Life at Longhaul

My Last Entry

2011-09-09T13:13:00.000-07:00

Sad to say, I no longer live at Longhaul Farm. It was a wonderful summer and an amazing opportunity. It's a bittersweet feeling, I'm sad that I'll no longer live there, but I can be happy too knowing that I've made some lifetime friends at the farm. Lorri and H.O. are some of the most generous and kindhearted people I've been lucky enough to meet, and they really made the team feel like family. Steve's moved into my old "chateau" and hopefully he's settling in nicely with Marie. Sophie and Lib are still working the store and the fields until Sophie goes to Mexico and Lib goes back to teaching. Amanda's been back at UNH for a couple weeks and Ben continues his awesome cooking in the Pavilion kitchen. It was truly a great experience, and I hope that someone else picks up where I've left off on the blog (Lorri perhaps? now that she doesn't have to run around as much!). Lorri, H.O. and everyone else at the farm, if you're reading this, I love you all, it's been great.

Fried Green Tomatoes Anyone?

2011-08-24T15:40:00.000-07:00

Our tomatoes are late this year but they're finally starting to come in! Steve and Amanda picked a bunch of green ones after some tomato plants got blown over. So if your looking for fresh, organically grown, local tomatoes then look no further!

The Farm Bears Fruit

2011-08-19T05:45:00.000-07:00

Basil!

Eggplants starting to grow!

All the planting, watering and weeding is really starting to pay off and we've got lots of fresh vegetables at the Farm Stand! Our tomatoes are still ripening but we have eggplants, beets, basil, carrots, scallions, onions, zuchinni, summer squash, so many cucumbers we don't even know what to do with them all, and even blackberries! So stop by if you like fresh, organically grown, local vegetables!

My Little Sister Comes to Visit!

2011-08-14T04:59:00.000-07:00

I went home to New York for a couple days for my sister Charlotte's 13th birthday and then she came back up with me to stay for the week! I saw her last in May and I swear she's grown a couple inches since then! I've always told her she'll never be taller than me but she's shooting up so fast I'm afraid I might be looking up at her one day. Anyway, yesterday Charlotte spent the day with me in the store, it was so nice to have company, and of course I put her to work helping me husk corn for the barbeque. We then got to enjoy some of the corn we husked in the evening (along with hearty buffalo burgers) while listening to the lovely sounds of Open Tunings. Today she's with me in the store again, but I think we'll go for a hike and a swim after.

Bee Balm or Bomb?

2011-08-09T06:23:00.000-07:00

Just a silly little anecdote to start the day.. Lorri and H.O. were quizzing us one day on the names of different plants and flowers, and this little red riot pictured above was one of the plants. I can't remember if Steve or Amanda answered correctly that it was Bee Balm, but at any rate, when they said it I thought they were saying Bee Bomb. Later that day, I was looking at the flower and its unusual petals that thrust up into the air in all directions, and I said to Steve, "Bee Bomb really does look like a detonated bomb."

Well, Steve then informed me of my misunderstanding but I maintain that this plant would be more aptly named Bee Bomb.

The Great Pumpkin Growing Competition Continues!

2011-08-08T06:11:00.000-07:00

In the lead (so far), Amanda's Paul the Giant Pumpkin.

Close behind, my own emotionally insecure Herbert.

Second to last, Lib's little Linus.

Third so far, Steve's tattooed Arnold the Terminator.

And in last place so far, Sophie's poor and aptly named Lil Mama.

The pumpkins are continuing to grow, so who knows how this contest will end! Personally, I'm hoping some misfortune will strike Paul, or Amanda and Paul will be disqualified for using some kind of fertilizer laced with steroids or something... Perhaps Paul will come down with whatever unfortunate disease has been killing off Lil Mama's pumpkins, who kept turning up rotten and dead before they'd even started growing!

The funny thing is, because all the pumpkins are yellow, people keep asking what kind of plants we have growing in the front yard!

Back in Action!

2011-08-08T05:54:00.000-07:00

I realize it's been a shamefully long time since I posted last.. but I mean to make up for it this month by posting frequently! Basically my excuse comes down to, July and August are busy months here, I do not have the internet in my place and Lorri and H.O.'s computer was so slow at one point that trying to use it was more torturous than pulling teeth. But no more excuses! Steve helped Lorri and H.O. clean up and speed up their computer, so now it's useable again.

Ok, that aside.. This past weekend was a crazy one here on the farm becasue of the Holderness 250th Anniversary celebrations! On Friday I worked with Steve, Lorri and H.O. at the Little Church Theater serving people steamers, Mexican corn, and Sandwich Creamery ice cream while a street dance went on in the parking lot to the great sounds of Postage Due. I can't really consider it working, it was too much fun! We all got some time dancing to the music and there was a good turn out despite a sudden downpour right at 6 p.m. when the event was supposed to start. Luckily, the band's equipment didn't get destroyed from the rain, the weather cleared up, and though the coals of our grill were put out, H.O. got them started up again quick and no one was worse for the wear! Steve has some photos of the event, and as soon as I can find him and get a hold of his iphone I'll post them!

The Great Pumpkin Growing Competition!

2011-07-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

One of Sophie's pumpkins died the first day!

Sophie and Steve tending their plants.


Herbert! My magnificent pumpkin plant.

We've started a pumpkin growing competition in the garden in front of the Farm Stand! We each have a giant pumpkin plant and the goal is to grow the biggest, bestest pumpkin! We have three categories are pumpkins will be judged on: 1) Biggest 2) Roundest 3) Closest to gardener's weight! In the running we have Lib's pumpkin Linus, Sophie's Lil' Mama, my Herbert (the favorite to win if I do say so myself), Steve's Arnold the Terminator, and Amanda's Paul the Pumpkin! Stay tuned to watch their progress!

Fresh Flower Bouquets and Weeding the Garden

2011-07-07T05:43:00.000-07:00

Phone that H.O. claims he actually used as a kid!

Amanda has proven herself to be an excellent flower arranger. Her bouquets are scattered throughout the store and on the porch, adding vibrant color and life! She picks new ones every couple days and they're available to purchase so you can take some of the colorful farm meadow feeling home. She uses whatever flowers are blooming in our gardens, currently Snap Dragons, Brown-eyed Susans, and Daisies are just a few she's using! She can also arrange a bouquet at your request. We had a man in not long ago who wanted a bouquet picked to bring home to his wife. While he was browsing the store waiting for Amanda to get his bouquet together, his wife drove up to the store. As the bouquet was supposed to be a surprise, Amanda hid in the back arranging the flowers while the husband distracted his wife until she drove away. She knew he was up to something, but I wish I'd seen her expression when he presented her with the gorgeous little bouquet Amanda put together....

I, on the other hand, have proven myself to be an appalling flower arranger, so please don't ever ask me to put together a bouquet for you! The one time I tried to put together a simple little bunch of flowers Amanda had to come to my rescue and redo the scrappy clash of flowers I'd shoved into a pile. So instead of picking flowers yesterday while the store was slow, I decided to do something that requires no artistic ability.. and weeded a few of the pots in the front that had been neglected. Here's some pictures of a giant pumpkin plant I was in the process of weeding out. There is something very satisfying about ripping up weeds and clearing a swath of soil.

You can see the shadow of my hair as I took the picture!

Rhubarb Scones with Whipped Cream

2011-07-07T05:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Amanda and I treated ourselves to some rhubarb scones that Ben baked in the Pavilion kitchen, topped off with Thomas' Dairy heavy cream that I whipped up with a dash of vanilla and powdered sugar. Ben's scones are some of the best I've tasted, light, fluffy, and soft when you bite into them with a delicious strong buttery flavor. The spot of rhubarb in the center adds a tart sweetness that compliments the whipped cream. If you want to enjoy these scones too, then come down to the Farm Stand where we're selling them, or be sure to come to Sunday Brunch where they'll be hot from the oven!

Local Artists' Work at the Farm Stand

2011-07-03T15:52:00.000-07:00

Mary Ober's gorgeous garlic bulb vases.

In the last week we've been starting to get in some great pieces from local artists and craftsmen. Above I have a couple of Mary Ober's beautiful ceramics, which we're selling at the store. You can see more of her pieces at http://www.maryober.etsy.com/. Her ceramics speak for themselves; I want to buy everything she's selling in the store for myself!

Bethani Garland's elegant earrings.

We also have some beautiful jewelry. Bethani Garland of Moose Lily Studio makes elegant earrings with sterling silver and precious stones, all named after New England wildflowers and wildlife, such as "Barn Owl" and "Pink Lady's Slippers." You can find her on facebook under Moose Lily Studio. Buy a pair of her earrings and 5% of all proceeds go to local Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers!

I have more lovely crafts and jewelry to write about but I want to get some good pictures of their works first, so stay tuned for more!

Live Music this Weekend at BBQ and Brunch!

2011-06-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

Steve Hayden

John Rafuse

Steve Hayden and John Rafuse will be treating our ears to acoustic tunes this weekend for the July 4th festivities! They're also involved with the Altrusa Food Aid Concert going on this summer in at Hesky Park in Meredith, NH on August 27th. To learn more go to their website, http://altrusafoodaid.org/

Strawberry Fields Forever..

2011-06-27T17:02:00.000-07:00

Fresh strawberries at the Farm Stand!

July 4th is just around the corner and we're starting celebrating the weekend by having our first BBQ of the season! Saturday night, July 2nd, we're having the first of our weekly BBQ nights at the Pavilion on the Hill. There'll be prime rib, chicken, a fish special, potato salad, hotdogs, etc. and for dessert... strawberry shortcake made with native New England strawberries and Thomas Dairy's heavy cream freshly whipped and dolloped on top. We've already had reservations, so call now and book your spot or just show up and join us as we celebrate our country's independence!

And if you're planning your own July 4th celebration... let us help! We're now taking catering orders for July 4th. We can make up a big batch of potato salad, or some of our famous BBQ ribs, we can provide delicious Basic Ingredients' pies or whatever else you might need prepared for your party. We've even got a couple legs of lamb in the walk-in to roast up for one patron. So call 603-968-9381 and make your order now!

Grey Day at the Computer...

2011-06-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

It's raining again outside and all I want to do is curl up with a book in bed. Instead, I'm sitting at the computer trying to design July's newsletter. Sophie's working at the Farm Stand for me but I wish I could trade places with her. The thing is, it's really not difficult to make the newsletter, especially with the template all set up for me, but for some reason my perfectionist streak is kicking in right now and I'm overthinking everything. If I could get over myself then I could have this newsletter ready to go in a half hour. As it is... would anyone like to trade places with me?

The Longest Day of the Year

2011-06-23T06:31:00.000-07:00

Strong independent women moving tables.

Dragging the surprisingly heavy canvas tent.

Carving/whittling (not cobbling) marshmallow sticks.

June 21st was the longest day of the year, and we decided to take advantage of the extra sunlight to set up the tent for the upcoming wedding. It was almost the full crew, Steve, Amanda, Sophie, H.O., Lorri, and even Lorri's sister, Sally, and her husband, Carl. We were only missing Lib! But even with so many helping hands, it was not easy to get the heavy canvas pieces up on the metal frame, and then there was the matter of sewing each piece together. Carl and Steve ended up with the job of standing on top of ladders and putting the canvas together. Carl joked that it should have been us girls doing the sewing, but we were having fun cutting up tree branches, carving sticks for marshmallows, (which we'll be selling at the Farm Stand for 25 cents each) and burning the debris. I completely understand why boys love playing with sticks and fire after the other night! Amanda, Sophie and I had a running joke about being "strong independent women" as we lifted heavy tables and raked up leaves that we piled up in a wheelbarrow and then dumped on the fire. With all the great people and festive spirits, it hardly felt like work! And best of all, we got to test out some of our marshmallow sticks at the end and made s'mores!

R & R Woodworkers

2011-06-20T14:40:00.000-07:00

The new chairs and end table in the store.

Robin and Bob of R & R Woodworkers (http://www.randrwoodworkers.com/) stopped by today and dropped off a couple really nice pieces of furniture to sell at the store. I happened to be sitting in a small rocker of their design on the porch when they arrived. I've sat in my fair share of Adirondack chairs and sometimes I find I sink too far into them and that they prop up my back at an uncomfortable angle, but Robin and Bob's small rocker is just right for my frame. They use New England white cedar to craft their furniture and it has a lovely smooth feel, even against bare skin. White cedar also holds up really well, the rocker on the porch has been outside all winter and all it has to show for wear is a silvery-gray finish that I personally prefer to the sandy fresh wood color!

Here's me reading in the small rocker.

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T15:18:00.000-07:00

The brunch was a big success! Lots of people turned up to enjoy succulent prime rib and adorable mini strawberry shortcakes. I got to enjoy a plate brought down to me at the farmstand. I'm not much for sweet things for breakfast, but the banana pancakes were the perfect texture and taste, moist and fluffy and just sweet enough. Steve's family even came up from Exeter for the event! If you're feeling bad that you didn't treat your own dad to our delicious brunch, fret not. This summer we'll be hosting a Sunday Brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every week! Join our email list on the website http://www.longhaulfarm.com/ and get flyers of the upcoming events and menus!

Here Comes the Bride...

2011-06-19T15:10:00.000-07:00

The big day is looming closer and closer and H.O. and Steve have been busting their buns getting the farm ready! Lorri snapped some shots of the men at work. They've done a great job of clearing out all the brush and debris in the surrounding woods, and here's a picture of Steve moving rocks around for the altar:

I went up in the evening to take a look myself. I stood on the stone platform they've started to create and of course I couldn't help but think of my own possible wedding one day. I've always wanted an outdoor ceremony in a wooded area very similar to Longhaul and I'm really excited to see it all come together!

Bread Baking Class!!

2011-06-16T06:20:00.000-07:00

Come one, come all! Garlyn Manganiello of Basic Ingredients (http://www.basicingredientsnh.com/) who makes our delicious pies at the farm is going to be here in person to lead a bread baking class on Tues. June 21st from 5 - 8 p.m.! The class will be held up at the Pavilion in our fully licensed commercial kitchen. I've only spoken to Garlyn on the phone so far but she was really sweet and I can't wait to meet her properly. Everyone who attends will go home with a doggy bag and the knowledge of how to bake a multitude of delicious breads! It's $25 per person, and it's going to be a lot of fun! If you've ever tried any of Garlyn's recipes, you know that it's going to be worth it!

Squam Lake and Wedding Preparations at the Farm

2011-06-16T06:07:00.000-07:00

I had the last couple days off, and lucky for me on Wednesday the sun finally shone through again and the rain let up so I spent the day basking at Squam Lake. The water was warm (although I'm used to the ocean so anything seems warm after that) although for some reason there are warm and cold spots, which is slightly disconcerting. One thing that no ocean can match is the view of trees and mountains Squam Lake offers. I was there from noon to five but Steve met up with me after he got done clearing brush with H.O. for the wedding ceremony that's going to be held here on Sat. June 25th. H.O. is going to set up lights along the rocks in the woods, and the altar is going to be a large rock underneath a canopy of hemlocks, birch, and white pine. It's the first of a few weddings we have lined up for this season, I can't wait to see them all, although I fear I'll get swept up in the romance!

Placing Orders

2011-06-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

Farmstand is closed today so I spent the morning placing orders and sitting at the computer trying to come up with an inventory sheet and a new closeout sheet for the store. The orders took no time at all, in truth, as we're still biding our time before the season really starts up after July 4th. It's nice that most of the companies we work with are local, small affairs so that when I call up a place I'm usually talking directly to the owner. Lorri usually makes the orders so I've been calling up and letting people know that I'm going to be taking over the ordering for her from now on. Like I said before though, I didn't place many orders today. One of the main things I needed to make sure we restocked was ice cream. After the power outage, all our Sandwich Creamery ice cream (http://www.sandwichcreamery.com/index.html) melted so we had to order a whole bunch more for next week. I can't decide if their ice cream is a blessing or a curse yet, it's so light and delicious that I find myself dipping a spoon into a pint and then looking down and realizing I've eaten half the tub in one sitting. One thing about this job, I'll never go hungry!

Pie and Paella

2011-06-12T13:55:00.000-07:00

The Tapas Party was a lot of fun last night! Because of the foul weather it was held indoors at the Pavilion. Steve and I weren't working so we went up to get some food and see how it was going. The Pavilion looked lovely, it was warm, cozy, and romantic with lots of candles and string lights, a welcome respite from the wet, gloomy outdoors. There was a happy crowd of people lined up on the bench tables and plenty of food to go around. My personal favorite was the paella, it was warm and filling with chunks of chicken and whole shrimp, but then I've always been a fan of rich rice dishes.
As for today, most of the crew had the day off as it was one of the few Sundays we didn't have a brunch. (We are having a special Father's Day brunch next Sunday that I'll give more details about in a later post). The farmstand was open though so I was working. I didn't mind, it was a relaxing day and the store was homey and bright with the fridges humming away and the lights on. Speaking of fridges, we finally have a working one for our pies again. The pies are made locally in Bristol, NH by Garlyn Manganiello's company Basic Ingredients, http://www.basicingredientsnh.com/. Her pies are one of our most popular products, and after tasting the mixed berry and a slice of the strawberry rhubarb with fresh whipped cream, I can see why!

Got Greens?

2011-06-11T14:40:00.000-07:00

Woke up to a cloudy, rainy day today but the Tapas Party will be going on inside the Pavilion regardless! Down at the farmstand, I bagged a bunch of fresh greens that Lib picked from our gardens. We have mustard greens, swiss chard, and a salad mix containing red and green lettuce, spinach, kale, mustard flowers, bok choi and mizuna beat greens! We also have some fresh picked mint, dill, oregano, cliantro, and clives. The season's just beginning but if you're looking for local, organic grown greens then stop by!

Power Outage and Tapas Party

2011-06-10T16:12:00.000-07:00

You might think that having no power wouldn't be as big a setback on a farm as it would be in an office or other indoor jobs. Unfortunately, that's not so. The severe thunder storm that ripped across the East Coast yesterday luckily amounted to no more than a brief bout of whipping winds and heavy rain in Holderness. We sat on Lorri and H.O.'s porch and enjoyed the thunder and lightening. The major downside came from the power failure that started pretty much as soon as the sky suddenly got dark around 3 p.m. We all assumed (or hoped) it would be back by this morning, but it took a little longer than expected. And no power means no water because the water pump runs on electricity. It was a lucky thing that it rained most of the night, otherwise the plants might have been crispy by this afternoon. The other major problem with no electricity was keeping the fridges and freezers (containing all the vegetables, milk, cheese, bacon and other produce we sell and grow) cold. H.O. and Steve spent the morning setting up a generator at the pavilion that hadn't been run in four years, and thankfully it started up and we were able to keep the fridges cold at the pavilion. Then it was just a matter of bringing any perishable goods from the farmstand up the hill!

But on a happier note, the power is back and preparations are being made for the Tapas Party tomorrow night! Tapas is a tradition from Spain, basically it's the name given to a wide range of appetizers. It's going to be a delicious spread and it's all-you-can-eat for $25, tax and gratuity included! So come up the hill to the pavilion and check it out!

Last Minute Planting!

2011-06-06T09:41:00.000-07:00

Due to the foul weather we've had the last couple months, we're late getting our gardens in this year. So the crew met up at 7 a.m. today and we hopped on the transplanter to get our vegetables and flowers in. For the most part things went smoothly, except that H.O. kept veering left and nearly punctured the hoseline at the very end. But with four people helping the planting went quickly. We now have peppers, beets, nasturtium flowers, and tomatoes growing in the sun!