Sneak Preview: Summer Honey

There have been many things in 2009 that I'd never have dreamt would've happened to me. For example, I never would've thought that I'd meet a future employer while fully decked out in bee camo at the Beekeepers' Ball, waggle dancing my little stinger off. While traversing Wall Street in full costume, I didn't feel incredibly "employable." But a few weeks later and I've begun my new (awesome) job at Added Value, a farm in Brooklyn. Yes, a farm in Brooklyn. Check out these stunners: verdant collard greens so robust that a single leaf could act as the Jolly Green Giant's loin cloth! Delicious and nutritious!

All this farm work is building muscles and character, but it is also making me want to crawl into bed before double-digits. I have so many tales to tell about the honeybees but am simply too fatigued to do them justice. Instead, I will share highlights from my 4th of July Weekend, beginning with a 6am walk in good old Wash Heights. (No, this is not a Cara-impersonator, and no, I didn't mean 6pm.)

Morning light never fails to amaze me.

I wanted to sew my western shadow to my feet, but brought the wrong color thread so captured it on my camera instead.
Waiting for the train in Harlem...
...to visit this guy:
And this guy:
And these girls:
Look at that honey glimmering in the sunlight! The bees are capping it with wax.
Everything looked A-OK in the hive.
Both queens were photographed... but you have to come back tomorrow to see them! Ha!
Look at that sweet smile... human bean Hayden:
On the farm today, I learned about the 3 sisters: beans, squash, and corn. Feel free to assign each veggie to each Chard sister at your discretion.
I finally got the broom to work!
So did Dana. She was a natural.
Just a regular Independence Day.

Hayden's shadow looks firmly attached.

Marley and Bosco are my idols. They know how to kick it.
In between my stick-shift lessons, roses:
A perfect Sunday night in early July.

Finding Country in the City

For all you haters who think NYC is a dirty, crowded, concrete jungle, meet northern Manhattan. During a long walk through Ft. Tryon, along the Hudson to the northern tip of the island, we discovered this magical oasis called Inwood Hill Park. Every single photograph depicts Manhattan proper.

Here, we have a common Hobbit Hole, certainly home to some sort of wild creature. I contemplated a more intimate exploration before remembering that certain creatures (like groundhogs) can be surprisingly menacing when they suddenly emerge from hiding, as if they were watching you all along.

In this photograph, Frank expresses amused annoyance at his prominence in my photo montage. Note the giant rocks and lush greenery.

Lions and tigers and bears, OH MY! Some parts of this trail were downright creepy! I half-expected to be pelted with apples by the sinister-looking trees themselves!

Abandoned fire hydrant, covered in rusted graffiti, alludes to times of yore when drug dealers and hobos ruled this pristine area. If I were an 80's crack dealer, I'd find Inwood Hill Park quite agreeable in terms of stealth and tranquility.

A felled giant in the woods makes Frank's rugby physique look quite dainty! Can you spot The Frank??

Possibly the most exciting find of the afternoon: a fire pit complete with seating area and scenery comparable to that of the rocky Catskills. A rock shaped exactly like a rabbit refused to be photographed clearly, suggesting supernatural powers and/or rock electromagnetism. Stay tuned for summer party invite.

Ah, finally a reminder that we are, in fact, in the greatest city in the world:

The lack of strangers in these photographs is no coincidence: we spent hours exploring the hilly terrain without encountering a single human bean. Or being. All you Brooklyn folks: take the A Train to 190th and wander in a northeasterly fashion. I mean it!

We made it to the tail end of the Inwood Farmers' Market, just in time to get some local wildflower honey, (light, slightly tart,) buckwheat honey, (dark, slightly bitter,) plus a bunch of apples. While I collapsed into a well-deserved nap at home, Baker Frank whipped up a delightful apple crisp using the freshest of ingredients. I ate half before realizing I should photograph it... Below are Frank's (vague) directions. I highly recommend picking up some buckwheat honey from your local farmer's market and making this decadent treat for someone you love:

Frank's Fantastic Buckwheat Honey Apple Crisp

Skin and core a bunch of apples. Use about 8 different types of apples of varying size.

Soften apples with heat and butter until they are warm. Use a whole stick of butter.

Mush them with potato masher.

Add spices to taste, like cinnamon and allspice.

Add buckwheat honey to taste.

Throw contents into something that you would cook a crisp with.

Crisp part:

1 stick of butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

3/4 cups oats

Slowly add up to a cup of flour, until there is cohesion. "Crumbly and no longer wet."

Sprinkle over mushed apples to cover them completely.

Bake at 350 until until "crisp" forms. (Approx. 30-35 min.)

Let cool and enjoy!