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!