Camille-Beau

Shrimp and grits as far as the eye could see!! Beau and I were there (saw MelGold!! ) and thought that everything we tasted (way more than we should have) was excellent. While numerous variations of shrimp & grits were readily available, and delicious, you could also find outstanding pulled pork, duck confit/duck sausage, beef tenderloin (served with cheese grits of course), a few extra-spicy gumbos (lips tingled for half an hour from one of them!), an amazing smoked trout/crabcake, cheese/fig plates here & there and a fab praline cheesecake. The dishes were tapas-sized but tasting just a few adds up quickly! Pretty good wine offerings of various types, specifically a nice Argentinian Malbec. It was definitely worth the price, particularly due to the charity supported, but the restaurants really worked hard to present excellent and flavorful dishes that offer something for everyone. I would go to another event like this again anytime.

The goal this past weekend was to setup at least one greenhouse on the new site by Sunday afternoon. The closest we got to completion was pounding the 100 anchor posts into place. Took all afternoon to do that with three volunteers (welcome Monique DC!) working with David Lankford and his staff (John and Chuck). It's a painstaking process which requires lining up the 100 posts (50 each side) in a precise line 4' apart and parallel to the opposite line, using precise measurements and lasers to make sure the posts are set at the right alignment and height. David and his small crew of two will work very hard this week to get the frame set into the posts and pull the plastic over to get at least one greenhouse ready for the delicate plants that are currently exposed to the elements -- and DEER! The cold is fast approaching and at least 2 more greenhouses need to be completed. That being said, the best way to achieve this goal is to get a group of hardy volunteers at the new farm to help with the framing OR, even better, to help with the hiring of day laborers. This work is harder than removing and cutting gutters because of the use of sledghammers for pounding the posts into the ground. David has one set of alignment tools (the laser, etc.) to perform this work so only one greenhouse at a time can be setup. The installation of the plastic needs to happen very early in the morning (as early as 4am) to avoid the winds which tend to kick up at sunrise. Since it may be difficult for volunteers to be there at that time of day, the hiring of local help may work best. $10 covers one hour of labor. Saturday was a very productive day back at the old farm with Porcupine (aka speedracer ) and Beth Cover (new recruit!) working with Beau to take apart the framework of one greenhouse (50 very heavy aluminum 'ribs') so that they could be moved to the new farm. That greenhouse is targeted for setup as soon as the 100 posts anchoring the greenhouse can be pulled up, moved to the new farm, and pounded into place. More information (with photos) will follow soon. Any help, as always, is greatly appreciated. So many of you have contributed time and money and your stories of the experience really show what a massive effort this is and also how satisfying a day at the farm can be. I am sorry that more of you weren't able to be interviewed by the Sun reporter since you all deserve mention for the hard work you have done on this project. We would love to see new recruits added to the ranks of "Farmer Rockwellians". Thank you.

The Baltimore Sun story link (requires (free) registration with the Sun): Farm Aid

Any other Rockwellians attending this event on Monday?

Weekend volunteers (both confirmed and tentative) - Saturday: Porcupine Beth Cover Camille-Beau Sunday: NCPinDC Crackers Monique DC Camille-Beau If anyone wants to visit the farm on Sunday and needs directions past 7am on Saturday morning, please email/PM Rocks for the info. Thanks!

Space Food Sticks

So far 3 volunteers for Saturday (one new recruit!!!) and 3 for Sunday. That's a very good start -- anyone else care to join?

The Barefoot Contessa thanks you. (Recipe: Outrageous Brownies)

Word is that the Baltimore Sun article about the farm will appear in either the upcoming Sunday or Monday edition. [Hoping for SUNDAY!]

Hello all -- me again (collective groan... ) Yes, it is that time of the week when the quest begins for anyone who wants to work at the farm on the weekend, either Saturday or Sunday. If you want to go and haven't yet been to the farm, please let me or Rocks know so that we can send you the directions and relevant telephone numbers. As with the past visits, the following equipment is suggested: CORDLESS drill with Phillips drill tip Cordless screwdrivers & ratchets for dismantling the wooden stands Hammer Sandwich (other stuff, including sodas/water provided) A change of clothes (at least a clean t-shirt -- you'll get rather dirty) We always have extra pairs of new work gloves and safety goggles. If you don't have these items, please don't worry about it. There will be things to do that don't require a drill (but Beau and I have 3 we'll take along). The weather should be much better than last Saturday -- 73 and partly cloudy. Thanks! -Pat

Quisp cereal

Drove past it this evening -- everything dark, shuttered...

Brioche as described by Julia Child in "The Way to Cook": "Brioche dough, made with with eggs and rich with butter, is certainly a wonder of the baker's art -- but certainly not a dough for everyday eating, and most certainly not a dough for the fat or faint-hearted. It's for celebrations." Don't you just love Julia?

The photographer is confirmed for Wednesday, 10/12 so no worries for those volunteers unwilling to be photographed!

Since I lack the talent to add anything remotely as creative as mktye's impressive review of yesterday's visit to the farm, I'll simply list the team (in alphabetical order, Rocks, as you like it ) and include photos of the farm (Crackers, we need your photography skills!) and some of the hard work done by the team while I had the truly easy job of feeding trays into the seeder (mktye, you give me far too much credit for actually thinking while performing said task....) The October 8th team: Camille-Beau JPW mdt mktye (and rwtye!) TedE TedE and JPW (with mdt in the foreground) ready for battle: TedE and mdt (in signature orange) on gutter-removal: mdt and Beau (aka Colonel and Captain Chop Saw, respectively) doing what they do best: mdt holding up the greenhouse : While that hard work was taking place in the main house, the weekly seeding of lettuce and spinach was underway nearby. John, a man of few words but many talents (shown seeding the trays), estimated that 888 trays were completed. Note that the lettuce in these trays will be harvested and served in restaurants around DC in about 3-4 weeks: In another greenhouse, the incredible work done by the Lankfords is evident in the abundant variety of plants which represent just a small fraction of all of the vegetables and herbs cultivated at the farm: Sharon harvesting "Johnny Jump Ups" (Viola cornuta) for Maestro & Galileo: A before & after look of the work done at one part of the greenhouse: and the end of another productive day: So, the work continues on the seemingly endless gutters, including the decision of what to do with miles of strawberries that need to be moved to the new farm: If you have any ideas about that or would like to come out to the farm to join in the fun (seriously!) please do so. Monday, Oct 10 (Columbus Day) would be a great day for those of you who find yourselves with that holiday off and nothing to do with your time . Next weekend - both Saturday and Sunday (10/15-16) - we really hope for a large crowd to help with the progress in the large greenhouse. The goal is to get all of the gutters/wooden frames/irrigation pipes out so that David and his crew can move in to remove the plastic sheeting and frame of this enormous structure. Thanks again to all who have contributed and continue to do so. We look forward to meeting more of you as this project progresses. -Pat

Ok, take a close look at this photo: Remember what you saw and make sure that you order it the next time you visit Eve. This heaven-on-a-plate just happens to be seared fois gras wrapped in brioche with fois gras terrine and figs.... oh. my. god. I don't know what this is (or will be) called but it's pretty much the most decadent thing you can possibly put in your mouth. (no comments from Rocks, please )

David and Cathal:

Monday is cleared with the Lankfords for volunteers but not Sunday. I'll check with them to see if that is fine which I'm sure it is. Anyone going should contact me or Rocks so that we can inform the Lankfords that people are coming out there. thanks!

The presence of the photographer changes on a daily basis. At this point, if the photographer is there this weekend, it will likely be on Sunday, otherwise it may be postponed until next week. We'll keep you posted.

Per David Lankford, you are very welcome to visit the farm on Columbus Day, Monday Oct. 10. If you want to do so, please PM me and I'll send the directions and other info. Also, next Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 15-16 are now on the schedule. If you're in the industry and have Sundays available, or if Saturday just doesn't work for you, then come on out - the more the merrier. David estimates we've completed cutting about 20% of the gutters so there is definitely a lot to keep us busy. Confirmed for Saturday, Oct. 8: JPW mdt TedE mktye & spouse Camille-Beau thanks!!

We are considering the possibility of working at the farm on a Sunday to accommodate schedules for those of you unable to make the trek on a Saturday. If you would be interested in going to the farm on Sunday, October 16, please let me know. Depending on the response, we may change the schedule, or -- even better -- spend BOTH days at the farm

Oh yes, there will be another Saturday visit, I'm sure. There has been much progress, but there will be more to do for some time, so we'll post info after this weekend's trip to let everyone know about future trips. thanks!

A photographer for the Baltimore Sun plans to be at the farm this Saturday to take photos so wouldn't it be great to have a very LARGE volunteer group photo??? For those of you who are camera-shy, you do not need to be in the photographs so please don't let the presence of a photographer deter you from helping out at the farm. Just let me know in your PM if that would be an issue and we'll take care of it. I think at least 20 or so volunteers would make a great photo! So far only TWO are confirmed... Thanks!! -Camille-Beau <---- keeping an eye on the inbox

From AIWF: Ris Lacoste, honorary board member of our chapter wishes that you be among the first to know that she is leaving 1789 as of December 31, 2005 to open her own restaurant. Ris will be online today at Washingtonpost.com with Tom Sietsema to talk about her plans. Ris writes: "Hello all, just wanted to let each of you know as personally as I can that I am leaving 1789 after 10 wonderful years to open my own restaurant. I can't wait to open my doors to all of you who have been so wonderfully supportive. It will be in DC and hopefully will open this time next year. My last night at 1789 is New Year's Eve. Make your reservation. Love you all so much." thank you, Ris

I would like to put together the list of everyone planning to head out to the farm this weekend, so please be sure to confirm that you'll be going, preferably by end of the day on Thursday. Would those of you who mentioned that you were planning to go please send a PM to confirm? This will also help with coordinating transportation. Many thanks!