Summer Harvest: From the Farm

A weekend highlight for me is visiting local farms. I'll take this over stifling, over-sized mega supermarkets any day. Summertime means an abundance of local delights.

At Old Hood Farm in Emerson: New Jersey sugar plums and raspberries. Both are like nature's candy.


Blueberries. Love seasonal berries over granola and either almond milk or soy yogurt as a simple summer breakfast.


Jersey beans. My mom sautés these in Earth Balance (or use olive oil), garlic and parsley. Mine never come out as good as hers. I think even peanut butter and jelly tastes better when your mom makes it.


At Abram Demaree Homestead on Old Hook Road in Closter, some new items were offered from last week's visit.

Bruschetta, the perfect recipe to make with summer tomatoes and basil. I topped it on a crusty bread I picked up at nearby Old Hook Farm. Served with their chopped salad (assorted greens with diced celery) and you've got a light summer meal.


Charbroiled zucchini, topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. Veganize at home: just leave off the cheese.


Salsa bites: tomato, garlic, onion and chipotle in a pastry crust.

I eat a little something sweet every day. No apologies. Burnt sugar cookies.


Home grown flowers.

Wishing you were here...


I left thinking of 10,000 Maniacs delightful ode to the infectious pleasures of summer, "Stockton Gala Days," and its declaration:

"That summer fields grow high.
We had wildflower fever.
We had to lay down where they grow."

Catch wildflower fever, and delight in all the season's bounty.

"Greed is a Blinding Ray"

There is a genre of musical artists (in my book, including Tori Amos and R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe) who do double duty as musicians and social historians of the times. Many of their works read like poems to me, and serve as cautionary tales or provide calls to activism.

Also on this list for me is Natalie Merchant, who is recording new material after a long hiatus. If you haven't checked out The House Carpenter's Daughter, her haunting collection of folk music - do.

A long-time activist for many causes, Ms. Merchant penned "A Campfire Song," which appeared on the 1987 album "In My Tribe" with the band she fronted at the time, 10,000 Maniacs. Backing vocals are provided by Stipe on the studio version. This sonic tale bears witness to greed, entitlement and environmental carelessness, all themes that sadly transcend time. While the original inhabitants of our land lived in harmony with nature, and were caretakers of the Earth, too many of us have carried on our forefathers' tradition of simply becoming takers.

10,000 Maniacs - A Campfire Song Live


A lie to say, "O my mountain has coal veins and beds to dig.
500 men with axes and they all dig for me."
A lie to say, "O my river where many fish do swim,
half of the catch is mine when you haul your nets in."
Never will he believe that his greed is a blinding ray.
No devil or redeemer will cheat him.
He'll take his gold to where he's lying cold.

A lie to say, "O my mine gave a diamond as big as a fist."
But with every gem in his pocket, the jewels he has missed.
A lie to say, "O my garden is growing taller by the day."
He only eats the best and tosses the rest away.
Never will he be believe that his greed is a blinding ray.
No devil or redeemer can cheat him.
He'll take his gold to where he's lying cold.
Six deep in the grave.

Something is out of reach
something he wanted
something is out of reach
he's being taunted
something is out of reach
that he can beg or steal nor can he buy

his oldest pain
and fear in life
there'll not be time
his oldest pain
and fear in life
there'll not be time

A lie to say "O my forest has trees that block the sun
and when I cut them down I don't answer to anyone."
No, no, never will he believe that his greed is a blinding ray
no devil or redeemer can cheat him.
He'll take his gold where he's lying cold.