Crazy! Butter Live from GIYIreland

Late yesterday afternoon, Julia and I tuned into "Butter Live" on the GIYIreland website. It just sounded like such a kooky idea - making butter with people all over the world via a live feed from an elementary school somewhere in Ireland. We picked up a quart of heavy cream at the store, hooked up with the feed and we were ready to go.

I heard about this from Ella McSweeney. And there she was on the computer sitting on the island in our kitchen in western Massachusetts. How wild! The original instructions said we would need a whisk. I was thinking we were going to have to "whisk" the cream into butter all by hand. When the feed started, I realized that a "whisk" in Ireland is actually what we call a hand mixer. The program began with a great little demo with a real farmer named Alan Kingston who actually makes butter (along with many other products) and sells it to consumers. American Imen McDonnell, author of the blog I Married an Irish Farmer, was along too They all explained why cream turns to butter and did a demo so everyone would know what they were supposed to do. 

Ella has the entire video of it on her blog here. She says to start 10 minutes in..... It's fun to hear the accents and see the school children. You can follow along with the video and do this with your kids or grandkids. Julia was totally into it....

She mixed her little heart out. All of a sudden, the cream started turning yellow and the "buttermilk" began weeping out of it. We had done it! It's really nice to see her have interest in something like this.

 

We then had to squeeze the extra liquid out of the butter with our hands. The Irish folks had "butter paddles" and made some great looking rectangles of butter. We put our butter in a ceramic bowl. From the quart of cream (which cost $5.59), we got 10 ounces of butter. As with so many homemade things, it isn't cheaper to make butter this way but it was a good lesson in how farm products are turned into items we rely on in the kitchen every day.

Annika the cat was fascinated by the whole thing. I think she was trying to figure out where the people were that were talking on the computer screen.

And she started drinking the buttermilk before I had time to jar it up. Score one for the cats.

I was looking forward to breakfast this morning - homemade sunflower oatmeal whole wheat bread with homemade butter. If I had been really organized, I would have gotten the milk from my brother-in-law, separated the cream off of it, and really had homemade butter.

I don't think there is an organization quite like GIYIreland in the States. Too bad. It looks like they are really doing a lot to promote growing veggies and animals for real homegrown food. I will be looking on to see how their campaign progresses this year as the growing season ramps up.

And look what I found in my garden this morning - wow. There is hope that the winter will be over soon!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

Back to the Valley and Leyden Glen Farm

I've written about Hand/Eye Magazine before here. Their mission is to "bridge the worlds of art, design, craft, philanthropy, retailing, and socio-environmental sustainability." Besides a lovely print magazine, they have a wonderful weekly newsletter. Today I was surprised to see them feature some local artists in a special feature on finding art and craft at many Farmers Markets. Congratulations to Lucy Fagella and Tiffany Hilton, two local Greenfield potters, and to Justamere Tree Farm, makers of beautiful corn brooms, besides being major maple sugar producers.

This Saturday January 29th, I'll be selling our Leyden Glen Lamb at the Amherst Winter Farmers Market at the Amherst Middle School. There will be a "SOUP-TACULAR" featuring soup made using the local farmers produce made by local chef Tom Hildas. Stop by and pick up some stew meat or half a lamb shoulder and I'll give you a recipe for both our favorite Scotch Broth Soup (full of root veggies) and Braised Lamb Shoulder. I'll be bringing some half shoulders so they will be smallish (1 1/2 to 2 lbs. instead of the normal 4 lb. shoulders). Did you know that Jamie Oliver's favorite cut of lamb is Lamb Shoulder? It is incredibly flavorful and wonderful to have simmering on the stove on a Sunday winter afternoon.

On February 5th, we will be selling our Leyden Glen Lamb at Winter Fare, the 4th Annual Greenfield Winter Farmers Market. Held at the Greenfield High School from 10 to 2, this is a great event. It is jammed with people and has a very festive atmosphere. This market is worth a trip from far away because there is just so much darn good food available for sale there! All you Boston knitters, hop in the car, come to the market and then head down the Valley to the two fabulous yarn stores in Northampton or up the Mohawk Trail to the newish Metaphor Yarns. Cross your fingers for good weather for us!

And speaking of farming and markets, those sheep are at it again. Lambing season looks to be starting within a week or so. Yesterday I heard the door open shortly after noon and as the cold air whooshed in, I heard the telltale baaaaahhhh of a newborn lamb. I will spare you the details, but the mama wasn't able to deliver and instead of losing three sheep, The Farmer acted fast and did a c-section to save a pair of twin ewe lambs. As he was walking in the door, I was talking to Kevin Ford, our sheep shearer, and mentioned what was going on. His quote to me was "Well, he is a real farmer, isn't he?" And I totally agreed.

Do you see that glimmer in his eyes in the photo?


He won't tell you this, because he doesn't often express his feelings, but I can tell that he is really excited that lambing season is almost upon us. The other reason his eyes were twinkling was that he had to work fast to save these two lambs and he was able to do it successfully. I guess I could make the analogy to all you knitters out there, it would be similar to finishing your first Fair Isle Sweater or intricate lace shawl.


When you are a sheep farmer, you act as your own vet most of the time. We rarely have a vet come to the farm - in fact I bet in 30 years, the vet has been here 5 times. This was a concept that was totally foreign to me in the beginning but quickly I understood that the value of a sheep is rarely worth the cost of a vet bill.

We will be lambing out over 250 ewes this year so it is going to be fast and furious and I have already volunteered to be in the knee deep in the thick of things. If there is anyone out there interested in an "un-paid internship" we may be willing to talk.

It is officially "house lamb" season here at our farmhouse. These twins were big and seem to be full-term. After a few hours of mucky breathing, they are up and about and loving the heat in front of the woodstove. In about a week, we'll transition them to the barn but for now it is cuddling time watching television in the evenings with them on our laps and poop and pee patrol. Makes you want to be a sheep farmer, doesn't it?

Neutral Hipstamatic Photos In and Around the Farmhouse

First off, you must check out Gale Zucker's Photo Tutorial for an embroidered mug sleeve, shot entirely with her Hipstamatic camera app. Do you know Gale's beautiful photography? If you think not, you probably do. She has photographed many knitting books including Shear Spirit and Mason-Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines.

So back to my Hipstamatic (borrowed from Julia) for a few very neutral colored photos.

The thermometer has been hovering at just about zero


A curly iron garden chair under the snow


Snow along the road with a running stream beneath


Our kitchen light and a cracked plaster ceiling


Looking out the kitchen window before the storm


Sheep under the crab apple tree after the storm


Hydrangea blossoms in the snow


Sheep along the fence in the snow

Selling Lamb and Stitches in Hartford 10/30 + 31

The mature ewes have been grazing a field up the road which hasn't had an animal on it in probably 8 years. Early in the spring, The Farmer ran his brush-hog over it so he could get rid of the thorns and weeds. Although they all grew back, some grasses came back too. So finally, last week, he set up the fences and the older sheep have been making good work of it. That is "Frank" our new Romney ram in the front. It's our first season with him breeding and we are anxious to see what his babies look like in February.


Do you see how the leaves have disappeared? Right now the only color left is from the oaks which are a deep beautiful red and russet and the beeches which turn gold and toffee. After they are done, it's gray until April! YUCK!

On November 7th, Chef Daniel Martinez of Bistros Les Gras in Northampton is doing a Fete d'Agneau! Guess who is supplying the lamb? Yes, you got it - Leyden Glen Farm. We are so excited to have our lamb featured at this fabulous restaurant in a 6 course fancy schmancy meal! The Farmer and I will be going - it is a Sunday evening. I am so excited I can't stand it! You can download the PDF menu from their website here. Maybe some knitters will come?

We had a busy lamb Sunday. Besides selling two ewe lambs to a new customer, we also sold two whole lambs to families who will be enjoying them all winter long. One was a first time customer whose husband had grown up on a sheep farm in Pennsylvania. They just love homegrown lamb and have no time or land to do it themselves.

The second couple was Janis and Rich. Janis found out about our lamb business here on this blog. You see, Janis is a great knitter and former yarn store owner. She also is an amazing cook. She and her husband Rich are on their third lamb so far this year! They love our lamb and we love selling it to them! To find customers who really enjoy pasture raised lamb and who keep coming back - well, it's just fabulous.

Janis and Rich are so passionate about food. They love to make all kinds of experimental dishes. It sounds like they spend their weekends cooking and taking trips based on food. They told me last winter they made cassoulet and it took them a whole week - from making the duck confit to making the homemade sausage! Wow - sounds amazing. I sent them off with some lacinato kale (my favorite kind of kale - it is dark green and really tasty) and some leeks I pulled from the garden. I guess it is a perk coming here to the farm!


We talked cookbooks and food blogs - they sure do know a lot! I love what I learn from my customers and what I learn from all of you! Janis suggested Hank Shaw's blog - oh - something else to distract me! I showed her Dorie Greenspan's new book Around My French Table which I am loving! I told her about Hugh F-W and River Cottage. Every time they come, we both learn something!

Janis writes a great food blog called "Bite Me New England." She frequently posts lamb recipes and chronicled their trip to the farm here. Check it out! And you must check out her knitted chicken hat here! Cluck! Cluck!

Stitches in Hartford Saturday and Sunday. Stop by the Westminster Booth and I'll give you a freebie I had made up just for the show! See you there!

The big October Giveaway #2 ends just before midnight on October 31st. Check out how to enter here.

Last Sunflowers, Fall Veggies, and October Giveaway #3

October is such a busy month in New England. The roads are full of license plates from other states, restaurants are busy, and all the locals are getting ready for the upcoming cold. There are so many gardeners and farmers in this area. Porches are groaning with pumpkins and cornstalks, scarecrows are popping up all over. My kitchen table is full of veggies that I picked up at the last of the Northfield and Bernardston Farmers Markets along with the end of the garden crop. I'll save them and keep dipping into my stash as the winter progresses. I can't wait to eat some of those ugly Gilfeather turnips grown by Coyote Hill Farm. There is nothing like them. I hope I can save a couple for Thanksgiving!


I have one little bouquet of sunflowers from the Sunflower Field that is lingering on the kitchen table. The field has been frosted a few times and the rain and wind has pretty much knocked all the plants down.


It's about time to retire my flower clippers. There are still some stray blossoms around and as long as they are blooming, I'll keep cutting.

I've had these clippers for years - a gift from my mom. They work beautifully - the thin piece of metal attached at the top of the blade holds the flower in the clippers so they don't fall all over into the dirt. You can carry a basket on one arm and drop the flowers into it all at the same time. I haven't seen scissors like this in a long time. I wonder if they make them anymore. I'm all about production cutting when I am out there so anything that makes it easier......


Did you know there is a new knitting magazine? It is called Knitting Today and it is available at newstands now. Check out their website here. There is a lovely feature article about my "Get Stitched on the Farm" Classes written by Diane Broncaccio, a local writer who attended my August Flower Class.

And now to the Giveaway. You're going to love this one.

One winner will receive:
1. A copy of the new Ohio Knitting Mills Book, written by Stephen Tatar, courtesy of Artisan Books. This book is full of vintage inspired knits. You can read a good book review on it over at Susan B. Anderson's blog.
2. The premier issue of Knitting Today.
3. A copy of Knitting Green, courtesy of Interweave Knits. This is a beautiful book written by Ann Budd. It has many, many amazing projects in it and several essays, including one I wrote about raising sheep.
4. Three incredible skeins of yarn from my friend Gail Callahan, The Kangaroo Dyer. Each skein has almost 400 yards of yarn. The darker blue is 100% merino and the other two skeins are silk/wool blends. These are so beautifully dyed.


Do you know Gail's new book Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece? It is great and getting rave reviews including on Clara Parkes' Knitters Review! I wrote about it here on the blog. You can order it on Gail's website directly from her. (She'll make more money that way! I'm always out to help a fellow author!)

As usual, there's a question you need to answer in the comments section. Also, please leave an easy way to get a hold of you. U.S. Addresses only. Thanks.

Question: As fall rolls around, most knitters and crocheters start making plans for holiday gifting. My question is: Do you knit or crochet gifts for the holidays and if you do, what are you planning to make this year? Who will be the lucky recipient?

CONTEST ENDS AT NOON ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22nd. I'll pick a winner and notify you by e-mail. Good luck everyone!

More Flowers - Cockscomb Celosia

When I visit the Franklin County Fair every August, I always look for one particular bouquet of flowers. Someone always enters bright red stunning "Cockscomb Celosia." I just love the fuzziness and texture of the blooms and the undulation and convoluted nature of the flower petals. I used to have a rooster with a "rosecomb" whose "cocks' comb" looked just like this flower. None of the roosters I have now have a rosecomb - otherwise, I would be able to share a photo.

I have tried for many years to grow these flowers so that I can have bouquets of them in my house at the end of the growing season. I have always failed. I think I have planted the wrong variety, or maybe they haven't had enough fertilizer, or need staking, or ..... on and on and on. I never have written down the name of that gardener who is the blue prize winner of those celosia. Maybe one day I will and ask for their secrets. Does anyone out there have good success with these?

This year I tried again. I bought two kinds of plants up at Walker Farm in Dummerston, VT - one a Bombay Mixed color selection and the second something called Cramer's Burgundy. Once again, I was disappointed with the Bombay variety. They failed me. Every year, they send out one big bloom and after I pick it, nothing else happens. But the Cramer's variety did just fine. I wouldn't win any entries in the county fair but I did get quite a few vase loads of flowers out of the six plants I bought.


The first flower was always the largest and after that was picked, the plants sent up a bunch more smaller blossoms. Sadly, they are pretty much over now. In the photo below, you can see how their color has changed and the plants are looking rather tired. I will plant them again next year and see if I can give them a little more space and manure.


They looked great mixed with the end of the summer zinnias.


I'm just crazy over the texture and the crazy folds. I think they remind me of velvet fabric, wool, and gathered ruffles on the shirts I used to make and wear.


Maybe next year, I'll find some other Cramer's colors and give them a go too!

Local Food and Yummy Pears

We're coming to the close soon at most of the Farmers Markets we sell our lamb at. Julia and I have finished our Bernardston and Northfield Markets. The markets in North Amherst (Saturdays), Northampton (Tuesday), and South Hadley (Thursday) continue for a few more weeks. I'm really looking forward to some downtime this winter. The markets take up a huge part of our lives in the spring, summer and fall. They have been extremely important to us as we are still working on establishing our retail customer base for our Leyden Glen Farm Lamb Business. This winter, we'll be exploring some other ways to market our lamb meat. We'll most likely keep doing some of the markets. It is a great way to find new customers and network with other farmers and local chefs.

We're pretty excited that Bistro Les Gras, a fabulous french restaurant run by Daniel Martinez and his wife in Northampton, has become a regular customer of our lamb meat. It's a great place to eat if you are local and looking to support local food and have an amazing meal. We celebrated my birthday there and it was exceptional!

I've been enjoying the local pears this year. I finally have found out how to tell when they are done. In the past, I have kept them out on the counter and then missed the perfect time and they have turned to mush and become chicken food! Ben Clark of Clarkdale Fruit Farm told me that if the tip of the pear, just near the stem is slightly soft, then the pear is ready to eat. Oh, I am so happy to know this!

My friend Jeanne Duval paints beautiful pictures of pears. Me, I'm enjoying photographing them. And eating them with a little slice of blue cheese - YUM! What a great taste combination.

When I teach color classes, I use this simple example of how to see and work with color. You can do it easily in your home. Take one object (or group of objects) and lay it on a surface. Here are the pears on a brass plate.


Here are the pears on the brass plate on top of a floral cloth.


Here are the pears on a blue ceramic plate.


Here are the pears on the blue plate on the cloth.


If you do the same kind of exercise, you too will learn how colors work together. If I had taken a photo of green apples, red apples, or oranges, think about how the images would look different.

Which is your favorite? Remember, the first October giveaway ends Thursday at midnight. The contest winner will be announced Friday at noon-ish.

Around the Farm

Pokeweed is a nasty weed which I am constantly fighting. At this time of year it is so unbelievably beautiful. You can read all about the many uses for it here. I never knew it was so toxic. The sheep know because they never eat it. Me, I just want to knit this photo! And I will one day.


The ewes have been grazing up the road most of the summer. Can you see how brown the pasture is? You've probably heard about the lack of rain here on the east coast. I have been so nervous we are going to run out of water. It is just one of those things and you put up with it having a well. My brother-in-law David (the Other Farmer - he makes milk) ran out of water last week. Dairy cattle need a lot of water daily so he is driving to a pond at a neighbor's house that is spring fed and pumping water a few times a day to give to his cows. Today and tomorrow it is supposed to rain but we are so behind on the water that two days will help a little but not much. My Farmer is filling up his water tank and delivering the water from a local pond that still has water to the ewes out in the field.


The lambs have been in the pasture right outside our house for most of the summer. They really are growing, aren't they? Tonight we have to separate the largest ram lambs to take to the processor on Wednesday morning. Should be fun in the rain. The dogs will have a good time because they will be doing some real work. Rain or not, they live to work. And by the way, if you want a lamb for your freezer, I am taking orders now. Information is over here on our Leyden Glen Lamb website. I will most likely be coming to the Boston area sometime before Christmas so I can arrange a "lamb meat-up." You can also take a drive and pick it up here at the farm. Lamb meat is always available in our "lamb shack."

The colors here in New England are turning gold and red at an alarming rate. Color usually peaks around Columbus Day but it looks like this year we will be at full color this weekend. My guests for the last "Getting Stitched on the Farm" Class of 2010 are very lucky considering many are coming from parts of the country where there isn't as much color.


The sunflowers are still doing their thing. The hot weather has made for an amazing crop. I will really miss the daily picking of the field and filling the buckets for neighbors to buy and take home for their kitchen tables. I'm also going to miss having vases around the house overstuffed with sunflowers. But I must admit, I am really looking forward to a little downtime, nesting in our cosy house, knitting, getting my studio up and going, and possibly getting my feet clean again. It has been months since I have been able to get them squeaky clean.

Farmer's Market Festival in Bernardston

Our Bernardston Farmers Market Festival on Tuesday was a huge success. We organized it very quickly and really were not sure if anyone would show, considering it was a Tuesday. But show they did. I really think the secret to getting people out was the FREE ice cream that was donated by Bart's/Snow's of Greenfield! And the radio ads Julia did on WHAI. (Radio really works for publicity around here!) Here are some photos from the afternoon.

My sister-in-law Debbie (wife of the other farmer David, Mark's brother) and our friend Sharon in front of the Our Family Farms booth.


The scoopers - Amanda on the right and Julia on the left. Julia is from the new business in town Kringle Candle Co. They donated a fabulous gift basket (and they aren't even open yet!)


Bernardston Farmers Supply, our local feed, woodstove, and garden supply store had a nice display. They were amazed at the turn-out.


Our friends Peggy and Clara brought Junie their dog to visit. That's Clara dressed up as an ear of corn! What a hoot!


We can now purchase locally grown wheat here in the Pioneer Valley. Check out Four Stars Farm website.


Knitter extraordinaire Melissa Morgan-Oakes was selling her honey and her daughter Megan demonstrated spinning with wool from our sheep.


Local music from Maddie and Lana from Bernardston Elementary School playing their flutes - how cute.


More local music from world-famous Stuart Kenney and his son Matthew.


Ervin selling produce from his Coyote Hill Farm. He never stopped smiling once - he was selling so much!


Maple products from the Severance Family in Northfield. They sold out too!


One of the many extremely cute babies who attended with ice cream dripping down her chin. Awwww!


Sandy Streeter was selling her beautiful pottery birds. I love these!



My friend Mike (who owns 7 South Bakery Cafe) volunteered to cook our lamb, Carrie's kielbasa, and Ervin and Gloria's veggies. Thank you Mike!


And he made this awesome bread cornucopia which he donated for a door-prize.


Julia's friend Levi set up an impromptu stand and sold his art and took orders for his comic books! He is such a great kid.


By the time it was time to close up, the moon was up and it was getting dark. It was such an awesome afternoon. It really is amazing how much we accomplished and pulled together in a short time and the luck we had with finding local businesses for vending. Thanks to all who came out!


Julia and I will be at Fibertwist tomorrow in Deerfield. The event is being held at Yankee Candle's Fitness Center (next to Yankee Candle). It is right off of Rt. 91. There is an enormous parking lot. If you come, please stop by to say hi!