Former Artist-in-Residence Revisits the Better Farm Canvas

Former betterArts resident Erica Hauser stopped by the farm last week for a visit. Never one to let a blank space go to waste (she did, after all, paint the interior walls of the Birdhouse during her June stay here), it wasn't long before she'd grabbed a bunch of leftover cans of paint and set to work.

Noting that Lizzi Musoke's new rainwater catchment system abutted Erica's former beloved birdhouse bedroom, Erica set right to work giving the rain barrel a beautiful facelift:

 

The next day she caught me upstairs, where I was touching up some trim on doorways. Asking if she could help, I directed her downstairs to a blank patch of wall over the front entranceway...

 It was less than an hour later that her newest creation was completed:

Many thanks to Erica for donating her time and resources to beautifying Better Farm for all who visit here. To learn more about Erica Hauser's betterArts residency, click here. To commission a painting by Erica or see more of her portfolio, visit her website.

How to Make Your Own DIY Mosquito Repellent Device

By Emily Stears, from

Unplggd.com

Summer may be almost over (gasp!), but it's never too late—or early—to work on your anti-mosquito strategy. Courtesy of

Uplggd.com

, here’s a creative, eco-friendly, non-toxic way to keep your home mosquito free! It also doubles up as a pleasant fragrance while keeping those bloodsuckers away...

Instructions

You need never buy refills for your plug-in mosquito killer again, nor worry about what toxins and chemicals are being expelled into the air by sprays or smoke coils.

Tried and tested...the peel of an orange or tangerine, cut into the shape of the refill, does a perfect job as an insect repellent (orange peel extract is used in

spray solutions

). Orange oil is pretty fragrant, as anyone who stands in the same room when someone is peeling citrus may notice. Just place the peel in the slot, plug in the mosquito killer and enjoy a peaceful sleep guarded by a non-chemical solution!

What You'll Need

a plug-in mosquito killer device

an orange


a knife

a used refill to use as a template

How to Do It

• The first thing you'll do is peel the orange. Try avoid getting too much of the white part. Set aside flesh (or just eat it), as you'll be using the peel.

• Cut the peel into a rectangle to fit the plug-in device, or, if you’re a perfectionist, use the old refill as a template to cut around.

• Place your refill-sized piece of orange peel into the slot of the plug-in device and plug it in.

• Enjoy a peaceful sleep.

As far as I'm concerned, Better Farm is the perfect testing ground for all mosquito-deterrant-related-things. Stay tuned for results!

Downstairs Bathroom Fixtures Get Bathed in Light

The downstairs bathroom / washroom has come a long way since the resurrection of Better Farm. Clutter has been removed, broken washers and dryers have been disposed of, and new eye-catching knick-knacks have been dispersed throughout the room. After all that work it, seemed such a shame that we didn't have the proper lighting to take it all in. Single CFL bulbs jutting out from an uncovered fixture in the ceiling and next to the medicine cabinet just don't provide the warmth and clarity our beloved washroom deserves. It was time to get enlightened.

Replacing the ceiling fixture was no big deal. The local 'bulk store' (not Walmart) provided a fixture that diffuses CFL light well and meshes with the existent aesthetic. Technically this fixture was meant to attach to the bottom a pre-existing ceiling fan, but I did a little tinkering with the mount design and now our washroom is not only beautifully decorated but wonderfully lit as well.

But I couldn't stop there...

For as long as I can remember the bathroom sink has been flanked by two less-than-elegant wall mounted fixtures. Also for as long as I can remember only one of these fixtures has been complete and working. Can we all agree that two lights are better than one? Good. Can we all agree that a fixture without a cover looks disastrous. Fantastic.

We've already blown our lighting budget on one fixture. Time to get creative.

I was happy to discover that an empty jam jar that had been kicking around the kitchen for days was a perfect fit for our ailing light. The screw-top jar would make a perfect light cover and allow for easy access when it comes time to replace the bulb.

Ideally. one would use a rotary tool to cut a hole through the jar's lid. I was unable to track one down but a power drill was able to get the job done nearly as well. After compromising the integrity of the jam jar's lid with a circular pattern of holes and some tin-snips I was able to remove just enough of the lid to allow the CFL bulb to fit while maintaining the screw-top functionality. A strong adhesive (PVC pipe glue, superglue would probably work just as well) was then used to affix the lid to the base of the light fixture. After the adhesive was given time to set the jam jar was placed over the CFL and screwed into the lid. Voila! Our fixture was transformed from an eyesore to a DIY beauty.

How Big a Backyard Do You Need to Live off the Land?

One Block Off The Grid's infographic gives an extremely clear picture of exactly what it would take for a family of four to live completely off the land with independent, solar energy. Click on graphic below for larger viewing size:

One Block Off the Grid is a solar business designed to help homeowners go solar. The company negotiates group discounts on panels and installation with local providers and provide individuals with free advice and support throughout the process. To find out if there’s a group discount available in your area, sign up for One Block Off the Grid (it’s totally free). Want to help take solar mainstream? Tell your friends about One Block Off the Grid.

Idea Roundup: Divine farmhouse bedroom designs

The fog over the water this morning was a crystal-clear sign that autumn is fast approaching. So even though the garden's still in full swing and the sun is out, I figured this is as good a time as any to start crafting Better Farm's winter plans. Colder weather around here means a break from outside construction projects and a commencement of interior design work. With that in mind, here's a look at some design ideas I've been kicking around for guest bedrooms:

Lots to think about as we consider new design ideas for the intern room, loft, attic loft, and additional bedrooms in the house...

For information on lodging at Better Farm,

click here

.

Bill Johnston's Pirate Days: Swashbuckly Pillaging in A Bay Near You

Aaargh!

The lore of Dread Pirate Bill Johnston lives yet again in Alexandria Bay, where we celebrate for the zillionth time the legacy of

this guy:

Thousand Islands' most dreaded pirate was the notorious smuggler and War of 1812 privateerBill Johnston. Dubbed the man the British most wanted to hang, fortunes were blown on the pursuit of Johnston as he was hunted by United States and Canadian authorities.

His most notorious project was the May 30, 1838, attack on the passenger steamer Sir Robert Peel (which was docked at Wellesley Island on the St. Lawrence River). Johnston ordered his men to loot the ship and burn it, which they did while chanting "Remember the Caroline." Johnston eventually surrendered to United States authorities.

So of course it stands to reason that almost 200 years later, we'd create a holiday in honor of this guy.

Hey, it worked for Christopher Columbus.

Events officially started on Friday, but you can get your pirate on any day this week. Here's the full run-down of scheduled outlaw activities, courtesy of the

Alexandria Bay Chamber of Commerce

(feel free to make your own!):

Friday, August 12th:

5:30pm:  Pirate Magic Show by Jason the Entertainer @ the Entertainment Tent

6:30pm:  Balloon sculpting @ Entertainment Tent�

8:00pm: Block Dance by Upper James Street dock…. “Bad Husbands Club”

Saturday, August 13th:

8:00am-1:00pm…Vote for the BEST DECORATED BOAT at the Village Dock

10:00am…Children Boats, Treasure Chest, & Cannon Crafts @ Park Pavilion;

11:30am…Children Parade Lineup @ the Scenic View Park; 11:45am…Children Parade through Village; 1:00pm…Capture of the Pirate Scouting Party @ Uncle Sam Boat Tours;

2:00pm…PIRATE INVASION

;

4:30pm…Balloon Sculpting thoughout the Village

Sunday, August 14th:

12:00pm…Pirate Skit @ Cavallario Bayside;

12:30pm…Buried Treasure @ Scenic View Park Beach;�

3:00pm…Duck Races to benefit Minor Hockey Assn @ Scenic View Park

Monday, August 15th:

10:00am…Little Pirate Adventure Cruise on Uncle Sam Boat Tours;

11:00am…Fight a Pirate @ Scenic View Park;

1:00pm…Tales from Remikreh (archaic weapons demonstration @Scenic View Park;

2:00…Reptile Exhibition @ Entertainment Tent;

3:15pm…Pirate Skit @ Uncle Sam Boat Tours;�

4:15pm…Pirate Skit @ Cavallario Bayside;

5:00pm…Balloon Sculpting throughout Village

Tuesday, August 16th:

10:00am…Little Pirate Adventure Cruise on Uncle Sam Boat Tours;

11:00am…Fight a Pirate @ Scenic View Park Pavilion;

12:00pm..Tales from Remikreh weapon demonstration @ Scenic View Park;

1:00pm…Tales from Remikreh @GO-KART 500

3:15pm…Pirate Skit @ Uncle Sam Boat Tours;

4:15pm…Magic Show w/Obie Obrien @ Entertainment Tent;

5:00pm…Pirate Skit @ Cavallario Bayside;

Wednesday, August 17th:

10:00am…Little Pirate Adventure Cruise on Uncle Sam Boat Tours;

11:00am…Fight a Pirate @ Scenic View Park;

12:00pm…Tales from Remikreh weapons demonstration @ Scenic View Park;

1:00pm…Tales from Remikreh @Mazeland;

3:15pm…Pirate Skit @ Uncle Sam Boat Tours;

4:15pm…Pirate Skit @ Cavallarios Bayside;

5:30pm…Balloon Sculpting throughout Village

7:00pm…Concert in the Park @ Scenic View Park….featuring Double Barrell Blues Band

Thursday, August 18th:

10:00am…Little Pirate Adventure Cruise on Uncle Sam Boat Tours;

11:00am…1st Mate Competition w/Tales From Remikreh @ Scenic View Park;

1:00pm…Tales from Remikreh archaic weapons demonstration @ Scenic View Park;

3:15pm…Pirate Skit @ Uncle Sam Boat Tours;

4:15pm…Magic Show by Obie Obrien @ Entertainment Tent;

5:00pm…Pirate Skit @ Cavallario Bayside

Friday, August 19th:

10:00am…Little Pirate Adventure Cruise on Uncle Sam Boat Tours;

11:00am…Pirate Tournament (Tales of Remikreh) @ Scenic View Park;

12:00pm…Tales from Remikreh weapons demonstration @ Scenic View Park;

1:00pm…Reptile Exhibition @ Entertainment Tent;�

3:15pm…Pirate Skit @ Uncle Sam Boat Tours;

4:15pm…Pirate Skit @ Cavallarios Bayside;

6:00pm…Dancing Bear Puppet Theatre presents “Littlest Pirate”      

www.thepuppets.com

8:00pm…Block Dance on James Street between Skiffs & Downtown @ 11 James….”String of Pearls”

Brockville Infantry Encampment on Casino Island

Saturday, August 20th:

10:00am…Childrens Boat, Treasure Chests, & Cannon Crafts @ Scenic View Park Pavilion;

11:00am…Childrens Parade Lineup at Scenic View Park;

11:30am…Children Parade throughout Village;

1:00pm…Capture of Pirate Scouting Party@ Uncle Sam Boat Tours;

2:00pm: PIRATE INVASION

;

3:30pm…Dancing Bear Puppert Theatre presents “The Littlest Pirate”       

www.thepuppets.com

6:00pm….Melanie Zimmer Storytime    

www.thepuppets.com

Sunday, August 21st:

11:00am…Live Drill & Demonstration by The Brockville Infantry by Upper James Street docks

2:00pm…Bill Johnstons Pirate Days Grand Parade (school, to Walton, to Church, to Market and back to school)

3:00pm…Parade Winners Announced

Successful Summer Festival Plays on the Power of Collaborative Art

The North Country Arts Council's annual Summer Arts Festival on Saturday in Watertown featured dozens of artisans and several collaborative art activities, including a community mural hosted by the betterArts division of Better Farm.

All-day events at the festival included Plein Air Artists at work, an instrument petting zoo, Kid at HeART Tent, live demonstrations, art vendor sales, an author tent, and food vendors.  Over at Better Farm's table, we set up a blank canvas, which last summer gained some fish, underwater creatures, and vegetation courtesy of artists Scott Mueller (on betterArts' board) and Mark Dilks (former betterArts resident):

Once the canvas was stretched, the paints were laid out, and our literature on the betterArts residency program and Better Farm sustainability internship were fanned across the table, we were ready to begin.

While visitors stopped in to lend a hand with the mural, others down the block worked on a sidewalk-chalking contest; thereby rounding out collaborative activities throughout the day. The benefits of collaborative art for young children (and adults!) is well-documented. Focusing as part of a whole reduces a sense of competition between artists; while also bringing a group together to focus on a common goal.

These sensibilities tie perfectly in with betterArts' mission, to increase accessibility to the arts in the North Country for all people. Whether a professional painter or toddler who loves to dip his or her hands in paint, we believe art is truly for everyone—and that the simple act of art for art's sake has the power to transform and improve lives.

Here are pictures of progress made on the group mural:

Many thanks to Soon Kai Poh, Tyler Howe, Kristen Caldwell, Jeff Krusel, and Nicole Caldwell for running Better Farm's table at the arts festival. Thanks to Scott Mueller for the canvas, Scott Mueller and Mark Dilks for drawing the outlines on the canvas, and Mike Brown for donating paints and brushes.

Summer Arts Festival Tomorrow in Watertown's Public Square

Click on flier for larger viewing size.

North Country Arts Council's annual Summer Arts Festival at Public Square is slated from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. tomorrow, Aug. 13, in Watertown.

Better Farm and betterArts will be at the event with literature about our upcoming events, artist residencies, internship program, and membership opportunities. We will also have a large canvas out for a collaborative, day-long art project with the public.

Here's the schedule for tomorrow's events:

Schedule Of Events

Dance Circle Center Square
Cartoon Friends Dance Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10:00
Rhonda’s Footeworks Dance Demos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12:00
Pre-School Dance Jam  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2:00
Gazebo
River Winds, Wind Ensemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:00
Gary Waltz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:30
Big Band Tent East Square
T’ai Chi Demos with Ann Halback . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10:00
Dan Hammond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 11:30
Arrythmias . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1:00
T’ai Chi Demos with Ann Halback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:15
Tas Cru Blues Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:00
Oceans Below . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:00
Footeworks Studio
Free Zumba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:00
Family Fun Dance Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:00
Free Hip Hop class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:30
Franklin Arcade
Author Reading and Storytelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10:15 - 12:45
Talking With…by Jane Martin 11 Monologues for Women . . . . 1:00
Author Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2:30 - 4:00
Arts On The Square
Historical Preservation Exhibit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . All Day
Oceans Below . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2:00 - 3:45
Plein Air Judging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2:30
Plein Air Art Work Auction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:30 - 4:00
Jefferson County Historical Society
Art History Exhibit  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10:00 - 4:00
Throughout Public Square
Stardust         2:00 - 3:00
All Day Fun includes Street Painting, Plein Air Artists at work,
Instrument Petting Zoo, Kid at HeART Tent, Better Farm
Community Mural, Live Demonstration

Here's a map of vendors who will be in attendance (click on graphic for larger viewing size):

This event is made possible, in part, with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Program, administered in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties by the St. Lawrence County Arts Council.

Waterjug Raga and Other Mikedelic Musings

Mike's beloved Doors project.

Better Farm's own Mike Brown, a permanent artist-in-residence (also our founder Steve Caldwell's nephew), is a staple here on the grounds. His artistic vision, music, and commitment to this space are  so natural, it's easy to take it for granted that he's busy creating 24 hours a day.

One of Mike's robots, sculpted, painted, bedazzled, and assembled using found objects on the property.

In recent weeks he's become increasingly absorbed by the old bus on the property, where he escapes to create and record music and video work. Late last night, he and fellow artist-in-residence Eric Drasin got together to jam, Eric on waterjug percussion and Mike on guitar...

eric drasin plays waterjug percussion with me on the bus as i riff out some eastern style drone stuff on my guitar. a rare live improv instrumental with genuine cricket sounds.

Click here to take a listen!

Here's an abridged list of some of Mike's other recent recordings:

Hollow Bones


Apocalyptic Apricot


Paisley Paramecium


Buddha Blues


To keep up with Mike and his creations, visit his blog here; or check out the latest music and videos on YouTube. For more information about the betterArts residency and to apply, click here.

Best Mosquito Killer on the Block

Black and Yellow Argiope, photo/Nicole Caldwell

There's any number of ways to eradicate pests, fertilize your plants, or prevent bug bites. Unfortunately, most of these options include harmful chemicals that are about as far away as you can get from keeping yourself safe and healthy. The practice of Permaculture, on the other hand, models human settlements and agricultural systems on relationships found in natural ecologies.

Permaculture methods are near and dear to our hearts at Better Farm; where we do all we can to encourage natural systems to do most of our dirty work (mulch gardening, companion planting, clothesline drying, rainwater harvesting, and so on. We're even looking into starting up a small beekeeping station near the garden to encourage bumble bees to pull up a chair and stay a while.

So my discovery last week of an ENORMOUS Black and Yellow Argiope taking up residence on Better Farm's front deck (complete with Fort Knox-esque webbery) led me to inquire a little bit about what kind of magical creature this could be—and what benefits it could be providing for the people here.  A little research by Better Farmer Tyler Howe led us to the following information:

The Black and Yellow Argiope is a common orb web spider. Orb web means it spins a web like a circle. Female spiders are much larger than males, growing almost an inch and a half long (editor's note—the spider on our front deck looks way bigger than 1.5 inches!!). Males grow about 3/4 inch long. Both spiders have a cephalothorax (small front body section) with silver hairs on it. The abdomen (large back section) is egg-shaped with black and yellow coloring. Legs of these spiders are black with red or yellow bands. Each leg has three claws on the end. Black and Yellow Argiopes live in fields and gardens. They can be found on shrubs, tall plants, and flowers. The web of this spider spirals out from the center and can be two feet across. The female builds the large web, and a male will build a smaller web on the outer part of her web. The male's web is a thick zig-zag of white silk.

Adorable. But here's the best part:


Black and Yellow Garden Spiders are harmless to humans. Because they are large, many people fear them; however, not only are they harmless, but they do a lot of good. These spiders eat large amounts of insect pests, such as flies, mosquitoes, and aphids.

Say bye bye bug zapper! Ditch the deet! Off the Off! Okay, okay. It's not like our own little Charlotte is going to remove our need to protect ourselves from the dreaded black flies, mosquitoes, or deer flies. But having friends like her (and our darling Better Farm dragonflies) does make a difference. Just another reason to keep the toxins away from your shrubs and gardens. Spiders like this should have a safe place to live so they can do what they do and, in doing so, help protect you from bug bites.

Between Shadows and Surrealism: The other-worldly works of Jessie Vogel

Shadow inspired by flag on Better Farm's front deck; recreated with hook and fabric sculpture; redrawn with charcoal on white wall.

Jessie Vogel, an MFA student earning her degree in 3-D sculpture at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, lived at Better Farm July 8-Aug. 7 as part of the betterArts residency program.

Her gallery opening Aug. 5 at the farm featured work from her series in shadows. Appearing last week on the local network MyABC50.com, Jessie described her work's surreal qualities.

Likening her shadows series to the sensation she experiences when reading Grimm fairy tales, Jessie called her sculptural pieces "light and fantastical, but... kind of bizarre." Shadows, she says, have an ability to be something that's not concrete; "possibly in this other reality." Jessie's job is to take that non-concrete shadow form and make it into something physical.

For her shadow series, Jessie described the "humorously decadent" process this way: She notices an interesting shadow, brings it into the physical world by essentially "sculpting" it out of found textiles and objects, then transports it back into its shadow world by drawing the shadows on the wall. In this way, Jessie said, she bridges the gap between what's real and unreal and makes that transition fluid.

At her gallery show last week in Better Farm's Art Barn, Jessie displayed several pieces she worked on during her time in Redwood. Here are those pieces, along with images from the event itself:

Swing made with wood pillar and chain found on Better Farm's property, along with sewn pieces of discarded fabric. Jessie left the swing at the Farm for future use by residents.

Soon Kai enjoys the barn swing.

Eric Drasin

The artist, seated next to a swinging Lizzi Musoke. On ground level are Eric Drasin, left, and Mike Brown.

To learn more about Jessie Vogel or to contact her, visit JessieVogel.com. For more information about the betterArts residency program or to apply, click here.

And When the Sky Was Opened...

By Elizabeth Musoke

So, the rain came down pretty hard yesterday afternoon. I was sitting in the house and I peered out of the window. I noticed that the barrel looked a shade darker than it normally did. I thought to myself, "No, way! Could we have collected that much water from one rain shower!?" I rushed downstairs to check it out.

From afar I thought I may have imagined it; maybe I was just seeing what I wanted to see...

But upon closer inspection, the water level in the barrel was just above the 12-gallon mark!

Turning the spigot, I let the collected rainwater run through my fingers.

For a small structure with a roof that is pretty steep, and thus has less of a surface area to capture rainwater, I thought this was quite the feat! This water can immediately be utilized for the garden and the greenhouse.

Think of the impact we could have if we all considered having some form of rainwater harvesting on our properties. The Birdhouse collected 12 gallons (from just one side of the roof)—imagine how much your roof could possibly collect (click here to find out!).

Ingredients for a Rainwater Catchment System: The final installment

By Elizabeth Musoke

It felt like Christmas came early this year, as the last screw tightened the downspout into place. We are proud to announce that the rainwater catchment system is up and running! We have never been so excited for it to rain. A special thanks goes out to Mark Huyser for his construction expertise and skills.

Here's how it all went down:

After we traced an outline for the opening, four holes were drilled at each corner, to allow the jigsaw (pictured above) to maneuver around the outline. 

The opening for the downspout.

Cinder blocks were used as a platform to raise the barrel off the ground and provide a stable setting for the barrel.

Soon Kai and Mark placing the spigot in the barrel.

A 3/4 inch hole was drilled into the barrel. The spigot was placed through the hole and reinforced by metal washers, rubber gaskets, and finally tightened by a bolt. The downspout was placed in the opening and insect screens were placed around the opening  to prevent mosquitoes and debris from entering the barrel. 

Et, Voila! 

So now, we have a working rainwater catchment system that can be used to supplement the watering needs of the greenhouse and the garden!  Well done, Team Better Farm!