carraigfarm.com

Life gets crazy especially for someone like me who has a hard time saying no to helping out. So many projects right now, so little time…running for school committee at large in district, cramming for state EMT exam in April, trying to learn a jig that is kicking my ass and I just can’t get my fiddle around, maple syrup time (boil, boil, boil, boil etc.), late nights in the freezing barn during lambing season, fullfilling soap orders, CSA planning, planting, planting and planting (I will spare you any more) - the short of it is my mind is tired. The house would be a disgusting mess if not for hubby picking up the pieces right now. After the EMT exam I plan on being completely fried, 3rd degree burns.

I used to take getaway weekends with friends to Canada when I was pregnant with Miranda and bring Moira (just a baby then)…that was 7 years ago. It is time, as my husband says, to get the hell out of town. The conversation went something like this:

“Go hun.”
“No, I can’t go.”
“Hun, get outta here, get away.”
“What about the kids, the animals, the food, the house?”
“Hun, you are making excuses.”
“I can’t, I am going to miss you.”
“It’s fine, it’s only for a week. Get the hell outta here, have some fun.”
“Okay, are you sure?”
“I am sure sure.”
“Am I sure.”
“You are sure, if you don’t by the ticket I will.”

So, here it goes, I bought the ticket and in May boarding that plane to Ireland once again. No kids, no diapers, no computer (well maybe), no responsibility, just a backpack, tent, a fiddle, a cell phone, a camera and a writing journal. Among the places to visit: Rockfield Ecological Estate in Westmeath, Durrus Cheese in Durrus, Co. Cork, The Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co. Leitrim, Jampa Ling Buddhist Centre in Co. Monaghan and Skellig Michael Island and of course a farm in Co. Wicklow called none other than Carraig Farm.

The pangs of guilt are starting already but the ticket is bought, the car is rented and the only thing left is to buy the carbon offsets to cover the roundtrip flight and driving ; www.carbonneutralireland.ie

It is the best time to go before CSA kicks into full gear. The barn animals are being taken care of by a friend. It has all fallen into place. The new camelback is on its way from LL Bean and it all seems to good to be real.

Last time we went we had pretty sketchy plans and getting lost was half the fun. It will be that way again. I stay away from tourist spots, anything with shamrocks and most definitely won’t be wearing any green. I hide on St. Patricks Day from all the silly wearing green, talking in stupidly fake brouges and getting pissed. Instead I make a breakfast of rashers, eggs, warm scones and tomatoes. Lunch is lamb stew with lamb from the farm…don’t come near me if you are wearing green March 17th.

So now I count down the days before I jump on a plane, get lost in a country I love and see old friends I haven’t seen in too long. Cramming for the EMT exam doesn’t seem so hard anymore..hubby is a genius.

She couldn’t wait until it was at least 20 degrees… she wanted out now. Last night after running errands I came home to a baby lamb screaming in the barn…no signs or symptoms from Mom earlier in the day of labor, I think it took Mom by surprise also. Another ewe and Mom helped lick off the baby as I prepared as much as I could (being completely unprepared) and got new family into the jug. Little icicles hung off her fur…what to do…give her a blanket.

  I ran into the art studio, grabbed a sweater I was going to unravel and reuse, cut out and presto, a nice purple hued baby lamb blanket - a pretty fashionable blanket for this little Diva. Later on in the night (too tired to remember what time it was at this point) always sweetly concerned hubby let me shred one of his fleeces. She now has a designer ribbed blanket with white stitching and partial collar… maybe this should be a new venture…baby lamb blankets for the sheperdess. Her name is eclipse since last night was the eclipse… although few of us had the chance to see it with the clouds.

The syrup taps have been frozen for the past week and we are xpecting a foot of snow Sat night into Sunday. We have run out of cut wood at this point, still in a learning curve of how much we need with the new wood boiler for heat.

There is a light ahead… a summer trip to Yellowstone. I haven’t been camping (real camping) since I was 7 months pregnant with my first daughter. Now we will have 3 kids, 2 tents and roughing it all the way. Yea baby… hiking, sweating, hiking some more, bugs, hiking some more then at the top of the peak just when your legs are going to fall off…amazement. Priceless.

Ashby CSA has filled up in half shares and almost full in full shares. Dedham is almost full in half shares and like Ashby very close to full in Full shares. Waiting lists have started for both already…the waiting lists are earlier than they were last year…a good sign that many people are realizing eating local is a good thing (to use that too popular phrase from that know it all woman)

The meat chicks came in day before yesterday, Delaware’s and have already sold out. I am looking forward to these in April…they have good reviews on taste and quality along with a winner of the Slow Food Arc of Taste.

EMT training/testing coming up soon… I have been strapping, stretching, buckling, harnessing, wrapping and tying many things around many people. It all comes down to timing and the state exam, more on this after I get my exam date. For now I can only shadow on the rig.

Wishing you all warmth in this cold… or at least a warm body to snuggle next too

7 inches last night + a topping of ice = no school…what to do, hold a party of course.

First: start with a silly lunch: fruity bootie, a banana, warm vanilla milk, strawberry yogurt with coconut and almonds. (No, I really didn’t feel like cooking)

Second: dig out some olde school music (that music you wouldn’t think to listen to now) I choose C+C Music Factory and House of Pain (Echo and the Bunnymen just didn’t do it), turned up the sound and we rocked the house. (yeah, I know completely cheesy)

Third: Build a house tent and hide inside with flashlight… they wouldn’t take my ghost stories serious… “Mommy, you are silly.”

Fourth: A special treat because it is a special day (we are supposing the last snowstorm of the season) Being Valentines Day heart lollipops seemed a must.

Fifth: coffee for Mom

Sixth: laps around the house to work off sugar and then of course

Seventh: dance again (this time to Biz Markie)

Happy Valentines Day to all xoxoxoxoxo

Hubby doesn’t believe in Valentines Day…says it is a day made up by Hallmark. It’s not that he isn’t romantic but just against commercialism so I decided to treat myself to a Valentines present…I must have done something good for it - a new violin. While it isn’t exactly true to the Irish fiddle genre I can really whack some sounds out of this baby, plus it’s candy apple red- how can I say no?  It has all the fixings: output jack for amp or mixing board, and a headphone amp so I can practice without waking kids up.

Between seed ordering, garden planting, spinning, garden planning, training for my next 5K, CSA questions, CSA subscriptions, goats getting into the feed stall and chasing 3 kids I have yet to sit for 5 minutes without thinking of what I have to do next.  This always seems to be the busiest time of year and there isn’t a thing in the ground. I miss the soil, the sun and working in the dirt…I don’t miss the weeds however. We have an intern here now who has been fantastic…a life saver when it comes to those late nights when the animals won’t be put away until 9 or so…Katie is right there at 6:45 taking care of everyone. Not to mention this college student has been able to drag herself out of bed at 5:30 each morning to get here for 6:15, now that’s dedication.

We all make em’ and break em’…those New Years resolutions we swear we will keep but by February they are out the door. I have been working on mine the past couple summers with success so I though maybe I would pass it on along to you (and maybe influencing you to do the same) canning and freezing.

Granted with our CSA it has been easy to access the veggies and herbs. I can and freeze all summer.  Some older recipes out of my great grandmother’s  cookbooks, some off the web and others purely by experimentation. I am amazed at the amount of food you save buying at the grocery store (and that of course tastes better because you grew it). I am a pureaholic when it comes to food, one of those annoying label readers that are in the way when someone is trying to reach a box in front of me but I don’t see because well, I am too busy reading. I don’t buy it if I can make it.

For New Year’s Eve tonight I have ready a turdurken, homemade cranberry sauce, wild mushroom soup, fresh swiss chard and spinach from greenhouse, egg rolls risen next to the fireplace and for dessert cranberry bread pudding or homemade apple pie with fresh whip cream. Everything is local except for the rice (don’t know of any rice farms in the US) and the wine from Spain.

It may seem at first a bit challenging but once you start an assembly line going (this is where husband comes in) you will get a rhythm going…

Happy New Year

Working in the barn Chrismas Eve morning I was brought to tears listening to stories about child soldiers taken hostage in Uganda, interviews with widows of a war we shouldn’t be fighting and those who haven’t lived to see another Christmas waiting for transplants.

I look around me at the barn animals, our land, our house and though I never try to take these things for granted sometimes in day to day life I do. I am so lucky to have a roof, clothing, a family…shoes on my feet. Trips overseas, charity and volunteering have changed my vision on many things. This morning as I leaned against the horse stall with freezing wet cheeks I went through a barage of emotions. First the anger, then the feeling of I’m here,what can I do? Lastly came the feeling of an emotion so strong I would suffocate if I didn’t do anything…a feeling we should all feel more often…the need to lend a hand, anywhere, anyhow, anytime.

The horse stall can wait. I went into the house, grabbed a wallet and left. A couple hours later I and the kids were bringing 9 coats, 6 blankets, soap, laundry detergent and towels to the local shelter. I will never meet the people these blankets will keep warm but next time I am driving and see a person walking in a blue woven blanket with yellow stripes you can bet I will be smiling.

I can’t help those child soldiers or the widows and those waiting for transplants directly but I can make at least a dent in this crazy world. We have supported many charities which I list in the end of this post and are legacy members of our 3 favorite ones but the point is - this isn’t enough. Charity isn’t a once a year before tax deduction cross it off your list sort of thing. It is an all year everyday must…it is that feeling of needing to do something before you burst…

Give up a dinner out and take that money instead to your nearest second hand store, purchase a warm coat, a blanket, sweaters and please donate them. If one person can make a difference for another just imagine what many of us can do…

Some of our favorite charities:
Save the Children
The Smile Train
Doctors Without Borders
Oxfam
The Heifer Project
MSPCA

a noisy house with 3 children running around
a husband who makes me laugh even when I don’t want to
watching my husband read to the kids
my childrens drawings
bubbles in the wind
fresh roasted ethiopian coffee
early summer tomatoes
canned food in January
Irish bread with caraway seeds warm with butter
my spinning wheels
a house that kids can run circles in
an art studio
a hubby that warms my side of the bed
fireplaces
homemade hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows
mommy nights out
strangers who help strangers
the smell of my hay loft stacked with new hay
wool
spending the night crafting in my studio
blaring music in the car without kids
watching my kids dance to a funky drumbeat
fresh eggs and milk each morning
snowflakes
warm dirt
a full greenhouse of seedlings
a frothy pint of cold guiness poured just right
watching my son play air guitar
fall colored leaves
maple syrup from our trees
the lambs and chickens that have given their lives to feed my family
that we are surrounded by woods
listening to my daughters voice as she reads this post

so here I go… I have signed up for the EMT course and have discovered the rush of espresso. Along with heavy duty medical the anatomy and physiology is killing me (no pun intended) It has been 25 years since I had to study and my brain not only has to concentrate on medical terminology but also in the background supper plans, grocery shopping, activities with the kiddos and getting farm chores done…how did I manage this in college and party too?

Snow flakes fell today for the first time this season. My instincts take over and I start to concentrate on cooking, making christmas presents and hauling firewood. Today I picked the last of the stubborn Chinese eggplant left in the garden for a red curry. Still some onions and carrots left in the ground but all else is bare. The greenhouse is abundant with beets and beet greens, bunching onions, lettuce and arugula. The hay bale garden bed is kicking butt, you just have to put your hand under the soil to feel the warmth generated. I don’t expect it to make it through 10 degree whether but will take what I can get.

Planning meals the other day I was struck by how little I needed for a whole weeks worth of food…wine, flour, sugar, milk and some artichoke hearts. All else including lamb, 14 newly butchered chickens and veggies were either in the freezer or canned. Hard to explain but it is a really good feeling cooking with what you have grown. We (as a society) have come so far away from our food sources, I am glad to be back at the root of it all.

With extra time on my hands (yeah, right) I am going to spend tim in the studio…my next project, this great retro dress and then onto some spinning and pottery. I have a pile of clothing I have been meaning to rip apart and transform into something else…who knows, perhaps BCBG and Old Navy were meant to be together after all. All is fair in love and recycling.

All of us have it who own farm animals…poop. It’s free, happens everyday and seems to gather faster than you can remove it. I have spread it on pastures, front yard, back yard, used it to fill holes in lawn, put in garden beds, spread along forest paths, under trees and given away but still there is more. The other day looking at the pile watching steam roll off the top as the pile heats up and wondering where else I could put it to use a lightbulb went off…use the natural heating of compost breaking down to help heat the greenhouse in the colder months. Then came the problem of a barrier for the garden bed. Looking around we have plenty of rocks (Carraig means rock in Gaelic) but honestly hauling 5 or 6 Kubota loads to build a stone wall was too time consuming. When a small leak formed in our hayloft roof I noticed that when I open up a bale of wet hay the inside was warm…again the natural breakdown of the grass gave off heat. Two lightbulbs above my head in one day doesn’t happen very often but that day I was pretty bright if I say so myself (sarcasm)

The end result was a self heating and insulated winter greenhouse bed filled with 4 bucket loads of compost (the pile is a little smaller now). Arugala, bunching onions, beets and kale have begun to sprout their roots. On top to help insulate further is plastic with blown pockets of air inbetween to keep heat in during night. Wet hay from a farm here was purchased for a song and was soaked down with the hose before filing with compost. It is its own perpetual heat maker. Will it last into December, with luck. I will keep you posted.

This weekend we celebrated our sons 2nd birthday in traditional Ethiopian style - coffee ceremony, frankensence, music and fire. Frosting was everywhere and very hard to get out of little dreadlocks. The same night hubby and I went to see the Either Orchestra at the Somerville Theatre…a great fusion of jazz meets traditional Ethiopian music. There isn’t much in music that can make me tear up but to hear a Masinko with a brass section, singer and piano - get out the kleenex.

Yeah! Carraig Farm was chosen has one of the 3 farms in Massachusetts in the recent issue of Cookie magazine. http://www.cookiemag.com/food/2007/09/CSAdirectory.

Please check out their living green guide and support your local farmer. You will not only be helping to support green living but also your community and agricultural land. After all there isn’t any more land being made, lets’ save it while its here.

Days lately are filled with canned applesauce, apple slices canned in syrup, apple pies, apple turnovers and applebutter. Next in line in canned peppered tomato sauce, storing the last of the potatoes and planting the winter bed…not enough hours in the day and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Twinkle, after sleepless nights, hyperventilating and some scary moments is in the clear I believe. Pnemonia set in from fluid left in the lungs and treated with combipen. Now it is mom’s turn with an infection starting. We have decided to make Cinnamon a pet, this will be the last of her milk. She shouldn’t have been bred in the first place after 2 complicated pregnancies (something I found out during her labor from the breeder but lets not get into that!) and after some research and talking to other breeders this is best for her health and happiness.

The last of the CSA pickups are approaching, the garden is turning into a weedy mess and I am already looking at seeds for next year. The past month I have been collecting seed from those crops that did well to plant again next year. Looking back at the garden I can say the no-till method did, well, absolutely nothing. By not turning the soil the weed seeds have a harder time sprouting laying on the topmost hardened layer (in theory). I pulled, tugged and swore (so the kids couldn’t hear) just as much as before. I did treat myself to a propane torch to weed between rows (good way to get out aggressions );-)

I always think of my sins when I weed. They grow apace in the same way and are harder still to get rid of. ~Helena Rutherfurd Ely