This Friday we took advantage of Home School Day at Plimoth Plantation. In honor of the occasion I thought I would share what I learned:

1. Touring Plimoth Plantation is much more pleasant when it is not raining than when it is.

2. The relationship between the English settlers and the Wampanoag was by no means friendly, more like judicious caution

3. The original Wampanoag settlement where Plymouth now stands was completely wiped out by European disease long before the Mayflower landed.

4. The Wampanoag were not migratory. They settled permanent locations and were organized by clans, each of which was named after a important indigenous animal

5. The ceremonial markings found on a native person are deeply personal and do not necessarily have any tribal meaning,

6. There is a really cool Native American working there named Bob.

7. Deer brains are an essential component of the tanning process, because of the enzymes and fats located there.

8. The Wampanoag canoe-like vessel was called a mishoon and was made from a burned out log. The vessels were hardy enough to be ocean going and when capsized would immediately right themselves because they were extremely bottom heavy. The modern day Native staff have successfully rowed them from Plymouth to Martha’s Vineyard.

9. The thatch on the roofs of both the Wampanoag and English Home sites traditionally used to last three years. Now due to acid rain, they must be replaced annually.

10. The Eel river used to be fresh water, but now has turned brackish.

11. (Read on …)

I hope that this first day of fall is not representative of the rest of the season – rain all weekend. There is a certain symmetry if fall is like spring though.

I’ve posted new pictures in the gallery for August. There you will find photographs from Piper and Lisa’s various field trips, Piper releasing her butterflies, and our trip to a local “canyon”.

Ahhh… It may not be fall quite yet by the calendar, but it’s sure starting to feel like it. Tim calls this the juicy time because all of the yummy fruits and vegetables come in droves. We’ve definitely been taking advantage of the harvest.

The honey is in, with only minor trauma (one bee sting). Tim rented an extractor and we did the spinning in house this year. Tough year all over for honey this year and we were no exception with only one super. I’ve been teasing Tim about production going down every year – 10 gallons, 6 gallons, and this year around 3. Oh well, still plenty for home use and a few jars to sell.

We’ve put up 2 batches of salsa despite the slow tomatoes this year. I think I’m finally going to get a bunch this week but the combination of late planting due to our fabulous New England spring (read non-stop torrential downpour) and relatively cool of late is sure making them take their time. I realized today that I’ve been so busy hoarding tomatoes for salsa that we haven’t actually eaten any this year. Oops. Luckily we have been getting tons of cherry tomatoes from the farm so we haven’t been completely tomato deprived. Oh, and Piper has been a superstar this year helping with the salsa. She loves peeling and seeding tomatoes. How cool is that?
This weekend we went on our first apple-picking foray – ginger golds and galas. I even made an apple pie and it only took me about a half hour. There wasn’t even any swearing about the crust. This is major progress let me tell you. Good thing I’m stubborn or it would’ve been frozen pie crusts all the way in this household based on my first pie crust experiences 4 or 5 years ago. We also picked raspberries. I wish I could get these more often. Piper is a raspberry monster. She ate over a pint at one sitting and declared them her favorite fruit.

Off to do bedtime reading, but I have to throw in my new favorite way to cook chard. I’ve decided I love this green. Good thing considering we’ve gotten it about 10 times from the farm this year. Anyhow – saute a little garlic in olive oil (relatively low heat), throw in the chard and some cherry tomatoes, salt and pepper, and stir it around until the chard wilts. Good by itself, on couscous or pasta, and I even put in on the mac ‘n “cheese” I made for dinner tonite. Sooo yummy.

Happy Harvest!