Good Night Irene!

Hurricane Irene came to Black Bear Farm, and she hit with a vengeance! We were blessed with only one tree down, on the neighbor's powerline! Increased dramatic weather events as a result of climate change, and increased demand on power grids due to overuse are certain to result in more "domestic inconveniences". In the meantime, I think figuring out how to be sustainable at home is a good idea. I'm looking for small scale solar panels for a micro grid to power the essentials~water pump, laptop, and cell phone. We have firewood and a fireplace for heat, and there's always the gas grill for cooking. We also hope to retrofit our oil burner for waste vegetable oil. Here's my favorite link to info on the WVO oil furnace retrofit . What a great time to attend Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Fest. This year, it's September 16-18th,  just two weeks away!

Autumn Planting Garden Prep

Image: HobbyFarms.com

Wednesday morning, I found a great sale at Johnny's Seeds, and got all my autumn crops ordered for just $8.95, including shipping! For more on organic seeds, check out the Organic Seed Alliance. 

I am hoping to get a greenhouse over my raised beds, using some scrap 2 x 4's and rated greenhouse polymer film. My garden soil is high mineral, low nutrient . . . "I've lost my shirt" was a common expression in my art school days, referring to everything from misplaced glue to emotional distress. Well, yesterday at Twin Willows Farm, I truly "lost my shirt"! I planned to bring home a bag or two of aged manure from the barn  to amend the soil with much needed nutrients, but it seems I left the bags on the parking lot last night! Whoops! "Lost shirt"? My bad! Wonder who will find my dark and smelly treasure? 

Full Steam Ahead!

I've been spending a lot of time at Mountaindale Farm as an intern and CSA volunteer. I've learned a lot, and met some great farmers, including Jeff and Mary Jean Henry of Cranberry Creek Farm, and Tom Dente of Jones Farm. I'm ready to embark on my own initiative, getting my kitchen licensed to produce jams, jellies, baked goods, flowers, herbs and medicinals.

Mountaindale Farm, which has been operated on chemical free, sustainable agriculture principles for three generations, in Minisink Hills, PA.

 

"From Keith's Farm". Flavia Bacarella Woodcuts at the Patisserie in Milford, PA

"A Farmer and His Dog" Flavia Bacarella woodcut, $350 framed, at Patisserie, from the book "It's a Long Road to a Tomato"

 

I often sneak up through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, north from Black Bear Farm  on Route 209 along the Delaware River,  a most beautiful and reflective drive at any season. One of my favorite stops is Patisserie, on Broad Street. My friends Mark Edmonds and Christian Garcia run an amazingly exquisite business, featuring organic foods that I love! I'm happy to say, the Patisserie is currently the ONLY retail outlet offering Black Bear Farm Maple Syrup. In 2009, I purchased a book there, "A Long Road to a Tomato", a collection of narrative essays of life as an organic farmer, written by farmer Keith Stewart, who supplies the Patisserie with organic produce, and illustrated with the inspired woodcuts of Flavia Bacarella, Keith's wife. Flavia's original woodcut illustrations are currently shown at the Patisserie, and a visit to "Keith's Farm" is one of my favorite farm visits.

Heidi Secord represents WAGN in the Land Down Under!

Heidi Secord is an inspirational friend first met at a community yoga class, now running the Josie Porter CSA. She is an amazingly informed farmer, a Northeast Regional Representative for Women's Agricultural Network, and has been invited to attend a women's agricultural conference in Australia, where she is giving the closing speech! Here is a blog about her trip!

The Lands at Hillside Farms........

            Hillside Farms is the farm where one of my good friends from Moore, Marion Mills, an incredible painter and colorist, grew up. It is a dairy farm in Shavertown, and was the last working, cow to bottle farm in Pennsylvania west of State College. The farm incorporated as a non profit not too long ago, and typical "Dallas" PA style  ( kicking butt must go with the name) it is up and running and absolutely fantastic. I hope to have a meeting soon with the farm manager, and will report back!! Rock on Hillside!

The Little Farmers

"The Little Farmers" is the name I give the girls I taught about farming...........I shared my love of ponies........I braided manes, set up fences, purchased tack.........shared the miraculous sensation of cradling a fresh warm egg in your hands, straight from the nest.......... the amazing miracle of a bean sprout............ They are the girls I make sure have the best of everything: Jennifer Shearouse, Anneka Syvarth, Cassandre Griffin, Rebecca Wyckoff, Elizabeth Buzzard, Mary Griffin, Teal Wyckoff.........Dr. Tara Viechnicki.........I mention my nieces, Griffin Louisa Richards and Madelaine Boyer; I have no direct farm connection with them, they are Farm Girls, know their ways around manes and tails and compost heaps and pitchforks, and so are deserving of mention.

"Farm Friends: Big Girls": These girls that taught me about farming, are the backbone of my farming skills and continue to educate me by instruction and example: Chloe Richards Puzio, Gran Richards, Sue Oiler, Carol McIlvaine, Susan Marshall, Susan Shebelsky, Martha Stewart, Sammie Thompson, Dr. Mary Griffin, Heidi Secord, Patty Martin, Tina Conway, Sasha Vesti MacDowell, Judy VonHandorf, Beezie Patton, Nell Newman, Kirsten Oloffson..............Laura Ingalls Wilder............Tess McLeod's big sister, Clare.............the list goes on..............

"Farm Friends: Farmer Boys: Pop Pop Griffin, who raised rabbits on Knorr Street during WW2 to make sure his family could eat, when his brother and uncles were all serving overseas. Dan Canning,  Jim Wyckoff, Gary Swartz, Gary Oiler, Howard Canfield.........Pop-pop Griffin, John Hastings Richards.............and of course, my beloved father, Vincent A. Griffin, Sr. ..............not directly a farmer, but the skilled operator of a tractor, backhoe, and chainsaw, and certainly a guy who knew how to get things done and made sure others did as well.......not the least of which was the ability to swing a hammer...............unreasonable, emotional, and ineffective at times, but not someone you wasted much time arguing with..................Thank you!

Alice Wicks, Marge Wakefield, Josie Porter, Nancy Shukaitis and Janet Richards

are the names of five legendary Monroe County farmers. They are inspired, incredible women who shaped much of the rural heritage of the county during the latter part of the 20th century, and birthed the last of the baby boom.

Info on Alice Wicks

Alice Wicks' real name was "Gran". She made me warm eggs on a cold October morning in the 1970's,  on a cast iron stove at the West End Fairgrounds. She taught me a lot about life and she made me feel loved. She was a woman of vision, innovation, and yankee ingenuity. A great historian, a hard worker, and a noble female figure who embodies the American Farm Spirit.

Marge Wakefield was, first and foremost, a mom. She drove a VW bus and was surrounded by love, and boisterous activity. What I can think most about Marge was that she was an Enduring Spirit. Her husband Wes called the square dances at Quiet Valley, in the Engel Barn.

Josie Porter: I am sorry to say that I only met Josie Porter post-humously. I am good friends with her daughter Abigail, and helped at the Porter Farm after her mother's death. I met Abby's friend, Jim Silverthorne. I learned more about Rudolf Steiner, the Waldorf movement, and the school of Anthoposophy. I also had the privelege to live with many of Josie's possessions, including linen pillowcases, a beautiful swan barometer, and her beloved and much used loveseat.

Nancy Shukaitis is a beloved friend and childhood role model. She is an amazing inspiration to so many of us.

Janet Richards is the farm woman who I knew most intimately and saw most regularly. She was Gran.
I had a number of incredible women in my life in my early years: Grandmom Griffin, Grandma L, Gran Richards, and "Gram" Alice Wicks................Thank you ladies. You are with me everyday.

Women in Agriculture............

"Fresh from the Farm" photo credit Cassandre Griffin

Totally psyched to be invited to be the Northeastern PA coordinator for  PA Women In Agriculture..........here is a link to a recent conference at Penn State. Just created a Facebook Page for us! I've been talking it up to friends! Can't wait to roll up my sleeves and get started! Heidi Secord is the Pennsylvania coordinator. Heidi runs a CSA ( Community Supported Garden) at the Josie Porter Farm, in Stroud Township. Heidi was recently invited to attend a women's agriculture conference in Australia, and will give the closing remarks. SO thrilled to be part of the international women's agriculture movement!!

Ursa Major: Big Dipper, Black Bears, and the Night Sky

                The Big Dipper, Ursa Major Constellation

Ursa Major, as it looks in the night sky: Tonight, I will go out and find the Bear, on Black Bear Farm!!

         I had an opportunity to name the speck of land around our house when I placed my first seed order, in spring of 2007. My last real garden was in Bossardsville, where in very hospitable soil,  the little transplants I started from seed grew rapidly. After dinner, when the hot summer day had cooled, Dale and I would spend an hour or so weeding the garden, with iced teas or vodka tonics in hand.

March 1: Marty's Chocolate Peanut Butter Birthday Cake . .

      Today, March 1, is Peanut Butter Day, and Feast of St. David, who apparently was a Welsh Hero way back around the time Beowulf slayed Grendel's Mother. Count down to Marty Mar's birthday, on Saturday. A few people will come over, for cake and candles and singing and ice cream, and possibly, if I can loosen them up, some Birthday Hat Making! ( I feel a bit like Winnie the Pooh. Is this the Hundred Acre Wood, you ask? YES, I answer, and I cannot wait tea time, when friends will visit my hollowed tree, eat too much Honey, and make Very Silly Hats, Just For Fun!)  Time to think menu!! Marty has settled on a Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer cake: Chocolate Cake w. Chocolate Ganache Icing and Peanut Butter Cream Filling. I have some cream cheese, which may be doing double duty, as I also want to do a Pumpkin Roll w. Maple Cream filling!! YUM!

        First, a search for a great recipe: We always raved about a chocolate cake recipe that my mom put a cup of coffee in, so that is what I look for: Martha Stewart says the coffee intensifies the chocolate flavor, which should help balance the rich creaminess of the dark ganache, and peanut butter filling. I want to use unsweetened Ghiradelli powdered cocoa for the cake: Since my visit to Ghiradelli Square on a visit to San Francisco with my Uncle George and sister Patti Ann in seventh grade, have had a soft spot for that chocolate and keep a canister on hand. . . Bingo! Ina Garten totally pulls through! Delightful! Delicious! D'Lovely!  This is her cake recipe: ( note to self: add buttermilk, dark chocolate bars, heavy whipping cream to grocery list)

Ingredients

Cake

1. 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
2. 2 cups sugar
3. 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4. 2 teaspoons baking soda
5. 1 teaspoon baking powder
6. 1 teaspoon kosher salt
7. 1 cup buttermilk
8. 1/2 cup vegetable oil
9. 2 large eggs
10. 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
11. 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee

I want a simple chocolate ganache frosting: Ina's recipe calls for more coffee in the frosting: Marty won't go for this and it would overpower the peanut butter cream filling........so here is the ganache....

Ganache Frosting

1. 1 1/4 pounds milk chocolate, chopped
2. 1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream, warmed 

Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Filling ( Also Great w. Whoopie Pies)

• 8-oz. package cream cheese, softened
• 3/4  cup  creamy peanut butter
• 6  tablespoons  powdered sugar

Directions

1. Make the Cake!! Chocolate Ho! Preheat the oven to 350°. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans and line them with parchment paper; butter the paper. Dust the pans with flour, tapping out any excess.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle, mix the flour with the sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt at low speed. In a medium bowl, whisk the buttermilk with the oil, eggs and vanilla. Slowly beat the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients until just incorporated, then slowly beat in the hot coffee until fully incorporated.
3. Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then invert the cakes onto a rack to cool completely. Peel off the parchment paper.
4.   Cholesterol it up with the Ganache! In a medium bowl set in a saucepan of simmering water, melt the chocolate. Whisk in the cream until smooth. Remove from the heat and refrigerate for 1 hour, whisking occasionally, until thick enough to spread.
5.  Peanut-Butter Cream a licious!!  
   Whip Cream Cheese and Peanut butter,  add powdered sugar, beat til fluffy and consistent color and texture. If you make this ahead and chill it, allow it to come to room temp before filling the cake: otherwise it will be too stiff and tear the cake...... Apply between layers of cool cake.
6. Assemble the Masterpiece!!!  Slice each layer of the chilled cake in half as for a. Evenly spread one-third of the peanut butter filling over the first layer, to the edge. Top with the second cake layer, rounded side up. Spread, repeat for layer 3....... Add the top layer, and spread the ganache over the top and side of the cake. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before slicing: leftover cake should be refrigerated. 

Cupcake Alternate: Double Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Filling!

Farm Planning: Milk and Cheese: February 2011

      This is Rosemary the mini Jersey cow. I hope she will be joining us here on Black Bear Farm soon.What is the delay, you ask?
      To accommodate Rosemary, Smithfield Township needs a new backyard livestock ordinance . Right now, the ordinance enacted in the seventies prohibits all but 4H projects on less than FIVE acres!! So it's okay to build a barn, you just can't put anything in it!!

      Since folks have rediscovered the thrill of laying hens in the backyard, and the benefits of fresh, warm eggs, and composted manure for the garden, we are hoping this ordinance will right the wrongs of the plastic/petroleum generation. 

Maple Syrupin' : Feb/March 2011

Our "small tree" setup: this tree is about 8" diameter.

     This is our third year "syrupin": For 2011, we have 16 taps in a dozen trees, up from  the 6 taps in 5 trees we've had the past two years. We picked out and tagged all of our maple trees last fall, while the leaves were still on, and found a  few good sized maples that we've missed in previous years.  Each year, we've gotten about 3 pints of finished syrup, which means we reduced about 120 pints, or 15 gallons or so of sap.  This year we hope to have  close to two gallons of finished syrup: I don't like a real sweet, thick syrup, so we leave it a bit dilute, but it has a full maple flavor and is plenty sweet . . perfect to soak  homemade whole wheat pancakes with, or for a maple-pecan pie!!

      The picture left shows our "small tree" setup. This 8" diameter maple has just one tap. We have luck with a simple, poly 5/8" flexible tubing as a "spile". We drill holes about 2 in. deep, once we are through the bark......the "sapwood" is in the external growth rings of the tree. Marty put a small shim in to keep the hose in place. I've been saving plastic jugs, and.I made a loop in a piece of cord, wrapped it around the tree and connected the loop to the jug with a small S hook made from a piece of coat hanger. This holds the plastic jug in place, low enough to keep the plastic hose in, but not so far in that the hose draws sap back up the tree, which will happen if it is warm, and the hose is down in the sap . ..the same force that takes the sap up to nourish the little buds will pull sap right back out of the pail!! It happened to us on a warm day last year! 

Kathy Mae's Chickens

 This is Kathy Mae, raised on Pond Hole, "down the road" from where I grew

Kathy Mae

Handicapped helen, Lacks vision and has a Deformed Beak.

up on Turkey Knoll. Kathy is now in Georgia ( note the sunshine and bare arms). She posted these pics and  text exactly the day that Marty and I were shoveling out our 120 foot driveway,  after the fourth major storm in three weeks. Marty has four wheel drive, but my car had been iced in for a week.

Our driveway after we hand cleared it . . .A job well done.

       As Kathy wrote: "We went to the chicken show in Newnan, GA, and got two chickens from a local farmer. Helen was free!"  I noticed Marty out front, shoveling like a banshee. This was curious, as he had acquired a snowblower in September. All winter, he had proudly strutted behind it, humming as he filled the engine, smiling as it did all the work, no, near glowing, as it did all the work!

Black Bear Farm Family

Marty, Watson and Clancy,
Black Bear Farm, Winter 2009

        This is Marty, he is the guy that I argue with about how to get things done around Black Bear Farm. Sitting on his lap is Watson, named for Alexander Bell's assistant....("Watson, can  you hear me?") . He is three, and came to us as a kitten. We wanted to give him a smart name, so that we would have a smart cat. Marty and I agree that the cat is the smartest creature on Black Bear Farm, including us.

        Seated next to them is Clancy, who is a farm dog. People want to know his breed. It's "farm dog". Simple, right?? Clancy originated as a Cherry Valley Farm Dog, when I lived in a stone house on Bossardsville Road with Dale, Zach, Libby and Cassie. Cassie named Clancy for Kyle Clancy, the snowboarder. Clancy's birthday is in March, like Marty's, and he will be eleven this year. Holy Moses, Clance, you and I have traveled some miles together.............