Two Crows Farm and Recreation

Throughout the years my name has garnered some interesting comments, and preconceived notions.

First, that I am most definitely a hippy. Second, that I must be a vegetarian. And most recently, that I am a fortune teller!

Actually, the fortune teller identification came not from my name per say, but from a former student at Riverside Elementary School.

Back track to a few weeks ago. The phone rang and when I answered I was introduced to one of my neighbours. (well about 7 km away, but in the country, that is a neighbour!) She introduced herself, and quickly got straight to the point of asking me if I was a fortune teller.

I didn’t know what to say at first. But after hearing her explanation it began to make more sense.

My neighbour said that she had a ghost, and that the priest had just left her house… and he didn’t seem to scare away what ever was causing her grief. So, she called me.

I told her that the ghost must have been Catholic. I heard crickets, and moved on.

When I asked her how she had come to the assumption that I read fortunes, it turns out that a fun day that I volunteered for at the school had just come back to haunt me. (no pun intended)

I had dressed up as a “gypsyesque” woman, and had visited the school, and read children’s fortunes for the day. It seems that my keen interest in their lives, mixed with the memories of changing schools and friends, seemed to hit a nerve with the gr. 6 students who were leaving the school that year.

By the end of the day, pretty much the whole student body was certain that I could not only read fortunes, but that I was pretty good at it.

So back to the ghost.

I thought of Stephen, a man who believes only in what is… and he would probably tease me relentlessly for even entertaining such nonsense.

But, not knowing what is and what isn’t in the spiritual world, I explained that I did not read fortunes, but that I would try to help out.

I asked her a bunch of questions, and deduced from her responses, an action plan to rid her kitchen of the chair sliding, cupboard slamming ghost.

She thanked me and hung up.
Now there are a few things that I know for sure.

One: I am not a hippy.

Two: I am not a vegetarian.

But as for ghosts, spirits and the metaphysical world, I can honestly say that I am not sure of what I am sure.

I keep trying to type in Day 1. As if to start this blog on Saturday, the first day of picking fruit for the Transition House Foundation Gleaning project... but then I have to erase and start over, because this process began a while ago.

It started with an idea a few years ago. It was mulled over, and encouraged by a growing number of friends in the community; and it all came together this Saturday.

We organised two picking groups. One for cranberries. One for Apples.
Stephen met a group of keen pickers on the rolling hills of Donkin to pick cranberrries, and though they were scare in our usual spots, they came out with 24 cups of gorgeous little red berries.

I met another group of wonderful volunteers at a generous resident's home and began picking the reminents of the apples left after the hurricane force winds blew through. And though they were small, we gleened enough apples to make 72 jars of apple butter.

Today I met 4 wonderful women at the CB Farmers' Market kitchen to turn our pickin's into preserves.

We washed, we cut, we cooked, we canned... and we listened to the POP of the jars as they sealed. The most magical sound of all when canning.

Now that we are finished with the first of the two sessions I am blown away by the kindness that my fellow citizens here in Cape Breton are capable of. From the offers of excess jars, to the donation of time, to the openness of the discussions; everyone had something unique and equally helpful to offer.

For myself, being able to provide a few of the different skills that I have learned over the past few years to eager participants was incredible. I have shared the simple art of canning with some lovely women.

We talked, got to know each other, and worked a hard (and hot) days work. And though we weren't payed anything, it was a day full of riches. Something that I will remember for a long time.

So thank you to the people who helped out for the first round... and I am looking forward to the future of gleaning in Cape Breton!

As promised, Here is the apple butter recipe that we used today:

Apple Butter
10 lbs crab apples
7 1/2 cups white sugar
4 cups water
1.5 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp allspice

Wash crab apples; remove the stems and blossom ends.
Place in large heavy pot on stove. Add water and cover.
Cook until soft, about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Put through a coarse sieve.
Return to pot, add sugar and spices. Cook slowly until thick.
Pour into hot sterilized jars and seal at once.

If you already have apple sauce, bring to a slow boil (or as close as thick sauce will get) then add your sugar and spices and cook until desired consistency.

Remember- apples have a lot of natural pectin, so butter will thicken when cooled.