Bucolic,defined

If the dictionary definition of  bucolic - an idyllic rural life - were to be actualized then the example should be Turkana Farms in Germantown, NY.  The spectacularly beautiful 39 acre farm is hidden away off route 33 surrounded by other farms.   Farmers Peter Davies and Mark Scherzer came to farming a bit late in their lives, but like everything they do - they've built their property carefully, thoughtfully and with aplomb.  Davies, an academic with a lifelong interest in Turkey- so much so that he was one of the first sellers of the quintessential Turkish carpet, kilim, in this country, and now leads very particular tours to the country, and Scherzer, an attorney specializing in health care, are considered small scale farmers but the breadth of what they do is huge. They breed a considerable selection of heritage breed livestock - pastured and fed locally produced grains and never given antibiotics  -  and a wide assortment of vegetables and berries - grown without chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides.  

Three week old Toulouse geese will enjoy a wonderful late spring, summer and fall in the garden before they become the centerpieces of  delicious holiday meals for some lucky diners.

The farm raises four varieties of turkeys: Bourbon Reds, Spanish Black, Holland White, and Narragansett.  The birds are the farms' claim to fame.  Reserve your Thanksgiving bird in time (I'll be sure to give you a reminder).

The Karakul sheep add scenery and comic relief to the farm.   They live for their "teatime" snack - a bit of grain added as a treat to their otherwise grass fed diet.   They hear Mark pour the grain into their trays and literally tap their hooves in anticipation waiting for the barn door to open and let them at it.

The sheeps' unusually fat tails are a source of cooking oil and the fat that puts the shish in shish kabob.

Guinea hens are called faraona in Italian - and doesn't this white one look like a pharaoh?

That very handsome bull, called Titan,  a British White breed is the "husband"  of the seated cows, Daisy and Roxy and the dad to those beautiful chalk white calves - one of whom got close to him for protection when it saw us approaching.

A very beautiful peacock, and peahen live in a lovely fenced in area - on their own.

The leaf, peeking through the straw is a kind of Romaine with a rosy blush called, forellenschluss.

These fava beans are just about ready to harvest and be cooked using one of Peter's favorite recipes.

TURKISH WHOLE FAVA BEAN PODS IN OLIVE OIL
For 1 pound fava beans

.    Add 1/3 to 1/2 cup olive oil to a heavy cast iron skillet or heavy enamel pot with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat.
.    Add a couple of cloves, peeled, of garlic.  When they're soft add the fava beans.  Toss in the oil to fully coat.
.     Lower the heat, cover tightly and cover in the oil (stirring once or twice) for 10 to 15 minutes, until the pods begin to turn a little yellow.
.    Add boiling water to cover, the juice of one lemon, a tablespoon of sugar, salt and pepper to taste.
.    Simmer, uncovered, on low heat for about 1 - 1 1/2 hours, until the beans are soft and the liquid turns to a syrupy consistency.
.    Let cool to room temperature - or something near that.
.   Serve with chopped dill as a garnish.    
The above recipe comes in a bag with the favas, dill and recipe.  It's for sale at the farm.  Contact them to reserve.

Gooseberries.  Almost ripe.  Ripe.
  

Mark and Peter enjoying a much deserved refreshing drink at the end of a very busy day.  Wait.  I think Mark just said he had to go feed the pigs - Ossabaws, who have their special diet made for them by Lightening Tree Farm in Millbrook, NY - and Peter who had some of last season's guinea hens primed for his fine culinary touch - dinner.   Whose work is never done?

SUSANSIMONSAYS:

PLEASE DON'T MISS THIS EVENT AT THE HUDSON, NY FARMERS' MARKET ON SATURDAY, 23RD JUNE -  10:30am - 12:30pm - HAVE LIBBIE SUMMERS PERSONALIZE A COPY OF HER BOOK FOR YOU - OR SOMEONE WHO'LL ENJOY IT AS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT, OR CHRISTMAS GIFT

Authors Libbie Summers will be on hand signing copies of her book "The Whole Hog Cookbook"