Hamilton's of Ortonville

08/07/2026

Country Home Creations.

This delicious recipe is a great way to utilize an abundance of freshly grown produce!

Chopped Cuke & Zuke Salad.
Ingredients:
2 cups cucumbers*, chopped
2 cups zucchini*, chopped
1 cup cherry –or– grape tomatoes*, halved
1/2 –to– 1 cup sweet onion, chopped
1/3 cup canola or olive oil
1/8 cup rice vinegar -or- white vinegar -or- lemon juice
1 tsp honey -or- sugar
1 Tbsp. Italian Bread Dipping Mix, dry
Salt & pepper to taste

Directions:
In a large bowl place prepared vegetable. In a smaller bowl whisk together oil, vinegar, honey (or sugar) and dry Italian Bread Dipping Mix. Pour over chopped vegetable and toss. Salt and pepper to taste. Chill for 1 hour prior to serving
*Wash zucchini, cucumbers and tomatoes. You may need to deseed cucumbers and zucchini before chopping. You may peel cucumbers & zucchini if desired.

Buy your Country Home Creations mixes at Hamilton's of Ortonville, 465 Mill Street, downtown.

08/06/2026

How to manage deer behavior.

If you enjoy deer but don’t want them munching on your shrubs, you can combine plant selection with deterrent strategies to protect your landscape. Here are some options.

Plant deer-resistant flowers like coneflowers, bleeding hearts, and foxgloves alongside your shrubs, and/or deer- resistant shrubs like barberry, holly, and certain junipers, and/or strongly scented plants such as lavender, rosemary, or mint family herbs.

Use a deer repellent like Bonide Repels All or Liquid Fence, both available in different sizes, at Hamilton’s of Ortonville.

Deer netting is an effective, reusable barrier that protects gardens, shrubs, and fruit trees from deer and other wildlife while being easy to install and UV-resistant. Sold in 7 x 100ft mesh for $25.99 at Hamilton’s of Ortonville.

Motion-activated sprinklers. These sprinklers are environmentally friendly, chemical-free, and can also deter other animals like rabbits, raccoons, and stray cats. Critter Ridder, $52.99 at Hamilton’s of Ortonville.

Milorganite is an effective deer repellent. This organic fertilizer, made from processed sewage sludge, creates an unpleasant scent that keeps deer away. It works by emitting a strong odor that disorients deer and deters them from entering your garden. A 32 # bag covers 2500 sqft. $15.99 at Hamilton’s of Ortonville.

Bottom line: combine planting deer-resistant shrubs with physical or natural deterrents and maintain them consistently. This way, you can still enjoy deer in your yard while protecting your plants.

Image: Pexels.com

08/06/2026

Farmers Market’s Annual Corn Roast, this Saturday, in celebration of National Farmers Market Week, featuring fresh roasted, local sweet corn (while supplies last).

Celebrate the farmers, makers, bakers, and small businesses that make our community stronger all season long! Local vendors, farm-fresh produce, handmade goods, family fun, and the vibrant downtown atmosphere you all love!
Saturday, August 8
9 AM – 1 PM
Downtown Ortonville
https://www.facebook.com/events/1297479688599649?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

Send a message to learn more

08/04/2026

Wondercide Tick Removal Tools make it easy to safely remove ticks from your furry friends (and even humans!) after hikes, walks, camping trips, and time spent outdoors.

Don’t wait until you need one. Stop in and grab yours today at Hamilton's of Ortonville, 465 Mill Street, downtown.

The Wondercide Tick Removal Kit is a two-tool, stainless steel kit designed for safe and precise removal of ticks.
The V-Shaped Tick Remover is ideal for medium to large ticks or engorged ticks that are easy to see on the skin. The notch slides under the tick at a 45° angle, and the tick is lifted slowly and steadily without twisting or jerking to ensure complete removal.
The Fine-Tipped Tweezer is designed for tiny ticks, nymphs, or ticks in sensitive areas such as around the ears, eyes, or between toes. The tweezer grips the tick close to the skin and pulls upward with steady pressure, avoiding crushing or twisting.
Both tools are made of durable stainless steel and are easy to clean after use. They are packed in a leatherette pouch for portability, making it convenient to carry on hikes, camping trips, or in a pet first aid kit. $10.99.

08/04/2026

Food Plot Season is Here.

Common crops are:
Legumes (clover, alfalfa) used to attract deer in winter.
Cereals (oats, wheat) to provide early-season forage.
Brassicas (turnips, radishes) to offer high-energy food in late winter/early spring.

Whether you're planting a new plot or touching up an existing one, we've got the seed and fertilizer you need to be successful: Clover, Chicory, Purple Top Turnip, Forage Radishes, Buck Forage Oats, Sorghum Sudan Grass, Cereal Rye, all sold by the pound and in bulk, and to make it easy for you, a Northern Edge food plot blend.

Not sure what to plant? Ask and we will help you choose the right seed at Hamilton's of Ortonville, 465 Mill Street, downtown or call (248) 627-3700.

Image: Pexels.com

08/03/2026

Did you know that a yellow jacket or bald-faced hornets nest on your property could help save someone's life?

There's a Michigan company that removes these nests at no charge because the venom is collected and purified to make allergy immunotherapy.

People with severe allergies to certain stinging insects, including yellow jackets and hornets, can receive tiny, controlled doses of the venom over time, helping their immune system build tolerance. For many, it can dramatically reduce the risk of a life-threatening allergic reaction from a future sting.

Instead of spraying or destroying a nest, consider having it professionally removed so it can serve a greater purpose. It is a simple way to help someone else while safely solving a problem on your property.

Below is the link to a company, which is based out of Perry, MI.
https://mihornetremoval.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExaE01SGhGWUo0OEkycFFPeXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5xjfCXW1Y87iDLXaLC1ndMyrFV9H1I52sAgODoL5gKXg8goEkEIwbL0v3aeA_aem_Pvk7YoOZXcQpY_4jXgAcsA

Image: Pexels.com

08/03/2026

Tomato hornworms are large green caterpillars that feed on plants in the nightshade family, including tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and potatoes. They can be managed with careful monitoring and natural control methods.

By combining vigilant monitoring, hand-picking, and natural deterrents, gardeners can effectively manage tomato hornworms and protect their crops without relying on harsh chemicals.

There are also organic insecticides you can use to treat tomato hornworms. Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) is a naturally occurring soil-borne bacterium that can be formulated into a spray. It works great for controlling caterpillars specifically and will not pose a problem for other insects.

BT is available at Hamilton's of Ortonville, 465 Mill Street, downtown.

Learn how to identify tomato hornworms—the big green caterpillars that attack tomato plants—and discover safe, natural, and organic ways to control and prevent them.

07/31/2026

Come and check out the new addition to our Taste of Michigan room!

We now have roasted, chocolate covered nuts, old fashioned candy, jerky and mini-sausages. Soothe your sweet or salty cravings at Hamilton's of Ortonville, 465 Mill Street, downtown.

07/30/2026

We know its high summer, but it's time to get thinking about fall cover crops! Some of these beneficial plants need to be sown in August-September, so it's time to start planning and buying seed.

After the fall harvest, many home gardeners pack up their tools and wait for spring. But this quiet season is actually a great time to improve your soil using winter cover crops.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, winter cover crops offer a low-maintenance way to build better soil and grow healthier plants.

Read more in the following article:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/winter-cover-crops-preparing-your-garden-for-spring?fbclid=IwY2xjawTYO1NleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEzYkxURTFDTDVXU09sWE5sc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmmV56QUUTJUMYpsxY9w0R5UztZk9zpHNJOwSmiU4XLvWm7l7O5_a_eoACIb_aem_5X_0jQwVpTWoE9j8oeJu1A

Buy your seeds at Hamilton's of Ortonville, 465 Mill Street, downtown.

07/29/2026

Today is a day to wing it – it's National Chicken Wing Day!
Which is your favorite? Uncle Lumpy's Gold Rush or the OG Bee Sting?

$11.99 each at Hamilton's of Ortonville, 465 Mill Street, downtown.