Creating Land Traditions
Creating new traditions with your land is delightful way to celebrate your time together. For years I’ve wanted to start a tradition of planting daffodils every fall. This year we finally got that rolling with an enormous box of bulbs that arrived on the doorstep scented daffodils, crocuses and siberian squill…
Read MoreDecember already?! Looking back…and ahead
The years are picking up speed every year. My Grandmother did tell me this would happen but wow I didn’t understand then just how much speed. Still, as the calendar year gets ready to flip I enjoy looking back at things on the farm that went well and those that didn’t. It’s also time to pick the things on the land I want to focus on and learn more about as well as skills I’d like to add or develop.
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: Forest Man of India
I’ve written here often of the joy of planting trees. I may not have mentioned my personal superstitions that it is good luck when a bird alights in a tree you planted and most splendid luck when a bird builds a nest in that tree! If that is true, this fellow is one lucky guy as tigers and elephants have come to live among the trees he has planted…
Read MoreWassailing the Orchard for Valentine’s
The wassailing may be a little later than early January this year, but since spring arrives about a month later here in the NC mountains than it did back in Arkansas, Valentine’s might be just right. At the new farm, we will have the delight of toasting and cheering the five old apples trees our farm is named for, in addition to the tiny new trees I’ve planted our first year. One change since this post: Since we are in an amazing hard-cider making region, the libations this year will be the real thing. Woo hoo! This is a great tradition. Do try this at home.
love, Leigh
Read MorePraise the Table Scraps
There is a silver can on the counter for kitchen scraps. In the mornings we put used coffee grains and the paper filters, now cold after the aroma has faded, into the bin. By midmorning broken eggshells, a paper towel and a bit of leftover oatmeal have been added. Lunch and supper bring additions of lettuce trimmings, those last beans left in the pot, the bruised end of a banana.
If it’s been a big cooking day, there may be a large bowl out on the countertop to put all the carrot ends, the potato peels and celery bits. The fridge clean-out that adds some old yogurt and stiff spaghetti noodles can create a golly-wow bonanza for you chickens. We use the bowl, not the silver bin for the chickens. They are
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