Posted onAugust 3, 2012byCaroline|Comments Off on Lessons I’ve Learned from Growing Corn
About a week ago, I tasted one of the most wonderful delights of summer. From our county’s Farmer’s Market, Susan had brought home a half-dozen ears of picked-this-morning corn. They were cooked as simply as possible: grilled, with butter, salt, and pepper. These ears were so deliciously sweet that, I swear, instead of corn, I tasted coconut, and toasted hazelnuts. These ears of corn were outrageous in their perfection, and I was happy, because I knew that our homegrown corn would be ripening soon, and that we’d enjoy days and days of the same delights.
However, there’s something I didn’t realize.
The variety of corn that I had tasted, despite being sold at the Farmer’s Market, was undoubtedly one of the modern-day super-sweet hybrids (not the hybrid feed-corn variety maligned in The Omnivore’s Dilemma, but just as guilty, I suspect, of being genetically tampered-with). The variety that we grew this year, Golden Bantam, is an heirloom variety, suited for those who a) want to avoid GMOs and b) are tired of super-sweet corn, and just want that “real corn” flavor.
As someone who grew up on super-sweet corn– actually, on microwaved packets of Green Giant Extra-Sweet Niblets in Cream Sauce– the taste of real corn was a bit of a shock. I was disappointed in myself when I found that I didn’t like it as much.
The real disappointment came, however, in how the corn looked:
Those empty kernels are places were the corn wasn’t pollinated. A bit of corn pollen has to fall on ever tip of every strand of cornsilk– since every strand of cornsilk leads back down to a developing kernel– in order for the corn to fill out properly. They advise that you plant your corn in blocks, not rows, so that the pollen has a better overall chance of landing on the silk. “At the very least,” they advise, “plant your rows of corn 3 plants deep,” which is what I did, thinking that that would be enough.
There are definitely good-looking ears of corn out in the garden, but they’re not the golden and paradisaical crowning glories that I had been imagining.
It’s disappointing (and embarrassing? But I figured I ought to go ahead and tell my story.). I’ve definitely learned a few lessons about how to plant corn (in blocks!), and a very obvious lesson about which varieties of corn to plant (the kind you want to eat, not the kind you think you ought to grow).
I threw the ears out as a rare treat to Charley & Churchill, who, having no prior experience with corn or built-up expectations, chowed down with a pure and piggy joy.
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Weekend Reading is back from a two week hiatus! Huzzah! Let’s get right to it.
The Surprising History of the Milk Carton from The Atlantic. “A humble paper product tells a story of farming, waste, and home technology in 19th- and 20th-century America.” Best article I read all week.
The Case for More Urban Trees from The Atlantic Cities. “The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.” Yowza.
In anticipation of the autumn, I’m going to introduce you all to our Border Leicester ram lamb, Draco. He was born this past spring at the same farm we’ve bought our other Border Leicesters from– but, importantly, he’s from a different bloodline.
Since he came to the farm not just as a lamb, but as a ram lamb, he was in for a particularly lonely adjustment period. The two new ewe lambs he came with, Sagitta and Boöetes, got to have one another for company in the girls’ pasture, while Draco had to fit in to the boy flock all by himself.
He’s done an admirable job finding his place, and he’s such a darling, self-assured little cutie (not a cutie for long, though, as we’ll see) that I always try and keep an eye out especially for him in the pasture.
Yesterday evening, though, I was doing some work in the garden when I noticed he was butting heads with some of the yearling wethers. He’d butt heads with Emu for a while, and then they’d both walk away. Then he’d butt heads a couple of times with Callum, and they’d both go about their grazing. He’s less than 7 months old, and yet he’s starting to feel his oats and pick some fights with sheep who’re more than twice his age!
Can it be? I wrote the other day about how quickly the lambs seemed to be growing up, but Draco’s already, somehow, feeling the autumn coming on.
On Friday afternoon, our friend Erin came by help us harvest a bit of honey from our bees.
We’ll wait until later in the year for our full-on fall harvest– this is just a small summer sampling. It was wonderful to crack the hives open and see that all four of them are healthy and strong.
We’re planning on brewing up something special with it– I’m really excited to see how it turns out!
This early-season honey is light in color and delicately flavored. I keep thinking that it’s a perfect distillation of all the blooms we’ve had over the summer– the borage, the lavender, the sunflowers.
Last Saturday, I celebrated my 24th birthday and got an inconceivably wonderful birthday surprise.
Let me first give you an important piece of information. Ever since a field trip in college to Dumbarton Oaks, I have wanted nothing more than an orangerie. This– Caroline and her longed-for orangerie– is something we joke about on the farm.
So, last Saturday, I’d woken up late and was having coffee on the front porch with Zac. I looked out at the yard.
“It looks so much nicer than last summer, but I keep thinking about how much better it could be next year. If we had a greenhouse, maybe.”
“Sure, maybe.”
Around noon, Susan was going to take us all out for a birthday lunch. On the way to town, though, we needed to swing by Virginia Custom Buildings (the place we bought our chicken coop) to check up on something– it would only take a few minutes. Maybe we wanted to look at all the different sheds while Susan ran in to the office?
I spied a greenhouse off to the right and made a beeline for it (not knowing that Susan was beelining across the lot to the other greenhouse, birthday ribbon in hand!). I walked in and turned around.
“Wouldn’t it be so nice to have one of these one day, Zac?”
“Well, yeah, sure it would. Let’s– um, hey, we really need to go look at the Adirondack chairs across the way.”
And that’s how I got talked out of one greenhouse and into another one. I was absolutely floored when I saw the bow!
You guys. She got me my orangerie!
When they delivered it yesterday, I still kind of couldn’t believe that it was for me. Susan and Zac worked like crazy to find a way to get me a greenhouse (I think they were the ones who convinced Virginia Custom Buildings to offer them in the first place!), and I just hope that I can live up to all the newly-opened potential it offers. It was the perfect present, and I’m not sure I’ve ever gotten anything nicer as a gift.
I can’t even begin to tell you how much this is going to change our lives. Next year, we can start even more seeds even earlier. We can have flowers in the winter! We have anything in the winter!
Now, just one thing: I have a feeling that greenhouse gardening is a whole different animal than outdoor gardening. Do you all have tips, suggestions, favorite books, crazy ideas, or general advice for a newly minted greenhouse gardener?
The first step, though, I know. It’s orange trees.
Posted onJuly 25, 2012bySusan|Comments Off on Probably something you would like… #100!!!
Can you believe that this is the 100th PSYWL? NEITHER CAN WE! But we’re celebrating with a PSYWL packed with 100 of our very favorites. Make your self a cup of tea, turn the ringer on your phone off and prepare to have your socks knocked off.
Something Susan likes…
I own both the complete sets of All Creatures Great and Small- books and the DVDs- and both are in heavy rotation around here. These charming and gentle stories never fail to raise my spirits and restore my faith in humanity. I can’t tell you how many friends I have strong-armed into reading the books or watching the series who have thanked me profusely later.
Vintage embroidered pillow cases and tea towels like these are my latest obsession. I just can’t imagine how something someone made by hand ends up in for sale on etsy or in a thrift shop. I mean, someone made them. You can find them as cheap as $5, which makes them imminently collectible, and they make wonderful housewarming gifts.
Speaking of embroidery, I am gaga over these embroidery samplers by the talented Rebecca Ringquist. I was lucky enough to take a class from Rebecca a few years ago at Squam Arts Workshop; she’s a genius!
If my house were on fire, once I made sure all the humans and animals were safe, I’d grab my Nikon. Amazingly pictures and amazingly simple to use.
But the secret to the great pictures we take at the farm is this little beauty right here. The Nikon 50mm f/1.4G SIC SW Prime Nikkor Lens. Expensive but absolutely worth every penny. This is the only lens I ever use anymore because it produces STUNNING pics. Trust me; you want this piece of glass.
Caroline knit this gorgeous Churchmouse Yarns pattern called Shoulder Cozy for my mama’s birthday present. It knits up beautifully in JMF’s Sabine.
I’ve blogged about my adoration for my Clarisonic Mia 2 and my devotion has only deepened in the intervening months. My skin has never looked and felt better. And I can definitely seen the fine lines are diminishing. My only regret is that they didn’t have this kicky orange color when I got mine.
This book by Cal Patch about designing your own clothes is a must-have for would-be garment makers.
My sister got me this Dia de Los Muertos candle last year for All Saints Day. I love the way it smells but I save it for special occasions.
It’s a camper! It’s a boat! It’s BOTH!!!
Something Zac likes…
A recent farm stay sent us a copy of Flour as a thank you gift. It turned out to be a fantastic and inspiring book that truly focuses on bakery style treats. Yum.This stainless steel pastry scrapper is not only something that goes great with the above book but it something I like on a daily basis.These fantastic Lithuanian hand woven linen table cloths.
This pickled corn would not last long around the farm
If you did not know I use to be a bicycle mechanic. I still love old and creatively designed bikes. Hetchins are fantastically beautiful bikes and you should admire more of them. If you happen to have an old dusty Hetchins in your garage let me know and I will happily come visit.
I have a feeling that watering you plants with a pig shaped watering can will surely help them grow.
Sesame seeds and milk are they perfect combination in my eyes. This sesame tulie has my mouth watering.
My dewalt table saw was a Christmas gift to myself. I love how simple it makes home building projects. Also since it is the more compact version it does not take over the the entire barn or the garage.
Love this picture showing how boards are cut out of of a log. It helps to remind us that wood comes from trees and the people who cut out the boards try their very best to get as much useable wood out of each log.
I really want to start collecting antique kitchen tools. I really like the look of this cherry seeder. Etsy has a lot of great old kitchen tools but they are usually a little too expensive. I will keep looking at our local antique shops.
Working on the farm has made me appreciate well built pants. Outlier is a company that makes clothing that is supposed to be rugged, practical, and fashionable. I want everything they make.
This book will just make you want fish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (thankfully there are no fish desserts in this book). The River Cottage Fish Book is informative and inspirational.
I use to be very involved with hobby robotics and love the Arduino platform. It is powerfully enough to help control almost any idea you can think of like…
this great sweater that has built in turn signals for cyclist while they are biking. The great things about Arduino projects is most people publish instructions and code for free.
I also love this hand made hay rake. Plus the website shows the traditional techniques used to make them. Someday I will have all the tools and spaced needed to make my own homemade hay rake.
Something Caroline likes…
Without this gardening hat from Terrain, I would have absolutely 100% died of heat stroke this summer, plus racked up a lifetime supply of sun damage and skin cancer. I sometimes forget the sunscreen, but I never go outside without this hat. I also bought this hat (“What if I want to go outside and be fancy?”), but I never wear it (I’m afraid I just might not be that fancy). Or maybe there can only be one favorite hat.
I turn to The New Organic Grower at least once a week, and, over the course of last winter, read it cover to cover at least 4 times. An invaluable resource.
Yelena Bryksenkova has been hands-down my favorite illustrator for the past few years– Susan bought me one her prints for Christmas last year and I treasure it. I especially love the cosy interiors she’s been doing lately– I had Cat Nap above my desk for most of last winter. I just can’t get enough knitted textures (or dala horses!).
I will brook no argument. The Pilot Precise V5 is the very best pen that exists, and I never am without mine.
I bought myself this dress from Filly this past spring as a treat, and am so, so, glad that I did. I wear it about two times a week, have gotten it all stained up with blueberries, dirt, and yarn dye, and brought the linen back to white time and time again. I love that I can feel good about the clothes I wear and own. I can’t wait to see her Fall collection!
David Grene’s Of Farming and Classics changed my life when I read it as a college freshman, and I reread it at least every year. Even if you’re neither farmer nor classicist, his prose is impeccable, and the story of his life as a part-time dairy farmer, part-time Chicago academic, is truly remarkable.
This is a ridiculous confession, but did you know that I like taking care of shoes? When I was in college, I loved to keep my oxfords looking nice with a weekly application of brown leather shoe polish. I love that my hasbeens are a) Swedish, b) come in all sorts of bright colors (although I opted for natural, because that’s supposed to make you look taller), c) handmade, and d) made of leather and lime wood, which means that I can keep them polished, conditioned, and wearable for– with luck– the rest of my life. I love that idea.
I’m trying my hardest to not buy a pair of Imogenes, because I know that if I crack, I’ll be buying not one, but two pair. They’re just one of those companies I absolutely envy and admire.
Haws Watering Can is definitely something you would like, especially if you’re as much of an Anglophile as I am.
While we’re gardening, let me tell you, I could spend forever looking though the Lee Valley shop. Those secateurs!
I am definitely going to be knitting Beatnik in Sabinevery soon. We’ve got a small stash of it in the Foliage colorway that I’ve got my eye on…
You undoubtedly already know about the talented Emily Winfield Martin, but did you know that Zac and I have five imaginary kittens? The are named Poutine, Mirepoix, Camomile, Stroganoff, and Mushroom Pizza (not pictured above). You would probably like them.
The ladies at Of a Kind have the neatest business model of all time. I feel simply too cool for school whenever I buy from them– which happens so frequently that I’m embarrassed to admit it!
Y’all who sew might be way ahead of me on this one, but I love reading the Grainline blog– especially the tutorials!– and long for the day I can whip up a pair of shorts or line a jacket like it’s no problem at all.
Thanks to Amy Merrick and her wonderful blog, I have fallen hard for flowers. As much as I’ve always been wanted the vegetable, practical, and edible, now I want beautiful, blowsy, and fragrant.
In light of which, I’ve been looking through this book, to learn to put them all together,
and this one, to learn to grow them in the first place.
Speaking of which, did you know that the Modern Library– a venerable institution in itself– put out a gardening series back in 2005? I was over the moon when I found out this past spring, andorderedeverysinglebookintheseries, then read Beverley Nichols, to boot. They’re another set of books I love to read and reread.
I am way too old for teen magazines (although I know I don’t look it– kids who come for farmstays are always asking whether or not I’m a “real adult,” or, my favorite, “How is it possible that you are a grownup but look like a teenager? Are you sure you’re not a teenager?”), but I wish like crazy that Rookie had been around. I read it nearly every day, and I’m 24.
Whenever I am being an ultra-grouch (“There are crumbs on the counter and dog hair on the floor! How can I be expected to do anything when it’s all so pointless!?”), I go read Sad Girls and laugh and feel better.
Zac’s sister, Sarah, just introduced me to the etchings and woodcuts of Jacques Hnizdovsky. Their intricacy is bogglingly beautiful.
Something Charlotte likes…
This chair would make me excited to be in the waiting room for my dentist!
This project by Amanda Jane Jones, designer for the ever-coveted, Kinfolk Magazine(http://www.kinfolkmag.com/), is adorable and flat-out beautiful.
It took us about a month, but everyone in the house has seen Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom separately. Susan and I are big Wes Anderson fans, Caroline and Zac, not so much, but we all agreed that Moonrise Kingdom was a fantastic film, and this article from the New Yorker really summarizes what is so lovable about this film.
So I don’t live in Vancouver, and I don’t ever plan to, but as a city-dweller (when I’m not at the farm, that is) following these ladies’ blog is inspiring; their educational projects about gardening are transforming their area and setting a wonderful model for urban gardening in other cities.
This fabric makes me smile every time I look at it.
This is a map of the wind! Even if you’re aren’t interested in the direction of the wind, it is beautiful to just watch.
An Ode to Summer. I know summer is drawing to a close, but this video about taking in all that summer gives to you, is beautiful and stunning.
This map of the United States allows you to mark which national parks you’ve been to as you visit, plus the design is beautiful. ($95)
So. I know that this is silly and impractical, but I can’t help it. These bike planters are cool. And beautiful. ($35)
I’ve got a stack of books waiting for me back at college, but after I’m done with those, I’m so excited to use this flowchart. It asks you what you’re interested in and what you’ve read already, and shows you what you should read next!
I haven’t made any of her recipes, but the way Erin Gleeson, blogger for The Forest Feast, designs and photographs her recipes are refreshingly simple.
I know I showed up late to the party, embarrassingly late for an American Studies major, but sitting down to watch Ken Burns’ The National Parks in May (and simultaneously avoiding studying for finals) was one of the best things I did all of last semester. Totally worth all all 12 hours
Marilynne Robinson is one of my absolute favorite authors and her new book is wonderful–I’ve been reading Caroline’s copy she got for her birthday.
Growing up in North Carolina and on Barbara Cooney books, I had never really seen lupine flowers in large quantities outside of a garden, but last summer in Maine, I was blown away about how lupine flowers are everywhere. This book is a children’s classic.
If you live somewhere where it precipitates, do yourself a favor and get a pair of Bean Boots. I personally guarantee your feet to never be cold or wet again.
I Love Charts is both hilarious and informative. I read this daily for laughs and to learn a little something.
Jacuqeline Du Pre is my favorite cellist and this is every cellist’s–including mine–favorite cello concerto. It gives me chills.
E.B. White was one of my favorite author’s (You know, Charlotte’s Web…), but you can’t be a self-respecting college student carrying around The Trumpet of the Swan. But you can carry around his essays, which are stunning. When I arrived here for the summer, I reread “The Farm” section again, and was not disappointed.
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Posted onJuly 22, 2012bySusan|Comments Off on Two of the Highlights of My Week
WildFibers, a great shop in Mount Vernon, Washington, had this cake made for my event on Monday. It was as delicious as it was lovely!
I woke up from a nap today to find that Charlotte had made chocolate chip cookies while I was sleeping. This post-it was next to a tea towel covered plate, stacked with cookies. See, I think most chocolate chip cookies suffer from far too many chips. I insist that three is the perfect number of chips, and knowing that, Charlotte made a special batch just for me.
”Humane Society of Dallas County/Dog & Kitty City has partnered with KONG of Golden CO, the makers of that classic red rubber dog toy.
Kong selected six shelters throughout the U.S. and they have installed robotic toys and cameras in the shelter so people can control the toys over the internet and watch the cats play. The charitable campaign is designed to raise awareness about shelter cats and hopefully boost cat adoptions.
You can access the virtual play system and remotely control robotic toys for the cats to play with and can view the action via streaming webcams.”
The most inspiring cookbook I’ve seen all year. SprinkleBakes is packed with recipes for original, desserts that are positively jaw-dropping. I am completely in awe. If you only buy one cookbook this decade, it should be this one. (via Notmartha)
I adore Jeeves & Wooster and I just happened to through the boxed set in my bag on my way out the door when I was leaving for the airport. I’m so glad that I did! Woodhouse’s writing, Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry…what’s not to like?
I had one of the top ten meals of my life last night at a restaurant in Salt Lake City called Finca. We order five or six small plates to share and each one was more delicious than the next. If you’re ever in SLC you should definitely go, but this restaurant is worth a special trip. For reals.
All of the kind and thoughtful comments you all left on yesterday’s post. I read every single one of them more than once, and I found them greatly comforting. Thank you.
These are the things that are getting me through the week. What’s keeping you going?
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A Snitch’s Dilemma from The New York Times. I was kind of shocked by this.
The Passion of John Wojnowski from The Washingtonian. “Haunted by his past, he has stood outside the Vatican embassy nearly every day for 14 years. His lonely vigil has made him a hero to victims of sexual abuse. But will he ever find peace?”
- and both are in heavy rotation around here. These charming and gentle stories never fail to raise my spirits and restore my faith in humanity. I can’t tell you how many friends I have strong-armed into reading the books or watching the series who have thanked me profusely later.
.
is one of my favorites. I may or may not be in love with the title character.
. Amazingly pictures and amazingly simple to use.
. Expensive but absolutely worth every penny. This is the only lens I ever use anymore because it produces STUNNING pics. Trust me; you want this piece of glass.
and my devotion has only deepened in the intervening months. My skin has never looked and felt better. And I can definitely seen the fine lines are diminishing. My only regret is that they didn’t have this kicky orange color when I got mine.
from Philosophy. I use them two or three times a week.
about designing your own clothes is a must-have for would-be garment makers.
My sister got me this 
last year for All Saints Day. I love the way it smells but I save it for special occasions.
These fantastic 
was a Christmas gift to myself. I love how simple it makes home building projects. Also since it is the more compact version it does not take over the the entire barn or the garage.
is informative and inspirational.
at least once a week, and, over the course of last winter, read it cover to cover at least 4 times. An invaluable resource.
is the very best pen that exists, and I never am without mine.
changed my life when I read it as a college freshman, and I reread it at least every year. Even if you’re neither farmer nor classicist, his prose is impeccable, and the story of his life as a part-time dairy farmer, part-time Chicago academic, is truly remarkable.
are a) Swedish, b) come in all sorts of bright colors (although I opted for natural, because that’s supposed to make you look taller), c) handmade, and d) made of leather and lime wood, which means that I can keep them polished, conditioned, and wearable for– with luck– the rest of my life. I love that idea.
is an utterly charming didactic classic, and I might or might not have adopted 
is definitely something you would like, especially if you’re as much of an Anglophile as I am.
, to learn to put them all together,
, to learn to grow them in the first place.
in May (and simultaneously avoiding studying for finals) was one of the best things I did all of last semester. Totally worth all all 12 hours
is wonderful–I’ve been reading Caroline’s copy she got for her birthday.
and I will make every single project in it, mark my words.
.
If you live somewhere where it precipitates, do yourself a favor and
was a childhood favorite of both Caroline and myself. Our copy even had a furry hardcover!
, which are stunning. When I arrived here for the summer, I reread “The Farm” section again, and was not disappointed.
is packed with recipes for original, desserts that are positively jaw-dropping. I am completely in awe. If you only buy one cookbook this decade, it should be this one. (via 
and I just happened to through the boxed set in my bag on my way out the door when I was leaving for the airport. I’m so glad that I did! Woodhouse’s writing, Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry…what’s not to like?