Vacation?

We’re leaving in a few minutes. I hesitate to say this is a mini vacation. We’re taking seven teenage girls camping in Baxter State Park. It’s going to rain the entire time we’re gone. We’ll make the best of it and have a great time! But…if I’m not back by Monday [...]

Who? Me?

Who?  Me?
One of the poults is having an identity crisis.  They’re loose with the ducks now.  When they flew over the fence and into the duck pen, and the ducks ran for their lives into the barn, I knew the “babies” could fend for themselves.  One poult stays with the ducks all day while the [...]

Brillante!

Thanks to Lisa at Laughing Orca Ranch for the Brillante Award and the very much appreciated words she shared about this blog. I’m not big on awards.  Honestly, there are a lot of cutesy awards and I’m just not a cutesy kinda girl. This is different.  Lisa’s comment on her blog about mine really touched [...]

The End of July

If you’re reading in Google Reader or another service you should stop in at the regular blog.  There are tabs and other things you’re missing.

Zones

To follow along with winter crops, Zones.  Zones have nothing to do with planting right now EXCEPT when you’re planting things that will be overwintering or growing in winter.
The USDA zones are too often misunderstood. As a result of the misunderstanding, they’re often misused. Let’s clear up the confusion.
The USDA zones break the United States [...]

Cold Weather Greens

It’s time to think about the winter crops.  Varieties I grow are noted.
Arugula
Beets: Bulls Blood,
Carrots: Napoli
Claytonia
Kale: Red Russian
Leeks. Tadorna
Lettuce: Winter Density, Black Seeded Simpson, Galactic, Rouge d’Hiver, Forellenschluss, Magenta, Waldmann’s loose leaf, Red Sails, Bronze Arrow
Mizuna
Pac Choi: Joi
Spinach: Space
Swiss Chard: Bright Lights
Turnip: Purple Globe White Top, Hakurei

Yes You Can!

Another column, co-written with Paula Farrar.  Paula owns Done Roving Farm.
Yes You Can!
Robin Follette and Paula Farrar
A lot of our feedback from this column starts with “I can’t.” I can’t grow vegetables; I don’t have room. You can, and we’ll tell you how. Food can’t be any more local and fresh than when [...]

Eggs!

This is one of the articles written for my newspaper column, You Are What You Eat. Some of this is specific to Eastport, Maine, because I write for an Eastport newspaper.
Have you heard of cage free eggs, free range chickens and pastured eggs? These new buzz words are important. We need to understand the [...]

Rain!

It rained.  It’s only a quarter inch but I’m grateful for it.  Taylor’s at camp with my parents (empty nesting til Monday) and nephew, and Britt isn’t working this morning because it’s too wet to weed.  I’ll hang out for the farmstand for a while, watch the radar and probably go fishing later on.  It’s [...]

LOOK! Rain!!

(I removed the map)  WE GOT RAIN!  I haven’t been to the rain gauge yet.  At 2:30 am it was raining hard.
I’m to the right, on the border of Canada, and above the word Bangor on the map.  We really might get rain!

July 18, 2008

Friday 18 July 2008 Eastern Daylight Time
(longitude W67.7, latitude N45.3) I love the long days on the 45th parallel.

SUN
Begin civil twilight [...]

Business Plan

I’ve started working on a new business plan that includes what we’re already doing and what we will do with the land we hope to buy as soon as our house in Princeton sells.  There’s a tap at the top that will take you to the plan.
Picking today:  cucumbers, peas, broccoli, cauliflower.  Pulling broccoli, cauliflower, [...]

Recent Searches

do green peppers like hot dry weather
Not really. They do like warmth but dry isn’t good.  Dry soil leads to bitter peppers.
when do i plant fall peas in zone 5
This is a must read for everyone wanting the scoop on Planting Peas in Zone 5.
tomatoes not ripe maine
It’s too early in general.  Please don’t [...]

27,000 gallons

It takes 27,000 gallons of water to water one acre of land 1″ deep.  ACK!  I can’t imagine doing that every week when it doesn’t rain.  Steve went to a Soil & Water Conservation meeting this afternoon. While there, he spoke with Nate Pennell about plans for our irrigation pond.  I’m anally retentive about water [...]

Sustainable Farmer

Sustainable Farmer.  I’ve just discovered this website and Bonnie’s blog. Excellent information.  I’m watching videos while I work on the business plan this afternoon.  Very inspiring!

Pic Day

A very nice man who knew what he was doing repaired wifi reception and explained what he’ll do if he has to come back.  Bless his heart, hec of a nice guy.

Future pickle.

Cherries

The cherries are ripening and I’m going to get some!  Birds usually beat me to the cherries.  The trees are too tall to net.  I don’t know where the robins are this year but they’re not here.  A few bluejays are eating a few cherries but nothing like usual.  I’m excited.  As soon as I [...]

Peaceful

It’s peaceful today and I NEED it to stay this way.  No customers, no visitors, no friends.  Doesn’t the no friends part sound terrible?  I know.  But I need some peace and quiet on my one day off a week.  Saturdays aren’t turning into a half day off.  I think reality is proving to be [...]

Blog recommendations

Health Food Made Easy Excellent.  Shouldn’t be missed.
So, who’s Kirk?  Wild Edge.
A best friend for the last 11 years, Sarah is going to nursing school.  She’s in her mid 40’s, has grown children, is a grandmother, and starting nursing school in the fall.  She’s proof that we can do anything we set our minds to.

Checking In

The temperature has been at least 90* every day this week.  Hating the heat, it’s been hard on us.  Tuesday’s high was 96*.  I was in Calais and had the AC in the Blazer to keep me cooler.  The humidity breaks today.  Steve put the AC units in the windows last night.  We didn’t use [...]