Last night we had the first cutting of our Lacinato kale…roasted at high temperatures (450-475 degrees)…heat olive oil in a pyrex-type dish or other roasting pan with olive oil and then add kale…roast until crispy…I like to add other veggies like Brussels sprouts or parsnips cut thinly…I usually roast these larger veggies for 10 min first and then add the kale until done….serve with rice, small pasta, or thin spaghetti…I like to drizzle sesame oil and tamari sauce…nutritious and delicious…I still have a lot of arugula savaticca seedlings…reseeds from last year…very intense flavor…makes good vinegar, too…here’s a pic
….although I did not get many peony blooms because I transplanted my herbaceous peonies last fall, here is a pic of a bouquet from last week…
the recent rains have hastened their bloom time….Hallie
Woodstock Permaculture
Connections, One Swale at a Time
Possible Meeting Dates at the Woodstock Library & Other Garden/Forest Notes
Here are a few other available dates I booked at the Woodstock Library for meetings at 7 PM: August 2nd, October 4th, November 1st, and December 6th. If there are host homes for those months, I can cancel the meeting (s) there.
On another note…while walking in the woods today, I came across these mushrooms…I haven’t had a chance to ID it yet…does anyone know what it is? I also have had a voracious infestation of green caterpillars eating my beautiful Sea of Red lettuce…here’s a pic…needless to say, I squished back!! The lettuce is recovering 
nicely….I have continued to follow the nutrient-dense farming regimen that was outlined in the last Table publication, and I am really pleased with the results so far…I basically am using three ingredients: Azomite (rock dust solution one a week), Menefee humates (a small amount sprinkled in site of plant), and diluted kelp/fish emulsion every two to three weeks). At our last meeting in the library David Gross said he would post that article so everyone can read about it. The research thus far on this farming approach has shown incredible improvement in yields. I picked about 15 pounds of strawberries at Thompson & Finch, near Ancram, NY (NOFA certified organic…518-329-7578 on Sun…the berries are early due to the warmer weather so if you want to pick you better move fast…made strawberry shortcake last night…such a seasonal treat…froze the rest for a snowy day…Hallie
Learning WordPress and More
Thursday night/May 31st the Woodstock Permaculture meeting at the library was a learning curve, for me, as always….I hope that this will be my first post!! Keiko I would love to have some of the transplants you have posted. I also have many extra plants that need thinning. Some of the many are: arugula savaticca (sp?) 
( an intense variety that reseeds profusely, red bee balm, lily of the valley, Russian mustard, renegade garlic (escapees), several varieties of mints, red raspberries: Prelude and Caroline…that’s a start. Here’s a garden assistant who frequented my home garden last summer…quite cozy in a gladiola blossom….I forgot choose pic placement.
Switching to Google Group
We had a productive meeting last night. The minutes will be posted soon, but the most urgent news is that we will abandon the email list and shift to Google Group, to allow for more accurate, democratic, and robust communication. Invitation to our Google Group has been sent to everyone on our email list. The group is searchable and open to public (individual member’s information is not visible). Anyone who wants to join can do so by visiting Woodstock Permaculture Google Group, and clicking on “Apply for group membership.”
Nepeta, Anemone, Foxglove, and More
I have following perennial plants to divide and share:
- Nepeta fassennii “Six Hills Giant”: Catmint. This is a bee magnet. Great for dry, sunny spot. Silvery foliage and lavender flowers. Give it a lot of room. 36″ w x 30″ h.
- Anemone unknown species: Charming white flowers. Great ground cover for moist spots. Spreads very easily so be careful where you put them. 12–16″ h.
- Digitalis ambigua grandiflora: Yellow Foxglove. Dependable garden and cutting flower. I love seeing bees crawl into these flowers.
- Anemone tomentosa “Robustissima”: Wind Flower, Japanese Anemone, or Grape Leaf Anemone. Graceful flowers. Could be invasive. 36″w x 36″h.
- Aruncus dioicus: Goat’s Beard. Good background plant. Attracts beneficial insects. 36″w x 48″h.
They are all flowering right now, so after they finish, I can cut down the stems and divide the plants for anyone who wants them.
Keiko
Perennial Foxglove
Anemone with a species peony
Nepeta “Six Hill’s Giant”
Anemone robustissima
Goat’s Beard
Meeting at the Library, 5/31
We have a meetup tomorrow at the Woodstock Library from 6:30 to 8:30. There has been some confusion in our communication because there are now two mailing lists, one of which is partial. At our meeting tomorrow, we will find a solution to this problem once and for all.
Agenda:
1. Marls, who has been successfully leading a Yahoo group for Woodstock community garden will share her knowledge and experience with this type of group communication. Most likely we will try again to get Google group going (very similar to Yahoo group), since this type of group emailing is the most efficient and effective means of group communication.
2. We will discuss the direction and organization of Woodstock Permaculture. To help the group identify itself, I put together a questionnaire for everyone (see attachment—I included both PDF and Word files). Could you please fill it out and bring it to the meeting if you are coming, and if not, please email it back to me at your convenience.
3. I will show the very basic steps to publish a post to our blog. Blog is not a good way for a casual, interactive communication among a group, but it is a great way to share information, photos, experience, etc. If you enjoy writing and have something you want to share with the world, it is a perfect vehicle. If you have a laptop, tablet, or even smartphone, please bring it to the meeting. The library has WIFI so it’s a perfect place for this skill share.
Note: It is important that those who cannot make it to the meeting are not left out. We need someone to take minutes at each meeting. Can we take turns on this task?
Next Meetup: May 31 at Woodstock Library
Mark the calendar: details will be posted soon.
Skill-share, Nectarie Plants, and Rain Garden
I’d like to invite the Woodstock Permaculture Group to my house on Thursday June 14th at 5pm
it is the 2nd Thursday in June. We’re having a skill-sharing session for a hands-on soil-building
activity & information on flowers/plants that attract bee’s and insects presented by Mila Funk.
I am also building a rain garden with Mila, we’ll discuss as well.
This evening is an event organized by the Woodstock Transition Group & also falls into
the interest of our Permaculture Group. I hope everybody can join us.
Please pass along…everybody is welcome:)
Since it is dinner time — we’ll have a potluck & our grill will be available as well.
Also Next Tuesday May 22, 2012 at 10pm til ?
The Department of Environmental Conservation – Hudson Estuary Trees for Tribs
program is coming to our house to plant over 100 tree’s on the banks of the
Sawkill Creek behind our house. http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/43668.html
We are looking for volunteers to help us plant.
Even if you are not available in the morning ~ we’ll be working all day.
~ bring your shovel … we’ll have some on-site as well.
At the house of Jennifer & Adolfo
email Jennifer at jzackin[at]yahoo[dot]com for address
Kindly,
Jennifer Zackin
International Permaculture Day
May 6th is International Permaculture Day! To celebrate, Chelsea Green Publishing is having a 35% off sale on selected books. Thanks to Marls for sending me this info.
Transition Town May Mixer
All the Woodstock Transition meetings I’ve been to have been informative and inspiring. Tomorrow they are having a party to meet and greet and network. Not to be missed!
Woodstock Permaculture 