Pleasant Hill Farm

            For over twenty-five years, my husband, John Van Voorhees, and I have nurtured our organic blueberry farm. John’s grandfather bought the original section of the farm in 1937 and started planting blueberries with his sons. We still harvest berries from those bushes! John’s parents expanded the farm and planted even more acres to blueberries in a large peat bog encircled by woods. We ship our frozen berries to various Co-ops, such as Natural Farms and Ozark, around the country because we believe in working with cooperative businesses.

            John and I believe in living simply on our homestead. We garden year around, keep goats, chickens, make maple syrup, and harvest our electricity by wind and solar power. Our son, Carlos, keeps bees and runs his own business.

            Over the years we built our post and beam house, several out-buildings, and a large barn. We like to share our farm with friends and have hosted in our barn many celebrations that included treasure hunts, plays, story telling, puppet shows, and country dancing. Being musicians, we are blessed with talented friends who help us prepare and stage these events.

After the sun goes down:

            Farming and homesteading require much work, but like Pa Ingalls of the Little House books, when the sun sets, John and I like to play traditional music from Ireland, Scotland, and America. John plays piano accordion while I play an Irish button accordion. My red box has buttons on both sides and makes a different note when I push in and pull out. Sometimes we play with our friends Robin and Glenn in a contra dance band called Puddingstone. Other times I go and play with many friends at a local Irish seisiun (session). I am learning Celtic harp, and on Sundays I often play my alto recorder at the church we attend.

            I love traditional music and folk dancing because these are skills that were passed on from one generation to another by common people. I can join in with other Irish musicians anywhere in the world, and we will probably know some of the same tunes and can play them together.

            When my arms or feet need a rest, I sit and quilt. I like to think that working with bright fabrics to create a cheerful design, teaching someone how to dance an Irish dance, or playing a tune all add a sparkle to my writing. Truly, I live a blessed life.

For more information on organic farming, visit my LINKS page for some related sites.

We use wind generated power, and have solar panels too.

This is Our House, which we built ourselves.

This is our Small Barn, where we keep our animals:

We keep chickens,

and Goats.