Kathy Puffer’s, Ashokan, White Feather Farm Accumulations
Accumulations!
Accumulating, growing building resource networks in the realm of Living LoBS.
(lifestyles of bioremediation & Symbiosis).
Saturday Productive Circuit;
First stop Recycling:
I picked up egg cartons at recycling – 4, though I need 6 matching for Ann Lee’s Super Balls. Later I gave them as a gift to Kathy’s husband Ed, who happily said, “Yes, we do need those”.
Serendipity stop: on my way a free box. I accumulated (for the MoSLaB bus): ceramic mixing bowl & two wooden goblets for celebrating.
1pm White Feather Farm Soil Fest:
I brought 4 property soil samples to be tested from around the house. I already tested the soil at Newburgh Farm with Urban Soil Institute which found high arsenic and copper.
Now the USDA table said there is very high lead. USDA testing doesn’t test for arsenic because it is shadowed by lead. The lead levels were less in the Bokashi area top of hill. The over all property goes from 103 to 515. Terrible. Though it looks beautiful— plants don’t seem to mind.
– I caught the end of the compost tea, soil building demo. After which I spoke to the brilliant Amanda Vaughn, farmer & artist. And Bill at White Feather Farm, who taught biochar. Bill was happy to give me some biochar for the installation. He’s also very active in moving biochar from the farm and out to larger bioremediation potentials. he is working with town projects to bioremediate with biochar. Perfect overlaps to MoS Living LoBS! He was discussing potentials with a FeMA participant. He made thin charcoal sticks for drawing made with grape vine and willow. Great for the Microbes to Metropolis Chronicle 4: Story Mapping. Writing, drawing experiences.
Serendipity stop: Driving found a weeping willow dripping into the road – I pulled over to request some vines.
3:00 Fungi Fest at Ashokan
I met Justin who mentioned a connection which could lead me to a resource. There is a group in nyc using fungi for bioremediation. No name so I have to find them. The project was possibly around NJ and Staten Island.
I did meet a person making lamps and other objects who was knowledgeable about the material side of fungi. And another artist knowledgeable about art adaptations with fungi,
Cracendo Serendipity 3: on my way out I passed Ashokan Building Maintenance lead – an acquaintance with whom I’ve hung out with others after the Hoot two yrs ago. He was showing his daughter the goats. I mentioned “extra goat fleece” and boom, he opened the shed door. There were two packed full bags of fleece — clean. Seems a shame to use it to pull oil off surface water. Grateful.
6pm Kathy Puffer’s home farm CSA! I trimmed the over growing curly willow bush. And relieved them of all their dirty fleece. Two big bags. Car is now full.
Kathy Puffer describing the biodigestor process to the permaculture meet up group.
My trunk full of Puffer Serendipities
7:30 pm: Checked out the other willow tree. Branches are too high after I was there before.
8:30pm: Freestyle Frolic dance DJ was right near Kathy’s.
The LivingLoBS web is strengthening.
link to this page: http://wp.me/p2bm5T-5w6