If my schedule allows, I always try to attend the annual Northeastern Poultry Congress in Springfield, Massachusetts. It's a great event for anyone interested in learning about large fowl, waterfowl, turkeys, pigeons, pheasants, Guineas, and of course, chickens.
I just attended the 51st show. The event is held at the Eastern States Exposition Center and features more than 3000 birds. Various breeds of poultry are exhibited and judged for ribbons and prizes. There are also informative seminars offered on different topics, and an area for vendors of good, nutritious feed and other supplies. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see the birds up close and to build relationships with very knowledgeable, passionate, and serious breeders. This year, I brought home five chickens, two pheasants, and 30-eggs to hatch in my own incubator.
Enjoy these photos.
The Northeastern Poultry Congress holds its show every January. All the show birds are exhibited and judged in the Mallory Complex of the Expo Center. Visitors are able to see the various breeds in their crates. I have been making the trip for several years and always learn something new.
Poultry shows are family-friendly and allow visitors to see both traditional and new breeds. The first poultry show in the United States was in 1854, before there were even standards for showing.
The show enters more than a thousand chicken breeds – some with gorgeous markings and feathers.
The birds are judged against others of the same color, sex and age. They are also judged based on variety and breed. In the end, chickens compete against large fowl and water fowl.
The birds are also ranked in each of their classes and then compete for super champion. These are gold laced cochins.
Each cage is tagged with the bird’s breed, color or variety, and gender. This is a white tufted Roman goose hen.
Prior to poultry shows and again before judging, these birds are groomed and groomed again – every feather is in place. This is a beautiful bobtail cochin chicken.
This is a brown Chinese goose hen – a bit smaller than the white Chinese geese I have at my farm, but a little more talkative.
There were also stunning specialty breed turkeys at the show.
This turkey breed is called royal palm, with its unique largely white body with bands of metallic black.
Here is a pair of peach golden pheasants. They are so beautiful, I had to bring these home with me. Peach golden pheasants are a rare and special color mutation of the wild red golden pheasant. Males are mostly white with light gold on their breast and body, and white wings and tail. The cape, or ruff, is peach colored with light white barring.
Some exhibitors also brought homemade cookies to sell – these in the shapes of Silkie chickens and cochin chickens.
White Embden geese originated in Germany. These are large, tall birds with long necks and orange bills.
I also saw these gorgeous black swan cygnets, which are young swans. These bird are only three months old. When mature, they have the longest necks of any of the swan species.
Here are some of the award ribbons displayed on one side of the large exhibition room.
In another area, vendors display their products, such as this interestingly shaped coop.
Back at my Bedford, New York farm, here are the eggs I brought home. All Silkie eggs. Silkies are best known for their characteristically fluffy plumage said to feel like silk or satin. These eggs are from Stonebrooke Silkies. They are placed into the incubator where they are safe from other birds and closely monitored until they hatch. Chicken eggs take 21-days. While the eggs incubate, they are automatically turned once a day, 45-degrees each way, back and forth during this period.
This is one of two bobtail cochins I brought home from the show. Bobtail cochins have feathered feet, flat rears, and a beautiful gray color. I’ve been raising chickens for many years. Not only do I love keeping them for their fresh, delicious eggs, but I also enjoy learning about the different breeds, varieties and their fun personalities.
These cochins are known to be calm friendly, docile, and sweet. Right now, these birds are in a separate enclosure until they acclimate to life at my farm. In a few weeks, they can join the rest of my flock.
And these two are golden laced cochins, with their striking black and golden brown feathers, also from this year’s poultry congress. I am looking forward to seeing all these chickens mature and thrive here at my farm.
Owning a farm and a home is a huge responsibility. I oversee the care of all my animals and gardens as well as the maintenance, safety, and upkeep of every house and structure on the property.
I have several buildings here at Cantitoe Corners, and the one I use the most is called the Winter House where I live. Recently, I decided it was time to replace some its sisal carpeting. For this task, I enlisted the help of our friends at Westport Carpet & Rugs in nearby Westport, Connecticut - they've been taking care of my carpeting needs for many years. This latest installation process took two days to complete, but everything was done neatly and efficiently.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
The team from Westport Carpet & Rugs arrived right on time with my new sisal carpets. They carried the rolls of carpet and carpet padding into the Winter House where they would be cut and serged on site.
The shop is located in Westport, Connecticut not far from my previous home on Turkey Hill Road.
Back at my Bedford farm, the old carpeting is carefully removed from the stairs. The life expectancy of a sisal rug depends on where it’s used and the carpet’s exposure to traffic, spills or damage.
After the old material is removed, the carpet tack strips are replaced. These strips are narrow lengths of wood used to keep the carpet in place.
There are many types of carpet padding for different areas of the home. Carpet padding serves as the foundation for the carpet. It provides cushioning underfoot but also provides stability, insulation, and noise reduction.
The best carpet padding will protect the backing on the bottom of your carpet and keep it from breaking down, thus prolonging the life of your carpet.
Here, the sisal is being cut to size, so spaces can be measured precisely. For most of the rooms, I use the same sisal. I like its durability, natural color, and coarse, slightly scratchy feel. Sisal comes from the long green leaves of the cactus plant Agave sisalana and is stronger than other natural fibers.
Once the padding pieces are cut they are installed first on every step.
This is a carpet edge serger machine, or carpet-binding machine. It is used to quickly and easily sew a border around the perimeter of a carpet.
The matching colored yarns are placed on spools and the machine wraps the threads over the edges.
The machine is equipped with little wheels so it can be pulled along as it sews, making a very neat edge. The serged corners and edges look neat and tidy.
Here, the carpet piece is placed on the landing and over the top step.
Dave works his way down the staircase, nailing the carpet as he goes.
A carpet knee kicker is used to stretch the carpet. The tool grips the carpet with a set of tines on the head and then pushes it into place.
This is a carpet installation chisel – a tool with a wide, flat blade used to tuck the carpet into tight spaces and secure it against the surface and in corners.
Here is a top view looking down on a lower landing.
Within a couple of hours, the stairs are done.
Then the stair rods are returned. Stair rods help to keep the carpet securely in place, but also add an elegant design element.
Extra pieces are never wasted. They are used for high traffic spaces to provide extra protection over the carpeting.
This sitting room, which is located between my foyer and servery also needs a new carpet. The team unrolls the old carpet and the padding.
Because this room is large, two pieces of new padding are needed to secure the carpet. This padding is very durable and long lasting. Tape is used to connect the two pieces together, but don’t worry, the tape never touches the floor.
Because the carpet is cut slightly smaller than the space to expose the wood floors, the area between the carpet edges and the walls must be measured several times. This carpet is about four-and-a-half inches from the wall along every side.
To help flatten the carpet, the edges are rolled in the opposite direction.
Although it is exactly the same as the previous rug, once it is down it totally freshens the space and gives it a nice, clean look. Now to put back the furniture.
I am always thrilled to get new pots for my growing collection of rare and exotic plants, especially when they are from one of my favorite potters, Ben Wolff.
Ben is the son of Guy Wolff, also a master potter, who I first met years ago during one of my many trips through Litchfield County, Connecticut, searching for antiques, plants, and ideas for my magazine, Living. I was so impressed by Guy's work, I became a regular customer - of both father and son. Now, I have the largest personal collection of Wolff pottery ever known. Ben works out of his home where he creates all his pieces by hand on a traditional potter's wheel. Earlier this week, Ben personally delivered another batch of vessels to my farm in two different sizes, each one so thoughtfully handcrafted.
Enjoy these photos.
Ben Wolff drove down from Goshen, Connecticut in Litchfield County to deliver a batch of beautiful gray pots. Here we are in my head house putting them all on the table. Ben’s pots are his own designs. He uses different clays, glazes and finishes making them different from his father’s.
My large greenhouse is filled with Wolff pottery. I’ve been using Wolff pots for years.
Every time Ben visits, he asks to walk through the greenhouse to see all the many clay containers he and his dad have made for me.
Here is one of his smaller orchid pots.
Orchid pots have holes primarily for aeration. The holes facilitate airflow to the orchid’s roots, preventing them from sitting in stagnant water.
Ben has made many orchid pots for me over the years in different sizes.
Here’s another one with a beautiful edged rim.
When I order pots, I always order a sizable amount to cover my planting needs for some time. Here’s a batch of orchid pots I purchased in 2023.
This Ben Wolff pot is planted with one of my Chinese money plants, Pilea Peperomioides.
This succulent is potted in a six pound vessel, the wet weight amount of the clay used. This standardized system for marking horticultural pots was adopted by Victorian potters.
And here is another pot from one of Ben’s older collections.
Ben has been crafting pots since 1999. Here he is at his potter’s wheel in his home.
He makes every pot himself and then ships them out with the help of his wife, Corinne.
Ben’s pots are sold personally and to stores around the country.
Most of these gray and terracotta pots under my greenhouse table are Ben Wolff pots just waiting to be potted with new plants.
Most recently, Ben delivered two-dozen gorgeous large gray pots.
I needed these bigger sized pots and these wide pan sized planters.
Each pot has a large drainage hole at the bottom.
On one side, Ben stamps his name and the wet weight of the clay – these had a wet weight of 10-pounds.
On the other side, he stamps my name. Thanks, Ben, I love every vessel and can’t wait to pot up my next plant. Please go to Ben’s web site to see what’s available and follow him on Instagram @benwolffpottery.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
