kthread / Kristen Taylor

green on and off the island

Last Thursday evening, I delivered homemade ramp butter from my Brooklyn kitchen safely to my wonderful friend Keryn’s house in coastal Maine. Ever the fabulous hostess (I am finding it hard to leave Maine), there was a table filled with food and wine and very good company, the perfect end to a day’s drive through parkways and small villages.

On Saturday morning, we drove onto the ferry toward North Haven, an island just across from Rockland,

and Keryn pointed out the other islands as we passed them on our ferry hour.

Once on North Haven, she introduced me to Little Lad’s, the herbal popcorn produced locally that is difficult to stop eating,

and slipped the new album from local band the Toughcats in for our island tour.

We did see traps in driveways,

but more interesting, we read the signs on this community billboard that everyone driving the island passes (the one-way street makes it so), and I noted the invitation at the bottom of the farmers’ market sign, welcoming everyone to buy or sell.

Keryn deftly steered us out to Turner Farm, where farmer Jen Porter (who we saw on the ferry returning from “cow shopping”) moves the greenhouses on skids (the Eliot Coleman way) and we sleuthed which of the greenhouses had been moved that week.

Inside, the greenhouses were warm with the future plantings,

herbs and lettuces small and fragrant (Keryn leaned in to smell the basil),

and sunflower seeds were dark against the leaves.

We found the inspiring garden plans and neatly organized charts with dates and locations,

and I looked again at the green sprouts destined for great things,

learned that even leeks flower.

We walked up the hill to the beautiful posts and beams in the barn being built by John Libby,

and then, strutting among the chickens,

I found Lady Gaga Chicken, holding her own with an impressive head pouf,

while her fellow chickens had beautiful feather patterns (but no feather headdress pouf).

And on we drove to Doreen’s,

where little lambs ran up to meet us,

and one insisted upon being photographed alone (maybe she knew we had just met Gaga Chicken?)

Doreen, who tends her many animals with great affection, took us to her pasture tucked away in the back of the property,

where her goats and kids roam, occasionally corralled by Flossy.

Crunching over green that the goats will eat later this season,

I paused at the deep green moss on overlapping roots,

and Keryn and I were both quiet and thoughtful as we wandered back to the beach crusted with purple shells by Turner Farm.

Back on the mainland that night, Keryn made a lovely risotto with local smoked shrimp and greenhouse pea shoots,

sprinkled salt on top,

and with her husband Mike, we talked of arancini, ferry travel, island exploration, and the greenness of spring in their house.

Keryn:
April 22nd, 2010 at 8:47 am
You have the most remarkable way of harnessing the beauty of an adventure, Kristen. Meandering through your post brought back the sounds (the wind), smells (basil!), and tastes (the smokey shrimp and crispy green peas of the risotto) of our island excursion. Thank you for ensuring that my faulty memory isn’t the only record of the day.
P.S. You realize you’re never leaving Maine, right?
Kristen :
April 22nd, 2010 at 8:56 am
It was such a lovely day, Keryn—made so by all the beautiful people in your world here. I couldn’t have asked for a better guide into magical Maine (and I could happily stay here forever, thanks to you)…
Fil :
April 22nd, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Your day looks truly remarkable! The lambs make me nostalgic for childhood visits to the farm. And I’m jealous of your risotto…

But Keryn…you can’t have Kristen. She is needed back on her home planet of Brooklyn.
Kristen :
April 22nd, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Fil, we missed you (and you need to meet these wonderful people in Maine that Keryn is, of course, connected to and very knowledgeable about); Keryn’s risotto was stunning, and I’m just not sure I’m ready to return to Brooklyn, you might need to come up so we can drive back together…
Keryn:
April 22nd, 2010 at 5:18 pm
True confession: Keryn’s risotto was really Kristen’s risotto with Keryn doing the stirring and chopping.
And Fil? Even though Kristen will be residing in Maine for the foreseeable future (for ever and ever, if we get our way), I’m sure she’ll drop by Bklyn for an occasional visit.
Mica :
April 22nd, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Coastal Maine is beautiful! I am heartily missing the coast (any coast!) right now…

What is that I spy on Keryn’s lap in the album photo? A cupcake? A delicious savory baked good? Mmm.
Kristen :
April 23rd, 2010 at 8:07 am
Ah, no, the risotto was all yours, Keryn, and it was a beautiful thing (and new tradition?)

Fil, um, what Keryn said :)

Mica, this would be a nice drive in the summer and Maine is lovely in every way. It is a cranberry-orange muffin with sugar crystals you spy (good eyes!) Congrats on the recent (deserved) blog awards—
Dean:
April 24th, 2010 at 9:51 am
+1 Little Lads!
Kristen :
April 28th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
Dean, I am addicted to the Little Lad’s. What is it about the popcorn? Is it the brewer’s yeast in the coating? (I assume you developed an affection for it in Worcester.)