A patch of grass, a tree and a willingness to let go

This evening I felt tired and heavy and my mind was scattered, so even though I didn’t feel like it, I forced myself to go out and take some whey to the compost pile. I thought I’d get something done and get a little fresh air at the same time. It was dark out, and the air felt refreshing right away. The night was damp and warm and as it enveloped me I felt a release, as if I walked into a welcoming embrace.

 I walked to the compost pile and dumped the whey. I set my bucket down and walked further into the night, away from the house. I found a spot in the field and lay down on the earth, facing up to the sky. Immediately, I felt tension and fatigue leave my body as if a weight was taken off me. I felt completely supported by the earth. As I looked up to the sky, light drizzle fell on my face. I lay there and listened to the wind speak a low rumble in distant trees. Occasionally, the few remaining leaves on nearby trees moved with a soft rustle. Low to the ground as I was, I could smell sweet grass and damp earth. It made me think about cows and how they love to sniff at the grass before they eat - that sweet earthy smell...

I only lay like that a few minutes before going back to the house, but it was enough to make me feel as if I had stepped in a different world, a world outside my head, a world real and rich and alive. It was enough to clear my mind and strengthen my body for a while, and give me a deep sense of peace. It occurred to me that the expression “feeling grounded” was more literal than I thought. I hope that next time I feel weak or down or too much stuck in my head I will remember that doing something so simple as stepping outside can help so much.

We all carry so much stuff: sickness, anguish, responsibilities of all kinds, guilt, self-loathing, depression, exhaustion… We try all kinds of things to make ourselves feel better, happier, to get some relief. Sometimes connecting with our natural environment in a simple way is all we need to let go if only for a short while. That physical connection with the earth and the natural world may help us let go of the business of our lives and minds, all the responsibilities we have and all the things that go wrong. It may stir the forgotten, dream-like feeling that we are all part of something much larger, and we are not alone.

This connection doesn’t have to be anything fancy, we don’t need to go on a special retreat, although that may have its benefits, or to some far-away place, or to some special teacher. Sometimes just a patch of grass in our back yard, a tree, a river, or simply listening to the wind in solitude, and a willingness to let go is all it takes for a change to occur, or a glimpse of hope.

Peace

Giant fennel and high action on the trampoline

Peace

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Last week, we picked a beautiful day and took the girls to New York City. For some time, they had been asking us to take them to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and when I saw the forecast for Wednesday, 70 degrees and sunny, I thought this may be our last chance to do it on a beautiful day this year, so I booked tickets and off we went.

We left home at 6am on Wednesday morning and drove to the Metro North train station in New Haven. There was no traffic, so we were there shortly after 7. This is the view of the trains from the top of the parking garage where we left our car.

 Sena and Aiyana, excited to ride on the train.

 

We arrived at Grand Central Station before 9. Our ferry tickets for the statue of Liberty were not until noon, so we decided to walk aroung the city a bit. The girls' reactions were quite different: Aiyana felt excited by the bustle of the city, as did I, while Sena felt overwhelmed by the sensory assault: the noise, the smells, the people rushing about, the tall buildings blocking the view of the sky. I understood how she felt; I probably would feel the same after a few days. But for the moment, I felt like Aiyana, invigorated by the energy of the city.

We went to the United Nations to show the girls where it is and tell them about our protest there back in the day of the Iraq sanctions.

After the UN, we took the metro to Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan, and had lunch on a bench while waiting for our ferry. We boarded the ferry and Sena and Aiyana rode in the bow.

 First stop was the Statue of Libery.

After visiting the statue, which was most impressive and touching, we got back on the ferry and headed to Ellis Island.

We visited the museum on Ellis Island, but we didn't stay long, because by that time everyone was getting hungry and tired. We saw a movie and some of the exhibits depicting immigrants' journeys to America back in the late 1800's and early 1900's. It was very moving for me, to see photographs of the immigrants, hear and read their stories, and especially to see that boundless hope that drove them to risk so much for "coming to America". I thought about my own family's experience, especially my father, who, although he didn't come through Ellis Island, was driven to Canada by the same hopes and motivations as some of these immigrants were.

We took the ferry back to Manhattan as the sun was setting.

 

We had dosas for dinner at an Indian Restaurant in SoHo. The we got back on the metro and train, and finally drove back home to our cows. We got back around 10pm.

Speaking of cows, a funny incident: Sena, Ed and Aiyana went up into the Statue of Liberty, while I spent some time by myself outside. As they were going through security, a guard said to Ed "What's that in your pocket", and pointed to a piece of twine sticking out of Ed's back pocket. Ed said "It's baling twine, I cut it off a bale of hay this morning when I was feeding the cows." The guard gave him a blank stare. Ed offered "Do you want it?", to which the guard replied "What am I going to do with it?".  He looked like he wasn't quite sure what to think of this situation, and he let Ed go. A short while later another guard stopped him and pretty much the same exchange took place all over again.

Peace

Mighty big forage radish

I posted about forage radishes before, but this one may be the largest I've ever seen. Plus, the pictures show Aiyana and Sena's characters so well: Aiyana, lively and silly, just loves to have a good time; Sena, always dignified and in control.

Forage radishes are amazing. They grow fast and provide a great cover crop at the end of the season. They loosen up the soil (you can see why), and they also provide a great source of food for the cows. Right now, I'm giving Opal and Jasmine 3 of these radishes each at milking time, plus a whole bunch of other veggies, like potatoes, carrots, kale, bok choi or whatever else we have, for a total of approx. 15lbs per cow. That's a lot of veggies for one meal, right? Well, I bring them veggies and they give me milk. A good trade.

Peace

Killing frost over the weekend

If in my last post I described a relaxing Sunday, here I will write about a most hectic weekend: the weekend before the killing frost.

The temperature predictions for Saturday and Sunday night were in the mid and low 20's respectively, so even though the CSA is over for the season (as of last week), we still had quite a few crops in the field that needed to be protected because we could sell them until Christmas, and they represent a significant amount of our yearly income. So, on Saturday, Ed and I spent the day harvesting the last of the apples, pears, celeriac, celery, parsley and peppers. These will last for quite a while in our root cellar. Veggies that remained in the field, like spinach, salad greens, bok choi, turnips, radishes, carrots and beets had to be covered with thick cloth or plastic covers held down by many heavy sand bags. This took us all day, and while we were out working, Sena and Aiyana had 2 friends over for a sleepover, and thank goodness for that, because they all cooked dinner for us, so there was something to eat when we came in tired and cold after dark.

On Sunday, the frenzy started again. Now we had to go to our other field in Willington, where there was more to harvest and cover. We harvested cabbages, rutabagas and kohlrabi for storage in the root cellar, as well as some gigantic forage radishes that will feed the cows through the winter. Then the fun with covering began again - this time for brussel sprouts and some remaining cabbages. We were done by late afternoon, after which everything had to be brought home and stored in the root cellar. Since nobody was home to cook the entire day, the girls and I went out and got Indian food for all of us. That was a nice treat at the end of the day. So was reading James Herriot by the fire, knowing that everything was done.

Killing frost always brings up mixed feelings: anxiety because I know so much has to be done, and I'm never sure if what we do do is enough to protect the plants; sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn't. If the forecast is wrong and the temps are lower than expected, or if the covers blew off during the night the plants may die anyway despite all our efforts at protecting them. But hard frost also brings relief because one way or another it means the end of many worries. Whatever crop does not survive is done with for the season and we won't have to worry about it again.

Today it is sunny and cold, and the air is very clear. I too feel clear: another season is coming to the end, and it was a good one. We worked a lot and gave a lot of ourselves and we have also been given a lot, with excellent yields and a great CSA. There were many challenges and set-backs of different kinds, as always, but right now I am content with how things are. As always, I am most grateful to the land that supports us and gives us so much, and allows us to live this lifestyle.
Peace

Hobbit Inventory

Here’s my canned food inventory for this year so far.

(For those who work in metric: 1 gallon=4quatrs=4liters. I have been converted to the imperial system since my move to the US even though it makes less sense, but “when in Rome…”)

• Tomato sauce: 10 gallons
• Apple sauce: 8 gallons
• Jam (strawberry and grape): 20 quarts
• Cucumber pickles: 3 gallons
• Roasted peppers: 3.5 quarts

We also froze a bunch of things this year: strawberries, fresh corn, venison, basil pesto and baba ghanouj.

And of course there are the fruits and veggies than can last months if kept at the right temperature and humidity. There are carrots, rutabagas, cabbages, celeriac, potatoes, apples and Asian pears in the root cellars, and squashes, sweet potatoes, garlic, onions, dried beans and dried corn in the attic.

I must admit that it gives me great satisfaction to list all of these foods that we grew and put so much work into preserving. I feel like a hobbit taking a tour of his pantry, happy in the knowledge that there is enough stored for the winter in his little hobbit house.

There are a few other things that we’d like to preserve before this season is over:

• Apple cider, of which Ed and Sena made a batch yesterday, about 1 gallon, and oh my, it is heavenly. They froze most of it, but we plan to make more in the near future.

• Apple cider vinegar – this I am really excited about, as with anything that involves fermentation. I use apple cider vinegar a lot, and it will be fun to have my own home-made version.

• Autumn olive jam – autumn olive is classified as “invasive” and much reviled by some people on that account. Regardless, there are many on our property and we think they taste delicious, invasive or not, and I think they’d make a great jam, sweet and tart.

• Sauerkraut – the cabbages have been excellent this year, and I am looking forward to fermenting some into sauerkraut.

Now that the season is coming to an end and most of the field work is done, and food has been put away (mostly, anyway), I feel like I can take a little time to relax. Today, for instance, we had an absolutely gorgeous day (of which we had many lately), with blue skies, sun, temps in the 60s, and a slight breeze. I laid down in the pasture and listened to the wind, watched a bug dig a hole in the dirt, let the cows graze around me, and that was my bliss. Nothing that money can buy, which is true of many good things. This season certainly felt exhausting at times, but a day like today leaves me feeling recharged, and grateful.

Peace

Happy equinox!

It has been so beautiful out lately. When I go out to milk in the morning, or out to harvest on CSA days, I feel so blissful, by myself in the field, the sun just starting to warm the chilly morning air, and only the wind rustling through the trees to break the silence.

These days, the temperatures are warm during the day, in the 70's or 80's, and refreshingly cool at night and in the morning. Sunsets are especially beautiful, the light so soft and soothing.

This time of year brings me so much peace and comfort, and a gladness in my heart that it is good just to be here and experience this.

Happy autumn everyone!

Farm tours

Several times a year, we are asked to give farm tours to various student groups. Sometimes it’s highschool students, sometimes university. We’ve also had groups of adults.

These tours can be exciting and also exhausting. We don’t get paid for them, and we don’t ask for pay, but do it because we want to share our farm and our philosophy with people.  Most years, in a group of 20-30 university students, there will be 2 or 3 students who are interested and enthusiastic. The rest come because they’re taking a class and have to fulfil a requirement and this tour is part of that requirement. When we first started doing the tours, I hoped to reach everyone, or most students, and to spark some excitement in them. I quickly realized that if we manage to reach just one or two people, that is great. Some years, it seems like we’re not reaching anyone; the students look bored, they have no questions, and keep checking their phones. This feels hard, because we put out a lot of energy doing these tours, and we share our home and our fields and speak about the things that are most important to us, and when nobody responds, it’s discouraging. But if there’s even one or two people who seem moved, then it feels like the energy we put into it is worth it.

Yesterday I took a group of 25-30 UConn students around the field and spoke about vegetable production, while Sena spoke about the orchard and our animals. The main message we always try to convey to people is care of the land and the environment. I have realized over the years, that to me, the main purpose of our farm, more important than feeding people even, is to teach about the land and how our food choices impact it; and fortunately the rest of the family came to this same realization independently. 

After the tour, I felt spent. I don’t know if our message was heard, but I am glad that Sena got a chance to be involved in presenting our farm. She’s not afraid to be honest, and after the tour she told Ed and I that if we want to make people care about the earth we need to be less "boring" - she thought we gave too many technical details- and make the tours more fun in order to keep our audience’s interest level. I am willing to let her lead the whole tour next year, because I think she has a lot more energy at this point than Ed or I, and she knows more about farming and living off the land than most people who come for the tours. I’d be happy to just be in the background as a resource, or just be out working in the field, and let her be the one to inspire. I am proud of her though, my little Sena, so caring and passionate about the earth.

There hasn’t been much time to write lately because the pace of work has been relentless. The good news though is that the heat and humidity we had over the past month have broken, fall is on its way, and everything is slowing down, which means that we will too.

Most of my canning and food preservation is done, and I did not do it alone. Sena helped with grape jam and apple sauce – she cut and cooked the apples, and I canned them, and Ed made a huge batch of apple chips.

We have tentatively started homeschooling again, I say tentatively because right now it’s mostly stuff the kids can do on their own, like history and geography, and some English. I cannot put much time into homeschooling yet with the field and CSA still going. Both Sena and Aiyana are very motivated to start up again, and they want to make sure that they’re at grade level with all the subjects. What more can I ask for than for them to be willing students? Now I just have to give them the best I can.

Every Friday this summer, we have been delivering vegetables to two accounts we have in the New London area: one is Fiddleheads Food Coop, and the other is Oyster Club, a very cool and trendy restaurant in Mystic, who serves locally grown food and seafood in a treehouse! Since we’re driving all the way to New London, we decided to make a full day out of it, and so after the deliveries are done, we head to the beach, or somewhere else fun. Mostly we’ve been going to Bluff Point, because Sena and Aiyana and I love it there. Bluff Point is great because the beach is about 2 miles from the parking lot, which means that most people do not walk to it; but Sena and Aiyana and I bring our bikes, and it takes 10 minutes to bike to the beach, and the ride is beautiful, and then, we pretty much have the beach to ourselves for the rest of the day. We spent some beautiful Fridays there this summer, swimming and playing in the water, and having so much fun. Ed and I take turns doing deliveries every other Friday, and he has been doing some fun stuff with the girls as well; last time for example, they went snorkeling in Rhode Island at a spot where Ed used to spear fish some years ago.

This is Bluff Point:

Peace

August: month of plenty, month of seemingly never ending work

The fields are bursting with fruits and vegetables - everywhere you look, abundance, and if you live on a farm, everywhere you look, lots of work. I am grateful for the abundance, and most of the time, I am happy to do the work, knowing that in doing so I provide for my family, the CSA, and our animals, as well as for myself on a spiritual level. There are also times when I am resentful of the work, like when I don't get enough rest, or when I am under too much pressure, and things get too intense.

At this time of the year, the work of planting is almost done (although a few crops are still going in the ground for fall harvest, crops like lettuces, spinach and Asian greens). The weeds are mostly under control, and the bugs too. Most crops have given their best already, as clearly seen by fruits hanging heavy on branches and vines. Our work now focuses on harvesting and storing these fruits for the winter, and on prepping the ground for overwintering by planting cover crops or mulching. 

As far as food preservation goes, so far we put away sweet corn, sun-dried cherry tomatoes, and cucumber pickles. Much more is to be done: tomato sauce, apple sauce, peach jam, roasted peppers, pickled jalapenos, dried beans, dry corn, and I’m probably forgetting something. Each one of these entails a full day spent in the field harvesting and then in the kitchen prepping for canning, freezing, dehydrating or whatever way the crop will be stored. Is all this work worth it? In the past, people put things away for the winter by necessity, but now all you have to do is go to the store if you want tomato sauce, or even fresh tomatoes in the winter, and you get them cheap, way cheaper than if you were to consider the labor you put into it to produce it yourself. So is it worth it? Yes, considering the quality of the product, knowing where and how it was produced, and the satisfaction of having provided for yourself year-round.

The heat of the past few weeks has subsided and going out to milk the cows in the morning feels more pleasant now. There are fewer biting flies, to my great relief, and the cows’, I am sure. Last month we inseminated Jasmine and Olive, but Jasmine did not get pregnant, and possibly neither did Olive, as demonstrated by their antics of mounting each other, bellowing, and other in-heat type of behavior earlier this week.  We will inseminate again in three weeks.

 The crickets have been loud every night, and before I close my eyes to go to sleep, I like to listen to them, and imprint in my mind the sound of fading summer. It is a nice way to go to sleep after a day’s work.

Peace