2026 Events

Join us for the poetry reading of Beowulf, a gorgeous Old English epic poem dating from around the 9th century.

When: Friday, February 6th, 6pm at the Kalvesmaki house.

You will hear excerpts in the original Old English, read a portion of Tolkien’s famous essay, and learn a bit about the poem’s historical context.  We will serve dinner and mead, and have a cozy fire in the fireplace.  We ask for a donation of $10 per person (at the door) to help with the costs.  A new meadery, Monastic Mead, will be present to offer tasting samples.  Be the first to try some of their yummy meads!  Keep in touch with them as they start their business. RSVP info below.

Intensive Iconography Course for a Lenten Retreat in Egg tempera: March 13, 14 and 21 at St. Anna Orthodox Church in Louisa VA.  This will follow the times of previous classes—Friday, Saturday and the following Friday, Saturday 10–4 each day.  Each class builds on the next.

The Saint we will depict is St. John Climacus, who wrote the Ladder of Divine Ascenta good read for Lent.  There will be no gilding and seats are limited.

Cost: $400.00. A $100 deposit is required to sign up and hold your spot.

$100 deposit:

$400 full payment:

Where: This course will take place at Saint Anna Orthodox Church (saintannasorthodoxchurchlouisa.com) at 4642 East Old Mountain Road, Louisa, Virginia, in the big house. 

This course will be done in egg tempera on a panel which is provided, unless you would like to buy a finished board (cost $110  for a 12.5 x 9.5″ board).  It must be ordered for class at least 2 weeks in advance of the class.  All supplies are otherwise provided:

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.

 

There will be another Intensive Icon course around Oct/Nov. More on that later.

Contact Colette to sign up for any of the above Events. Best to email, paraskeve@gmail.com, but you can leave me a text as well 240 676 1350. 

See ya soon!

SpringHavenShop@Etsy

Homestead living at Spring Haven Farm Culpeper, Virginia

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SpringHavenShop

New at Spring Hill Farm

June 2024

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

Private Lessons

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 at 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.

There is also a reading list which will be added to as the books are read and discussed.

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.

If you have any questions, please contact me;

Colette Kalvesmaki

Ph: 240 676 1350

Address: VA 22709

Web: www.byzarts.com

Places to stay, things to do

Why not make a weekend of it?

Come for a class at Many Years Farm and explore the area after. 

  1. The Market at Grelen in Orange VA: Set on a 1000-acre tree nursery, The Market at Grelen features: A European-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/
  2. Antiquing through out the area.
  3. Liberty Mills Farm, https://www.libertymillsfarm.store/
  4. Christmas in Gordonsville VA (Dec 10th)
  5. Chicken Fest in Gordonsville (Oct 1st)
  6. Montpelier
  7. Barboursville Vineyards
  8. Bald Top Brewery
  9. Downtown Orange, Gordonsville, Ruckersville, Charlottesville, etc., . . .
  10. Barbecue Exchange, Gordonsville: https://www.bbqex.com/ (eating)
  11. spa at Inn at Willow Grove
  12. Visit or volunteer at a monastery-Queen of All Skete,10 minutes away from our farm.

 

Places to Stay

  1. Hill of Content B&B
  2. The Inn at Willow Grove
  3. Air B&B Woodbourne Estate, circa 1810- right by Bald Top Brewery in Madison VA. 10 minutes from our farm. 
  4. Graves Mountain Farm and Lodges www.gravesmountain.com, (540) 923 4231-has lots of places to stay.
  5. Bed and Breakfast Network: https://www.bedandbreakfastnetwork.com/virginia/madison/