Red Hill General Store

10 Unique Washboard Photos from Pinterest

2012-02-21T09:46:00.000-05:00

While browsing some of Pinterest's fun pictures, we did a search on washboards and wanted to share our top 10 favorite washboard photos.

What Laundry Day Once Looked Like.

Musical Washboard.

Washboards as home decor.

Laundry Room Helper.

Washtub and Washboard.

Washboard Bulletin Board

Old Pitcher Pump and Washboard

Towel Rack Washboard

Original Laundry Day

Washboard as Laundry room Decor.

Pet Supplies

2012-02-13T10:43:00.000-05:00

For those of you with furry family members, you will be pleased to know that we have added some more supplies to our Pet section of Red Hill General Store's website.

A few new things that have made their way onto our site:

New Pet Collars

Pet Training Supply

Pet Beds

And we have also added more pet items to our other categories in our pet supplies.

Buckets in the Bathroom

2012-02-03T05:56:00.010-05:00

One of my coworkers took home a few bucket or four to organize her bathroom counter with:

They work great to clear make up and hair supplies off of counter space. And they would also work well in the kitchen for spoons, spatulas, etc. Buckets are such a great organizational tool. Need more ideas for buckets? Read Over 110 Uses for Buckets.

Red Hill Raleigh, NC Farm Fresh

2012-01-31T13:54:00.000-05:00

Red Hill General Store's Raleigh, NC location is now offering Farm Fresh Eggs, Locally Made Cheeses, and All Natural Grass Fed Beef.

Red Hill Wind Turbine Update

2012-01-30T09:34:00.000-05:00

Electricity from wind turbine:

The total electric that was produced by the wind turbine from December 20th to January 20th was 340 Kilowatt Hours. Which equals about $47.60. without the wind turbine the electric bill would have been $ 102.76 (purchased 586 + amount consumed from wind turbine 148) = 786 times .14 per Kwh. then take off the amount comsumed by the farm = 148 kwh + the amount sold back 192 Kwh = 340 Kwh = 340 * .14 cents per kilowwatt hour = 47.6 minus 102.76 = the current bill. so all in all it just about produced 50 percent of the electricity for the Farm.

How to Clean Calf Feeders

2012-01-26T05:50:00.036-05:00

When feeding your calves, you will want to be sure that your calf feeders are as clean as possible to help keep from spreading disease among your herd.

So how do you clean calf feeders?

You will need to be sure that everything that is used for calf feeding is cleaned and sanitized thoroughly after each and every feeding. This will include balling guns and stomach tubes. Nipple buckets should also be taken apart and cleaned.

You should be sure to have enough calf feeders and other feeding utensils on hand so that you are able to clean and disinfect between uses, this is especially important on sick calves. If you need to use nipples or buckets for multiple calves during feeding, then you will need to disinfect between calves.

How to clean:

Rinse utensils in cold or lukewarm water - hot water makes milk proteins stick to surfaces
After rinsing, use water that is at least 120 degrees F that contains a detergent and a disinfectant. Let the equipment soak in this solution as long as possible. To make solution use 1 cup of household-strength bleach in 5 gallons of very hot water. Dump nipples into the solution. Fill the bottles with it.
Use a wash acid at a rate of 1 ounce per 5 gallons of lukewarm water to get rid of any remaining milk solids on the containers. The majority of bacteria cannot grow in very acid conditions. Acid sanitizers that are designed for the manual cleaning of bulk tanks work well in this application.
After washing rinse again in cold water.

If you follow these steps it will help to cut down on the disease and germs that your calves are exposed to. For more information on cleaning calves feeding utensils visit: http://www1.extension.umn.edu/dairy/calves-and-heifers/clean-feeding-utensils-help-keep-calves-healthy/index.html

Featured in Mother Earth News Magazine

2012-01-10T14:56:00.000-05:00

Our two sister sites: http://www.allamericancooker.com and http://www.pressurecooker-outlet.com were featured in the Decemeber2011/January2012 issue of Mother Earth News in an article called "Get to Know the Wonder-Working, Timesaving Pressure Cooker" by Tabitha Alterman. (can be found on pg. 64 of the magazine, the mention is on pg. 65)

We are just thrilled to have our sister sites be noticed by Mother Earth News as Pressure Cooker Sources.

Don't have the magazine? Read the article online: http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/pressure-cooker-z10w0alt.aspx

On this Day Last Year

2011-12-04T06:00:00.021-05:00

Last year was a little chilly. On this day last year this is what our store looked like:

With a lot of snow, there comes the chance for power outages. Do you have an emergency kit prepped if your power goes out this winter?

Here are a few ideas of some things that could be handy to have in your emergency kit:

Car charger for your cell phone. This particularly comes in handy if the power is out, longer than expected.
First Aid Kit.
Flashlight or Oil Lantern (or both in case any batteries run dead)
Bottled Drinking Water.
Non-perishable food.
Pocket Knife (can be used for slicing up food or for whittling to pass the time)
Manual Can Opener
Crackers & Cookies in Sealed Containers
Treats for your Pets
Battery Powered Radio
Something to help pass the time, whether it is board games, pen and paper to doodle, etc. Boredom setting in can be very stressful in an already stressful situation.

There are many more things that you could need depending on preference, region (cooler regions will need an extra heat source), etc . This list is just an idea to help you get started on gathering things for your emergency kit. We hope you have a safe winter with no power outages, but it is better to be prepared in case of emergencies vs. being caught off guard.

We love our Customers!

2011-12-02T12:25:00.001-05:00

Here is why we love our customers, we received two wonderful emails this week:

Thank you very much, the order did arrive this afternoon in perfect condition and the items were exactly what I was expecting. Now I know who to contact when I need more of these jugs.

Thanks again,
F.G.

I just wanted to write to say i have order several things from your store and have not had a problem with nothing. I order a 23 Quart presto cannier from you on 11-29-2011 and to my surprise i got it the next day at noon . I just live about 115 miles from your in TN. But you got it out fast and that`s what i like and even i paid for shipping you were cheaper than walmart here . Thank you so much for the fast and good service . -J.N.

We are so glad that FG enjoyed his glass milk bottles and that JN got their Presto Canner so quickly. And we are even happier that they enjoyed their experience shopping with us! Thanks for being great customers!

Google Checkout now on Red Hill General Store's Sites:

2011-12-01T10:20:00.000-05:00

We now have Google Checkout on the majority of our sites including, but not limited to:

http://redhillgeneralstore.com/
http://pressurecooker-outlet.com/
http://bucket-outlet.com/
http://bell-outlet.com/
http://coffeemaker-outlet.com/
http://sprayer-outlet.com/

Using a Humane Animal Trap

2011-11-29T06:00:00.001-05:00

You know it is winter time when the critters start mulling around your home, barns, and outbuildings looking for a nice warm shelter. To safely remove the animals without harming them, then you will want to use a humane animal trap. To use one of these traps you will need some sort of bait to attract the animal.

What Kind of Bait do I use?

Every pest is unique and different baits work better than others. You may find that it is best to try a few of these and see what works best for you. Please let us know which ones were the most helpful for you!

Cat	Fish, meat, cat food
Chipmunk	Peanut butter, popcorn, grains, sunflower seeds, prune pits, unroasted peanuts, cereal
Dog	Dog food, meat, bones
Fox	Chicken entrails, prepared scented bait, mice
Gopher	Peanut butter and bread
Mink	Chicken entrails, fish, liver, veggies, apples, bacon
Porcupine	Apples, salt, carrots
Rabbit	Fresh veggies, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, apples, bread
Rat	Peanut butter, cheese, grain, sandwich meat, peppermint oil
Skunk	Chicken entrails, fresh and canned fish
Squirrel	Peanut butter, sunflower seeds, oatmeal, bread, nuts (especially peanuts)
Weasels	Fish, fresh liver, chicken entrails
Woodchuck	String beans, corn, lettuce, peas, apples

Once you have caught your animal you will want to safely release them somewhere that is far enough away from your home that you shouldn't have to worry about them revisiting you. If you have concerns about how best to release the animal then you should contact your local animal control office.

How to Maintain, Clean and Store an Animal Trap

Maintaining your trap is very important to extend the life of the trap, but it is also very simple. The best way to clean your trap is to simply hose it down with fresh water and wipe it down. Detergents and soaps that have a strong smell can potentially scare away animals. If you must use something try to find a mild and unscented soap.

When storing your trap make sure it is completely dry. Every part on the trap is important. Rust can render your trap unusable. Store your trap in a dry place. A basement may not be the best location because of moisture.

Happy Thanksgiving from Red Hill General Store:

2011-11-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

We are thankful for many things here at Red Hill General Store.

We are thankful for you our customer.
We are thankful for our new store in Raleigh, NC.
We are thankful to be able to have an expansion added onto our store in Hillsville, VA.
And we are thankful for our wonderful employees who help to make every day possible.

Don't forget to come see us tomorrow for some great shopping for those on your Christmas lists.

Small Business Saturday at Red Hill General Store

2011-11-22T13:59:00.000-05:00

We are participating in Small Business Saturday.

Small Business Saturday is about Main Street and supporting our local economies. It is about helping out our neighbors' family businesses. When you spend your money where you live, it stays in your community helping it to thrive and prosper.

So this November 26th, help your community by shopping at small businesses in your hometown.

If you live near us, stop on by and pay us a visit too.

Red Hill General Store Facebook Page

News Update for Red Hill General Store

2011-11-11T09:41:00.000-05:00

Raleigh, NC:

We currently have heat treated firewood from Western North Carolina that is processed by Independence Lumber. Heat treated wood means that no pests will be transferred from the place the wood was grown to the place where it will be burned.
We also have a compact fluorescent bulb recycling center in front of the store.
Our new crop of apple butter just arrived. However it is limited, and we will be unable to get anymore shipments of it until next year. So if you want to enjoy some apple butter this fall and winter you better stop by and grab up a few jars.
Our nuts have also just came in. We have a shipment of English walnuts, pecans, and a fresh crop of peanuts that are freshly salted and roasted.

CFL recycling center

Hillsville, VA

We are currently working on expanding our store in Hillsville. We have been keeping photo updates on the Red Hill Facebook Page.
Also in Hillsville, we have received a shipment of apple butter. Again, once we are out we will not be able to acquire anymore until next year so hurry before it is gone!

Online

We have just joined squidoo and have a few lenses up that you might be interested in reading:
110+ Bucket Uses
How to Use Pulp Left Over from a Juicer
Benefits of a Wood Stove

Red Hill's 2011 Holiday Gift Guide

2011-11-04T14:35:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Red Hill General Store's 2011 Holiday Gift Guide:

Perfect gifts for the women in your life, Burt's Bees products, bird feeders, hot teas, votive holder lantern, or a Personal Size Coffee Maker.

Get your guy a corkscrew bottle opener, a gran pappy deep fryer, an indoor grill, a neat ice bucket for drinks, or a beautiful Uncle Henry pocket knife.

Classics kid's toys never go out of style, try a John Deere toy, a checkerboard rug, a Red Hill Yo-Yo, or a Radio Flyer Wagon.

Gifts for the outdoor lovers: Camp Cast Iron Oven, Oil Lantern, Mag-lite Flashlight, Camper's Journal.

Pet Lovers Gifts: Any kind of Happy Jack Products should do just fine!

Over a Year of Red Hill General Store Blogs:

2011-10-19T12:40:00.000-04:00

We've let time just slip us by, we realized that we've now been blogging for over a year!

Happy 1 Year Bloggiversary to us!

In the past year, how do you think we've been doing? The whole reason for this blog is YOU our reader.

What did you like?

What did you not like?

Is there anything you would like to see more of?

Anything you wish we would blog about?

If you have an opinion on how we've been doing, how we could do better, or just about us in general, WE WANT TO HEAR IT!!!

How to Chop Wood

2011-10-13T13:18:00.001-04:00

With winter coming closer with each passing day many people who have fireplaces or wood stoves are preparing their wood for the winter. So how does one chop wood exactly?

Before you begin you will need to choose the correct axe for the job. There are single bit, double bit, splitting maul, splitting wedge, and even more tools for wood chopping.

Be sure that there aren't any people in the vicinity that could get hurt, also be aware of the level of the ground, you don't want to get off balance or fall while holding a sharp object.

If you aren't the one chopping, then do NOT stand behind someone who is. Actually it is probably best to steer clear of the axe wielder all together. Better safe than sorry.

Be sure your axe is sharp. As with knives, a dull axe is more dangerous than a sharp one as it can slip or bounce due to the dullness.

Let the axe do the work for you. This means that you need a swift controlled swing and relax just before the axe hits the wood. For the last split second you are only guiding the axe. By relaxing it prevents the shock of the striking blade from being transmitted back into tensed up muscles. If you relax then you will allow yourself to be able to chop wood longer.

When splitting wood with an axe, if you strike with the axe head very slightly off perpendicular, it will be less likely to get stuck in the block of wood, but will cause pieces to pop free.

Balance the piece of wood that you want to chop (or split) on a chopping block or level ground.
Stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
Hold the axe with both hands. Slide one hand up near the head of the axe, and practice letting it slide down the axe handle toward the other hand as the swing is executed. This maintains control and delivers a more powerful blow.
Put the axe in the spot you want to hit. Study the piece, and note any knots or limbs. You will want to hit a spot between these, as it is much harder to split across these, since they hold the wood together like nails or pins.
Pull the axe carefully over your head, allowing the upper hand to slide up near the ax head. Hold it with the head back over your shoulder with a firm grip.
Bring the axe quickly and firmly down, allowing your hand to slide down the axe handle to the other hand, aiming to hit the exact spot you selected.

It is always a good idea to let someone know when you are going to be chopping wood. You never know what could happen, and having someone aware of your location and what time you began and should be done is always a good thing.

Be safe, if you feel uncomfortable chopping wood, you can purchase it already chopped, or talk to someone who is experienced that could help to teach you the proper method. Never do anything dangerous that you feel uncomfortable about.

Source:
http://www.wikihow.com/Chop-Wood

Rada Cutlery is Made to Last

2011-09-29T13:37:00.000-04:00

When many people hear the term "made to last" they don't really think twice about it, many products claim this, but not all of them hold up to that promise.

Today we had a customer in our store. She was looking to purchase a set of Rada knives. Mary spoke with this woman about the knives. We will call her Ann.

Ann first received her knives in 1964 as a wedding gift for her and her husband. She loved them from the first time that she used them.

"All these years I've had them, I just made sure to keep them clean and put up when they weren't in use. It's been nearly 50 years and they are just now starting to get dull."

50 years later and Ann is now looking to replace her dulling knives. The exact same set that she received on her wedding day. What knives do you think Ann was looking at?

"I don't think I'll ever own anything other than Rada, and that is what I am replacing my old set with."

Rada knives are truly made to last. Do you think your kitchen knives would last nearly 50 years?

Happy Bell-Outlet Customer

2011-09-29T09:28:00.000-04:00

Even when there is a problem, we strive to do our best to make our customers happy. Just a short while ago we had a dilemma come up with some of our bells not being able to find their location once they were shipped out. So since the customer is located in the same state, a person from the warehouse the bells had shipped from did a personal delivery to ensure that they made it to their location in time for the game that they were purchased for. Here is the email from our customer:

Kim,
I just wanted to let you know that somebody just dropped off the cow bells at the house. I wish we were able to get in touch with them before they made that long drive here but I so totally appreciate you going WAY above and beyond to make sure that they got here by this afternoon.
The bells look amazing and they were definitely worth the wait. We will be ordering again for sure. Hopefully I can get the league to order a much larger quantity for next year.
Again- thank you, thank you!!!!
Sincerely,
T.K.

We are so glad that we were able to make this customer so happy, and we strive to achieve this with all of our customers.

Raleigh, NC: End of Summer Sale

2011-09-12T13:14:00.000-04:00

Saturday, September 17

Come celebrate the end of summer with us!

We have tons of stuff to help you get ready for the fall season.

Samples from vendors, moon bounce, and a drawing for a $100 Red Hill General Store gift certificate. Enter for drawing with every purchase made.

Labor Day has Come and Gone

2011-09-06T11:06:00.000-04:00

We all enjoy Labor Day, a day away from work, and if you live in Hillsville, VA a weekend full of food, vendors, and more at the Labor Day Flea Market. (Unfortunately, it also comes with heavy traffic). But where did Labor Day originate? Well, curiosity got the better of me so I visited my dear friend Google and did a little searching. I'll share the things about Labor Day that caught my interest.

Labor Day is the first Monday of September, it has been a federal holiday for 117 years now. And for many Labor Day represents the ending of the summer and the beginning of school and work. However, it began as cry out from people who were working 12 hour days 7 days a week just to make enough money to barely survive on.

On September 5, 1882, 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square in New York City, holding the first Labor Day parade in U.S. history. The idea of a “workingmen’s holiday,” celebrated on the first Monday in September, caught on in other industrial centers across the country, and many states passed legislation recognizing it.
-http://www.history.com/topics/labor-day

Because of those people, we have much better working conditions today, and that is what Labor Day originally signified.

There's also a myth regarding Labor Day. Don't wear white after Labor Day. Hmmm...now where did this come from?

Once upon a time, (before I searched the land of Google) I had always assumed that the no white after Labor Day was due to the bad winters that some areas have. Before the eras of cell phones, cars, body heat tracers (or are those only in movies?), etc. it would be very easy to be lost in a snowstorm and not found until spring if you were wearing white.

However, according to some sources this originated due to summer clothes being white to reflect light and heat, and that the end of the summer was Labor Day, when people came back into the cities and traded in light summery clothing, for their heavier, warmer suits.

But now, Labor Day is a day of families, cook outs, friends, and laughter. Although with the way the weather was yesterday, I had to resort to using my indoor grill to cook hot dogs and some chicken. Still worth it though.

How did you celebrate your labor day? Are you wearing white after?

Sources:
http://www.history.com/topics/labor-day
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1920684,00.html

Blue Ridge Mountain Farm

2011-08-29T13:16:00.001-04:00

Here, at Red Hill General Store, we have just recently discovered a neighbor of ours: Blue Ridge Mountain Farm.

The owners, Bob and Becky Ayers, moved to Meadows of Dan 6 years ago. Before their move, they had been working in entertainment, writing, and production for 30 years in So. California. Why did they move?

"We love this area so much and find it so invigorating that we wanted to build a place, private, yet with modern amenities that people, especially from the city, could back to nature, even for a weekend."

And you can see why they find this area so wonderful:

Photo of Blue Ridge Farm.

The cabin was 90% built by Bob & Becky. It is sitting near a vineyard that was designed, planted, and harvested by this lovely couple. This year alone they will be bottling nearly 200 bottles of red wine.

The cabin feels romantically secluded and very private, yet it isn't that far from several wonderful tourist sites, such as Chateau Morrisette and Maybry Mill.

And if you want some adventure during your stay at Blue Mountain farm, Bob and Becky offer many different services, including fly-fishing instruction, nature walks, and berry picking from the 1000s of blackberry bushes on their property.

At Blue Ridge Mountain Farm you will:

Enjoy beautiful 600+ sq. ft. cabin
Private with fantastic views
Warm and cozy with TV, Wireless Internet, AC, full-size refrigerator, stove, microwave, and more.
Large deck with BBQ
Cell phone reception with most carriers
Wood burning stove (wood provided)
Over 10 acres of private woods with hiking trails

To view their website go to: http://blueridgemountainfarm.com
to reach them by phone: 540 593-3333

And be sure to keep Blue Ridge Mountain Farm in mind any year that you need a cozy cabin for Labor Day Flea Market!

Adorably Happy Customers

2011-08-25T10:21:00.002-04:00

Two very satisfied customers enjoying their ice cream at our store in Raleigh! As they were leaving the store, the older brother turned to his grandmother and said, "I love the Red Headed store!" We are still smiling!

Not near our store in Raleigh, NC and want some ice cream? Make your own with an ice cream maker!

Red Hill General Store in North Raleigh News

2011-08-23T09:36:00.000-04:00

Mr. Alex Granados came by Red Hill General Store in Raleigh and interviewed our Raleigh store manager, Suzie, and our company CEO, Tom. The article was in the North Raleigh News paper this past week and can be viewed online at:

http://www.northraleighnews.com/2011/08/20/9432/changing-the-way-we-think-about.html

We would like to thank Alex for his wonderful work and the North Raleigh News for recognizing our store and all that we stand for.

Customer Bragging on our Customer Service

2011-08-22T11:10:00.000-04:00

We love it when we have made a customer happy. That is what we are here for after all, to help out people! Here is a snippet of an email we received from one of our customers:

My name is Brenda P., in Carolina. Several weeks ago, I purchased a replacement gasket for a pressure canner I own.

First, I would like to comment on how very quickly I received my order, it was just a few days, that was great. I ended up having to return it though to exchange it for a different one, thinking it was the wrong gasket. Again, it only took a few days after I returned the first one, to receive the exchange. Well, the exchanged gasket did not work either. My canner is one that has two different gaskets, and depending on the manufacture month and year, determines which one will work. So I contacted your customer service dept. and spoke with a very nice lady. I'm only sorry that I did not get her name so that I could let you know how helpful she was. All too often companies here only the negative things about their customer service reps, so I wanted to say something positive.

I explained to her my problem with the gaskets. I still had the old one that I had wanted to replace. She helped me determine that I had the correct gasket, and proceeded to give me some things that I could try to get the gasket to work properly. Well, I tried her suggestions and they worked! I cannot tell you how excicted I was. I was beginning to think that I would not be able to use this canner anymore. The problem was that I could not get the lid of the canner to go on, and after a struggle to get it on, there was no way for me to take the lid back off. I could only use the canner when my husband was home so he could put the lid on and take it off when finished. Even for him it was difficult. I have Rheumatoid Arthiritis, which makes using my hand extremely difficult and painful. So to now be able to take care of this lid on my own is so exciting for me! Such a simple suggestion of rubbing vegetable oil on the gasket before using it, and letting the lid with the gasket sit on top of the canner with boiling water in it to steam it. Now I can look forward to using my canner again. I do a lot of canning in the summer and fall months, using my small canner but it will be even better now that I can use the bigger one too.
I just wanted to say thank you for hiring such wonderful people to work with your customers. I will definitely recommend you to my other canning family and friends.

Thanks Brenda for your kind words! We greatly appreciate them!

A Saturday Night in Hillsville with the Bells

2011-08-13T22:03:00.011-04:00

Whether you're a local or just passing through,
Hillsville, Virginia is for a family like you!

We're not the only folks around that feel this way,
A family of five bells have something to say.

They started their Saturday looking at sites,
Doesn't the courthouse really look nice?

The civil war statue is something to see,
It won't disappoint you, Mr. Bell will guarantee.

Now the little ones will want something refreshing and sweet,
if it doesn't ruin their dinner, get them a tastee-freez treat.

With full bellies of sugar, it's time to play,
Fast down the green slide, hip-hip horray!

Time to cool off now in the close by stream,
it paints a perfect picture of the American Dream.

You're never too old to be high in the air,
Swinging around with not even a care.

To finish the day in this sweet country town,
stop by Red Hill, the best store around.

Kids love our candy, there's no doubt this is true,
now the question is, how about you?

Canning Supplies at Red Hill General Store

2011-08-11T13:02:00.000-04:00

We have our canning display up front and center at our Hillsville, VA location. If there is anything that you need for your canning, pickling, or preserving endeavors we should have it. So stop by and we will help you find what you are looking for:

Look at all these canning supplies!

We also carry several Homestead Blessings DVDs in our retail store:

School is just around the corner

2011-08-05T08:52:00.000-04:00

Hard to believe that the summer vacation is almost over and school will be starting back for many next week. Which means busy mornings of fixing breakfast, making sure backpacks are ready to tote off (with the homework in them!) and all the other last minute chores before rushing out of the door each morning.

There are a few tips that can make things a little less painless:

Do things the night before, such as have all the homework and items needed for any classes packed in the book-bag ready to go. And have your child pick out their outfit for the next day and have it laying out where it is easy and quick to get to.
Set a routine each morning so that the kids get into the habit of following it. When they know what to expect each morning it makes things a little easier.
Breakfast before school is definitely a good habit for children to have. And there are a few ways to save time with breakfast as well:

Instead of having to heat up your stove and drag out pots and pans every morning for breakfast, it might be a good idea to invest in a multiple use unit that can be used to make waffles, pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, and more. Then you just have one thing to clean up each morning instead of a sink full. A good example of one of these units would be a griddle grill waffle maker Black & Decker makes one called the Black and Decker G48TD 3-in-1 Grill Griddle and Waffle Maker:

What are your tips for making back-to-school easier?

Sources:
http://childcarefinders.org/parents%E2%80%99-tips-for-making-school-mornings-easier.htm

Pressure Cooker Outlet now has an affiliate program:

2011-07-22T12:11:00.000-04:00

Our sister site: http://pressurecooker-outlet.com now has an affiliate program for all of you out there with your own websites and/or blogs.

The Pressure Cooker Outlet Affiliate Program pays a 10% commission on all sales that come from your site. There are rules and regulations and your website and/or blog must be approved before you can become a member.

There are several banner ads available for you to choose from for your site. So if this sounds like something you would be interested in check out all the information at: http://www.pressurecooker-outlet.com/aff/affiliate/index.php

Raleigh, NC Red Hill Garden is Producing Some Produce!

2011-07-18T12:19:00.001-04:00

If you've been following the garden that we have at our Raleigh, NC location then you are at the right place for an update.

If you haven't been following and want to know more then you should read:
Red Hill Gardens in Raleigh, NC and Red Hill Raleigh, NC: Garden Update

Our Raleigh garden has been producing some beautiful vegetables:

As you can see our plants have done quite a bit of growing since we posted photos of them last. To see our garden, or to buy some of our veggies from it, come by our location in Falls River Town Center in Raleigh, NC.

Final Scholarship Runner-Up

2011-07-13T10:49:00.000-04:00

"The Best Tasting Stuff in the World"
By: Laura Denyer

There is nothing that excites me more than summer. Not just summer, but the things to do int he summer. Going to the beach, swimming, and relaxing are just some of the wonderful activities that can occupy your time. But what are some other things that you can do? There are many. One of them is picking berries and another is making jam.

You may be asking yourself, why would I want to do that when I could just buy some at the store? Well, I will tell you why. Because store-bought jam is nothing compared to the sweet and delectable jam that you can make yourself. I have been acquainted with making jam for as long as I can remember. My mom would drag us to the strawberry and raspberry fields to pick berries for that season's batch.

Of course, I couldn't see the intrinsic value of doing things by yourself at the time, and so I often found myself just sitting in the middle of a row and eating the berries instead of putting them in the basket. Soon the sun was getting to me, and I joined my sister in the nice air-conditioned car and drank all the water we wanted after sweating in the sun for so long. We simply could not understand how my mom kept picking for hours on end and why others would engage in this exhausting chore. But soon my mom understood our point of view and started offering us motivation to pick berries. She promised us that she would buy us a piece of candy from the "general store" at the orchard if we stayed and helped her for the whole duration. This duration was never a fixed time; it was always a few hours longer than she originally said (like that never happened to any of us kids.)

As time went on, and the number of batches grew, I soon found myself volunteering to go to the fields, and actually getting excited about it. I didn't fully understand this transformation at the time, but now I think it was because I was trying to cling to family traditions. I also began to see the appreciation of other people for our hobby of making jam each summer. And when people admire, why not continue with it?

So to this day I look forward to summers filled with berry picking and jam making. In fact, two years ago, we picked our biggest amount of raspberries- 40 pounds (which totaled $120). And let me tell you, that is a heck of a lot of jam! Before, my mom would always make the jam, and I would sometimes help her. But now I have learned how to make it, and so I have made all of the strawberry and raspberry jam myself.

If this story has convinced you to try making jam yourself, I wish you the best of luck, and I hope that you enjoy the experience, and take in the pride of making something that most people just buy at a store. Some bits of advice that I would give you is to use the Ball brand jars, as I have only used their jars, as they are of excellent quality. The Red Hill General Store has those jars, and many more high-quality Ball products. Another piece of advice is to try making the freezer jams. I believe this type of jam tastes much better than the canned jam, as it has more fruit, more flavor, and has a better consistency (but canned jam is good too). With that in mind, I would also suggest not mashing the berries too much when preparing it. Having generous bits of fruit in jam gives the consistency of preserves which taste almost like pie filling (which we all know to be excellent). If you do decide to freeze the jam, it can stay good for up to a year. So by the time you run out, it will be summertime so you can make some more. And believe me, most of the batches we make are too small, and don't last us a full year.

So think big and bring friends with you to the berry fields. But make sure they want to come with you. Try not to "drag" them to go picking, as it may turn them off to it. Plus they may just end up in your car, draining your battery and soaking up the air conditioning, and the water (like I did) while you're slaving away. Someone who is curious about berry picking and jam making will be an extreme help, as I am not going to lie, both of these tasks are rather difficult. Remember that job that is done right is done by someone who wants to do the job.

So start planning your trip to the fields, and try to find some local berry farms that have "U-Pick", where you pick your own fruit. Yes you could buy the fruit and make jam from it, but if you want to feel even more proud of yourself and your work, I would suggest you go the whole nine yards and pick the berries too. You will leave with a good feeling of self-sustain, one that many people lack.

And lastly, my most important piece of advice: HAVE FUN!

Red Hill Breezy 5.5 Wind Turbine turned one year old on July 1st

2011-07-11T12:33:00.000-04:00

Hard to believe that it has already been a year since we installed the Breezy 5.5 Wind Turbine on the cattle farm of Gary Horton. This past year has definitely been filled with trials and achievements regarding the Breezy.

Carroll County Residents watch as the locally built Red Hill Breezy 5.5 KW Wind Turbine lifts to the sky in Summer 2010.

In honor of the Breezy’s first birthday we are trying out some new nine foot blades in replacement of the ten foot originals. We believe that the shorter blades will increase efficiency and provide more power.

When the Breezy made it's debut last summer, it was a great celebration that we hope our community will not forget anytime soon. Together with over 50 excited members of the surrounding community we turned Gary Horton's Fancy Gap farm into a great American celebration of energy independence. To celebrate we had galvanized tubs filled with old fashioned glass bottle sodas and ice; we hung balloons, streamers, and more than one cowbell, in a red, white, and blue fashion along the farm’s fence. We wanted this event to be something remembered.

We had many people stop by our store in Hillsville, VA this past winter asking what had happened to the 10ft blades on the Breezy. You might remember our Facebook post:

Sometime before 9 am on Saturday morning Feb. 19 the main shaft on the wind turbine broke sending the blades to the ground. It was really cranking out the power. The shaft is two inch solid steel shaft t...hat connects to the blades and then the shaft is reduced to one and one half inches connecting to the motor. The point where the shaft is reduced is where the failure occurred. Sunday the turbine was pulled down to repair the problem. We have been wanting to test 9 foot blades instead of the 10 foot. The 9 foot would allow the same tip speed ratio (TSR) as the 10 ft but in less wind. We think this would be a good time to give them a test run.

So now the 9 ft blades are up and we are hoping that they do as well as we are expecting.

Even the Bee's Had a Runner-Up in our Scholarship

2011-07-07T11:07:00.001-04:00

"The Bee's Knees" Did You Know?

By Sarah Cannon

"Well ain't that just the bee's knees?!" is a phrase originating from the 1920's that my Grandpa use to say. He explained to me one day that it simply meant that an object was at its 'height of excellence.' The phrase still didn't make that much sense to me-I mean, who really knows if bees have good knees or not? I decided to research these special little critters, just for curiosity's sake.

I came across all sorts of neat information: the wing size-to-body weight ratio shouldn't allow bees to fly; bees have five eyes; and interestingly, only females are worker bees (which makes me ponder the whole "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" theory and its relationship to every aggravated bee that's ever stung me.)...Anyways. I discovered that the worker bees carry back pollen to the hive on sacs behind their knees. This new found knowledge pieced the phrase together for me. It's no surprise hearing that bees make honey from the pollen they collect, and in my opinion, honey is the height of excellence. It's useful as a healthy sweetener for my tea, a delicious substitute for syrup on my pancakes, and if you've ever had a peanut butter and honey sandwich, you'll fully grasp my honey appreciation. But aside from all that honey is used in a lot of natural products, products that can be found at Red Hill General Store.

Burt's Bees is a brand that focuses on creating body care products that are made with natural ingredients. For example, the Milk and Honey Body Lotion, Honey Lip Balm, and the Thoroughly Therapeutic Honey and Bilberry Foot Creme are a few of the popular beauty products in the Burt's Bees line. And no worries, if honey isn't your thing, Burt's has tons of honey-free products to choose from (and they're still the bee's knees too!).

The Next Scholarship Runner-Up

2011-07-06T09:08:00.001-04:00

Another of our top 5 entries for the Red Hill General Store Scholarship:

Bumpin' Up and Down in my Little Red Wagon...
-Jordyn Smith

Hello, everyone! My name is Jordyn, and I am a senior in high school. I belong to a fun-loving, and often crazy, family that believes very strongly in family traditions. One of our traditions revolves around Radio Flyer wagons.

In my grandparents' garage sits an old, beat-up red Radio Flyer wagon. This wagon is at least thirty years old and has carried many a laughing child through the neighborhood during that time. My mom and her siblings pulled each other around in it and decorated it for the annual neighborhood Fourth of July bike parade. But when they all grew up and moved away it sat disused in their parents' garage. Until the grandkids came along, that is.

I remember the days when I could (comfortable) fit into that wagon with two or three of my cousins, being pulled down a bumpy road, yelling "Faster! Faster!" Or just making noise to hear that cool sound that our voices made as we went over the bumps: "Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah!"

Some of the best memories I have of my grandpa are of us in that wagon. It's what we used to haul our fishing poles and bait to the canal behind his house. We brought it with us on our walk sin the woods or around the lake, where we would suddenly become "exhausted" and have to be pulled around until we got back to the house. My grandpa loved to take his grandkids for rides in that wagon, and we loved to go with him.

My grandpa has passed away now, but I still carry those fond memories of that red Radio Flyer wagon. In fact, my brothers and I loved it so much that my parents bought one for us to use at our house. So even though Grandpa wasn't around to pull us, we could still pull ourselves and relive the fun. For a while, my youngest brother insisted on using the wagon on his daily forays to find new sticks to add to his every-growing stick collection. It was also great for hauling leaves in the fall. My brothers and I are now a wee bit big to fit into the wagon but we often have small children over to visit, and they love to ride around in it just as much as we did.

As I look at that amazing Radio Flyer, I remember my childhood rides and Grandpa's house, and it helps me stay close to him and keep his memory alive. I can't wait to keep the tradition going and someday take my future children on rides through the neighborhood in their own shiny red Radio Flyer. I will show them how to make that cool sound as we travel over every bumpy road that we may come across."

"Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah!"

Scholarship 2nd Runner-Up

2011-07-05T11:13:00.000-04:00

I cannot tell you enough how hard it was to choose a scholarship winner as all of the entries were so well written and incredibly creative. Our 2nd Runner-up is Callista Cox from Logan, UT. We would like to share with you her entry:

What Garden Gnomes are REALLY for

Ah, the garden gnome: small, ceramic creatures that add a bit of whimsy to your yard while accentuating your lovely flower bed displays. These delightful (and somewhat scary-looking) garden décor items have been placed in lawns, potted plants, and more since the sport of gardening began. For ages they have entertained us with their cheerful painted faces and pointy red hats, all the while sitting there as harmless as could be. But what most people don’t know is, these seemingly harmless little statues have the potential to be of much better use than they are while sitting in the garden. Yes, my friends – the ever-popular garden gnome’s best use is, in fact, for a foolproof system of self-defense.

You may be wondering, “Now then, how on earth does one use a cheery, harmless little garden gnome as an instrument of self-defense?” Well, have no fear, dear readers, for that’s where I come in. I have compiled the following list of instructions that will help you on your way to becoming the best burglar-deterring, gnome-brandishing gardener the world has ever seen.

Step One: Assemble the Gnomes

By “assemble the gnomes”, I do not mean building a garden gnome from scratch. The art of garden gnome manufacturing has only been perfected by the most skilled gnome artisans, and the skill is not easily learned by newcomers, so that will have to be a lesson for another time. By “assemble the gnomes”, I simply mean this: begin by collecting as many gnomes as you can possibly get your hands on. There are many places where you may acquire a gnome. For example, the Red Hill General Store has many deceptively cheerful-looking garden gnomes for sale on their website that can be used for all your garden-defending needs. When selecting a gnome, look for characteristics that will be most useful in deterring a burglar or similarly threatening person. The pointier a gnome’s hat, the more chance you will have of injuring an attacker when you hurl said gnome at his head. Another tip is to go for gnomes that are lightweight enough for you to be able to throw them long distances, but heavy enough that they will make a significant dent in any threatening characters you may be inclined to use the gnome against.

Step Two: Learn Self-Defense Techniques

The most important step after you have collected a large stock of suitable gnomes is learning the proper way to use them. One does not use a garden gnome in a similar fashion as a sword, for example, as the reach of a gnome is quite short and will not be able to deal out much damage to attacker when used in this way. However, that pointed hat on all garden gnome’s heads is a built-in self-defense mechanism that, when used the right way, will be successful in chasing off any threatening character that comes your way.

To utilize the pointed hat of a gnome to its best potential, simply hold the gnome around its middle (this will not hurt the gnome), lean back a bit, and then jab forward, much like you would when using a small knife or dagger. Be careful not to loosen your grip on the gnome at this point: proper form is required to be able to make the best use of a garden gnome’s pointy hat. Don’t be discouraged if you cannot seem to get the hang of this technique at first. Practice makes perfect, and there are other ways of using a gnome in self-defense, such as this next technique.

Gnomes come in a variety of different styles. Notice the excellently pointed hats that can be used for self-defense.

The most popular way of using a garden gnome against assailants is called the “gnome hurl.” This technique involves winding up one’s arm with a gnome in hand (similar to a baseball pitcher) and then flinging the gnome forward with all your might towards the intended target. This is the most straightforward way to use a self-defense gnome, and with a bit of practice one can become an accomplished gnome-thrower. A good way to practice is by starting out using baseballs instead, since gnomes are likely to break when thrown and are harder to aim than baseballs due to their shape. Take a trip to your local park or baseball field and practice your aim with a few baseballs. For a target, try hitting a nearby tree or fence – throwing baseballs at your friends is not advisable.

Step Three: Remain Vigilant

Garden gnomes – always ready for action!

Once you have put together an ample supply of ammunition (ahem, gnomes) and have adequately practiced your aim, the only remaining step is to stay alert and always be ready for any threats that will provide you with an opportunity to utilize your newly acquired self-defense skills.

Remember, always trust your instincts when you find yourself in a dangerous situation. Even with the knowledge of garden gnome self-defense skills at your disposal, don’t forget to use your head and do not use force unless you find it absolutely necessary to protect yourself. The power of garden gnomes has the potential to be abused by irresponsible folk –take great care that you do not become one of these.

Few are aware of the potential of the seemingly harmless garden gnome. Now, you are one of the few who share the secret of these delightful garden attractions. May the gnomes serve you well!

Unfortunately, the manufacturer that we get our supply of garden gnomes from has discontinued these charming little creatures, but we still carry some small garden statues.

Even More Buckets!

2011-07-01T17:24:00.000-04:00

The rest of The Real Farmwives of America's bucket blogs are up. This is from their website:

Earlier this week we saw the Real Farmwives of America &amp;amp; Friends use their bucket in the Home & Garden. Today, we are seeing how the Farmwives use their buckets on the farm, so lets stop by and see what chores the Farmwives are doing while using their buckets.

Wag 'n Tales uses her bucket for lots of different tasks, one of which was picking asparagus.

The kids over at From My Front Porch gave their bucket a workout with berry picking, flower picking and more.

Leontien from Four Leaf Clover Tales uses her Bucket on their Dairy Farm.

Liz from 2 Maids a Milking let her husband use her bucket to keep Duals from his tractor in.

The Hoosier Farm Babe keeps Horse Grooming Supplies in her bucket.

Watering the animals and plants is a daily chore that buckets come in handy for on Alarm Clock Wars .

Also you can win:

This galvanized embossed tub. (Stand not included)

For more information on how to win visit: http://www.realfarmwivesofamerica.com/2011/06/buckets-of-fun-for-farmwives-and-you.html

Red Hill General Store Scholarship Winner Announced

2011-07-01T09:40:00.001-04:00

Red Hill General Store has announced the winner of their scholarship contest. The winner of the blog writing contest is Brianna Chrisman of San Jose, CA. Brianna will be awarded a $500 scholarship to be sent to the college she is attending.

The blog entry that won the contest for Brianna:

Mailbox Madness

You’ll probably think I’m part canine for saying this, but I’ve always had a thing for mailmen. Maybe that’s because I’m a sucker for tradition, and getting a letter with my name handwritten on it gives me that cliché happy-warm feeling. Maybe my love for these US Postal Service Agents is because I adore men in uniform and small, box-like vans with no doors. Or maybe it’s because every mailman I’ve every had, from Mike with the funny beard in Pennsylvania to Ronaldo in California who left last month to take care of his sick mother, to Rick who dropped off my mail less than an hour ago, has just been so darn nice. Since I was little, every mailman I’ve known has made an effort to find out my name, show me their van, and even let me deliver a letter or two. I’ve never felt more loved by a stranger! That is why, last year during career day, instead of shadowing the interior designers, surgeons, and psychologists with everyone else, I followed around Wanda the mailwomen for a day.

And you know what I found out? Being a mail carrier is tedious! After about thirty houses, everything started to look identical, as if I was in a trance. Addresses began to blur together, the letters inside the bag turned to a cloud of white mush, and EVERY SINGLE MAILBOX LOOKED THE SAME. After this long day was over, I made a decision to help relieve the mailmen and mailwomen of the world from the tediousness and repetitiveness they must face each day at work. How did I do this? I decorated my mailbox as a cow, of course - spots, udders, and all. It sounds silly, and not something for a high-schooler to be wasting her time on, but now my mailbox looks udderly fantastic, probably makes mailman’s jobs much moooore exciting, and hardly cowst me a cent. And I was so proud of my masterpiece, that I’ve drawn up some creative ideas for anyone else to use if they want to make the lives of mailmen everywhere a bit more amusing. And I promise there will be no more bad bovine-related jokes from this point onward.

Before you get started on decorating your mailbox, you’re going to need, obviously, a mailbox. Tiny slits in the door don’t work very good, and I highly recommend the stereotypically shaped ones, at least for the designs that I created. You can get one of these at the Red Hill General Store. The Fulton Polypropylene Rural Mailbox works especially nicely. Oh, and for all these designs if you live in a rainy area, make sure to use waterproof paints and glue.

This is the original design of the cow-mailbox. I simply added a white layer of paint around the mailbox, spray painted some spots, and then cut out legs, the head, and udders from wood. To make your little cattle friend even more charming, you can always add a tail made of rope or a cowbell. Milk the idea for all it’s worth. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

Who, other than environmentalists and airline companies, doesn’t love trains? Add a little smokestack made of wood on the top of the mailbox, and some wheels, either made of wooden circles, or even broken wheels from an old toy. You can paint on anything else you want: the name of the train (I’m not actually sure if trains have names like ships, but I know they should!) or other details you might desire. If you really want to step it up, convince a small child to hide near the mailbox with a train whistle until the mailman comes, and then blow it every time they open it to put the mail in. Or maybe just wire the hinge up to a sound device, being the technologically advanced nation we are and whatnot.

I call this one The Hot Dog. It’s simple, and probably based off of the fact that I was really hungry while creating this design. Anyways, to create this giant delicacy, simply paint the bottom half of the mailbox a golden-yellow, the top half red, and add condiments as you please. I would advise red or yellow ribbon for the ketchup and mustard, and I’d stay away from the relish. It’s gross and smells funny.

For all the parents reading this, here’s one for the kids: a “my family portrait” mailbox. I always love seeing children’s paintings of their parents and siblings in school, so I figure the mailmen will enjoy it too. Just paint your mailbox a solid white color, and let your kids go crazy with the rest. Border the sides of the mailbox with a frame for a nice effect. Portraits of the family always end up amusing, but pictures of the child’s favorite animal, best friend, or television character will work too.

Another fun idea is to use a metal mailbox and buy a large selection of sentence forming magnets, the ones with a random word on each magnet. Scatter them on the surface of your mailbox and send the mailman a different greeting each day. Monday’s can be “green tokens eat lice water,” and the next week you can try, “mad shampoo lovers stampede willingly.” If you have a mailman with a good sense of humor, he might even arrange a message back for you.

Those are a few of my mailbox designs. I’m no artist or designer, so if you think of a creative idea, it’s probably far better than any of mine and you should definitely try it out. It’s a fun project to do with your friends or family, and it might end up making a mailman’s day just a little bit more entertaining. Maybe if you amuse Mike, or Ronaldo, or Rick or whoever your mailperson is, they’ll think twice before they put that obnoxious advertisement in your newly beautified mailbox.

We would like to say Congratulations to Brianna Chrisman and also offer a congrats to our runners up:

Callista Cox who wrote "What Garden Gnomes are REALLY for"
Jordyn Smith who wrote "Bumpin' Up and Down in my Little Red Wagon..."
Sarah Cannon who wrote "The Bee's Knees" Did you know?
and Laura Denyer with "The Best Tasting Stuff in The World.

We will feature our runners up's blogs in the upcoming week.

Hillsville, VA: Big Tent Sale

2011-06-29T09:23:00.001-04:00

Starting July 1 through July 7 we will be having a huge 1 week tent sale! Be sure to stop by our location in Hillsville, VA to save a lot of money! Save on Columbia, Carhartt, some kitchen items, wash tubs, washboards, and more. You will not want to miss out on this!

Buckets Galore!

2011-06-27T11:01:00.004-04:00

The Real Farmwives of America have been blogging about our buckets from Bucket-Outlet.com

Here is a list of the blogs taken from their website:

DeeDee from Sig....nature Notes gathered fresh cut flowers in her Bucket.

Katie from Pinke Post shows off the Barley Harvest in North Dakota and used her bucket as a centerpiece.

Gal in the Middle gets her nephew to water flowers with her bucket.

Jeanette from Fencerow to Fencerow uses her bucket as a vase for fresh cut sunflowers.

Jen From Mess Hall to Bistro got creative and painted her bucket with chalkboard paint.

Lana used her bucket to chill a bottle of wine on Walking the Off-Beaten Path.

Ott, A is ready to bob for apples with her tub on a Latte with Ott, A

Goodeness Gracious what are they using that bucket for?!?! (You'll have to go see it to believe it.)

3 Kids &amp; Lots of Pigs packed sandwhiches in their bucket before heading out to VBS, Swim Lessons and all their other busy summer activities.

Amy from 2 Maids a Milking Loves Buckets and used her new tub to serve fruit out of.

Four Ransoms kids use their bucket to cool off!

Or you could store bug spray and sun screen in it so you can quickly grab it on your way out the door for summer activities like Leah from Beyer Beware.

Whose the Grown Up, used her bucket for Kitchen utensils. (Isn't that cute?!?!)

Have Cats? Check out how Alarm Clock Wars feeds hers.

Going Jane used her cricut to make letters for her bucket to label what's inside.

Also you can win:

This galvanized embossed tub. (Stand not included)

For more information on how to win visit: http://www.realfarmwivesofamerica.com/2011/06/buckets-of-fun-for-farmwives-and-you.html

Also, we were pleasantly surprised to find that we were mentioned in The Enchanted Tree's Blog. Thank you!

Movie list for Free Drive-In Movie Fridays is Released:

2011-06-21T10:58:00.000-04:00

If you are near our Hillsville, VA location on any Fridays this summer stop by to watch a free drive-in movie with us and enjoy a little reminiscing about the good ol' days when drive-ins were found in nearly every town. We look forward to seeing you!

Hillsville, VA - Free Drive-In Movie Starring John Travolta

2011-06-13T11:46:00.000-04:00

Friday, June 17 at Red Hill General Store in Hillsville, VA we are featuring John Travolta in The Boy in the Plastic Bubble. Movie will start at 9:00 p.m. so come join us in watching this great movie!

RALEIGH, NC: Garden Update

2011-06-10T08:44:00.000-04:00

We have been working hard on our Raleigh, NC garden since it was planted in early May (though garden weeders definitely come in handy). It has definitely been growing:

We've already sold our first cucumber and the basil plants are ready to be sold. If you are in the area you should come by and check it out. As you can see our tomato plants are getting quite large.

Hillsville, VA: FREE Drive-In Movie

2011-06-07T13:04:00.000-04:00

Be sure to come see us at our Hillsville, VA location this Friday for a FREE Drive-In Movie, this week our movie is Call of the Wild. Bring your sweetheart for an affordable yet romantic date night that is a throw back to popular dates of the past.

Red Hill Gardens in Raleigh, NC

2011-06-06T12:24:00.001-04:00

Here at Red Hill General Store, we are really excited about heirloom vegetables, gardening, pressure canning, and just being self sustainable in general. Those of you who have been to our Raleigh, NC location may have noticed that starting in May we've been working on a vegetable garden that we've built from recycled wood just outside our door.

We have been working really hard on our urban community style garden. And it is amazing just how many different plants we've been able to get into our "flower" beds.

Planting vegetables is not only good for you and your family, but it is also great for the environment and it gives a little nod to our heritage. Our ancestors had to grow everything that they ate and heirloom seeds have been passed down since those early generations. Each type of plant looks and tastes differently. These vegetables aren't typically something that you would see in a grocery store and we've planted over 100 different heirloom varieties. We have planted tomato breeds like the Charlie Mortgage Lifter tomato, The Cherokee Purple tomato, the Amish Paste tomato, the Matt Cherry tomato, and the Yellow Pear tomato (which have been favorites of the Southeast United States for generations). There are also California Giant Peppers, Orange Bell Peppers as well as types of squash planted in the garden for visitors to see and try. Heirloom seeds can be saved year after year and doing this directly protects the biodiversity and security of our food supply.

Once our veggies are ripe and ready to eat, we are going to be sharing them with you, our community. It doesn't get more local than eating and preserving food that is grown right outside the door. And we will need your help in determining what and how much our garden will provide.

Drive-In Movies Return to Red Hill General Store in Hillsville, VA!

2011-05-26T13:40:00.002-04:00

If you came to see us in Hillsville, VA last summer you may have noticed that on Fridays there was a free movie playing at our Drive-In here at Red Hill General Store. And now, the Drive-In fun is back:

Free Drive-In Movie

Beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, June 3rd at our Hillsville, VA location.

Cotton candy, popcorn, and drinks will be available and the store will be open!
You can bring your own lawn chair and enjoy the show closeup; parking for the lawn chair section is located to the right side of the parking lot fence.
A radio station will be available for those who wish to watch the movie from their cars.

Friday, June 3rd we will be playing a John Wayne western movie that you will not want to miss:

There will be a free movie every Friday night all summer long! So be sure to look out for the upcoming shows!

101 Bucket Uses

2011-05-10T14:05:00.003-04:00

It was hard. And it was a trial of the minds. But with all of us working together we have come up with 101 uses for buckets. If we have missed any uses, please let us know in our comments!

And without further ado, Red Hill's Bucket List:

Bucket List

Bathroom Uses:

Hold hair bows.
Hold cotton balls.
Hold Q-tips.
Use under the sink for leaky pipes until they can be fixed.
Use as trash pail.
Use as towel or clothes hamper.

Kitchen:

Spoon holder (small tin pails work great for this).
Utensil holder.
Use under sink for leaky pipes until they can be fixed.
Throw scraps in that need to go out to compost heap.
Hold peanuts.
Use for crab and/or lobster scraps when eating.
Beer or drink bucket.
Use for mop water.
Use for cleaning water.

Office:

Hold paperclips.
Spare change bucket.
Hold push pins.
Hold staples.
Throw your keys in.
Hold a bottle of glue (great if glue leaks, then it won’t just be in your drawer)
Use as trash can.
Use to catch water from leak during rain.

Kid’s Room:

Organize toys.
Hold crayons.
Hold makers.
Organize painting supplies such as brushes.
Organize pencils.
Hold chalk.
Paint with chalk board paint to use chalk on.
Use as trashcan.
Store building blocks.

Garage:

Sort bolts.
Sort washers.
Sort gaskets.
Hold nails.
Hold screws.
Hold tools.
Empty ash from a woodstove or fireplace into.
Coal bucket.
Hold kindling for woodstove or fireplace.
Use to wash your car.
Store rags for washing car in.

Garden:

Flower planters (be sure to put holes in the bottom so that water can drain out)
Container garden (be sure to drill holes in bottom so water can drain)
Store gardening supplies.
Use to water plants.
Use to harvest fruits & vegetables.
Carry fertilizer to garden.

Fun:

Golf ball bucket (tote golf balls easily)
Tennis ball bucket.
Baseball bucket.
Store croquet balls and hoops in.
Store horseshoes in.
Store hacky sacs in.
Pack a picnic in.
Use to collect seashells.
Use to collect pretty rocks & pebbles.
Build a sand castle.
Use as a helmet and pretend to be a knight.
Keep live fish bait in.
Use to hold fishing tackle.
Use to put names in for drawings.
Use to hold drinks for parties and get-togethers.
Flip it over and pretend it is a drum and play away.

Animals:

Dog food bucket.
Chicken feed bucket.
Cow Feed Bucket.
Carry fish food to pond.
Use to collect chicken eggs.
Use for slop for hogs.
Use to remove dog droppings from yard. (shovel is highly recommended when using it for this)

Buckets for Gifts:

Fill with bath goodies for gift.
Fill with crafting supplies for child’s gift.
Fill with men’s traveling necessities for going away gift for a guy.
Use instead of basket for Easter gift.
Fill with cleaning supplies for housewarming gift.
Fill with “naughty” presents for embarrassing bachelorette gift.

Wedding:

Use for flower girl to hold flower petals in.
Use for bridesmaids filled with flowers instead of bouquets.
Use as centerpieces to hold flowers.
Use as décor filled with flowers.
Use mini buckets to put guests’ favors in.
Fill with goodies as a gift for bridesmaids.
Fill with goodies as gift for groomsmen.
Fill with goodies as gift for parents.
Have guests’ write well wishes for the couple on paper and drop into the bucket.
Use as champagne bucket.
Paint number on bucket to number tables at reception.
Use to hold drinks.
Use as aisle pew marker.
Hold supplies for “decorating” newlywed’s car.
Use to hold programs.

Random Uses:

Emergency Port-a-potty.
Use to pour water over camp fire to put out.
Bail out a leaky boat.
For Easter eggs on Easter egg hunt.
Collecting candy on Halloween.
Flip over and use as foot stool.
Use to hold smaller buckets.
Fill with sand and use as candle holder.

Sharing a Post From RHGS Outdoor & Gardening:

2011-05-09T13:23:00.000-04:00

We have Egg Plant, Broccoli, Amish Moons & Stars Watermelon, Yellow Watermelon, Sugar Baby Watermelon, Red Velvet Trailing Verbena, Verbena.

We also carry seeds:

Basil Sweet Genovese
Henderson Bush Lima Bean (bush)
Pole Bean Kentucky Wonder
Bush Bean Royalty Purple Pod
Contender (Buff Valentine) Snap Bean (Bush)
Beet Dolce Di Chioggia
Detroit Dark Red Beet
Broccoli De Cicco
Butterfly Weed
Golden Acre Cabbage
Red Acre Red Cabbage
Black Mammoth Sunflower
Cosmic Purple Carrot
Chives - Herb
Cosmos - Bright Lights Orange
Thumbelina Zinnia
Organic Cucumber
Sweet Pea Old Spice Mix
Gourd, Ornamental Birdhouse Gourd
Gourd, Ornamental Large Mixed
Gourd, Ornamental Small Mixed
Radish, Cherry Belle
Rainbow Swiss Chard
Bloomsdale Spinach
Lanco Edamame Soybean
Squash Early Prolific Straightneck
Strawberry Watermelon
Watermelon Sugar Baby
Dark Green Zucchini - Summer Squash

Arugula Greens
Greens Tatsoi
Herb, Bouquet Dill
Herb, Echinacea Purple
Jewel Mix, Nasturtium
Kale, Lacinato (Dinosaur)
Lacinato Rainbow Mix Kale
Drunken Woman Lettuce (Loose Leaf)
Romaine Lettuce Jericho
Hot Pepper Jalapeno
Hales Best Muskmelon
Okra Hill Country Heirloom Red
Dark Green Italian, Parsley (Plain Leaf)
Mammoth Melting Sugar Snow Pea
Whippoorwill Southern Pea (cowpea)
Sugar Ann Snap Pea (dwarf)
Snap Pea Sugar Snap
Organic Pepper, Frying Sweet Banana (Long Sweet Hungarian)
Organic Pepper, Bell (sweet) Jupiter
Orange Bell Sweet Bell Pepper
Pepper, Hot, Fish
Small Sugar (New England Pie) Pumpkin (Vining)
Organic Tomato, Old Virginia
Tomato, Golden Ponderosa
Organic Tomato Oxheart
Organic Tomato Mortgage Lifter VFN
Organic Tomato Sophie's Choice

So come out and take a peek at what we have to offer. Also if you have any gardening questions ask us and we will do our best to help you out!

Whirligigs, Glass Jars, and Scholarships, Oh My!

2011-05-02T15:03:00.000-04:00

As those of you who have been following our blog know, yesterday was the last day to submit an entry to the Red Hill General Store Scholarship. So now the task falls to us to judge the entries, and I will be the first to admit that this task will not be an easy one. We have had so many great and talented people submit blogs for the scholarship that it is going to be very difficult to decide who will win. Wish us luck on this endeavor!

Now onto Whirligigs and Glass Jars.

We have seen an increase in sales in our whirligigs and glass jars lately. Everyone is getting their yards and homes ready for spring and summer. We are so glad to see some sunny weather. The tornadoes and storms of last week were frightening and devastating in so many places. It is hard to believe how rough it truly was after being outside today and hearing the birds sing and feeling the breeze cool my skin from the warmth of the sun. Hopefully the worst of the storms is over with and our communities can focus on healing after the devastation that hit them.

Buckets Around Our Office

2011-04-25T12:47:00.000-04:00

Well this past Friday we caught some of the girls in the office putting our buckets to use. Some for gift basket purposes and another for organizing a mess in her office. So without further ado, I am going to share some of the photos that I captured of their creations:

Kandy & Kim's Buckets for their Girls:

Before


After

With just a little paint and stencils they created using fonts off the internet Kandy and Kim created these buckets to use for Easter and for an upcoming birthday. I really love how the colorful buckets came out. These look great!

In Crystal's office, she was starting to have a mess with some magazines that she had set out for visitors and fellow employees:

So she went and acquired a bucket in a fun color and fixed her clutter problem:

I think it looks so much better, and that pop of yellow seems to brighten up the area.

So here are just a few ideas of the things that you can do with the buckets that you can find at Red Hill General Store and http://bucket-outlet.com

Happy Earth Day

2011-04-22T09:44:00.000-04:00

Today is Earth Day. Although a cloudy one. Earth Day is your day to do something good for Mother Nature. Possibly even make an Earth Friendly resolution. Such as recycle more or plant a tree and care for it.

Some of you may even want to visit Earth Day Network's website so that you can Pledge an Act of Green. And we hope that many of you do. Our earth is definitely something that we want to be conscious of and take care of.

Curious as to what some things are that you can be doing to help out Mother Earth? Here are a few ideas:

Use reusable shopping bags instead of plastic bags while out getting your groceries or other necessities.
Recycle your plastic bottles, aluminum cans, glass, newspapers, and more, instead of throwing them away.
Start composting.
Buy local. It helps the local economy while also cutting the amount of energy it takes to ship foods worldwide.
Carpool. Not only will this cause you to put off less emissions, it will also help your wallet if your carpool group chips in for gas.
Plant something, a tree, a flower, fruits, vegetables, anything. All plants help the environment since they use CO2. Don't have a yard? You can do an indoor plant in a planter or even use a bucket as a planter.
If you haven't already switch your light bulbs out with the energy efficient ones.
Shorten your shower time, if you have any leaky faucets, shower heads, pipes, etc. Fix them or replace them. You'd be surprised at how much water is wasted from a dripping faucet.
If it is sunny, turn off your lights and open the blinds to use the natural light for seeing and save electricity. (This will also save your power bill if you practice this every day.
Pick up trash you find. If can be recycled, put in the recycling bin.

This is by no means the entirety of what you can do on Earth Day, or any day for that matter. We would love to hear what you are doing today to help our planet.

Already a Week into April

2011-04-08T14:21:00.000-04:00

Sweet April showers do spring May flowers. -Thomas Tusser

A beautiful quote for a sometimes weather-chaotic month. Already this April we have had warm summery days, snow, ice, rain, and wind. It is hard to tell what weather type we will see next.

We have been getting ready for spring at our stores and have seeds for planting in your garden this year!

While driving down the road, one of Red Hill General Store's employees spotted a confused goose hanging out in the snow early last week. She snapped a picture of him (we do not recommend doing this while driving.)

Just a little idea of how crazy the weather has been in Southwest Virginia.

We also caught the store manager working on some Easter decorations:

So come by, see our decor, check out the Easter goodies, and discuss this crazy weather with us. You might want to bring a rain poncho, just in case.

Spring Craft with Buckets

2011-03-25T15:24:00.002-04:00

Bucket Flower Pot Craft

Here is a great craft idea for spring! It is fun to do with the kids and makes a great gift from a young child for mother's day. All you need is a small bucket, some foam flowers & leaves, wire for the stems, styrofoam, glue, and some imagination!

View more presentations from redhillgenstore.

Spring Cleaning Bug

2011-03-22T16:23:00.001-04:00

With the weather warm, the bird's singing, and the trees spreading their pollen everywhere, some people have been bit by the spring cleaning bug! This bug can make you crazy with the urge to clean, dust, polish, declutter, dejunk, and find things in hidden corners of your house that you had forgotten existed. While this bug's bite sounds a little scary at first, to many it is a blessing in disguise. How else can we find the time and motivation with our jobs, family, and other obligations to get our homes spotless every once in awhile?

There are so many places to clean, it is hard to know where to start. If you are going to be dusting, we recommend starting at the top and working your way down, otherwise dust from above will settle on the freshly dusted things below. And when dusting, cleaning out couches, and doing other things that will cause a stirring of age old dirt, you will want to hold off on breaking out the Dirt Devil until last. Trust us on this one. You only want to have to vacuum once.

And of course, most drapes, curtains, etc. get washed in the spring. There are many ways to wash them, if they are fragile you will want to wash them by hand. Dry clean only? Well there's only one option for those. You also will want to be careful with the ones that are machine washable, you don't want them to fade too much in the wash. Unless they are white, then you want as much color gone from them as possible. We recommend Mrs. Stewart's Liquid Bluing for washing white linens.

And while you are dusting, vacuuming, laundering, mopping, etc. the inside of your home, don't forget about washing off siding, decks, sidewalks, and other exterior surfaces. This will help remove any of the left behind gunk from winter (anyone use salt this year? We definitely did!) Sprayers are great for cleaning things outdoors. And we have a variety of pump sprayers that would work!

We wish you luck on your spring cleaning adventures!

Keurig Brewing Systems

2011-03-14T12:35:00.001-04:00

We have our Keurig Brewing Systems display up in our Hillsville, VA location. It looks great, if you are in the vicinity you should stop by and see what all we have to offer! Also, don't forget we have our Winter Sale currently going. You can save 25% off of Columbia Clothing and 10% off of Carhartt Clothing.

If you aren't near either of our locations (Hillsville, VA & Raleigh, NC) you can view our Keurig Brewing Systems at http://redhillgeneralstore.com.

Winter Sale @ Red Hill General Store Hillsville Location

2011-03-11T10:18:00.000-05:00

We are having a winter sale at our Hillsville Location today. Stop by and check out our deals:

Soil Testing

2011-03-09T12:51:00.001-05:00

With spring upon us, it might be time to talk a little bit about soil testing, why you should test your soil, and how it can make a difference for your yard and garden.

Testing your soil can help to keep the guess work out of what nutrients you need to be supplying your dirt with. Guessing as to what you should apply to your yard or garden can actually cause more damage than good in the long run. This is due to the effect that anything you apply to your soil can and will affect the pH levels, which will in turn affect what plants will or will not thrive there.

When you are taking a sample of your soil to test, you will want to be sure to do it a few months before you are ready to start planting. Also, do not take the sample when the ground is extremely wet. However, if you are testing the soil of an already established area (such as a lawn) then you really only need to test your soil every 3 to 4 years to be sure that the pH is being maintained. This will help to keep your plants healthy if you take the proper steps to balance your soil's pH once you have your test results in.

When you collect your soil sample you will want to be sure that your equipment is clean, you will also want to avoid using anything that is copper or galvanized as it will cause your soil test report to come back incorrectly as it will cause it to read that your soil has more copper and/or zinc than it actually does.

The appropriate depth for your soil sample is very important as well. For a lawn the depth of the sample taken should be in the neighborhood of 4 inches. For vegetable and flower gardens, it should be between 4 and 6 inches. Then for shrubbery you are looking at a sample taken at a depth of 4 to 6 inches.

Also when taking your sample remember to avoid taking the sample in areas where you have already applied fertilizer and/or lime.

Once you receive your report back, you will be ready to take the steps you need in order to balance the pH in your soil. Depending on whether you need to lower or raise the pH in your soil will determine which steps you will take.

Depending on where you are located, what types of plants you are wanting to grow, determines what methods you will need to use in order to lower your soil pH. There are methods of using sulfur and/or aluminum sulfate to remedy a high pH.

If you need to raise your pH level in your soil, the most common method is to use lime. Some people also use wood ashes, again as with lowering the pH level, the methods and treatments to raise your your pH level are dependent upon what you are going to grow on your land and where you are located.

We hope that this helped answer a few questions that some of you may have had about soil testing. For more information you may wish to visit your local agriculture office, as they will be more familiar with where you are located and what types of soil are in your area along with which treatments work best in your region.

Good luck with all your gardening this spring and summer and do not forget us when you need gardening equipment or canning supplies!

Sources:
http://www.ncagr.gov/cyber/kidswrld/plant/soiltest.htm
http://www.soiltest.vt.edu/soiltest.html
http://www.improve-your-garden-soil.com/soil-ph-acidity.html

Keurig Products are now available

2011-03-08T14:10:00.000-05:00

We are excited to tell you that we are now offering the Keurig Premium Coffee Systems, along with their accessories, and a variety of K-cups.The Keurig Brewing Systems that we offer are:

Keurig B70 Platinum Brewing System - a full spectrum of features and impeccable styling.
Keurig B60 Special Edition Brewing - smart styling meets a range of brew features.
Keurig B40 Elite Brewing System - simplicity and ease meet the perfect cup of coffee.
Keurig B31 Mini Plus Brewing System - Small in size, big on variety, ease, and convenience.

The accessories for your Keurig Brewing System that we offer include:

Keurig K-Cup Carousel - holds 27 K-Cup® portion packs with a Lazy Susan base.
Keurig K-Cup Carousel Tower - holds up to 30 K-Cup® portion packs with a Lazy Susan base.
One All Reusable Single Serve Coffee Filter System - use your own gourmet ground coffee.

And of course we offer 19 varieties of the K-Cup portion packs.

Grand Opening Raleigh NC

2011-03-07T10:29:00.000-05:00

We opened our doors at 9:00 a.m. on March 5, 2011. It was a fun filled day with door prizes, hot dogs & drinks, samples from vendors, a band, and a moon bounce for the kiddies. At times the day became overcast, but overall it was sunny, with a strong breeze. But still beautiful. We had many people come to check out Red Hill General Store, and everyone was so nice, we loved sharing this big day with everyone who stopped by. Each person made it special for us in their own way.

Representatives of Joe Bud's Everything Sauce. Delicious!

We have your tomato seeds!

Miss Hannah, one of our Hillsville team, helping get Raleigh started.

Life is Good, Columbia, & Carhartt are some of the clothing lines we offer.

Almost any flavor Jelly Bean you can think of.

These little cakes are amazing.

If you weren't able to make it for the Grand Opening, that is okay, we would love to see you any time you can make it in. We are so excited to be a part of the beautiful Falls River Community.

Grand Opening - Red Hill General Store Raleigh, NC

2011-03-01T13:21:00.003-05:00

Falls River Town Center

2011-02-26T09:54:00.001-05:00

While our blog team was in Raleigh, NC, they also took some pictures and explored the Falls River Town Center, which is where our new Red Hill General Store is located. This beautiful shopping area is full of fun and unique places.

In Falls River Town Center you will see: Falls River Pharmacy, Sake House, Taza Mediterranean Grill, Carafe Wine Makers, Falls River Books, Little Gym, Lil' Chef, the Farmer's Market, and many more neat stores, restaurants, etc. Also as of March 5, 2011 you will be able to shop at Red Hill General Store where you can find galvanized buckets, canning supplies, garden seeders, clothing, housewares, and much much more. While our blog team was exploring, they heard the sweet young lady at the bookstore talking about how excited everyone is for Red Hill General Store to open. This comment made us feel great as we are very much looking forward to being a part of this wonderful community.

So join us on March 5th for Red Hill General Store's Raleigh Grand Opening and while you are there take a stroll around Falls River Town Center and see all the wonderful shops they have there for yourself. We hope to see you there!

Red Hill General Store, Raleigh, NC

2011-02-24T14:39:00.000-05:00

Our blog team visited the Raleigh location of Red Hill General Store yesterday. We were quite pleased with how great everything is looking thus far! So join us for a peek in on how much progress has happened:

Our exterior hasn't changed all that much.

We have nearly every color bucket you could think of.

We still have quite a bit of product to get onto the shelves, kitchen appliances, pressure cookers, etc. by Mirro and Presto can be seen above.

We have absolutely fallen in love with these lanterns by Achla.

Above are tealight holders by Achla waiting to be put in their display.

We will also be offering, teas, jellies, jams, pickles, etc.

We all agree that writing is good!

The back of our cash register. We love how they turned out.

Life is Good, Columbia, Carhart, Rainbow Sandals, and more will be offered in our apparel.

We weren't sure how to get around this, but can't wait to see how the store looks when everything has its place and we are ready for March 5th.

Ah yes, morning motivation.

More kitchen supplies in the form of pots, deep fryers, canning jars, and more!

We will also be offering Gluten Free food products.

At Red Hill General Store we carry a little bit of everything. If there is something you need, we can help you find it.

Come visit us for our Grand Opening on Saturday, March 5, 2011.

Raleigh Store Mentions

2011-02-18T11:17:00.000-05:00

Our new Red Hill General Store in Raleigh has been generating a little bit of a buzz. We have been mentioned on these websites:

The Triangle Explorer's Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/TriangleExplorer

The News Observer:
http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/02/18/997716/jewelry-matches-your-type.html

City-Data Forums:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/raleigh-durham-chapel-hill-cary/1200373-red-hill-general-store-open-falls.html

We want to thank everyone in their interest and for creating so much buzz about Red Hill General Store. We are planning our Grand Opening for our Raleigh location in the Falls River Town Center to be held on Saturday, March 5th. Come see us there and check out our huge variety, we have everything from gardening supplies, to utility buckets, washboards, pressure cookers, clothing, old timey candy, glass bottle soda pop, and so much more!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-16T15:15:00.000-05:00

Changes to Web Site

2011-02-10T13:16:00.000-05:00

We have made some changes to how our Web site looks and functions. We think it works more smoothly. But it is still a work in progress. Stop by and see what we've changed:

Keurig is Coming to Red Hill General Store

2011-02-09T15:41:00.000-05:00

Today we had a meeting with a Keurig representative. We will soon be offering Keurig Coffee Makers in our store and online. In addition to the coffee makers we will be carrying several varieties of the K-cups. These coffee makers are single cup brewers, and the K-cups are pre-measured which ensures that your coffee experience is a great one every time.

Pressure Cooker Recipes & Bell Ringing Kitties

2011-02-09T09:14:00.001-05:00

Two of our sister blogs have had some really great blog posts this week.

If you head over to Pressure Cooker Outlet's Blog you will find over 100 recipes to try out in your pressure cooker.

At Bell Outlet's Blog, they have discovered a cat that has trained her owners to feed her when she rings a little bag with jingle bells in it.

And while you are browsing the blogs, don't forget to read our last blog post on making Valentine Luminaries out of Mason Jars.

Canning Jar Luminaries

2011-02-05T01:00:00.004-05:00

While browsing on the blogsphere we came across an amazing project by Liz Taylor at Project Naptime. She made some amazing Luminaries for Valentine's Day out of jars. They appear to be typical canning jars (also called mason jars by many).

Here is what Liz's project looks like:

And this is how Liz created them: (for more photos on how she did this please visit Liz's Valentine Luminaries Blog)

Supplies:
jars
mod podge
brush
tissue paper

card stock to make shapes

1.) Simply mod podge your jars and wrap in tissue paper. Let sit a few hours or over night.
2.) Place card stock on jar and mod podge the whole jar again. This gives it a nice coating.
3.) Place a string of white lights inside and wait for evening for beautiful Valentine luminaries.

Liz- Thank you so much for letting us feature your amazing project on our blog!

Winners

2011-02-02T10:35:00.000-05:00

We had our Checker Tournament again this past Friday, and we had a new winner! Brenda Goad. Congrats Brenda!

Also we have announced the winner of our last Facebook Photo Challenge:

We have a hare in our hair.

Congrats to Lisa Quesenberry!

Those are definitely some cute rabbits! Now that the weather is warming up I'm sure we will start to see some live rabbits out in our gardens, be sure to check out our selection of Havahartt Traps if you need help with pest problems!

Raleigh Store Progress

2011-01-28T13:03:00.001-05:00

As some of you know, Red Hill General Store is working on opening a store in Raleigh, NC. We are opening a new store in the Falls River Town Center in Raleigh, NC! We are set to open March 5th. Here is what the exterior looks like thus far:

We will bring you more information on our Grand Opening as time gets closer. Until then come by our Hillsville, VA location and check out all the goodies we have to offer! Everything from Burt's Bees products, to kitchen ware, Case Knives, Havahartt traps and much more!

Valentine's Menu

2011-01-27T14:45:00.000-05:00

We are ready here for that big day, the big day of LOVE. Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and we have everything you need to be prepared!

Luv is definitely in the air. And here is what we have to offer you:

Red Hill General Store's Valentine's Menu:

Just Friends Package:
1/2 lb of Nancy's Fudge
Stuffed Animal
Total Price: $10.00

Nuts About You Package:
Dr. Pepper
1 lb. of peanuts
Remington Jerky
Jack Link's Jerky
Total Price: $10.00

Cupcake Cutie Package:
Heart Cupcake Papers
Valentine's Sprinkles
2 Cupcake Bake & Stores
Total Price: $10.00

Cookie Lover Package:
Large Heart Cookie Cutter
Small Heart Cookie Cutter
Valentine's Sprinkles
8 Piece Icing Set
Total Price: $15.00

Honey Bee Package:
1 lb. of Jelly Bellys
1/2 lb of Bit-O-Honey Candy
Burt's Bees Hand Salve
Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer
Total Price $15.00

Tiny Sweetheart Package:
4 pieces of Classic Candy
Stuffed Animal
Total Price: $15.00

Wine & Dine Package:
Bottle of Mayberry Cider
Package of Ashe Co. Cheese
A Scented Candle
2 Wine Goblets
Total Price: $20.00

Date Night Package:
2 Bottles of Boylan's Soda
2 Packaged Candies
1 Dining Pass (Coupons for restaurants)
Total Price: $20.00

Warm Romance Package:
Women's Columbia Tobogan or Men's Columbia Gloves
1/2 lb of Jelly Bellys
Total Price: $20.00

Smooth Sweetie Package:
Faith Mountain Goat Milk Lotion
Faith Mountain Gator Cream
Faith Mountain Goat Milk Soap
Fingernail Clippers
Total Price: $25.00

Happy Hokie Package:
1/2 lb of Hokie Mix Jelly Bellys
Key Chain
Car Magnet
Women's VT Trackster or Men's VT Polo
Total Price: $50.00

*All products while supplies last*

How To Clean Naturally

2011-01-25T16:29:00.002-05:00

Many of us are beginning to realize how many chemicals there are in standard household cleaners. Luckily there are few things that we can do to get our homes clean but in a more natural environmentally friendly way.

There are six things that you will need on hand for your natural cleaning:

Water
Baking Soda
Washing Soda
Distilled White Vinegar
Lemons
All-Purpose Liquid Detergent

For washing sinks, shower stalls, stainless steel, etc. you can make this cleaner:

Ingredients:

Baking soda
All-purpose Liquid Detergent

Add liquid detergent to 1/2 cup baking soda; mix until it is the consistency of thick batter. Use as a soft scrub. This cleaner is great for bathrooms.

All-Purpose Cleaner:

Ingredients:

1 tsp. washing soda
2 cups very hot water (be careful not to get burned)
dab of liquid detergent
empty dry spray bottle

Combine your ingredients in the spray bottle; and you are ready to use this on toys, appliances, banisters, countertops, and more.

For those of you who need something for laundry you can always steam clean which is a great choice. We offer several fabric steamers on our Web site. Fabric steamers are great for making your clothes last longer in between washes. The hot steam is great for quick freshening, creasing, and removing tough wrinkles.It penetrates deep into fabrics and relaxes fibers, releasing wrinkles faster than ironing and freshening clothes in seconds.

For cleaning white clothing:

Mrs. Stewart's Liquid Bluing can be found in our Laundry Room and the great thing about this is that it is is nontoxic, biodegradable, non-hazardous and environmentally friendly.

Now for drains (sinks, tubs) in order to sanitize these (they get pretty icky) you can pour a cupful of white vinegar down your sink weekly (this is especially great for the kitchen sink) and since vinegar is a natural antibacterial it helps to keep your sink sanitary.

What recipes do you have on hand for making natural cleaning products?

Second Checker Tournament Results

2011-01-24T09:28:00.001-05:00

Seven people turned out for our second checker tournament of this month. The stakes were set a little higher and the competition was all in fun.

The battle was between friends and siblings. Which ensured gentle verbal prodding to try to confuse the opponent into making a wrong move. It finally came down to two friends battling it out during the last game to see who would be declared champion.

Erin and Trisha were equally matched it seemed, and they both were quiet in concentration during the deciding match. But as with all games, this too came to an end.

Trisha happily claimed the winnings despite some of the pouting amongst her friends.

Congratulations Trisha for being Red Hill General Store's 2nd Checker Tournament's Champion!

Red Hill General Store Scholarship

2011-01-21T13:22:00.000-05:00

Here at Red Hill General Store we feel that writing is one of the most important skills that one can possess, so we are offering a Scholarship to help further the education of a potential writer.

Winner of Facebook Photo Challenge

2011-01-20T16:05:00.000-05:00

The winner of our first Facebook Photo Challenge was Holly Barlow:

You should check out the Facebook Challenge that we have going on now, to keep track of all the Facebook Challenges we will be doing you should Like our Facebook Page.

We have some great photos already competing in our currently running challenge! Come see if you have what it takes to compete!

Dry Winter Skin

2011-01-19T10:08:00.001-05:00

On The Early Show this morning, they talked about dry, cracked, rough, winter skin. So many of us suffer from these problems in the winter.

So what did The Early Show's professionals recommend?

Among many things they recommended Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion. Which is a great product, but there are few other Burt's Bees products that can help with dry skin as well:

Burts Bees Honey Lip Balm

Burts Bees Foot Care Kit
Burts Bees Hand Repair Kit
Burts Bees Hand Salve
Burts Bees Rich and Repairing Cocoa Butter & Macadamia Nut Body Butter
Burts Bees Res-Q Lip Balm

Last Friday's Checker Tournament Results

2011-01-17T13:11:00.000-05:00

We had 4 people turn out for our checker tournament this past Friday. We are hoping for more this coming Friday! But here is the play by play:

Player Perspective

The games were heated battles between fierce competitors. Brother battling Sister. Girlfriend against Boyfriend. Grandmother against Grandchildren.

This phrase was heard at least once:

"Grandma! You are just being mean!"

Laughter by all followed that statement.

Deep in thought Evan examines his options.

With each round someone was knocked out of the running for the prize. And as it came towards the end, people started planning their moves more carefully.

Evan wins the Prize!

Finally, after an hour of heated competition, several laughs, four rounds of checkers, and a very close last game. Evan came out on top. At least for a moment...

Paying back borrowed money.

The winnings were split to cover money borrowed for his door fee. But we still had very happy competitors, and great fun overall.

Want to join in all the good hearted fun? Join us this Friday, Jan. 21 for our next Checker Tournament!

Family Activities for Snowy Days

2011-01-12T12:22:00.000-05:00

As our frequent blog readers know, this Friday is going to be our first Checker Tournament at Red Hill General Store. We will begin at 6:00pm and hopefully conclude by 8:00pm.

But all this snow, and our upcoming tournament, has gotten us to thinking about things that we can enjoy inside while the bitter cold is biting at our toes when we venture out.

While we are on the subject of checkers boardgames are definitely something fun that we can enjoy with friends and family. And these offer a lot more human interaction than any video game can touch upon.

Also, reading to children, or to an elder family member who cannot see to read as well anymore. Stories are as old as time itself, and it lends a feeling of nostalgia to do this.

Coming up with new recipes or tweaking old ones. If you are stuck indoors, now is the perfect time to try something new and different, so break out the unique kitchen appliance you haven't used in awhile and try something new with them. You never know, that juicer you hadn't used since you bought it, might make its way up on your used daily appliances list.

So what are you doing while stuck inside this winter? We'd love to hear your ideas on staving off boredom.

Wind Turbine Update and New Things on Facebook

2011-01-10T16:21:00.000-05:00

We have an audio update from Tom Largen on the status of the Wind Turbine!

Also on our Facebook page we have several events and challenges that we would love for you to participate in.

There is the Facebook Photo Challenge (you must have liked our Facebook page in order to participate) The prize for winning this challenge is a Breezy 5.5 T-Shirt. Go to our Facebook Page in order to find out all the details.

Also in our store this Friday (1/14/2011) we are having our first Checker Tournament. It begins at 6:00 pm and will end at 8:00 pm. Beat the winter blues with a good game of checkers. Come out for a double elimination checker tournament. Bring a friend! Entry fee is only $3.00. Half the entry fees will be given to the winner of the tournament.

Email: jones@redhillgeneralstore.com to ask questions. We'll see you there!

So be sure to Like us on Facebook, you never know what challenges, events, sales, and more that you might find there!

New and Seasonal

2011-01-08T06:00:00.002-05:00

Red Hill General Store has some great items in the retail store. Particularly for the type of weather we've been having. Cold and snowy definitely calls for some of these:

It is easy to stay toasty and warm with these beautiful scarves by Carhartt!

And be nice to your noggin! We have some great toboggans by Carhartt as well.

If you are finding it hard to balance on all this frozen stuff, we have Ice Cleats made for your shoes. Also to help keep you warm we have body, hand, and toe warmers made by Grabber.

We have several different fire starters to choose from. Come in and ask how one of these could help you get that fire up and going in your fireplace or wood stove (also learn about the benefits of woodstoves).

Don't have a woodstove? Then come and find out about our kerosene heaters. Great backup if the power ever goes out. We also carry wicks for kerosene heaters, and pumps as well.

We have gotten in some really neat tie dye shirts also. They come in bright colors, makes it feel like spring is on the way just by wearing them.

Keep your legs warm, by dressing them in these great jeans by Carhartt for women. They are just as tough as the jeans they make for the men!

Keep the birds fed on those snowy days with our, bird feeders, bird seed, suet feeders, and suet cakes. There's nothing more heartwarming than seeing your feathered friends playing and feasting in your yard.

We have some awesome ciders in tons of flavors made by Mayberry Sippin Cider. Also to complement these delicious drinks are our Ashe County Cheeses. Perfect for just sitting by the fire with an afternoon (or midnight) snack.

Have a bit of a sweet tooth after munching on our cheese? Try some of Nancy's Fudge. We have great prices and delicious selections.

Need someone to snuggle with? We have the Yomiko Classics Luv Pets by Russ. These little guys are adorable and oh so soft!

With all these great choices, I'm sure we can find something that you need for the winter season! Need help finding an item? Just ask one of our friendly cashiers.

New Store Hours for Winter

2011-01-07T09:03:00.000-05:00

Winter Store Hours: Mon-Thurs we will now close at 6:00PM.

We're still open from 8AM to 8PM on Friday and Saturday and from 1:00 to 5:00 PM on Sunday.

New Things are Coming

2011-01-05T15:21:00.000-05:00

The office was bustling this morning with people getting their ideas, papers, and themselves ready for our meeting. We have big plans for the upcoming year, and we want to keep our customers and readers informed as well as involved in some of these plans. Here are the top things that were on our discussion table this morning:

We discussed the revamping of Red Hill General Store's website, as well as some of our sister sites, and what direction we would like to take with them while staying true to our original goals with these sites.
Sales, events, specials. We talked about what sales, specials, and events that would be possible for us to do this coming year. We definitely have some ideas going for some of these, and will keep you informed.
Blogs. We discussed our blog, and the two blogs we have for two of our sister sites, and what direction we want to take with them and what our readers may or may not want to see. We are hoping to do more with videos, how-to articles, product reviews and more on our blogs this coming year.
Local info & events. We know that many people are curious about our main location. Hillsville, VA and we want to share information with our customers about what our area is about, and what there is to do in Hillsville. So we are going to try to stay on top of events and other happenings in our area that you, our customer, might be interested in knowing about.

To stay updated on these things, and the many other things we discussed today, you can follow our blog, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

We Just Couldn't Do It...

2011-01-04T09:06:00.002-05:00

By now most of you have taken down your Christmas Tree and some of you are in the process or getting ready to take it down, and put away all those wonderful Christmas decorations. But we just couldn't do it, the tree looks so pretty and green (it's artificial so it'll stay green for quite some time). We decided to upcycle our tree into a cozy winter scene:

We have our scene complete with a sled, cardinals, faux snow, and a fauxman (snowman). But this is only one way a tree can be upcycled/recycled. There are tons of things you can do with your REAL tree once the decorations are off of it other than have it hauled off to the landfill. (These ideas are not intended for artificial trees)

If there is a lot of snow where you are, consider using your tree to make a bird habitat, once all the decorations, tinsel, etc., is off of your tree, haul it out to your backyard and securely stake it so that it is standing. Then you can "decorate" the tree by hanging strings of popcorn, fruit, veggie slices, or suet holders. This provides birds a place to rest with plenty of food nearby, which I'm sure they'll appreciate when there is snow on the ground and they cannot get to their natural feeding spots. Karma points all around for this one, recycling and helping out mother nature!

Do you have flower beds that will need mulch come spring? (Ah, spring you seem so far away.) Then you can use a wood chipper and turn your tree into mulch that will help out your flowers. Hmmm...you already paid for the tree, why not do this and save yourself a little extra cash later this year?

Also you can always trim off those branches to dry out and use for kindling your wood stove. If the weather goes back to what it was just a couple've weeks ago then this use would definitely come in handy this winter.

Did you upcycle/recycle your tree? If so what did you do with it? We are always hungry for more ideas on how to keep things out of the landfills!

New Starts this New Year

2011-01-03T13:59:00.000-05:00

We've been getting a few things done at Red Hill General Store already this year, one of those things being starting blogs for two of our Sister Sites. We are very excited to introduce these blogs to you and to get them up and running. We would love feedback on them about what direction YOU would like to see these two blogs take. So click the links below and leave us some comments so that we can make these blogs about what our customer/reader wants.

Blog Mentions

2011-01-02T12:25:00.001-05:00

We noticed that we've had a blogger writing about us, and we just wanted to send them a thank you for supporting Red Hill General Store.

Sunny Morning Farm mentioned us in their Beans, Beans...... blog, they blogged about our Tiffin Set The Classic Portable Food Carrier. Check it out and see what they think of this great item! (They also have great photos of the item!) Thanks Sunny Morning Farm!

Photo by Sunny Morning Farm

If you have blogged about us, or know of a blog that has mentioned us, please let us know! Just leave the blog address in our comments!

Hope everyone is having a great start to 2011!