How Not to Prune a Tree
When I moved to Tennessee I was appalled to see the way trees are pruned here, especially the practice called topping. In yard after yard I saw trees with their crowns lopped off, leaving ugly stubs. These trees are pruned...
Asian Ladybug, Fly Away Home!
When ladybugs first appeared inside our house, my husband and I took it as a sign of good luck. Little did we know that they were Asian ladybugs, and the Asian ladybug is bad news. The ladybugs that showed up...
Goat Manure, a Bonus Resource
Whenever my husband and I wear ourselves out cleaning one of our goat barns, we console ourselves with the thought that we’re not cleaning a barn, we’re making compost for the garden. Composted goat manure is high in fertilizer value...
Refreshing Cucumber Salad
When the cucumbers begin to ripen in my garden, I can’t wait to a make cucumber salad. We often have it for lunch with slices of freshly baked bread, although I might also serve it as a side dish for...
My Recipe Format
The recipe format I use follows a sensible system I learned several decades ago that makes much more sense to me. Instructions are given in a column on the left, with ingredients listed, in their order of use, in a column on the right.
Goats Got A2 Milk — Why That’s Important
When the first Nubian dairy goats arrived on our farm more than four decades ago, I knew goat milk tastes much like cow milk. Only it’s easier to digest, supposedly because it has smaller fat globules compared to the larger...
Hard Squash, Eggs, and Fresh Fryers
Before this country loses its sense entirely, it ought to be mandatory for every school kid to spend at least one summer working on a farm.
Lying Around in a Hammock
“You ought to get rid of those animals,” said a visiting city relative, who claims to aspire to own a farm some day. He was bothered that I go to the barn every morning and every evening to check on...
Testing Garden Seeds for Germination Rate
If you have garden seeds and wonder about their germination rate, you can find out by doing a sprout test. The same process may be used to presprout seeds that need a head start.
Why Save Garden Seeds — Gusto Bell Peppers
Seed companies come and seed companies go. The garden seeds you like best therefore may not be available next time you’re ready to purchase. That’s what happened to me with Gusto bell peppers. For the past several years I have...