Ode to the Olden Days

I don't know many people who don't have fond memories of or love the smell of freshly cut grass....well, anyone other than an allergy sufferer.  It always takes me back to the long summer days of my childhood.  As I was sitting at the front counter of Lucky Hill this morning, I found myself smiling as the aroma of freshly cut grass drifted in the window.  The nostalgic scent was accompanied by a sound I couldn't quite place which seemed to get closer and closer to the open front door.  And then I saw it.  The old push mower that had been tucked into a corner of the garage.....being pushed by Dan!

After I came back into the shop, I heard a group of women call out to my husband that it was so wonderful to see someone using the old-fashioned mower.  It was charming and most perfectly suited to Castine.  The rhythmic schwump schwump of the rotating blades was so much sweeter than the loud roar of a gasoline powered lawnmower.  While being green might require a little more elbow grease and time, it's more than worth it on so many levels....although I wasn't the one pushing the mower!  Dan, on the other hand, might still believe it's not easy being green.  Then again, maybe not.

Wyebrook Farm

One of the beautiful buildings at Wyebrook Farm

In light of the fact my kitchen is still a total mess of boxes making a recipe/food post virtually impossible, I thought it might be a good time to introduce everyone to one of my favorite finds of the summer.  While Dan and I were in Chester County, Pennsylvania in May, we paid a visit to Wyebrook Farm.  For anyone who believes in and supports sustainable agricultural practices and happens to be in the greater Philadelphia area, this is an absolute must see.

Dean Carlson tending the lamb

Dean Carlson is the force behind Wyebrook having arrived at sustainable farming after a fifteen year career on Wall Street.  Wall Street's loss is the world of healthy eating's gain.  On a personal level, I was thrilled to meet Dean and visit the farm after my three year journey of healthy eating which began after reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.  While visiting the farm, Dean was tending a leg of lamb over a open fire, and we got to chatting about the books and activists who inspired us....Michael Pollan, Nina Planck, and Eliot Coleman to name a few.   He mentioned that he created Wyebrook as not only a working farm, but a learning opportunity for children and adults alike.

In addition to the farm, there is a market located in the upper portion of the beautifully restored barn and a cafe' on the lower level.  The market is open Friday through Sunday and offers a selection of the farm's meat, cheese, eggs, produce, and plants.  When we were there, we purchased some of their hamburger and a carton of eggs.  I had frequently read about being able to judge the freshness of eggs based on how high the yolk sat.  When I cracked these eggs in the pan, not only did the yolk sit high, but the white did as well.

Finished on grass

As a lacto ovo pescatarian, I didn't try the hamburger, but both Dan and my Mom said the flavor was exceptional.  The two things I did notice when I was cooking the burgers was that there was virtually no grease that cooked out of the meat and the burgers did not shrink at all.  Frequently, we non-meat eaters get a bad rap as people who don't think anyone should eat meat.  The bottom line is I don't mind if my husband eats meat.  He can eat all the meat he wants.  My one stipulation is that it must be humanely raised, finished on grass, and void of hormones and antibiotics. 

When we visited, the farm had just posted their summer concert series.  Wyebrook can also provide a magical backdrop for your private party or wedding complete with ingredients fresh from the farm.  Also in the works is a series of chefs dinners hosted in the renovated barn.

The market in the renovated barn

 But rather than waiting for a special occasion, give yourself the gift of visiting a farm that stands firm on the philosophy that our food should be safe and healthy.  Sadly, many people have no idea that a great deal of their food supply is from CAFOs or farms that choose grossly unhealthy practices for the animals, workers, and consumer.  Go see how it should be done.  Take your children for a fun day on the farm and celebrate and support Dean and his staff at Wyebrook Farm. 

Let me leave you with a quote from Wendell Berry's What Are People For? that is posted on the farm's website, "I dislike the thought that some animal has been made miserable to feed me.  If I am going to eat meat, I want it to be from an animal that has lived a pleasant, uncrowded life outdoors, on bountiful pasture, with good water nearby and trees for shade."

Wyebrook Farm: 150 Wyebrook Road, Honey Brook, PA  19344  (610) 942-7481.  wyebrookfarm.com

 

Walk It Off

With everyone a buzz over rising gas prices, it seems like a good time to introduce everyone to Walk Score.

I adore Walk Score and think it's a handy tool for anyone looking for a new residence.  When we were searching for an apartment in L.A., my primary source of listings was craigslist.org, but my "living index" reference was Walk Score.  In addition to all the quirky things we were looking for inside an apartment, it was imperative we find a residence that allowed us to walk to the majority of our daily needs.

Tilework  on an apartment building in our neighborhood

For anyone who hasn't heard of Walk Score, it's a free service that scores an address on a walkability index ranging from 0-100.  Not only does it provide a numerical value, it also maps the address and shows you where grocery stores, schools, restaurants, parks, etc. are located in relation to that address.  It's a fabulous reference tool!

Our apartment is rated an 85, which places it at the high end of the "Very Walkable" slot.  They were spot on in their assessment.  We walk to the grocery store, post office, shopping districts, book store, restaurants....well, just about everything.  It now feels "off" if we have to get in the car to run an errand.  I recently plugged in an address in Portland, Oregon only to have it come back with a Walk Score of 100!  It was the veritable Holy Grail of a walker's paradise.

Nasturtiums in a garden

Walk Score's mission, as stated on their site, is to promote walkable neighborhoods.  Their overall vision, however, goes further as their ultimate goal is for every property listing to read:  Beds: 3 Baths: 2 Walk Score: 84.  Walkable neighbor- hoods benefit the environment, economy, and healthy living.

In my experience, walking provides much greater and far more encompassing benefits.  We have met neighbors (and new friends) as we "ooh and aah" over their dogs they are walking.  It allows us to appreciate the beautiful architecture most people never notice as they whiz by in their car.  When things are crazy or we're stressed, a simple walk to the store provides a breather so we can decompress.  Not to mention, it makes getting the recommended 30 minutes of daily walking/exercise a breeze for us.

How does your apartment or house rate? Check it out....www.walkscore.com  

Welcome to Hancock Park!  A balcony on route to Trader Joe's complete with a pink flamingo.

Save the Farm: A Documentary

My new issue of Urban Farm (March/April) arrived yesterday.  As I quickly flipped through it, I noticed a blurb about the documentary, Save the Farm (Cinema Libre Studio, 2010).  The documentary recounts the 2006 battle over the South Central Farm in Los Angeles County.

We were living in Southern California at the time and I remember news broadcasts with clips of Daryl Hannah, Danny Glover, and other celebrity activists at the farm, but truth be told, that was during a phase of my life when I rarely pulled my head out of the mayonnaise jar.  In other words, I had yet to see the light in regard to healthy living, sustainability, and urban farming.

To offer a brief background of the situation, in 1987, the city of Los Angeles paid developer Ralph Horowitz $4.7 million for his abandoned industrial property at 41st and South Alameda.  Mayor Bradley spearheaded efforts which provided the community access to the land for the purpose of growing food in one of the attempts to revitalize South Los Angeles after the 1992 riots.

The South Central Farm was 14 acres, equal to 12 football fields, and was divided into 350 plots which were assigned to individual families to tend and grow food.  All the methods used on the farm were natural and organic, using no pesticides.  The farm provided the only green space in the heavily industrialized and rail-based Alameda corridor.

In an area known for its lack of healthy food options, these garden plots provided many lower income families their only access to affordable organic produce.  In addition to generating food for the area, the farm provided a community center and park.  South Central Farm was one of the most successful city projects, operating without a budget or funding from the city except for the land use.  These gardens enabled the families to supplement their income in addition to significantly reducing their own food expenses.

 It is estimated there were between 100-150 varieties of plants and 500 mature fruit trees grown on the site, most of which were indigenous to Mesoamerica.  Since many of the residents didn't have health care provided through their employers, they grew medicinal plants and herbs as well.  As one woman in the movie states, it was not just about growing food, it was about passing on culture and tradition. 

Ralph Horowitz sued the city three times to get the land back and in each case, the court ruled against him.  For unknown reasons, however, the city decided to sell the land back to Horowitz in 2003 for $5 million even though the land at the time was estimated to be worth between $13-20 million.  The decision to sell the property back to Mr. Horowitz was not made public.

After all injunctions to save the farm had expired, on March 5, 2006 the community farmers received an official notice to vacate from the sheriff's department.  On May 24, 2006 the farmers received their final eviction notice.  The LAPD was then free to force them off the land they had farmed for upwards of thirteen years.

This documentary recounts the struggle of the farmers, community, and activists to save what was then the largest urban farm in the nation.  It reflects the spirit and commitment of a community and their attempt to protect the plot of land that had become an integral part of the South Central landscape.

I truly regret the fact my interest in urban agriculture and healthy living came too late for me to participate in the effort to save the farm.  As the one young activist says in the film, she had never been arrested and didn't know what to expect., but she was proud despite her mother yelling at her.  If I had been in attendance and confronted with an arrest, I too would have been proud....and yes, my mother probably would have yelled at me too.

The short documentary is well worth watching for anyone concerned with urban farming, sustainability, or environmental issues.  The movie is available for viewing online free of charge at www.savethefarmmovie.com and www.hulu.com.  Additional information regarding the farms can be found at www.southcentralfarmers.com