Artist-in-Residence: Mark Dilks

Mark Dilks, a painter and collage artist from Philadelphia, Pa., recently completed a week-long artist residency at Better Farm.

A graduate of Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass., Mark has worked for a number of years at numerous Philadelphia-based art institutions; including a stint as arts coordinator at Please Touch Museum, Philadelphia's children's museum. While there, Mark planned, organized, and executed activities for the museum's visitors. He painted all the while, working mostly in oil-on-canvas. Before coming to Better Farm, Mark held several residencies elsewhere, including Vermont Studio Center; and shared a studio with the founders of A United Front, an organization connecting creative communities. Mark will begin coursework at MICA in Baltimore this month. His band Deep Possum plays regularly in the Philadelphia area.

To see more of Mark's work, please visit the following links:

• My Ninja Please
• Gold in Braddock
• Flickr

To commission a piece or ask any questions, contact Mark.

Checking in with Better Farm's Chickens

Ever since we brought Sissy (left in photo above) and Scarlet (right) in to keep Henrietta (center, obviously) company, the chicken scene in Better Farm's garden has changed dramatically.

Three chickens' level of food and water, not to mention their effect on the ground inside their run (and the hay inside their little den) is significantly different from the days of just one South American hen with a busted-up leg. We were careful to invite only the nicest young chickens we could find (thanks Jody!) into Henrietta's home, so they wouldn't cause any trauma to the previously battered princess.

We let the chickens run freely whenever we're outside gardening, as the 100-by-80-foot garden enclosure works very well to keep the birds from wandering onto Cottage Hill Road or into an open field for an alert hawk to grab. Here's Henrietta doing her thing this morning, being polite enough to not pull the small plants out of the ground and focusing instead on worms and weeds:

What a gal.

While Henrietta, Sissy, and Scarlet romped around our vegetable garden, I took on the dirty job of cleaning out the coop (the dirtied hay was put directly into our compost pit and scattered sparingly—too much will kill plants—along our rows of veggies) and moving the whole tractor mechanism a few feet over; as Sissy and Scarlet managed to rip out every blade of grass in their run. Here's the track they left behind, next to a shot of the grass I moved the chicken tractor over.

This area, as well as all the space we'll be composting on throughout the fall and winter, will make for extremely fertile planting ground next spring. And with a fresh track of tall grass to play in, our lovely lovely hens are back to scratching and pecking away, eating up hundreds of worms, crickets, and horse flies (thanks ladies!) daily.

Happy Trails to Tiyi

With July at an end, we had to wish a fond farewell to our interns Joe Pintaudi and Tiyi Brewster. Joe posted regularly on the Better Farm blog, but Tiyi (pronounced "Thai") preferred to work behind the scenes.

We did manage to pin her down for an exit interview of sorts, to get her thoughts on her time at the Farm...

Better Farm: What made you want to apply for the Better Farm internship program?
Tiyi: I saw the internship posted on Clarkson University's site; and when I checked out Better Farm's page, I was impressed by the design and blog... The slogan, the history, pretty much the whole Web site! On the blog, everyone seemed so open and loving life. It all sounded great!

How did you like all the work (and we do mean WORK) that was given to you?
I was excited by all the responsibility given to me. I wanted to learn more about farming and farm management, and I definitely did that. I really feel like the whole thing was an opportunity for growth. I've grown up socially for sure. There was no choice but to interact with so many different people and that was really good for me. At some point I had a shift in perspective, and now I feel like an official adult. It's amazing what a month can do!

You're about to enter your sophomore year at Clarkson University with a future degree in environmental science and policy. How will you take what you've learned at Better Farm and apply it to your schooling?
I belong to ECO (Clarkson's Environmental Conservation Organization), and we've already been planning a composting project using an aerobic digestor... I'm hoping that we can also start an experimental garden at the school. I would love to be a part of that. Now that I've really worked at an actual farm, I feel that I'll better understand how the processes work. I plan on applying this knowledge to the reading I have for class as well.

After graduation, what are your plans?
I'm not entirely sure where my path will lead, but I am interested in becoming a forest or park ranger. I do know that I'll be getting my driver's license in the near future so I can come back and visit Better Farm, or even live here!

Well, Tiyi, the amazing work you put in here, and not to mention your constantly sunny personality, means you will always have a place at Better Farm!

Basketball Court Lines Painted for Redwood Residents

We learned at the Redwood Neighborhood Association's latest meeting that the basketball court downtown was without lines. So six of us today headed into the heart of Redwood armed with white paint, rollers, some tape measures, and plans on regulation sizes for basketball courts.

Special thanks to Hearts for Youth for the supplies, Miss Corinne Rochelle for spearheading the vision, and the Better Farm work crew:

Tiyi Brewster  *  Joe Pintaudi  *  Sarah Herold  *  Mark Dilks  *  Chris Menne  *  Nicole Caldwell

Photos after the jump!

 

Workshop Reflections: Yoga

I signed up for the

yoga workshop at Better Farm

having absolutely no prior experience with yoga. Not knowing what to expect, I looked forward to a weekend of relaxation, reflection and revitalization. And that’s exactly what I got!

The loft of the

barn

provided an ideal serene space for our yoga exercises and meditation. Some of the exercises were rigorous and challenging, but the instructor

Danielle

patiently led us through, encouraging us to push our limits to develop strength. Her soothing voice also led us through a deep meditation mid-day Saturday. The combination of energizing the body and relaxing the mind led to a state of deeper peace. As the day came to a close, we discussed the

new moon

, and created new intentions to carry us forward. This felt as rejuvenating as the yoga and meditation.

Not a morning person, I’ll admit that I dreaded the

sun salutation

at 5:30 the following morning; but I’m very glad I managed to drag myself out of bed for it. We began again in the loft of the barn, with the

Five Tibetans

, a great, quick yoga routine which I plan to continue. The walking meditation around the perimeter of the farm provided the perfect tranquility to carry throughout the day. With each breath in, the foot lifted, and with each breath out, the foot fell, as we slowly, silently made our way around the farm. Barefoot, we could feel each cool, wet blade of grass, while drinking in the rising world around us. Simply beautiful.

This yoga workshop was the perfect way to start my time at the farm, clearing my mind and helping me to focus, with peace and strength, on the path before me.

DIY Coat Rack

Here's a very quick and easy project that will leave you with a handsome coat rack small enough for your apartment's entranceway.

Supplies

Sandpaper

Paint

Hooks

One old

fencepost

, preferably with an ornate top (or you can find a top and attach it)

Wood square for base

Screws

Screwdriver

Wood glue

Instructions

Sand down the fencepost, base, and top, then paint each piece the same color.

Use the wood glue and screws to attach the pieces.

Screw the hooks into the top of the post, and about a foot down from the top.

That's all there is to it! Now just sit back and bask in the no-more-unsightly-piles-of-coats glow.

Rainy-Day Suggestion: Get your craft on

Former intern Ali pointed this gem of a blog out to us; perfect for rainy days when you're looking for something productive to do.

Craft features on its blog tutorials covering everything from sewing button holes to creating natural dyes. Now if only there were more hours in the day...

(Source: Craftzine.com)

Intern Files: Week eight

By Joe Pintaudi

Just as my time here is almost up, more food is starting to come in.

There are huge cucumbers and radishes, as well as zucchini. The amount and size of the greens and lettuce are amazing. All the rain from the last couple of weeks has sent our crops through a major growth spurt. It doesn't seem like the watering system I'd been working on will be needed—though I do think that at some point it will be good to set up a permanent water collection system to at least water the seedlings in the greenhouse.

I am trying to make the most of the time I have left. Today we were able to harvest enough food to have an inexpensive, self-serve produce stand near the road. The system that we have worked out is that whatever does not sell that day becomes dinner. In the two hours the stand was up, we sold some radishes but had enough fresh veggies left over to make a delicious dinner.

Yesterday was also very eventful.  It started with me helping our friend Walter take down his wind turbine tower at his home on Butterfield Lake. The turbine had been damaged in a wind storm a few years ago. Walter showed me the whole setup and gave me a quick crash course on the electrical system he designed and set up for it. It was nice to get a feel for the assembly of a turbine tower. 
After lunch, Walt and I accompanied two employees of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) around the lake. Walt has been monitoring the weeds in Butterfield for a number of years in order to keep track of things like nutrient quantities in the water and invasive species in the lake.

Yesterday we hauled the DEC guys around the lake so they could collect sediment samples in order to glean information on what insects and microorganisms live in the lake. They guys were more than happy to let me put on waders and collect a sample.

I took the sample, as well as a Secchi disk measurement. Both were simple to do; but it was a great way to spend a day learning more about some of the things we talked about in my "Sustainable Ecosystems" class.

As far as accomplishments at Better Farm, I have to say my greatest achievement has been the farm and gardens themselves. These encompass so much of my experience here. I learned a great amount about composting, as well as which plants work better together than others. I have learned to look at everything, no matter how useless it may seem, with the idea that it can be implemented in some way.

Overall I am proud to know that what I have done will feed the not only the people here at the Farm, but others in the area who want to have fresh, locally grown food.

Originally published at Joe's Blog.

Eating Healthier at Better Farm

Learning to eat healthy is a big change for someone who used to eat fast food every day. Switching from eating

BK Stackers

to

Boca Burgers

; from boxed or canned food to fresh veggies and fruit; from drinking more than a 12-pack of soda daily to juice and water: Changes like these help a person lose weight and feel better mentally and physically.

I recently went back to Iowa for a family reunion and party for friends I hadn't seen in a while. I made a healthy dish for each; ones that were simple but delicious. I was nervous about making the food, but they were a hit! Check out my recipes after the jump.

Brussels Sprouts and Asparagus

1 cup asparagus

2 cups brussels sprouts

1 Tbs. olive oil

1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, diced

Lemon juice and sea salt to taste

Serves 4

Cut the stems off the brussels sprouts and chop them in half. Cut the last 1/2 inch from the asparagus. Add them to the skillet. Once browned, add the sun-dried tomatoes and season everything with the lemon juice and salt. 

Spinach and Tomato-Basil Wraps

4 spinach wraps

1 Tomato, sliced

4-6 large pieces of lettuce or spinach, chopped

Spicy and honey mustard, to taste

Serves 4

Spread the mustard thinly on wraps. Add lettuce and tomatoes, and roll. Cut into thirds and secure with toothpicks.

Eating healthy is hard, and switching over takes a lot of commitment and support. I know one of my problems was not knowing exactly what would go well with what. I'm learning new recipes daily and enjoy seeing what other people choose as a favorite. Feel free to leave comments with your own favorite recipes—we're always looking to try new things out at the Farm!

Until next time,

Take care and live happy and healthy!

Inspiration Station: DIY plastic bottle kayak

Forget signal flares and coconut radios. Next time you're stranded on a desert island (which will inevitably have washed-ashore trash on its beaches), utilize the empty plastic bottles around you and save yourself.

This kayak, built for a recycled boat race, is significantly cheaper than the ones featured at your local outdoors store, a great conversation piece, and a wonderful study in recycling. Learn how to make your own

here.

Many thanks to Ali Carter for tipping us off to this DIY plastic bottle kayak

.

Field Trip to County Fair

The oldest, continuously operating fair in America took Watertown by storm July 13 through 18. What better family field trip could there be?

We managed to swing through the Jefferson County Fair on the same evening Alan Jackson was playing, which only added to the excitement and hysteria. The Better Farm crew hit all the scariest rides, played all the toughest games, and defied the largest crowds we've seen on this side of the North Country. See the full photo album, along with the other shenanigans of Summer 2010, here.

Farm Life Meets Pottery

Today marks the start of week 3 of farm life for me. My first two weeks have provided many amazing experiences, from cliff jumping to yoga to private islands to photography. Yes, all of this from a farm! Not only am I here at Better Farm as an artist resident, I also attended a couple workshops, and participate in what I refer to as “farm life,” which includes chores around the house, helping to feed the masses, and soaking in the simplicity of a life removed from the clamor of the city.

As a full-time teacher, I’m trying to make the most of my time here to focus on another love of my life, pottery. I brought with me a propane-fueled raku kiln, which was converted from electric. And what a find this kiln was! Only $25 at a yard sale…always keep an eye out for old kilns, which can easily be restored with new parts or converted for raku. The beast still needs some work, but I am very excited to experiment with the mysterious world of raku, as it produces some of the most stunning glaze effects I’ve found.

 
I work on my pottery in an old barn at the farm. I’ve found the open air and quiet surroundings allow for an atmosphere of mind wandering that serves me well. I have been hand-building all my pieces because I didn’t bring my newly purchased wheel. Hand building takes significantly longer than just throwing a piece on the wheel, but I enjoy making sculptural creatures of various sorts, and slab building more functional pieces.

I took pictures of all my greenware after my first experience attempting to fire my kiln. As I struggled to get the propane to oxygen ratio right, I occasionally heard some loud popping going on inside. I hoped it was just some debris igniting. After the wind blew out my flame, and I determined some major modifications were needed to fire properly, I gave up. When I opened the lid I was very disappointed to learn that the popping noise was, in fact, some of my work shattering to pieces. Fortunately anything I spent significant time on was safe. I know what errors I made, so even though the first firing attempt was a failure, I learned a lot from the experience.

I was very happy to find that there is a pottery studio only about a mile down the street, Dragonfly Pottery. I went to visit with Ann Donovan, a local art teacher and potter, who seems very knowledgeable about all aspects of pottery after 18 years of experience. I will be spending some time at her studio, using her wheels, kilns, clay and tools, as well as learning more about mixing glazes.

I look forward to seeing where my mind and hands wander, and what creations result. Soon I’ll also share more about the amazing workshop experiences I’ve had here at Better Farm.

Intern Files: End of week seven

By Joe Pintaudi

I have learned a great amount of respect for people who labor for what they bring to the table every day. It is easy to go to the store and buy something that I may eat or may throw away, but to toil away in the dirt and bring something out of the ground while trying to put back something that will help this process continue for as long as there is someone to continue the cycle.

I am getting ready to end what has been an amazing experience and a great summer; and really, in many ways, everything about coming here has been surprising. I will leave with pride in knowing that what I did will help to feed the people in this small community of mixed ideas and views. I have been surprised at how welcome the people here at the Farm and in the town of Redwood have been. All summer long we have been guided by the experience of others who want to see this succeed. Their experience has been helpful to ours, and what we have learned from them as well as on our own will someday be passed on to others who want to try and make things Better.

Originally posted at Joe's Blog.