Sourdough Bread Featuring Brot Workshop and Bakery

                   Brot Workshop Photo

It has always amazed me as to how our ancestors knew what herbs to use for specific ailments. They also learned, most likely due to trial and error, how to soak, sprout, and ferment different foods to enhance their nutritional qualities and to eliminate their anti-nutrients. They obtained this ancestral wisdom all without microscopes, labs and scientific theories. Much of this naturally obtained knowledge has been proven effective by modern science. However, we still need more understanding of the old ways and how folks used to live more in harmony with nature.

The fermentation of plant and animal foods particularly fascinates me so a few years ago I was excited to learn of The Bread Girl in town who creates many different sourdough products. I absolutely love her chocolate chip cookies! I'm sure many of you are already aware of her wonderful breads so here I will focus on another Killingworth enterprise that specializes in all kinds of sourdough products.

I first became aware of Brot Workshop and Bakery at Down The Lane Farm during the fall farm tour two years ago where they offered a wonderful variety of their sourdough breads. After buying several different loaves and tasting them, I knew I'd be back for more!

While I loved all the loaves I tried, I enjoyed the multigrain sandwich bread (standing up vertically in the back of the image above) the most. I use it for sandwiches and toast...and LOVE to dunk a hot buttered slice in chili. It lasts forever in the fridge and freezes so well that when thaws it's just as fresh and moist. I like to buy two loaves, cut them in half, use one half right away and freeze the other three halves.

Brot Workshop Photo

Sourdough bread is more easily digested than non-sourdough bread and the bacteria that is present increases the availability of vitamins and minerals, some of which are folate, magnesium and potassium.

                                                             Brot Workshop Photo

                                                                Brot Workshop Photo

The lactic acid bacteria in sourdough bread has more antioxidants than other types of bread. The bacteria also affects the starch in sourdough bread in such a way as to help your blood sugar remain more stable.

                                                                 Brot Workshop Photo
The lactic acid in sourdough bread degrades the gluten to some degree so it may be better tolerated by those sensitive to gluten.

                                                             Brot Workshop Photo

                                                                  Brot Workshop Photo

Brot Workshop at Down The Lane Farm on Killingworth Farm Tour Day

Brot Workshop Photo
Brot Workshop gives classes in sourdough breadmaking. For more information check out their website at brotworkshop.com and their facebook page. For any questions email them at information@brotworkshop.com

                                                                Brot Workshop Photo
 

Popular Event at Goodspeed Airport

It was a perfect day for the Goodspeed Airport Festival yesterday on August 27, 2022. The weather wasn't too hot and the sky was a beautiful blue with gorgeous puffy clouds. Hundreds of people attended this unique event which featured free parking, shuttle bus and admission. The main parking area was at the Goodspeed Landing across the river from the airport. However there were so many people that it appeared the shuttle bus couldn't keep up with the crowd so hordes of people were crossing the Goodspeed Swing Bridge on foot. There was action everywhere, a welcome change from our restricted movements and activities of the past couple years. 

The attractions were many. Continuous airplanes were landing and lining up along the river. A wide variety of food vendors were present along with social groups, animal adoption, and over a hundred vendors selling their wares. I was very impressed with the size and organization of this event. Some of the items featured were books, jewelry, T-shirts, art, spices, decor, and my favorite attraction was several vendors selling very unique and beautiful cutting boards, one of which I ended up purchasing! There was something for everyone!

Giant bubbles floated through the air as sky divers came down from above.

 

A hot air balloon was scheduled to give free tethered rides but while I was there it was a bit too windy so instead they startled passersby with the explosive noise of the torch like fire that heats up the balloon to make it rise. Interesting questions were asked and answered.

I think my favorite attraction were the sky divers who landed on a marked X on the ground. It was an inspiring spectacle!

The Army and Coast Guard helicopters were there. The Coast Guard helicopter gave a rescue demonstration.

There were several featured planes on display. 3 of them were powered by Pratt and Whitney Wasp Engines. The Placid Lassie, the large dark green one in the photos below, is a C47. It participated in World War 2 in Normandy.

 

This event was fun, interesting, unique, and even featured live music. I hope this becomes a yearly event!

 

Running Brook Farms

The other day I was on a mission to buy a cactus or succulent for my cousin who is chair bound. I immediately thought of Running Brook Farms who specializes in these plants, among other useful products. I had bought interesting specimens from here before so I was confident I would also have luck this time. 

When I entered the large sales room adjacent to the greenhouse I was pleasantly surprised to see everything rearranged. Front and center is a really neat rustic Cafe bar. The cafe addition is not quite open all the way yet but at the end of January it should be up an running. An open house is scheduled for around that time.

The cafe will serve coffee, tea, cocoa, cider, and baked goods. I am looking forward to when the cafe opens so I can enjoy a cup of coffee and their friendly company. I forgot to ask the woman's name who is running this but I could have talked to her for hours. She is so interesting and informative!

The herbs they grow and sell are all organic....so many healthy products to choose from. CBD products are one of their specialties.

As you can see above they have quite a few succulent and cactus specimens to choose from

I love the way everything is displayed so nicely with such an organic feel.

These are the three cute little guys I ended up bringing home. They look so healthy and I can't wait to transplant them into larger pots.

Come and browse their exotic plants and fun and useful products and gifts. Let's make this inviting place a new hangout!

Winter hours are every day from 9 to 4

Summer hours are usually 8 to 5:30
 

Native American Stone Relics

 

Now and then I would take walks in the state forest in back of our house. I began to wonder what some of the formed stone piles were all about and if the colonists made them, what their purpose was.

 

At some point I learned more about Native American Ceremonial Landscapes online. This made me more curious so I began to visit the woods more often trying to apply what I had learned to the interesting walls and mounds I was finding all within an area that spanned several acres.

I learned that Killingworth and North Madison were hot spots for these structures and then discovered several books on the subject which I bought over time and will list at the end. I am an amazon affiliate so I make a small commission on them at no extra charge to the buyer.

 

In this post I am going to include photos of some of the structures in back of me and those from the Buell Hill Complex and other areas around town. I will also try and leave comments as to why the structures are considered from the
Native American colonial period or even earlier.

When I walk back into the woods and up a hill, this is part of a wall that spans the whole ridge. It doesn't enclose anything and forms an L. Native Americans revered high places and often built walls on the ridges. Some hypothesize that they were for protection and others believe they are more for a ceremonial or religious purpose. Natural boulders and ledges are often incorporated within the walls.

 Native Americans revered the turtle and often made stone turtle structures or incorporated them into walls. See if you can find a turtle at the bottom of this section of wall...a head with an eye on the side....a flipper on each side of the head and a shell on top of the head.

 The two photos above show what appear to be a pathway from the lower level of the woods up to the flatter level above the wall. The large rectangular stone is not part of the ledge and appears to have been possibly quarried. From what I have read the Native Americans could quarry stone using fire and wedges.

The photo above features those who came to evaluate the area looking at what seems common to many ceremonial stoneworks and that is non-utilitarian piles of rocks filling in holes or gaps in the wall. They serve no practical purpose but it is thought that it has something to do with the belief that the rocks are carrying the energy or spirits through the wall.

The above photo shows how tall the wall is which is rather unusual for framer's walls and again....the wall does not enclose anything but only forms a line along the ridge and then another short part that goes back which forms an L

Above is another example of rocks filling in an area in another part of the wall
which have no practical purpose

The photo above is of what some say is a doorway for "The Little People"

Above thought to possibly be a celestial observation seat. Another hint that this structure has some meaning is the pile of rocks to the right purposely put there to connect the seat to another large rock outcropping. Again this could be for the flow of energy or spirits

The following several photos are all located in the same section of a huge rock ledge fairly near the wall photos I posted first. This top photo is located over what is a small cave in the photo below. There appears to be sort of a viewing seat in the small cave that faces west. The photo above also looks as if there is a path leading to it and that it could have some significance

The Mohegan preservation officer above, Elaine Thomas, is looking at what could be a serpent or snake coming out from the small cave like seat area.

 

This triangular pyramid type rock is extremely common with Native American relics/symbology. It is located to the left of the snake or serpent wall like structure.

This is a huge boulder. The photo does not do it justice, Native Americans also thought large boulders held some spiritual significance. If you look closely at the left side of the boulder you can almost see a face profile....eyebrow above then eye, then nose and mouth. You can see it better in real life.

The two photos above show typical short walls that drape over the edge of a hill or ledge. I'm not sure what significance that holds.

 

More Cairns in same basic area

A different triangular pyramid shaped rock

This is a type of what they call a perched rock with smaller stones underneath a larger rock. Has something to do with the underworld and spirits.

Another triangular rock

Just one of the famous Native American Portraits

Table rock

One can maybe imagine that this pile off of Burr on private land could look like a turtle shape from certain views....head to the right and bottom of small stones and flippers, etc

The red colored diamond shaped rock is interesting and is typical in many cairns

This is a turtle on the side of Burr Hill Rd

Balanced Rocks are Typical. This one is right on the side of the road on Schnoor

The two arrow photos were next to each other pointing in the same direction. This lower photo is a more unusual cairn. In the winter if walking on Schnoor, these can be seen set back a little in the woods.

This is in the same area on Schnoor and is typical. Often rocks are piled inside as they are here. It is thought that the rocks could be offerings or to keep the spirits in the underground.

The following cairns are in the Buell Hill Area

 

I think that this bottom cairn is fairly easy to imagine as a turtle

This large cairn is in the middle of the road in the Buell Hill Development

The following photos are ceremonial landscapes that my friend Karen Lucibello Diagle discovered and brought me to.

 

Notice The Triangular rock on top of cairn

The above photo is in the same area as the above cairn and cave and could be imagined as a seat for observing events

The above is what Karen calls her Turtle

This is another example of rocks connecting boulders

Here are a few books I recommend on this subject. The Sacred Landscapes of New England's Native Civilization : MANITOU https://amzn.to/3nZlT28  ,   Spirits In Stone

Stone Prayers  

A Handbook Of Stone Structures In North America