The Maine Meal Recipes: by Dennis Fisher and Joe Fisher
The Belfast Farmers'Market will play host on Friday, August 10 to Lynn Karlin, one of the co-authors of the new book "Gardens Maine Style." Lynn is a well known local photographer with a number of book credits and frequent appearances in such magazines as Country Living Gardener. She's often seen snapping photos of vegetables and flowers at the Belfast Market, and even here at Fisher Farm. Lynn will be signing copies of her new book at the market from 9-1, and we hope you will turn out to see her.Starting on Tuesday, June 31st, Eleanor Wood will once again bring her fine Maine blueberries to the Belfast Market. Eleanor will be at market three days a week, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, until the end of the berrying season.
Recently a farmer friend of mine asked what I most look forward to in the growing season. Was it the first carrot? (Her favorite crop), or was it peas, or the first new potato? There are so many firsts, and sadly lasts, to the year on the farm that picking a favorite first vegetable is a tough choice. The first apple is also a very nice thing, and so is the first egg.
But what I decided that I like most is the first day that I can look at my supper and recognize everything on the plate as something grown by me or by someone I know well. This year it was a chicken from Southern Exposure, one of our new farmers, and peas and new potatoes from Fisher Farm. Another night it might by my own lettuce, carrots from Peacemeal, and sausage or steak from Meadowsweet. Or goat cheese from Appleton Creamery on Fisher Farm crackers for a snack.
A meal like this is not only good, healthy, locally grown food, but is also a reminder that I live in a community of farmers. We share food, experience, even equipment. My community is scattered from Appleton to Bar Harbor to East Corinth and even further.
The other day my brother and I and some of the Peacemealers drove to Checkerberry Farm in Parkman to see how Jason Kafka grows onions. Jason has been growing food organically for twenty years, and he is a farmer to envy. He grows most of the onions for the Common Ground Fair, and if you've ever had a "blooming onion" at the fair it was one of his. He grows large, perfect sweet onions, mostly Alisa Craigs, plus many kinds of garlic, leeks, and mixed produce.
Jason has a large and growing collection of farm equipment, much of which he built or modified himself. One of his designs is a homebrewed "water tower", a hand cart topped by a metal tower and a water gun. He can put down an inch of water in a day on a couple of acres, just by pushing the tower around. The tower answers the problem of irrigation on a small acreage so well that I think I might build one myself. He's also constructed transplanters and flame weeders, all designed for his farm's particular needs.
At the end of the tour we shared another meal, a pot luck with smoked chicken in tomato sauce, milk, celery, goat cheese, and vegetables with gooseberry pie for dessert. It was a good day, a good meal and a long ride home, and plenty to think about for next season.
1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
? teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons butter
1/4-? cup milk
1 quart blueberries
Preheat oven to 425. To make the dough, mix together the dry ingredients, cut in the butter, and add milk, mixing lightly with a fork. Turn out on a floured board and knead a few times. Now in a saucepan heat the berries to boiling. Pour the berries into a small, greased casserole dish or pan, and top with the dough. Bake for about ? hour and serve with cream.