Is it dark where you're at?

Because apparently, this far north? It gets dark, right early, and it's only November, I shudder to think what it will be like in January. Despite that, I have to say this place is incredible. Even on a gray drizzly day, perhaps especially on a gray and drizzly day, this place has a beauty...you know what? I'll shut up and let the pictures speak for themselves.

From my trip up to Hurricane Ridge today.




It's not really that snowy; in fact, those are pictures of every square inch of snow there was.

What kind of Mushrooms are these? I don't know. They looked delicious, however. Also on the mushroom front...pickled chanterelles:




I've not been doing a great deal, you know, the usual:

Knitting and crocheting:

Baking(roasted potato fendu and peanut butter cookies):


Also in the kitchen, the controlled spoiling of foods, the powers of fermentation...cider in the process of hardening, and milk in the process of seperating, that I might use the whey in further fermentation projects, and the curds in the name of cheese:

Farmering, which this week mostly involved planting garlic:



Also harvested the last of the apples, this week:

Pink pearl...yeah:

I've been doing really well, but I'll freely admit that the early darkness can be a little wearing. It's fine as long as I have my friends, but when they're not around it can be a little...frustrating.

I'm enjoying the opportunity to work market on Saturdays. I'm getting to know my regular customers, and my fellow vendors, and it makes for a nice change of pace from working on the farm. We are rapidly approaching the time when farm work become very difficult due to the weather, but despite that fact we seem to all be in good spirits.

I like the story I'm writing for NanoWriMo, I think it will probably turn out to be a novella, actually around fifty thousand words when it's complete. I hit the halfway mark today, right on track. All I can say is that it's a good thing I'm not trying to do this in July. That would have broken me. I've got a lot of stories to edit once this is done, and I'm giving serious consideration to taking another crack at rewriting my first novel, given the experience I've just had, I feel like I could write it a more authentic voice, and I have an idea of how to fix the ending, but all of that will have to wait until December at the earliest. A preview:

That's my life, these days. Hanging out with Maggie, and the kids down the street at the Lazy J, who, after an incredibly productive summer, are quite justifiably exhausted. I'm doing my best to reward them all with cookies, and my company, although whether that last qualifies as a reward is up for debate.

I've made my reservations for Christmas in California, and since I'm not driving I guess I won't be able to haul a tree a thousand miles for aesthetic reasons, but it just made more sense to fly. Truly excited to see everyone again, and to celebrate with Grandma Pooh and Saba. Sunshine might be nice, as well.

I've got preliminary plans for Thanksgiving that I'm totally jazzed about More on that when I know for certain what's going on, or I might just leave y'all in suspense, and share after the fact...let it suffice to say you needn't worry I'll be alone and depressive on the holiday.

I hope you all have big plans as well, and I hope you're enjoying your lives, and if you want to talk, feel free to call or e-mail, and if you have, and I haven't gotten back to to you yet, I promise I'm working on it, but the allure of the yarn is becoming hard for me to resist. Not sure what that's all about. Love you guys. Miss you, and hopefully I'll get to see at least some of you, soon.

The fate of Mrs. Dennises, and other farm lessons.

My drove of pigs met their ultimate fate this week, on Wednesday. The process was much as I expected it to be, but the things that I found most fascinating about the process were how quickly it went, and how it was neither gory, nor grisly, but seemed perfectly natural. I could, and this seems odd, see myself doing it(one pig, though, not eight) myself, if I had the proper tools, and a few friends or relatives to help. I'll not describe the process in detail, given that there are children who read this, but suffice it to say that it was efficient, relatively humane, and it didn't turn me into a vegetarian. If any of you want a more in depth description of the process, or just a discussion of my thoughts on animal husbandry, I'll be happy to yammer at you.

Christie asked me if it was sad, that the pigs were gone, and I told her that it was, a little, and it is, but only a little. I cared for them as best as I was able, and I believe that they led happy lives, and were treated with the dignity and respect that they deserved, and I was there with them right up until the end. I witnessed the transformation from pig into pork, and I emerged fvrom the process a little wiser, impressed with the abilities of the pair of men responsible for slaughtering, and cleaning the animals, and amazed that they did the job with a twenty two, a hacksaw, and a pair of five inch Forschner lamb skinning knives. Of course the ones they were using were so well worn the blades we only half that size, from being sharpened so many times.

Aside from slaughter day we've been doing the same farm chores, harvesting for market, and preparing the ground for the winter. I worked market on Saturday by myself again, and had a pretty successful day. It's quite satisfying to be able to see the farm work to it's inevitable conclusion, and to receive the acknowledgments we worked so hard to earn. It's always satisfying to be thanked for what you do, and when a perfect stranger, pleased with her baby beets says "Thanks for what you do. It's important." It's good to hear, because what we're doing on the farm IS important. Support your local farmers boys and girls. They're the future, and they need your help, and it may be more expensive or require more of an effort on your part, but trust me when I say it's worth it. Without them developing the alternatives to the petroleum based farming of the last hundred years, we'll find ourselves in serious trouble in future. Enough hippie-flavored soap-boxing. Sorry. Not what you come here for.

Here are the before and after shots of the market:


These are all photos I've been taking with my phone, so the quality isn't what it is with my camera, but they'll have to suffice for now.

I'm going to have the opportunity to kill a small flock of ducks in the not-too-distant future, hopefully. They're not making eggs the way the homesteaders who own them would like, and you can't afford to keep feeding unproductive livestock, so they're destined for...wait for it...confit party. I know Papa Miguel got that one right. I'm really meeting some incredibly cool and inspirational people out here, and sometimes still can't believe how lucky I am to be a part of this place, and the overlapping communities here. Last night, at a party for one of Maggie's friends and co-workers it was said, in reference to me, "he's not a science nerd", which is fantastic, because I've never had the opportunity to be part of a group, where I'm not the science nerd. The OPI staff are particularly ecologically nerdy, which is great for me, because they're constantly teaching even when they don't realize it. It's just in their natures.

I love it here.

Have I mentioned that lately?

Still working out a path for the future, and still enjoying every minute of the present, even the ones that are uncomfortable, or physically difficult, or forcing myself to do unpleasant introspection about my own short-comings.

Hope y'all are well. NanoWriMo starts tomorrow, and I'm flitting back and forth between the idea of starting a new story, and maybe re-writing my first novel, which story I like, but which prose if just atrocious. We'll see come Monday, I suppose.

November is here, and with it comes reduced farm hours. Starting this weekend, I'll have a five day work week, until the end of the season. How great is that? I'll let you know.

Much love to all of you. I have errands to run, books to read, yarn to knit and purl, and baking to do. Have a happy Hallowe'en.

Did you miss me?

I missed you. I was busy on Sunday. It was the most relaxing day I've had in recent memory, and I'll not apologize for the lateness of this update. I have been incredibly busy since last we talked, both on the farm and off.

I attended a young farmer's mixer on Vashon island. It was a lot of fun, but it was a long drive, and early start on the farm the next day, but it was my first chance to take a Washington state ferry. There was great local beer, and a pair of spit roasted suckling pigs, and plenty of delicious fresh produce. It was a good chance to get to meet other farm folk, and to hear how the season has gone in different parts of the state. There might have also been some square dancing.

There was another contra dance, and I was slightly less awkward this time. I brought cookies, because that's what I do. It's fun, and I didn't hurt myself quite so badly this time. It's funny how sometimes you have an opportunity to learn something you'd never know. For example, when Contra dancing you might find yourself realizing that some men, are much better, i.e. more fun to dance with, than others(I am not one of them, alas).

I've been going to see some films at Peninsula College in PA, they're running a series of foreign pictures on Friday evenings, and it's been fun so far. The movies are from the GlobalLens series, and are a good excuse to get off the farm.

This past Sunday Maggie and I went to see the two dams on the Elwha river, since they are going to be demolished in the near future. We also checked out Westwind, one of the other local farms, and went for a hike, which was especially nice since it had been several weeks since I'd had a chance to go hiking. I also got a short story idea out of it, but I just started writing it today, so it won't be ready for a while yet.

I'm writing this post from the Blackbird, my coffee shop, where my barista of choice is about to embark on a mission to Nepal. Adventures for everybody, no?

Some pictures to round out my ramblings.

Produce, from around the farm, and from the market this past Saturday, which was my first market alone(although Christie helped me get set up, and broken down):


Pumpkins and other winter squash:


Black Kabuli Chickpeas, waiting to be turned into hummus, and sprouted mung beans, waiting to be stir-fried:


'Maters:


Cereal Rye, cover crop on the ground where we grew potatoes, and it might not look like much now, but we're all really excited about it. We're getting the ground ready for the winter, and that is a good thing:


And another exciting development, one we've been a little worried about, but the weather cooperated for long enough to get the harvest done without major incidents. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you...Wheat!:

There was something about this harvest that was satisfying in a way that picking zucchini just isn't. Some sort of connection going back to antiquity, a knowledge that though the tools might change(I'm fairly certain they didn't use hedge trimmers) civilization itself is based on the idea of a group of people banding together to harvest and process the grain. Very cool.

Bread, Roasted Chanterelle Ciabatta al Funghi and Mini Cinnamon Raisin Bites and Oregano Olive:


Pics from the woods:


Ain't that something else? Love ya.

Have you ever found yourself nostalgic for something you never had?

That's how I feel about Lake Crescent, but that's not what brought this thought to mind. What caused this line of introspection was this...


Some pictures from the Wednesday market in Sequim, booth manned by my co-intern Ruth:


After said market, I drove East, around the sound, and wound up trying to go to a show in Seattle, but, and this I find both perturbing and absolutely hilarious; I couldn't park the van. No joke. I spent an hour trying, both on the street and in lots, and it was useless. C'est la vie. I crashed in my van, and flew across the country back to Georgia.

I almost typed 'back home', to Georgia, but as you all must know by now, as much as I love it there, and as much as I miss all my friends and family, that place isn't my home anymore. It doesn't cease to amuse me that it took my leaving to truly develop an appreciation for it, and it felt great to go back, but it felt very much like going on Vacation, not returning home. I got to do almost everything I wanted to, for such a short trip. I got to see my old work compatriots, and I got to bake them cookies. I went for a hike at Vickery Creek with Dahveed, while J and the girls got a nail-job. I made bread for my family, and I got to eat all the things I had hoped to: pulled pork and mac and cheese at BBQ1, pizza at Five Seasons, shrimp and grits at Relish(not to mention biscuits and gravy). I got to drink a beer at five seasons, and I got a Sweetwater and a Terrapin at the wedding. What can I say about the wedding aside from the obvious? It was fantastic, Rachel was beautiful, and it was great to see everyone who made it. I'm so glad I was there, and I can't wait for the chance to go back and see everyone again.

From my first bake after returning from Georgia, Triticale Flax bread, and gluten-free chocolate chip cookies:


The greenhouse, look at how tall those tomatoes are:


Thai bird chilis. These things are ridiculous. I sometimes eat one as a post-breakfast treat(or punishment):

A blue hubbard, bigger than my head, by quite a bit:

A forest of leeks:


And maybe my favorite thing we grew on the farm this season, Cupani sweet peas, beautiful, fragrant, and utterly impractical from a market standpoint. An example of how sometimes it's alright to save the best things for yourself:



From my walk this morning. I stayed at the barn dance last night until the wee hours. I even danced, or as close to it as I'm capable of, at least. It was fun as always. There waspotluck, and strong coffee, good beer, homemade wine, and of course music.

I actually am not going for a hike today, although I probably should. Instead I'm staying in, reading, writing, and making a pot of soup. Here are some pictures from my last weekend hike, up to Hurricane Hill:



It was an odd hike, once I got to the top I was surrounded on all sides by a misty bubble. It was as if I was the only person in the whole world. I couldn't see beyond ten feet, and if a bear had chosen to devour me, I would never have seen it coming. Still it was a beautiful walk, the leaves had just begun to turn in earnest, which process is continuing now, and making me simultaneously happy and melancholy.

I can't believe my summer on the farm is coming to an end, and while there is still plenty of work to be done on the farm, it's a different sort of work, equally important, and equally satisfying, but without the instant gratification of summer crops. We're getting the food harvested, and tilling, and planting cover crops, which will simultaneously protect and enrich the soil over the winter. Soon enough it will be time to plant garlic, which will be a major project.

Oh, and anyone recognize these?:

I'll get them in the mail as soon as I can. Sorry about that.

It was so good to see you all, and I'm sure I'll see many of you again in December. As soon as I have any concrete plans I'll be sure to let everyone know. I love you all. Hope you're enjoying life as much as I am.