Poke Berries

(Photograph copyright 2011 by Dan Routh)
A sign of the end of summer and the beginning of Fall, poke berries shine along a fence line on our farm in Grays Chapel, North Carolina. Poke greens can be eaten by humans when the plant is young, but the berries will become food for the birds.

Working a New Mule

Neighbor Gary McMasters was making sorghum molasses this weekend with his mill in Grays Chapel, North Carolina. He was also breaking in his new 4 year old mule Pearl. She was pulling the mill for only the second time. While Gary had to be a little patient, Pearl figured things out pretty quickly and did an admirable job. Pearl takes over from Sam, who has gone into retirement in his twenties.

(Photographs copyright 2011 by Dan Routh)