Driving on the Taconic, all I saw were cops and deer. Makes for a cautious drive, even if the scenery is gorgeous. This week at the farm/garden, I learned how to prune tomatoes. It's so satisfying, I could prune all day! I'll have to tend to my own tomato plants today. What else did we do... trellised the peas, harvested lettuces and kale, transplanted rows of pistou basil for the herb garden, weeded of course. The time just passes so fast while I'm there, always lots to do.

Neil cooked hamburgers with shoestring fries last night, very satisfying after a long day. He had gone to the Union Square Greenmarket yesterday and met Keith Stewart of Keith's Farm. He told him what I was doing and he gave me a free copy of his book! I've wanted to read It's a Long Road to a Tomato for a while now, especially after I saw his posting for internship positions. I didn't want to live somewhere else for an entire season though, but I'm sure it would be a wonderful experience. Anyways, I'm very happy to have his book now. And his tomatoes were really good with the hamburger! 

Also, first blueberries of the season were at the Greenmarket. So much good fruit during the summer!

A few of the items I've sold recently. 

Music Notes

I've had a good 2 days at the farm this week. We were really productive, even though it was really hot and humid. I harvested for the first time and we sent down our first delivery to the restaurant. I heard that the chef seemed to be overwhelmed with how much lettuce there was! There were a lot of greens that were affected by the flea beetle in the last week, so I got to take home a lot of the "imperfect-looking" produce (lots of holes but still good!) We also prepared some beds, weeded and raked them through and applied compost, then spent some time seeding again. It's nice to have experienced a mini cycle, from seeding in April to harvesting this week. Now I have a good idea of how we will continue this process over the rest of the season.

I wish I could post up pictures of the place, but it's on a private estate. So instead... here's a photo (which I wish I took!) of Mick and Keith. Like most of my interests-- but music especially-- I am stuck in a different time, and have been since I started getting into (good) music during high school. However, the discovery process has proved to be extremely slow over the years; there was a 2 year period during college (and working at Tower Records where I was continually exposed to "new" music) when all I had playing in my cassette player in the car were Van Morrison's Moondance and Live in Harlem by Sam Cooke. For 2 years! When I love something, I really get into it. So to this day, I still spend a lot of time on one album. And just when you think you've got a good grasp of what a certain artist has done, I discover something else of theirs that just blows me away. 

On the way back home driving from the farm this week, I hooked up my phone to the audio and listened to a couple of documentaries on Netflix-- Tales From the Script and Rolling Stones: Stones in Exile. It's made me rediscover Exile on Main Street again. My favorite Stones album has been Sticky Fingers but I think a lot of that is because I haven't been able to move on from it to start listening to something else! There's a lot of songs on Exile that are very familiar but it's totally different when you listen to an entire album from start to finish, the way that it was intended. I also like how documentaries (or books, articles, friends, etc) propels you to re-discover something great that you may have overlooked before. It's also the same way I get into the influences of the artists themselves. I started listening to a lot of blues this year: Robert Johnson,  Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf... there's really not enough time for me to listen to all the songs I have!

Speaking of the Stones, have you heard the Terry Gross interview with Keith Richards talking about his book Life? I guess they replayed it recently during the most recent of WNYC's pledge drives. I like how he gives her a hard time in response to some of her questions! But deservedly so-- she really asks the most inappropriate things sometimes. Anyways, new found respect for him. He's intelligent and articulate and funny all at the same time-- which I truthfully have to admit I didn't think he would be after all the drugs he did and the crazy, amazing life he's had! Now... if I could find time to read his book :)

Beautiful Brooklyn Morning

Breakfast with delicious strawberries from Lani's Farm, which we got from Union Square Greenmarket yesterday. Also checked out Smorgasburg Brooklyn Flea Food Market here in Williamsburg. I hope just as many people come out today for Artists and Fleas. So far, it hasn't rained. If you're in the neighborhood, stop by and say hi!

So I launched my Etsy store a few weeks ago and it's kept me pretty busy when I'm at home! Earlier this week, I was invited to the Etsy office in Dumbo, Brooklyn for a tour of their workplace and a meetup/discussion with other vintage sellers. It was wonderful to meet other local sellers (some of who also sell at Artists and Fleas) and Etsy staff in person, plus the tour was awesome! Everything in their office is decorated with items from Etsy shops, most of which is handmade. Wish I could have taken pictures, but all I have are photos of my goodies I received at the end of the day-- a tote, tee, stickers and buttons!

Snapshots from Rhinebeck

Neil Young playing on my iPod while driving home. The rain makes me think of when I was a kid and my mom took my sister and I on a day trip to Peterborough, a small city northeast of Toronto. Halfway there, the rain started pouring down so intensely we had to stop in the middle of the highway. I cried so hard, I must have thought we were gonna die. I think I was 10, lol.

I got 2 teeth pulled out today. One of the spaces really hurts. But I'm still very resistant to taking any meds, even if it's only a Tylenol. I have become very skeptical of medicine lately-- and healthcare in general, I wonder why ;) 

While I'm on the topic, did you listen to Terry Gross on NPR the other day talking to a reporter who did an investigation about the dangers of medical radiation? It was very interesting and I think it's important to know about.  

Time to rest now.

 Basil I got from the farm this week, which I made into yummy pesto. I'm working at a different farm now, twice a week. It's upstate NY and a brand new farm. All produce is sold to a NYC restaurant. This week we accomplished a lot-- we seeded in the greenhouse, weeded, transplanted, raked, and applied compost to the beds. I really like the drive up on the Taconic, so beautiful. I would take pictures but it's not really safe to be driving while operating a camera.

This weekend we're at Artists and Fleas again. I sold this brass owl dish today... so sad to see it go haha. I have a hard time parting with some of the things :) Another day tomorrow!

My Weekend in California

Easter Sunday

Meet Charlie & Millie

Good weekend at Artists and Fleas in Williamsburg this past weekend with my friend Mandy. Above, a few of the vintage items I sold: French Limoges trinket box; red rose earrings; and 1950's After Five evening clutch purse.

Also, check out Mandy's jewelry at VoonNYC.

We'll be back again at Artists and Fleas on April 16-17.

Snapshots from my second week wwoofing on Orchard Farm Organics in Princeton, NJ.

"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man''s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun."

Christopher McCandless, from Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild

Note that this was written by someone who ironically died pursuing his great "Alaskan Odyssey" adventure... but something to think about nonetheless. Good book so far.

Early to bed and early to rise

... at least while I'm wwoofing on this farm in New Jersey! It's been a great experience so far, filled with hard work and wholesome food. In the last week, I have gone to bed at around 9pm every night, produced almost no garbage, spent only $8 (for a local college play), watched no tv, and been constantly muddy! Main tasks have been to work with a heap of compost and raising beds, but have also helped with animal care and putting up a layer of the roof for the greenhouse. There was one other volunteer at the house last week and Neil came on Friday to cook. This work away from work has been very good for me-- it's been wonderful getting to know the family and other people that live here and I love being outside all day. Will take my time recharging and learning something new.