Farm & Garden
By LYNNE IRONS
There is a Paul Simon song with the following lyric: “Why am I soft in the middle when the rest of my life is so hard?” The sentence kept coming to mind last week during the hurried preparations for Hurricane Earl. I continued to overthink everything. Will this or that be blown away or should I put a rock on top and call it a day?
By LYNNE IRONS
I spent some time last weekend following the near-nonstop coverage of the fifth-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Then, in watching the Weather Channel Tropical Update I kept my eye on the movements of Earl. I did make a few “in-case” preparations. I searched out a mechanic to repair the generator. I can live pretty well for a while with no power. I have a gas range, plenty of lanterns and always something to do. However, this business of no water because of an electric-run water pump in the well is a big drag.
On a recent afternoon, when the skies had finally cleared and the earth was beginning to soak up five days worth of rain, Marie Scott emerged out of her field off Middle Road in Chilmark. Barefoot, she appeared to float effortlessly amongst her crops. Her feet squished in the damp ground as she showed the Gazette around the land she has been connected to her entire life off Beetlebung Corner, aptly named Beetlebung Farm.
As the last week of August and first week of September are upon us, there is no getting around the crisp smell of soil in the air, the slight crunch under your feet as leaves begin to drop
By LYNNE IRONS
A few weeks ago, a story was told on NPR of a man with a persistent cough. Fearing the worst, he scheduled a doctor’s visit. An x-ray revealed a pea plant growing in his lung. He apparently had a split pea go down the wrong pipe. Incredible as it sounds, all ended well with the removal of the half-inch sprout.
Fresh corn, tomatoes, potatoes, squash, greens and other veggies dot the farmers’ markets across the Island. Nothing compares to farm fresh eggs, sometimes you’re even able to buy Island-raised beef, and most recently locally raised and slaughtered poultry. But what about melt-in-your mouth mozzarella made with Vineyard milk, or forgetting the spaghetti and sinking your teeth into a large chunk of Parmesan, maybe even skipping the salad and going straight for the feta?