master of the Land Course begins with your arrival at our farm on any afternoon (we are closed on Sundays and all of March) from 5 pm on. You will be served a light supper after your travel as we welcome you into your cozy surroundings of the <a href="http://www.maplevalleyoffgridcottage.blogspot.com/">Maple Valley Cottage</a>. We will go over your <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">itinerary</span> for your stay and our and your expectations of the course.<br /><br /><strong>Your hands on part of the course begins the next morning at 7:30 am in the barn for farm chores and then to the farm house over a hearty breakfast. You will engage in your course from this point on until dinner at the farmhouse is served at NOON. You will then have a break after dinner until 2 pm when we will engage in your farm learning until around 7 pm until supper is served at your cottage for you and your farm course partner.</strong> The course is 2 1/2 days long. You arrive on an afternoon, have the next 2 days of the course and you will be free to leave the last evening after 7 pm when the course is finished. You can also reserve the cottage to stay that evening if you please.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><em>All of your food, lodging and learning experience is provided on a double occupancy rate total for two people of $800.00 U.S. dollars for your 2 1/2 day stay. Your single occupancy rate is $550.00 U.S. dollars. </em></strong></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><em><br /></em></strong></span><span style="font-size:100%;">We can email you a much more in depth <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">itinerary</span> upon your request. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="mailto:Angela@maplevalleyfarms.net">Angela@maplevalleyfarms.net</a>. </span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">If you have any questions, please ask! ~Matt and Angela <a href="http://www.maplevalleyfarms.net/">http://www.maplevalleyfarms.net/</a> </span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">616-566-8481 </span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3471988757749041101-6742920649470406292?l=masterofthelandschool.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>HomemakerAngnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471988757749041101.post-960270536511155292009-12-30T12:02:00.000-08:002010-07-29T15:13:30.280-07:00As the weather in Michigan varies, so does life on a farm. We suggest getting a weather report for the 49322 area to pack accordingly for your stay. WE WILL NOT ALLOW OPEN TOED SHOES OF <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ANY KIND</span> in any season on the farm!<br /><br />Bring a barn coat, even in the summer months, as nights can be cool. Do not bring scarves or any loose clothing that could be caught on something at the farm. Barn boots additionally (<a href="http://www.muckbootcompany.com/products/CHS-000A">we use these</a>) are highly recommended for dirty barn chores (lots of manure here).<br /><br />Please respect our modesty. No tank tops or bare <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">midriffs</span> of any kind allowed. We suggest wearing an old button up dress shirt and old <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">khaki</span> type pants (to get dirty) or skirts (jeans are much to stiff to work in). Shorts are <strong>not </strong>recommended on the farm. Hair should be pulled back tightly.<br /><br />We have a off-grid supply store that will provide some non-incidentials if needed during your stay.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3471988757749041101-96027053651115529?l=masterofthelandschool.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>HomemakerAngnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471988757749041101.post-82387767932991192222009-12-29T12:15:00.000-08:002011-11-05T15:02:53.659-07:00For your single and double occupancy rate Maple Valley Farms provides the following for 2 guests:<br /><br />All of your food:<br />all the water you can drink!<br /><br />All food (seasonably) is always taken from the farm first to eat and then to fill in we will use our pantry larder of canned goods from the previous harvest or purchase local groceries if necessary. During the summer months, May-September, is the best time to eat everything off the farm!<br /><br />Your lodging:<br />The Maple Valley cottage will provide a queen sized bed for you with clean and laundry line dried bedding and towels and plenty of warm blankets!<br />A place to bathe in your cottage (remember you are learning to live off-grid so you will be heating your water appropriately by wood in your cottage as well for baths, etc.) But no worries, we have real toilet paper for you, no Sears <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Roebuck</span> catalogs or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">eco</span>-friendly leaves!<br />Books and games to use at night (but you will probably be exhausted from your farm day)<br />oil lamps that stay in the cottage for lighting. Couches, table and chairs to relax at and more. It is basically a fully-furnished cottage and only you and your guest will be staying there so you have complete privacy, etc. If you have any questions please ask us.<br /><br />Your course:<br /><br /><a href="http://masterofthelandschool.blogspot.com/2010/01/what-will-i-learn-at-master-of-land.html">See here</a> as previously explained<br /><br /><br />Please feel free to ask any questions that you do not feel addressed on this site about the Master of the Land Course. There are no stupid questions, trust us! ~Matt and Angela<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3471988757749041101-8238776793299119222?l=masterofthelandschool.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>HomemakerAngnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471988757749041101.post-6827737644091349872009-12-28T08:00:00.000-08:002010-07-29T15:15:27.462-07:00We cannot accompany pets of any kind. We cannot meet any specific dietary requirements or guidelines with your food so please be prepared on your end with this. We do not allow smoking of any kind on the Maple Valley Farm property. Due to the nature of this business we cannot accompany any medical needs of any sort. No visitors are allowed or extra guests at the Maple Cottage during any time of your Master of the Land school whatsoever. No children are allowed during your stay. No drinking of any alcoholic beverage of any kind is allowed during your stay or on the property of Maple Valley Farm at any time. No drugs or weapons of any kind are allowed on the property of Maple Valley Farm at any time. We are closed in March and every Sunday through out the year. Please see the disclaimer below and if you have any questions about any of these requirements please ask us. We are here to help you! Matt and Angela<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3471988757749041101-682773764409134987?l=masterofthelandschool.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>HomemakerAngnoreply@blogger.com