The Poetry of Artist-in-Residence Bradley Harrison

Bradley Harrison reads his poems in Better Farm's Art Barn July 27.

Bradley Harrison is a graduate of the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas in Austin. His work can be found in New American Writing, The Los Angeles Review, Forklift Ohio, Gulf Coast, Poetry Northeast, Hunger Mountain, New Orleans Review, Best New Poets 2012 and elsewhere. His chapbook Diorama of a People, Burning is available from Ricochet Editions (2012).

Bradley spent the month of July at Better Farm through the betterArts residency program, which seeks to provide an opportunity for creative exploration and growth to artists, writers, and musicians within the context of Better Farm's dynamic environment.

Below is one of the poems Bradley wrote while at the farm. The piece utilizes words lifted from blog entries penned by Sustainability Education students at Better Farm during Bradley's stay. 

Barred Rock Ameraucana
To break I became a farm
of flowers.
To make from my fabric
a lampshade
I stumbled into woods
on rough cut legs—
Fermentation of loosestrife —
My pretty bit drowning—
Such out rung petals
in the cloth I used
in the room
with the rundown furniture,
rustic in the rinse
of handmade light.
I had hoped it much darker,
this handful of glass growing
deep in the bark,
an hour lastly
straining the free-floating
yeasts and the birds
with a tendency to vigil
the hillside, another
kind of clearing
cut just
to the nails.

Like what you see? Read more:
http://www.memorious.org/?id=362
http://smokinggluegun.com/2013/03/01/bradly-harrison-smith/
http://www.muzzlemagazine.com/bradley-harrison.html
http://www.dmqreview.com/12Fall/index2.html
http://haydensferryreview.blogspot.com/2013/04/contributor-spotlight-bradley-harrison.html

Redwood Field Days Aug. 22-24!

It's that time of year again!

The Redwood Volunteer Fire Department's 55th Annual Firemen's Field Days are just around the corner, from Aug. 22-24, in Redwood behind the fire hall. Here's the full rundown of events:

Thursday, Aug. 22 Fairgrounds open from 6-11:30 p.m., and the junk auction will be in full swing.
Friday Aug. 23 Fairgrounds open from 6-11:30 p.m.: Chicken BBQ starting at 4:30 p.m. Live band Amarillo Hot Country starts at 9.
Saturday Aug. 24 Fairgrounds open 4-11:30 p.m.: Kiddie Parade starting at noon, unlimited rides for one price starting after the kiddie parade until 5, Parade at 7. After the parade, enjoy a concert by The Original Yanks Drum and Bugle Corps, Live band R19 starting at 9, Raffle drawing at 11.
 
Midway rides and games all three nights are provided by Ontario Amusements.
 
Good food, great times, and awesome people.

Anyone wishing to march or put a float in the Redwood Field Days Parade on Aug. 24, contact Emt Scott Gleason, Vicki Kellogg or email redwoodfire37@gmail.com.

'Exceptional Family' Arts, Wellness Expo Slated at Better Farm Aug. 24

The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), in partnership with betterArts, will host its Exceptional Family Arts and Wellness Expo from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at Better Farm in Redwood.


The event, free and open to the public, will feature artwork and performance pieces by children enrolled in EFMP—as well artwork by children living locally. Among the events slated for that day are a dance performance with Amy Earle School of Dance, upcycling projects, yoga exercises run by Lotus Blooms Yoga, a gallery showcase of artwork by local students, arts 'n' crafts, tours of Better Farm's gardens and buildings, and locally produced food fired up on the grill along with organic, locally grown side dishes ($5/plate).

Representatives from Northern Lights Chiropractic will additionally be on-site offering massages and information about that company's services. 

The EFMP works with other military and civilian agencies to provide services for family members with special needs, including:

• Comprehensive and coordinated medical services
• Educational needs
• Housing needs
• Community support services
• Personnel services

The EFMP assists with the special physical, emotional, developmental, and intellectual needs by providing community support services such as resources, information and referral, advocacy, support groups, respite care and relocation assistance. An Exceptional Family Member (EFM) is defined as a dependent family member (child or adult) of an active duty soldier, who has a physical, emotional, developmental, behavioral, mental, or intellectual disorder requiring special treatment, therapy, education, training, or counseling on an on-going basis. Examples of EFMs include those with asthma, autism, ADD, diabetes, arthritis, depression, bipolar or schizophrenic symptoms, anxiety/phobias, panic disorders, learning disabilities, and those requiring special education services.

BetterArts has partnered with EFMP for this event in order to draw public attention to the creative genius of all children; and to increase public access to arts and culture in the North Country.

Families who would like their child to show art or participate in some way at this event (performances, readings, arts 'n' crafts enthusiasts, and more) are encouraged to contact Michelle at (315) 772-5488. 

The Family and MWR Exceptional Family Member Program helps provide support and required care for family members with disabilities and special needs, to better support the Soldiers and Family Members stationed at Fort Drum. For more information, click here. BetterArts increases access to programs like this and other arts and cultural opportunities throughout the North Country. To learn more about betterArts' mission and work, click here.

End-of-July Art Show, Poetry Reading, Graduation, and Superlatives

Bob Laisdell acts as keynote speaker at last week's graduation ceremony and art show.

Last week's graduation ceremony and art show celebrated the completed curriculum for Better Farm's Sustainability Education Program students Kara Colarusso, Jacob Firman, and Rebekah Kosier; and showcased the work of betterArts residents Ashley Jones and Bradley Harrison.

Master of Ceremonies was Bob Laisdell, who has an extensive background in farming and volunteered his time throughout the summer as a mentor for the Sustainability Education students. In addition to the distribution of diplomas, presentation of Ashley Jones' paintings, and poetry readings by Bradley Harrison, trophies were given out for superlatives like "Friendliest" and "Best Chef".

Here are photos from the event and after-party (all photos by betterArts' Director of Marketing, Holly Boname):

There is no way to properly thank everyone for making June and July so successful. To learn more about Better Farm's Sustainability Education Program, click here. For more information about betterArts' Residency Program, click here.

Turning Salad into Soul Food

We've been pairing salads with everything, like this homemade pesto dish from the garden.

At the farm, we have a HUGE amount of organic, buttercrunch lettuce we've been selling in bulk to stores and restaurants, and retail out of the farm stand. But we still have a lot leftover for our use in the house. Now, I’m not a big fan of lettuce or salads—kind of counterintuitive when you're flush with the stuff. I'm determined to change my ways. Also, this buttercrunch lettuce is a great source of

vitamin A, phytonutrients,

fiber, vitamin K, and folates: so it wouldn't hurt to add as much as possible to the diet.

Here's a little more about the

nutritional value of buttercrunch lettuce

, gleaned from LiveStrong.com:

Vitamins

Buttercrunch lettuce provides almost 70 percent of your DV for vitamin K, the nutrient responsible for proper clotting of blood. It also contributes more than one-third of your daily vitamin A needs. Vitamin A encourages strong vision and helps you fight infection. Additionally, buttercrunch offers 10 percent of your DV for folate, a nutrient that supports healthy pregnancies, brain development and may fight depression. Buttercrunch is higher in vitamin K than even Romaine lettuce but is not as high in vitamin A or folate.

Minerals

Each 1-cup serving of chopped or shredded buttercrunch lettuce provides between 2 and 5 percent of the DV for calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and manganese. The mineral content of butterhead-type lettuces is about the same as that in Romaine or iceberg lettuces.

So, I wanted to look up recipes that involved lettuce so I could get better at eating it on a regular basis. Now, I love a classic BLT and I found a recipe for a BLT salad. Another lettuce recipe I want to try is Artichoke Salad. I mean, who doesn't like artichokes? The recipe I found for that calls for  mushrooms, which I wouldn't have eaten a month ago but am now learning to love. The third salad I found is a Deep Dish Layered Salad. I'm working toward having a salad with every meal.

And of course remember that salads are great ways to do away with leftovers! In addition to any produce in your fridge, don't be afraid to toss last night's rice, beans, or what's left of your hummus, couscous, or pasta in as well.

BLT Salad

Ingredients

1 pound bacon (or vegan bacon, there are lots of kinds out there to choose from)

3/4 cup mayonnaise (or Veganaise/Nayonaise)

1/4 cup milk (soy milk will also work)

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

salt to taste

1 head lettuce - rinsed, dried and shredded

2 large tomatoes, chopped

2 cups seasoned

croutons

Directions

1. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat, turning frequently, until evenly browned. Drain, crumble and set aside. In a blender or food processor, combine mayonnaise, milk, garlic powder and black pepper. Blend until smooth. Season the dressing with salt. Combine lettuce, tomatoes, bacon and croutons in a large salad bowl. Toss with dressing, and serve immediately.

Artichoke Salad

Ingredients

.7 ounces of Italian-style salad dressing

1 cup sour cream (or vegan sour cream equivalent, Tofutti makes a great one)

4 cups chopped lettuce

1 cup chopped red bell pepper

1 cup chopped broccoli

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

1/4 cup diced onion

1 can (14 ounces) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

Directions

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream and Italian dressing mix.

2. In a large bowl, toss together the lettuce, red pepper, broccoli, mushrooms, onion and artichoke hearts. Top with dressing and toss until evenly coated. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Deep Dish Layered Salad

Ingredients

2 eggs

1 1/2 heads lettuce - rinsed, dried, and shredded

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup chopped green bell pepper 

1 cup chopped green onions

2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

2 cups frozen green peas, thawed

2 tablespoons bacon bits

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

2 cups mayonnaise

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon curry powder 

Directions

1. Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil; cover, remove from heat, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the eggs from hot water, cool, peel and chop.

2. Layer 1/2 of the lettuce in the bottom of a large bowl. Follow with a layer of celery, bell pepper, green onion, mushrooms, peas and egg. Top with remaining lettuce.

3. Prepare the dressing by whisking together the mayonnaise, brown sugar, garlic powder and curry powder. Spread evenly over top of salad. Sprinkle with bacon bits and Parmesan cheese. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Want to get some lettuce of your very own? Stop by our farmstand or email info@betterfarm.org.

Field Trip to Cool Fish Art Studios

Cool Fish Art by Scott Mueller.

A few people from Better Farm last week took a field trip to Cool Fish Art Studios in Redwood to look at some pieces by the studio's owner and artist Scott Mueller—and to make some fish paintings of their own.


Scott runs his studio-gallery out of a renovated barn on his property. His work was featured at the North Country Arts Council in Watertown throughout July and will be at the St. Lawrence County Arts Council's space this month. Scott has finished pieces available for sale, but also loves creating custom pieces for the office or home—as well as designs for murals, prints, sweatshirts, or T-shirts.

Here's the farm crew playing around with some paints:

Poet-in-residence Brad Smith makes some fish art.

Intern Katie Mollica shows off her piece.

My Betty Boop fish.

Many thanks to Scott Mueller for welcoming us into his home, sharing his artistic process with us, and for helping us make cool fish art! Check out more of his work by clicking here.

Art Show of the Amazing Ashley Jones

Last weekend's Better Farm Graduation and betterArts Opening featured paintings by betterArts resident Ashley Jones of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Ashley Jones is a visual artist with a BFA in printmaking from California College of the Arts. She attended Clayworks on Columbia in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Diablo Valley College in Pleasonton, Calif. Her work has been shown extensively at galleries from coast to coast and she has been the recipient of several scholarships and awards for her art. Ashley lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The pieces she showed in the betterArts gallery space July 27 were from her two weeks spent on the Better Farm campus. Here are a few of those pieces:

To purchase one of these pieces, commission the artist, or see more of her work, click here. All of the above photos taken by Holly Boname. To learn more about the betterArts Residency Program, click here.

DIY Simple Graywater System

We use

rainwater catchment

barrels and gutters on various outbuildings at

Better Farm

to trap water for use in irrigation and basic washing stations, like over at the

Art Barn

.

But recently, I acquired a small cottage that has no

graywater

solutions to speak of. The only running water comes off the kitchen sink, where I'm of course using natural biodegradable dish soap free of dyes and perfumes. Still, I wanted to filter the nutrients from the water so they didn't end up in the ground—or worse still—the lake the cottage is surrounded by. There's a larger renovation project looming; but for now, I wanted a temporary fix for how I deal with graywater from that kitchen sink.

With a little muscle, the help of the crew at Better Farm, and a lot of Google searches, we came up with a very simple, temporary system that could see a multitude of applications for anyone interested in filtering collected rainwater, or for filtering graywater from a shower or washing machine. Keep in mind that more sophisticated filtration systems are necessary if you plan to drink the water you're filtering; or for brown water like that coming from toilets. Also, remember that having a graywater filtration system doesn't exempt you from needing to be mindful about what you put

into

the drain—specifically, that with so many biodegradable, scent-free options out there, there's really no reason to still be using cleaning products chock-full of chemicals that are harmful to the environment (and more specifically, you).

Because the system I was working with is so small, we used a 5-gallon bucket instead of the recommended 55-gallon drum. You can adjust your needs accordingly. Here's what we did (instructions gleaned, and slightly tweaked, from over at

eHow

, with photos from

EcoExist

):

Materials

• 55-gallon barrel (we used a 5-gallon bucket)

• Plastic spigot

• Hose clamp

• Nylon hose

• Sand

• Crushed stone

• Weed mat

• Gravel

• Garden hose

Instructions

Install a spigot at the bottom of your barrel using a drill with appropriate-sized bit. Be sure to put a rubber washer between your spigot and barrel to create a good seal.

Pour a 6-inch layer of stone into the container once your spigot is in place. Put a sheet of weed mat or window screen (or other mesh or filter) on top of the stone, cut to fit the circular barrel. Pour in a 10-inch layer of sand on top of the weed mat. Put a 1-inch layer of gravel over top to hold the sand in place. This will be the filtering system of your gray water.

Divert your water. A discharge hose can go directly into your drum with a hose attached to the bottom spigot. You can leave the spigot open with the hose running directly to plants or the ground, or it can go into another barrel for use later in the day. Be sure to use the water as soon as possible, as the bacteria present in the water will multiply quickly, which would make the water unusable on edible plants and foul-smelling. 

Here's a more comprehensive, long-term design that utilizes living plants in a soil-box planter that's hooked to your filtration system to further clean the water before it's dispersed for irrigation. We found this design over at

SuperForest

:

The recycled water from your shower filtered through a grey water system that uses plants, microbes, and passive materials like sand and gravel to clean it. The water is then used in the laundry system, and then recycled once more into the garden. In permaculture we call this function stacking; in this case the function we are stacking is share and clever use and re-use of water. The simplicity of the system is delightful. From human to garden to human to garden, as long as the water passes from one to the next in the proper sequence, the theoretical yield of this wonderfully precious water is limitless. We could conceivably design our buildings (i.e. homes) to collect, store, filter, heat and distribute hot water. Our buildings could also house our gardens, baths, kitchens, and laundry systems. All systems that we humans share that require the use of water must be consolidated and streamlined with an eye toward creative re-use and shared access.

For information on recommended biodegradable products suitable for graywater systems,

click here

.

The recycled water from your shower filtered through a grey water system that uses plants, microbes, and passive materials like sand and gravel to clean it. The water is then used in the laundry system, and then recycled once more into the garden. In permaculture we call this function stacking; in this case the function we are stacking is share and clever use and re-use of water. The simplicity of the system is delightful. From human to garden to human to garden, as long as the water passes from one to the next in the proper sequence, the theoretical yield of this wonderfully precious water is limitless. We could conceivably design our buildings (i.e. homes) to collect, store, filter, heat and distribute hot water. Our buildings could also house our gardens, baths, kitchens, and laundry systems. All systems that we humans share that require the use of water must be consolidated and streamlined with an eye towards creative re-use and shared access. - See more at: http://superforest.org/tag/water-recycling/#sthash.PTH3YLg6.dpuf

Incoming Bounty

Organic beets!

The North Country saw a late start to gardening season this year, with a ridiculously wet spring and cool start to summer. Now that things have settled down and we're on the brink of August, the food crops are finally catching up to the season. Here's a quick tour of how plants at Better Farm are faring:

Reliance peach trees in the fruit orchard are going wild, though it will be another year or two before they start bearing fruit:

 ...and our newly planted fig trees are doing beautifully:

We have a TON of salad greens that are all doing very well, including this Asian variety:

 ..and look at all this buttercrunch lettuce!

Our peppers have flowers and should be taking shape in the next week or two:

...ditto for our pole and bush beans:

We've got gorgeous organic cabbage coming in:

 ...and bunches of multi-colored Swiss chard:

Even the zucchini, which seemed to take forever, is finally waking up after a long battle with squash bugs:

...and in the next week or two, we promise to have a bazillion tomatoes:

 A personal favorite, ARTICHOKES!

...and oodles of onions:

Carrots are almost ready:

...and asparagus beans:

 Sugar baby watermelons are on their way as well:

...and our first batch of potatoes are just about ready to tumble out of their tires:

Be sure to check our farm stand for fresh produce daily, or call ahead at (315) 482-2536 or email info@betterfarm.org for custom orders.

Music Festival Set Aug. 17 at Better Farm

betterArts

presents its second music festival of the summer starting at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at

Better Farm

in Redwood.

The event will feature live musical acts, including headliners

The Aristocrats

and

The Great Fraud

. Concession stands will offer food and beverages for purchase, with all proceeds benefiting arts and sustainability outreach in the North Country. Campsites are also available for overnight lodging at a rate of $10/person/night; please email

info@betterfarm.org

for further information.

The event is free and open to the public. For the most up-to-date information and directions, visit

www.betterarts.org/summerfest

.

The set schedule is as follows:

• Stone White, 4:30 p.m.

• Crow's Landing, 5:30 p.m.

• Fox Richardson, 6:30 p.m.

• The Aristocrats, 7:30 p.m.

• Robert J. Finch, 9 p.m. 

• The Great Fraud 10 p.m.

betterArts is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose purpose is to increase access to the arts in the North Country and beyond through the provisions of free and low-cost workshops, gallery openings, performances, festivals, and artist residencies. To learn more or to make a donation, visit

www.betterarts.org

.

Better Farm is located at 31060 Cottage Hill Road in Redwood, N.Y. Musical acts interested in performing are encouraged to email

info@betterarts.org

.

Better Bouldering

From left: Bradley Harrison Smith, Kara Colarusso, Jacob Firman, Sean Durning, Nicole Caldwell, and Rebekah Kosier install a bouldering wall on Better Farm's Art Barn.

We've got a brand-spanking-new bouldering wall at Better Farm, perched along an outside wall of the Art Barn.

Bouldering is a branch of rock climbing that involves climbing low rocks and boulders. It is often designed to be extremely challenging; so that while the climber may not go very high, he or she will have to be physically fit and very skilled. Bouldering is usually practiced with a large mat, so that if the climber falls, he or she will not be injured. It is also generally done in pairs, in case an emergency arises.

A bouldering wall is a type of rock-climbing wall designed specifically for the practice of bouldering. Like a conventional climbing wall, a bouldering wall is constructed with a sturdy wooden backing, and is designed to accommodate climbing holds of various shapes and sizes. Indoor and outdoor versions can be found around the world for practice, fitness, and recreation, and it is also possible to build your own bouldering wall. (Info from WiseGeek)
  

For our setup at Better Farm, we didn't build anything onto the existing wall; instead we simply used studs to anchor our hand and footholds. Most of what we did involved guesswork: stretching ourselves out to determine where the next piece should go, retracing our steps to pick alternative spots for additional pieces.

Check out Metolius Climbing for a great tutorial on constructing a bouldering gym at home.

Trellising Tips

Homemade tomato trellises.

We've all seen tomato cages before, but there are much cheaper, more common-sense ways to trellis your fruits and veggies using discarded items you can find around your house.

Tomato Trellis: The "Stake-A-Cage"
The Old World Garden Farms' website has a great set of comprehensive instructions for building a tomato "Stake-A-Cage" trellis system for tomatoes and peppers. The simple plans involve nothing more than chicken wire, wooden stakes, and fencing nails. Each trellis will run you about $2 if you have to buy materials—but at Better Farm we had no problem tracking down some chicken wire and wood scraps to make the whole thing. Click here for full instructions. Here are a few shots of our finished Stake-A-Cages:

Other Simple Trellis Ideas
The basic premis of trellises couldn't be simpler: give viney, climbing plants something to grow onto. That can mean old dog gates, bed frames, ladders, poles, fencing, chicken wire, and many other items fair game for upcycling into trellises. Here are a few we're employing at Better Farm:

Asparagus beans climb a baby gate turned sideways.

A kiwi vine climbs the garden fence at Better Farm.

Loofah sponges make their way across a raised bed and up a wooden post.

Pole beans make their way along a bunk bed frame.

Got a great DIY tip for the garden? Email us at info@betterfarm.org.

Art Show, Poetry Reading, Graduation Ceremonies This Saturday!

"A Mobile Lifestyle", Ashley Jones.

"Toolbox Diptych", Ashley Jones.

Please join us for Better Farm's July commencement ceremonies at 7 p.m. this Saturday, July 27 at Better Farm's Art Barn!

The event, free and open to the public, will feature a gallery showing of paintings by betterArts resident Ashley Jones; poetry reading by betterArts resident Bradley Harrison Smith; and a commencement ceremony for Better Farm's June and July interns Kara Colarusso, Jacob Firman, and Rebekah Kosier. Hors d'ouvres and refreshments will be provided. This is a great opportunity to see (and hear!) locally produced art, meet the cast of characters at Better Farm, and learn more about the programming available right here in Redwood.

About the Artists
 
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Bradley Harrison Smith graduated in May with an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas. The Colfax, Iowa, native recently completed his first full-length poetry collection, which is pending publication, and has published a chapbook of poems called "Diorama of a People, Burning" through Ricochet Editions at the University of Southern California. He worked during his residency on new poems he seeks to develop into a second, full-length collection.

Ashley Jones is a visual artist who with a BFA in printmaking from California College of the Arts. She attended Clayworks on Columbia in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Diablo Valley College in Pleasonton, Calif. Her work has been shown extensively at galleries from coast to coast and she has been the recipient of several scholarships and awards for her art. Ashley lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. See more of her work here.

About the Sustainability Students

Kara Colarusso is a graduate of Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla., where she majored in environmental studies. Her experience with environmental education through a program called "Edible Peace Patch" and her volunteer work at Eckerd's campus garden prepared her to spend the past month gaining a sustainability education at Better Farm. Kara seeks to pursue her interests in sustainability, as well as become certified as a yoga instructor.

Jacob Firman is a student at Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, where his focus is on environmental studies. During his time at Better Farm, he became particularly interested in topics he could pay forward when he returns to school in the fall; namely, compost and aquaponics. He also created his own independent study in fermentation; facilitating projects to create sauerkraut and ginger beer, among other fermentation projects. He plans to present proposals at Oberlin to initiate a compost system for food halls on-campus, and install aquaponics systems in on-campus housing.

Rebekah Kosier is a political science student at Wells College in Aurora, N.Y. She grew up in rural Alabama, where she had the opportunity to witness the process of farming and to know many farmers; but sought an education in sustainability at Better Farm in order to connect sustainable farming practices to her interest in food sovereignty. Her goal in college is to learn about ways to transform how people interact with political institutions through the use of food and farming. 

Better Farm's Art Barn is located at 31060 Cottage Hill Road in Redwood, N.Y. For further information, please call (315) 482-2536 or email info@betterfarm.org. To learn more about betterArts' residency program or Better Farm's sustainability education program, follow these links: www.betterarts.org/residencies and www.betterfarm.org/sustainability-internship.