Welcome to Sunshine Life! Let us help to brighten your day with our large selection of field-fresh flowers, including exquisite dahlias (one of the largest collections in NC!) and wonderfully fragrant lilies. We specialize in "veganic" products, which are grown without the use of animal waste by-products while using organic growing techniques and products listed with OMRI. In addition to grown veganically, we are a certified Naturally GrownTM farm.
By purchasing local produce and flowers, you are supporting our local economy while reducing your carbon footprint to help the environment. When you purchase locally produced food and flowers, you also pay less due to greatly reduced transit costs while getting a much higher quality product. It really pays to buy local! This year, we will be at the Eno River Farmers' Market in lovely downtown Hillsborough, Saturdays from 8a-12p and now Wednesdays 4p - 7p. The market is only two miles from our farm!
We are open every day and would be happy to show you around, or call us to come to your location to help you with making your life sunnier. Shifting to a plant-based diet, improving your health naturally with foods, herbs, and lifestyle changes, or dramatically with clinically-proven world class health products. I have a degree in Holistic Health, working with others as a Health and Wellness Consultant, and I am also an independent distributor with Waiora. Here's a link to my waiora website, which gives a wealth of information about the products (most recently their "vital chocolate"), and invites you to "have a chava!"
By Sunny Impressions | August 27, 2010 at 10:27 AM EDT | No Comments
Finally, the heat and high humidity has broken, and the garden is getting some relief. I am hoping the "monsoon" season starts here soon, then everything will be refreshed. So many plants were killed off by the extreme heat and drought this year, including much of the Asters I planted and squash and cucumbers (don't think those curcubits enjoyed that heat spell.) No love for the tomatoes and even the sunflowers; both suffered from the constant humidity. I have never seen sunflowers with a fungal disease before.
Oh well - another summer down (practically) and on to fall. Broccoli, fennel (yum), lacinato kale, swiss chard, and snow peas are in the ground, as well as some more sunflowers. I will also plant calendula, beets, carrots, arugula, radishes, spinach and lettuces. Many things will overwinter in our climate, so save yourself work and plant more now.
The dahlias and the rose garden are bouncing back nicely, so I anticipate lots of lovely fall flowers. Tall mums are coming, as are some late summer perennials.
Please also mark your calendars (September 25th) for our fall festival, the 2nd Annual Sustainable Living and Wellness Fair. Some updates on the music lineup and who will be giving seminars are coming soon.
By Sunny Impressions | August 09, 2010 at 06:43 AM EDT | No Comments
We are in the planning stages for fall crops and 2nd Annual Sustainable Living and Wellness Fair. Both should be very exciting this year!
With the incredible heat we are experiencing (The month of June was the hottest on record, and the heat, humidity, and heavy downpours continue), many of the summer crops are suffering. What to do? Make room for fall and overwintering crops!
The fair will be on Saturday, September 25th beginning at 10a. We are planning a much larger and more comprehensive event, so I think it's going to be outstanding! I am trying to update what is happening with it, but please email me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.
With the cooler weather, I am also shifting focus to some other aspects of what Sunshine Life is about: living healthier and feeling great! Wellness coaching, cooking classes, and distributing the most fantastic health products on the planet are a few things I am now working with folks on here at Sunshine Life.
Think about planting your superfoods now: kale, broccoli, beets, carrots, etc. You'll be glad you did!
By Sunny Impressions | July 06, 2010 at 02:27 PM EDT | No Comments
It seems like it was just spring, and already half the year is gone! All the veggies are producing nicely, including tomatoes, tomatillos, all sorts of peppers, eggplant, loads of beans, summer squashes, cucumbers, carrots, and chard. Bitter melon and okra are on their way. Lots of flowers, especially all of the dahlias, are producing pretty well despite the persistent heat. We'll see how they fare as the month wears on.
We are busily planning the upcoming wellness fair. We are very excited about hosting this event this year! It should be bigger and better!
Fall crops are being planned, so we'll keep you posted as to what we will be planting. Happy summer weeding!
By Sunny Impressions | May 27, 2010 at 07:18 AM EDT | No Comments
Spring fling was a big success! We had lots of visitors, many first-timers, and we able to give lots of tours. Another success is our spring flower and veggie crops. We had LOTS of brassicas, both greens and broccoli (still have some kale hangin'on!), as well as many flowers for the market and the temple. The weather was sometimes helping and sometimes hindering, but overall was favorable to successful culture.
We have been planting many woody shrubs and some fruit trees this spring, but were unable to make time and space for the asparagus patch :-( Oh well, there's always next spring.
The summer veggies are coming along nicely: there are already tomatoes and peppers forming. The bitter melon (karela) is planted, as are many, many beans. Should be a good crop this year and lots more of it than last year.
Flowers are going nicely. Spring flowers are still persisting, and the summer flowers are just starting to set buds, especially the DAHLIAS! There are soooo many planted, I have lost count of how many tubers we have put in the ground. I am also planting a large perennial bed and butterfly garden where the giant rosemary used to be. Echinacea, pyrethrum, coreopsis, asclepias, alstroemeria, phlox, lilies, gladiolus, liatris, yarrow, buddleia, scabiosa, dianthus, gypsophila, digitalis, and sunchokes are what is going in so far, to add to the perennial dahlia bed. Should be a beneficials haven very soon, with a birdbath soon to come!
Please come out and visit us at the farm - it is looking very lush right now!
By Sunny Impressions | May 01, 2010 at 09:55 PM EDT | No Comments
We have been working hard to make this years' Spring Fling featuring The Festival of Colors the best ever, so please come on out and enjoy the fruits of our labor! Homemade pizza and doughnuts, popcorn, ice cream, fruit and soft drinks are on tap for refreshments. There will be a clown to provide some nice entertainment for the kids, lots of dance and musical entertainment for everyone, a past-life regression workshop for those interested, and, of course, garden tours. And at 6p, the colors will start flying!
It's prime planting season, and even though we still have lots to go into the ground, there is lots to see. Hope to see you there, and please check out www.newgoloka.com for more information and a tentative entertainment schedule.
By Sunny Impressions | April 14, 2010 at 09:22 AM EDT | No Comments
This weekend, we will be at the Eno River Farmers' Market to take part in their "Fresh Starts" event. We will be selling lots of well-cared for tomato, pepper, basil, and flower seedlings for you to take home and enjoy this summer. Additionally, we will be opening up our farm stand soon; watch this space for notification.
We have been so incredibly busy at the farm putting dahlia tubers and lily bulbs down, as well as transplanting, hardening off, and building new raised beds for growing. It's been a blur this spring!
The rose garden is complete, so please stop by and take a look as the roses come out of dormancy. It's been a hard spring for them, as the suddenly very warm weather has been a little unkind to the emerging shoots.
We are up to 180 dahlia tubers to plant this year, and have already planted more than half. It's gonna be Dahlialoka here this summer!!
The official last frost date has passed, so now's the time to put all your tender annuals in the ground or sow seeds for things that love hot weather. Happy planting!
By Sunny Impressions | March 19, 2010 at 01:21 PM EDT | No Comments
Seedlings are finally in the ground, lots of seedlings still being nursed along, and about to start selling at the Eno River Farmers' Market - there's lots of excitement here!
The roses have all arrived and are about to be put in the ground, so please check back soon for the photo journal.
We didn't formally make it on the farm tour, but we were advised to be prepared anyway in case of visitors. We'll be ready!
CSA info coming soon... Enjoy the weather and the spring bulbs!
By Sunny Impressions | February 25, 2010 at 09:04 PM EST | No Comments
It's been VERY busy over here, as full seed-starting mode has begun. I have lost count of how many seedlings there are to care for, but it is most certainly in the thousands. Next week if the weather is cooperative, we can plant out the brassica starts in the newly-prepared beds. Soon after, it will be time to sow carrot, radish, pea, beet, lettuce, spinach, and some other spring seeds. Planning has also begun for a spring festival; May 2nd is the date. Thinking traditional maypole, giant puppets, moon bounce, flying colors, and lots of other fun in addition to unveiling the new rose garden. We'll keep everyone posted on the events as they unfold. Think spring!
By Sunny Impressions | February 13, 2010 at 02:22 PM EST | No Comments
Chinese cabbage, pak choi, broccoli, artichoke (yes!), cabbage, and many other seedlings are coming up nicely. If the snow will cease and desist, maybe I can get these babies in the ground in couple of weeks.
We are awaiting to hear from the Farmers' Markets locally to see how much we will have to alot to sell there; then we will figure out how many shares in the CSA we can offer. We are also planning on a flower CSA so you can have super-fresh veganic bouquets on your table or wherever to enjoy!
By Sunny Impressions | February 01, 2010 at 12:39 PM EST | No Comments
One of the most nutrient-dense foods available, kale is a powerhouse green vegetable. Rich in organosulphur compounds, it helps to gently cleanse the liver while providing the fiber needed to flush out toxins. Kale also is very rich in vitamins and minerals, notably Beta-Carotene, Vitamins C & K, and folic acid.
By Sunny Impressions | January 28, 2010 at 04:28 PM EST | No Comments
Working hard on establishing the new rose garden, particularly with selecting cultivars that are the MOST fragrant. Why grow roses unless they smell wonderful?
Seed starting is about to happen for some spring flowers and veggies. Larkspur, poppies, decorative mini-kale, carnations, and a few others are going to make their debut this year.
We are now planning on two spring festivals: Holi, the festival of colors and probably a May Day sort of thing. Festivals are a great way to get the community together!
Oh, and let's pray we don't get smacked with a late winter ice-storm here....
By Sunny Impressions | January 26, 2010 at 11:22 AM EST | No Comments
Time to think Spring! We are greatly expanding the veggie operation this year to accommodate your requests and, hopefully, go local to sell some things at a Farmers' Market (don't know which one yet, but we'll keep you posted.) Cultivars of all your favorites have been carefully selected and 98% of the seeds have been ordered. We are even planning artichokes this year!
The biggest expansion, however, is with flowers. There will be over 2 miles of flowers, including a greatly expanded dahlia selection (we are looking to become the biggest dahlia producer on the East Coast!), lillies, sunflowers, zinnias, gerbera daisies, asters, marigolds, celosia, as well as many other varieties.
The rose garden installation is moving forward. We are preparing the area to put in the 77 roses, have to go check out some dirt this week at a local supplier to see how we need to amend it to grow spectacular roses.
We are planning on hosting a festival in a few months; not exactly sure of the date, but thinking May Day would be nice. A traditional maypole, some great music, food and crafts, and other fun activities are in the planning stage. Any ideas or suggestions from you would be welcome!
Be sure to come out and see the new greenhouse soon. It's now housing the overwintering plants now, but soon will also be nursing many seedlings to go into the garden when the weather officially breaks.
