LEATHER BRITCHES
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By Vicky Moon
or those who may think that the Upperville gardens at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, founded by the late garden Goddess Bunny Mellon, are all roses, topiaries and boxwood parterres, think again. Consider the four bountiful acres of the 700acre estate of the Bio-cultural Conservation Farm (BCCF). This is where Farm Manager Christine Harris and seven others work to nurture heirloom fruit and vegetables of the Appalachian and Piedmont region of Virginia. They grow them as plants and save the seeds. (Some may remember a year ago when we published a story on the Candy Roaster Squash and made a pie.)
The Phaseolus vulgaris at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation’s Bio-cultural Conservation Farm date to the late 1700s and are known by the common name of ‘Lazy Wife’ Greasy Bean because the women harvesting the beans could easily grab a handful.
The hardscape on this portion of Oak Spring includes a walled garden, fenced fields for annual vegetables and perennial foods along with cold frames (think strawberries) and greenhouses, some dating to 1939. A pack house, seed processing room, event space and forest plots (for native medicinal woodland botanicals) are in the works. The goal of the BCCF is both production and also to share information on heirloom seeds, some of which date to circa 1780. The BCCF provides food for the on-site programs such as the artist in residence and other guests. But their major focus, especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic, is to help supply local food banks. So far this year, they’ve donated 9,000 of an expected 15,000 pounds of food to Fauquier County Community Food Bank, Seven Loaves, Community Cooks in Warrenton and the Haymarket Regional Food Pantry.
LEATHER BRITCHES 2 pounds of beans (greasy beans, string beans, waxy beans, etc.) Darning needle Kite thread Wash and trim the stem end of the bean. Making sure you do not pierce the actual bean, pierce your threaded needle through the string bean and tie it around to secure it. After you’ve knotted the first bean, thread the rest of the beans until your strand is about arm’s length. Tie off the last bean as you did the first, making sure you have enough thread at the end to hang your strand up. Repeat until all the beans have been threaded. Hang in a dry place, over a fire on your back porch is preferable, until fully dried out. Depending on air flow, this will take two to four weeks.
COOKING LEATHER BRITCHES 4 cups dried leather britches 2 oz salt pork* -AND/ OR1 ham hock* Salt and Pepper
* Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
DEL WILSON, P.T., O.C.S.* American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties DEL WILSON, P.T., O.C.S.* MARY WILSON, P.T., O.C.S.* * Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
DEL WILSON, P.T., O.C.S.* American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties MARY WILSON, P.T., O.C.S.*
MARY P.T., O.C.S.* 204 WILSON, E. FEDERAL ST.
* Board Certified Orthopedic ClinicalST. Specialist 204 E. FEDERAL American BoardP.O. of Physical Therapy BOX 893 Specialties
MIDDLEBURG, VA 20118
204 E. FEDERAL ST. P.O. BOX 893 WILSON, DEL MIDDLEBURG, VA 20118 www.middleburg-pt.com
540-687-6565
P.O. BOX 893 MIDDLEBURG, VA 20118
* Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties
204 E. FEDERAL ST. 540-687-6565 P.O. BOX 893
MIDDLEBURG, VA 20118 www.middleburg-pt.com P.T.,540-687-6565 O.C.S.*
www.middleburg-pt.com
MARY WILSON, P.T., O.C.S.*
540-687-6565 MIDDLEBURG COMMON GROUNDS * Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist www.middleburg-pt.com American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties
204 E. FEDERAL ST. P.O. BOX 893 MIDDLEBURG, VA 20118
540-687-6565
www.middleburg-pt.com
DELDEL WILSON, P.T.,P.T., O.C.S.* WILSON, O.C.S.* MARY WILSON, P.T.,P.T., O.C.S.* MARY WILSON, O.C.S.*
DEL MAR
* Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist * Board C * Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
American BoardBoard of Physical Therapy Specialties American of Physical Therapy Specialties American
1. Cover the beans with plenty of water, let sit overnight to rehydrate. 2. Add the salt pork and/or ham hock to the beans and bring to a boil, then down to a simmer. 3. Slowly simmer the beans until they are soft and tender. This will take 2-3 hours. Top off with water as needed so your beans are not exposed. 4. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Make sure you serve the cooking liquid (the potlikker) with your beans. *If you’d like to make this recipe vegetarian, leave out the pork and ham. It will still be delicious. Recipe adapted by Saskia Poulos from traditional Appalachian recipes.
DEL WILSON, P.T., O.C.S.* MARY WILSON, P.T., O.C.S.*
204204 E. FEDERAL ST. ST. E. FEDERAL P.O.P.O. BOXBOX 893893 MIDDLEBURG, VA 20118 MIDDLEBURG, VA 20118
MID
Breakfast & Lunch Coffee, Tea, www.middleburg-pt.com Served All Day Beer & Wine www.middleburg-pt.com
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540-687-6565 540-687-6565
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114 W. Washington Street • Middleburg, VA • 540.687.7065 Country ZEST & Style | Fall 2020
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