Archive for ‘April, 2012’

Glacier Lily

Just to the right of center, a path heads north into the woods in the direction of the state land that borders my property. Just between the first “gateway” of trees, on the right…

…one lone Glacier Lily – the first I’ve seen this Spring.

Glacier Lilies are edible by both people and animals. Bears and rodents eat the root bulbs. Deer and elk eat the seed pods. According to several internet sites, the roots could be pulverized and made into a dressing for skin sores and other parts used to treat colds. The leaves and pods could be eaten raw or cooked.

For me, they are pretty and it is always a nice surprise to find one blooming in my woods.

Who’s your farmer?

Swallow Crest Farm, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm is my farmer! Or at least one of them. This farm is on the road home, maybe 3/4 of a mile down the road from my house. I knew this was an organic farm but did not how how or where they were selling. I found out just this week that they operate as a CSA and thankfully they had shares still available. Distribution starts in mid-May and one of the first items should be rhubarb. I have a new recipe for roasted rhubarb jam to try and my little patch will not provide enough for that and a torte or 3 so looking forward to some surplus.

Like many rural areas, I have options of buying direct from farmers and ranchers. We have Kalispell Kreamery, Farm to Market Pork, a plethora of beef ranchers as well as sources for deer and elk meat. Our Farmer’s markets have a large variety of locally grown produce – somewhat amazing considering our short growing season.

I am slowly converting to buying local and seasonal food for a variety of reasons. One of the biggest reasons is that fresh food tastes best! With our ability to ship around the world and add things to even “fresh” food to preserve color and shelf life, we’ve given up flavor…think tomatoes. In addition to flavor, I’ve rediscovered the excitement of waiting for the rhubarb to ripen, the first fresh ear of corn, the first vine ripened tomato. Anticipation is a huge part of the fun and I’m liking the change to waiting and not buying certain grocery produce picked long before it was ripe.

Swallow Crest Farm, Kalispell, Montana: one of my farmer’s.

Preferences

Bear and I got a nice walk and time outside this morning – in between rain showers. But it is gray and overcast, the air is heavy with the promise of more rain and it is a good day for napping.

As far as Bob is concerned, every day is a good day for napping! He has taken to spending a good part of his day in Wild Thing. It is warm, the accomodations are to his liking, he can survey the territory from the vantage point of a bit of height and there is no dog…

Elsewhere, the Lily-of-the-Valley grow – seemingly as I watch. Blooms next week maybe!

As thunder rumbled

After 2 days in the 80’s…the 80’s!!! – in April!!!! – it cooled to the low 70’s today. But the hot weather spurred the growth of everything. The woods plants are leafed out. And the Lily-of-the-valley above – they were barely shoots a week ago.

This afternoon, after a morning of sunshine, the sky turned dark and thunder rumbled. No lightning close and the thunder was only a rumble, except for one loud clash.

Bear paid attention but he has not been disturbed by thunder or gunshots as Karl was.

And Bob… his food is in its place. All is right in his world :)!

Sunday morning

A new bread got Sunday off to a delicious start. It is not a high moisture artisanal bread as I’ve been making, but nearly as easy. Although it does use yeast, there is no knead and rise cycle. Mix everything together, spoon it into a breadpan, let it rise for 30 minutes and bake. See Heidi Swanson of 101 Cookbooks’ Easy little bread recipe … aptly named!

Outside, the sunny morning allowed the emerging larch needles to glow chartreuse against a deep blue sky.

Bear and I had a walk around the woods in the cool of the morning. (It got to 73F by afternoon – hot by Bear and my standards!)

And Bob shared the front porch with me as I finished my last cup of coffee.

Sunday morning.