Open Farm Day 2011

One of the many things we like about living in New York is our close proximity to many farms and delicious farm products. Nearby Madison County hosted Open Farm Day 2011 today, when 40 farms are open for visitation. We had a great time visiting five of those days, despite the still steamy weather.

We first went to Ingallside Meadows Farm in Canastota, where we found the flowers to be particularly gorgeous:



At BMR Acres, also in Canastota, I was quite taken with this handsome chicken:


We stopped by Henry Family Canaserega Farm in Chittenango and enjoyed talking with one of the farmers about good methods for growing tomatoes. We also admired the cute calves and the portable chicken coop:




In Cazenovia, we first when to Brick Farm where I was immediately drawn to the goats:


Meadowood Farms in Cazenovia is a beautiful farm and the source of our favorite sheep's milk cheese:



Here come the sheep:


We ended the afternoon at lovely Meadows Farm, also in Cazenovia, where they specialize in delicious Kobe beef (and they gave us samples - yum). Here is James and Aidan with two members of the Wagyu herd:


Aidan enjoyed meeting some of the other residents:

Too hot

It's been hot. Too hot. Yesterday, we set a record by reaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit at Syracuse Hancock airport.

Aidan has been at Beaver Lake Nature Center all week for day camp, and I have picked up a very sweaty boy each day. Totally by chance, he attended camp this week with two of his friends from Cub Scouts, Becket and Brad. Becket's mom invited a few children over to swim yesterday after camp in an attempt to at least manage the heat, if not beat it. As you might imagine, the kids all had a great time.

Look out for Shark Boy:


Godzilla and Shark Boy prepare to terrorize the pool:


Shark Boy takes a dive:


When we left, we may not have been cool but we were definitely refreshed.