Feature Articles

Is it possible to love an insect? I never would of thought so 15 years ago. But that was before I began my adventure in beekeeping. Since becoming a back yard beekeeper, I have grown to deeply admire the remarkable qualities of these endearing creatures of nature. And as a gardener, I have witnessed first-hand the dramatic contribution they provide to plants of all kinds. With honeybees in my garden, it's bounty has increased by an order of magnitude. And then there is that wonderful bonus they generously give me: a yearly harvest of sweet liquid gold.

The robins have arrived. The soil is warming. Green is bursting from shrubs and trees. Flowers are popping up everywhere. The exuberance and joy of another cycle of growth and life is spreading wildly.

And you’ve caught the excitement. It’s planting time!

One of the satisfactions of gardening and farming is saving your own seeds. You can keep treasured heirloom varieties, hardworking performers and your favorite colors and tastes to use year after year. You can experiment with breeding and crossing difference varieties to create something entirely new. The possibilities are endless.

I walked out of the city and into livestock thanks to a pony and my friend Deb. Steve’s dad bought our oldest daughter a pony for Christmas when she was 10. We didn’t have a barn, a pasture or much of a clue about taking care of a pony beyond proper grooming. Deb boarded the pony on her farm for us. She was willing to teach me all that she knew about goats, sheep, pigs and cattle while my daughter tended to her pony. Deb gave me a great start. The most important lesson I’ve learned is one I pass along as often as possible: Raising livestock can be as complicated as you want to make it.

Raising livestock can also be reasonably uncomplicated. Something is going to go wrong some where along the way. That’s just the way it is. I’ve learned to move unborn goat kids around without giving it a second thought. I’ve retrieved Belted Galloway cattle from a corn field a half mile up the road using farmcollies I bred and trained. The kid couldn’t have been prevented. It’s just one of those things. The cattle incident could have been avoided. That shouldn‘t have happened, especially not two mornings in a row... I’ve since learned more and put it to good use.

The rhythmic drip drip drip of sap filling buckets isn't gone, but it isn't as common as days gone by. You're less likely to see galvanized buckets with their shiny covers hanging on the sides of maple trees these days. Farms that depend on their syrup as part of their yearly income have upgraded their equipment and made big changes. Instead of buckets you'll find miles of tubing running between trees, down slopes, uphill, into tanks and out to sugarshacks. These tubes take the place of buckets. They eliminate labor-intensive dumping from bucket to tank. Easier, yes, especially on the back, but making maple syrup still involves a lot of labor.

Grow lights have been used to aid germination and growth in plants for decades. The common household light bulb we used beside our seed trays each spring have been replaced by much more effective bulbs. We no longer have to turn our leggy seedlings in hopes of them not growing into 4" tall plants with two leaves before we scrap them and start again, with similar results the next time. No more lamps turned on their sides while being held in place (hopefully) but other solid objects. For just a few dollars we can all afford to have grow lights in our homes.

Good Food. Red delicious apples, fresh-picked carrots, ripe garden peas, fresh sweet corn - all enliven our senses to the thought of their sweet flavors. They not only taste good, they are good for us. We humans are a product of our surroundings and past experiences. Our bodies subconsciously, and consciously, tend to desire food that is good for us. It knows what it needs. Inventive food manufacturers have learned well how to prey on some of these cravings, but the primitive intuition of the body’s seeking for its needs is ever present. We must become the growers of nutritious food by allowing the plants to fulfill their full nutritional value through our careful tending of their needs. Growing nutritious Good Food, not just plants to eat is our objective.

Whimsical Traditions

“Mom, Julie won’t believe me! She says that Santa is real and he wears blue!” shouted my seven year old son, Jon. This was a conversation I never could have imagined.

I was desperately trying not to laugh while explaining that “four year olds don’t always know everything seven year olds know.” But I was also somewhat distracted. I was trying to picture Santa in blue, and only coming up with Elvis crooning Blue Christmas.

“Mom, Mom? You know Santa doesn’t wear blue; tell her!” I assured him I would take care of it and off he ran. Julie climbed up and snuggled tightly into my arms while I once again told her our story of St. Nicholas. I really thought the issue was settled.

I’ve recently learned that you don’t have to live on a farm to be a farmgirl. Farmgirl, they tell me, is a state of mind. I struggled with my gift list this year until I asked myself, “What would a farmgirl do?” It’s an odd question to ask myself since I am a farmer but it worked. I make most of the gifts I give for holidays. They’re usually tied into my farm in some way. There isn’t always an interest in or the time to make gifts though, so a backup plan is sometimes called for. And that’s when you can start feeling like you’ve hit the wall on ideas. It can be hard to find just the right gift no matter how many times you walk the mall or shop online. Here’s what I came up with while putting together this year’s gift list.

It feels odd to be writing about preparing for winter since it’s now August, and sweat obscures my vision, and my fingers are sticking to the keyboard as I work. But those sensations are merely reminders of the conditions that our tools and equipment are exposed to in our service. Moisture, salt and other chemicals – both natural and synthetic – dirt, and physical exertion are as much experienced by the equipment we rely on as by ourselves.

What Are Row Covers and Why Should I Use Them?

A row cover is a piece of cloth that growers use to cover plants for either frost, weather or insect protection. They come in many sizes, thickness' and materials. They usually come cut to fit a row or bed but there are also covers that can cover large expanses. They are laid on top of the plants or on hoops, anchored with rocks, staples or other material. They then can keep hail, frost or insects at bay.