Butterfly Hill Farm: Busy Busy Busy

Banner Photo

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.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Busy Busy Busy

I am amused by how similar Humans are with their Companions in Nature. Our Friends the Squirrels are busy putting away their Stores of Food and doing last minute preparations of their Homes for Winter. Their urgency is sometimes whimsical for Humans to watch. But rather, they are serious about it, as their survival depends upon it.

So what are the 2 Leggeds up to on Butterfly Hill Farm? We are urgently doing the same. Somehow the Squirrels just seem to know about the Weather Changes. We kind of sense that too, but rely on Weather Underground, which by the way, tells us that temperatures will have lows about 30 early in the week. Yikes. We've got stuff to do.

If you would have visited us these past few days, this is what you would have found:

We harvested Peppers, Peppers and More Peppers. Melanie has an assortment in the Freezers on all the Flat Cookie Sheets that we have. They are separated into Hot and not so Hot as they await Upcoming Winter Culinary Adventures. Several are set aside in the Refrigerator for me to make Stuffed Peppers, a Winter Favorite. Others are set aside for Roasting. Some are hung to dry.
Melanie dried more Calendula, Chamomile, and Lemon Balm for the Family Pharmacy.
Richard dug Sweet Potatoes. Our 62 Plants yielded 50 Producers and some were quite heavy. We love Sweet Taters. They are an amazing Winter Food. We are excited to share them with Family Members who didn't have much Luck with Sweet Tators this year and others who don't have space or time to grow them. On the last day that we harvested them (October 20), we found a Tiger Salamander tucked alongside. He was about 7 inches long, black with tan spots, smooth skin, and just absolutely gorgeous. You should have seen his little Feet. I bet he was looking up at us and saying: "Look at those GIGANTIC Hands!" I do not know who was more surprised: him or us? Richard and Melanie also dug out a Toad and a Family of Mice. The Toad didn't move so they re-buried it. Did those Mice ever scatter! Can you even imagine what it would be like to look up from your pleasant little home and find 2 Giants peering down at you?
We harvested my Gourds. The picture below is of the Bushel Gourds. They will take the Winter to dry out in the Garage. Then they will become Canvases for Craft Projects. I am so excited.
We harvested and dried herbs: Rosemary, Basil, Parsley. Some went into the dehydrator. Others are hanging in various spots about the House.
Mother gave me some beautiful Flowers (Mums, Columbine) for our Garden yesterday. We tucked them into their places in the Grandmother's Flower Garden with that Wonderful C0w Compost from Rolf. I cannot believe how bare some of this Soil is and is that Clay ever hard. We are making progress with amendments, but that will take a long time. Probably a Several Life Times.
Richard built a Compost Site off the Grandmother's Flower Garden. I have been looking forward to this. Gee, did we fill it in just a couple of hours! We are going to be moving our Compost Sites around and using them as a basis for future Garden Beds or Trees. This simple practice should help restore the Soil and encourage nourishing Homes for our Plants.
We dumped the Flower Pots from the Front Porch. On one of the Warm Upcoming Days, we will clean the pots and put them away in the Garage.
I pulled out the Red Geraniums from their Pots, shook off the Soil, and hung them upside down in a dark area of the basement. The Old Timer Gardeners used to do this. The Geraniums will overwinter there and hopefully be ready for another Growing Season.
I pulled all the Horticulture Beans. Today Richard and I shelled the Beans. Tomorrow I will can them. They are a perfect base for Refried Beans.
We made a Very Big Pot of Chili from Garden Produce, Onions and Garlic from the Farmers' Market, Ground Beef from a Local Farmer, Ground Buffalo from a Farm about 70 miles away, Dried Beans we bought in Bulk at the Amish Store west of LaPlata. We will have that for Supper this Evening. It is almost done and is perfect for a Cold Fall Day. Can't you just smell it? We will then freeze up portions for Upcoming Meals for the 3 C's on Butterfly Hill Farm and for Mother in Town.
We dug up Carrots, Parsnips, Fennel, Green Tomatoes, Celery, and washed them up in preparation for storage and processing.
Melanie picked the rest of the Red Tomatoes, baked, and froze them.
Richard and Melanie headed to Hollis and Deleta's and made more Cider. On returning home, Melanie froze our stash.
Melanie keeps checking her Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar. It is almost there. We all 3 had tastes today and it is great. We will likely keep it for Medicinal Use rather than Culinary Use.
Melanie froze Eggplant, Mustard Greens, and Chipotle Chiles.
Melanie collected Pepper Seeds for future years. We all need to focus on completing Seed Collection for this.
Melanie and Richard covered Peanuts in preparation for the 1st Frost. This is obviously a long season crop as the Plants are not quite ready yet.