Visiting Photographer: Erin Covey

One of the most important principles for us at Better Farm is to nurture the creativity and curiosity of everyone we come in contact with. So it was with great enthusiasm that we tracked down one Erin Covey, a lifestyle photographer, videographer, and owner of Covey Creative who was on the hunt for a fresh muse—or five.

Linking up with artists, thinkers, writers, and musicians is all in line with the burgeoning betterArt, a Better Farm subsidiary and eventual nonprofit dedicated solely to promoting the arts within our local and virtual community. To this end, we've recently posted a residency application online and have begun talks with artists on local, national, and international levels to figure out ways to cross-pollinate each other's skillsets.



Finding Ms. Covey was therefore completely serendipitous. Based out of Utica, N.Y., and Connecticut, she's been looking for some winter projects to keep herself sharp between the hustle and bustle of very busy spring, summer, and fall photography seasons. We were all too happy to offer ourselves up as amateur models against the rural backdrop of Redwood, N.Y. And, wouldn't you know it, her family used to have a camp just a town over in Alexandria Bay.

Small world!

After a little brainstorming and calendar organization, we've scheduled an afternoon photo shoot for Sunday, March 7. Erin will be photographing five or more humans, a dog or two, and this very special place.

Get ready for some pretty amazing family portraits!

Erin Covey is available for year-round events, portraiture, and multimedia projects. Learn more at http://covcouture.com/covcouture/Home.html.

Hang in There

If you live in a place like Better Farm, you likely find yourself saddled with a bunch of wonderful guests on very short notice who need places to lay their heads. Extra rooms and fold-out couches are sweet, but sometimes you have more bodies than beds and need a real quick fix.

That's where hammocks come in. They're multi-functional (lazing around outside on a beautiful spring or summer day, sleeping, cuddling, even sitting upright in hammock chairs

to read books); they fold up and can be stored extremely easily; and they're lightweight (so you can hang them outside, then bring them inside at night to sleep).

They also won't leave you broke:

  can be achieved quickly and for less than $10. If you're not planning to bring your hammock inside, then you can spring for outdoor hammocks; which are durable, weatherproof, and will last for years. (Just remember to bring them in at the end of the season!)

If you've got the time—and a lot of patience—you can weave your own spectacular rope hammock or net hammock. You can use thin or thick rope, come up with your own color pallette, and have a portable bed the next time you're camping in Florida, romping along South America's coastline, or stopping in for an impromptu overnight at Better Farm.

If you're planning to hang a hammock or two inside when your home is at full capacity, please please please be sure to locate studs in your wall against which to affix hooks for the hammock's ends. This will avoid nasty damage to your living space, and potentially catastrophic injuries if you're floating in the air above anything that might hurt you on impact should you suddenly drop earthward. The hooks can stay in the wall all the time to take out future guess work, and will hardly be noticeable if you place them in clever spots. Happy hanging!

betterArt Residency Applications Now Available

betterArt, a new art residency program at Better Farm starting this summer, is now accepting applications!

betterArt maintains facilities on Better Farm's property (from teepees to treehouses to shared, cabin-style housing) as residences for writers, visual artists of all media, bands, and composers.

betterArt's summer residency program is open from June 1 to Sept. 1, and can accommodate comfortably up to seven people at a time. Residencies are for one week, two weeks, or month-long periods of time. The standards for admission are talent, desire to live  and work specifically at Better Farm, and a willingness to have a go at the Better Theory; a belief that each moment presents us with the opportunity for exponential personal growth.

For more information and to apply, please download the below forms or visit our Web site for a downloadable application!

Tin Roof...Rusted

Or, Why Starting with an Existing House is Better:

A lot of attention is given to building with green/reclaimed materials - and shows like Building Green and HGTV's Red Hot & Green offer viewers tips and resources on starting from the (respected) ground up. Don't get me wrong, potential home builders should definitely do their research when it comes to the materials they choose, but existing houses are an automatically greener solutions...mainly because, well, they already exist.

Many people curse the urban sprawl of the cities and suburbs, and react by buying some secluded piece of (usually forested) acreage, razing it, and then "building responsibly" with materials bought off another perfectly good house that was demolished to make way for some other person's environmental guilt. Due to this lovely recession we've been in, there are a number of existing houses available. These houses sit on parcels of land that have already been developed, and are made out of materials that have already been used. Shouldn't we start from there?

The idea of building on the least amount of land as possible is not a new idea.

Ian McHarg "pioneered the idea of ecological planning" and his 1969 book,

Design with Nature

, addressed humans' need for living space, but suggested we start by recognizing Nature's space as well. He referred to Man as a "Planetary Disease" and suggested an "ecological sensibility that accepted the interwoven worlds of the human and the natural, and sought to more fully and intelligently design human environments in concert with the conditions of setting, climate and environment."

Not bad advice, and with the renovation of Better Farm we are trying our best to keep in line with the ecological system that we're in. Besides continuing to spatially reconstruct our lil' old farmhouse, eventually the existing barn across the street will be re-purposed while some additional living structures are built around the property - either on already developed land or respectfully within the surrounding forest (think: tree houses). Stay tuned!

"Before" photo of Old Kopp Farmhouse from

Trouble in River City

. A perfect example of starting with what's there. And to get yourself in the green remodeling mindset, check out some tips from

This Old House

.

Area Attraction: Time travel vortex in Watertown!

Jefferson County just gets more and more interesting. Corinne, Better Farm's director of programming and Permaculture,  recently tipped us off to this bit of local lore:

There is apparently a vortex of some sort nestled right in Watertown's Thompson Park, fewer than 30 miles from Better Farm. Coincidence?

The vortex is allegedly located near a certain stone somewhere in the park; with one account of a man vanishing in front of witnesses for a full 20 minutes before reappearing in a different location. Accounts of experiences around this strange stone include phrases like "a sudden feeling of uneasiness"; "hearing things"; and "flat out feel weird".

This is obviously going to require some on-site investigation. As you await updates with bated breath, check out this short news clip on the vortex. As an added bonus, here's an amateur ghost-hunter clip taken at Thompson Park:

Picnics, Come Rain or Come Shine

Picnic baskets conjure up images of wholesome family fun and romantic lunch dates set on a provincial countryside. But just as backpacks and luggage have been morphed and streamlined throughout the years, so too has the classic picnic basket. Manly men who like to pack food and drink on their outings, rejoice!

In the summer months, the Better Farm crowd rarely goes anywhere without packing a cooler. It's convenient, if not wholly practical or fashionable. Coolers can be cumbersome when you're packing a kayak; they can be awkward to carry on a hike; and they can be downright annoying when you're trying to tailgate or look cool at

Alex Bay's biker rally

or

blues fest

. So I was thrilled to discover the release of

picnic backpacks

, which leave your hands free as you get to your picnicking destination. You can go as basic or lavish as you like; whether you're packing some Busch beer for cliff-jumping or wine and cheese for a romantic getaway.

Our favorite picnic basket we found was the

picnic cooler

;

which dazzled us by coming with all the components of a gourmet picnic basket without the frills. We like that very much (this is sort of a no-frills kind of crowd). As we wait for the weather to warm up, don't be surprised if we report live from an indoor picnic held in none other than Better Farm's library. Actually, that's not such a bad idea. Check

eHow.com

for some tips on having your own indoor picnic, ants and all.

(Is it completely obvious that this strangely balmy January weather has us chomping at the bit for spring? Thought so.)

Please remember to pack your

biodegradable disposable place settings

, to respect your surroundings, and to carry out what you carry in. Happy picnicking!

North Country Arts Council Promotes Better Farm

North Country Arts Council (NCAC), a nonprofit dedicated to the development and promotion of the arts in northern New York,  has listed Better Farm on its Resources page! This synergy should expand Better Farm's presence and "findability" for those artists looking for a place to practice their passions.

Membership to the NCAC helps further this cause. All membership costs are tax-deductible and come with a slew of member benefits such as discounts with local businesses and venues. Click here for more information.

Rough Cut: Better Farm documentary

Four of us in 2006 began documenting the people of Better Farm and the space itself. In all the miscellaneous files, recorded interviews with former and current Better Farm inhabitants, hundreds of archived images, and our own feelings about the place, a stunning story began to emerge that we found kind of gorgeous.

We've recently been gathering our notes, logging footage (thank you Eric!), holding roundtables regarding our vision, and planning for full documentation at this year's 40th Reunion to be held at Better Farm in May. In the mix of all the files and sound bites I came across this rough trailer. A bit of a "perspective piece" (not all information discussed in the audio is 100-percent accurate), it sets some of the mood. Thought I'd include it here just for art's sake:



We're looking for burgeoning documentary filmmakers and audiophiles to help out with filming and generally recording the goings-on at this year's May 30 reunion in Redwood—as well as any old footage or photography belonging to you former residents at the Farm! Please contact us at info@betterfarm.org if you'd like to get on board. Armed with that footage and interviews with the next wave of Better-Farmers, we expect to get most of the film completed by the end of summer.

Work on this emerging documentary was done by Eric Drasin, Nicole Caldwell, Tyler Howe, and Ed Krayewski. Special thanks and gratitude go out to our late, great founder Stephen F. Caldwell; without whom none of this would have existed.

You're So Vane

No

outdoor garden décor

would be complete without a handsome weather vane set high atop a barn or shed to direct the gardener or pioneering meteorologist which way the wind blows.

But most people keep weather vanes around for purely ornamental reasons; dating way way back to the Triton figure built in 48 B.C. to adorn the Tower of the Winds in Greece. And today's

rooster weather vanes

are throwbacks to the ninth century A.D., when the pope allegedly ordered every church in Europe to put a figure of a rooster on its dome or steeple as a daily reminder of Jesus' prophecy to Peter: ""I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." (

Luke 22:34

).

Learn something new every day.

We've been eyeing the

barn

and thinking about contracting a welder to create a nice weather vane for the very top of the building (maybe of the late

Sadie

dog?). But simpler and more to the point might be a

garden weathervane

situated out by our raspberry bushes, compost, raised beds, and permaculture herb garden (I know—those over-ambitious Better Farmers. You'll thank us come summertime, we promise). Yes, that does sound nice. Then we could lie on a couch in the library or gaze wistfully off the back porch and mutter softly Dylan's famous words: "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows."

Don't have a friend who welds? You can make your own weather vane with some copper pipe, sheet steel, hack saw, and a few other choice ingredients. The Web site

Our House

has some very

easy-to-follow directions

that'll have you up on wind patterns in no time. There are also some very lovely weather vanes available

here

sure to please any fancy.

Save Energy Project

Perusing ways to conserve energy and reduce

Better Farm

's carbon footprint, I came across a stellar article by Gary Reysa, a retired aircraft engineer and contributor to

Mother Earth News

, a fab magazine covering all things green and sustainable.

Reysa and his family set out to cut their total energy use, energy costs, and greenhouse gas emissions in half. They met that goal by executing a few simple home projects, ranging in complexity from bubble-wrapping windows to

building a solar heater

(he promises it's not as daunting as it sounds). The Reysas cut their energy from 93,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year to 38,000 kWh per year—an annual savings of $4,500 in energy costs, and a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 17 tons.

Wowee!

Check out his full article

here

for details on the following energy-saving projects.

The Top Eight Projects

 Initial

Cost

 Savings

per Year

Energy

Reduction

per Year 

CO

2

Reduction

per Year 

Personal Computer Power Management

 $20

 $178

 1,780 kWh

 3,560 lbs

 Install Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

 $50

 $117

 1,170 kWh

 2,340 lbs

 Seal and Insulate Heating Ducts

 $20

 $75

 940 kWh

 480 lbs

 Reduce Infiltration Losses From House/Seal Leaks

 $50

 $156

 1,980 kWh

 1,010 lbs

 Vent Dryer to Inside During Winter

 $5

 $63

 630 kWh

 286 lbs

 Insulate Windows With Bubble Wrap

 $38

 $75

 960 kWh

 490 lbs

 Eliminate Phantom Electrical Loads

 $70

 $57

 570 kWh

 1,140 lbs

 Use an Electric Mattress Pad

 $125

 $186

 2,320 kWh

 1,150 lbs

Totals

 $378

 $907

 10,350 kWh

 10,456 lbs

Eyes Set on Summer

With only 12 weeks to go until "season" starts (read: the population in the area spikes by about 200 percent), we're already making spring and summer plans. The workshop schedule is almost complete. Residencies are being set up as you read this. And construction started Monday on some home renovations designed to contain the influx of creative types to this old house.

But I'll admit that even as we think large and pro, my mind keeps wandering back to lazy summer days spent on the deck with some nice lemonade and good company. And so I started doing some research on

mui importante

items like hot tubs and

patio umbrellas

.

A hot tub is going to require a little scrimping and saving, unless you're handy and want to have a go at

making your own

. But a patio umbrella? No problem! Whether you're interested in buying some to complete your deck design or building one custom, there's no shortage of inspiration.

The

half umbrella

is super cool for its versatility and ability to shade even tiny spaces. Don't have the $200 it takes to buy a beautiful new one? 

Make your own

by cutting a regular patio umbrella in half. Just scour your garage and the local thrift shops, and use a tablecloth or some nice fabric you find as the shade. This is a great way to keep broken umbrellas out of landfills, and a fabulous conversation starter with impressed guests.

Market umbrellas

have straight-edged canopies instead of hanging fabric valances. These shade-creators are popular in European cafes and markets. Consider how much ground you're trying to shade, the layout of your patio, deck or yard, and of course how much you can spend. You're only a few months away from summery bliss. And again: If you hunt through some thrift shops, Craigslist, eBay, and garage sales (weather permitting), you'll often find you're only a fabric-swap away from having a good-as-new patio umbrella.

May I Draw Your Attention to...

...a compilation of upcoming events, calls for volunteers and contributors, and all things hyper-localized. Introducing the Redwood Neighborhood Association's site and blog.

These guys are working tirelessly to form a master plan for Redwood, revive the buildings around town, unify neighbors, and help out those in need. The association's to-the-point mission statement:

The Redwood Neighborhood Association is here to provide support for the local community and to promote community spirit and pride.

I'm helping out with some editing and posting on the blog, and have been sitting in on their meetings for the last few months. Stay tuned for news of the Farmers Market Committee, Redwood Business Committee, and cool events happening in and around Redwood to benefit the local community.

Cook for Good!

Americans spend on average 32 cents out of every dollar on groceries and household items, according to ICFE director Paul Richard. Most people I know spend between $45 and $60 each week on groceries. But for people in many states receiving food stamps, they're expected to live on just $1 a meal.

Cue visions of Ramen noodles and ketchup on pasta.

Not so, says Linda Watson, whose 2007 experiment to see how well a person can eat on $1 a meal has turned into a food revolution called, simply,

Cook for Good

.

The concept is simple: Instead of spending your dollar on the most calories you can get (a common, foolhardy supposition of those buying food on a shoestring budget), you maximize your nutrition. Mrs. Watson swears that after the first day of this brave new diet, she never felt like she was starving herself or missing out on anything.

With some basic ingredients and supplies, Mrs. Watson swears you can have an extremely healthy diet on next-to-no money. But don't take my word for it—check it out for yourself and report back.

Cook for Good's Web site