The Broom Brothers

Who’s This Dude???

Dan — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:44:55 +0000

Updates

Dan — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:48:54 +0000

We’ve just posted some updates to our 2012 Schedule. Also take a look at the photo gallery for a half-dozen pictures of newly-finished brooms. Happy New Year!

Order Brooms Online!

Dan — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:25:27 +0000

Well, we’ve finally gone and done it. The web store is operational and ready for your order. To begin with, we’re offering whisks, cake testers, corn silkers and cobweb brooms. As always, though, if there’s something else you’re interested in, don’t hesitate to e-mail or call. We can usually e-mail you pictures of what we have on hand within a day.

Generally, we use USPS Parcel Post for shipping. It offers the most bang for the buck, all things considered. If you prefer another shipper, please call us before ordering.

We only ship to U.S. addresses.

Keep an eye peeled for additions to the store. Soon, we plan on adding double wedding brooms, art pieces and pot scrubbers.

Happy shopping!

Drying

Dan — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 05:56:33 +0000

We’ve finished cutting/pulling the broomcorn fields twice now, and there are still some plants left maturing. Now our workshop is crammed with racks full of drying broomcorn. We got so much that we had to give up on the old curry comb method of removing the seeds – it’s just too labor-intensive to physically scrape the seeds off each head when you have that much broomcorn – a couple of bales worth, we think. We’ll be building a seed thresher ASAP. Meanwhile, here are some photos of the broomcorn drying:

Here's a shot of some de-seeded broomcorn in the middle of the drying process; it's been less than a week since this was cut. There's still plenty of moisture left in it, as evidenced by the partial bright-green coloration.

Here's a close-up of the same batch. The red discoloration on a couple of the heads comes from the individual plant being slightly over-mature; the seeds were allowed to develop.

Here's a later batch, with the seeds left on the heads. It's going to have to dry like this & we'll just thresh the seeds off later.

A quick look at the early broomcorn harvest:

Dan — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:07:05 +0000

Just-cut broomcorn waiting to be processed

Another angle

Ralph removes the sheath, or "boot" from a head of recently cut broomcorn

shucked and de-seeded broomcorn in the workshop waiting to be laid in the drying racks

Lots more to come!

Today we start cutting broomcorn…..

Dan — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:36:34 +0000

The Broom Brothers' 2011 Broomcorn Crop

This year’s four acres of broomcorn is maturing nicely, albeit irregularly—which is pretty normal for our climate. We planted several weeks late to try and avoid that, but there’s really no getting around it. So, we’ll be cutting a truckload at the time most days for the next six weeks or so.

Updated Web Site

Dan — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:38:58 +0000

Hope you like the new look of our site. We’re now using WordPress as a Content Management system, allowing us to make timelier updates with less hassle. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be completing the new site, to include adding a web store so you can purchase brooms without having to hunt us down at a festival. The store should be up and running by Labor Day.

Handcrafted Corn Brooms (Sweepers)

Don’t forget; brooms, whisks and cake testers make excellent gifts. They’re sure to surprise (who’s expecting a broom?) and delight the recipient.

Cobweb Brooms

The Broom Brothers offer for sale unique, carefully crafted, all handmade: Whisks, Cobweb Brooms, Hearth Brooms, Sedge Brooms, Decorative Brooms, Functional Brooms, Wedding Brooms, Ceremonial Brooms, Corn Brooms, and Besoms.

(L): turkey wing whisk (C): cake tester & artisan's clean-up brush (R): turkey tail whisk