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Love/Hate

March 10th, 2016

I spent some time yesterday afternoon putting up the electric net fences around the chickens. We lost a chicken to a coyote last week, so they’ve been locked in their coop/run.
electric net fence
I have a love/hate relationship with these fences. I love that they keep the birds safe, I hate putting them up and moving them. After a frustrating hour, they were up, at least I can leave them as is for a month or so. I am glad the chickens can now be out running around and doing what they love to do.

Do you have a love/hate relationship with any product?

Finishing up a Few Projects

March 9th, 2016

Since it won’t be long until gardening season is in full swing, I’ve been trying to get all of my sewing projects finished up. This past weekend I worked on an apron that I purchased fabric for this past summer.
sewing
I’ve been needing a new apron for quite a while. This one was made using my old one as a pattern since I love it so much. Hopefully this one will give me years and years of service. The linen should get better and better as it’s worn and washed. I even have enough leftover fabric to make some pot holders as well, which I’m also in desperate need of.

Are you trying to finish off any hobby projects before gardening season comes?

Under the Grow Lights

March 8th, 2016

The number of plants under my grow light keeps getting bigger and bigger. I think I have around 600 plants – YIKES!!!
under the grow light
Some of these will go to a friend for her garden, most of them will go into my garden as it thaws. Many of them will be planted in the next few weeks and eaten next month. I must say, I LOVE this big grow light. I can’t believe I ever started seeds without it. It’s well worth the investment if you grow lots of plants from seeds under light!

What’s under your grow light?

Leaving the Nest

March 7th, 2016

The little lettuce seedlings I planted in the low tunnel last week are doing great, they survived those single digit nights with flying colors. Since they did so well, I started hardening off two flats of greens that are ready to go into the tunnel and into the potager.
hardening off lettuce seedlings (1)
It’s nice that the weather is finally decent enough for these guys to leave the nest, I’ve got more flats that need to be seeded and put under the lights. In a few weeks these lettuces will be ready to harvest and eat, gotta love having homegrown goodness on my plant in mid-March in Maine!

What are you doing in the garden this week?

Quote of the Day: Henry Beston

March 6th, 2016

“Higher, higher climbs the radiant noonday sun, the shadows grow shorter beneath the trees, snow slides from the roof, and the shingles steam. March is a beautiful month in th enorth for now the battle is won, and we of the country world can take new storms and returning snows with an easier heart; they will soon be gone.”

from Northern Farm by Henry Beston who lived not far from here.

March in Maine

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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