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MONTANA BROOMS

HistoryBroom manufacturing in Montana has been documented since the early 1900's. Montana Broom & Brush Company, in Butte, provided the first large-scale commercial supply of broom corn and brooms for local housewives, miners, and ranchers.

During World War II, broom makers were well-respected craftsman and considered essential homeland workers as they supplied brooms for Montana copper mines. Men from across the United States sought the coveted broom making jobs in Butte, as it was a strong union town in its heyday. Wages were some of the best paid in the nation for a 16-dozen broom day.

Today, the largest manufacturers of brooms in Montana are Hutterites. They assure a supply of floor brooms for their colonies. They use industrial grade equipment and produce quality brooms made of broomcorn, wire, and wooden handles.

Tea Gardens is proud to be part of Montana's broom history, and a contributor to the artisan craft of broom making. Our brooms will serve you for many years to come while you enjoy their natural beauty.

TEA GARDENS

Tea Gardens is a homestead north of Helena, Montana. Just east of the Continental Divide, we're located on the prairie where, yes... the bison still roam and the antelope play. It's "Big Sky" country here, alright. Our view of the Elkhorn Mountains is spectacular, and Lake Helena lies just south of us.

We're fortunate to be on a migratory bird flyway, where the Tundra Swans and Snow Geese precede the summer Pelicans that layover on Lake Helena.

TEA GARDENS BROOMSQUIRE

ValVal Jaffe is our broomsquire.  Born and raised in New England, Val settled in Montana in 1986. She's an avid hunter, outdoor enthusiast, homesteader, and craftswoman. She also works in forestry, mapping, and as a freelance writer. It's her reverence for essential and quality tools in the home, workshop, and campsite that drives her functional artistry.

 

"I've enjoyed making brooms for many years, and now weave my hopes and best wishes into each one for you."

 

 

Tea Gardens Journal

02/1/2011
The years have passed quickly, filled with homesteading, writing, chores, renovations and broom shop improvements. Grateful for broom orders while the rest of the country groaned under recession, we weave the years together. The latest winter storm, now yields to sunny minus 0 temperatures. Calves rest aside their moms, still new. The poultry relish the lengthening days, eager for grocery greens salvaged for them while snow still covers the ground. Liberal use of warming lights in the coops relieves the hens of stress and easily producing eggs for sharing with our friends and neighbors.

01/13/2008
It's been a great winter of ice skating and ice boating on nearby Canyon Ferry Lake. There's still snow above 5,500 ft for snowshoeing; but, Helena Valley recently turned dry and warm. Sled-dog races have started north of here, while Race to the Sky is coming up in February. Calves will start dropping any day now in the surrounding fields. A sure sign of changing seasons.

11/29/2007
Winter has arrived. Pronghorn antelope work a snowy Montana landscape, scraping away the white cover to reach any hardy vegetation. We're mesmerized by the prairie wildlife, especially antelope. They're built for speed to escape predators and are Montana's fastest animal. Wonder what Lewis and Clark must of thought when they first caught site of them. Pronghorns (Antilocapra americana) are an ancient species, native to North America. They have pointed 2-toed hooves for easily traversing uneven terrain, and inspired our Tea Gardens product brand.

10/4/2007
Tea Gardens website now offers an online store. We'll continue to build a comfy place to visit and browse throughout the coming months; so, please check in on us often. We hope you like our website renovations. Let us know what you think.

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