Category Archives: Essays

Helping Hands

Posted on July 18, 2011 by twistedbasics

Last week, after a storm that brought us severe winds, we were faced with staking up 800 of our 1800 tomato plants in 90 degree temperatures.  Although we are used to hard work on the farm, we were thrilled when … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Farm News, Recipes, Vegetables | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

How the Land Inspires

Posted on June 19, 2011 by twistedbasics

Brickyard Farms is celebrating tens years of working the land.  Val and I along with Val and Cate before me, have fed many people over the years from these five and one half acres.  We can’t remember a time when … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Farm News | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Simple

Posted on April 17, 2011 by twistedbasics

Again and again spring is here and not here.  Forsythia bloom, yet the wind blows bitter off the lake.  I wear a hat and winter coat to water the hoop house and enter the humid 70 degree warmth.  The lettuce, … Continue reading →

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Mindfulness

Posted on April 11, 2011 by twistedbasics

It was such a tease.  I mean really, 85 degrees in early April?  But we jumped in with both feet, wanting to take full advantage of the amazing day; which meant doing the one thing I enjoy as much as … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Farm News, Raves, Recipes | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Quietly Doing Our Thing

Posted on March 26, 2011 by twistedbasics

My original intent for this blog was to introduce both our farm and my new memoir/cookbook:  Basics with a Twist: Life & Food at Brickyard Farms. With the book’s arrival being approximately 3 weeks away, I thought it was time … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Excerpts, Essays, Raves | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Learning to Exhale

Posted on March 6, 2011 by twistedbasics

As the week comes to a close, I am not thinking much about food.  Val and I are recovering from the flu, so its lighter fare of broth, herbal tea, water and rest.  Yet even in this weakened physical state, … Continue reading →

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The Chicken, The Farmer & The Cook

Posted on February 27, 2011 by twistedbasics

When I was contemplating what to write about this week, it occurred to me that this is not simply a food blog.  It also is a farm blog, a blog on food issues and a life-style blog.  Food is at … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Rants, Recipes | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments