Fleur-de-GloriousRain

Early Saturday morning two-thirds of the very unofficial Kutztown Walking Club faced the dawn through a veil of drizzle, the first precipitation we had felt in weeks. Soon, the drizzle turned into pelting monster raindrops, and at one point, as we turned a corner, we even felt a chill – something sincerely welcome after days of 90+-degree temperatures.

When we got to the end of our soggy jaunt, Laurel said she couldn’t remember having such a good time on a walk, It reminded her of being a kid, playing in the rain with absolute abandon. It reminded me of “Reilly Loop”, a 5.2-mile course Paul and I used to run in State College. Reilly Loop was named after Bill Reilly, a Penn State distance runner who competed in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. One day the final leg of our run ended in a deliciously soft rain, washing away our cares and our sweat, transporting us into a magical, otherworld experience. The memory of that run and rain became such a strong one that it resurfaced years later. In 1992 our son was born on my father Richard’s 70^th birthday. Paul and I named the babe Richard Reilly Lynch.

Treasure each day and each memory, Laurie Lynch

Plants Loved It: If humans, who can walk in and out of air conditioning and drink cool water at will, appreciated Saturday’s rain, imagine how the plants felt! We recorded 2.5 inches in our water gauge and I swear several droopy-looking pepper plants actually came back to life.

Special Thanks: To Lenore for helping a farmwoman duel with weeds and worries on Sunday.

At Fleur-de-Lys Farm Market This Week: Poona Kheera and Pickles cucumbers, Verte et Blanc scallop (French heirloom from the 1800s), Zephyr, and Italiano Largo summer squash, German White garlic, rainbow chard, new potatoes, kale, eggs, honey, dill, basil, parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. (Apologies to S&G.)

In the News Last Week: Our friendly Cooperative Extension Director shared a July 8 Wall Street Journal article entitled “Fowl Fans See Golden Eggs in Catering to Pet-Chicken Market”. It seems that people have become so enamored with pet chickens that all sorts of businesses are cropping up – chicken diapers (so your chicken can live in the house), chicken saddles (to protect hens from frisky roosters), and even chicken costumes (stars and stripes for July 4 and Prince Charming and Cinderella for Halloween). Why, there is even a Chicken Whisperer who hosts a daily hour-long Internet radio show on raising backyard chickens. But the best quote came from the founder of the site BackYardChickens.com, Rob Ludlow, who said chickens “are the only backyard pet that can make you breakfast.” I have to remember that one.

Written on Slate: This space is usually reserved for favorite quotes that I’ve painted on slates and sell at the shop. This week’s is a little different. I found an old saying, but I just can’t figure out what it means. Maybe it is the residual heat on my brain or a mid-50s meltdown. I need some help. Here is the saying: “A hen doesn’t cackle before she lays the egg.” If you can see the wisdom better than I, please send it along.

Fleur-de-WetTShirts

Let me be upfront. There is no contest at Fleur-de-Lys Farm, wet T-shirt or otherwise. Gravity is not a pretty sight.

But we do have plenty of wet T-shirts. First, there is the early morning sloshing of the watering can as we dip into and out of the rain barrels to water seedling beds. Then, there is the leaking and squirting of too many hose connections and spray nozzles as we water transplants and fill animal troughs. Adjusting the irrigation water tower controls in our main growing field calls for another drenching. Last, there is the good old natural, hard-working, sweat version of wet T-shirts. During these intoxicating days of 90- to 100-degree heat it is not unusual to peel off a second change of clothing by 6:45 a.m.

Regardless of the sweltering temperatures, it is garlic-pulling time. The dry weather, while adding extra watering hours to each day, is perfect for harvesting garlic bulbs. We haul them to the barn, where they’re bunched, tied up with twine, hung from ladders, and cured for a month or so. We will also have a stash of fresh garlic in the shop for your immediate garlic gratification. Laurie Lynch

Garlic Hall of Fame: A photograph of our field-grown garlic is on Page 39 of the August/September 2010 issue of Organic Gardening magazine.

Today in History: 13 years ago today we bought our farm at 440 Hottenstein Road, Kutztown, PA,  Richard, Marina, Paul, Dr. Seuss (the Bouvier), and I camped out on the floor of the family room our first night. The U-Haul got stuck in our driveway and we had to call a tow truck.

Celebrating Summer in Sweden: Marina and her friend ZIggy fell in love with Stockholm on a recent visit and frequented an Italian restaurant. Instead of bouquets of flowers on each table, the restaurant had clay pots containing basil and rosemary plants, so diners could pinch off fresh herbs for their meals.

One Way to Cool Down: While in Stockholm, they also went to an Ice Bar, built of blocks of ice and flowing with cool blue lights and outer space-type music. Drinks were served cups of ice and all guests were attired in fur-lined parkas to take the chill off.

At Fleur-de-Lys Farm Market this week: German White garlic, red, white, and blue potatoes, basil, dill, and parsley, cucumbers, zucchini, black currants, kale, honey, eggs, and sunflowers.

Written on Slate: There is nothing finer in life than true love and a home-grown tomato. – Gary Ibsen

Fleur-de-CountryCapers

These 90-degree days have been wearing, so last weekend I needed a treat. First, I stocked the shop cooler with fresh-picked berries and veggies, and left the shop door open for customers to help themselves. Then I took a stream stroll down Mill Creek.

Stream strolling is simple living at it’s best. All that is needed is an old pair of sneakers and clothes you don’t mind getting wet and slimy. Then, you just climb down a stream bank and wander, from shallow pebbled bottom to deep, chilling pool, to steppingstones made smooth by the waters of time. On this stream stroll I discovered a quirk of nature that created a throne made for the king (or queen) of the creek.

A towering American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) was growing at water’s edge, sending its trunk and branches of mottled, peeling bark in grays, greens and whites 100 feet into the sky. But to anchor itself, the tree’s roots shot out to one side below and above ground, creating a bed of moss-covered bark, smoothly flowing and turning to create crevices and pockets -- a platform above the water. I lifted myself up from the deep pool of the creek with my arms, plopped onto the sprawling wooden throne and took a meditative snooze, gazing at the leaf mosaic of my quiet sanctuary.

I finished the afternoon with Mujah’s Fiori de Zucca (last week’s recipe). If you lay out all the ingredients assembly-style, there’s nothing to it – although I did feel a little ridiculous stuffing zucchini blossoms with bits of cheese, anchovy and capers. But oh, the end result … melt-in-your-mouth decadence, topped off with a glass of wine.

Speaking of capers. I’ve been reading “Wild Fermenation, The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods” by Sandor Ellix Katz. The book covers everything from kimchis and krauts to beers, wines, and meads, to yogurt, cheese, and sourdough bread, and even miso and tempeh. Well, there is a section on making Milkweed/Nasturtium seedpod “capers”. Capers are the edible buds from the Mediterranean shrub Capparis spinosa. Not a local food, for sure. Years ago I read about pickling homegrown nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) seedpods as an alternative to capers. Now, I’ve read, you can also brine tiny milkweed pods as an alternative to distant capers. Just after the big milkweed flowers fall away (which is happening now), you will find clusters of tear-shaped pods, about the size of capers, perfect for pickling. Wait a few hours, and they may be too big! As I write, I’m hoarding the petite pods of a patch of milkweed in a jar in my refrigerator, waiting for a large enough stash to brine.

This week at Fleur-de-Lys Farm Market: Just in time for the Fourth of July! Red, white and blue potatoes (Early Rose, Adirondack Red, Lehigh, and All-Blue), dill and basil, zucchini and cucumbers, black raspberries and currants, eggs, kale, rainbow chard, carrots, luffa sponges, lavender wands, country bouquets, and honey.

Shop Details: Fleur-de-Lys Farm Market, 440 Hottenstein Road, Kutztown, is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or any time the blue door is open! Our phone number is (610) 683-6418. 

Sayings on Slate: The golden moments in the stream of life rush past us and we see nothing but sand; the angels come to visit us, and we only know them when they are gone.  ~ George Elliot


Fleur-de-Blossoming

Several of you said you enjoyed last week’s patchwork quilt poem, and this week, I have a quilting follow-up.

Milton, a customer from Brooklyn who summers in Hamburg, dropped off two boxes of plants from his country garden last week. Waiting for him from my garden were Indigofera tinctoria, the source of indigo dye, and Acanthus spinosa, the source of the Corinthian leaf motif used in Greek and Roman art and architecture. Milton is a textiles expert and was mentioned in this newsletter a while back for his publication of drawings,  “An Amaryllis Suite”.  He was expecting guests for the weekend and loaded up on produce and berries.  Milton and his guests were headed to the opening of the Allentown Art Museum’s exhibition of 34 quilts that were featured in the Great International Quilt Festival held earlier this year in Tokyo.

These quilts represent nearly 200 years of American quilting, stitching, and stories of ordinary women (including Milton’s grandmother) who created an American tradition of turning functional bedcovers into decorative works of art. Many quilts in the exhibit were made in Pennsylvania and include examples of white-on-white, floral appliqué, redwork, and crazy quilting.  Definitely worth a visit. The Allentown Art Museum, 31 N. Fifth St., is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. 

When In Rome: Our daughter Marina was visiting her friend Abby in Rome last week. Abby’s aunt, Mujah, made Fiori de Zucca, aka stuffed zucchini blossoms. The girls loved them! Since our field is just starting to come alive with the sunny blossoms, here are the simple directions, straight from Rome: Stuff each flower with a piece of mozzarella, a little sliver of butter, a bit of anchovy, and a caper. Coat each blossom in a batter of flour, water, and egg. Twist the top of the blossom closed and lightly fry in olive oil. Serve and eat right away.

When at Home: You can use the male and female blossoms of summer and winter squash for stuffing or other recipes. The male blossoms are borne on the end of thin stems and can be harvested without affecting production (but you should leave some for pollination). Remove stamens before stuffing. The female blossoms form on the end of the buds and are harvested with the tiny squash attached. (This means you won’t be overrun with zucchini!) It is best to harvest blossoms at midday when petals are open. Cut with a knife, leaving about an inch of the stem, rinse, and store in the refrigerator in ice water.

This week at Fleur-de-Lys Farm Market: Black raspberries, black currants, eggs, lettuce, kale, garlic scapes, luffa sponges, lavender wands, and honey.

Shop Details: Fleur-de-Lys Farm Market, 440 Hottenstein Road, Kutztown, is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or any time the blue door is open! Our phone number is (610) 683-6418. 

Sayings on Slate: Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. -- Marcel Proust

Fleur-de-Blur

For SpringSummer 2010, Mother Nature has been on the fast track, blurring days into weeks. What is “normal” for the week of July 4 at Fleur-de-Lys Farm is happening right now, June 14-18!

We’re picking black raspberries, black currants, and blueberries, while the June-bearing strawberries are fast fading. The bee balm is sending up her blossoms exploding with streaks of crimson that usually herald July 4 fireworks. Another not-so-favorite visitor for Independence Day, the Japanese beetle, is already munching down on the roses and quince. Laurie Lynch

At Fleur-de-Lys Farm Market this week: rainbow chard, several types of kale and lettuces, sugar snap peas, garlic scapes, black raspberries and currants, cilantro, oregano, and other herbs, eggs, honey, and probably a half dozen other things I’ve missed. We still have loads of llama beans for your compost

Life is like a patchwork quilt

And each little patch is day

Some patches are rosy, happy and bright

And some are dark and gray.

But each little patch

As it’s fitted in and sewn to keep it together

Makes a finished flock in this life of ours,

Filled with sun and rainy weather.

So let me work on life’s patchwork quilt

Through the rainy days and the sun

Trusting that when I have finished my block

The Master may say, “Well Done.”

-- Author Unknown

Fleur-de-TheGraduate

I been reading Barbara Kingsolver’s new novel, “The Lacuna.” One simple sentence jumped out at me and gave me a belly laugh: “Even a feather duster will lay an egg in April.”

Ah, the predictability of life. If in April the eggs are rolling in the nesting boxes, you can be sure the 11 other months are unpredictable, at best. Too often, we find ourselves giving reasons why the girls aren’t laying: It’s too hot. It’s too cold. The days are too short. The nights are too long. It’s snowing. Well, it’s not snowing now, but you get the point.

Our son Richard returned from Juiz de For a, Brasil, last week on the heels of good news – he’s going to graduate from Kutztown Area High School June 15. He was the school’s first outbound Rotary Exchange student, so we weren’t sure how the credits and requirements would work out. But, Richard put together two portfolios of his work at the Jesuit school he attended and mailed them to KAHS. Evidently, they passed the muster.

The real proof of the value of his year in Brasil came his first night back when he went to a Rotary picnic. My shy son of a year ago walked up to many of the Rotarians who guided him through the Rotary exchange application process, greeting each with a kiss on each cheek.  Richard is speaking fluent Portuguese with Celso (who stayed with us when he was a Rotary Exchange high school student and who is now a senior at Kutztown University) and he is rocking to the Brasilian beat of reggae, rap and favela funk.

Richard summed up the experience, “It was my best year ever.”

What more could a parent want?

And actually, if he would have been in Kutztown instead of Juiz de Fora for his senior year, I might have been more worried than I was when he was a hemisphere away. First of all, he had a wonderful host mom, Meire, She often reassured me in English (she was a Rotary Exchange student visitig the U.S. in the 1970s) that Richard was doing well. And, had Richard been here, he might have been involved in a senior prank, and I might have been his accomplice. And boy, would we have gotten in trouble!

Our neighbor Lisa once shared this story about a senior prank. Apparently, some students suffering from Senioritis released three chickens in their high school. There was quite a bit of squawking and ruffled feathers. But the chickens were finally captured, and each had a number hanging from her neck: No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 …  Oh, how those teachers and administrators looked for chicken No. 3!  Laurie Lynch

At Fleur-de-Lys Farm this week:  eggs if you are lucky, garlic scapes, lots of herbs, honey, sugar snap peas, kale, lettuces, and strawberries.

Fleur-de-MysteryRose

Ruth and Jack Flounders run a small heirloom rose nursery in Schuylkill County called Roses in Thyme. I think we first met when they came down to buy garlic for their Sculps Hill Vinegars, and throughout the years we’ve exchanged occasional emails. Last week, they drove down with their grandson to show him the llamas and to buy sweet potato slips.

Draven loved touching Griffey’s (the retired Mennonite Buggy Horse) soft muzzle, got to see the girls sunbathing on llama beach, and even cranked the bucket on the wishing well as he toddled around the farm. Before they left, they gave us a gift: a beautiful old shrub rose. It is just like the ones they sell at their nursery, only it was mislabeled and they only sell correctly labeled old roses. (Check out their website: rosesinthyme.com). So, the mystery rose has taken harbor with our mystery peonies and our mystery rugosa rose, an alleyway of pink fragrance from the house to the barn. Laurie Lynch

At Fleur-de-Lys Farm this week: We’ve got strawberries, garlic scapes, elderblossoms for making Elderblossom Cordial, lettuces, red Russian kale, radishes, honey, assorted fresh herbs, and eggs.

No Boys from Brasil, Just a Young Man: Our 18-year-old son Richard returns from his Rotary Exchange year in Juiz de Fora, Brasil, tomorrow. So, it will be help-yourself day at Fleur-de-Lys Farm Market.

Starting Thursday: Orphan tomato seedlings – St. Pierre, Rose de Berne, Green Zebra, Taxi, Rowdy Red, Egg Yolk and plum tomatoes Assalito Family, Pompeii and Roughwood Garden.

Llama Beans: They are here for the taking! Pick up a bag and cook up your compost.

Written on Slate: One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.

-- Dale Carnegie