Ellington

Husband and wife Steven and Sue Postell are married to the art of entrepreneurialism. They each operate their own business from their home in Sale Creek, known as Dogwood Farms.

Steve Postell started raising chickens after discovering the St. Alban’s Farmers Market in Hixson, held

Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Tuesdays from 5-7 p.m.

“We started out with five and now we’re up to 80,” he said of his chickens, of which he has three varieties: White Leghorns, Araucana and Red Sex-links.

The White Leghorns naturally lay white eggs, the Araucanas produce green and pink “Easter eggs” and the Red Sex-links lay the brown variety.

“I can’t tell a difference in flavor, but I have heard the green eggs are more nutritious,” said Sue Postell, adding that many market shoppers prefer brown eggs because they seem to be genuine country farm eggs. “The only difference is the color.”

Steve Postell feeds his chickens laying mash with omega-3 fatty acids, which improves cholesterol levels as well as overall health. While the chickens roam free during the day, he said he fastens them into a pen at night to keep predators at bay.

Postell said he only sells at the Saturday St. Alban’s Farmers Market because to attend others, he would need to produce more eggs. His chickens currently lay around five dozen eggs a night.

“It’s not like picking a green bean or a tomato out of a garden,” he said. “We’re trying to find a market we can supply year-round so we won’t be covered up with eggs in the wintertime with nowhere to go.”

Two other farmers bring eggs to the market, and all three sell out of their supply each week, said Sue Postell.

If demand remains steady, Steve Postell said he will purchase more chickens, which have a laying life of three years. He said he will stick with the same breeds, as he has found them to be good producers.

Sue Postell started her screen and promotional printing business, S & S Creations, seven years ago. She recently expanded her services to include embroidery, which she at first performed by hand.

“Everyone kept asking for embroidery, so I bought my own embroidery machine to better control quality and quantity,” Postell said of her commercial machine, which accommodates items from shirts and hats to bags and horse stall blankets. “The only thing yet I haven’t been able to fit is a suitcase.”

The machine holds 15 colors, and Postell has around 100 options from which to choose.

“I’m good at matching colors with people’s logos or what they want,” she said, adding that she always sews a sample first. “If it doesn’t look right, I’ll sew it again.”

Postell said for most projects she usually needs at least 15 days turnaround time.