Food- Rhubarb is a spring crop. The plant that I got from Mom, who proudly shared, was from her garden, and before that, her mothers' and before that many successive relatives, dating back 100 years now. It's a plant that likes cold winters, and therefore grows happily here, in Canada. The original, as far as we know is from Eastern Canada, where some of our forefathers settled.
So, when I planted it in some good composted horse manure it exploded into two monster plants. I dug one of those plants up a couple years ago and gave some to my sibs, and some neighbours and had enough to split into 3 plants. Add those to the plant my aunt gave me (she'd dug it up and threw it into the bush where it lived for 2 years, bare-root and thought I should take it in since it was obviously not ready to die) and you'll count 5 huge plants. The result has been enough to give some to each member in the CSA. The past couple years there have been no CSA members so it's been a free-for-all. Here, Mom and I make some yummy rhubarb, strawberry jam.
Permaculture- Randy's involvement in my interest in permaculture has been good. I admire that he has found a way to jump right in, understanding the layers and absorbing all that I throw at him. Here, he has built part of (it's finished now, just haven't taken a picture of the end product) a chicken enclosure in the bush. We got broilers late this year, so the threat of 30-40 celcius (86-104 F) weather, coupled with fat birds necessitates the use of shade. We don't want heart attacks. This space will be used to house some of the 50-ish birds from approximately one month to their 8 week old finished weight of around 6-10 lb birds. At present, the are all in the chicken tractor, with somewhat larger Cheep-Cheep (soon to be renamed, I think. This is not a name for a now-mature, crowing rooster) and Olive, our special needs rescued chickens. I'm trying to decide if the special needs birds are to be spared. Might be nice to have an egg a day for the winter.
Butchering day is Aug 10 and 11 with another family who picked their 50 birds up from here 2 days ago. We have shared this chore with the Browns for a couple of years. At our house, we feed and maintain the chicks from day-old to one month, the Browns pay for feed, bedding etc, then we each finish our 1/2 at our respective homes (they took theirs home in the box of their truck, covered with a roll top...use what you've got, eh?) . Butchering day is big, with other family members invited, food gallore, and a sense of celebration. Some friends have agreed to come along this year. The popularity of the 100 mile diet has inspired many to seek good, local food. I hope the experience is one they will remember and teach others.
ART- This year's craft shack brought on thoughts of retiring. Leading 50- 100 kids in doing a craft a day for several years has been, to say the least, exciting. The whirlwind of bouncing grades K-7 come in for 1/2 hour, make something that's taken far longer to organize, and leave, splattered with paint and glue; happy. The above picture of tee-pee looking stick and tissue paper lanterns was inspired by the folk fest's lantern parade.
