Editor’s Note: Weaved throughout the next couple of weeks there will be recaps & interviews from Erika & Liz from their amazing weekend at NOFA-NY’s (Northeast Organic Farming Association New York) Winter Conference held in our hometown of Saratoga Springs, NY. It was a 3 1/2 day conference filled with ‘new farmer’ mixers, half/whole day…
Tag: Farming
{the new year} New Beginnings are Lovely
I’ve moved a lot in my life and although it can be scary and stressful it also means a fresh start. That’s how I feel at the beginning of each new year. There are always a lot of unknowns but the simple fact of it being fresh and new makes it seem like there’s a…
{LOCAL EVENT} three bags full event & campaign
Hi! Liz here, one of a few of FSC’s aspiring farmers. You might already know this about me, but in addition to our backyard hens, I also raise a small flock of sheep. We keep them down the road from our home at the Foster’s Sheep Farm. They will hold the third annual Shearing Day Open…
{reflections} Making Food Matter
I’m going to make a few, quick assumptions about you: 1.) You love food. 2.) You either love preparing it or you enjoy the company of others who will prepare it for you. 3.) You probably spend a decent amount of time thinking about food and/or food politics. Am I right? Chances are you wouldn’t…
{Know Your Farmer} Quincy Farm: Easton, NY
On Wednesday, Christina and I had the opportunity to visit a relatively new farm in the Capital District farm scene: Quincy Farm. This farm has a particular significance and sentimentality for me. You see, when the property (formerly Battleview Farm, previously owned for over 200 years by the Wright family) went on the market for sale in…
{fundraiser} For Denison Farm & Kilpatrick Family Farm
From our intro-fundraiser post: Our second fundraiser is for two of the biggest certified naturally grown farms, with CSA Programs, in the area; Denison Farm and Kilpatrick Family Farm. These two farms are ALL over this blog as they feed most of our families on a daily basis and we tell ya all about it,…
{fundraiser} For Amanda
Amanda waving while running her first marathon: Mohawk Hudson Marathon, 10.10.10. From our intro-fundraiser post: “Our first fundraiser is for one of the founding contributors and one of my oldest friends, Amanda. In some horrible twist of fate, during the first hours of the storm a fire began in their hot water heater and swept…
{August 28th} the day that changed lives.
Sunday, August 28th, 2011. Irene came to upstate NY as a Tropic Storm and left her mark. A gigantic mark. I’m not sure we even know how big a mark as everyday, updated news comes across the wire and there is more & more devastation. Roads, sidewalks, trees, electric poles, street lights, covered bridges, foot…
{join the fun} NOFA-NY’s Locavore Challenge
We are proud to announce that we are the ‘Blog Sponsor*” of this year’s Locavore Challenge by Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY). As a group, From Scratch Club, strive to eat as locally and as organic as possible for the health of our families, the community, the world at large and to…
{Behind the Scenes} at a working farm
This is the second summer I’ve had the chance to go out and work at Kilpatrick Family Farm. I usually only go out once a week since it’s about an hour from my house. When I started working there I really didn’t know what to expect. I just wanted to get as much experience as…
{Know Your Farmer} Strawberry Fest 2011
The lucky CSA members of Kilpatrick Family Farm were invited to head up to Middle Granville, NY this week for some strawberry picking, farm touring, baby animal petting and picnicking. The weather was perfect, cute little kids were out in full force and I spent every dime I had on strawberries. It was a good…
{know your historical farmer} Hancock Shaker Village
It’s the beginning of June so your local farmer is working day and night to bring you the summer bounty in the coming weeks and months. Its “go time”, farm tours and on-site special events are {mostly] put on hold during this busy time of year. Around these parts, the spring season has been a…
In the Land of Corn & Cattle
Recently we took a road trip to Indiana to see my in-laws. If you’ve ever driven through, or flown over the middle of the country you know there are lots of very large farms. During the several days there I kept thinking about a few things in relation to these farms. Before I go further…
{community sharecropping} Composting 101
It is May, which means that the community sharecropping season, in which we garden on other people’s former lawns, has begun. They are the lawn lords, my husband is the fanatic sharecropper, I am his opinionated side kick. We had a cold, late, wet winter, so couldn’t really get into the gardens with equipment until…
{hello} I’m Erika
Editor’s Note: We are pleased to announce that we’re growing. We’ll be introducing new guest contributors throughout the weeks to come. First up, Brass Snuggles, aka Erika, blogger at Our DIY Life. I’m very excited to bring her aboard; I met her through my new job and I think her point of view and day-to-day…
