By Kerby Lynch
Novella Carpenter is the author of the award winning
Farm City.
Favorite part of the farm and why?
The beehive. It often smells good (most other areas of the farm do not), and I like to watch the bees doing their work, which will eventually get me some tasty honey.
Wake up time on the weekends?
I usually get up at 7, if we're out late the night before 8am, but never later because the chickens wake me up with their racket.
Most common outfit while working in the farm?
Dirty jeans, ragged t-shirt, and cowgirl boots. Then I wear the same outfit to go out. I'm not fashionable.
Songs to get pumped up to?
I like old music like the pixies or pavement. Lately Billy and I have been going to shows and we like Uzi Rash.
High school crushes (Animal? Mineral? Person?)
Niko Lamberis, a hot German foreign exchange student who played tennis and we would drive to Seattle so we could find Jimmy Hendrix’s grave.
Number of times the goat’s breath has smelled good?
Always.
Favorite thing to cook?
Greens--especially rapini and turnips greens. Just sautéed with olive oil and a splash of Bragg’s.
Number of farm animals owned?
6 chickens
3 ducks (sitting on 20 eggs, please let them hatch)
20,000 bees
3 goats
6 breeding rabbits, one buck, 22 babies
1 cat (Cuzzin)
What’s in your refrigerator?
Home-made jam
sauerkraut (for the goats and me)
big bottle of mustard from grocery outlet (bill loves the grossout)
pickled eggs
pickled sour cherries
goat milk
butter
parm
pickled herring
anchovies
Why a farm?
Had to do something; better than office life
Favorite cookbook
Currently: Tartine bread
Last time eating fast food?
I ate at the airport, Jamba Juice—shat am I supposed to do with that styro-foam cup?
Glass half empty or half full?
Depends on my hormones. Mostly half-full.
Kevin Costner fan?
No, he’s too traditionally handsome. I’m always embarrassed and sad for the handsome and beautiful.