Country Wisdom Caretakers

My wife just put together some amazing wreaths using cuttings from around the yard. A few branches of white pine mixed with some cedar, or other evergreen,
wound around a round wire make the perfect foundation. Then add a couple of bows surrounded by red holly berries and little pine cones, or any combination of small ornaments.

Try adding dried apple slices or strings of cranberries for a touch of yumminess.

Put on some holiday music and turn this simple project into an annual tradition.

Helen donned her argyle socks to milk the goats this week—both to protect her legs from poison ivy and to make a fashion statement.
Check out this goat-related editorial from the July 2011 issue of Country Wisdom News:
Getting My Goat
I recently helped two local property owners secure goats for their 30-acre estate. I consider this rolling property to be a truly sustainable landscape—everywhere you turn there is an edible fruit or vegetable, most of which are perennial. There are sugar maples for syrup, beehives for honey, fish in the pond, and now goat milk.

The process of bringing the goats to the property—which required some preparation and education—has been exciting and sometimes hilarious. We built a fenced enclosure in an area that was filled with poison ivy and the invasive multiflora rose (as planned, the goats have since eaten most of these pesky plants). We also built a cute shed for the three goats to eat, drink, and sleep. There’s a momma Tennessee fainting goat, who has milk, her adorable baby boy, and a four-month-old female Alpine goat (she will eventually become the strongest milking goat).

The adventures really began when the momma figured out that she could ram any part of the fence a few times to break through. One morning, a Country Wisdom property manager arrived on the property to find the group relaxing on the bluestone patio. He spent about a half hour chasing them, but their ability to duck and weave exhausted the human.

Once I arrived, we put our minds together to try to get the goats back into the fenced area. It was easiest to catch and carry the baby first as the momma would follow right behind, bahhhing up a storm. Well, she followed us to the gate but did not want to get in. So, with the kids now closed up, my colleague and I tried to corner momma. She dodged left, she dodged right, and she slipped right between us both. The chase was on. We sprinted after a slippery goat, and as I tried to reach for her I saw the blur of my friend diving, Heisman-like, to catch the goat’s collar. He disappeared into the high grass as his free hand slowly rose with a thumbs up.

Never a dull moment when working with nature.

As always, send us your stories, ideas, and thoughts. We’re always looking to share.

–Chris Hewitt

Happy almost spring! We’ve been watching the robins hopping around the thawing ground all week—an official sign of spring. Now is the time to get mentally prepared for working outdoors. Stroll around the house to see what bulbs are coming up, and while you’re at it, jot down some ideas. The ground is ready to be worked once you can form a ball of soil that doesn’t stay together. Enjoy.

Country Wisdom News links the Shawangunks and the Catskills with green home and garden solutions. Featured articles in the new October 2010 issue include watershed issues, healing with apple cider vinegar, book and music reviews, edible plants, and a business review. Look for it on stands now throughout the Rondout, Wallkill, and Esopus valleys. To subscribe to Country Wisdom News, send a check or money order for $35 (includes 12 issues per year) to PO Box 444, Accord, NY 12404. For now, enjoy a sneak peek!

After a month on newsstands, the first issue of Country Wisdom News has garnered considerable attention, attracting readers throughout the Rondout and Wallkill valleys of the Hudson Valley. We intend to post a link to the full October issue, which hits stands on Wednesday, 9/29. Here’s a glimpse of the September issue:

The crew at Country Wisdom is happy to be launching  a new local newspaper, Country Wisdom News, that covers green home and garden solutions, art and culture, history and recreation in the Rondout and Wallkill valleys. The monthly newspaper will have 5,000 copies distributed throughout the region for free. The September 2010 issue, which will hit stands on August 26, will include articles on canning, recipes, a kids corner, a story from an elder, and a honey bee comic strip. Keep your eyes peeled for the first issue!

What a beautiful day for installing lightning rods. We’ve purchased beautiful lightning rods that have a glass ball around the metal, often seen on old barns or stone houses. I always thought they explode when the lightning hits, letting a homeowner know that the building was struck. It turns out they’re strictly decorative, a style that started over a century ago.

Honey bees are fascinating! Not only do they strengthen the yields of fruits and vegetables and make the environment healthier, we can work with them to harvest their honey, wax, propolis, and more useful offerings of the wee bee. Enjoy this close-up look at a honey bee hive, part of the Country Wisdom do-it-yourself video series. Let us know if you have any questions on setting up your own amazing hive.

Follow this link for the honey bee video:

www.visitvortex.com/Country-Wisdom

The Homegrown Minigolf course at Kelder’s Farm gets better every year! Maria Reidelbach’s vision and perseverance brought the edible minigolf course to life six years ago. The newest addition is a fine-tuned Hole 10, which challenges visitors to earn a free game by carefully putting the ball into a sloped hole. The Country Wisdom crew worked with Maria to build the new hole and to bring all of the gardens and trails up to snuff for spring.

Check out the new sign, visible from Route 209 as you pass the world’s largest garden gnome. Maria painted the beautiful, colorful sign. The Country Wisdom crew built the large cedar entry that holds the sign. From this angle, it looks like it might be the largest sign in the world (compared to the gnome in the background:).

Stop by Kelder’s to putt around, or visit www.homegrownminigolf.com

Exciting news!! It’s our first Do-It-Yourself video, part of our ongoing gardening and landscape series. Enjoy the show.

Follow this link to see the video at Visit Vortex.
www.visitvortex.com/Country-Wisdom