Educational Tree-Planting Partnership with DEC Enters Third Year

Better Farm

is entering its third year of a partnership with the

Department of Environmental Conservation's School Seedling Program

, which seeks to

encourage young people to learn about the natural world and the value of trees in it

. We will invite local youngsters this spring to join us for a morning of planting 50 white spruce seedlings on our property, our mission being to provide visitors to

Better Farm

with the knowledge of how beneficial trees are to the environment.

Each year, we pledge to

plant at least 100 trees

on the property of Better Farm and in its surrounding environs. This process replenishes our local habitat and compensates for the loss of trees throughout the year due to a variety of factors (namely ice storms!). We also harvest standing-dead trees on the property, which makes way for new growth. In the last two years, we've planted 100 trees from the DEC,

dozens of fruit trees

,

weeping willows

, transplanted at least 30 pine trees, and started from seed more than 150

black walnuts

.

Most of us recognize the beauty of trees and their many other values. Trees provide food and shelter for wildlife and prevent

erosion

. They help protect our streams and lakes by stabilizing soil and using nutrients that would otherwise wash into waterways. Trees help moderate temperature and muffle noise. They even help improve air quality by absorbing some airborne compounds that could be harmful to us, and by giving off oxygen.

When students plant tree seedlings, they can see for themselves the structure of trees, learn what they need, and how they grow. Reps from Better Farm will  use the planting process to discuss the benefits trees provide, while including many subjects that their classes are studying. As seedlings mature, the young trees can be a continuing, personalized way of relating what they've learned in books to visible, living examples. We'll be utilizing mulch and compost while we plant, so students gain the added benefit of learning about how their food waste can help nourish other plants.

Better Farm's

sustainability students

will provide ongoing care to the young trees throughout their development.

Stay tuned for our planting date! In the meantime, learn more about this program by

clicking here.

To be notified via email or phone of the tree-planting date when it is determine, email us at

info@betterfarm.org

.

The Downside of Free-Range Chickens

Caught red-handed: This sleazy possum wrought havoc among our chicken family and was forced to relocate.

It's a truism of animal stewardship: The more freedom you wish for your animals, the greater the risk of compromised safety.

We abide at Better Farm by the words of Edward Abbey, who puts it like this: "Freedom, not safety, is the highest good." With that tenet in mind, we encourage the animals (and humans) here to create their own destinies. For the dogs, that means unlimited space to run around and do dog things. For the chickens, that means 65 acres of land to scratch, peck, and turn over. For the people, that means designing their own curriculum, solving many of their own problems, and taking on individual projects that inspire them without the Big Brotherliness of being micromanaged or corrected all the time like they might be in a traditional classroom.

Sounds dreamy, but remember: There's a price one pays for all things.

Freedom to do largely as you wish means you're susceptible to all the things freedom brings: the ability to fail, the very real threat of putting yourself in harm's way, and the possibility of the Great Unknown; which may be wonderful or tragic. So although we subscribe to the "freedom over safety" rule, it's not always the easiest perspective to live with. This is where the Better Theory comes in; reminding us that each tragedy offers space for growth and understanding.

By choosing to allow our dogs endless space to run, we're always worried they might hang out in the road at the wrong time or run into a herd of porcupines or some other such thing. Allowing chickens to roam freely around the property, we face many potential hardships. Our birds weather the harshest of winters, coming inside only for medical care and R-and-R should they sustain an injury or frostbite—like Penelope here (pictured with her brave guard dog Han Solo), who's almost fully recovered since coming in out of the winter chill to defrost her feet:

We also run a high risk of our flock stumbling upon a host of North Country predators: hawks, eagles, coyotes, vehicles, foxes, raccoons, bobcats, and the list goes on. No time is the threat so large as toward the end of a particularly harsh winter; when would-be predators are just about starved and willing to do any crazy old thing in order to get an easy and satisfying meal. We go out of our way for this very reason to build chicken coops out of thick wood that sit high up off the ground, and we are diligent about closing the coops up tight promptly at sunset every evening.

My heart sank Monday night when I went outside to tuck the birds in and found absolutely none of them in their coops. Zilch. Zero. Nada. After a quick search around the yard I found them, huddled under the back deck and on top of it, letting out nervous coo sounds. I knew a predator was afoot; but couldn't determine in the waning sunlight what had happened. Then, I found our most prized rooster, Big Mama, very well near decapitated and lying in a pool of his own blood. Seems I (or the dogs) scared the predator away when we came outside. The evildoer wasn't able to finish the job.

RIP Big Mama. 2012-2014

Armed only with a so-so flashlight that evening, it was tough to find footprints or blood trails to piece this case together. So the next day, heavy with grief, I did what I could. I found signs of struggles: piles of feathers here and there, spatters of blood. The crime came into focus: whatever attacked Big Mama did so as a last resort. Likely going for one of the slower-moving old or young birds, our beautiful rooster had put himself into harm's way for the good of his hens. (Editor's note: Unsurprisingly, a significantly less loveable rooster, Kiwi, was found cowering with the rest of the hens out of harm's way.) A noticeable detail about the case was the brazenness of a wild animal to come so close to a house on 24-hour surveillance by two large dogs and constant human traffic. I mean, look at how close the chickens hang out to the house all winter long:

I let the dogs outside to sniff around and see what they could find. Their trail turned up cold.

Wednesday afternoon while working in the library, I saw the chickens hopping high up off the ground and making a huge racket. I walked outside and found a possum with several fresh battle scars on his face and tail (good work Big Mama!). Outfitted in a pair of slippers and without any weaponry or appropriate caging materials, I shooed the possum away from the hen houses, ran back inside, and grabbed a Havahart trap from the basement. I set the trap up before sunset, and by midnight we had him:

Don't be fooled by that sleepy/dead act. Possums are famous for it. Here he is yesterday morning when I was loading him into my Fiat (seriously, not the best car for relocating marsupials. Waaaay too close for comfort):

And here he is being released well away from any chickens:

So we all breathed a sigh of relief—until yesterday afternoon, when another possum was found lumbering across the back deck directly in front of the sliding glass doors. Kobayashi Maru dog was all over this, grabbing the possum like a chew toy until she went limp. Again, she was faking.

Here she is, after we saved her from the dog and put her into the trap for relocation:

So the possum wars are on. It's a good sign spring is surely on its way; but it also means lots of trap-setting and hands-wringing to ensure our flock enjoys all the benefits freedom brings—with as few hardships as possible.

If you've got an animal you'd like to relocate, please be mindful of relocation laws in your state. Many states insist you call in animal control or gain a permit in order to relocate on your own. Got a predator issue? Click here to determine what's going after your flock.

Garden Calendar

The most wonderful time of winter.

The seeds have arrived!

It truly, finally, really really really feels like spring is just around the corner. Which means it's time to address Better Farm's planting timeline to ensure we get everything going at the precisely right moment. Mapping gardens, starting seeds, and turning compost also happens to be the most wonderful way to shake off the heaviness of winter.

There are a few very important components to consider when planning your garden calendar. They are: analyzing what worked and what didn't in last year's garden (taking into account unusual weather patterns); listing what food and flowers you want to grow this year; mapping your garden; starting your seeds; nourishing your seedlings; readying the greenhouse (or wherever you keep your transplantables); and, finally, transplanting and/or direct-planting. All of the above-mentioned bullet points are affected entirely by what planting zone you're in. So if you haven't already, hop over to the USDA's website to determine which zone you're in (be advised that these zones were recently updated to reflect a slight change in climate, so it's worth taking a peek!). Here's our map for New York:

As you can see by the illustration, we float in the North Country around Zone 4, with occasional forays (depending on the year) between zones 3 and 5. Based on this information, here's what the garden calendar looks like for Better Farm from January through June:

January

• Begin brainstorming which seeds we want, what flowers we want to grow, and what we'll be getting locally. Fresh crop of seeds sprinkled in aquaponics and hydroponics

February

• Order seeds, organize seeds from last summer (left over and saved from 2013 plants)
• Recalibrate house plants: transplant into larger containers, fertilize with water from aquaponics and hydroponics, trim, pollinate, and separate as needed
• Sprinkle another round of seeds in the hydroponics and aquaponics

March

• First week of March—plant slow-growers inside (or in greenhouse if weather allows): Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, artichokes, broccoli, etc.
• St. Patrick's Day—plant peas outside
• Late March—plant rest of slow-growers in greenhouse: tomatoes, leeks, onions, etc.
• Unwrap fruit trees
• Pull burdock around pond

April

• Clear beds for regrowth: leeks, asparagus, garlic
• Plant potatoes outside
• Mulch like crazy: In rows, between rows, around fruit trees
• Build raised beds as needed
• Turn compost
• Begin harvesting asparagus 
• Bring bulbs outside and plant
• Plant new trees
• Plant spinach outside
• Clean up insect hotel for new visitors 
• Nurture seedlings; move any baby plants from inside to greenhouse

May

• Six-month cleanout of aquaponics and hydroponics, fertilize, transplant, sprinkle new seeds
• Continue nurturing seedlings in greenhouse
• Turn compost
• Transplant hardiest immature plants from greenhouse to gardens
• Mulch garden, trees
• Rake out herb beds, bring excess mulch to compost pile or main garden

June

• Transplant all remaining seedlings from greenhouse to garden
• Direct-plant squash, lettuce, all herbs, beans, etc.

Think Clean Thoughts

We all like to keep a clean house; but have you ever read the back of a cleaning product label? The chemicals riddling the very products we use to make our homes sanitary have a frightening tendency to be extremely bad for us. Perfumes, dyes, and composition seem designed to wreak havoc with the systems of our respiratory, immune, and epidermis.

Here are some great recipes that will save you a bunch of money—and won't damage that temple of a body you've got.

BATHROOM CLEANER

• 3/4 c. baking soda

• juice from 1/2 a lemon (about 1/4 c)

• 3 tablespoons salt

• 3 tablespoons liquid dishwashing soap

• 1/2 cup vinegar

• 10 drops essential oil (optional)

Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl to make a paste; use scrub brush or sponge to apply to tub, shower walls, & sinks.  (Be sure to test a small area to make sure paste does not scuff tub surface; if so, eliminate the salt from the mixture!  Rinse well with water and a wet rag, then dry with a clean rag or old towel. (

From Living Well, Spending Less

)

BLEACH ALTERNATIVE

Bleach is inexpensive, widely used and relatively safe when used in the correct amounts. Excessive bleach exposure, however, may cause irritation in the eyes, mouth, lungs and on skin—especially for asthma and allergy sufferers. Bleach mixed with other household cleaners, such as ammonia, can even result in the release of toxic fumes. Bleach manufacturing also produces dioxin, a chemical that is harmful to the environment.

• Vinegar is an effective natural disinfectant, and even kills both salmonella and E. coli, making it a valuable sanitizer in the kitchen.

• Vinegar, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide work together to give you an effect equal to bleach.

• 4-cup baking soda and 1⁄2-cup white vinegar with warm water to scrub down tile. Clean glass surfaces by mixing equal amounts vinegar and water in a spray bottle.

• Skip using hydrogen peroxide on the countertops, and add it to your laundry as a bleach alternative. A cup of hydrogen peroxide will brighten your whites.

• Or try this recipe for from Grit: 12 cups water, 1/4 cup lemon juice (or grapefruit juice), 1 cup hydrogen peroxide.  Add 2 cups per wash load or put in spray bottle and use as a household cleaner.

• Sunlight! Ultraviolet radiation of the sun kills pathogens that cause diarrhea.E xposing a bottle of water to sunlight for 6 hours is an economical way to provide developing countries with safe drinking water. Use this to your advantage by taking objects outside on a sunny day for disinfecting. If you've got white laundry with stains, spray with lemon juice or vinegar, then hang in the sun.

FURNITURE POLISH

• 3/4 cup olive oil

• juice from 1/4  lemon

• 1 tablespoon vinegar

• 3-4 drops lemon essential oil (optional)

Dampen rag & squeeze out excess water.  Dip damp rag into furniture polish, the wipe on surface of furniture.  Buff off with an old dry towel.  Can also be used to polish stainless steel!

(

From Living Well, Spending Less

)

GENERAL CLEANING

just 10 different products

–most of which I already have on hand–can be combined in

10 different ways

to make

10 different awesome, green, & super thrifty cleaners

.  10x10x10….how cool is that?

Read more at

http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2013/03/13/green-thrifty-cleaning-products/#psxoEcE5IPgvhhQm.99

There are 10 magic ingredients you can keep on-hand that can be combined in 10 different ways to give you 10 green cleaners. Here they are, courtesy of

Living Well, Spending Less

:

white vinegar

baking soda

lemons and/or lemon juice

salt

olive oil

Ivory bar soap

liquid dishwashing soap 

washing soda

borax

essential oils

(I like lemon, lemongrass, & eucalyptus)

Read more at

http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2013/03/13/green-thrifty-cleaning-products/#psxoEcE5IPgvhhQm.99

just 10 different products

–most of which I already have on hand–can be combined in

10 different ways

to make

10 different awesome, green, & super thrifty cleaners

.  10x10x10….how cool is that?

Read more at

http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2013/03/13/green-thrifty-cleaning-products/#psxoEcE5IPgvhhQm.99

just 10 different products

–most of which I already have on hand–can be combined in

10 different ways

to make

10 different awesome, green, & super thrifty cleaners

.  10x10x10….how cool is that?

Read more at

http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2013/03/13/green-thrifty-cleaning-products/#psxoEcE5IPgvhhQm.99

• White vinegar

• Baking soda

• Lemons or lemon juice

• Salt

• Olive oil

• Ivory bar soap

• Liquid dishwashing soap

• Washing soda

• Borax

• Essential oils like lemongrass, lemon and eucalyptus

GLASS CLEANER

• 1 1/2 cups vinegar

• 1 1/2  cups water

• 5-10 drops essential oil (optional)

Mix vinegar, water, & essential oil together in spray bottle.  Spray on glass & use squeegee, crumpled newspaper (Tip: use newspapers that are at least 2 weeks old to avoid black fingers!), or a lint-free rag to get a streak-free shine.  Also works well to shine chrome and countertops after you’ve disinfected them.

(

From Living Well, Spending Less

)

LAUNDRY DETERGENT

• 1 bar Ivory soap

• 1 cup borax

• 1 cup washing powder

Place Ivory soap in a large microwave safe bowl.  Heat in the microwave for 2 minutes, until soap turns to foam.  Quickly stir foam until it becomes small soap chips, then mix well with borax and washing powder.  Allow to cool completely, then store in airtight container.  Use 1-2 tablespoons per load.  (Tip:  This detergent works best in warm or hot water; for cold water washing you may want to first dissolve in 1/4 c. of hot water.) 

(

From Living Well, Spending Less

)

POWERFUL MILDEW AND MOLD SPRAY

Rooted Blessings

has a great mold and mildew spray recipe that wreaks havoc on all things damp and dingy. With a combination of alcohol and anti-fungal essential oils, kick your existing mold problem and keep it from growing back.

• 1 Cup Distilled Water

• 1 Cup Vodka

• 10 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil

• 10 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil

• 10 drops Lavender Essential Oil

Combine all the above ingredients and pour into a spray bottle. Spray this powerful mold and mildew spray directly on your mold or mildew problem. If it is really a bad problem leave on for 30 minutes or more before you wipe clean.

WALL WASH/MR. CLEAN MAGIC ERASER

If you're a parent with little kids in your home (or you live at

Better Farm

), you know the magical prowess of Mr. Clean Magic Erasers.

• 1/2 tsp. of Borax (there has been some question on the safety of Borax, Please see our article here on “Is Borax Safe or Not and Should it Be Used in Natural Cleaners” post HERE. 

• 1 tsp of Baking Soda

• 1/2 cup of hot water

First, place the 1/2 tsp. of Borax in a shallow bowl.  Pour the hot water on top and mix with a fork, spoon or whisk until dissolved. Then add the 1 tsp. of baking soda and mix until all powder is dissolved and the water is nearly clear in color. If after cleaning you have a white film left on your walls, reduce the Borax and Baking soda to 1/4 each as a little does a lot and reduce the chance of a film on your walls for those few that have had that experience. In addition, wipe your walls after cleaning with a damp rag. 

CREAMY SOFT SCRUBBER

Simply pour about 1/2 cup of

baking soda

into a bowl, and add enough liquid detergent to make a texture like frosting. Scoop the mixture onto a sponge, and wash the surface. This is the perfect recipe for cleaning the bathtub because it rinses easily and doesn’t leave grit.

Note: Add 1 teaspoon of vegetable glycerin to the mixture and store in a sealed glass jar, to keep the product moist. Otherwise just make as much as you need at a time.

(

From

Care2 Healthy Living

)

STAINLESS STEEL CLEANER

• 2 tablespoons baking soda

• 1/2 cup vinegar

• 2 cups warm water

Mix ingredients in spray bottle.  Mixture will foam up; when it stops bubbling, put on cap and spray stainless steel surface, then wipe clean & dry with lint-free rag.  To add extra shine, use furniture polish above.

(

From Living Well, Spending Less

)

TOILET BOWL CLEANER

• 1 cup baking soda

• 1 cup vinegar

• 10 drops essential oil (optional)

Turn off flow valve to toilet & flush 1 or 2 times until water is drained.  Pour in baking soda, then slowly pour in vinegar, being sure to get vinegar to cover as much of the bowl surface as possible, then add essential oil.  The baking soda will react with the vinegar–this is normal!  Use your toilet brush to scrub surface & remove any rings or stains.  Turn water back on and flush.

(

From Living Well, Spending Less

)

VINEGAR DEODORIZER

Keep a clean spray bottle filled with straight 5 percent vinegar in your kitchen near your cutting board and in your bathroom and use them for cleaning. Spray the vinegar on our cutting board before going to bed, letting it sit overnight.  The smell of vinegar dissipates within a few hours. Straight vinegar is also great for cleaning the toilet rim. Just spray it on and wipe off. (From

Care2 Healthy Living

)

Better Radio Program Kicks Off

Students at Indian River High School practice uploading audio files.

Better Radio kicked off yesterday with a betterArts visit to journalism students at Indian River High School in Philadelphia, N.Y.

Those students—armed with a tapestry of interests ranging from sports to singing—will utilize technology provided by betterArts to create audio files, podcasts, and music tracks that will then be broadcast on-air, online, and via the students' school newspaper, Warrior Ink.

Zach Anderson, newspaper adviser and member of the English department at IRHS, invited board members from betterArts in to speak with his journalism students about the non-profit's New Media project.

During class, reps from betterArts introduced students to these recorders:

Sony digital voice recorder, left, and AGPtek 4GB rechargeable digital sound voice recorder.

After playing with the record, playback, stop, start, and file-browsing options, students were walked through the process of uploading sound files to their computers. Over the course of the next few weeks, the teenagers will record stories or performances of their choice; and betterArts will return to go over sound editing, podcast creation, and posting audio files on the Internet.

The content will be featured here on our blog, and on Warrior Ink—which is produced entirely online by its IRHS student reporters. Once betterArts is broadcasting live on FM radio, selections from these students' work will also be played on-air.

Warrior Ink is the official student newspaper of Indian River High School, Philadelphia New York, and has been published exclusively online since Fall 2012.  We are dedicated student journalists bringing you all the news we can, roughly twice a month.  All content featured is written and edited by IRHS students, except photos where noted. - See more at: http://warriorink.org/about/#sthash.5rRnwx4D.dpuf

Students get acquainted with tiny digital voice recorders yesterday in Philadelphia, N.Y.

Scott Smith, left, and Mike Brown work with students to upload audio files.

Check out the amazing work of these students on their student newspaper website here. For more information on Better Radio and to become a partner or sponsor, visit www.betterarts.org/better-radio. Many thanks to Best Buy Children's Foundation for making this project possible.

Better Farm's First-Ever CSA Program

An afternoon harvest from last fall.

Better Farm' s Community-Supported Agriculture program is designed to bring individuals and families living locally weekly shares of fresh produce from Better Farm's gardens at extremely affordable rates.

Community-Supported Agriculture, or CSAs, allow individuals or families to have direct access to high-quality, fresh produce grown locally. When you join a CSA, you're buying a “share” of produce from a particular farm or group of farms. Better Farm's CSA runs weekly from May 1 through the end of November, about 31 weeks. CSA members can visit Better Farm on a weekly basis to pick up their shares of produce. CSA members pay for the entire season of produce up-front. This early bulk payment allows Better Farm to plan for the season, purchase garden supplies and seeds to ensure a productive yield, and more.

Weekly share amounts fluctuate in accordance with what is in-season. In May, a share may only consist of some salad greens and asparagus; while a share in October will include artichokes, tomatoes, greens, herbs, Swiss chard, potatoes, flowers, pumpkins, leeks, and much much more.

Typically, seasonal CSA costs are between $400 and $600 for an individual. Because Better Farm's goal is to increase access to delicious, organic, healthy food, the first year of this CSA program is available at rock-bottom rates:

These rates represent a a full 31-week program:

• $250/individual (roughly $8/week)
• $450/couple (roughly $14.50/week)
• $800/family of four (roughly $25/week)

CSA members will be notified of additional add-on opportunities (meat, eggs, cheese, soaps, baked goods, etc.) should these become available throughout the season; and may opt in to hear about food-related activities held at Better Farm throughout the year (supper clubs, farm-to-table events, workshops).

Click here for a list of the organic produce we are growing at Better Farm in 2014. Please note that this does not necessarily indicate produce you will receive (in some cases, certain plants do better than others based on weather, pests, etc.).

If you would like to sign up for Better Farm's CSA, send an email to info@betterfarm.org with the below information and we will bill you through Paypal (additional Paypal fees will apply). Or, you can print out the below form and mail it us along with a check made out to Better Farm. Those of you with special scheduling needs may contact us for a prorated CSA plan.

Mail to: Better Farm CSA Program, 31060 Cottage Hill Road, Redwood NY, 13679.

Name: ___________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________

Phone Number: ___________________________________

Email: __________________________________________

CSA Membership Level (About 31 weeks starting May 1):   

• ______$100 Summer Weekender (weekends only June 1-Sept. 1)
• _____  $150 Weekender (weekends only May 1-mid-November
• ______$250/individual (roughly $8/week) 
• _____$450/couple (roughly $14.50/week) 
• _____$800/family of four (roughly $25/week)

Preferred Day for Weekly Pickup: _________________

Seeds Ordered, 2014 CSA Sign-Ups Available

With February almost half over (YES!!!), we're only a couple of weeks away from starting seeds indoors for eventual transplanting into

Better Farm's gardens

. While we saved some seeds from successful plants last summer (tomatoes, garlic, and several others) and many crops will return each spring (asparagus, strawberries, fruit trees, rhubarb, sage, chives, and a whole lot more), we still had a pretty hefty shopping list.

Armed with our

garden maps

from the last couple of years, it was easy to stay organized while picking new seeds and returning to trusted favorites. We'll be referring back to those same maps—and our

companion planting guides

—to ensure proper crop rotation and plant pairing.

Here's our "short list" of what we'll have available at Better Farm in 2014. If you're interested in a low-cost CSA share of weekly organic produce throughout the season (roughly April through November), email us at

info@betterfarm.org

or call (315) 482-2536. More information on CSA sign-ups to follow!

• Apple Tree: Heirloom, Crabapple

• Apricot Tree: (immature)

• Artichoke: Imperial Star

• Arugula

• Asparagus: Jersey, Heirloom

• Basil: Large-Leaf Italian

• Banana Plant: Dwarf

• Beet: Lutz Green Leaf Organic

• Black Bean: Coco Organic 

• Blueberries

• Broccoli:  Belstar Organic

• Brussel Sprouts: Royal Marvel Hybrid

• Butternut Squash: Argonaut Hybrid

• Cabbage: Derby Day 

• Cannelini Beans

• Carrot: Purple Haze Hybrid,  Rainbow Blend, Ya Ya Hybrid

• Cauliflower: Veronica Hybrid

• Celery:  Redventure Organic 

• Chia Sprouts

• Chives

• Cilantro

• Coffee Plant

• Corn: Northern Xtra-Sweet Yellow 

• Cucumber: Lemon Organic 

• Dill

• Eggplant: Rosa Bianca Organic

• Fig Tree

• Flowers: Various

• Garbanzo Beans

• Garlic: Various 

• Hubbard Squash

• Kale: Red Russian, Better Farm Heirloom

• Leek: Giant Musselburgh 

• Mint

• Nasturtium

• Olive Tree: Mediterranean Dwarf

• Onion: Yellow Sweet Spanish

• Oregano

• Parsley

• Pea: Little Marvel Shell, Oregon Sugar Pod II Snow

• Peach Trees

• Peanuts: Jumbo Virginia

• Peppers: California Wonder, Italian Sweet Organic

• Pineapple Tree: Dwarf (immature)

• Portobello Mushrooms

• Potato: Yukon Gold

• Ramps/Wild Leeks

• Raspberry Bushes

• Red Sumac (for tea)

• Rosemary

• Sage 

• Soybeans

• Strawberries: Heirloom Organic

• String Bean: Compass Organic

• Sweet Potato Squash: Thelma Sanders' Sweet Potato Squash

• Swiss Chard: Bright Lights

• Tomato: Ananas Noire, Saved Better Farm Heirloom Seeds, Purple Calabash Organic

• Watermelon: Sugar Baby Organic

• White Button Mushrooms

• Zucchini: Black Beauty Organic

For Better Farm's CSA, customers are advised to understand a weekly share will not include all of the above-listed items

at any one time. Shares are limited to seasonal ripeness, availability, and success rate of each item.

CSA shares are available for individuals or families.

Reimagined Entryway

Under construction: Better Farm's entranceway is getting a facelift.

We're re-imagining Better Farm's foyer. Our goals? To make the space significantly more energy efficient, organized, and lovely. The farm's entryway has gone through a few incarnations since 2009, with this final project bringing the foyer and front hall to completion.

Our timeline so far:

• 2009 project to clean up foyer and take a bunch of storage to the dump
• 2010 project to rip up carpeting on stairs, organize storage, and give a fresh coat of paint
• 2011 project to rebuild the entire staircase and railing

 Here's a list of the problems we still faced:

• Front door leaks a lot of warm air through unsealed gaps along its bottom edge
• Without a storm door, we can't allow for cross-ventilation in the summer or get a great seal around the doorway
• Outdated insulation in the entranceway means lots of air leaks and energy loss of up to 15 percent in that room alone
• Sheetrock hung decades ago on the ceiling was the wrong thickness and wasn't strapped; therefore, it's sagging
• All tape lines on sheetrock in the front hall are visible
• Cobbed electrical meant mismatched light switches, electrical lines outside the sheetrock, and visible covered wiring
• The foyer's storage solutions are imperfect. Boots, sneakers, and jackets need a better landing spot.

And—my favorite part—the brainstorming process. Here are some pictures we're working with as inspiration:

Overall look:

 

 

 

 

     

Storage solutions:

  

Draft barrier:

Lighting:

 

 

Wallpaper for contrast wall in entranceway:

Thanks to North Country YDIY for taking on this remodeling project.

'Wild Friends Print Exchange' Call for Artists

The Wild Friends Department at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, UT, is hosting a print exchange among artists to raise money for construction of a bigger and better home for the organization's rescued crows, Alfred and Anabel.

Alfred and Anabel are homed at Best Friends through a federally licensed Wildlife Education program. Crows can live up to 80 years, and it's extremely important that they have a natural, big habitat to enjoy for the duration of their lives. Application fees and donations will go toward the $4,000 needed to build a healthier, happier home for the crows.

What is a Print Exchange?

This print exchange is an invite to all artist/printmakers to make an edition of 13 prints with the theme: Crow.  Any printmaking technique can be used including relief, intaglio, lithography, silkscreen etc. Upon turning in your 13 prints, 10 prints will be sent back to you by randomly selected artists who also participated in the exchange.

Not part of the print exchange but still want to donate? Any donation amount is greatly appreciated. (Donate $25 and receive a 4x6 glossy photo of our crow Alfred.  Donate $50 or more and receive an original crow print!)

Print Exchange Information

Theme: Crow (open to your interpretation)

Cost: $50  ($25 student)   Fee goes directly to new home for crows. Additional donations welcome!

Eligible Artists: Everyone

Printmaking Media: Open

Paper Size: 8" x 10" (print/image size open) - Prints can be submitted on archival paper only.

Edition Size: 13 prints (numbers 1/13 - 13/13)

Submission Process: Click here to download the print exchange application. You can make your donation below or send your donation by mail. Send prints, completed form, and donation/proof of donation to:

Wild Friends at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
5001 Angel Canyon Road
Kanab, UTAH 84741
ATTN: PRINT EXCHANGE

How it Works: You will receive a collection of 10 prints randomly selected from all the artists submissions in May of 2014.  One set of all the prints entered will be shown at the Best Friends Animal Society Crow Exhibition and donated to the BFAS permanent collection.  2 sets will be sold to raise funds for a new crow habitat.

All prints submitted will be put in a web gallery and may be digitally reproduced to promote this project.

The complete portfolio of prints will be exhibited at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Village Artspace from April 25 - June 20, 2014. Opening reception is slated from 5-8 p.m. Friday, April 25. At that opening, the organization will announce the total amount raised for the crows' new home.

RSVP by email to 

wild@bestfriends.org

Prints must be postmarked by April 10, 2014 to be accepted

Questions: email wild@bestfriends.org or call (435) 644-2001 x 4592

Follow Best Friends Animal Sanctuary on Facebook

You Say Tomato...

The pollination has paid off! After giving our aquaponic tomato plants a few good shakes back in January and manually pollinating flowers with Q-tips, we've got baby tomatoes growing indoors on the vine.

With same-flower pollination for plants like tomatoes, gently shaking or vibrating the plants or individual flowers a few times a week (daily is best) after flowers appear is the most straight-forward way to ensure pollinations. Fish water is particularly ideal for tomatoes, providing the right level of nutrients for growth and fruit production. Check out these beauties!

Here are a few great ideas for growing your own aquaponics tomatoes from Aquaponics Online Tips:

• You must test the pH level of the water to ensure it is between 6.8 and 5.8.  As long as you have a pH stabilizer that is safe for your fish, you can adjust the level as needed.  You should be able to find one in most garden stores or supply stores who carry aquaponic systems.
• In order to remove dust and other particles that can have an adverse effect on the pH level of the water, be sure to rinse the growing container. Fill the growing container with the medium just about one-third full.
• Gently rinse the roots of your tomato seedlings to remove any soil or composites.  Be sure to be careful not to damage the roots.  Easy does it.  Go ahead and gently plant your seedlings by spreading out the roots.  After that you can cover them, making sure the plant is secure and upright by covering at least two inches of stem in the medium.
• If you want to control the algae build up, add some red wiggler worms.  This will also add some nutrients that are healthy for the continued growth of your plants and your fishes.
• Watch carefully for aphids on your plants, which are little bugs that can eat away at them.  They look like lice but you can generally keep them away by using a vinegar solution that is equal parts water and vingar. As you do this, be sure to ensure the pH level is still secure.

Spotlight On: Harn Gallery

A new online gallery features work by artists around the world and gives international collectors the opportunity to purchase unique work that supports emerging artists and acts as valuable investment and asset.

Harn Gallery was founded last year to provide artists a curated, online forum in which to exhibit and sell their work. It is free for artists to display their original work; and they keep 80%. Buyers enjoy free shipping on all purchases (sent direct by artists). There are no monthly or sign-up fees, either.

Other features of the site include the opportunity to commission work from a specific artist whose work you admire, and the chance for artists to have a curator's review added to pieces for sale. Harn Gallery's leading curator, Luois Guillaume, writes those reviews. Guillaume has been a director at  Harn Gallery for the last 2 years and has more than seven years of experience working with emerging artists and curating exhibitions.

Want to get involved in the marketplace? visit www.harngallery.com

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Home Energy Audits

Nothing like a good, ol'-fashioned winter to bring to light all the places in a home that don't hold heat. Whether you've got old windows, outdated insulation (or a total lackthereof), breaks in caulking or weatherstripping or gaps under doors, inefficiency in the home can account for major heat loss.

For those of us untrained in heating and cooling, figuring out where your home is most inefficient can be a daunting task. So states, many of them for free, offer home energy audits to individuals and families to figure out exactly where a house is losing energy—and money. Here's how it works: You fill out a form to apply for a home assessment. Based on income level, it is determined whether you will pay a low fee or none at all to have a professional come to your house for an inspection. Once you've been approved, you call up a certified contractor and arrange for the assessment.

Here's the information for those of you in New York.

The technician will perform a series of tests in order to create a full report on your home's energy efficiency. He or she will look for air leaks, examine insulation, inspect the furnace and duct work, perform a blower door test, and even use an infrared heat camera. With your report in hand, you can apply for tax credits or low-interest loans to help cover upgrade costs. Another option is to apply for on-bill recovery financing, in which you pay off a loan through payments made on your utility bill. Often, your energy savings will cover most of the cost of the work.

The nicest thing about this home energy audit is that it puts the power in your hands. You'll know what the most cost-effective angle is to take for increasing your home's energy efficiency because you'll know which aspect of your home's energy use is the least efficient and therefore the most cost-effective to correct. Many energy-saving upgrades pay for themselves in the first couple of years. That's a fast turnaround on a relatively minor investment!

Resources/Further Reading:

• Department of Energy

• New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

Hydroponics Update

Baby buttercrunch lettuce in Better Farm's new hydroponics setup.

Three weeks after hooking up a hydroponics kit in Better Farm's library, baby buttercrunch lettuce is thriving!

Buttercrunch is a heat-tolerant variety of lettuce with silky green leaves. A great salad choice, buttercrunch is a good source of vitamin A and phytonutrients. We like it because of its ability to grow year-round in any medium: all summer long outside, early spring in raised beds, and throughout the winter in our aquaponics and hydroponics.

We had a couple minor troubleshooting issues with the hydroponics, mostly dealing with water levels and amounts of pea gravel. Too little gravel and too much water at first threatened to drown the immature plants. I added pea gravel last night to each container, which helped—but was extremely tedious because I had to first carefully remove the plants and then add additional gravel. To offset this additional mass, I removed some of the water and added it to some houseplants. The organic nutrients in the hydroponics water should work as steroids for those other plants.

The buttercrunch seedlings first appeared less than a week after we set up the tank; and are now firmly rooted in the pea gravel. In three to four  more weeks, we should have our first bumper crop of lettuce. We're replenishing our nutrients every two weeks to keep the plants hearty and healthy. Stay tuned for our taste test in a couple of weeks!

Got a group interested in learning how to set up aquaponics or hydroponics? Better Farm offers private workshops! Get in touch at info@betterfarm.org.