We all have things we swear are necessities. The latest iPad. A Starbucks or Dunkin’ run every workday morning. Binge-watching our favorite show until Netflix asks, “Are you still watching?” Yes, Netflix. Mind your business. But when a hurricane, blizzard, or good old New England ice storm rolls through, the …
Crash! If you remember from the last issue, I had a big maple tree with a sizeable crack that needed to come down. Pretty much immediately. I did my due diligence and called for two estimates. They were within a few dollars of each other, but one company could come …
Running a Farm Is Like Running a Town Sometimes I think managing a farm feels a lot like running a small town. You have a Building Department (I have 6 free-standing buildings with 10 distinct “divisions”). A Department of Public Works handling roads, snow removal, mowing, trimming, and weeding. Your …
Back when we first got our horses, I walked into the stable one morning and froze. “Blood!” I thought. “Oh no, who’s sick?” I checked Cisco. I checked Dusty. No cuts, no splatter, nothing that looked like an injury. I cleaned it up, but my stomach stayed in a knot. …
One of the strangest requests I ever got came from my neighbor: “Can I give your chickens some bee larvae?” I had questions. Lots of them. Bees are already struggling. We need them for pollination, for our food, for honey. So why would a beekeeper want to get rid of …
When Loppers Wave the White Flag I’ve got a bit of a recurring problem around here. Saplings and young trees have a habit of popping up in all the wrong places. Loppers can handle some of it… until they can’t. Once you’re dealing with something thicker or tougher (hello stubborn …
Did you know that not all goats come equipped with horns? I sure didn’t, not when I first got into goat ownership. Back then, a goat was a goat, and goats had horns. End of story. Then along came the word “polled,” and I had to learn something new. Now, …
After last issue’s tip about lilies and cats, I started thinking about another hidden danger, one that surprises a lot of cat owners. Fish. “Wait,” you might be thinking. “Cats love fish.” Do they, though? And more importantly… is it actually good for them? Let’s dig in. We’ve all been …
From Dirt to Dinner: Let’s Get That Garden Growing If you followed along from Part 1 and Part 2, then you’ve done the hard part. You picked your spot, gathered your seeds or plants, and waited (not always patiently) for frost to move along. And now? You plant. This is …
If you followed along from the last issue, you’ve officially claimed your little patch of garden paradise. Your soil is prepped. Your tools are ready. You’ve got water nearby. Maybe you even stood there thinking, “Yeah… this is gonna be good.” And now you’re ready to plant. I get it. …
