A Beautiful Day on the Land: October 29
The weather was perfect, and the uplift of Halloween spirits made for a very fun and productive workday on the Hart’s Mill land this past weekend. Participants included Rita, Geri, Paul, Randy,
Marsha, John, Maria Teresa, Margret, Jeffry, Michael and Hope. Ben Rickard and Noah Ranells from Fickle Creek Farm joined us for a late dinner around the festive campfire. The conversations, stories and singing carried us into the late hours. Countless stars twinkled in the overhead darkness.
Folks entering the land were greeted by Ol’ Tom who appears to have just completed a round of bush-hogging. At Cedar Pavilion we found a straw bale, 4 large pumpkins, ears of colorful corn and a cornucopia of local food awaiting dinnertime.
Major accomplishments for day included:
- Path mowing to prepare for afternoon walks on the land
- Planting of fall cover crops (crimson clover and w
inter rye) on the garden beds - Heavy mulching with straw between the garden beds
- Clearing of a fallen cluster of trees on the trail leading to the south end of the dam
- Land clearing in a tree-dense area of the fairy circle
- Winterizing & storing the flexible tubing
used for summer irrigation - Sadly, the takedown and analysis of one of our beehives that had collapsed
- Community “glue”-building and socializing during the prolonged evening meal
inter rye) on the garden beds
used for summer irrigation
Special thanks to:
- Everyone who joined in the work festivities, with
commendations to Geri and Rita for avid gardening and trail clearing - Jeffry & Margret for bringing individual “trick-or-treat” bags of maitake (hen-of-the-wood) mushrooms, all harvested this week from near the base of the three old oaks just north of the pavilion, and… for bringing a large pot of
delicious maitake soup! - Paul for the Halloween decorations
- Margret & Maria Teresa for the carved pumpkins (and the owly face paint!)
- Michael for the ingenious coat-hanger skewers which made it possible to grill our brats and hot dogs!
commendations to Geri and Rita for avid gardening and trail clearing
delicious maitake soup!
We finished the evening with a rousing rendition of a Halloween round (slightly adjusted he
re in honor of our namesake):
Have you seen the ghost of Tom? Long white bone with the flesh all gone. Ooooooooo. Wouldn’t it be chilly with no skin on!
