A deadly chewed rhubarb leaf Photo by Mark Scherzer “It’s just like Checkov’s gun!” Steve practically hooted into the telephone. As if my call was all about the plot of some comedic play, and not serious business. It was not... Read More ›

Broccoli heading for a new garden bed Photo by Eric Rouleau Tuning in this morning to Ici Musique, the Montréal radio station, we were immediately reminded that it’s Earth Day. The theme of Eric’s favorite program was songs involving gardens.... Read More ›

When it became apparent that my sister and brother-in-law would be traveling through the Hudson Valley at the end of this week, I decided that it would make sense to move the ritual Passover seder meal to Good Friday, midway... Read More ›

Spring, the season of rebirth and regrowth, is almost upon us. Winter’s last full official day is Sunday, March 19. But Spring is an insistent force, and will be restrained neither by the calendar nor by cold wintry weather. If... Read More ›

Another small March snowfall this morning frustrated my outdoor work but served to remind me of how much I need to do for spring. Each time it snows, the branches and berry canes etched in white loom all the larger,... Read More ›

By Mark Scherzer I know you are all accustomed to my ruminations on the state of the world taking primary place in this bulletin, and the sales pitch for the farm being distinctly secondary. I’m turning that approach on its... Read More ›

Part of my chore-time ritual, twice a day, is to muck a wheelbarrow full of accumulated waste hay and sheep poop from the barn floor and trundle it out to the compost heap. Even with this effort, the stuff builds... Read More ›

Hi All, Mark here. It’s a balmy winter Saturday. The sun is ever higher in the sky. The breeze is mild. About half the pastures and lawns are bare; only a thin layer of slushy, melted, refrozen, and remelted snow... Read More ›

The “Waste Not Want Not” bulletin of last week, which included news of the death of my elderly sow, Possum, elicited a range of responses, including valuable kitchen composting tips to help me replace my living, breathing consumer of food... Read More ›