Concluding 2015

As another calendar year draws to a close it is a time to reflect over the past twelve months. 2015 showcased the importance of the earth below our feet through the recognition of the International Year of Soils.Both public and private, national and international organizations alike, celebrated and brought to light the importance of this environmental resource for the health of humans and the planet as a whole. Resolutions were made; workshops and conferences were held; educational materials were distributed and videos watched. Although the year is over, the efforts from these good works are not, as more people are now aware of the need to spread the news that soil is comprised of millions of living organisms which nurture all life on the planet and must be protected and not destroyed.

Magazines, newspapers, radio stations and television stations will all be highlighting their top news stories, artists, songs and shows. The following link takes you to Eco-Watch's ten most watched eco- videos in 2015: Ecowatch.com 2015 most-watched-videos. My favorite is Prince Ea's "Sorry" rap to  future generations.





And another overview of 2015 can be viewed through the 20 Most Popular Eco-Hastags on Twitter: Enjoy and have a Happy New Year!

Happy Solstice!

As I type this, it is only minutes before the winter solstice, which in our location will occur at 11:49 PM. A great website for tracking the length of daylight is http://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa. It includes lots of interesting facts regarding the sun, moon, the seasons and more. So, Happy Winter! However, if one steps outside here in New England, you could easily mistake this day for the Spring Equinox instead, as it's drizzly and 44 degrees Fahrenheit. I think I can confidently say that we will not be having a white Christmas.

I am happy that I can now look forward to incremental changes in the length of daylight. Still the short days of the next couple months will provide an opportunity to participate in some workshops and to do some research for this blog and next year's garden. The week before last I participated in a day-long Winter Botany Workshop, held at the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire's Forests Conservation Center in Concord. 

The workshop was sponsored by the New Hampshire Association of Natural Resource Scientists and was taught by Dr. William E. Kuriger. The morning and late afternoon sessions were held indoors and involved learning how to identify trees and shrubs by examining their twigs and fruit. In the winter, when clues such as leaves and seeds are limited, it is still possible to identify a specific species by dissecting a branch and looking in detail at the buds and leaf scars.

After lunch we walked outside to try and identify the trees growing around the Center. I learned that it is not it is not an easy task and that, sometimes, even the experts disagree. 

At a quick glance, these tree trunks all look alike, but upon closer examination, you can see differences in the structure of the bark. Also, by examining the leaves on the ground, you  realize that they are different species. They are both oak trees, but the white oak has lighter bark and rounded lobes on its leaves and the red oak has more reddish bark and leaves with pointed lobes. Based upon this, I would say that the picture on the left is a white oak and the picture on the right is a red oak. After some discussion, the tree below was identified as a Scarlet Oak.

Although I will never be an expert, I now know how to use William Harlow's Fruit Key and Twig Key and will probably do some practice with it this winter.

My next class this winter is going to be a permaculture course in January. I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge on these principles and will report back later on the blog. In the meantime Happy Holidays to all!

Roasted Pumpkin, Potatoes and Couscous

Ingredients:
1 small sugar pumpkin
2 cups baby potatoes diced
1/2 cup red onion
1 cup cherry tomato cut in half
1 box couscous with toasted pine nuts
1 clove garlic
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon maple syrup
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon thyme
-Whisk together oil, garlic, lemon juice, syrup and thyme. Cut pumpkin in half and scoop out seeds then cut into 8 - 12 wedges. Spread vegetables, except tomatoes in 8 x 8 pan. Pour oil mixture over top. Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes. Add tomatoes on top and pour additional oil over top. Bake another 15-20 minutes. Cook couscous and top with vegetables, salt and pepper.

Will Snow Ever Come?

Yesterday, reached a high of 57 degrees, not a record, but definitely unseasonable.  Here is a picture of our backyard yesterday, before I finally decided it was time to put away the outdoor furniture. The fact remains is that there are only nine hours of daylight and it is well past dark when I get home after work to sit outside.

Although everyone comments on how odd it is, most people aren't complaining, People are outside, working in their yards, jogging on the streets and bike-riding with nothing more than a sweatshirt. After finishing some in-door chores, Guster and I took a walk in the woods. Sometimes he led the way...

And sometimes he waited for me.

By three O'clock, the sun was sinking in the horizon, a reminder that it is December and not March.  I picked up the pace to get home before dark.
 

I suspect that in another month, these warm days will be only a faded memory, but for now the windows are open and we are enjoying the fresh air.

Harvest Shepherd's Pie

I brought this as a side dish for Thanksgiving dinner, but it is also substantial enough to be a vegetarian meal. It's fairly easy to make, but does take a bit of time to prepare all the ingredients.

Ingredients:
Canola oil for sautéing
1 lb tempeh crumbled
1 medium onion chopped
2 carrots chopped
1 pound small new potatoes diced
1/2 cup frozen corn 
1/2 cup frozen peas
2-3 large sweet potatoes
1 Tablespoon Butter
1 teaspoon sherry
3 cups vegetable broth
3 Tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon thyme
2 teaspoons sage
salt and pepper
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup sliced almonds


Grease a 3 1/2 quart casserole dish and set aside. Boil sweet potatoes with skins on until done (about 30 minutes). Drain under cool water and peel. Mash with butter and sherry and set aside. Heat about 2 Tablespoons of oil in a large pan and add tempeh, carrots and onions and cook for about 5 minutes. Add broth, new potatoes, thyme and tamari or soy sauce. Cover and simmer until potatoes are done, about 20 minutes. Add corn and peas and simmer 5 minutes. Add sage, salt and pepper to taste. Blend cornstarch with a couple tablespoons of water, then pour into dish, stirring until thickened. Transfer to casserole dish. Top with sweet potatoes and almonds. Bake uncovered at 375 degrees until heated through and golden brown on top, about 30 minutes.

Welcome December

The month that welcomes winter does not present the anticipation that March or April hold when signs of new life start to emerge outside. But December, does offer many things to look forward to. First, there is the holiday season, which basically encompass the entire month. I look forward to baking breads and cookies and trying out new recipes that will warm the kitchen with heat from casseroles in the oven and soups on the stove. The shorter days provide plenty of hours in the evening to peruse the seed catalogs, which have already started arriving. I will also have the time to read through my garden journal to recall what worked well and what didn't this past season so that I can make adjustments for next year. With Thanksgiving barely behind us, I took some time to go through my pictures from the past year and to remember all for that I am thankful.

Turnips were a tremendous success, and a vegetable that continues to provide extra flavor to our potatoes and stews. 

Horseradish which I bought at the NH Herb and Garden Day in June. I am looking forward to harvesting it next year to add some zest to sauces and spreads.
 
Asparagus which thrived this summer instead of succumbing to asparagus beetles. Perhaps this ladybug helped. 

New beginnings as  life starts over each spring.
 



Kale with its endless list of nutritional benefits.  

Fiddleheads that that will turn into lush ferns. 

Understanding that all life is to be valued and respected as each part of nature has a purpose to be fulfilled.



Lily-of-the-Valley, which is my birth flower and a sure sign that winter is over and spring is underway. 

When I look outside now, the trees are bare and the ground awaits in anticipation for the first significant snowfall which will be used as a blanket, protecting what lies underneath, until the sun and warmer days signal it is time to give birth again.
    

Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup

As a kid, my Dad's beef barley soup was one of my favorite meals. Barley, when cooked, adds a nice creaminess to soup The end result is a very comforting and satisfying first course or meal. This recipe, designed for a slow cooker, is easy to prepare in the morning. When you come home, just add some crusty bread and a salad, and dinner is ready in a few minutes, with clean-up a breeze.

Add vegetables and broth to browned beef , cover and go to work.

Ingredients:
1 pound cubed stew beef
1/2 onion diced
2 carrots diced
1 stalk celery diced
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 clove garlic mined
4 cups beef or chicken broth
2 cups water
1/2 cup barley
1/2 teaspoon thyme
salt and pepper

Dust beef in flour, then brown in 1 Tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic. Chop vegetables and add to slow cooker with broth and water. Stir in beef and spices. Cover and set the cooker on low 8 - 10 hours. Serve and enjoy.

A Walk up Minnechaug Mountain

There may not be spectacular mountains to hike in western Massachusetts, with the state having only  three peaks over 3,000 feet. Nevertheless, there are still some beautiful areas for hiking, and many  with summit views. At less than 1000 feet, Minnechaug Mountain in the Pioneer Valley is an easy climb with many rewards. The Minnechaug Land Trust oversees this property. Their website provides a nice map that shows the various hiking trails.

Kiosk for Kathy's Trail

Oak leaves on trail.

Our original plan was to start at the VFW building on Main Street in Hampden. However, on Sunday there was a Turkey Shoot going on so there was no parking available. Fortunately there are a couple other access points with a second parking area off of South Road. Although there is a sign on the right hand side of South Road, about a mile up from Main Street, which identifies the Land Trust property, we somehow missed it and ended up driving all the way to the end of the maintained portion of the road before turning around. With a more careful eye, we found the entrance which leads to an open field. There is a small kiosk with a wood bench in front. After parking, we crossed the field and found the beginning of Kathy's trail which is in the far left corner. The trail starts out with a moderate climb.  For the most part, the blazes on the trees were easy to follow although, in certain spots, the fallen leaves made finding the path difficult.


This is definitely not a wilderness hike, evidenced be the occasional beer can that had been thoughtlessly tossed on the ground. Newly deposited litter bothers me, but I find it interesting to come across items that have been abandoned decades, or centuries ago. There is plenty of that on this trail as well.

Remnants of old wagons and farm equipment

The resilience of nature - in particular trees, is demonstrated in the photos below.

A little iron? No problem, I'll just grow around it.

Lightening can't kill me.

An old vine looks like it has become part of this tree.

Although getting to the top is ultimate goal when climbing a mountain, half the fun is taking the time to observe the often overlooked things along the way. Fall is a perfect time to find fungi and lichens. The internet can be a great resource for making identifications. Using the USDA's Field Guide to Common Microfungi in Eastern Forests and their Ecosystem Functions (Ostry, Anderson, O'Brien) I was able to make the following identifications.

Smoky Polypore (Bjerkandera adjusta) on dead birch

 

Artists' Conk (Ganoderma Applanatum)

After about a half hour, we turned left onto the Algonquin trail where the climbing becomes a bit  steeper, but it was only a short distance to the summit where we found plenty of spots to relax and enjoy the view.

Tuesday of this week was National Take a Hike Day, and with this being a very mild November I am confident that there are still many good hiking days left before winter. I encourage everyone to explore the conservation lands in their own towns. Just be sure and wear bright colors as hunters may be out there as well.

Working in the Yard Refreshes the Mind

After a significant tragedy like what occurred Friday night in Paris, it can be hard to make sense of the world. It was particularly stressful for us until we heard from our son and his fiance who were visiting there, that they were safe. This was not the case for family members of the hundreds of other innocent people who were killed or injured. When the world appears in chaos and faith in humanity becomes questionable, it helps me to get outside and be present with nature, even if it's with a rake and shovel. What some may consider work, I consider therapy. Pruning, raking, and composting leaves were my activities yesterday. I was able to complete some end of season tasks, while clearing my mind and coming back to a feeling of peace in the world. For nature, although ever changing, remains a constant. It does not wage war, but instead nurtures itself. It figures out a way to survive, often in the face of mistreatment and destruction. People should take a lesson from the natural environment. It does not flourish by destroying itself, but grows through a mutual support of all its parts, from the sun in the heavens to the microbial life that resides in the earth. I pray that one day, all people will come to this same understanding.

Morning Glory Muffins

It's easy to associate these muffins with their name as they are a glorious way to begin the day. They are practically a meal in themselves and go great with a morning cup of coffee.

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups flour
scant 1/4 cup wheat flour
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 cup canola oil
2 cups grated carrots
1 cup diced apple
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/4 cup flaked coconut

Sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. In large bowl combine sugar and eggs beat in oil and vanilla. Add carrots and apples. Gradually stir in dry ingredients. Fold in nuts, apples, raisins and coconut. Fill large, greased muffin tins 3/4 full. Bake 350 degrees 22-24 minutes.

Indian Summer? Not Quite

Unless you live in Arizona or Hawaii, you have had to adjust to turning the clocks back an hour last weekend. Being a lover of of the sun, this time of year is particularly hard for me. Fortunately, the unseasonable warm weather we have been experiencing made the time change a bit more tolerable. From Sunday on, every day this week was warmer and sunnier than the one before. The high on Thursday was 74 degrees, just one degree shy of the record!

Even though I love the warmth - not having to turn on the heat, and being able to walk outside without a jacket, I can't help but feel a little concerned as to the impacts on Nature from a changing climate. She was definitely confused this week with crickets chirping again and ticks out in full  force. Thursday morning I found these fresh mushrooms growing on the side of the road - something typically seen in late summer or early fall instead of November.

However, some animal enjoyed this unseasonable treat, as yesterday, this was all that was left of one mushroom.

Regardless of the temperature, most of the summer migrant birds have left, and our winter friends have returned. Dark-eye Juncos and Tufted Titmice and Nuthatches are once again plentiful at the feeder. I was surprised on Sunday, though, to see several bluebirds in our front yard. I am told that some bluebirds do over-winter in New Hampshire, but this was the first time that I have seen them during this time of year.

Bluebirds sitting in the tree tops this week.

Although the weather has felt like summer, the foliage, or lack thereof, on the trees brings a reality check that it is November. Most of our maple trees are bare, and the deep reds, yellows and bronzes of the oak and beech trees, are fading to brown. However, you can still catch some interesting variety, particularly in the morning and late afternoon sunlight. 

 

Although the fall foliage of maple trees seem to be what leaf peepers in New England admire most, the oak trees this year were equally as impressive. According to the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, there are seven native species of oak trees in New Hampshire. Within a span of a few hundred yards on our street, I took a picture of four different varieties, all with very different coloring.

Finally, I thought I would share a photo of our catalpa tree. It's leaves will be one of the last to fall, and this tree that creates awe when in bloom in the summer, is  certainly not going to win any beauty contests this time of year. 

Catalpa - notice the bean pods on some of the brances

Getting back to the title of this blog - based upon the fact that it is November, and the fact that we have already experienced several mornings below freezing, I would have called this past week Indian Summer. However, according to the Old Farmers Almanac, Indian Summer must occur after November 11th, or St. Martin's Day. Even so, these past few days have seemed like an extension of summer for which I am grateful.

October 30th Morning Moon

Belle Isle in Detroit is Worth a Visit

I recently tweeted that Detroit is the fastest growing bicycle city in the country Why-bike-commuting-is-taking-off-in-the-nations-car-capital. Reading this article got me thinking that I never finished writing a post about a day trip we took to Belle Isle in Detroit during our vacation this summer. Even if you don't living anywhere near Michigan, you have probably heard about the troubles of Detroit, which filed for bankruptcy in 2013. When I mentioned to my sister that we were going to visit Belle Isle, she asked why because she thought that all the exhibits were closed. That may have been true a couple years ago, but Belle Isle Park, is having a revival since 2014 when the 984 acre island park became Michigan's 102nd State Park. With the assistance of the Belle Isle Conservancy, it is once again becoming a popular destination in its own right for locals and tourists alike. 

The Park's origins go back to 1880 when it was created under the City's 1879 Park Act. In 1881, the City commissioned famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to develop a plan for the park. His plan was produced in 1883, however, due to disagreements with the City Council and Park Board, it never came to fruition. Olmsted instead devoted his attention to Chicago and finalizing the design of Chicago's Jackson Park where the 1893 World's Columbian Exhibition was held. Olmsted's design for Belle Isle would have kept most of the island in it's natural state; and, even though it became more developed than Olmsted's proposal, it still became a great location for the city's residents to experience outdoor recreation, with over a million people visiting in 1911.Today, one can enjoy bike-riding, golf, a water-slide, learn about wildlife and Michigan history.

The day we visited was picture perfect. After paying a nominal park entrance fee, we made our first stop at the food cart to grab a Coney Dog for lunch. We then found a comfortable place to sit and eat by the water.

Benches provide a restful spot to gaze across the river into Canada

Easy to spot as you enter the park, is the James Scott Memorial Fountain. The fountain was opened in 1925 and was designed by Cass Gilbert who also designed the United States Supreme Court Building. It is a sight to behold and and while we were there a wedding party was taking advantage of the location for their photo album.

The Belle Isle Aquarium opened in 1904 and is the oldest aquarium in the country. It was closed between 2005 to 2012, when it was re-opened through the Belle Isle Conservancy.

It is a very cool building, and although there were many empty tanks waiting to be filled, the exhibits were interesting, like these freshwater stingrays.

By placing some tanks in the center of the room, the fish look like they are swimming in air.
Next to the Aquarium, is the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory. Also, opened in 1905, it is the country's oldest, continually operating conservatory. In 1955 it was renamed in honor of Anna Scripps Whitcomb who donated a collection of 600 orchids. The acre-sized is surrounded by 14 beautifully landscaped acres.

Both inside and out one can get their fix of greenery and color.

Bottle-Brush, Australia

Hibiscus

Our next stop was the Great Lakes Museum, which features 300 years of maritime history of the Great Lakes. With archives and interactive displays it is a must-see for the nautical fan.

These mile-markers show the connectivity to the major ports of the great lakes

The Bob-Lo Amusement Park Closed in 1993 after operating for 95 years

As we exited the island, we drove past the Detroit Yacht Club and the Detroit Boat Club, and then made a brief stop at the beach.

Bathers cool off in the Detroit River with the city's skyline in the background

It was great to see that the investments in this valuable urban natural resource are paying off. If you visit Michigan, and enjoy the outdoors, don't discount the opportunities that exist within the city limits of Detroit.