Preparing for a Special Party at My Farm
Today at my Bedford, New York farm, I'm hosting a very special party to celebrate all those who have worked with me for 20-years and more.
With so much to do, everyone pitched in yesterday to get everything ready. Among the many tasks on our list - mow the lawns, weed the garden beds, mulch the carriage roads, harvest the vegetables, bathe the donkeys, and make the tablecloth and centerpieces for the outdoor sit-down dinner. We got so much done and fortunately this week's weather is fantastic.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- My peafowl have the perfect “bird’s eye view” of all the party preparations going on at the farm. Here are three sitting atop one of the chickens coops “taking it all in.”
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- The courtyard is where everyone will gather – it is looking so pretty with the large potted sago palms on the cobblestone courtyard.
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- All the surrounding areas near the stable are freshly groomed. Here’s Domi mowing the lawn in front of the peafowl and goose enclosures.
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- Nearby, my stable manager, Helen, wipes down all the stall doors.
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- My vegetable garden is looking so lush and green. It was also cleaned and weeded.
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- These beets were harvested early in the day. The beetroot is the taproot of the beet plant, and is often called the table beet, garden beet, red or golden beet or simply… beet. Beets are highly nutritious and very good for maintaining strong cardiovascular health. It’s low in calories, contains zero cholesterol, and is rich in folates, vitamin-A, B-complex, and antioxidants.
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- Vicia faba, also known as the broad bean or fava bean is an ancient member of the pea family. They have a nutty taste and buttery texture. I always grow lots of fava beans. A trug bucket full is also picked for the party.
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- And here’s a bowl of fresh eggs from my gorgeous and most productive chickens.
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- Herbs are potted for use as our centerpieces. It is always nice to utilize natural elements to decorate the tables. Green is also a theme color for the table setting. It will go so nicely with my Drabware dishes.
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- Dawa is weeding the perennial garden across from the chicken coops – it’s all hands on deck for this special gathering.
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- And of course, the donkeys are getting bathed for the occasion.
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- Truman “TJ” Junior and Clive don’t seem to mind – these baths cool them down on a warm summer’s day.
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- Here’s Domi carefully weed whacking around the antique posts of the Asian pear espalier. I bought these posts from China. Originally, they were used as grape supports in a valley that was going to be dammed and flooded to create a reservoir. Now, I use these beautiful posts for various projects around my farm – including this row of espaliered fruits.
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- Inside my Flower Room kitchen, Chef Pierre Schaedelin from PS Tailored Events, cuts the beets into bite-sized pieces for a delicious salad.
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- Here’s sous chef Moises carrying a tray filled with citrus – ready for the cocktails and fruit popsicles.
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- Phurba puts fresh mulch around the boxwood in the long Boxwood Allée. Mulch is a layer of material applied to the soil surface. It helps to conserve soil moisture, improve fertility and health of the soil, reduce weed growth, and enhance the visual appeal of the area. All the organic mulch we use is made right here at the farm.
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- The peafowl have moved for a closer look – here they are on top of the mulch filled dump truck.
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- Here, Chhiring, who is celebrating his 20 years with me today, is burning all the pesky weeds that grow in between the cobblestone pavers.
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- Lorna unrolls the fabric to make our handmade tablecloths. I chose this dark gray color – it will look so pretty with the Drabware and herb centerpieces.
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- And here’s a tray of homemade currant fruit popsicles ready for the freezer.
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- We’re almost set for our fun summertime party! And I think the peafowl approve. This peahen is sitting on the rim of a giant stone birdbath in front of my Stable Office building – she is so interested and curious. I’ll be sure to share more photos of this party in my next blog – stay tuned.
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