A Room of One's Own

When I moved to Better Farm in 2009, I threw myself headlong into getting things organized in and around the house. Energy-efficient bulbs went in, eco-friendly paint went on, and dumpsters were called to haul out 40 years' worth of forgotten items and clutter. In all this hullabaloo, I let my own space go by the wayside. Except for trading my uncle's water bed for an extremely comfortable Tempurpedic, I left the master bedroom much as it was.

The original master bedroom lacked personality and was in need of a little updating. This photo was taken the day I moved in—note the backpack on the floor with all I carried on my arrival!

The room is nice and big, gets good light, and has a totally amazing California king-sized bed. But there were a few issues. Like, the ceiling:

It was cloaked in some sort of plastery sheetrock situation, and had lots of holes from hooks that held trapezes so Uncle Steve could maneuver in and out of bed. Those holes (and remaining hooks) had to go; as did the garish overhead light.

Of course, some amazing details will stay forever, such as the door:

The room also had a built-in closet, which I'm not totally crazy about but have decided to keep for now:

So, the to-do list began:

• Remove air conditioner
• Move standing mirror to bathroom
• Paint walls
• New sheets and blankets
• New overhead light
• New ceiling
• Window treatments
• Streamline the room's decor
• Add a soft bedside lamp and table

This has been a slowly evolving process, as other rooms in the house were in far worse shape and really needed to take precedence. But, lo and behold, the time has come! First, though, let's talk inspiration. I've taken to ogling different design ideas online, and here are two I particularly love:

Note the tongue and groove, bold colors, and chandelier!

Love the deep turquoise color and distressed wood details, as well as the small area rug.

I went bold on color, picking a deep turquoise for the walls (paint is eco-friendly Olympic brand, found at Lowe's). Window treatments are energy-saver thermal curtains, found at Ollie's in Watertown. I found some nice curtain rods at Lowe's, a bedspread at Ikea, and got tons of amazing tongue-and-groove pine from Garlock's Building Supplies and Design Center in Alexandria Bay.

The dramatic difference was apparent even halfway through:

Final touches included a fresh set of sheets, a deep clean, and streamlining the decor.

Here are some "after" shots:

Headboard wall displays a myriad of art pieces inherited from Uncle Steve, a photograph I took in Klamath, and a painting by a friend.

The sanctuary.

What girl doesn't want a chandelier in the middle of her bedroom? Light is of course equipped with an energy-efficient bulb.

A storage space is gussied up with a brown satin partition and Eastern idol.

An antique wooden shelf system displays crystals, stones, feathers, and other mementos.

Bedside table incorporates yummy scented candles, a found animal pelt, and small storage boxes with some Eastern flair.

Han Solo loves the new homespun area rug.

A corner shelf showcases some items inherited from Uncle Steve.

Art$tart Grant Opportunity for Teachers and Artists!

A free workshop May 20 will outline Art$tart, a program providing grants reaching $2,500 to help inspire creative teaching partnerships between artists and schools in Lewis, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence Counties for the 2011/2012 school year.

Arts in Education grant coordinator Robert Fowler will run the workshop from 5-7 p.m. at Arts on the Square in Watertown. He will go over the guidelines and application materials required for successful proposals.

Art$tart is a new grant opportunity supporting collaboratively planned projects by teachers and participating artists that enriches student education in and through the arts. The program seeks to bolster a cross-curriculum approach going beyond the classic art room setting. Deadline for grant applications is Monday, July 18.

The workshop is open to the public. Arts on the Square is located in the Franklin Building, 57 Public Square, in Watertown. For more information or to register, contact Robert Fowler at robert@slcartscouncil.org or (315) 265-6860.

Grower's Guide: Companion planting

Mapping out your garden will remind you where things were in seasons past so you can properly rotate your crops

; give you a handy guide for where things are now; and help you in planning your garden for the future.

But there's another reason to sit down and brainstorm where plants should go, and that's a little process called "companion planting".

For those of you, like us, unwilling to utilize harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides, companion planting is a great, organic way to promote healthy growth and ward off disease. This method encourages the planting of certain plants together because of their complementary properties (repelling certain bugs or illness; or absorbing different nutrients from the ground so there's a healthy balance); and discourages putting other plants in the same space.

For example, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower should be surrounded by tansy and thyme to ward off cabbage worms; while nasturtiums will repel beetles and aphids. Conversely, aster flowers can transmit disease to celery so they need to be kept away from each other.

Below is  a chart to help get you started with companion planting.

COMMON NAME

COMPANIONS

ANTAGONISTS

Alliums

Fruit trees, Nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, etc), Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi, etc) Carrots

Beans, Peas, Parsley

Asparagus

Tomatoes, Parsley, Basil

Onion, Garlic, Potatoes

Beans

Potatoes, Carrots, Cucumbers, Radishes, Rosemary, Peas, Corn, Cucumbers, Brassicas, Summer Savory, most other vegetables and herbs

Tomatoes, chili peppers, sunflowers, alliums (onions, garlic, etc), kales (cabbage, broccoli, etc) Gladiola

Pole Beans

Corn (see

Three Sisters

, Summer Savory, Sunflowers

Onions, Beets, Kohlrabi, Cabbage

Bush Beans

Potatoes, Cucumbers, Corn,Strawberries, Celery, Summer Savory

Onions

Beets

Lettuce, Onions, Brassicas, Kohlrabi

Pole beans

Brassicas

(

Cabbage, Cauliflower,Kale, Kohlrabi, Broccoli

)

Aromatic Herbs, Potatoes, Celery, Chamomile, Dill Peppermint, Sage, Rosemary, Beets, Onions, Spinach

Pole beans, strawberries, tomatoes

Carrots

Chives, Rosemary, Sage, Radishes, Lettuce, Peas, Onions, Leeks, Tomatoes

Dill

Celery

Leeks, Tomatoes, Bush Beans, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Cosmos, Daisies, Snapdragons

corn, Aster flowers, these can transmit the aster yellows disease

Chives

Carrots, tomatoes

Peas, beans

Corn

Sunflowers, Pumpkins, Beans, Potatoes, Peas, Cucumbers, Pumpkin, Squash

Tomatoes, Celery

Cucumber

Beans, Carrots, Beets, Onions, Radishes, Corn, Peas, Lettuce, Dill, Sunflowers, Nasturniums, Marigolds

Potatoes, aromatic herbs

Dill

Cabbage, Onions, Cucumbers

Tomato

Eggplant

Beans, Peppers, Potatoes

Leek

Onions, celery, carrots

Legumes (beans, peas, etc)

Lettuce

Carrots with radishes, Strawberries, Cucumbers, Onions

Marigold

Plant throughout the garden

Oregano

Good to all Vegetables

Onion (and

garlic

)

Beets, Strawberries, Tomatoes,Lettuce, Summer Savory, Chamomile, Leeks, Parsley

Peas, Beans, Parsley

Parsley

Tomatoes, Asparagus

Peas

Carrots, Turnips, Radishes, Cucumbers, Corn, Beans, Lettuce, most vegetables and herbs

Onions, Garlic, Chives, Gladiola, Potatoes

Roses

Garlic

Potato

Beans, Corn, Cabbage,

Horseradish

,Marigold, Eggplant (as a lure for the Colorado potato beetle)

Pumpkin Squash, Cucumber, Sunflowers, Tomatoes, Raspberry

Pumpkin

Corn, Beans

Potato

Radish

Peas, Nasturtium, Lettuce, Cucumber

Sage

Broccoli, Cauliflower, Rosemary, Cabbage, Carrots

Kohlrabi, Corn, Potatoes, Fennel, Cabbage

Soybeans

Grows/helps with everything

Spinach

Strawberries

Squash

Nasturtiums, Corn

Potatoes

Strawberries

BUSH Bean, Spinach, Borage, Lettuce (as a border), Onions

Cabbage

Sunflower

Cucumbers

Potato

Tomatoes

Basil, Chives, Onions, Parsley, Asparagus,Marigold, Nasturtiums, Carrots

Black Walnut, Kohlrabi, Corn, Potatoes, Fennel, Brassicas

Turnip

Peas

(

Source: GardenSimply.com

)

Please contact us at info@betterfarm.org with any questions, ideas, or stories about your experiences with this planting method.

Sweet Tooth

There's been a lot of finger-pointing at the demonized high fructose corn syrup (H.F.C.S.) as of late; and, we think, for good reason.

But would you believe that corn syrup is just as harmful as sugar?

That's exactly what some experts are suggesting. Check out this tidbit from an

April 13 New York Times Magazine piece

:

Refined sugar (that is, sucrose) is made up of a molecule of the carbohydrate glucose, bonded to a molecule of the carbohydrate fructose — a 50-50 mixture of the two... High-fructose corn syrup, as it is most commonly consumed, is 55 percent fructose, and the remaining 45 percent is nearly all glucose. It was first marketed in the late 1970s and was created to be indistinguishable from refined sugar when used in soft drinks. Because each of these sugars ends up as glucose and fructose in our guts, our bodies react the same way to both, and the physiological effects are identical.

The article goes on to suggest that rather than the commonly held belief it's eating too much sugar that's so bad, sugar in and of itself is toxic. And consuming it the way we do is literally killing us.

Read the full article here. For high fructose corn syrup propaganda, click here.

.

Sending Peanuts Packing

Ever since people got their heads screwed on straight and realized the

horrible environmental effects of those pesky little packing peanuts

, the last decade or so has seen some pretty cool advances in utilizing recycled,

biodegradable

, and alternative methods for packing fragile items and shipping them around the country and world.

And don't worry—

there are plenty of things you can do with packing peanuts

that get shipped your way that will keep them out of a landfill.

The other day we received a few items in the mail that were packed with EarthAware's new

AirPouch

:

These air-filled pillows are made of biodegradable DuraClear, a low-density polyethylene that has an additive which causes the poly to biodegrade in less than five years when put in contact with other biodegrading material (as few as nine months, depending on exposure conditions). They're also comprised of recycled plastic bags and pillows. Just another option among many great ideas that will get your gifts to their destinations unbroken and without any undue stress on Mother Dearest.

Click here to find out ways to make your own packing materials.

Better Farm's May 2011 Newsletter

Hello, Friends of Better Farm!

After a very long winter, we're finally reveling in the spring season at Better Farm—and we've hit the ground running!

Building renovations, new construction, Earth Day cleanups, public art installations, gallery openings,  and a cache of summer workshops are just some of the things we've been up to. Not to mention getting seedlings ready for the garden, welcoming new faces to Better Farm, and creating a nonprofit offshoot specifically focused on increasing accessibility to the arts in Northern New York. Thank you to all who have been involved and showed support for these projects!

Click here to be redirected to our full newsletter.

Please swing through our open house and fundraiser May 28 to find out more about what we're doing, or e-mail info@betterfarm.org to schedule a private tour or visit.

Viva Better!

Nicole Caldwell
Executive Director and Co-Founder
Better Farm

Better Farm News - May 2011:

• Countdown to Better Farm's Annual Open House & Fundraiser • Introducing our new nonprofit, betterArts • Signups for Summer Workshop Series • First Phase of "Art Barn" Renovation Complete • Recap of Recent Artists-in-Residence

Signups Open for 2011 Summer Workshop Series at Better Farm

John Sundbeck teaches a Tai Chi lesson by the banks of the St. Lawrence, Summer 2010.

Whether you're looking to open your chi, tap into your creativity, scale some high peaks, hone your photography skills, learn yoga, or survive in the wild, we've got you covered this summer at Better Farm.

All workshops held at the Farm include in their price shared-lodging accommodations, parking, laundry access, wireless Internet, all linens, meals, and group activities. All sign-ups are non-refundable except for instances of a workshop being canceled due to low enrollment. After you sign up, you will be sent a confirmation e-mail requesting further information regarding meals, lodging preferences, and special needs.

Below is a condensed list of our summer programming. Click here to learn more and sign up!

June 10-12
BACKWOODS 101: Introduction to wild edible plants & primitive camping
This course will focus on the importance of properly identifying plants, leaf structures, different parts of plants, harvesting and preparing, as well as positive recognition of poisonous plants. Students will will canoe or kayak down Black Creek looking for edible plants and a good camping area to build a primitive campsite overnight. In the instance of inclement weather the group may elect to use the outfitter’s tent. Participants should bring a bedroll, netting, flashlight, poncho, and water bottle. A daypack for hauling your gear will be beneficial, pack light! Better Farm will provide food to take along and bug spray. Group will meet at Better Farm the evening of Friday, June 10 for dinner and orientation, heading out for Black Creek Saturday morning and returning Sunday.
Instructor: Craig R. Rice is a New York Sate-certified guide instructor with more than three decades of experience in survivalism and outdoor adventuring.

June 19-21
FOR THE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER: Build a relationship with your clients and keep them coming back!This two-day, hands-on course will explain in detail the workflow that makes a professional photography studio successful. Participants will be shown how to pose subjects for portraiture in studio lighting, as well as outdoors under natural light. The workshop will encompass everything from photographing the client to marketing and selling photography services. Those in attendance will also learn about marketing techniques, customer service, specialty packages, and products that are sure to increase profits and raise a studio’s bottom line.
Instructor: Penny Heath is a professional photographer who has been in business for 25 years. Based out of her studio in Redwood, N.Y., she specializes in portrait photography.

ADIRONDACK HIGH PEAKS ADVENTURE 
Hurricane Mountain:  June 23-26, Oct 7-9
Whiteface Mountain:  July 28-31 
Giant  Mountain: Aug 25-28 
Dix & Noonmark Mountain: Sept 29- Oct 3
Experience two or more nights in the wilderness on one of four mountains. We will either camp primitively at a site chosen in the field or ruck out in a lean-to if one is available. All summits are open with tremendous views of the surrounding mountains from New York’s Mt. Marcy and Champlain Valley to the Green Mts. of Vermont. These trips are strenuous and require that you are in good physical condition. Proper attire is mandatory, good hiking/backpacking boots a must. You will be expected to carry a pack weighing 25 pounds or more and partake in setting up and breaking camp. Awesome trips for those tough enough. Trip planning is dynamic, the abilities and desires of your group will form our goals. Outfitting for four people: packs, sleeping bags, pads, Gortex outerwear, and more is available, please contact info@betterfarm.org with your needs. Group will meet at Better Farm Thursday evening for dinner and orientation, and leave from there Friday morning. Group will return to Better Farm Sunday.
Outfitter:  Craig R. Rice is a New York Sate-certified guide instructor with more than three decades of experience in survivalism and outdoor adventuring. 

July 9
INTRODUCTION TO TAI CHI AND THE BASICS OF SELF-DEFENSEThis three-hour seminar will acquaint students with I Ching breathing exercises, which are the foundation of the Chinese Internal Chi (including Chi Gung, Nui Gung, Fuhn Hey, and Dim Mak); and prime aspects of personal safety and self defense. Those in attendance will acquire basic skills associated with self defense including necessary holds and escape maneuvers, as well as the foundation of stances and postures associated with Tai Chi.
Instructor: John Sundbeck has been training in the Yang system Tai Chi with Master Shing Perin, originally from Taiwan, for more than 30 years. Mr. Sundbeck holds a rank of third degree Black Belt in Chito Ryu Karate, and for many years, was chief instructor of The Rochester Yoseikan Karate School. Over his many years in the Martial arts, Mr. Sundbeck has trained with six world renound Masters.

July 15-17
Aug. 12-14
Sept. 9-11
Oct. 14-16
ADIRONDACK ADVENTURE   
Travel to Wanakena, N.Y. in the beautiful Adirondack foothills and put down an afternoon hike to the summit of Cat Mountain with spectacular views of endless Adirondack wilds, a few more miles of hiking, and overnight in an authentic Adirondack lean-to. Go swimming or canoeing while your guides prepare an outdoor banquet that is sure to bring the bears running! The next morning after breakfast, we’ll have a pleasant woods walk along a mostly flat trail back to the trailhead and civilization. Sleeping bag, proper attire, extra socks, hiking boots, and backpack along with a camera will do you well. We’re happy to make our extra gear available if needed.  Each group will meet at Better Farm Thursday evening for dinner and orientation, and leave from there Friday morning. Group will return to Better Farm Sunday.
Instructors: Craig R. Rice and guest TBA.

Aug. 19-21
BUSHWHACKING 101: Intro to orienteering & primitive camping     
In "Bushwhacking 101" we will discuss map symbols, contour lines, gradient and route finding, as well as plotting a course, recognizing and using natural features, and establishing a backup plan. We will learn skills to navigate with a compass, variation, declination, taking bearings, following headings, triangulation, dead reckoning, getting lost, and getting out. Students will also learn backup methods for navigating such as wind direction, the sunshine, the stars, etc. We will follow up some classroom time, practice and planning with a bushwhack through trailless woods to our primitive campsite and return the following day.  Each student will receive a quality magnetic compass and topographic maps of the surrounding area for this course. Participants should bring a bedroll, netting, flashlight, poncho, and waterbottle. A daypack for hauling your gear will be beneficial, pack light! Better Farm will provide food to take along and bugspray. Group will meet at Better Farm the evening of Friday, Aug. 19 for dinner and orientation, heading into the woods Saturday morning and returning Sunday.
Instructor: Craig R. Rice

Aug. 26-28
Yoga for Creativity
This workshop is for artists and those interested in a more creative life. We will explore classic yogic practices and philosophy to help remove obstacles, uncover source material, and engender stability in your creative work or daily life. In the spirit of inquiry we will focus on connections between creation and yoga including: allowing intention to arise, anchoring our resolution, coping with disturbances, and integrating the will. A combination of experiential arts activities, lecture, and discussion will be used to develop personal understanding and application of material to life outside of the workshop. We’ll investigate movement, stillness, sound, ritual, constructing, and de-constructing.  Postures and breathing practices are offered in a safe and therapeutic manner and will range from mild to moderate.
Yoga experience not necessary; curiosity, courage, and uncertainty are.
Instructor: Lisa Enzer, M.Ed., RYT-500 hr., developed "Yoga for Creativity" as a way to integrate ancient wisdom traditions with her many years of experience as a performer, choreographer, teaching artist, and community builder.
Lisa has a wide-ranging background in experimental theater, drama education, dance, classical yoga, and group facilitation.

New Report Lists Top Ten Pathogen-Food Combinations Burdening Public Health

A report released April 28 offers a tool to help early detection of contaminated foods before they reach consumers, New Public Health reported last week.

The University of Florida Emerging Pathogens Institute published the report, called Ranking the Risks: The Ten Pathogen-Food Combinations with the Greatest Burden on Public Health, amidst a flurry of proposed budget cuts for federal food agencies and ongoing food-safety concerns.

The report offers food regulators a better way to target resources toward the most concerning food-pathogen combinations:

The top-ranked pathogen-food combination is poultry contaminated with Campylobacter, a combination that sickens more than 600,000 people in the U.S., at a cost of $1.3 billion per year. Recommendation: The report questions whether new safety standards for chickens and turkeys are tough enough and recommends that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) tighten these standards over time.Salmonella is the leading pathogen overall, causing more than $3 billion in disease-related costs annually. In addition to poultry, Salmonella-contaminated produce, eggs and other affected foods all rank in the Top 10. Recommendation:The researchers suggest that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and USDA develop a joint initiative on Salmonella.Four combinations in the Top 10—Listeria in luncheon meats and dairy products and Toxoplasma in pork and beef pose serious risks to pregnant women. Infection with these pathogens can cause illness in the mother and developing fetus or newborn. Recommendation: Federal agencies should strengthen prevention programs aimed at these pathogens and improve educational efforts for pregnant women.

In the White Room

We celebrated last year when one of Better Farm's guestrooms ditched the blues and got a fresh update that left it sparkly white:

But most of the furniture left along with one of our tenants, and the bareness of the room begged for a little TLC. We recently set in to take care of a few small details, like:

Bamboo room divider from Ikea reappropriated as headboard.

Closet doorway gets matching collage gleaned from found book pages.

Children's overhead fan at left gets a custom paintjob by Jennifer Elizabeth Crone.

Doorway gains some blue trim while a bare wall gets birds in flight and collaged wall piece by Jennifer Elizabeth Crone.

And, for the finished look:

Art Barn's Grand Opening Showcases Work of Jennifer Elizabeth Crone

Jennifer Elizabeth Crone showed up at Better Farm to begin her betterArts residency program in February amidst subzero temperatures, overcast skies, and more hours of darkness than daylight. A San Diego native who's lately called New York City home, this was Jennifer's first foray into country living.

She bundled up, set up a studio space in Better Farm's loft, and got to work. Her process is layered; utilizing found books and objects (including some found canvases already painted on), oil paints, and collage.

Jennifer also became an integral part of the day-to-day operations at Better Farm. She was Mother Hen to our chickens Sissy, Scarlet, and Henrietta, ran our composting system, and even helped to plant all the seeds now growing like crazy in our greenhouse.

She became part of the Better Farm family, and will be leaving her mark in a more literal way than most: with her art. There's a big tree painted on an upstairs bedroom wall, a ceiling fan with vines and flowers painted on it, a collaged doorway, and a paper mobile hanging from some rafters.

We were able to celebrate Jennifer's hard work, as well as the grand opening of the newly renovated Art Barn, April 30. Here are photos of Jennifer's wonderful projects from that event:

 

...and her admirers:

Stay in touch with Jennifer by following her blog. For pricing and purchasing information, please e-mail jennifereliz@gmail.com. And for information on the betterArts residency or to apply, click here.

Floating Gallery Lifts Off May 3

Calling all artists!

"Floating Gallery", the North Country Arts Council's public art initiative, is accepting work starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 3 at Bistro 108 on Court Street in Watertown.

Art is currently on display at Samaritan Medical Center, Cafe Mira, Bistro 108, Paddock Coffee House, and the Black River Valley Club. On May 3, new work will be put on exhibit and currently displayed work will be rotated throughout the aforementioned locations.

All artists are welcome to become a member of the North Country Arts Council in order to exhibit and sell work. Membership is $25 per individual per year. You can sign up online, via check or cash when you bring your work to Bistro 108, or by visiting Arts on the Square at 52 Public Square.

The North Country Arts Council is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization working to promote growth in and through all art forms. For more information or to share ideas, e-mail president Laura Oakes.

Picture Perfect

When Tracey Hicks contacted us to say she'd like to donate some photography equipment to betterArts that once belonged to her late brother, an extremely talented photographer and teacher, we were thrilled. The Better Farm crew and its visitors for years have expressed interest in an on-site darkroom—a dream we've realized layer by layer as we empty the basement, clean it, install vents and dehumidifiers, and build tables for enlargers and trays.

When the 300-plus pound washer box arrived yesterday packed to the gills with photography equipment, we couldn't wait to see what we were in store for. Inside we discovered a huge enlarger, several cameras including a 4x5 and 8x10, light boxes, timers, paper, flashes, and more. The equipment will all be available for rental by anyone in the community; and our darkroom (when finished) will be up for grabs by our artists-in-residence, community students and teachers, or anyone who'd like to learn the classic art of film photography.

Here's what Tracey had to say about her unbelievably generous donation:  

I think my brother would be very happy to know that students of life, photography, school, whatever will be using it and learning and enjoying what they are doing especially since he loved photography and was a teacher. I truly believe that he would have loved to have visited the farm and... I couldn't think of a better place for the equipment to be. I hope it all works and works out for you.

Heartfelt thanks to Tracey for giving us all we need to get this darkroom off the ground! Contact us if you're interested in renting some photography equipment, and check back here for updates on the renovation.

Ruby's Amanze-ing Week of Work

Ruby Amanze was only at Better Farm for one week as a betterArts resident, but managed to produce as much art she said as might normally take her a month or more. On Saturday, her last night here, she put her work up on display for us to take a peek at.

Her process is layered, she explained. First she does a color wash on the paper, then works with any combination of inks and pencils for detail. Her geometric shapes and styles lend a continuity to her pieces that we all love.

It was a busy week for Ruby. In spite of the inclement weather, she managed to squeeze in daily jogs, asparagus-planting in Better Farm's raised beds, puttings seeds of peas, lima beans, and onion bulbs into the ground in the main garden area, catching a Dawg Brothers concert at the Dancing Dog last Friday night, sunset-watching on Butterfield Lake Saturday, helping to host a Supper Club dinner party last Tuesday, and oh yeah, completing four huge pieces of art. Best of luck to Ruby on all her endeavors. She will be missed!

 

To keep up with Ruby, follow her website. To learn more about the betterArts residency program and to apply, click here.