Lagusta’s Luscious – Walking Into the Wind archive originally published 11/19/2013

 

Lagusta’s Luscious is an amazing vegan chocolate and confectionery shop in New Paltz, New York. Little edible gems are made on site and sold at the front of the store as well as online. Everything that goes into the making of these sweet goodies, the ingredients, the packaging, the interior of the store, and even how they operate as a business has been mindfully thought about. The attention to detail, the artfulness, and the bright energy that emanates from everything about Lagusta’s Luscious, including owner and chef Lagusta herself, will make anyone vegan or not, happily obsessed with the place, and wanting to try each and every treat. The chocolates have inventive taste combinations such as Thyme Lemon Sea Salt Caramels, White Chocolate Yuzu Cremes, and Fennel Apple Truffles. I was given a small box of assorted flavors to try. In order to savor each one, I let them sit in my mouth for a long time before chewing. Without a taste guide in front of me, I had to try to figure out what flavor each one was and I felt like Violet Beauregarde from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as she chewed on the special three course meal chewing gum which changes flavors as you chew. These seem just as magical. To find out more or to order your own sweet treats go to lagustasluscious.com

Wave Farm & WGXC – Walking Into the Wind archive originally published 10/19/2013

 

Wave Farm is a non-profit arts organization that focuses on supporting the use of the airwaves and transmission as a medium for creativity and community building. They have three main programs; Wave Farm Artist Residencies and the Transmission Arts Archive, community radio station WGXC (90.7 FM), and their Media Arts Grants.

 

The Wave Farm Study Center is located in Acra, New York which is about 2 hours north of New York City. The main building houses one of three WGXC radio station studios, housing and work space for artists in residence, as well as the transmission arts research library. The grounds of their 30 acre property are also home to outdoor installations.

 

 

On a recent visit, the artist in residence was Aliza Simons who was working on a piece titled “The Tip of the Crest of the Bridge”. Small transmitters were placed in ceramic vessels which would eventually be installed outside in trees so that when the viewer walked near and past them with handheld receivers, they would be able to hear audio loops taken from different radio stations around the world.

 

 

The grounds of the Wave Farm 30 acre property are also home to outdoor installations.

 

“Will o’ the Wisps” by Justin Downs is a network of six solar powered creatures, some of which are triggered by movement, and deliver subtle sound caught on FM waves through their mouths.

 

 

“Circular Spectrum Analyzer” by CCRT and LoVid uses solar panels that move cut and engraved discs, one of which tunes a radio.

 

 

“Remote Audio Outpost” by Japanther is a recording booth in the woods of Wave Farm where the viewer can make confessional recordings by talking into the telephone.

 

 

“Sing Sun Room” by Matt Bua is an interactive sound sculpture built into/onto an existing trailer. Sounds are created by the viewer by such things as pulling on a string, blowing into a tube, or even bringing a citrus fruit that once it interacts with metal pieces, produces sound.

 

 

The idea that radio waves is a natural resource, just like water and air, and should be accessible to the public comes together beautifully as a whole experience when walking the Wave Farm grounds and encountering these installations among the trees, fallen leaves, pond, wind, and sun light. For more information on all of their endeavors visit wavefarm.org and wgxc.org

 

Hodge Podge Farm – Walking Into the Wind archive originally published 09/14/2013

 

Years before the resurgence in handmade crafts and fashion, Cal Patch had a store called Patch 155 on Manhattan’s Lower East Side on Rivington Street. It sold colorful, handmade clothing and accessories by NYC artists and designers that you couldn’t find anywhere else. She was (and still is) like a mother hen to flocks of crafty women (and a few men) who bought and sold at her store. It also doubled as her own studio but she will probably tell you that she didn’t get much work done with people coming and going all day. Ever the gracious and friendly host to anyone walking in the door, everyone instantly felt welcome and at home. In a fast city, Patch 155 was one of the few places where you felt like you could slow down, breathe, and actually enjoy beautiful things. It was my favorite store and hangout spot. Cal fulfilled her dream of moving to the country a handful of years ago. She still makes her clothing under the name Hodge Podge and teaches patternmaking, sewing, and crochet classes in person all around the country as well as online at Creativebug. She is a laid-back mad scientist when working on her own projects and is always excited by the possibilities and combinations of color, patterns, and textures. Her longtime companion and muse, Gertie, is something of a celebrity and has modeled many pieces of doggie wear, made Cal’s dog sling invention coveted by small dog owners, and has put smiles on many faces just by being cute.
hodgepodgefarm.net

Good Fight Herb Co. vol. 2 – Walking Into the Wind archive originally published 09/10/2013

 

I made a visit to Good Fight Herb Co. again and the garden was in full bloom. Sharing pictures of the wonderful sunny morning there. If you haven’t already seen my previous post with a video interview with Lauren from Good Fight talking about being a community herbalist check it out here.

 

Keeping Busy – Walking Into the Wind archive originally published 08/28/2013

 

Sean Gillard is the proprietor of my favorite local farm stand and not surprisingly, also a wonderful woodworking artist. He led me on a tour of his small farm, workshop, and home.

 

 

Inside his barn, along with farm equipment and drying onions, Sean has a large collection of salvaged wood from old barns, fences and such, as well as wood given to him from a lumber yard. He uses the wood to make bird feeders, bird houses, butterfly boxes, tables, and objects d’art, some of which he sells at his farm stand. Other pieces can be found around the property and in his home, which for the most part, he also built himself.

 

 

Sean’s property was formerly a large apple orchard and a few trees from that era still remain. McIntosh and Red Delicious apples still grow on these old trees and because Sean doesn’t like to use pesticides they may have some surface blemishes but are sweet to eat.

 

 

When Sean sent out soil samples from his property to be tested he found out that for his area he had one of the best and nutritious soils around. He has his apple trees, his vegetable plots, and even has Christmas trees growing that are for sale during the holiday season.

 

 

This year’s specialty crop for Sean has been kale; three different varieties to be exact – Red Russian, Lacinato, and Curly Kale. Most days he cuts beautifully fresh bundles to stock his stand and sells them for the amazingly low price of $1. When asked about his pricing system, he said that he wanted to make sure things sold and moved quickly and that he didn’t really think about his farm stand making a lot of money. “I just do it to keep busy.” I think Sean might just be some kind of unknown hero.