We would like to welcome our newest member of the team, Jeremy, who is a business student with an emphasis in Marketing. He will be an intern here at Basilwood for the semester and we are happy to have him on board. We know that he will add some great ideas to the mix as we take on new projects.

What is your main goal as our intern this semester?

My main goal for this semester as the marketing intern is to LEARN. There is so much opportunity to grow in this field with a small business. I know that it is my job to help with the marketing and show others that this business is the real deal. Jill has many great ideas and I am here to help add to those ideas. If there is one thing I am good at it is always having an idea to throw into the mix. I enjoy bringing new thoughts to the conversation and hopefully some of those ideas work out this semester.

How would you describe a regular day here at the farm?

A regular day at the farm for me is working in the soap roam along with the rest of the team. I love all the fresh scents that the soap roam provides for my nose. It is hard to explain but I will try so here we go…. It reminds me of a summer morning waking up to the sun in my room

and the fresh scent of flowers blooming outside the door.

I hope you all can smell it as you read that last sentence. If not, then I suggest you come on down for a visit. You will love the smell of the soap roam I promise. As I am working on SEO or talking about ideas with Jill there is always a good vibe in the soap roam. It is also great working along the “CIO” who is Max.

He is a great kid and he is entertaining to see run around the farm and the soap roam.  Also when I drive up to the farm I love how the goats are always there to greet me.

What would you like to get out of this internship here at Basilwood?

I would love to just add a different perspective to the conversation because everyone has different ideas which is a good thing when discussing a marketing plan. I want to learn as much as I can because I know that when I graduate it will be my time to show my skills. If there is anything new I can learn I am up for the task.

I know that I am not a marketing genius yet but this is my first step to taking my journey towards becoming something great. I have this funny dream that I am destined for something great and that all these obstacles right now are just a test for me. I am ready to help here at Basilwood Farm and I hope to do my best! This business is great and I am just happy to be a part of the team this semester.

As Jeremy takes on these new projects we have for him we know that he will give it his best. This is the beginning of his journey and we wish him the best as he continues to grow.

Photo Credit: Mariano Friginal Photography (the really good shots), Nicole Kent (the other good shots) & Jill Spruance ;-)

It was so nice on my walk this morning down by the chicken coop, that I decided to drag one of the chairs down there and blog with the hens.

There's a cool breeze down here this morning, which is one of the fabulous things about the Central Valley. Yes, the days get up into the 90s and 100s most of the time in the summer, but the best kept secret is that the mornings and evenings are fabulous 60s and 70s! Especially when you are out of the City and up in the foothills where it cools down sooner and the stars are far more visible. It also takes longer to heat up in the morning.

So, while the neighbor's horses, Baby Doll and Princess, chomp away on their alfalfa and the hens wander about scratching in the morning air, we are just going to sit here and do a little country life observation.  

When you first enter the domain of these creatures, they are suspect and stay away, but after a few minutes, when you become part of the landscape, they return to their natural way of doing things and you really get to know them.  They all have distinct personalities, each one uniquely amazing in her own right.  We have three flocks currently.  

The larger of the two get their free range time together, and the little guys aren't big enough yet to be safe from aerial predators outside of the safety of their roomy coop. So it's interesting to watch them sort out their pecking order (quite literally) in the larger pasture.  Eventually they will share the same space for nesting boxes, so getting them accustomed to each other this way makes for fewer scuffles.

These are all laying hens because we LOVE getting fresh eggs here in Basilwood! Recently, we have added some new breeds to the flock.  We have got a mixture of Blue Ameraucanas, Easter Egger's, Speckled Sussex, Belgian Maline,Blue and Jubilee Orpingtons, Copper Marans, Cuckoo Marans, Red Stars, and even a Japanese longtail who is the smallest and mightiest of the bunch!  She's a HOOT!  

Hey everyone! In case you don't know who I am, my name is Maxwell James and I am the CIO (Chief Inspiration Officer) at Basilwood Farm. I am almost 18 months old and my main job is to play on the farm, inspire new products, and be cute. 

Being the BIG boss here at Basilwood comes with a lot of perks, like my very own parking spot. 

The other perks that come with being the CIO are that I inspire a lot of different products. One of the best products created is the Baby Bum Balm. If my little bum turns red, my Mommy just puts some of this on me and I am all better within a day or two. It also works great on any dry spots I might get and helps heal up my scratches faster. I've even seen Mommy even use it for dry spots too.  

As you can see, it gets a little dirty around the farm, so good soap at bath time is a must. Caeden's Choice is my go-to bar because it is so gentle on my sensitive skin. Mommy uses the Handmade Soft Scrubby with my soap and I am clean in seconds! Which is important for a busy guy like me. 

After a hard day's work I like to kick back, relax, take a bath, and put on some Goat Milk Lotion with Grapefruit scent. I can't get enough of Grapefruit! 

It's a pretty exciting place to work! If you have any little ones, I would highly recommend giving my favorite products a try. It will make you both very happy :) 

My personal photographer Mariano Friginal.