In Light of the New Year

 As the days lengthen, we welcome more light into our lives and pause to reflect on the highlights of 2012.

Dancing in the New Year on Jan 1 with caller David Kaynor and music by Still, the Homegrown Band. Our first Saturday dances continue to be a delight for folks of all ages.

The first ever Big Little Kids Dance on February 4 was organized by Rachel Gall and was so successful that we had 4 more. We're looking forward to even more in 2013!

 Thanks to a designated donation, Motherhouse took our bread baking workshop "on the road" to Geer Retirement Village in memory of former resident, Nancy Griggs.

David & Donna Hersh came all the way back from PA to be part of our Feb 23 Family Cow Forum panel and report on their first year as cow keepers. Also at the forum, we met Sisters Carol Bernice and Emmanuel. Helping them bring cows to their Bluestone Farm has led to planning a “Farming & The Feminine” gathering for this March.

As part of our May 12 Wool Gathering, Joe Benete brought his sheep dog and 5 lambs to Local Farm to demonstrate shepherding. We ALL got to participate! This year, we'll be taking the workshop to Lakeville to visit Rhonda Jaack's flock.

Our June 19 PregnanCy Tea and New Moon Gathering in honor of expectant mom's Iris and Rachel, was a lovely gathering of mom's and children. This year we'll continue networking for mom's at our 10^th anniversary family picnic on May 25 and of course, through honoring our cycles every New Moon.

Welcoming the Summer Solstice with a pot-luck campfire sing-a-long was so much fun that we've scheduled a repeat.

 Our second week-long Farm Camp adventure included visits to Chris Hopkins' Stonewall Dairy Farm, Ridgway's Family Farm, Debra Tyler's Local Farm, Ben Benjamin's cornlot and Dody Clarke's Strawberry Field. We're hoping to add-in an over-night at the end of this year's program.

Sunday lunch and meditation continues to be a highlight of my week and has grown to 7 regular attenders. Our Monday yoga class has begun learning beautiful vedic chants.

Many thanks to those who have contributed time and resources to make all our programs possible. 

May they all be blessed with the best in 2013!

we CAN do!

For descriptions of canning procedures see our past blog reports HERE

If you go to www.papercrave.com, you will find all sorts of printable canning stuff including little invitations if you want to have a canning party! These are all free to be downloaded.
Miss Marie tells her "secrets" for raw chocolate cake:

8 raw organic dates (soaked but not necessary)
1/3 cup of organic raw cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
dash of sea salt
1 cup walnuts
add water to desired consistency (no more than 1/4 cup usually - but I do this by eye)

blend all ingredients in a food processor. make sure it mixes well. take small scoops of mix and create "cake balls" rolled in additional ingredients (I like to use coconut and/or chopped walnuts). refrigerate until cooled and enjoy.

if too much liquid is added, this also makes a yummy raw chocolate "mousse" - equally decidant. feel free to experiment!





Tal went home to MORE canning! She writes: " I finished 18 pints of salsa from the tomatoes I so generously got from my friends Nick and Linda. And look how many more tomatoes I have! More salsa to come tomorrow night and then some peach jam and chutney next week (to share with N&L)"

Here's the link for the USDA's Complete Guide to Home Canning from Kelli

http://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html. Wyatt says its the most comprehensive resource for canning.

Sticking Together

July 21,2012 preparing for adventure...

For this year's Jam Session, we made green apple pectin and ginger rhubarb jam with Brent Prindle. For his recipes, click on Jamming and scroll to our 2010 report.Tal Hadini-Pease led us in making blueberry-honey jam without sugar. According to reports from our participants, EVERYONE went home to pick fruit and make MORE jam! YUM!Our fearless guides through the Jamberry Jungle were:

Tal and Brent

SOULStice Sing

After a veritable pot-luck feast, we shared a melodic pot-luck of song to celebrate the longest day of the year. Thank-you Richard Griggs for the fine fotos!

Big n Small Fun 4 All

More'n 50 people frollicked in our June 9 Big Little Kids Dance under guidance of caller Tom Hanford.

Miss Marie's EGGS-perience

Miss Marie came to our workshop because she hopes to keep her own laying hens someday. She saw a variety of ways to house, feed and water chickens but chose not to participate in harvesting a broiler to take home. She wrote: I am glad I took your class, even if i could not take a chickens life, it gave me an appreciation for the process of obtaining meat that I had not had before. thank you for sharing that with me... and sent these beautiful photos of Local Farm

A WOOLY Good ShEWE!

May 12, 2012 - 32 gathered at Local Farm for a first hand experience handling sheep and their wool

Next, arrived 5 Sheep in a Jeep and their border collie friend, Joker

Shepherd Joe Benete and Joker demonstrated "working the flock" and gave us all a spin at herding wayward lambs.

Tal Hadani-Pease gave a New Twist to spinning our wheels and soon we were all turning out our own-made yarn.

WOOL EWE be my friend?
Click HERE for more photos.