Project Feeder Watch Arrives!

Our Cornell Lab of Ornithology Project Feeder Watch packet arrived yesterday! This project allows backyard bird watchers to contribute observations that ornithologists can use to learn about wild bird populations. For a small donation, you receive a packet of information, a poster to help identify wild birds, and a calendar to track observations. We have our feeders set up and have suet cakes and oranges to hang on our outside Christmas tree. Look for posts and images this weekend when we make our first official observations!

Back to My Roots

I'm thoroughly a West Virginian now, but my roots are in south Florida. I grew up outside of Homestead, Florida, where a short bicycle trip would take me past fields of strawberries. My friend and I used to stop for icy strawberry milkshakes at a farm stand. I think that's where my interest in farming began.

In addition to amazing farms, south Florida has amazing wild spaces. Frances, an Ashwood Homestead contributor, sent this lovely image of a sawgrass wildlife sanctuary close to her south Florida home.

Those of us in other parts of the country can support the preservation of wild spaces in south Florida. These unique habitats are a national treasure.

Contributor's Poem

Frances, one of the friends of Ashwood Homestead, sent this poem to be shared:

Empress Dowager

Cold green clean
Blue on gold porcelain
Cream meshed
Out like flaked fish
Served for Lent
Platter adorned with bells
In silver caster salt canister
Shaken star light

Sifting, drifting
In the deep veins
No uplift but drowned
Darkness filtered rays
Made luminous
Like pearls hidden
Bidden but coyly
Driven into the sand.

Thank you, Frances for this beautiful image for a winter evening.

Beginnings

We've had a busy two days here at the Homestead. Yesterday, we drove through Tazewell, Virginia, looking for businesses related to sheep or wool. Tazewell is a lovely small town and we look forward to making another trip (armed with more specific address information) soon. Today, we ordered Red Oak, Black Cherry, and American Plum trees from the West Virginia Division of Forestry. The trees will be used to create a wind and noise barrier and bird habitat on the Homestead borders. The WV Division of Forestry offers great values on trees for reforesting. We continue to research sources for Choke Cherry, American Silverberry, and other shrubs to add to the native plant borders. Our Cornell Lab of Ornithology Birdwatching Kit should arrive soon. Christmas will be a bountiful time for the Homestead wild birds. The outdoor Christmas tree will be decorated with suet cake, orange, and raisin ornaments. Watching the birds' feast will be one of our special presents to everyone who visits!