Josh Kilmer-Purcell's Blog

This year we’re celebrating 10 years of Harvest Fest and a big celebration calls for a big crew. We’re looking for volunteers to help make this event our best one yet. Interested? Fill out the form below and our Events Team will contact you with more information.







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The post Volunteers Needed For Harvest Fest! appeared first on Beekman 1802.

In our Stone Age we had just emerged.

Still learning

to bend and command

nature

Grunting

and gesticulating

Yet still we built

Tools from stone

Foundations that still stand

In our Bronze Age we went beneath the surface

Dug deep

For something we did not even know existed

And as we came up

Gasping for air

Our voices escaped

Our gods appeared.

And we found meaning

In things that we did not even know existed

And now we enter our Iron Age

Our fires stoked so hotly

That we burn

All of those impurities that questioned our strength

We are made of steel.

Made of steel.

The gift of the sixth year is iron.

Each year I write a poem to commemorate our wedding anniversary using the traditional anniversary gift as the inspiration.

Click the links below to read previous poems.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5

The post The Gift of the Sixth Year appeared first on Beekman 1802.

By Olivia Dillingham

To read the rest of this story, pick up the Spring 2019 Almanac

Some tips when choosing your CBD products:

• If you are using CBD because you want to cut down your
anxiety, your inflammation, or anything else, try not to use it as a fix-all; rather,
look holistically at what you are putting into your body and how you are
structuring your life, and make small lifestyle changes that might work in
tandem with CBD to give you beautiful results (diet, meditation or movement
routines, for example).

• Pay attention to your dosage and the way you are consuming
CBD. Keep a journal, and jot down how you feel as you increase and decrease
dosage, as you use CBD in different ways; start to develop intuition around
when your body feels best.

• Do your research around the company(ies) you are buying
CBD from. Do you care if the company is big or small? Does local production
matter to you? Who is the company marketing to? Know your values. “With
cannabis and really with any kind of consumption, you should know your
history,” says Burnett. “It’s more than just using it right now. Think about
how they are marketing on a surface level; what images do they have on their
Instagram? If you aren’t including people of color, people who are differently
abled, people who have different body sizes, those on the gender spectrum—and
only have one idea of who their product should be for—for me personally that is
a big turnoff, because humans come in all sizes, shapes, demographics, and socioeconomic
backgrounds. When I am buying things, I want to be thoughtful, inclusive, and
conscious about who I support and who they support.”

• History. It is also important to know the history of the
stigmatization of cannabis and to understand that, though CBD is trending right
now, the whole plant is beneficial to our bodies—we need the full spectrum.
“Every part of the plant has benefits,” says Swatosh, “from its roots to its
flowers.”

• Do your research around how CBD is best used—what carrier
oils are best for use on the skin, for example. “All carrier oils are not
equal,” says Burnett, “so learning what is absorbed by the skin vs. what should
be taken sublingually, for example, is important.” Even if it is all-natural,
it may not be the best oil for your skin. You are welcome to request lab tests
from any company that you buy products from!

• In order to take in the benefits of CBD, you do need to
maintain that homeostasis, meaning that you are using the same amount every day
(i.e having some in your latte one day a week will do nothing for you). Knowing
this, make sure the routine you are implementing with CBD feels sustainable and
affordable to you, whether you are using it in a face oil or putting it in your
tea.

Not only is CBD good for bodies; when farmed sustainably it
is also good for the soil and for small farms, which are near and dear to
Beekman 1802’s heart as an active supporter of local farming. Local farmers are
using regenerative agriculture practices to grow hemp. Hudson Hemp, for example, is an
association of farmers in the Hudson Valley that grows hemp to produce hemp oil
distillate and CBD isolate for companies making CBD products. They use organic
processes that mimic the earth’s natural system, and in this way are active
stewards of healthier soil and planet as they pioneer the distillation of CBD
to its purest form.

The post Tips For Using CBD (From Spring 2019 Almanac) appeared first on Beekman 1802.

Dr. Brent knows a thing or two when it comes to aging. When he was still a practicing physician, Brent specialized in geriatric medicine. He knew that when it came to aging, it wasn’t about stopping it or preventing it. It was about embracing what was coming and working to age in a healthy way.

After we formulated our first skincare line that could work for every body and skin type, Triple Milk, Brent went to work on a line that could help our Neighbors who were facing more specific skin care issues, including aging skin. Our daytime and nighttime skin care lines, Light as Air and Blaak Night were born.

Brent was so focused on perfecting his formulations that he became our guinea pig, slathering on different formulas and lotions until he found the right combination with the right ingredients, and nothing extra. We ran clinical tests (where independent labs test our products) and perception tests (that focus on how the product looks and feels) because we wanted to make sure that our products were making people feel good while still delivering the goods to keep aging skin feeling healthy and fresh.

Another important feature of our Light as Air and Blaak Night lines is that you can use them separately, together or as boosters to your existing skincare routine. Skin care products can be some of the most expensive items in your bathroom, and we wanted to make sure you got your money’s worth from us.

Our daytime line, Light as Air, is all about protecting your skin from the free radicals and environmental stressors that can prematurely age your skin. Blasting the heat during the winter or sitting in an office with constant air conditioning can overwork your sebaceous glands, the tiny glands in your skin that help keep your hair and skin moisturized. This can lead to oily skin and breakouts (p.s. whoever said that acne ends when you enter adulthood was a liar.)

Using naturally harvested, plant-based squalane in our goat milk base, our Light as Air face cream locks in moisture. Sea Salt balances your oil production and is rich in minerals that soak into the skin to fight acne. Finally, Vitamins E and B5 are the antioxidants that help your skin recover from acne breakouts and harsh environments while protecting your skin from more damage. All while staying lightweight enough that it was easily be layered under makeup.

While Light as Air is helping your skin protect itself during the day, our Blaak Night nighttime skin care is working to repair skin overnight. At night, you don’t need extra bells and whistles, you just need a skin care system that can penetrate your skin and repair from the inside out.

Our Blaak Night serum can be used on its own or you can add a pump to your existing moisturizer to give it a boost. It contains colostrum, the first group of proteins that are found in mother’s milk. It’s packed with growth factors and immune boosters that are amazing for your skin.

We follow that up with our Beekman peptide complex, a chain of amino acids that relax the muscles and boost collagen production. Think of it like this, everything in your body is controlled by proteins and amino acids, like how computer code controls everything in a computer. Our peptide complex is like a string of code that tells your skin cells to hold onto moisture and produce more collagen, so while you’re sleeping, your body is working to plump your skin and diminish fine lines.

For both Light as Air and Blaak Night, goat milk plays an important part. A lot of anti-aging skin care lines use a mineral oil base, which sits on top of the skin and is not easily absorbed. We use goat milk for our base to deliver the product deep into the skin’s layers. Since goat milk is a similar pH to human skin, your body absorbs the peptides, ceramides, colostrum, and antioxidants in all of our skincare faster and deeper than other products.

So remember, Light as Air is our lightweight daytime formula that heals and protects. Blaak Night is our overnight workhorse, delivering skin care on the deepest level. Both skin care lines work to make sure that your skin ages in a healthy and sustainable way.

The post Light As Air & Blaak Night: A Dynamic Skin Care Duo appeared first on Beekman 1802.

Question #1: What are ways to combat dry, flaky winter skin?

There’s no amount of body cream that will give you smooth, hydrated skin all winter long unless you have a good nutritional foundation. Start with adding healthy fats and fatty acids to your diet. Fatty acids omega 3 and 6 are found in walnuts, wild rice and certain types of fish. Monounsaturated fats are the kind found in avocados, almonds, cashews and cooking oils like olive, canola, and sesame. These fats maintain the water level in your cells and keep the lipids in your skin plump. They also help your body process other nutrients your skin needs, like Vitamin E.

For Vitamins, focus on A, C, and E. These are all antioxidants that protect your skin from free radicals and UV rays (which is important, even in the winter time.) Separately, Vitamin A helps with collagen production, Vitamin C repairs dry skin, and Vitamin E helps maintain your skin’s moisture. You can find these vitamins in many winter staples, like pumpkin, butternut squash, and winter greens.

Once you have built a good foundation, now it’s time to add the lotions and potions. Remember to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Before you leave the house, after you get out of the shower, before you head to bed.

When we developed our Triple Milk skin care, we took the same approach of working from the inside out. Nutrients like Vitamin E and healthy sources of fat like olive oil not only do great work on your insides, but they help your outsides hydrated and healthy. A base of three milks (coconut milk, milk protein, and goat milk) pull double-duty to clean while providing plenty of hydration.

Question #2: I always get a ‘Rudolph’ nose when I have a cold. Any tips on how to not look sick when you feel sick?

We know how it goes. You know you need to get as much rest as you can when you’re sick, but school drop-offs, grocery shopping and chores in and out of the house take precedent. When it comes to that rubbed-raw nose look, you need something that moisturizes as well as provides a barrier between your delicate skin and a Kleenex. This is a perfect place for our pure hand salve.

Hand salve for your nose may seem crazy, but it has the right combination of moisturizers to make your chapped skin feel better. Just make sure you use one that is unscented unless walking around smelling Vanilla Absolute all day is your thing. Jojoba oil and goat milk provide moisture that lasts through repeated nose blowing. The sunflower seed wax in our hand salve provides an all-natural barrier that locks in moisture and prevents chaffing. All you need to do is use a clean finger to dab a small amount of hand salve over all the chapped areas. Once your nose drinks in all those good-for-you ingredients, you’ll be Rudolph no more.

The post Ask Dr. Brent: How can I keep my skin healthy during the winter? appeared first on Beekman 1802.

Years ago, we started delivering bars of soap to our local school so that the kids would have something to give to someone of their choosing at Christmas. Now, you may be sitting there, thinking it a little strange to be giving a bunch of kids bars of soap to gift. But we believe that if you teach the joy that comes from giving, early in life, you raise young adults that are charitable and give back to their communities in positive ways.

The brilliant teachers in the school always take the idea of giving to a whole new level, using it to encourage creativity and teamwork. We all work together, ensuring Sharon Springs can continue to be a wonderful bit of America for generations to come.

The post Gifting with Students in Sharon Springs appeared first on Beekman 1802.

We couldn’t possibly have a holiday artisan q & a session without talking to THE Christmas artisan herself, Cackie Trippe McCarty. You’ve seen those exquisite Christmas wreaths made out of vintage ornaments?  All handcrafted by Cackie. Earlier this December, Cackie traveled with us on our Trip of a Lifetime: Into the Snow Forest to scour the Christmas Markets of Europe with hopes of finding unique items for next year’s wreaths. We don’t want to betray anyone’s trust or privacy, but if you’re wondering whether or not someone on the trip was stopped at multiple airport security checkpoints and questioned on the several round, bubble-wrapped spheres hidden in her luggage and on her person – the answer is yes. ; )

For our next Q & Holid-AY: Cackie Trippe McCarty of Glittermoon Cards

Tell us a story about ONE of your favorite ornaments:

On this trip of a Lifetime, I had the chance to visit a German Christmas Shop I have wanted to go to for many years: Kåthe Wohlfahrt, and that brought to mind this story. One of my parents’ dear friends was what I would call a “supreme” Christmas lover. She had a deep faith and a true joie de vivre around the holidays. For years, I had reveled in her Christmas tree decorations. We enjoyed traveling together to a Christmas Shop; nobody else had the burning desire to join us. In the early 1990s ,she got the chance to visit Germany – at this point she was well into her 80s and not in terrific health. When she got home, she sent me a package. In it was a beautiful glass ornament that she had purchased on her trip – she brought it home on her lap during the plane ride home. It’s one of the best gifts I’ve ever received. Sadly, Mrs Turner is gone now but I think of her and her special gift when I place that precious ornament on my tree every year. (Editor’s Note: You may all stop reading for a moment to go find some tissues and compose yourselves.)

What was one of the first pieces you ever made?:

Ha! I can’t remember the various art projects I did as a kid (probably for good reason!), but the first ornament wreath I made was from treasured ornaments that had broken but I could not bear to throw away. Many of them were early Radkos, which were not only expensive but had personal meaning because of where I got them or who gave them to me.

What’s your favorite holiday tv special or movie?

Actually, I have to watch both It’s A Wonderful Life AND Christmas Vacation for it to be “officially” Christmas.

What’s a childhood holiday tradition that you’ve carried into adulthood?:

We had loads of traditions and I was fortunate to have had practically Dickensian Christmases as a child. With both our parents and grandparents gone now, probably the two most important things for me are to attend church on Christmas Eve and have family together for Christmas dinner. All the rest is pure gravy.

What advice would you give Neighbors looking to DIY this holiday season?:

Do not get stressed out worrying about doing everything! It has taken me a long time to realize that it’s not about being perfect – it’s about being present.

That being said, we saw a genius idea in Salzburg on our Trip of A Lifetime: Into the Snow Forest – a tree decorated in ornaments that were made from used Nespresso cups. They took the foil tops and pinned them to a ball (probably styrofoam) creating a vibrant and fun ornament (that also qualifies as earthy friendly). In addition they took the cups and strung them to look like little bells hanging on the tree. The result was charming.

I am not a coffee drinker but I am going to try this idea with the foil tops from wine bottles. If you want, dress it up with sequins, glitter, and pearls to create a Fauxbergé ornament with a big bang but very little expense or time.

The post B. 1802 Artisan Q & Holid-AY: Cackie Trippe McCarty appeared first on Beekman 1802.

When you consider everyone a Neighbor, you have plenty of Christmas cards to send out. Luckily, we’ve partnered up with our REAL Capital Region neighbors at Pinhole Press to get our Christmas cards done. (Did you know that they’re based in Troy, NY?) They believe smiles are infectious. They’ve made it their mission to spread smiles with every photo gift produced. And they want to offer one of our neighbors a $200 gift code to their website, so that you can spread YOUR Christmas smiles this season.

Entering could not be easier. All you have to do is fill out the form below. For real – That’s it! Although, if you want to post in the comments and let us know what photos you’re using on your cards, we’d love to know! A winner will be chosen on December 12th.

They’re also offering all of our neighbors 25% off a purchase when you enter the code BEEKMAN25 at checkout.

To enter the giveaway, fill out the form below.

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By checking this box, I confirm that I am over 18 years of age and live in the USA. I give Beekman 1802 and Pinhole Press consent to occasionally contact me with relevant marketing material. I understand that my information will not be given to any additional parties.PhoneThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

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If you’ve ever seen a pillow on our website, odds are that it came from one of the best hookers (RUG hookers) around – Beth Miller. She frequently teaches classes in the Mercantile, helping to pass on the 19th century craft. See how one of our favorite makers spends her holiday season.

For our next Q & Holid-AY: Elizabeth Miller, Parris House Wool Works

What is the first gift you remember ever making someone?

It would have to be something I made in elementary school for my parents. I remember, I think in second grade, making a good-sized cardstock two-dimensional Christmas tree, gluing different shaped uncooked pastas on to it, and then spray painting it silver. To be honest, I wouldn’t mind doing that again.

What is the most treasured gift you’ve ever received?

This is such a difficult question and my answer, while not lighthearted, demonstrates the power of “good neighbors.” We lost my brother to an accident in 1986 three weeks before Christmas. I have never forgotten the things friends, family, neighbors, and even people we really didn’t know did to try to bring what comfort they could to us that holiday season. That was a true gift in the spirit of Christmas. One of my aunts gave me a star ornament in my brother’s memory. I hang that star every year and it reminds me that people are fundamentally good. That reminder is a profound gift.

What holiday tradition do you most look forward to each year?

Every other year, at least for now, all four of my sons, their respective wife and girlfriends, my niece, and her boyfriend make our house in Paris, Maine their holiday headquarters for a week to ten days. Having everyone together is something my husband and I look forward to all year long. We cook, eat, play games, laugh, and watch terrible movies together (think bad science fiction). Last year all of the young women had matching onesie pajamas thanks to my niece. On Christmas Eve we always have our version of the traditional Italian Seven Fishes meal and on New Year’s Eve we make sushi. Our family is spread across four states and two countries, but every other year, we have this holiday time together.

Which holiday movie or tv special do you need to watch every year?

Hands down, “A Christmas Story.” I truly love everything about this movie. We have a leg lamp night light in our bathroom.

Is there an artisan or maker that you purchase gifts from?

We are so fortunate here in Maine to have a thriving community of makers and artists. Locally, some artisans I love are ceramic artist Martha Grover and her husband, potter Josh Rysted, fiber artist Kim Hamlin of Fiber & Vine, painter and poet Becky Robbins, and Deborah Uva of Grape Island Glass. My wishlist for Beekman 1802 artisans would include a fantastical wreath by Cackie McCarty (to go on our purple front door here at the Parris House), anything woven by Rabbit Goody, and ceramics by Jasmine Crowe.

Give some quick advice to any neighbor who is looking to perform a DIY holiday season.

Have fun with it. Don’t be your own harshest critic. I teach a design class called “Yes, You Are & Yes, You Can” because I hear so many people say, “I’m not talented or creative. I can’t draw or make things.” Yes, you are and yes, you can. With so many online tutorials now, DIY information is easier to find and follow than ever. On a practical level, use the best quality materials and tools you can find and afford. Sometimes the difference between fun and frustration is just whether or not the materials are well made. Above all, don’t stress and don’t judge.

The post B. 1802 Artisan Q & Holid-AY: Elizabeth Miller appeared first on Beekman 1802.

We aren’t going to say that we never shop big box stores. But we try really hard not to, whenever possible. Because there’s something about having artisan-made pieces in your home; pieces delicately created by worn hands, crafting a story that only you will ever own. It’s also why we always pick up local artisan gifts when we travel. We love to gift these at Christmas, as each piece is as unique as its recipient. Coincidently, so are each of our Beekman makers and artisans.

You may be buying their pieces as gifts this year. Find out how they spend the season when they aren’t upping your gift-giving game. For our first Q & Holid-AY, we’re talking to ceramicist Jasmine Crowe.

WHAT’S ONE OF THE FIRST GIFTS YOU EVER MADE?

I don’t remember the first, but that’s because there are so many.  I crocheted hats, made jewelry, tins of cookies, and of course, all the early, clunky pottery that I now wish friends and family would get rid of!

WHAT’S THE MOST TREASURED GIFT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?

Hand sewn quilts that my great friend Leesa made for each of my children. They were both unique – suited to them more than we even knew at the time – and they will be a part of our family forever. The most memorable gift was from my now husband when we were in college. I had this pair of motorcycle boots that I had found at a yard sale when I was 13 and wore all the time. They were really worn out and had staples coming up on the inside, but I wore them anyway because I loved them.  For Christmas our first year together, he got me cushioned insoles and boot polish and I knew he was the one.

WHICH HOLIDAY TRADITION DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO?

All of them!  With kids around, I find myself doing all the things I loved as a child.  The advent calendar, tissue paper stars in the window, carols around the piano, and Christmas books every night before bed.  I also love to bake, so I find the holiday is a wonderful excuse to overload everyone around me with fancy cookies.

FAVORITE HOLIDAY MOVIE OR TV SPECIAL?

Elf.  Hands down the best Christmas movie ever made.

WHICH MAKER OR ARTISAN DO YOU PURCHASE GIFTS FROM?

I try to find new makers every year to buy gifts from. I love Laurel O’Brian jewelry for any woman I know, and I try to find a new small batch bourbon for my husband every year.  There are so many fantastic makers right now – it’s hard to not just buy stuff for myself!

GIVE OUR NEIGHBORS ADVICE FOR A DIY HOLIDAY?  

Just jump in and make something!  You don’t have to do anything complicated or even skill requiring, but making things is satisfying and ultimately much appreciated. This year, my kids are making bath bombs, bookmarks, and origami ornaments and I’m sure their gifts will be treasured.

 

The post B. 1802 Artisan Q & Holid-AY: Jasmine Crowe appeared first on Beekman 1802.