Categories
Organic Farming

Full Circle

With the windows down, sunny blue sky on the horizon and Third Eye Blind on the radio, I drove up the New York Thruway the first week of August for my second visit to Raven Crest Botanicals, an organic herb farm. Monday I arrived Monday afternoon to the open arms of Susanna and Thomas, eager […]

Categories
Organic Farming

Jersey Girl Gone WWOOFing

“Gardening is the most therapeutic and defiant act you can do.” I have to agree, digging in the dirt is awesome.  Ever since I was a kid, I loved playing in my backyard, getting dirty looking for insects, building forts and splashing around in creeks looking for frogs and crayfish.  Being outside made me happy, […]

Categories
Organic Farming

Permaculture Techniques for a More Sustainable Organic Farm

Deep in the sticks of Schoharie County in upstate New York, lays Raven Crest Botanicals, a 250-acre sanctuary of an organic farm. Over 80 herbs are grown at Raven Crest for a variety of teas, tinctures, elixirs and skin care products. Susanna Raeven, owner of Raven Crest Botanicals, strives to bring “non-toxic, safe and effective, […]

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Water

Canoeing the Conestoga: Agriculture and Water Quality

Happy Earth Day 2012 everyone!  On this Earth Day, I have decided to center a post around an important environmental issue of our time: clean waterways.  Understanding the connectedness of nature is vital for taking on a “deep ecology” mindset.  A great way to explain the connectedness of our natural systems is through our waterways.  […]

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Energy

Ethanol is Not the Answer

With oil at $104/barrel, it seems only logical to invest in alternative sources of fuel for our cars in the United States.  The increase in oil prices has led to the apparently beneficial act of diverting grain from food supply to ethanol production.  Ethanol is an alcohol made by fermenting sugar components of plant materials, […]