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Last Spring a regular customer of our shop came in and showed us a beautiful pottery travel mug she had bought in Galax, Virginia. The top had been specially crafted to fit perfectly so there was no spillage if the mug were to overturn. We were very interested to find the source and traced it to a small potter in the Appalachian Mountains of Southwest Virginia.Thus began our association with Hannah and Emi of HeartMoss Pottery. It is always pleasant to find craftspeople who understand the wholesale side of sales and realize the cost of selling--whether it be driving to a craft show for two days or the cost of owning and operating a retail store. We decided to drive...

You’ve probably never heard of Canada’s Worst Nightmare Maple Syrup. It isn’t sold in stores, but it was our first introduction to maple sugaring. Tucked into a hillside in Norwich, Vermont, our son-in-law, Graham, built a sugar shack a few years ago to share the joys of maple sugaring season with his children. Canada’s Worst Nightmare won’t be starting any trade wars. The small operation produces 40-60 gallons annually, and every drop is given to friends and families. Friends and family gather around the sugar shack and everyone lends a hand. Sap buckets are gathered, wood is split, the fire is stoked, and pancakes are flipped on the griddle as children drink warm syrup from the tap. After sugaring with...