AGRICULTURE

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 ›

In the flurry of big news stories at new year — Ukraine, of course, the deaths of Pope Benedict and Barbara Walters, and more — this was an easy story to miss in the New York Times on New Year’s... Read More ›

Virtually every morning, when I open the gate to descend to the path around the pond, on my way to feed Possum the sow, I cause a stir of sorts. Possum hears the sound of the latch opening and the... Read More ›

Perry, the son of my late partner Peter, arrived to our delight Thanksgiving morning. We hadn’t much warning that he’d be in New York; he flew in to do a job installing whatever it is he installs in buildings. But... Read More ›

With temperatures forecast to plunge well below freezing imminently, I realize the days of covering my fall plantings at night to extend my growing season are over. In preparation for the inevitable, I harvested all the daikon radishes of harvestable... Read More ›

A week ago I was down about the state of the world. One and a half million Ukrainians were facing electricity interruptions as Russia’s brutal imperialist war took an ugly turn in tactics. Yet Kevin McCarthy, the prospective Speaker of... Read More ›

I am savoring this Columbus Day weekend as a time of reprieve. Nuclear war has not yet begun. We can continue to live in the hope that perhaps it will not. Maybe the Russians who are threatening it will realize... Read More ›

Serenity descended on the farm this weekend. Partly from the stillness of the air after high winds brought in a cool front. Possibly because Saturday’s very dry air subdued the cacophonous insect chorus of high summer into just a single,... Read More ›

How quickly they grow up. Those of you who followed the early tribulations of Doodle, the rejected lamb, will undoubtedly be pleased to learn that he has, at nearly two months old, grown into a feisty, vigorous little fellow. No... Read More ›

The forces, including my friends, encouraging me to scale things back as I age are strong. My friend Steve, hearing of my fall garden planting plans, told me not to be too ambitious. “Put ‘manageable’ as the adjective in front... Read More ›

It was Mae West who famously said “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.” Her aphorism came to mind this last week as I was confronted by an abundance of good things. It has become a cherished annual... Read More ›

A neighbor was late for his tour of the farm. And he seemed like such a responsible fellow! We had arranged the meeting a month earlier. Doodle’s formula was in bottles and all my various equipment for a demonstration of... Read More ›

Eric visits his old (very old) high school Photo by Mark Scherzer A summer vacation right in the middle of growing season. The very thought seemed to me the height of irresponsibility, particularly when I have been running eternally behind... Read More ›

My contribution to world order Photo by Matt Best Last week I announced that the long overdue painting of the barn was about to take place. I am pleased to announce this week that it actually did take place, a... Read More ›

Last week I announced that the long overdue painting of the barn was about to take place. I am pleased to announce this week that it actually did take place, a group effort captained by “Macho Matt,” who told the... Read More ›

As a cool, dampish week transitioned to a hotter, sunny weekend, we passed through what seemed to me on Friday evening a moment of perfect balance. Comfortable, perfect for a dinner on the screened porch. Looking out, as our little... Read More ›

One of the joys of being a master procrastinator is that it provides so many occasions to rejoice when you finally do something that’s been put off for too long. This weekend, when perfect late spring weather is forecast, I... Read More ›

Having gotten inquiring messages from my cousin Albie and my friend Steve, I think I need to report that if I skip writing the weekly bulletin, as I did last week, it does not mean I am hospitalized with COVID.... Read More ›

I like to think of myself as an individual, but then I must acknowledge that like all individuals I am a product of a particular culture, place and time. The life choices I make now would, I suspect, seem inconceivable... Read More ›

As I listened to Weekend Edition this Saturday, there seemed nothing on offer but bad, sad news. Most of it was fully anticipated: the war in Ukraine, the latest COVID surge, and the sorry state of American politics. But even... Read More ›

If I tell you you’re going to hear the real dirt on me, you may expect something salacious. Sorry to disappoint. The real dirt on me is really just dirt. I’ve been somewhat fixated on this topic since the day... Read More ›

There’s something comforting about howling winds and driven snow, if you’re inside a cozy warm house looking out at the weather. There’s something pleasing about the abrupt suspension of normal activity by forces beyond your control, if you know it’s... Read More ›