Category: Farm

December 2017 – The Year in Review

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Loss – Alot of changes at the farm this year included the loss of my beloved German Shepherd, Eisen who we had to put to sleep in March.  He was 12 1/2 years old and lived a good, long life and will be greatly missed. Farewell my faithful friend! New Beginnings – For Mother’s Day my daughters got me …  – a new puppy!  A male AKC German Shepherd who I named Ryker.  He is a wonderful companion and will hopefully make a great Schutzhund or IPO prospect.  At nine months, he has a great, solid temperament, is very athletic, Continue Reading →

2017 Spring Bling at Ida Lee Park

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Please join us at the Spring Bling at Ida Lee Park in Leesburg, Virginia on Saturday, March 4, 2017.  The show is indoors and starts at 9:00 am and ends at 4:00 pm.  We will be featuring our honey, hand-made custom decorated cookies, cookie bouquets and Spring and Easter themed gifts. Spring Bling at Ida Lee in Leesburg, VA Date: Saturday 3/4/2017 Time:  9:00 am – 4:00 pm Location: Ida Lee Park Recreation Center Leesburg, Virginia  20175 Address:  60 Ida Lee Dr, NW  Leesburg, Virginia 20176 This juried show features over 90 local and regional artisans selling handmade items including Continue Reading →

2016 Ida Lee Holiday Arts & Crafts Show

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West Wind Farm will be at the 2016 Ida Lee Holiday Arts and Crafts show for the second year.  Come see us in the gym and browse all our delicious honey, granola and holiday gifts.  The show is indoors so you don’t have to worry about any inclement weather.  Get your holiday shopping done early and all in one place. Holiday Fine Arts and Craft Show Date: 12/03/2016 – 12/04/20 Location: Ida Lee Park Recreation Center Leesburg, Virginia Address:  60 Ida Lee Dr, NW  Leesburg, Virginia 20176 This juried show features over 90 local and regional artisans selling handmade items Continue Reading →

Holiday Gifts

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Still Time to Order for Family & Friends We have plenty of honey and fine tea from Harney & Sons.  So order a sweet gift for your family, friends or loved ones.  Choose from our holiday collection of teas or other teas and convenient “purse size” tagalong tea tins that we have in stock.  Order now while supplies last!  Go to our online store to order. Stocking Stuffers, Candy & Specialty Items Choose from our premium gift boxes, baskets and bags.  Add accessories like Honey Dippers, Honey Stix, Honey Teaspoon Stirers, Hot Chocolate Spoons and Cinnamon Stick Candy Stir Sticks.  Continue Reading →

It’s That Time Of Year

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The holiday season is here again and we will be selling our honey and related products at the Ida Lee Fine Arts & Crafts Festival December 5th and 6th.  Why not come out and join us, we will be down in the lower level, and enjoy the weekend in historic Leesburg, Virginia. The show features over 90 local and regional artisans selling hand-made items including seasonal gifts, jewelry, carved wood, stained glass, accessories, fine arts, photography, holiday items, gourmet food products and much more.  Find something for everyone on your shopping list and a little something to brighten your home Continue Reading →

The Shelf Life of Honey

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Found an interesting article from the SMITHSONIAN that explains the history and science behind the shelf life of honey. The Science Behind Honey’s Eternal Shelf Life A slew of factors—its acidity, its lack of water and the presence of hydrogen peroxide—work in perfect harmony, allowing the sticky treat to last forever.  Article By:  Natasha Geiling | SMITHSONIAN.COM  | AUGUST 22, 2013 Modern archeologists, excavating ancient Egyptian tombs, have often found something unexpected amongst the tombs’ artifacts: pots of honey, thousands of years old, and yet still preserved. Through millennia, the archeologists discover, the food remains unspoiled, an unmistakable testament to the eternal shelf-life Continue Reading →

The Little Things

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The first snow of the season was a light, powdery mix that covered the ground about 3.5 – 4 inches today.  As I was doing barn chores I stopped to look at the simple beauty around me.  You know the quietness and muffled silence that seems to follow a snowfall.  It’s like for a moment, time stands still and you drink-in nature and notice the little details of life.  I realize at these moments how truly blessed I am. Everything I am and have is the gift of God! The horses were almost finished eating their grain and Gigi, my Continue Reading →

First Snow of 2015

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A lovely, light powdery snow fell this morning, the first snow of the new year.  Had to fill up the bird feeders fast because we had so many visitors.  A beautiful red Cardinal also wanted in on some of the black oil sunflower seeds in the yellow bird feeder.  We have numerous bird feeders hanging around the gazebo.  I love to look out my windows and see all the birds in the trees and on the feeders.  But, those little “birdies” can eat us out of house and home!  They can polish off 5 full bird feeders in a day Continue Reading →

Farewell to Autumn

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Looks like this will be the last nice day, 59 degrees before winter weather hits our northern Virginia area tonight.  Cold weather means we have winterized our bee hives and placed the chickens into their winter coops with outdoor covered runs. Plugging in heated water buckets, and creating wind breaks are just some of the annual “winterizing” chores  It’s a busy time of year for us but the prep work making sure our livestock are taken care of makes winter farm management much easier.  I am posting a few photos of early fall so we can look back and remember Continue Reading →

Traveling Bee Hives

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Last Wednesday, 9/10/14, I traveled down to the Richmond area to deliver two bee hives to my sister.  The hives were securely strapped to our trailer and a mosquito net was draped around the hives to prevent any strays from wandering off.   I got alot of strange looks when driving down to Louisa, Virginia.  I guess it was odd to see someone hauling a couple of bee hives in an open trailer, that’s something you don’t see everyday.  The bees made the trip and were successfully setup in their new location and set “free” the next day. We used very Continue Reading →