The Field Studies Program, which was suspended earlier in the year, has undergone some creative changes to make it possible for students from Poultney High School and The Dorset School to attend this spring and to continue a legacy of participating in critical science research while building a sense of place in their communities.

Danger Men Cooking

Serving Thursday Lunch is a summer tradition at Smokey House. Our crews have planned and prepared fantastic meals, like lasagna with garlic bread and green salad, Sloppy-Joe’s (my favorite), Quiche (also my favorite) and crepes with blueberries and cream (everybody’s favorite). Our crews make the food from scratch using veggies from their gardens and meat from our farm. Each Thursday Lunch includes a hot dish, salad, dessert and a beverage.

Next Thursday when Chef Gary joins the Field Studies crew to prepare lunch the theme will be “The All American Cookout”. Gary will lead our crew through the preparation of hamburgers and BBQ chicken using Smokey House meats, potato and pasta salad from our gardens, blueberry cobbler and iced tea with wild mint. And you can watch the whole thing on GNAT-TV.

Danger Men Cooking and the Smokey House Field Studies crew will show viewers how cooking can be a creative outlet that connects us with the important tradition of preparing food for one another. Look for us later this summer on Comcast channel 15, Thursdays and Saturdays at 6:00 a.m., noon and 6:00 p.m. For more information on the show, go to http://www.gnat-tv.org/dangermencooking

The presentation not only discussed the sustainability of hardwood charcoal but also surveyed the history of charcoal, a history which made its mark on the local economy. In a town known for its pure white marble, local millionaire Silas Griffith made his fortune selling lumber and blackened wood in the form of charcoal. Kilns were scattered throughout the area: several were found in the neighboring town of Mount Tabor and Danby; there was even a kiln on the Smokey House property. Today blackened soil is all that remains of most of the once-productive kilns, leaving Smokey House to produce the only lump charcoal in the region.

Crew leader Jeff Scott also shared knowledge of his own, discussing the ups and downs of Biochar. Biochar technically refers to any organic matter that has been carbonized; it usually refers to charcoal applied to the soil. Used thousands of years ago by indigenous groups to aid soil fertility, biochar has met a resurgence in popularity. While further research is needed, Jeff reported that biochar has promise as an effective soil amendment, retaining nutrients and water when applied alongside a natural fertilizer.

The presentation then moved outside, where the Smokey House crew put their lump charcoal to the test, comparing it with briquettes from the grocery store. The Smokey House charcoal prevailed, being ready much earlier than the briquettes. Watching the grass-fed beef cook, a member of the audience recalled, “When I was young I never remember seeing briquettes, we always used natural charcoal.”

You don’t need to look any farther than the grill to see how Smokey House recalls its Vermont roots – lump charcoal is just one of many ways it does so. As the evening came to a close, the Youthworkers helped load up the grills, happy to have shared their charcoal experience with the greater community.

A PDF version of the presentations can be downloaded here.

If so, A Summer in the Field may be just what you’ve been looking for.  Join us for fun and learning as we carry out research on Smokey House Center’s 5,000 acres of forest and farmland.

Join other students from around the area this summer as you conduct real research including amphibian, bird, and macroinvertebrate studies.  We may also study butterflies, mammals, and more.  The camp will run for two, 3-week sessions from June 29 through August 16, and is open to young people ages 11 to 14.  See Youth: Field Studies Program for more information and an application form.

This grant will allow us to expand our summer field studies program, and to seek out young people who would otherwise not have a summer enrichment experience.  These middle school students will have an exciting, alternative learning experience which complements their school-year work.  Much of the day will be spent outdoors, as the students observe, learn and have fun collecting environmental data using scientific methods.

In 2008, Smokey House received a smaller grant from the Stratton Foundation to purchase much-needed GPS devices and digital cameras for the Field Studies Program. We are grateful once again to this community-based foundation for their commitment to local youth, and are very thankful for their on-going support.