November/December

2015 Editor Nancy DiPace Pfau Number 27

Notes from the editor: Our little village and town has enjoyed a whirlwind few months,
from an Outstanding in the Fields dinner at the Beekman Mansion, the opening of the
Springs Gallery, a glorious opera season just a few miles away, an incredibly successful
Harvest Festival [including an ETSY village, Lobstah Rolls on the lawn at the American,
and a dinner at Clausens], our own Garth Roberts presented at TEDx Talk in Utica, a
new book from Josh and Brent (Style!) as well as a magazine [Beekman 1802 Almanac],
the publication of a Community Cookbook, plus the announcement from TARGET that
they will carry more farm to shelf items from our local farmers AND, thanks to the
leadership of our Mayor, Doug Plummer, the community has continued beautification of
our Chalybeate Park, the list could go on and on! Then to top everything off, Mother
Nature put on a fabulous display of color these past few weeks preparing us for the
onslaught of winter!

GRAND OPENING OF THE NEW SPRINGS GALLERY, AUGUST 2015

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO BRUCE BUTTON AND LEE PUBLICATIONS FOR THEIR
CONTINUED SUPPORT IN PRINTING THE CHATTER!

JAY LAVERYS PERMACULTURE INN

I was first introduced to permaculture while volunteering for the Green Roofs
Project in New York City and learning how to create a sustainable growing
environment several stories above ground where usable soil and water were absent.
By researching regenerative farming techniques, using Permaculture design, I
realized how much I loved working with nature to grow or raise the food we eat.
Before long I had an unquenchable thirst to learn as much as I could about
Permaculture.
The concept of Permaculture or Permanent Agriculture was formed in the
early 1970s by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in Australia as an interdisciplinary
earth science to serve as an outreach of sustainable food production. By working
with nature and using natural resources rather than working against nature using
chemical pesticides and fertilizers, they realized how beneficial this design technique
was not only for the environment but also for the food itself. After the Vietnam War
chemicals from Agent Orange were introduced into agriculture as a way to kill
weeds and promote more food production. These chemicals are still being used
today. Permaculture goes beyond simply excluding chemical pesticides and
fertilizers by creating a holistic ecologically viable solution to growing and raising the
food we eat. Permaculture follows three ethics: care for the earth, care for people
and a return of surplus or fair share. Before long my love for Permaculture led to me
purchasing my farm called The Permaculture Inn in the town of Sharon, NY, and
beginning my lifelong journey to Change the World One Meal at a Time.
The Permaculture Inn sits on just under 35 acres that are far from ideal for
use as a conventional agriculture farm. Most of the property is wooded and
inaccessible by tractor. There is a small, unleveled pasture that has not been seeded
in many years and is mostly weeds. The farmhouse is a post Civil War fixerupper. Although most conventional farmers would never consider this property as a
viable and productive farm it was exactly what I was looking for. I wanted a property
that did not use chemicals and was as close to its natural state as possible. After
only a year of being on the property, we now have heritage Turkeys, Heritage
Chickens, Ducks and Guinea Fowl as well as Dairy Sheep and Goats and we are
using Permaculture Design Techniques to raise, grow and process the food we eat.
Eventually we will be sharing our surplus and selling our farm products while using
our farm as a natural learning environment to showcase Permaculture in action. Our
goal is to show how we all can leave a positive footprint by making the land and soil
healthier with holistic farming. We are learning to work with nature in solving
problems rather than excluding nature and depleting our soil. All of our animals on
the farm are an integral part of this process as they use their natural behaviors. Our

Guinea Fowl free range eating ticks and fleas while being our alarm system when
predators are nearby. Our ducks eat our weeds as well as all of the slugs and snails.
Our chickens eat all of the above as well as prepare the soil in our vegetable
gardens for new plantings.
There is a growing population of people wanting to know exactly where their
food is coming from and exactly how their food is being grown, raised and cared for.
Slowly we are learning that cheap food has many hidden costs such as inhumane
treatment of animals, chemical additives that cause sickness and illness to humans
PLUS destruction of our environment. Unlike factory farms, we want our customers
to come visit, ask questions and learn how regenerative farming is the new
revolution in food. Starting Spring of 2016, we will offer tours of our farm and
courses in Permaculture Design. Feel free to contact us and please Like us on
Facebook to see all of the things we are doing and learning on the farm.

JAY SHEPHERDING SOME OF HIS FLOCK!

DANCE NEWS

from Betty Gavin Singer

Studio North Alumna Joins Nacre

Mikaela Tripp of South Valley will dance with Nacre, a professional dance
company whose mission is to revive modern dance. Mikaela is a graduate of
Cherry Valley Springfield School. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Dance
with a minor in Business from the College of Brockport. Mikaela is an alumna
of Studio North - A Centre for Dance where she danced for 15 years prior to
attending college. (Mikaela started her dance training at the age of 3 with
Studio North's Parent/Tot class!). She recently returned from Brazil where she
studied Silvesta technique. Mikaela is the daughter of Dana Plank and Nathan
Tripp. (I have attached a photo of Mikaela)
A New Session at Studio North begins the week of October 26
It is not too late to join us! For Adults we offer: Belly Dance, Hip Hop, Dance
for Heart, Gentle Yoga and Power Yoga. New this year is our Adult Dance
Series. Our next course in the series is Tap which begins November 2nd and
runs for 6 weeks. For Kids we have: Acrobatics, Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap
and Combo classes. For the Little Ones we offer Parent/Tot (for walking
toddlers and their caregivers) and Pre Dance (for ages 4 & 5). A new Hip Hop
class for Teens will begin October 26. For more information and a schedule of
classes check our website www.studionorthny.com. Email us at
www.studionorthny@gmail.com or call us at 518-284-3340

From our roving reporter, Leila Durkin, now in Paris with her handsome, Philip!
When not traveling the world, she is completing a biography of Mary Beach
and hopes to send an article for the next Chatter:
Bonsoir Madame,
Alors, it is bedtime here and I have not written a word . . . But have eaten a lot
and walked many miles -- that does not help, does it?
Next edition for sure. I will be able to send you the cover, too, hopefully. Leila

WALLUNTEERS NEEDED!

by Steve Larson

Since 1999 Adelphi Paper Hangings has focused on reproducing authentically printed historic
wallpaper patterns of the mid-18th to mid-19th centuries with the traditional technique of block
printing. This time frame coincides with the golden age of block printing after the 1840s most
wallpapers were machine printed. While block printed wallpapers continued to be produced after
this time they tended to be high end patterns; block printing didnt completely die out but it did
become increasingly rare.
While we love printing the historic patterns weve decided it was time to apply our knowledge to
a new line of patterns:
Next Block Wallpapers
What else would you expect from a bunch of art school graduates? The idea is to use the
versatility that block printing offers to create contemporary patterns. These designs may or may
not follow the traditional regularly repeating structure seen in most wallcoverings on the market
today.
For marketing purposes we need installation photos of these patterns. Therefore, we are looking
for individuals who would be interested in allowing us to design and install a pattern for their
home or business. We are not necessarily planning to paper an entire room but rather one wall,
preferably one with a door, window or other architectural element, as these would be
incorporated in the design.
As an added incentive we will provide the paper at no charge. The only cost will be for the
installation and even that will be shared by Adelphi. Interested parties may contact Steve at
518-284-9066 or steve@adelphipaperhangings.com

BLACK CAT NEWS

Black Cat welcomes the winter season with their Drunken Blonde Fruitcakes,
Authentic Sugar Plums and Fig Balsamic Drizzle. They're available at the
Cafe, Cooperstown Farmers Market and dozens of specialty shops from here
to Brooklyn. Plus of course they produce special versions for Beekman 1802.
Including the Generous Fruitcake and Blaak Drizzle and also All new Fruitcake
Stuffing Mix from the Beekman Boys recipe.
And of course Dinner Club at the the Black Cat, a private invitation only Dinner
Club starts up again for the Winter.
CHALYBEATE

PARK QUILT DESIGN

The barn quilt design for Chalybeate Park! Check out the newly painted red barn
[thanks, Drew Meka] as well as the pavilion, painted by a troop of wonderful volunteers!

TWO SCENES FROM THE 2015 HARVEST FESTIVAL CELEBRITY CHEF STUART
OKEEFE FROM LOS ANGELES, CA, AND A VIEW OF CHALYBEATE PARK:

ITEMS FROM THE EDITOR FOR FUTURE REFERENCE:

1. This Saturday, October 31, at 1:30 PM in the Sharon Springs Library, Lester
Higgins will present Magic of Sharon Springs Halloween. Free Admission!
2. 7 PM Halloween Night Party at the American Hotel, reservations appreciated!
3. Several new exhibits at the Fenimore Museum: Lavern Kelley: Art of the Farm,
Raymond Han: Still Lifes and Figures, and A Perfect Likeness: Folk Portraits and
Early Photography. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays until
December 31st.
4. Victorian Festival, December 12th, come decked out in Victorian attire to stroll
along Main Street [or just come and watch!]
5. Beginning January 2016, the Chatter will be published 4 times a year [Winter,
Spring, Summer, and Fall issues] but still welcomes contributions!
6. Check out the many websites for the American Hotel, Beekman 1802, Chamber of
Commerce, etc. for updates on whats afoot in Sharon Springs!
7. The Schoharie County Historical Review Fall 2015 issue [available soon at
Cobbler & Co] will feature an article on The History of Clausen Farms by yours
truly!

The editors grandsons admiring the Bowmaker chair, named for their great Uncle
James, at Beekman 1802!