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March 4, 2021

The Talbot Spy

The nonprofit e-newspaper for the Talbot County Community

Food and Garden Food Notes

Mid-Shore Foods: Out of the Fire Starts Web Market

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It’s one thing to say that restaurants are getting creative during this era of COVID, but it’s another to see a great example of this phenomenon. So when the Spy took note of the news that Out of the Fire was going to offer an online market of foods from their kitchen or found locally, it was a welcome sight indeed.

Devoted OOTF fans (of which there are many) throughout the Mid-Shore can now order the famed breads (including pizza dough), deserts, and signature hot sauces and  jams.  For egg lovers, Out of the Fire is also offering local duck and chicken eggs from Caroline County’s Duck Farm. And while local eggs are a treasure in themselves, the OOTF style even extends to the festival cartons they come in.

For additional information on the Out of the Fire Market, please go here.

 

Spy Eye: New Monuments Added to Talbot County Courthouse Lawn

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While there has been a serious public debate on what monuments should be allowed to reside on the Talbot County Courthouse lawn, a few new ones were added recently. Thanks to VFW Post 5118, led by Agnes Blades and Nancy Gooding, the veterans of World War I, World War II, and the Korean War are now honored for their service with three new monuments.

Nice going VFW!

Free Food Drive-Thru Giveaways Today

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Easton
The Union Baptist Church at 233 Glenwood Avenue will hold a FREE drive-thru food distribution for residents of Talbot County today, March 31, beginning at 9 a.m. and continuing till the food is gone. Drivers are asked to line up on Glenwood Avenue near the entrance to the church. (Note: Please clear your trunk before coming to the church.) You will need to complete a form you’ll receive on site; a picture of the form will be taken to limit contact. Proof of Talbot County residency may be required. DO NOT get out of your car and keep your windows closed. When you arrive at the head of the line, pop your trunk so the food can be loaded without your having to exit your car.
St. Michaels
A FREE Drive-thru, No Contact Farmers Market will take place in St. Michaels today, March 31, from 3-5 p.m. The Drive-Thru pick up will take place in the Public Parking Lot behind Pemberton’s Pharmacy; look for signage for traffic flow. Drive up, pop your trunk, and volunteers will drop in a bag of assorted fresh fruits and veggies! DO NOT EXIT YOUR CAR. To minimize risk, NO WALK-UPS ALLOWED. All produce has been generously donated by Sysco.
Delivery will be provided upon request for seniors, the disabled, and those without transportation. For delivery call Trish Payne with the St. Michaels Community Center, 410-829-3883, and leave your name, number in household, full address, and phone number.

Spy Gardening: Let’s Talk Dirt by Meredith Watters

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Well, actually, dirt (nutrients), water, and sunlight, which are the three main ingredients to a happy plant.

With many of us working or on self-quarantine at home, this is a perfect opportunity to spend some time outdoors and help to ensure that with just a little effort, you will have a beautiful garden.

Nutrients

Start by knowing your soil’s nutrient levels. We usually take a sample of a garden’s soil to the Maryland Agricultural Extension Office on Mary’s Court in Easton ($10/soil sample). However, since their offices are closed, they recommend sending it directly to the Agro Lab—(302) 566-6094. The results will be emailed to you approximately ten days later.  Once you have it, call the MD Extension Agent (410-822-1244), and they will suggest ways to amend the soil.

Here is an informative 3-minute video from the Univ. of Illinois on how to take a sample.

One thing you know already, or you’ll  discover if you test your soil is that the Eastern Shore area is generally subjected to poorly drained clay soil. Fortunately, there are simple ways to improve it.

*  Compost your yard waste and kitchen scraps. A compost bin is easy to start and provides natural soil conditioners that improve soil structure.

* Don’t rake/remove your lawn’s autumn leaves. By mowing them into small pieces, they will easily disintegrate over the course of the winter.

* Use commercially available compost material, such as

Leafgro is a very light organic source of humus (composted leaves and grass clippings) produced by the Maryland Environmental Service. I use it extensively in my landscape business when planting trees, adding new plants to gardens, starting a new lawn, or new flower or shrub beds.

For planting: Dig the plant’s hole twice the size and only as deep as the root ball or flower pot. Mix equal parts of Leafgro with the existing soil. Place 2” of this mix in the bottom of the hole, place the plant, so it is 2” above ground. Add the mix around the plant, lightly tamp, and water thoroughly.

For new lawns: Spread at least 2” evenly and mix or rototill to a depth of 4-6,” rake smooth, add seed or sod.

For new flower or shrub beds: Use about eight bags per 100 square feet of the garden. Mix to a depth of 4-6.”

In Talbot County, eight garden stores sell Leafgro in either bags or bulk: Bridges Land Management (bags and bulk) (410) 820-4784, Bryan & Sons 410 819-3001, Dobson Lawn & Garden, Inc. (bulk only) (410) 745-6935, Garden Treasures (bags) (410) 822-1604, George’s Green Thumb (bulk) (410) 822-9255, Robin’s Nest (bags) (410) 822-8700, The Village Shoppe (bags) (410) 745-9300, and Yard Works Plus (bulk) (410) 820-6414.

Water

One inch of rainwater a week is ideal, but you can’t rely on the weather. I give my clients two items to ensure the health of their plants and vegetables and recommend that you use these as well:

* A simple rain gauge, (around $10.00) to ensure your plants are getting 1” of rainwater weekly

* A soil moisture probe, (around $10.00) inserted 6” into the plant’s roots to see if they are dry or wet

Water the soil around the base of the plant, not the plant leaves, in the early morning, If the soil is particularly dry, re-water immediately.  But be careful not to overwater if you have clay soil since it retains moisture and drains poorly. Use your moisture probe to check to measure.  For my house, I have very sandy soil, so the water washes right through.  Chances are the nutrients will also wash right through, so I add additional fertilizer during the growing season.

Sunlight

How much sunlight is enough?  Vegetables need 6-8 hours of full, direct, hot sun.  Take note of your garden’s sun exposure. Is it in full sun? Partial shade (brief, direct morning or afternoon sun) or dappled sun from mature trees? or Full shade?  Read the new plant’s label to determine which plants will go where.

‘Right plant, right place’ is the mantra of an educated homeowner and landscape designer.  Next month I hope to help you with this concept for your house foundation plantings.  Leave a comment below if you have any questions about your soil, plants, watering, etc. or email me directly at meredithwatters@gmail.com.

 

Meredith Watters, Watterscape Designs, received her Masters in Landscape Architecture in 1985. In her consulting and design of residential landscapes, she maintains a strong focus on ecologically sensitive and creative outdoor solutions.

Don’t miss the latest! You can subscribe to The Talbot Spy‘s free Daily Intelligence Report here

Food: Local Restaurant Takeout and Delivery Update

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We don’t yet know the extent of COVID-19 and how it will affect us here in Talbot County. But, we were curious if local businesses are changing the way they’ve done things.

Whether you’re self-isolating, on quarantine, or too stressed to cook, we surveyed local restaurants about changes to their delivery options.

One of the exceptions, and the reason for this roundup of responses, was prompted by Eat Sprout’s email/posting from this morning: “Beginning immediately Sprout is offering free delivery to your door in Talbot County.” When questioned further, owner Ryan Groll said, “Whatever we can do to help the community. We can deliver anything from our café: bread, meals, soups, wraps, snacks, drinks, etc.” Eat Sprout can be reached by calling: (443) 223-0642.

Another change is being made by The BBQ Joint ((410) 690-3641), which said that although they didn’t deliver, they will be offering curbside pick-up service for at least the next week. A request should be made when the order is placed. Victory Garden Cafe is offering curb side pick up and free delivery to Easton. They will also deliver to Oxford with a $50.00 food order: 410.690.7356.

Coffee Trappe 410-476-6164 and Momma Maria’s in Trappe. 410-476-6266 will take your phone order with curbside pick up.

The Bagery 410-690-4188 or online offers curbside pickup.

The Galley in St. Michaels offers free delivery in St. Michaels and within a five-mile surrounding area. Latitude 38 will deliver in Oxford for a $5.00 fee.

Other services, such as Blue Heron Catering, provides catering and personal chef services. Beat the Rush Delivery offers to deliver food from groceries, farmers’ markets, or local eateries. They have special fees for seniors or those on subsidized income.

Potbelly is offering free delivery through March 29th via its app, Potbelly.com, GrubHub, and DoorDash. (Plus all orders are securely packaged with tamper-evident stickers).

Many restaurants, such as Headwaters Seafood and Grille, and Snifters, use DoorDash for their deliveries. Delivery fees vary.

In neighbors helping neighbors, 4 Sisters Food Truck have announced that they are offering a free platter to anyone in need in our community. They are located at 600 Dover Road in Easton They will also deliver free to the immediate Easton area and charges $5.00 for delivery to Trapp, Preston, St. Michaels, and Oxford.

Also, Bombay Tadka (443-515-0853), both in Easton and Cambridge, are offering free delivery to the immediate area and instituting a “Good Karma Special.” For every two entrees purchased they will will give one to a neighbors in need. Additional “Good Karma Specials”  may be added to your order for $10.00.

The Amish Market in Easton will be open this week (March 19-21, 2020), however the dining area will not be open.

This list will, more than likely change, as the days and weeks pass, and new restrictions are either imposed or lifted. One thing is probably certain in this time of uncertainty, businesses will need to redefine ‘business as usual.’

Spy Gardening: Winter’s False Start (to Springtime) by Meredith Watters

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With record-breaking warmth, signs of Spring are everywhere from buds on shade trees to flowering quince and camellias. Since Talbot County’s average final frost date is the end of April, here are some ways to guard against the inevitable return of the extreme cold of February/March.

    • Protect delicate plants by wrapping them in burlap or landscape fabric
    • Spray anti-desiccant on the shiny broad-leafed evergreens to prevent foliage from drying out
    • Apply an extra 3-4” of mulch to insulate roots from extreme swings of outdoor temperatures. However, avoid applying mulch directly against plant trunks
    • Select plants hardy for Talbot County (Plant Zone 7)
    • Be aware of microclimates

In my yard, I have two such areas that have varying climatic conditions: An exposed north-facing garden bed blasted by cold winter wind and an alcove nook with no wind and only morning sun. These two microclimates can vary by ten ambient degrees. Selecting the correct plants for both scenarios is essential.

While the soil is damp and not frozen, there are a couple of things you can do to help prepare for a successful garden. First, dig out those pesky weeds. There is no reason to wait since they will only get bigger and more difficult to remove. Second, prune, prune, prune. Yes, you can do some pruning at this time of year!

Here are some pruning do’s and don’ts:

    • Don’t remove more than 1/3 of the tree or shrub’s branches in any one year
    • Use only sharp tools to make clean cuts
    • Remove dead branches
    • Cut 1” above a lateral bud or branch
    • Prune evergreens in late winter, just before spring growth
    • Prune flowering shrubs just after they finish flowering
    • Don’t use hedge clippers; use pruning shears or loppers to ‘selectively’ prune branches
    • Remove a branch that is rubbing against another branch
    • Selectively remove branches that are growing inward
    • Remove branches that will open up the central part of the plant allowing sunlight onto potential new growth in to reduce the overall size of the plant
    • Remove new water sprouts as they will become an inappropriate new branch
    • Trim shrubs so that the bottom half is wider than the top half. The upper branches should not block sunlight for the lower branches

Refer to the following plant lists for the monthly recommended pruning schedule:
Pruning shrubs
Pruning deciduous trees
Pruning evergreen trees

You can also watch the proper way to prune shrubs here.

Meredith Watters, Watterscape Designs, received her Masters in Landscape Architecture in 1985. In her consulting and design of residential landscapes, she maintains a strong focus on ecologically sensitive and creative outdoor solutions.

Don’t miss the latest! You can subscribe to The Talbot Spy‘s free Daily Intelligence Report here

Culinary Miracle on Idlewild: Bombay Tadka Comes to Easton

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One of the most anticipated happenings in Easton in the past few months is the opening of Bombay Tadka Restaurant. Currently, Bombay Tadka is enjoying success with its Cambridge location on Race Street thanks in part to the innovative ideas of owner, Rohit Shinde. In August, the restaurant held an Indian Street Food Festival to a sold-out and appreciative crowd. Shinde plans to explore various ways to introduce the Eastern Shore to new and delicious food choices through events and specials in Easton, as well. As he says in the interview, “Easton has people with different taste buds.”

Meanwhile, fans of the Cambridge location will find almost the same menu in Easton, although Shinde will be adding some Southern Indian cooking, which includes a stronger focus on vegetables and seafood over the Northern Indian attention to meat and dairy. Future plans also include opening the restaurant as a breakfast destination.

A departure from Cambridge will be the daily buffet that the Easton location plans to feature. Shinde says this will allow him to serve those in the surrounding area who don’t have a lot to time for lunch and will also let new fans taste a variety of dishes. He looks forward to giving recommendations to customers who are interested in mild flavors and those wanting a spicier version of a menu item.

Bombay Tadka will be open from 11 to 9 pm. They are located at 508 Idlewild Ave.

 

Don’t miss the latest! You can subscribe to The Talbot Spy‘s free Daily Intelligence Report here

Short Story Group To Discuss O. Henry and Truman Capote

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Next Thursday, January 9th, the Short Story Group will discuss two great American writers: O. Henry and Truman Capote.

O. Henry published most of his short stories at the beginning of the nineteenth century. His main inspiration were the ordinary people he watched in New York City hotels and streets. The focus of the discussion will be The Gift of The Magi. Still, others of his short stories such as The Cop and the Anthem, The Last Leaf, and The Furnished Room are classics of American Literature.

Truman Capote was mostly known by his novels: In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. But, he also wrote three short stories in the fifties: Miriam, the outstanding Shut a Final Door, and the short story that will be discussed at the meeting, A Christmas Memory, .

All are welcome to join the discussions. The meeting will start at 3:00 p.m. at the Saint Michaels Library.

Don’t miss the latest! You can subscribe to The Talbot Spy‘s free Daily Intelligence Report here.

St Michaels: Short Story Book Club

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Short on time, but love to read? You might consider joining the St. Michaels Short Story Group. The Group, who met for the first time in November, is tailored for readers and writers interested in discussing the art of great authors and is focused on short stories, as they do not represent a significant investment of time and can be read on one sitting.

Last month the Group discussed The Cask of Amontillado, considered by many as the perfect short story. Published by E. A. Poe in 1846, the story is structured so that no words are wasted, and each paragraph contributes to the development and unity of the plot. Now, the Group’s attention will be focused on reading and ‘savoring’ two short stories published approximately at the same time in Russia by Nikolay Gogol, one of the most relevant Russian writers of the nineteenth century: The Nose (1836), and The Overcoat (1842).

The Nose, is about a man who, after losing his nose, meets it walking in the streets. It is approximately 11 pages and is probably one of the first stories to venture into the absurd.

Book ClubThe second story, The Overcoat, is around 13 pages and is quite deeper in its message. It is a criticism of bureaucracy, a common element of Gogol’s works, and provokes the reader into a reflection about hopes and frustrations of common men.

Both stories are available for free at the Project Gutenberg site.

The next discussion will take place on December 5th at 3:30, at the St. Michaels Library. Meetings are free and typically run one hour. Two additional meetings are scheduled for January.

All friends of the Talbot Spy are welcome to attend.

Don’t miss the latest! You can subscribe to The Talbot Spy‘s free Daily Intelligence Report here. 

Come Sip, Savor, & Shop at Evergreen’s 19th Annual “Handmade from the Heart” Winter Festival

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Every December area shoppers and lovers of fine crafts look forward to Evergreen Easton’s Handmade From The Heart Sale & Winter Festival. Evergreen Easton celebrates its 19th year offering local artists’ work with a day and a half of community festivities. The event kicks off Friday, December 6th, 5:00-8:00pm with live music by The Hard Times Band, signature champagne cocktail & warm cider, fresh shucked oysters from Barren Island Oysters, local craft beverages from RAR Brewing, Lyon Distilling, Agave Arts & Juicing, Federal Brewing, locally sourced delicious food from Eat Sprout, and more! The event continues Saturday, December 7th, 10:00am-4:00pm. Night Kitchen Coffee will be on hand to wake you up and keep you warm while you shop.

Handmade From The Heart showcases beautiful and creative work from local craftspeople including Jewelry, Photography, Wooden & Bronze Sculpture Work, Hand Knit Items, Hand Turned Wooden Bowls, Adorable Baby Gifts, All Natural Bath & Body Products, Teas & Tonics, Wreathes & Greenery, Pottery & Tile Work, Mixed Media Art, and much more! This year’s Evergreen Spirit Auction features: Membership + Personal Training at Hearthstone; Dinner + Drinks hosted at the Hager House; Trip to Chanticleer Gardens; Custom Pet Portrait, oil painting by P. Fisher; Landscaping by Frank Stockman; Champagne Sunset Cruise with Chesapeake Skipjack Sailing Cruises; Fishing Charter with Max Fly Charters among the many offerings. Visitors to Handmade will have a chance to enter a raffle to win the Evergreen Wellness Basket, with gift certificates including a Course on Overcoming Sugar Cravings by Naturopathic Doctor Kulveen Virdee, Massage, Reiki, and Class Passes for Yoga & Tai Chi, and beautiful all natural wellness products, or pick an ornament from the Evergreen Christmas Tree to win gifts worth up to $100+ from local shops, artists, & service providers!

Something beautiful happens when you support local artists and craftspeople–you strengthen your community and ensure that people continue to look to the Eastern Shore as a healthy and desirable area. Keeping money in our community closes a loop and strengthens connections. All featured artisans live locally and will be on hand to share information about their work. Our local friends & sponsors help keep this event vibrant. Special thanks to Eastern Shore Tents & Events, Hearthstone Health + Fitness, RAR Brewing, Lyon Distilling Co., Night Kitchen Coffee, The Federal Brewing Company, Hair O’ the Dog, Max Fly Charters, Chesapeake Skipjack Sailing Tours, Agave Arts & Juicing Co., Barren Island Oysters, Olivins, & Eat Sprout! Handmade From The Heart takes place at Evergreen Easton Point, 770 Port Street in Easton (just past the Londonderry Retirement Community).

For more info please visit us here and be sure to follow the Event Page on Facebook to get exciting updates on Artists, Auction Items, & More!