Some Days I Wish I Were A Dog

Maggie and Seb are sleeping in the sun here in the diningroom. I’m bothered by insomnia now (happens every winter). Although I’m not tired a nap in the sun seems lovely. I woke up very early this morning to Scooter jumping on the bed with me. It’s a spoiled dog’s life [...]

Seven Things

I’ve been tagged by Georgia Farm Woman and Eastside Farm Chronicles. I’m afraid of the consequences if I don’t do this – more below 0* nights, seeds that don’t germinate or heaven forbid, some wandering goat shows up in my field.
Seven things you don’t know about me is hard because my life is an [...]

Taking a Break

For the most part I’ve run out of farming things to tell you about.  I still have the bread baking entry to write.  Seed orders are gone, the greenhouse is pathetic looking after five nights of -10*.
Our plans were to go to Bangor Friday to get the last of what we need to tile the [...]

Mt. Katahdin

Sunset behind Mt. Katahdin, Baxter State Park, northern Maine.  We were off the farm today for my nephew’s birthday.  He’s 14 and not letting me forget that, “Auntie, I’m a lot taller than you now.”Mt.

Getting Antsy

I’m getting antsy. I’ve ordered seeds and supplies. The greenhouse is down for the count thanks to below 0* temps during the night this week.  I don’t expect to see any signs of new life for about two weeks.  The only big garden project I have now is to finish guesstimating dates when [...]

Seed Starting Chart

Seed starting chart.  This looks like a good start.  It doesn’t take soil temperature into consideration so keep that in mind if you use the chart.

Looking Up!

One of our farmcollies. Yes, farmcollie. No, not a border collie. I know he’s black and white. Yes, I’m sure, f-a-r-m-c-o-l-l-i-e. Check out those long legs and that pointy nose, definitely not border collie. I have this conversation with some people every time they see him.

He spends his day [...]

Made In Maine

MPBN hosts a television show called Maine In Maine.  It’s my all-time favorite show.  You can watch several shows online.  Organic Maine is about the Common Ground Fair.
Today’s list includes checking on the greenhouse (looks sad and pathetic),  chores (have to suck it up and kill a turkey this weekend), firewood (pile is starting to [...]

Pallet Bin, Spinosad and Propane

How’s that for a random title?  Here are answers to recent questions.
Cooking on propane is great. It’s hot when you need heat, it’s gone instantly when you turn it off. It’s convenient. I grew up cooking on propane and a wood cookstove at camp and electric at home. I love propane. [...]

Maine Nature News

This week’s edition is online.

Fedco Grower Supply Order

Garden Combo Legume Inoculant
1
$3.25
$3.25

Kelp Meal – 50#
1
$42.00
$42.00

Fertrell Feed-n-Grow
3
$27.00
$81.00

Monterey Garden Spray
1
$15.00
$15.00

Six Packs (three sheets, six per sheet)
17
$3.00
$51.00

1020 Plant Trays
17
$4.25
$72.25

Seed envelopes
2
$2.00
$4.00

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
$268.50

 
 
+5% tax
13.43

 
 
Subtotal
$281.93

 
 
-5% discount
$13.43

 
 
TOTAL
$268.50

Being able to paste spreadsheets in has been handy.  If I make changes in the spreadsheet the totals will correct themselves.  I’m going to pick this up so there isn’t any shipping.  I’ll pick up [...]

Compost Bins

-6* air temp, -18* wind chill at 8:45 am. A perfect morning for warming the house with a self-cleaning oven since I don’t need ot make bread today. I clean the oven only once or twice a year. Spills are wiped up but that’s about it unless it’s smoking. Ovens don’t [...]

Steve’s Birthday

Today is Steve’s birthday.  He kind of woe’s and moans about getting older.  Being the ever-loving, sympathetic, caring wife that I am, I toss in a tease here and there.  He’s right, he is getting older.  Do I ever feel badly about teasing him?  No way.  He’s younger than me and doesn’t let me forget [...]

Last Night’s Moon

The coldest part of the year is usually around the full moon in January.  That’s this week.

08 Fedco Order

This is the first order to Fedco. There will be one, possibly two more. These are three columns from the database. Laura asked about my database earlier. These are the column titles I use:

Cat #
Item
Variety
Wght
Letter
Cost
Notes

Catalog number veg/herb/flower [...]

Holy…

Holy crap.
That was my thought when I typed in =sum(F2:F88) and the total was $95.  Eighty-eight lines and I’ve entered prices only to line 16.  I’m entering seed order data into the spreadsheet.  It’s taking more time than usual because of the changes I’ve made this year.  I’m adding careful notes as I go so [...]

A pat on the back for PA

Pennsylvania didn’t cave to lobbiests.  Milk will be allowed (I dislike the word allowed more every day) to be labeled rBGH free.  Kudos to PA.  I’m sure PA residents who buy their milk and care about what is and isn’t in their food are relieved. Consumers shouldn’t have to be fighting for truth in labeling [...]

Chickens 2, Women 6, Laughter lots

Jan’s chickens decided on their own that it was time to relocate. When they had to walk through snow to get to the hen house they opted for living under the addition to the house instead. They’ve been there since the storm. We have another storm coming and frigid air after that. [...]

A Restless Day

I’m restless and have a short attention span today.  Wind kept blowing snow in my face when I shoveled the snow on the east side of the southeast side so I stopped and left it for today. I went up to get to work this morning and made a mental list of things to do [...]

Maine’s State Quarter

Hang on to any of the new Maine Quarters. If you have them, they may be worth much more than 25 cents.
The US Mint announced today that it is recalling all of the Maine quarters that are part of its program featuring quarters from each state. This action is being taken after numerous [...]