Schoolhouse Farms
Seeking Rays
Rain Rain go away
the Schoolhouse Farmer needs to play
Digging the mud is not much fun
to seed what has been left undone
The farm is seeking rays of sun
so the planting season can be considered done!
Now about that Forecast
That perfect stretch of weather we enjoyed during the middle of April 2009 should have really made us pause and take note. The Finger Lakes region just doesn’t escape paying the piper for perfect sunny days that allow access to the dirt early. And so it goes with the conclusion of June and the start of July. Rain, lots of it, buckets of it, fields full of it. Days filled with unrelenting clouds insisting on unburdening themselves several times a day and preventing the Schoolhouse farmers from completing the task of planting.
Fortunately the majority of the 2009 crop had been planted, and some of it seems to be growing well. However some that have been inundated by the overly generous rainfall seem to be in a state of suspended animation not growing nor dying, just sort of being. They all appear a little jaundice due to the loss of nutrients from the soil. We hope the sun will revive them and things will begin anew. Come on beans kick in! We’ve got loyal fans waiting for you!
We remember the 2008 season when the cracked dry earth of June had us all concerned that a drought was imminent, but then gave way to the soaking weeks of July which nearly drowned the heirloom tomatoes and caused equal concern.
At Schoolhouse Farms we believe we have had enough heavy precipitation and the weather needs to transition to the dry side, although we know if that happens it will prompt the whispers of we could use just a little more. Farmers we are just never satisfied.
My Box
By Brahm Douglas Malcolm
My box is a ship
My box is a plane
My box is a race car
My box is a rocket
My box is
A secret
home for me
My sisters say
“Just give it away”
My sisters say
“Let’s throw it away”
My sisters say….
I don’t want to listen
My sisters are too old to see
My sisters are not
At all like me
Playing in the Dirt, or Soil-Borne Wellness
In The News: Playing in the Dirt, or Soil-Borne Wellness
Psychology Today magazine has an article about gardenings physical and psycholocial health benefits, but with a new component. Apparently researchers found that gardening exposes people to soil-borne microbes called Mycobacterium vaccae that can stimulate their immune systems. The same microbes also boost the levels serotonin in mice, much like prozac and other antidepressants. Some researchers think that depriving children from playing in the dirt may have led to the recent rise in immune disorders, including asthma. Daniel Marano writes for Psychology Today that "As science digs deeper into understanding the effects of bacteria on human health, and especially on the immune system, it looks increasingly like ingesting components of the soil itself might be as critical to human health as the very finest fruits and veggies grown in it.
In 2007, University of Colorado neuroscientist Christopher Lowry, thenworking at Bristol University in England, made a startling discovery. Hefound that certain strains of soil-borne mycobacteria sharply stimulated thehuman immune system. The very same bacteria also boosted serotonin levels inthe brains of mice."
Winter on the Farm….or life of the Shovel
Winter on the Farm….or life of the Shovel
Richard Malcolm
Equipment is a necessary component for any farm operation regardless the size. The ability to be self reliant when it comes to keeping things in greased grooves is equally important when it comes to maintenance and repair. Alternatively you can abandon technology and revert to low tech. This would be applauded as the greenest approach by many and nostalgic by some.
In the fall of 2007 the snow descended early, the ancient but up to that point incredibly reliable 3rd hand John Deere snow-blower failed to kick over and to this day remains parked as garden art. At the peak of the 2008 harvest the small garden tractor we have relied on for years to do far more then mow grass developed some serious issues. As quickly as one issue would be addressed another one would arise until the issues quickly out weighted the speed of repair and the financial feasibility so consequently the unit was retired to join the John Deere. We have been forced by circumstance to revert to manual methods for not just the winter months but for the fore seeable future.
The art of shoveling ones driveway is an exercise in patience as well as the laws of physics. It is an incredibly peaceful event and offers liberal cardio vascular benefit. If you have a driveway of sufficient size the event can be expanded to include all members of the family. We purchased a half dozen snow-shovels last season and when the snow fall is copious we distribute them to the clan to make short work of the horseshoe shaped drive. We are always amused by the look of disbelief on the faces of passersby, and grateful to the plow drivers who lift their blades at the driveways edge so not to rebury what we have painstakingly removed.
Exercise and family bonding opportunities are limited in much of the winter primarily to indoor activities, and often this closeness can lead to controversy if it happens to frequently, thus the outdoor options presents a welcome change. A little fresh air, a little stimulating physical activity combined with ample room for conversation culminating with a hot cup of tea when the task is complete make it a great family activity.
The up side to February
I love February!
Richard Malcolm
Most people really begin to get sick of winter about this time of year and generally for good reason. We have been barraged for the last 3 months with an entire season’s amount of snow and cold air. The blue sky days that a vital to quell the advancement of winter depression are in very short supply and the dry continuous heat indoors is wreaking havoc on the skin. However I find a silver lining in February I can’t help but getting excited about.
What on earth could get anybody excited about February? Firstly if you are a passionate skier generally the conditions are very favorable during February. If you enjoy Ice fishing the lakes are usually frozen thickly enough to set up camp and if you cross country ski, snow shoe or participate in any other outdoor winter activity this is when it peaks. However as passionate as I might be about any and or all these pursuits this is not what really gets me excited about the month.
The biggest bonus is what is happening every morning and every evening. The days are getting longer and longer! I realize that we actually begin to gain time as winter begins, but it flattens out in the early stages and it is not until February that you begin to notice the difference. Suddenly during the first week of the month you realize while driving home that it is practically 6:00 PM and it’s not really dark yet. The effect of extended day light hours has a tremendous impact on people’s moods and begins to waken the hibernating spirit trapped within. Time to start puttering a little later getting prepared for the upcoming longer days of sunlight that lay ahead in the months of March April May and June!
Year of the Potato
Year of the Potato
Perhaps this–the glory of the potato–is what caused the
UN to declare 2008 “The International Year of the Potato.” Some people might argue for 1845 being the year of the potato (that’s the Irish potato famine, for those non-history buffs out there), but that was about lack, and we’ll hope that this one’s about bounty.
Slow Food USA has three potato varieties on its Ark of Taste:
The Green Mountain Potato, very popular in the latter half of the 19th century
Ivis White Cream Sweet Potato, an extremely endangered and unique variety and
The earthy, nutty, pacific northwest fingerling variety called the
Ozette.
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