So on my way to fulfilling my dreams I was able to fulfill one of my mother’s dreams..how special is that…dreamin’..Irene
Last Monday my farm girlfriends, Suzanne & Scout came to my home for tea. Now you have to understand, that I was a tomboy as a child. Much to my mother’s chagrin I played Cowboys and Indians and would have nothing to do with dolls and tea sets. So when my friend Scout suggested with get together for tea to celebrate our mutual birthdate at my home I jumped at the opportunity. Now at the ripe age of 66 I could fulfill my mother’s dream of her daughter having a girly tea party. So I got out my good china and served tomato basil bisque in pretty tea cups along with a pedestal tray offering feta cheese(which I had made), a vermont made tome (a hard aged goat cheese, an English Weyansdale cheese, walnuts and raisins. I also offered a Cheddar Bread which I had made that morning and taking center spotlight was the tea. This particular tea was given to me by my daughter-in-law Julie. It is a large bud which is put into a glass teapot and then hot water is poured over the tea bud and as it steeps the bud opens into a beautiful flower. The flavor was a peach infused green tea. It was perfect!! This was all set out on my table decorated with pretty napkins and place mats artfully arranged by my friend Suzanne. And guess what we three ladies talked about while indulging in this feminine ritual…..Tractors, Farming and developing our School to Farm Initiative!!! What a rip!!!!! We had the best time!
So on my way to fulfilling my dreams I was able to fulfill one of my mother’s dreams..how special is that…dreamin’..Irene
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So I decided that this year I would start my veggie garden from seeds. Isn’t this what true farmers do? Being a person who believes in cooking everything (well almost) from scratch doesn’t it seem that the first step should be to grow my food from scratch? However, I didn’t take into consideration that I don’t have the benefit of a mother, father, sister, brother, aunts, uncles, etc. (you get the picture) who could hand this down and guide me in the process of starting seeds indoors. Nor do I have a cookbook for this in the absence of family know how. Really, it can’t be that difficult or can it. Now that the seeds are here..what do I do next; what kind of soil do I use; what window do I place them in front of, or do I place them in front of a window; how much water do they need; when should I plant them; can I plant them all at the same time; oh and if they do germinate then when do I transplant them….the questions just go on and on. It seems one answer will lead to many more questions. I feel frozen…I’m afraid to make a decision or make a move fearing utter failure.
When I was a little girl I learned to cook by helping my mother and father prepare the family meals. I would stand on a stool and help mix or separate the eggs for a cake, or measure out the flour or help clean the chicken for our Friday night dinner, peel potatoes & carrots, etc. Oh and yes, I had to do the dreaded cleaning up after myself. It was great family time and I gained the knowledge needed to carry me forward cooking and caring for my family…total hands on experience. What better way to learn something. But now I think I can relate to all those people who prefer to buy foods ready made. You just read the directions and pop into the microwave and Voila! it’s done. No thinking, no decisions to make, no time involved. Oh, but it does cost a heck of a lot more money not to mention the loss of valuable family time or the gratificatioin of creating something. The same would be true if I would buy my veggies as plants ready to go into the ground. It seems sad to me that skills such as planting, growing and cooking our foods which were considered a commonplace and normal part of family life are basically lost to the family and are really now considered artisan skills. One has to take a course to learn how to do and practice these lost arts. But I am lucky to live in an area that offers courses in these life skills. So I will be going next Sunday to Riley Rink to take a workshop on starting seeds indoors. I have already put Ed on notice to put aside time to do the planting with me. Since he has been spending so much time working on the mountain I am truly looking forward to spending time with him. What better way then to be creating something…life. So wish me luck since I am dreamin of a great, big productive veggie garden..Yummy..Irene |
AuthorIrene's Dream of creating an eco-resort is happening more and more each day, as Cold Moon Farm expands. These are her stories and experiences. Archives
August 2016
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