End of the World ?

For months Family Radio evangelist Harold Camping has been spreading the word that the rapture would take place on May 21, 2011, at 6pm. Well, the predicted time has come and gone and it looks like the sinners and saints are going to have to try and get along with each other for a while longer. I guess it's like the great baseball sage, Yogi Berra, said, "It ain't over till it's over."

Game two of the Yankees Mets subway series will go on as scheduled.

Lets Go Mets!

Commack Library Show Rescheduled

Our show at the Commack Library scheduled for Saturday May 22, 2011, has been rescheduled for October 23, 2011. Maybe a good thing; the weather is supposed to finally clear up this weekend. After all the rain we've had I think everyone will want to be outdoors anyway. I know I'm looking forward to tending my dandelion patch and getting my tomatoes and peppers in the ground. Yes, I have a dandelion patch. My Italian grandmother taught me to love and respect the lowly dandelion. What's not to love, beautiful flowers that can be fermented, tasty leaves that can be eaten raw or steamed, roots that can be roasted and brewed. I never understood why people spend time and money putting down toxic herbicides to rid their lawns of this delicious and nutritious plant that is packed with vitamins and minerals.

Hopefully the canceled Commack show won't inconvenience anyone. The next Homegrown String Band show is at Edwards Farm Day, June 5th, in Sayville, NY.


Photo by Rick Jackofsky

A Long Island Quaker Anniversary

Yes, there are Quakers on Long Island. The Religious Society of Friends was founded by George Fox in Great Britain during the mid seventeenth century and the faith quickly spread to Colonial America. The Conscience Bay Meeting in Saint James, NY, founded in 1961, is one of the newer Quaker meetings on Long Island, but Quakers have been on Long Island for over 350 years. The meeting house in Flushing, NY, was built in 1694 and is still in use today.

Come on down to Saint James, Sunday, May 15th, and help the Friends of Conscience Bay celebrate their 50th anniversary. Listen to the Homegrown String Band, walk the labyrinth, check out some local handmade crafts, and pick up a free Quaker Herbs & Spice cookbook.

Rain or Shine!  Free!

1:30 - 5:00 pm

4 Friends Way

Saint James, NY

631-862-6213

Turtle Power

Things have been kind of slow for the Homegrown String Band lately. I've been getting in a lot of miles running the trails in the old RCA property here in Rock Hollow. It's great to be back out in the woods with the deer, turkeys, hawks, and turtles. The box turtle in the picture must have followed me home. I went outside to water the garden this morning and the little guy was lumbering across the yard less than ten feet from my back door. I think the turtle must be my new power animal—it's OK to slow down, as long as you keep moving forward.

We had a great time playing at the Arkell Museum in Canajoharie, NY. on April 16th. They have a brand new beautiful building filled with fantastic artwork and historic artifacts.

This weekend, Georgianne and I will be taking our Homegrown Two act on the road. We will be performing out on the street at The 39th Olde York Street Fair in York, PA on Mothers Day May 8th..

Next weekend, on May 15th, the full quadrupelo band will be performing at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Conscience Bay Quaker Meeting in Setauket, NY. We will not only be the featured band, we will also be participating in the accompanying craft fair. Erica will be bringing along some of her Fiddle Knits  knitwear as well as a selection of printed patterns for knitters. Georgianne is hard at work making crocheted and woven pot holders and trivets. Annalee will be showing and selling her homemade soaps, and I will be selling my Roosterick pewter buttons, Navajo spindles, and kumihimo bookmarks and jewelry.


Photo by Rick Jackofsky