Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Can you believe it? We had another major snowstorm this weekend. Areas around here got anywhere from 12 to 24 inches! It really can complicate things but I do try to make the best of it. With the proper tools and accessories snow can be a challenge but fun.

This has been a very snowy winter in Virginia. We were just hit with a major snowstorm at the worst possible time. We worked tirelessly to bring product in to ship in time for Christmas. Only to have blizzard conditions Christmas week but customer satisfaction remained our top priority.

We offer so many products that make the cold and the snow much more bearable. If you are just looking for fun try our flexible flyer sleds or snow paint. We have earbags and ear warmers to keep your ears toasty. A Houdini or hood wrap will keep your head and neck warm. We also offer hand knitted Alpaca wool mittens or wristies to keep your hands warm. There are all sizes of Yaktrax to put over your shoes for safety and stability as you play and work in the snow.

The one thing I can’t live without in the winter is my muck boots. They are so easy to slide on and keep your feet dry and warm. I bought them several years ago and wear them every morning to feed my horses. Not that this looks good but I have worn them with my pajamas, dress clothes or jeans.  One of my biggest fears is that I will forget that I have them on, go to work and still be in my muck boots.

The anticipation of snow is always exciting. It makes me feel as if I simply must go to the grocery store to stock up on supplies. The technology today makes the forecast so accurate that it is almost impossible to be unprepared. So I am stocking up, planning to sit by the fire, relax and let the snow fall where it may.

By Susan G, Logistics Analyst

We Love Our Pets

Not to brag, but I have the best dog ever.  Her name is Olive and she is marvelous. Some of her hobbies include: playing with her millions of toys, snuggling, watching TV (yes, she watches TV very intently), and eating treats.  Though she doesn’t know and she thinks all dogs live like her, she is utterly and completely spoiled.

Here she is supporting her favorite football team, though her support didn’t help much this year.

I know I am not alone.  I bet most Americans would probably argue with me and proclaim, “MY pet is the best pet ever.” Understandably so, being that we as a country spend BILLIONS on our pets every year.  From food and treats to toys and vet visits, most are not bashful about spending that extra buck or two on their beloved family pet.

Now is the best time to start thinking about getting your dog outdoors again.  Hopefully the weather will warm up sooner rather than later and I am sure your pet is just as excited as you are to get back outdoors.  Not to brag again in this blog, but we have the perfect outdoor dog beds.  Our Raised Pet Bed does not sit on the hot ground giving your dog a cool spot to lay down when the porch or patio may be too hot.  If your dog prefers a more “plush” bed for the outdoors, our Indoor/Outdoor Dog Bed should do the trick.  Wonderful for the outdoors since it is both mildew and sunlight resistant.

Don’t forget to stop by any of our seven Retail Locations, to pick up a variety of dog toys and treats that you will not be able to find on our website or in our catalog.  Olive’s personal favorites are Honey’s Pet Treats, any of the assorted Life is good Dog Toys, and the Chuck-It! Ultra Ball Launcher.  After throwing all different types of balls with the launcher, she is sure to retire to her Raised Pet Bed to cool down.  If your dog does not like chasing balls, you can find several types of Plush Animal Dog toys in our Retail stores as well.  (Olive votes for the Beaver!)

I don’t want to be biased and give all of the attention to dogs, I certainly cannot forget about cats.  Cats love to hide.  A great place for your cat to get away to is the Cat Washroom.  Not only do you get a convenient way to conceal the litter box, they can hide and “go” in peace.  It’s also a perfect furniture accent for any room…you would never know a litter box is inside!  Give your cat the best seat in the house with our Single Seat Cat Furniture.  Available in two versatile colors, your cat can jump and sit on the ultra comfy suede seat.  Place it next to the window so your kitty can peep on the entire neighborhood.

Again, don’t forget to drop by any of our Retail Locations for the ideal treat for your kitty, Kitty Cat Catnip.  ­If your cat loves Catnip, they will go crazy over our Kitty Cat Catnip.  Watch your cat rub it, roll over it, or even kick at it!

And finally, I personally know I could not live without our Pet Throw.  If your dog or cat sheds anything like Olive does, you need one too.  You can use it in your couches, or even in your car, making tackling the hair so much easier. (But if you have a Furminator, you will not need one, this brush totally helps reduce shedding on any dog or cat!)  If your dog or cat is as spoiled as Olive, our Personalized Pet Crock is the perfect place to store all of their toys…or treats!

I’d love to hear how much you love your pet…and see pictures!

By Ali M, assistant product manager

Feeding the Birds

With the exception of hummingbirds, feeding the birds is a new experience to me.  I started last year when I purchased the Yankee Dipper from Plow & Hearth.   I chose the Yankee Dipper since we have quite a few squirrels running around our property, and the collapsible perches keep the squirrels from eating the bird seed.

This year, I added three different types of feeders to our collection with the hope of attracting different varieties of birds.

Our cardinal feeder is a beautiful bright red color that looks good hanging on the feeder, even when the birds are not feeding.  Once filled with black oil sunflower seeds it has had a steady stream of visitors.

I also added a finch sock filled with nyjer seed, which is currently being sold in our retail stores. The mesh on the finch sock help the different varieties of finches cling on. This finch sock is so convenient. Just take it out of the package and hang. It can also be refilled.

The suet feeder has been a real hit with a woodpecker that has been hanging around our property. We will a variety of suet on our website starting in late January.  Check out the picture my husband took of the woodpecker .

Just yesterday, our yard was filled with bright red cardinals, which is a welcome sight in the month of January. As I continue on with this hobby, I hope to be able to identify the different types of birds that visit our feeders and learn what types of food/feeders attract the various varieties.

We are adding many different types of feeders and houses to our website in hopes of making our selection very broad to our bird loving customers. Please continue to check back, as each month our selection broadens.

By Kay G, Asst. Product Manager

Fireplace Toolsets

Moved into a new house with a fireplace to decorate? Or maybe you have used an inexpensive fireplace toolset for a couple of years and it is already falling apart. Here are a few tips to guide you when buying new fireplace tools. We’ll look at both decorative and functional considerations to help you make your choice.
On the decorative side you need to consider the set’s materials and style. Materials vary and include brass, iron, pewter and steel which you will find alone or combined to make sets from casual to very formal.

Brass sets tend to be more traditional and formal looking. You often see them gracing fireplaces in Williamsburg and other early American sites. Brass sets have a variety of finial treatments from simple ball to elaborately turned tops, to suit a range of decorating styles.

Iron toolsets have gained popularity along with more casual trends in decorating. However, just because they are more casual does not mean that they cannot be decorative. Handmade wrought iron sets can be decorated with scrollwork, leaves, and other details. Even machine made sets can have stamped accents and gracefully curved handles. Some iron sets combine the beauty of brass handles with the durability of steel shafts and tool ends.

Steel sets are strong and functional, but don’t sacrifice design. Along with decorative details, these sets can have different finishes such as black and copper.

Individual Tools or Set?

Functional concerns include whether to buy individual tools or a set with a stand, how the handles and tips attach to the tool shafts, and the design of the tools. Considering how you intend to use the tools will increase your long-term satisfaction with your choice.
The individual parts of a toolset include the poker, shovel, broom, tongs, and stand. If you use your fireplace infrequently, you may decide to buy only the individual tools that you use most with hooks for hanging at fireside. A poker is generally the most popular tool.
One advantage to purchasing your tools in a set is that often you can find tools that coordinate with your fireplace screen. In addition to a stand, three-piece sets include a poker for adjusting logs in the fire, and a shovel and broom for cleanup. If you use your fireplace a lot, look for a shovel with a larger scoop and a broom with a full set of stiff bristles to make ash removal easier.
Four-piece sets add a pair of log tongs for folks who really like to play with the fire. The grabbing end of the tongs has either two or three points of contact with the log. While the two point tong is more traditional, the three point style makes log moving a little easier.

Keep a Grip on Your Tools

One of the most common complaints from people looking for new toolsets concerns tools whose handles loosen up in use. Tools have either swedged (also called press-fitted) or threaded handles. Forced on with tons of pressure, swedged handles will not come loose, as will handles that are threaded. To check a tool, grab the handle and the other end and twist. You won’t be able to budge a swedged handle.

Sizing Your Set

Finally, a tip that covers both the decorative and functional aspects of the set: check the size of the set and compare it to your fireplace. Tools come in different lengths, from short ones designed for woodstoves to extra long ones that are suitable for a massive stone fireplace in a great room with high ceilings. Shorter tools may require using firegloves to protect yourself from the heat when working a blazing fire.

Fireplace and Woodstove Safety

Nothing beats standing close to the warmth of a woodstove or staring into the hypnotic dance of flames in a fireplace on a chilly day. However, fires can get out of control, as reflected by the spike in calls to the fire department when the burning season begins. Fortunately, a little caution and preparation can lessen your chance of becoming part of that unhappy statistic.

Creosote

First, make sure that your chimney has not built up creosote over the previous burning season. As smoke rises and mixes with cooler air, it condenses and forms creosote, a black, tarlike material that builds up on the inside of the chimney. This residue needs to be removed because it is highly flammable. A traditional rule of thumb is that when creosote build up is as thick as a dime, it’s time to have your chimney cleaned.

Get the Help of a Professional

Schedule a chimney sweep in the springtime when the wood burning season is over. It’ll be a lot easier than trying to get one to come after the first fall cold snap when everyone else is thinking about getting a sweep. Another advantage to spring chimney cleaning is that many sweeps have off-season discounts. Your sweep can recommend a cleaning schedule for your chimney based on the severity of creosote buildup.
A good chimney sweep can be helpful beyond just cleaning. With his experience and knowledge of chimney construction, a proficient sweep will be able to examine your chimney from foundation to cap, looking for areas that need repair. Some sweeps are able to do the repair work, while others will provide referrals.

Woodstoves

If you have a woodstove, make sure that it is in good working order. Check the iron and steel components for cracks or degradation from the fire’s heat and replace those that are bad. Close a dollar bill in the door at various spots around the frame. If you can pull it out easily the gaskets are worn and should be changed.
If your stove has a catalytic element, remove it to make sure that it is in good shape. A light gray or tan color indicates a healthy catalyst; a dark black can mean that it is no longer working properly. Clean off any ash that has accumulated by vacuuming or lightly brushing it off. Replace it if the metal band is badly distorted or pieces of the ceramic grid have fallen out.

You can make your home more comfortable by adding a steamer to the top of your woodstove. These add moisture back in the air, which is important during the dry winter months. Functional designs such as the Lattice Steamer come in various sizes and colors. Or for a more whimsical approach, try a colorful, handpainted dragon that releases steam through his nose.

Cool Those Ashes

Finally, never clean the ashes from your stove by putting them into a paper bag or flammable container. Ashes are great insulators and can keep a coal hot enough to start a fire for days. Use only a metal container and store it on bare ground or cement for at least a week before dumping. Or use our Warm Ash Vac to make clean up easy.

Sparks

Burning wood can pop, sending a dangerous shower of sparks onto your floors or rugs. To prevent this, always use a fireplace screen that is large enough to completely cover your fireplace opening. Hearth rugs, made from spark resistant materials, are also a good idea.
Take a few moments to tend to the safety of your fireplace and woodstove before the season starts. That way you’ll be able to kick back, relax and enjoy your fire safely and securely!

By Kim K.

Plow & Hearth’s Campaign to Reforest America is Growing Strong

This is the second year for The Plow & Hearth Campaign to Reforest America and we’re so excited about the results of this past holiday season. Plow & Hearth pledged to donate a tree for every transaction completed between October 15^th and December 31^st. Our sales were better than expected and so, the company will donate over 729,000 trees to be planted in North Carolina, Louisiana and Pennsylvania.

The Campaign to Reforest America began in October, 2008 when Plow & Hearth set a goal of donating one million trees within a year. We partnered with the National Forest Foundation and the Virginia Department of Forestry and this past October announced that they had successfully reached the goal. That same day, Tim Hopkins, the company’s president announced that the company was renewing its efforts and set the goal of donating another one million trees in the coming year.

This year’s Campaign to Reforest America expanded to include Plow & Hearth’s sister brands Wind & Weather®, HearthSong® and Magic Cabin®. During the holiday season, after every purchase, customers received an email asking them to select one of three state-based programs where their seedling donation will be directed.

• 31% of customers chose to support the Coastal Roots program in Louisiana, which teaches school children about coastal habitat restoration and allows them to plant and nurture trees.

• 30% directed that their tree be planted in North Carolina. There, contributions of longleaf pine seedlings will help restore the habitat of the Red Cockaded Woodpecker, a species whose population has dwindled to only 1% of its original size.

• 39% of customers chose to send their tree to Pennsylvania in support of the TreeVitalize program. This effort allows trees to be planted along streams to aid in providing clean water and restored habitats for trout and other stream life.

In addition to these state efforts, Plow & Hearth and its sister brands have continued the Planting Two for One® program whereby the Company donates two trees for every one used in catalog production to the Virginia Department of Forestry.  Through this program, the company has planted over 1.5 million trees in Virginia during the past eighteen years. And in continuing our support of the National Forest Foundation, Plow & Hearth donated a tree to national forest restoration for each of our exclusive pewter ornaments sold during the holidays.

It’s pretty amazing to work for a company with such a strong history of caring for the environment. I think everyone here is proud of the Campaign to Reforest America.

by Lynn G, Director of Marketing

Cozy in the Winter

There are pros and cons to every season.  Spring brings the blooms of every shape and color.  Summer has the splash of water play and the beach.  Fall has the beautiful changing of the leaves.  Winter…..has coziness.

There are a lot of ways for you to take a break from the craziness of life and slip into the coziness of winter.  My favorite way to do this is with a steaming mug of hot chocolate.  Maybe you’re a tea drinker.  There are a myriad of flavored hot chocolates and teas that you’re bound to find one that meets that cozy factor.  Perhaps you’ll get lucky and find a few!  Make extra in our Cocoa-Latte Machine so you can go back for more.  So you’ve got your toasty drink all ready, you can feel the warmth from the mug and you start to feel yourself slipping into coziness.

Another cozy factor is slippers or really warm socks.  If you don’t like things on your feet maybe you can get your favorite blanket to keep warm.

Next you will need a comfy chair.  I love a good rocking chair for this or a big oversized chair.  Where you position your chair will also be key.  My family loves to watch movies, but if it’s snowing or raining outside I face the biggest window in the house.  We used to have a beautiful fireplace where we lived, but not at our current home.  Instead an Electric Stove makes a great substitute for the real thing.

Unless you plan to cozy up with a great movie the next thing for your cozy experience is a good book.  Keep a few ready for reading with our Wrought Iron Bookshelf. It’s the perfect size for a side table.  Or you can set-up for a few cozy activities with our Ladder Shelf.  This is the perfect side table with multiple shelves – one for your drink, one for books, one for knitting or whatever activities you prefer.

Now you are set!  You have your warm drink, your slippers, your blanket, a comfy chair, and a good book.  Can you feel yourself slipping into coziness?  This is the perfect setting for being cozy in the winter.

Let us know how you celebrate the winter in your area.  Leave a comment on this post.

- Shannon L, Executive Assistant

Stocking Contest

Last year, in Madison, we shared our holiday spirit with our co-workers and local community with a Holiday Tree Decorating Contest.  The outpouring of creativity wasn’t at all surprising knowing our talent pool, but we, nonetheless, were blown away with what our associates were able to do with 12 inch faux Christmas Trees!

The Best in Show Winner was from our merchants who rigged their faux tree to hang out of an upside–down Tomato Planter adorned with actual cherry tomatoes.   After the contest winners were announced, we spread our holiday cheer by donating many of the trees to two local nursing homes.

The contest last year was so much fun, we had to do it again.  This year we decorated big red holiday stockings!  We wanted to also expand the contest to include raising money and food donations for needy people in our community.  All donations went directly to the Madison Emergency Services Association (MESA).  MESA assists families in-need in our county with emergency services: food, clothes, shelter, medicine, pre-job training programs and job referrals.  The demand in our community this year has been so great that MESA’s supplies were dangerously low.

Twenty-five amazing stocking were submitted!  All entries were very creative; no two had the same theme.  Prizes will be awarded in three categories:

• Best in Show
• Best Green (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Theme
• Most Creative

Dyan, Marketing and Hearthsong blogger, got an honorable mention this year.  Her enthusiasm for the contest was unmatched!  She submitted four unique stockings.  She felt the need to shine again this year after her faux tree won Most Creative last year.

We thank our associates that participated in the contest and gave money and food donations to MESA.  We hope our small effort hopes local residents have a brighter holiday season!

We Love our Seasonal Work Force

The holiday season is upon us at Plow & Hearth.  We have adorned the Dogwood and Willow Oaks that line our driveway with Solar Holiday Lights; we have lit Battery Operated Window Candles in each window; and the Crosley Performer CD Recorder located in the reception area is filling the halls with holiday music.   Holiday cheer surrounds us!

Even without these sure signs, the best way to know it is the holiday season is to take a look around our distribution centers and service center.  At the peak of our holiday season, our workforce more than doubles.  It is no secret that it is our seasonal workforce that makes our holiday season so very successful.  We recruit workers to do everything from take inbound phone orders and answer customer questions, to fulfilling orders, packing boxes, and loading outbound delivery trucks.

At our Vandalia, Ohio distribution center, over 60% of our seasonal hires were associates returning to work with the company!  At our Madison Distribution Center, 50% of last year’s workforce returned to work with us.  Our most remarkable seasonal associates in Madison are two ladies that have returned this year for their seventh and ninth seasons respectfully!

Because of the high demands we place on our associates, especially our seasonal associates, this time of year we plan special events throughout the month of December to motivate everyone to finish the season strong and in good cheer.  Our food giveaways are always a big hit.  Today, in the service center, associates enjoyed pizza.  These treats help break up long shifts!

Last year we hosted a Holiday Tree Decorating Contest.   Associates decorated 12” faux trees and the creativity flowed as associates really put their best effort forward!  After the contest winners were announced, we spread our holiday cheer by donating many of the trees to two local nursing homes.   Because the contest was such a success we decided to make it an annual event.  This year we are decorating stockings!  We will follow up at the end of the month with a full report on this year’s contest!

by Caitlin B, Human Resources Manager

Help Us Help Kids Make the Outdoor Connection

Plow & Hearth is proud to support the National Forest Foundation and their work to care for 193 million acres of National Forests and Grasslands. This year, we have joined to offer a commemorative print by renowned wildlife artist Robert Bateman entitled Family Hike.

In today’s highly computerized and urbanized world, children have lost their connection to the wonders of nature. Their lack of quality time outdoors impacts not only their individual physical and mental health, but also their knowledge of and commitment to conservation.

The future of our National Forests depends upon new generations of people to love and help care for our country’s treasured natural spaces. And so the National Forest Foundation (NFF) has made a commitment to giving kids more opportunities for outdoor fun, skill-building and education.

All proceeds from the sales of the Family Hike print will support the NFF’s More Kids in the Woods fund – giving children opportunities to discover all the beauty, excitement and surprises waiting outdoors. In particular, the fund supports the partnership between national forests and the Robert Bateman Get to Know Program, which delivers innovative resources and an annual contest all designed to reconnect youth with nature.

Our goal is simple: through the power of art and personal discovery, we want to encourage young people to spend more time in nature. Your contribution today will allow your family to enjoy Robert Bateman’s newest nature masterpiece, while helping us to bring nature into the lives of children across the country.

We’d love to hear how you teach your children to care for our natural resources.

By Lynn G, Director of Marketing