Tree Cattle

Over the last few days, several people have called (in a panic) to ask me what is covering their trees. They describe a ghostly sheath that envelops the branches and trunk. "Spooky" is the adjective that everyone seems to use when describing this phenomenon.

The fine webbing is spun by tiny insects called psocids- commonly called bark lice or tree cattle (I prefer the latter). They spin their webs over the bark to protect themselves from wind, weather and predators. Under this silk stocking, the tree cattle "graze" across the bark's landscape feeding on lichens, fungi and debris.

Tree cattle are beneficial insects, cleaning off the tree and helping it be healthy. Expect to find them on hardwoods like Magnolia and Oak from about mid-August to October.

Food for thought, thought for food

I love living in a part of the country where people know how to live off the land and sea.

At low tide today, I watched these men pull their seining net through Ellis Creek, catching blue crabs and fish. They made it look so effortless and were able to work the net without saying a word to each other.

After dragging the net for a while, they would walk it up onto an exposed bank and collect the desirable crabs and fish from the net.

I've touched on the subject of self-sustainability before and it is a topic that I think about a lot. There is a gap between the farmer and the consumer- so much so that if you were to ask a young child where grapes or corn or peaches came from, they would probably answer "the grocery store". I enjoy the endless options of produce, bakery items, wines and other items that are at my fingertips and I would rather live in a time of feast rather than famine. But regardless of the cornucopia available at the market, I think it's wise to have the ability to be able to harvest a portion of your food- even if it's just a window box of herbs.

Gardening, fishing, seining, hunting....these activities keep us connected with the earth and with ourselves. There is a reason that it is a compliment to refer to someone as "grounded".

The perfect fire pit

It doesn't feel like it, but fall is just around the corner. In the Lowcountry, we'll begin to gather around fire pits and roast oysters- a syrup kettle is perfect for this.

I had this syrup kettle made about 2 years ago for a client. This custom fire pit was hand forged using a sand cast at a foundry in the upstate. Rusty Fowler (I love that his name happens to be Rusty), a DNR agent from Walterboro, forges each kettle individually from iron.

A syrup kettle fits well into a southern landscape because it creates a sense of place. At the turn of the 20th century, almost every farm had a syrup kettle. A fire would be built under the kettle, and this vessel was used to render lard, scald hogs, reduce cane syrup or make soap.

The lip of each syrup kettle can be customized from Carolina Kettles. In this case, our client was a sailor, so we ordered it simply with compass points. Most of the time, the kettles are personalized with the family or plantation name.

It is an investment, but the craftsmanship behind each piece is worth the price. If you are interested, visit Carolina Kettles in Walterboro, South Carolina. I talked a little about these kettles on an episode of GardenSmart.

Local Bounty

I don't take advantage of the local foods and flowers of the Lowcountry nearly enough. I talk about it and I want to walk-the-walk, but too often I end up at the grocery store where I can get everything in one stop. And as a result, I am seldom enthusiastic about my purchases.

Yesterday, I went out to Sidi Limehouse's place, Rosebank Farms, on John's Island (it's on the left just before you get to Kiawah). The fruits and vegetables are inspiring even to a non-cook like myself. I happen to like produce that isn't carbon-copy perfect. And I don't like to ever consume a tomato, peach or blueberry that has been refrigerated- they just aren't as good.

So, while I was there I thought that Offshoots doesn't have to be only about ornamental plants. After all, I scout for orchards and local farms as well.

What I found today at Rosebank Farms were the best tomatoes of the season, grown on John's Island, for $2/lb. And peaches that I made into a Lazy Girl Cobbler. And fresh local shrimp for only $5/lb! Heaven.

The recession has been hard on me financially. But in a way, I am thankful for this slow-down. I have cut out some of the extras (like cable TV) and I'm fine with that.

But there are certain things I have to continue spending money on, like food. So why not make purchasing food into a sensory experience rather than a chore? My grandparents' lives were shaped by the Great Depression. They knew the difference between "cheap" and "value". I hope to learn the same lessons from this recession and carry them with me though my life.