November 5, 1996 Daytime Homestead Chat Topic: Viable Cottage Industries: Cake Decorating, Chocolate Candy Making, Herb Plant Selling
Today, Tuesday November 6th, was the sixth meeting of the daytime homestead chat. GonContry was there to tell us about her cake decorating and chocolate candy making business, and DOMFARM told about the spring herb plant sale she has each year.
Who was there? DOMFARM, NancyJewel, TTruck, BLSMHOU123, Mboyd01, GonContry, Ralston Co., JimMullen, PQuacken, FY1001, RRSCHWENKE
***CHAT HIGHLIGHTS:
COTTAGE INDUSTRY: CAKE DECORATING/CANDY MAKING***
GonContry explained that she made both cakes, and custom molded chocolate candies. Her only advertising was word of mouth, and she began by making these items and taking them to parties or giving them as gifts--and the ball started rolling.
NancyJewel asked about the size of the investment involved in cake decorating. GonContry replied that she primarily used her Oster Kitchen Center (a stationary mixer), and estimated that she had about $60 into various pans and just a few frosting tips. GonContry indicated that by staying with the square and rectangular cakes, and not getting into the character shape pans, she was able to keep her costs down.
Mboyd01 asked if GonContry delivered the cakes or if people picked them up. GonContry answered that most people picked up the cakes, but she always delivered the wedding cakes to the reception hall or other facility where the wedding reception would be held.
When discussing the downsides of a cake decorating business, GonContry indicated that in doing the wedding cakes, weekends were often tied up with cake decorating and delivery, and she wasn't able to travel or participate in other weekend activities.
NancyJewel asked about the candy making end of GonContry's enterprise. GonContry makes molded chocolates, and got started by giving a basket of them as a gift. Word of mouth spread, and again things took off. GonContry indicated that you can start with something as simple as lollipops, and then work into the molded types of chocolate.
GonContry said that Halloween, Easter and Valentine's Day are the busiest times of year for this activity--but that the chocolates can be made far ahead of time and stored.
GonContry will share her chocolate making recipes and methods with us--they will be emailed to you soon.
****CHAT HIGHLIGHTS
COTTAGE INDUSTRY: AN HERB PLANT SALE****
DOMFARM said that she holds an annual herb sale at her farm to raise funds for spring improvement activities on the homestead.
NancyJewel asked when planting started. DOMFARM indicated that she begins planting her first herb seeds on January 2nd, by the beginning of March, all of the seeds are planted. She said she starts slow germinating seeds in January, and also begins cuttings from her stock plants at that time in order to have large and small plants available at the time of the sale.
DOMFARM holds her sale at the end of April--just before last frost date in her area, when folks are getting eager to get started with their gardens.
RalstonCo asked how the plants were packaged and presented. DOMFARM said that she makes plant markers out of an old venetian blind that is cut up into strips, with the herb name and whether it is an annual, biennial or perennial also on the marker. She purchases many of her pots so that their is a professional look to what is being sold. DOMFARM also asks nurseries for their leftover and used pots at the end of each season--those can be had for free.
Ralston Co also wondered if DOMFARM uses a hot house for growing the seedlings. DOMFARM indicated that she hangs inexpensive florescent lights from the ceilings inside her home, and makes tables out of cinder blocks and plywood. The house becomes the hot house.
Mboyd01 asked how advertising was done for this. DOMFARM said that she posts flyers at antique stores, grocery stores, and posts signs on the main crossroads of her road.
PQuacken asked how many people come to a sale like this. DOMFARM said that a good day brings about 50 people to her homestead to check out and select some of the herb plants.
NancyJewel asked how many herb plants DOMFARM raised for this sale. DOMFARM replied that she grew about 30 flats of plants this year, and will likely grow more for next spring's sale.
****
NEXT WEEK:
Next week we will be discussing home-made/home-grown holiday gifts. Please bring your ideas and tips to share. We will not be using protocol--the chat will be informal.
***
Special thanks to NancyJewel, WEADS R, and Mboyd01 for their help with the important details of topic scheduling, mailing lists, reminders, and online library uploads for the daytime homestead chats and summaries.
***
Hope to see you next week! Until then, Happy Homesteading!
