Things are kind of exciting at our little farm. We have people approaching us with wonderful ideas on all kinds of classes to present. We love their ideas!! We hope this is a place of learning and growing as a community and a place to relax and meet wonderful people and play with our farm animals!
This list of courses will all be at Many Years Farm, except for the Intensive Iconography, course which will be held at St Anna Orthodox Church in Louisa VA.
Gilding Course by Colette Kalvesmaki
This class will show how to oil gild an icon. Every day is very important to the next. The students can bring any icon they want to gild, but we will only gild the halo. The cartoon needs to be transferred to the board before the class. When: April 29, 30, and May 1st– 10 am for 1 hour or so except the last class will be about 2 to 3 hours. Cost: $125 Students will provide their own gessoed board with drawing completed on board before class. Each student will receive 4 sheets of gold for their icon with class. We will carefully go through each step and assistance will be there if needed. Any extra gold will be $4 a sheet. Please remember to bring a notebook! If you have any questions contact Colette at paraskeve@gmail.com. You can call but texting is advised- 240 6761350. To sign up, click below;
Stone Carving with Bethany Lee
Back by popular demand! Beth takes the student who has never carved stone into the world of the carver. Come and enjoy the farm, the animals, food and the wonderful students for a day of learning to carve, the old way.
Saturday, April 26th, 9:30 AM-1PM. Lunch included! More information is on the flyer-click below.
Coming in the summer A day of Old English poetry with Dr. Beth Frazier Nū scylun hergan hefaenrīcaes Uard!
Did you know that this is the first line of the oldest poem… in English? Come learn what it means and how the English language of Old English devotional poetry has evolved over time. Join us over tea and horderves at our beautiful farm while learning this interesting topic, meeting people and having fun!
This discussion will be led by a medieval literature scholar Dr. Elizabeth Frazier. From Old English to Anglo-Norman and Middle English—all the way to the English of Shakespeare, which is considered modern—our language has changed radically. Together, we will read the oldest surviving poem in English, Caedmon’s Hymn, a song celebrating Creation. We will read the original version alongside a modern translation in order to gain some familiarity with Old English. Then we will turn to The Dream of the Rood, an extremely moving meditation on the Passion from the point-of-view of the tree that becomes the Cross. We will see how Anglo-Saxon Christians emphasized Christ’s kingship, presenting a heroic, warrior Christ as opposed to the more familiar Man of Sorrows. Along the way, participants will learn some key features of Old English poetry and will examine images of relevant manuscripts to bring the poems to life. Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien will enjoy encountering texts that helped inspire The Lord of the Rings. We’ll finish up with a creative writing exercise of our own. Students will receive a packet from the Penguin edition of these texts and a notebook.
Date and time to come! We think in the summer of 2025. Contact Colette if you would like more information. paraskeve@gmail.com or 240 676 1350 please text.
Biography: Elizabeth Frazier served previously as Assistant Professor of English for Franciscan University of Steubenville’s study-abroad campus in Austria. She currently works for the St. Anselm Institute for Catholic Thought at the University of Virginia. Beth received her Ph.D. at UVa, where she studied medieval literature.
This moving and ancient icon, called Extreme Humility, is brought out in the church during the Bridegroom Matins service during Lent. During this Lent we will prayerfully work on this as our next icon for the Saint Annas Orthodox Church Iconography retreat.
When: March 28, 29 (Friday 10-4, Saturday 10-6) and April 5 (Saturday 10-4, or whenever we finish).
This course will be done in egg tempera on a panel unless you took the gilding class in Feb/March at Many Years Farm-see Courses for more info. All supplies provided.
Cost: $375 ($100 non-refundable deposit to hold your spot. Please pay remainder in check or cash first day of class.)
Pigments, boards, brushes, rulers, pencils, erasers, lights, palettes, wash jars, etc. . . will be supplied for students to use, but you are welcome to bring whatever supplies you prefer from home. Its suggested you wear clothes to get paint on or an apron. If you have icons you wish to varnish-bring them and we will varnish them while we conduct the class.
Saturday Vespers is open to all after the Saturday classes, right next door. All are welcome.
$100 deposit:
$350 full payment:
Contact Colette with questions at paraskeve@gmail.com. We have limited seating, so sign up soon.
Fresh Rabbit Meat…..our fryers are between 2-3 lbs….born and raised on the farm….$10.00/lb
We make our own tinctures, teas and salves
Plantain Drawing Salve……great for drawing out venom from bug bites, infections, even draws splinters out too.
Goat Milk Soap…..Honey, Goat Milk and Oatmeal…..great for sensitive skin….$6/bar or 3 for $15
Elderberry Tincture….boost the immune system, each 2 oz bottle contains over 950 drops,
Take 10-20 drops per day in flu season. 2 oz goes a long way. $20
Valerian Tincture….won’t make you drowsy, made with glycerin so it is
Also good for dogs, cats or goats! Soothing calm to help sleep and calm a racing mind
Also helps with pms and hot flashes. Human dosage 10-20 drops once or twice a day.
Dogs and cats (dogs have been given it before a show so they
Won’t be distracted by the crowds, but the dogs are still alert
…1 drop per 10 lbs of body weight. 2oz $20
Get ready for cicada season, bats will eat them all up!!!
Copperhead snakes love cicadas. Get rid of cicadas so your home is not overrun with snakes
It’s recommended you get several bat houses around your property. Each one of these houses will house 50 bats— the sooner you put them up the sooner the bats will find them and start them. Place your orders now. Singles house 50 bats. $65 plus $22 shipping. Double $95 plus $22 shipping
Order them now and pick them up on Saturday or have them shipped
For those who are interested in private lessons, I usually teach 1 hour a week or every other week at my home. All supplies are included accept the board which is $12 (Students will slowly buy their own supplies).
After a few icons the student will learn to make their own boards and can bring in a piece of 9 x 12” wood tat that time. All the other supplies I will supply. Lessons are $40 an hour.
There will be both drawing and painting in the lessons for the first year as well as homework. Everyone is asked to buy a 11 x 14” mixed medium sketchbook to bring to class and take home.
After the student can paint longer on their own they can have longer lessons, most ask for 2 hour lessons. Usually takes about a year.
I’ll start to offer ‘Open Saturdays’ now and again as I build up more students. That is where anyone who can paint on their own, but would like to paint for a stretch of time with me there, can come from 11 to 2pm. That is $ 10 an hour.
Come for a class at Many Years Farm and explore the area after.
The Market at Grelen in Orange VA: Set on a 1000-acre tree nursery, The Market at Grelen features: AEuropean-Style Home & Garden Shop,Farm-to-Table Cafe, Wedding & Event Venue, Hiking Trails, Pick-Your-Own Farm, and Virginia Beer, Cider & Wine. https://www.themarketatgrelen.com/
