06.22.09 | The other farm

We spent this past weekend on our other farm, the Wonderly place. While it's named after the family which built it, farmed the land, raised and milked its former inhabitants--dairy cattle--and picked its abundant blackberries every year, it's an appropriate name for another reason. No matter what season we're visiting in, the place is lovely in a wonderful and wholly unexpected way.

My attention to weather reports has increased concurrently with my burgeonining interest in agriculture and in being a farmer. But no weather.com report (the modern version of the old barn radio, I guess) is going to give a minute-by-minute analysis of the skies. Incredibly, the photos below were taken less than two minutes apart with the same settings, of the same tree:

The difference in moments was like the difference of days; it felt as though someone had pulled the slim chain on the bare lightbulb behind me and a golden light penetrated the rainy gloom.

Just moments before, my father had come running into the porch for shelter from the rain, which, along with the wind, had been bashing the neighbor's corn.

Although the odd and varied weather was probably the most notable feature of the day for the largely agrarian population of the surrounding area, I think the incredible shifts of lighting were what I paid attention to most. Not a lot to say about that except that is was extraordinary. See for yourself:

- E

 

06.11.09 | On the farm

Before graduating at my high school, all seniors go through a six-week Senior Project--essentially an internship or independent project that you wouldn't be able to do usually. This year I had my turn and I was able to work at Great Kids Farm in Catonsville, Maryland.

One of the stipulations of the project time is that it has to be a full-time occupation... we don't have homework, but we do have a 40-hour workweek. It turns out that working on an organic farm is labor-intensive... but that labor is ridiculously addictive. Unable to stay away, I've started coming back this summer.

Most of our time these days is spent harvesting. I kept a log throughout the project of what we did, and now that I'm "only a volunteer," I'm finding myself still compelled to track my tasks. Today we started with peas--tricky plants, for sure! I always think I've cleaned them out and then I find another three on the vine. They also have incredibly beautiful, orchid-like flowers before the blossoms are pushed out of the way to make room for the pea fruits. I'm hoping I can take a pea plant to college.

(The photos today are from sunny days in mid-May.)

Another note of beauty at the farm is the kale which silvers when held under water due to some scientific effect I can't explain. The effect is stunning, though, and equally unexpected. The photo below doesn't really show it very well, but the leaf is completely matte and green before entering the water, but, once submerged, looks like lightly creased tin foil.

Although the weather wasn't "nice" today, it was great for harvesting. The room temperature air was pleasant and mild to work in and that combined with the cloud coverage meant that harvested plants didn't wilt as they waited their turns to be washed and refrigerated or hydrocooled (placed in bins with 1" of water).

Every time I'm on the farm, something new strikes me about the operation. It's all organic--which has a fuzzy definition in the USDA but at GKF means not using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It's also a small enough farm that practically everything is done by hand--or by goats, in the case of brush removal. A few weeks ago, it didn't seem like we would have enough food for the 20 CSA (Community Suppported Agriculture) shares and the local restaurants, but we've consistently had abundant harvests with more than enough food to sell and still have leftovers to give to volunteers.

Now, if the chicks would start laying... :)

- E

 

06.10.09 | 'Summer has sprung' just doesn't have quite the same ring to it

Appreciation.

Looking for Muscovy ducklings in Cecil County? Check out these guys.

Photos of the day:

On Monday at graduation, my headmaster spoke about, among other things, appreciation. Above are three little guys (Lucky-horse, Simon-cat, and Bailey-rabbit) I appreciate quite a bit, but probably not enough.

Anyone who knows me has heard me talk at length about my pony. Or possibly tack, and where to get the best deals on used bridles and girths, or efficient strategies for cleaning saddles. Sorry guys. I am, contrary to popular belief, aware that horsie stuff is not actually interesting to the huge percentage of the population that, incredibly, can't tell a pommel from a cantle.

But check out that rolling action (above)! The dude seriously loves his grass, and can you blame him? Summer, though officially about eleven days off, is here in spirit. I love Lucky's energetic embrace of the world around him, I love Simon's "loving" caresses of the rabbit, I love Bailey's cheerful curiosity.

After spending six weeks working five days a week on an organic farm--more on that later--I've come to appreciate prolonged times spent outdoors even more. I couldn't imagine forcing my animals to live indoors, because frankly, I'd like to live more like them--outside 24/7, protected enough to avoid harm but allowed appropriate amounts of freedom to live full lives. Out of all the animals, the rabbits have the most protection, then the horses--the prey have to be kept safe. But I wonder how this works for humans; we cage ourselves and yet we're predators.

- E

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To contact me, please email ericesings@gmail.com.