The farmer in his field A while ago we finally took the step and enrolled in a year-long CSA, starting this Spring, at Siena Farms. We visited the farm in Fall and fell in love with the fields and the farmers. I loved especially the fact that the owner, Farmer Chris, puts effort and money …
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Home Skills: Chimney Works
Looking at the new heating season, DH and I were looking at two tasks. 1. Clean the wood stove chimney. It had been two years, so we felt it was time. Instead of hiring a chimney sweep ($150 a visit) we bought a chimney brush with rods ($165). DH climbed up (our house has only …
Nor’easter > Without Electricity Again
The Nor’easter of October 2011 hit our town pretty badly. Actually, it was just a small snowstorm, not too heavy, not long-lasting. But the trees were not ready for it. It was only the fourth time that there was snow before Halloween in NYC since the civil war! Add to that that the trees now “think” …
First Wood’s In
We brought in a little more than 1/3 of a cord of well-dried wood today. We still have a good two and a half cords under cover in the back yard, which should get us through the Winter. The trees that came down this year and that we’re still bucking will make for good dry …
Batten Down the Hatches
So that flaming ball of churning energy is probably heading for us, driving wind, heavy rain and the threat of tornadoes ahead of it. We hardly felt the weather that spawned the tornadoes that destroyed Springfield and Monson, not too far from here, in western Massachusetts, in June. But that doesn’t mean it will spare …
A Barn Raising!
The garden is about 90% planted. peas and poles for the pole beans. compost in background Today I sowed all the dry beans, green beans and pole beans – first year I’m growing these – and the squashes, zukes and cukes. Also watermelon, carrots and basil, and calendula, anise and chamomile (German), all from seed. …
First Plantings of Spring and More Gardening News
Our insane wood pile after tree removal I received a large box in the mail on Friday, the kind of box that could only house… plants! Fedco. Of course they had to arrive on the busiest weekend since last Summer. Of course I wasn’t ready… So after our Earth Day Celebration I stuck almost all …
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Firewood
As you can see, I’m sledding in the fire wood now. I also made an extra transfer point in the kitchen to dry it out a bit before it goes into the stove. The wood piles are pretty well covered up but snow gets in. Â A wet log in the fire is a wasted log, …
Bug to Beer. And Growing Ginger and Turmeric
Bubbles! The Ginger Bug is bubbling so I’m moving on to the next stage of brewing a good beer: adding the culture to the base (water, more ginger and sugar/honey) and letting it ferment away some more. I’m making a little less than a gallon, about 6 wine bottles, I should say. DH made some …
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Neem for Aphids and Whiteflies
This is what the view out of the window looks like at the moment. Glorious! DH and I spent three hours digging out our driveway on Wednesday (1 1/2 feet of heavy snow over about 2000 sq.f) and it had been a long time since I had been that exhausted. As I trudged back up …