Pure Earth Organic Farm, LLC

 The Six Week Want

 A few years ago, I remember listening to a particular podcast by author James Howard Kunstler. http://www.kunstlercast.com

That was the first time I ever heard the name of "The Six Week Want."

You can listen to that episode here if you are so inclined . . .

http://www.kunstlercast.com/shows/KunstlerCast_82_Food_in_World_Made_By_Hand.html

I was thinking about this last week when we finished up the last of our winter squash, and over the weekend, a few of my friends were going out ramp hunting, and going trout fishing.

We, here in the North-East United States are now entering the period of time, that was traditionally known as "The Six Week Want."

 People today are blessed with a great abundance of food, from all areas of the world, all the year round.

Spring is generally considered to be a time of renewal and abundance, but it was just the opposite in the early 19th century.  It was a very hard time.

 After a long hard winter, food was generally scarce in Spring, so there was a time in-between the last of the Fall crops, and before the new Spring crops, and this time was referred to the "Six Week Want."

Nothing was growing in the garden yet, and they were getting to the bottom of the saurkraut or apple barrel.  Last year’s supplies of meat and vegetables were all gone.  To get fresh greens in their diet, they harvested wild leeks (ramps), pokeweed, dandelions and maybe even fiddlehead ferns to eat. 

Even firewood might've been getting scarce if cold temperatures started early and stayed late (like it did this past season and continues now).

I imagine deer might've been scarce, especially if they had a hard time surviving the winter also.

I guess some wild game was available.  Spring Turkey hunting season is coming up soon . . . I saw lots of turkeys recently that could've easily become a meal. 

On the positive side, Maple sugar and syrup is made in late-Winter/early Spring, and that sure is good to have something sweet to eat.

Springtime in early America also meant fresh eggs for those with chickens.  Eggs are definitely a sign of spring (hence Easter Eggs), and with more daylight and longer days, chickens begin laying more eggs.  Daylight affects egg production (That’s why modern poultry farms have lights on all the time).

So, if you were dependent on growing your own food, or obtaining it locally, what would you be eating now?

 I think I'd be pretty hungry myself!!!

This past weekend, March 25th and 26th, we attended the 5th annual Farm To Table Conference in Pittsburgh.

 As always, it was a very nice event.  We got to attend food demos, listen to speakers, see exhibits, and network with other farmers, consumers, food activists, etc.

 It was a very nice event, and I enjoy it every year.

 For more info, check out this link . . .

http://farmtotablepa.com/

Sincerely, and Organically Yours,

"Farmer Troy"

Welcome to our first foray into blog writing.

 Pure Earth Organic Farm has been online for about 15 years or so, but one thing we never did was blog before.

 I guess the closest we ever came to a blog is our Facebook page . . .

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pure-Earth-Organic-Farm-LLC/51760106987

. . . which we are still pretty active on.  Check it out for current photos and stories.

So far the news of the year is that the snow and pond ice has melted.  The baby garlic was poking through the soil and snow about a week ago.  The honeybees have emerged from the hive to do some cleansing flights after a long cold winter, and maybe to try and find some pollen.

 Yesterday, Saturday March 19th, was an interesting day in N.W. Pennsylvania, starting off with us getting our first seeds in the ground.  We planting some peas, radishes, beets and kale.

In the afternoon, I, along with my friends and neighbors from Maple Harvest Farm . . . 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maple-Harvest-Farm/104860019545808

. . . went out to a few different Sugar Shacks on the N.W. PA Maple Assn's, taste and tour.

http://www.pamaple.org/tour.html

Afterwards, I attended the regional potluck social for the Pennsylvania Assn. for Sustainable Agriculture.  It was a very nice event.  Good to see old friends and meet a few new folks. 

 And the end to the day was a spectacular full moon, which some call the Super Perigee full moon, because this is the closest the moon has been to earth in quite a few years.  Honestly, I wasn't able to see the difference between other full moons, but what is cool, is that while I am writing this on Sunday morning, the moon is still full, still visible, and today is also the last day of Winter, since Spring starts this evening around the 19th hour of today.

 Plans for today are to move some firewood into the house, because the temps. are still cold, and I am expecting more cold weather and snow to close out the month of March (In like a lamb, out like a lion), do a little more Sugar Shacking, maybe continue pruning some of our apple trees, and later this afternoon, check on the bees if the temps. get warm enough.

I hope you enjoyed our first installment of this blog, and I hope you check back occasionally for our farm updates.

Thanks,

Sincerely & Organically Yours,

"Farmer Troy" Bogdan