Blog Action Day and World Food Day 2011 #BAD11

Here in the Pioneer Valley we know how lucky we are with many choices of local organically grown food. There are farmer's markets in the surrounding towns most every day of the week. If a person or family have no space to grow their own food, or if rabbits are too greedy, folks in Western Massachusetts can simply stroll into one of several markets for fresh vegetables, fruit, herbs, eggs, goat cheese and grass fed 'humanely' raised meats. It truly is a paradise in many ways here in the valley and nearby hilltowns. 

We all have the right to know where our food comes from and you can help one of the best food advocacy groups by going to their FOOD AND WATER WATCH facebook page and liking their page. They will get funding for every 'like' they receive in October.

One of my favorite farmer's markets is on Tuesday but I seem to have misplaced the photos. I love being able to buy organic and locally grown garlic and ginger from 'Old Friends Farm'. 

Did you know that about fifteen years ago our country grew three quarters of the garlic we consumed but now most comes from China? When you are not able to go to a farmers market, please ask where your food is coming from. The more we ask and refuse to buy the sooner change will come. Why not take this quiz to see where some of your food choices come from. It is shocking to see how much of the  food stocked on shelves in our stores . . . including, sadly, our food co-ops . . . is imported from China. Why not ask to have our food labeled as to what country they are grown in? Will you begin asking? We all must be vigilant about keeping GMO food out of our stores too or at least out of our homes. How can we when there is no labeling? Will you join in demanding our right to know? Monsanto's GE sweet-corn may be coming to a store near you soon. Please just say NO. Learn more about GE food.

More and more there are winter markets too, where seasonal root crops and greens are available. What a joy to have fresh greens all winter long!

Local fungi.

This Spring the green around our library became the site for a new farmer' s market. Now, every Thursday there is a farmer's market just down the hill from Flower Hill Farm.

Food is such a huge issue. I am focusing on what is happening here in the Pioneer Valley.  As in the larger world . . . here in Western Massachusetts there is such abundance for some while others go to bed hungry each night. Healthy food is often too expensive for many and they can only afford less nutritious highly processed food, which in turn creates disease. Farmers in our area are aware of this and organized a new farmers market in a Northampton neighborhood where, in large part from donations from residents in the area, food stamps will have a double value. 

Wealthy countries should be investing in sustainable agricultural practices for those in crisis the world over.

Sometimes there is live music at the markets adding a joyous celebratory feeling for all who gather to select fresh healthy food. Having such easy access to local organic food is indeed worth celebrating. Some would like to take that choice away from us by burdening farmers with hurdles that could make it hard for them to survive as small farms. Corporate agriculture would love to put an end to small family farms. Please learn about GIPSA and demand a fair farm bill. Thanks for calling congress and the president to protect small family farms. Reclaiming our food is one of the great changes growing today. 

Let's all celebrate and support our local farmers by keeping informed and acting to protect them.

Berry Busy Fussy Birds

"Whoa!" said the Cedar Waxwing to the Northern Flicker. 

"Hey! Can you not see this branch is occupied???!! And don't you know you are a woodpecker!??" 

"Sorry."

"Do not loose your feathers over it . . . I just did not see you for all the ripe berries luring me in. Yes! Of course I know I am a woodpecker, and if you were paying attention you would have noticed that I often perch rather than hold onto branches and trunks like some of my cousins. By the way,  I saw Ms. Pileated Woodpecker on this Viburnum bush just last week! I am most often seen on the ground stirring up leaves and so forth using my somewhat curved bill to dig for ants and beetles, but I do so enjoy supplementing my diet with berries too!" 

 "Well, be that way . . . flying off in the middle of a conversation."

"All the more berries for me!"

"What are you looking at?? Do not tell me you too think I look odd perching this way?"

Admittedly I did think the Northern Flicker looked at bit out of its element, when coming in for a landing so near the outraged Cedar Waxwing. It was more humorous than anything except clearly NOT to the Cedar Waxwing. Both are beautiful birds even when they are fussy!

 It was really odd to see a Pileated Woodpecker flying into the Viburnum weeks past now and seeing its large beak picking these small black berries. 

The berries are long gone now and the lovely ridged leaves are a deep burgundy color adding to the brilliant fall colors on the hills and in the garden. I do not recall the name of this Viburnum but believe it to be a native species. 

I hope you might visit 'Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens' to see my new post on native asters. It is a great site and I am honored to be one of the team that shares the importance of native plants and gardening for wildlife. There are many great posts on the site so look around, if you can spare the time and check back often, for a new article is posted daily. 

A great OP-ED for Occupy Wallstreet

Capturing And Holding Light At The Edge of Darkness

It is pure joy . . .  while in the garden . . .  to see the sun cresting and rising over Walnut hill into a clear crisp new day. The days are shorter now but to have the sunlight for any amount of time is welcome. 

Rain and clouds have smouthered the sun for weeks it seems, while the land and houses have absorbed the deluge of water falling and drowning out the light. 

Our spirits need light. The old farmhouse here does too and hopefully the swollen doors will dry out with the promised week of sunny days to come. Sometimes I wish I could just capture the light and hold onto it like a firefly in my hand. The rays filtering out through the cracks in my fingers . . . each like a prism . . .  each shaft of light tickling the folds of imagination that illuminate a joy for life.

Then there are the swaths of long dark shadows that diffuse the light so full of color . . . a full spectrum of possibilities. 

Sometimes light can make us dark and we must make the shadow of ourselves walk into the coolness of the green leafy shade to erase the dark. Entering into darkness to remove darkness. To linger in darkness when surrounded by sparkling light can be intriguing, dangerous or simply a silly shadow play. Shadow play can also be high art as the ancient Asian artist have shown us with their intricate puppets and captivating music. There is mystery within shadows.

It is along the edges of light and dark that I find most compelling. 

For now the gardens are awash with light and shadow and must feel like stretching towards the warmth of the sun after so many many days and nights of heavy wetness. 

The waxing moon will be visible for nights to come and even in the darkness of night, moon shadows will be cast about creating edges of light and dark. One can become lost within a garden of shadows. Enchanting and mystical stepping into layers of blackness with pathways lit up by moonlight. The many forms of shrubberies and trees become merely that . . .  a garden of forms. The many beasts of the landscape come out at night too and I can say from experience that a chilling growl in the dark can grip the heart with fear. It is in knowing the dark that we become more comfortable and understand that we too may spook ourselves and other creatures. It can be that within darkness too our inner light is illuminated.

Moonlight reflects the light of the sun back to us during the night . . . there is no warmth within the reflection but its beauty can stir up warmth within the spirit. 

Lavender mist rises up to another new day filled with light.

Looking south out towards the garden playing with light.

I hope your days are filled with the beauty and warmth of light. 

Happy New Year to those celebrating Yom Kippur. 

To those activist engaged in "Occupy Wall Street" all over the country . . . Thank YOU! You are a light of hope in our trouble country. May that light of reason enter each and every citizen's life and ignite activism towards change and peace. 

Join Katarina in Sweden's light for Floral Friday. 

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds Within the Late Summer Garden

Autumn days are lovely with butterflies and vibrant foliage, but I do miss the tiny jewel-like Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Here are a few glimpses into the lives of a couple of resident juveniles born and raised at Flower Hill Farm. Now they are off on wing with thousands of other hummingbirds southbound towards the tropics.

Hurricane Irene made a comfy perch by bending Thalictrum 'Lavender Mist' into an arch.

My Hummingbird feeder was sometimes also the way station for house-reared Monarchs soon to fly out into the garden. The Hummingbird would try to visit the flower when the butterflies were getting up their courage for a first flight and this is what would greet the little bird. It seems to work in startling the hummers but it would not work with other birds. The Monarchs must know that the hummer is not really  a threat, for I often see them fly away when larger birds prey upon them in the garden.

At last free of butterflies and the hummer can have a sip of Geranium nectar. I hope these precious birds have a safe journey to the tropics and return to the gardens next year. 

 You can see and learn more about Ruby-throated Hummingbirds on an earlier Birds in Review post.