My boys are happy to be able to stay home, and I am more than happy to oblige. We’ve been discussing what they’d like to learn more about this year, things that we all need to work on to improve ourselves, and fun, new things we’d like to try. That’s how we do things here–we…
Blog
A successful season
Oh sweet writing–how I’ve missed thee! With the onslaught of late-spring and summer, I have not had time for writing–not to mention sitting. When I decided to pursue the CSA I had no idea how much I would miss writing. I’ve always felt that I express myself best through writing, though my linguistic skills have…
Managing beetles in the organic garden
If you miss the chance to take preventative action, such as in applying neem oil to the leaves and stems of your tomato plants–all in not lost. In the organic garden, keeping up with the pests who would make a meal of your crops is a never-ending chore. I go to great lengths to avoid…
Owls at the Library
On Tuesday the boys and I went to the Madison Public Library to participate in the second session of their Summer Reading program. They’ve put together a really great line-up this year, which includes craft-sessions, a balloon demonstration–and a presentation called “Owls of Maine”. Winter has long been fascinated by owls–all animals really, but a…
The beetles are coming! the beetles are coming!
Now that the bulk of the spring planting is behind us, I’ve turned my eye to the up-keep of the gardens. That includes all of the weeding that comes with gardening, as well as combating the insects that would make a meal of my tender seedlings and vegetables. With the arrival of the summertime heat…
Homeschooling Adventures
On Friday I loaded my boys into the Runamuk-truck and we ventured over to New Sharon for some goat manure. Two older women manage the 80-something goats and their farm, and for $10 will use their tractor to load your truck with manure. The boys had a blast petting the goats while we waited–the tractor…
First week of CSA is successful
Week One of the Runamuk CSA went off–not quite without a hitch–but successfully anyway. A lot of my spinach was still too small for picking, and the arugula never really amounted to any size. I conferred with a gardener friend of mine who suggested that arugula might perform better in the fall; so we will…
Pollinator Conservation at MOFGA
Keith said I had a glazed look in my eyes as we sat in the conference room at the MOFGA educational facility in Unity yesterday. I was high on the excitement and pure joy of participating in the Pollinator Conservation Planning Short-Course offered by the Xerces Society. I first learned about the course last year…
Growin’ Good
Things are growing good here at the Runamuk micro-farm and the spring garden is well on it’s way. Our first delivery of “super-loam” from Lynch Landscaping in Skowhegan, Maine arrived Monday evening and I was so happy I could have rolled around in that beautiful stuff! And wouldn’t you know it–the man who delivered the…
When disaster strikes
Disaster struck Runamuk yesterday. There had been a hard frost Saturday night. When I went out Sunday morning to check on my tomato and pepper seedlings in the second grow house, every muscle in my body turned to jell-o, and I began to tingle all over. All of those precious seedlings were damaged by the…