Smart Art Farm

Greenhouse | 06.18.09

2009-06-18T18:19:00.001-07:00

Greenhouse | 06.18.09
Originally uploaded by selflesh

About a week ago we finished the greenhouse. We have a few things to do here and there, but for the most part it's done. Over the course of a year we collected windows that were left on the side of the road, and at the dump with the intention of building this. There was scrap lumber left over from building the shop, so we used that to piece it together. With the help of Pappy V, we were able to get the roof together.

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On the evening of the 9th (just after the last full moon in June) we were able to get our "nook" back after a month of nurturing these little ones indoors. Now there are oodles baby plants flourishing in that steamy little glass box.
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It's amazing really!

Lilac | 06.18.09

2009-06-18T18:06:00.001-07:00

Lilac | 06.18.09
Originally uploaded by selflesh

Miss T's Lilacs.

Bread | 06.18.09

2009-06-18T18:05:00.001-07:00

Bread | 06.18.09
Originally uploaded by selflesh

The homemade bread that Justin made today.
Here is the recipe! Justin uses a Schlemnertopf to cook his bread in.

Portrait | 06.18.09

2009-06-18T18:04:00.001-07:00

Portrait | 06.18.09
Originally uploaded by selflesh

Our handsome assistant, Theodore.

Studio | 06.14.09

2009-06-18T17:46:00.001-07:00

And Trees | 06.14.09
Originally uploaded by selflesh

In addition to a few other projects, Justin has been busy creating new tree themed prints for his shop. There are a couple of Bird Tree prints and a new Cedar Tree Portrait print. Three dollars from each print sold will be donated to the Arbor Day Foundation. The Arbor Day Foundation's primary goal is to help protect and improve the global environment by promoting rain forest preservation, urban and community forestry, and tree planting throughout the world.

I have been creating some small pieces for an upcoming show to benefit the Bayside community in Portland, Maine.

Somebody's Busy | 06.13.09

2009-06-18T17:40:00.001-07:00

Somebody's Busy | 06.13.09
Originally uploaded by selflesh

It's lovely to see the bees. This one in particular was rather mammoth. I suggest you turn up the volume to watch this. He's quite busy!

First Born | 05.21.09

2009-06-18T17:34:00.001-07:00

First Born | 05.21.09
Originally uploaded by selflesh

We planted this arugula on the 19th, and it sprouted on the 21st. That's pretty darn fast as far as I'm concerned!
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We have also started tomato, cucumber, carrots, celery, butternut squash, cauliflower, soy beans, peppers, strawberry, spinach, lettuce (deer tongue), mustard greens, arugula, rosemary, thyme, dill, sage, lavender, parsley, and bee balm.
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Wish us luck. We're new at this!

Drying Raspberry Leaves | 05.20.09

2009-06-18T17:22:00.001-07:00

Drying Raspberry Leaves | 05.20.09
Originally uploaded by selflesh

You can probably imagine that there's a plethora of wild raspberry out here. Well there is! They like to take over a bit, so in addition to our little patch of wild blackberries that we are cultivating, we hope to do the same with a little patch of raspberries (and strawberries). In the meantime I have been plucking every little raspberry shoot that pops up in the garden area. So, today I decided to collect some to dry especially for tea.
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You can hear J in the background working on the greenhouse, my pollen filled nose, and the lovely snap of the leaves. Ahh for the love of repetitive tasks.
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They say raspberry leaves can be used fresh or dried in herbal and medicinal teas. They have an astringent flavour, and in herbal medicine are reputed to be effective in regulating menses. I drink the tea to ease my cramps.

Boots | 05.31.07

2009-05-23T19:16:00.001-07:00

"New" Boots
Originally uploaded by selflesh

We are visual artists Justin Richel and Shannon Rankin looking forward to the future where we dream of founding an artist residency and farm on some land that we can call our very own. In the meantime you can follow us here on our journey...

And so it begins with this first post and a photo taken almost exactly 2 years ago, inspired by our friend, artist Pat de Groot who insisted I find myself a pair of "real boots", as we helped her shovel horse manure for her garden. She said that manure was "like having wood in the shed". Now we know what she meant.

After a couple of winters spent at the Fine Arts Work Center, and a number of years spent prior to that living in the "big city" (aka - Portland, Maine) we decided we were ready for a change. We moved way up here to Rangeley, Maine because we needed a little country lifestyle, to get away and dig in a little bit. While living in a shed, we helped build a wood shop for Justin's father, and a small live/work space above it for us. Justin and I realized pretty quickly that we both have a love of nature, and a love of working with the land.

Though this is a temporary place for us, we still intend to make it home for now. This blog is an ongoing record of our time and our process of learning through our experience here and beyond.