Grumbleweed's Woodshop News
Summer 2005
Hello Friends!
For this letter I thought I would do something a little different
but, first lets give you the updates.
We have pulled our display from Lancaster Motor Inn for lack of
cooperation. We now have a display at the Jefferson Inn here in
town. Cindy and her mom have an exceptional bed and breakfast experience
waiting for you, in fact they have achieved Editors Choice at Yankee
Magazine! No small feat for shore!
In conjunction with selling our produce at the Lancaster Farmers
Market, we will be selling our furniture products. The market opens
Saturday June 18th 8:30 am until noon. It will be open every Saturday
until September. Of course you can stop here at the farm to purchase
also.
It has been a very busy spring here and we thank everyone for that.
HOW WE CAME TO THE NORTH COUNTRY
HOW THE NAME CAME TO BE
Many years ago I went through a bitter and nasty divorce which
left me with a short temper and bad outlook on life. About five
years after that, I met my current wife Mary. Thankfully she saw
through my roughness and brought out the real person. She, having
a sense of humor as I do, started calling me "Grumbleweed".
Few people know what a grumbleweed is so I will tell you.
Dating back centuries in England, there was this character much
like what Americans would call a troll. The grumbleweed had an evil
temper and was to be given respect. I have only ever seen one drawing
of the character and that was in a book my mother has dated in the
1800's.
None the less, the name stuck. I teased Mary that I would mount
a sign in front of our former home in Connecticut saying "GRUMBLEWEED
FARM". At the time we sold vegetables at a stand in front of
the house more for fun than anything else. The name now had substance
aside from the grumpy character it represented.
By 2001 I had become totally disillusioned with Connecticut even
though I had a business that was very successful and had earned
the respect of many. I said to Mary it was time to move north for
more space though she doubted I would do it. In two days of arriving
in Jefferson, we decided to purchase our present location of 51
acres. This was far smaller than I originally wanted (200 to 600
acres). I did realize thanks to Mary, that we do not have the youthful
energy once available.
Now ahead of us lay a huge project. We had to sell our Connecticut
location, design a home and shop, build the new facility, demolish
three existing buildings, move twice and clean up decades of mess
left by former owners. Due to illegal and under handed behavior
of the builder and some of his subcontractors, we had to take over
building to further wear us out! The majority of the overall project
Mary and I did ourselves. Thankfully we had the skills and equipment
to see it through. I guess some dreams are more taxing than others!
With these things done it was time to start the business and farming.
Gluttons for punishment aren't we?! Though tough to get started,
the woodworking and construction business is on a roll. This will
be our first year of commercial crop production for the farm and
hopefully by next year we will also be raising beef cattle.
The things we do keep us busy 24/7 but this is living by the foundations
that built America. I have a hard time understanding those who choose
not to have the skills needed to survive no matter what happens.
Depending on a check book or charge card is a dangerous thing in
my opinion. Besides, there is nothing better than truely putting
your own food on the table. I'm sorry, there is: putting your food
on the table you made in the house you built. Think about it!
As always, we wish all of you health and happiness and look forward
to hearing from you!
Stuart & Mary Hotchkiss
Hotchkiss Construction Services LLC/
Grumbleweeds Wood Shop
www.grumbleweedswoodshop.com
** Please remember when you consider buying something made in China
or another foreign country: You are not contributing good will to
all Americans. Made in America is "AMERICAN TOUGH" and
it will toughen America. Invest in your own before you invest in
a bad future.
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