Butterfly Hill Farm: Molasses Making: Decision Time

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May 20:

The Farm is really greening up. Plants are breaking into buds and flowers, under our ever watchful eye. Buffalo Gal, a rose we brought with us from North Dakota, is covered with buds and today she presented us with her 1st flower.

Irises began blooming yesterday. And we were not surprised that the 1st to flower were Irises from Melanie's 2 Grandmas (Ethel and Dorothy, who have both passed). I noted that the Yellow Columbine is also breaking into flower. And the Bleeding Heart just continues to throw out cascades of flowers.

We got 1 inch of rain last night. We did lose a few limbs, but otherwise, the countryside is in that luscious, after rain, spring-moving-into summer, green.

I do remember that my Dad, when he came to our Farm in 2007 just 2 months before he passed, said: "This is paradise. When I go to Heaven, I want to come here." It surely is beautiful here. The landscapes are radiant.

And the Hummingbirds, with all their energy, have just arrived. They buzz about. I don't know how they have all that energy. They wintered in the Yucatan, crossed the Gulf on those tiny wings, and now are setting up home here. I supposed you could say, they are setting up home just like us.

All this makes a perfect backdrop for wedding preparations and for the wedding itself. Is this for real?

Photos

Except in very specific circumstances, all photos depicted here were taken on our Farm. Those circumstances off the Farm relate to the purposes of this Farm and this writing exploration. Almost all were taken by 1 of the 3 C's. If not, I try to make sure others are credited. I (Glinda) am usually the one carrying the camera, but not always.

I do my best to gain permissions of Folks whose pictures are shown on this Blog. If for any reason, you are pictured and would like your photo removed, just let me know. Thanks.

Glinda

...began her professional career as a Home Economist, later serving as a Home Economics Teacher Educator for 2 decades. In 1995, she moved into analyzing the Human Side of Environmental Issues. She went from studying Humans in their Little Homes to studying Humans in their Big Home, the Earth. Those 2 leggeds were, after all, creating a substantial problem for the Earth, which sustains them. After 30 years in higher education, she became Professor Emerita of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Ecological Studies at the University of North Dakota in 2005.

Glinda has a special interest in analyzing the split Humans have with Nature. Her focus is bringing Humans home to the Earth, opening at long last to the awe, magic, and love of this beautiful Earth whirling in the Great Cosmic Sea. She is a writer, teacher, poet, artist. She is the writer for this Blog, the substance of which will likely become a book she has known she would write.

Recent interview with Fast Recipes: http://www.fastrecipes.com/latest-news/nature%E2%80%99s-recipes:-living-off-the-land-in-missouri-2010061740080/

Richard

...grew up on a 120 acre Farm about 5 miles west of here. Those humble beginnings have had a profound effect on his Life. He was trained as a Wildlife Biologist and later responsible for the Wildlife Management Program at the University of North Dakota for over 3 decades. Retiring in 2007, he is a UND Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology.

Richard brings to the Farm a lifelong interest in the Natural Sciences (Birds, Wildlife, Prairie Restoration, Ecosystems, Gardening) and the Humanities. As his wife (Glinda) says: "He is one of those few people in our Culture who can still read Nature's story and make it accessible to those around him."

Melanie

...would list a bio a little shorter than her Mom and Dad. That's because she hasn't lived quite so long, which is the normal course of such things. But her bio would be no less interesting and perhaps even more so. She has come to this work and this walk far earlier than her Mom or Dad.

Melanie has an interest in healthy lifestyles. It's not something you read about; it's something you do. She brings her love of life, her travel near and far, her love of people known and unknown, her playful curiosity, and her knowing to Gardening, Raising Chickens, Herbal Healing, and the Culinary Arts. She makes a place for Kids of all Ages on this Little Farm.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Molasses Making: Decision Time

The Beautiful Sorghum Cane standing so very tall and proud in our Big Garden has announced: "I'm ready for you Humans to make Molasses." Our Taste Tests show those lovely Canes which we have watched grow from Seeds to 10-12 Feet tall are indeed sweetening up. Just thinking about it as I clatter away at these Keys, I want to go through the motions of chewing the Cane and spitting out the fibrous stuff just before I take yet another bite.

Our original plan, subject to change, was that we would begin Molasses Making this weekend. We weren't sure if the Weather was going to cooperate. These last 2 days, we have had 3.25 inches of Rain, using our Official Unofficial Rain Guage.

The Chickens report things are indeed a bit wet around here. Lacey is standing in water picking up Sunflower Seeds from the platform Bird Feeder just before Melanie dumps it out.

The Rain has stopped and is expected to lift tonight. The weekend looks clear. But the Human Weather Gurus with all those advanced Technologies expect that Rain will begin again late Sunday Night.

Windows: Farmers are always paying attention to Windows. When Nature presents a Window, you move.

Richard and Hollis have been listening to such things, with Eyes on the Cane, Weather and Condition of the Field. They have made the decision that: We're making Molasses. Hollis, Hollis Dale, and Gerald will join Richard tomorrow to begin the tedious Hand Harvest.

In the meantime, Melanie and I are getting food ready for the Harvest on Friday and the Molasses Making (with others) on Saturday. Always eager about such things, Richard has headed back to the Field to begin a bit of Harvest as I click away at these keys. He is stripping the Leaves from the Cane with a Cane Knife he carved from Cedar from the Farm.

Things are going to be getting pretty exciting around here in the next few days.

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Thursday, September 4, 2008

Molasses Making: Decision Time

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