Pick Your Own at Larriland Farm

By Leslie Bauer
Posted: July 11, 2008

I was recently driving along Route 32 near Ten Oaks Road, when I saw a family pulled over and picking the wild raspberries that grow along the roadside. My kids all giggled – it was something that they could see me doing, especially since they love the raspberry sauce I make to pour over ice cream or fresh pancakes, however there is a much safer way to get fresh, Howard County grown berries.

Berry picking season has finally arrived, and Larriland Farm in Woodbine has plenty of fresh red, black and purple raspberries, along with thornless blackberries. Visitors of all ages can pick their own berries, selections will vary based on when you visit the farm. Red raspberries will pretty well be available through late September.

Thornless blackberries will be available during August. In addition to the pick-your-own fruits and vegetables, Larriland also offers an on-site farm market. For more information about Larriland or to find out picking times, call 410-442-2605 or go to www.pickyourown.com.

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Share the Road!

By Leslie Bauer
Posted: July 10, 2008

Don’t forget to share the road with cyclists. I recently heard from Kristina Adams, who is co-president of the HoCoCyclist Club. As you drive around our country roads on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, you may have noticed that there seem to be a lot of bikes on the road. You aren’t imagning things, there are!

You see, each Wednesday and Thursday evening, cyclists meet at the Glenwood Community Center at 6 p.m. to enjoy an evening ride through the country. The Wednesday evening ride tends to be the largest.

About 20 to 30 people will ride from the Glenwood Community Center on that night. On Thursdays only about 10 people meet to ride their bicycles. There is no set bike route that is used each week, the designated ride leaders for each evening (who are volunteers), will choose a ride for the week and hands out cue sheets to anyone who has signed in.

Typically the cyclists will travel in three groups – the A group who travels a bit faster, averaging more than 17 mph and travelling a longer route up to 30 miles. The B group will also ride the longer route, but travelling not so fast. Finally, the C group will ride a shorter route. All of these cyclists will average at least at least 12 mph throughout the winding roads of Western Howard County.

The weekly rides from Glenwood Community Center will continue through mid-October. After that, there will still be weekly biking trips, however they will be along the trail system in Columbia, where pathways are lighted. In addition, to the weekly rides, the HoCoCyclists Club also lead a ride from Princeton Sports in Columbia on the third Saturday of each month.

From time to time, I have heard of accidents involving bicyclists and drivers on our winding Western Howard County roads. The county has placed signs around our area, reminding drivers to share the road with bicycles. The cyclists ask that drivers please be patient. On our country roads, there are many blind curves and hills. Please give cyclists a chance to ride single file and wait until you have a clear view of the road ahead before passing.

Passing to close to cyclists or too far over in the opposite lane with oncoming traffic endangers you, the other car and the cyclists on the road. There’s a reason many of us moved to the country, the same reason these cyclists enjoy our country roads – to get away from the rat race of overcrowded roads in town and to enjoy the scenery.

Next time you are stuck behind a biker, slow down, take a deep breath, and relax. Take some time to enjoy the scenery that many of us now take for granted on a day to day basis. Kristina shares, “Cycling is a great sport for people of all ages and abilities. There are so many positive consequences of riding a bike - for the individual, the community, and the environment.” The HoCoCyclists motto is “Ride with your friends” and they try to make sure everyone has someone to ride with when they come out.

The group is also social and always makes an effort to get together for dinner and drinks after rides at a local restaurant. Kristina encourages everyone to come on out to a HoCoCyclists ride and find out how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful area!

If you are interested in joining in this fun form of exercise, you must be a member of the HoCoCyclists Club in order to participate in the weekly rides. (this is due to the club’s insurance regulations). Dues are an affordable $10/year, and members must sign a liability waiver. To join the club, or learn more, you can visit http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/HoCoCylists/.

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Sheep Shearing Time

By Leslie Bauer
Posted: July 3, 2008

John Bradfield prepares to shear a Montadale ewe owned by Tom and Molly Dearstine.

Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool? Yes sir, yes sir three bags full…so goes the lines of a popular nursery rhyme. The nursery rhyme came to life in mid-May when Molly and Tom Dearstine, of Glenelg, planned a shearing day to give their sheep their annual haircut. Friends, family and neighbors gathered to watch the days’ events.

Sheep breeders for years have made an event out of the annual shearing day, however this day was extra special at the Chatkewitz-Dearstine house. Earlier in the spring, Tom Dearstine had attended a sheep shearing school in Carroll County, designed to teach local shepherds how to complete this task each year.

While attending school, Tom met a professional sheep shearer, John Bradfield. Bradfield is from New Zealand, where he was raised on a sheep farm. Back in those days, John could easily shear 300 sheep a day. These days, Bradfield is living in the United States with his wife, Bee, and their three daughters while John works as a teacher at St. Timothy’s School for the next three years.

Tom and John struck up a friendship, and John, missing the fun of sheep shearing at home, offered to come shear the Dearstine’s sheep. Now this day of shearing was a walk in the park for John, less then 10 sheep were sheared on this day, but it did bring back memories of other times for John.

Neighbors, family, friends and even the former owner of Molly and Tom’s house came out to watch a professional sheep shearer in action. Set-up, preparation, and catching the sheep probably took the longest. John was able to shear each sheep in less then five minutes.

After the work was complete, the Dearstines and Bradfields enjoyed a cookout and visit, comparing stories of raising sheep in New Zealand and the United States. Molly and Tom have sold some of their Montadale fleeces on e-bay, while a few others will be entered for competition at the upcoming Howard County Fair.

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“Playing the Market” on Saturday mornings

By Leslie Bauer
Posted: July 3, 2008

Don’t forget to stop by the Glenwood Library on Saturday mornings to enjoy fresh local produce at the weekly Farmers’ Market. On a recent Saturday morning, I headed over and was pleasantly surprised with the treats that I found. Fresh corn on the cob, cherries, squash, blueberries and plums all found their way back to my house, along with tomatoes…the thing I miss the most in wintertime. My husband, Ricky, and I have been enjoying a slice of tomato with our morning egg, along with tomato sandwiches for lunch. Aahh…the good life!

I was also tempted by fresh string beans, newly dug potatoes and fresh baked rolls from The Breadery. South Mountain Creamery was there selling fresh milk, and other dairy delights too.

All of these treats, and many more will have to wait for my next visit to the Farmers’ Market. Come out and see what you can find to enjoy. The market takes place on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and runs through October.

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July 4th Trash and Recycling Schedule

By Leslie Bauer
Posted: July 2, 2008

Don’t forget that this Friday is a holiday – July 4th. County offices and the Alpha Ridge Landfill will be closed and there will be no trash or recycling collection. If Friday is your regularly scheduled trash or recycling day, please make note of the following dates: Trash collection will take place on Saturday, July 5. Recycling collection will take place Friday, July 11.

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