fall bird checklist

this came from birds and blooms - george's corner - page 19 of 2010 sometime i believe....

increase the number of feeders - remove sugar water and jelly feeders when summer birds have migrated south.

clean out all birdhouses - use soap and water to remove parasites and insects; leave at least one house out for winter roosting.

collect fall clippings - to create brush piles that will protect ground birds and other wildlife in winter.

shut down birdbaths and ponds - after the last migrants have passed through, unless you live in a frost free zone. otherwise and electric birdbath heater may be used to attract thirsty birds. don't worry about birds freezing their feathers. they know not to bathe in subfreezing weather.

set up hopper style feeders - which are more practical than tray feeders when the moisture from rain and snow can ruin food.

protect stored bird food - by securing it in waterproof garbage cans. use bricks and bungee cords on lids to keep out raccoons and squirrels.

i had lived in a duplex once and my cat never previously had a yard, he was in heaven! then he met the skunk. he was sprayed 3 times in one year before we actually moved not because of the skunk. everyone i talked to, said tomato juice but truly it does not work. my cat was not tinged red but he did have an odor for a very long time, especially when it was damp.

i found this recipe in mother earth news - october/november 2010 issue. i have not had the need recently to concoct such a recipe but one just never knows. this recipe was submitted by richard gilbert of linwood, nova scotia.

1 quart 3 percent hydrogen peroxide

1/4 pound baking soda

bit of laundry detergent

according to the author this can be used not only on your pet, but can be used effectively on stairs and decks where the animal waited to be let in.

Slam Dunk Danger

my son who now stands just six feet tall and his two cousins, 6' 8" tall, center for FGCU and his brother 6' 6" tall play and have played basketball. My nephew who plays for Florida Gulf Coast University had been elbowed in the face, fractured his skull and had to have surgery on his eye. He seems to be alright, but he was lucky. Sports are no longer for fun. i found this little article very interesting and thought others might like to read it. ladies home journal - february 2011 - page 142 - slam dunk danger - more kids play basketball than any other team sport, and as many as 375,000 are injured each year as a result, says a study by nationwide children's hospital, in columbus, ohio. concussions are a particular concern: they're up 70 percent in young players. "head injuries can cause serious short term problems in a child's thinking and behavior and in rare cases can be fatal," says lead researcher lara mackenzie, ph.d. take these steps for your child's safety.

for parents - ask if your child's league, school or district has a concussion policy that keeps athletes out of play on the day of the injury - and that doesn't allow them back in the game until the physician clears their safe return.

for athletes - kids should know the symptons of a concussion, which can crop up right after a bump to the head or day later: headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, slurred speach, ringing in the ears, feeling confused or sluggish. encourage kids to report a suspected concussion.

for coaches - a free online concussion training video from the centers for disease control and prevention is available at cdc.gov/concussion. this tutorial offers prevention tips and outlines the correct way to respond when an athlete has a head injury.

Money Saving Tip - Grow Mats

i found this money saving idea in organic gardening vol 58:1 - pg 14 - letters, tips from our readers:

christmas starters - i am a master gardener in snohomish county. last year i grew 1,000 vegetable starts for our annual plant sale. the cost for grow mats was too high, so i used my christmas rope lights and zip tied them to my wire shelves. i grew the best basil, peppers and tomatoes with that added bottom heat. i thought it was a good use of non LED rope lights. i think the neighbors were a bit confused about the glowing red and purple lights, but they all benefited with healthy plant starts. Janice Tallman, Everett Washington.

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thank you Janice! i bought a grow mat and yes they are quite expensive, they live up to their reputation, my plants are doing wonderful. as you say it is too costly to buy additional mats, so when i read your idea, i was elated! thank you!

Asparagus

We bought property with an established garden, but the contents were never disclosed. We came to discover the asparagus the following spring, almost a year later. We had seen these wonderful fern like plants, very tall and quite delicate. The next year I was intrigued to see if this plant flowered so I cleaned the area where they were found and waited. Mother's Day, there abouts, every year, asparagus appear. I only have one male plant which produces seeds, the opposite of any other plant, and started 36 additional plants. Those plants are now 3 years old, they are too slim to eat, but I'm hoping that this year they will be ready to eat!

I am sharing with you some info that I have taken from Organic Gardening, Vol 58:1. Plant asparagus during its dormant period: early spring where winters are cold; fall or winter in milder climates. dig a trench a foot wide and nearly as deep, incorporating plenty of compost and a handful of high phosphate organic fertilizer. space the crowns about 18 inches apart and cover them with 2 to 3 inches of rich soil. add more soil as the plants grow to gradually fill the trench. (very similar to growing potatoes).

Once planted it is best to leave them for 2 or 3 years before harvesting the first spears. in the fourth spring and thereafter, the plants should be vigorous enough to yield 8 weeks of harvested spears. Charlie Nardozzi, author of vegetable gardening for dummies, offers a technique, dubbed the mother stalk technique, for extending the harvest of established asparagus beds. "instead of harvesting all the spears as they emerge from the soil, allow three large spears per crown to grow ferns," Nardozzi says. "by leaving 3 spears, the crown is constantly fed through photosynthesis in the ferns. you can harvest asparagus weeks longer than normal - right into august in zone 6." Once the diameter of the new spears becomes smaller than a pencil width, stop harvesting and allow the foliage to develop.

10 Mile Yard Sale - Cornville/Skowhegan

my family and i attend this every year, so doesn't half the state of maine! it is an absolute blast, aside from the people that is. i don't believe we have ever made it all the way through. anyone who lives on that road is having a yard sale and they invite or rent the extra space on their lawn for others to set up and sell. it is more junque than you could ever possibly imagine, well at least for this area! we usually start at the eddy in skowhegan, just off route 2, out of town, heading north.

Cornville 10 Mile Yard Sale 2011 Mar 27
The 28th Annual Cornville 10 Mile Yard Sale 2011 will be held on Saturday and Sunday May 21st and 22nd 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Rain or shine! West Ridge Road and beyond! Something for everyone. Furniture, collectables, clothing, toys, tools, candy and more! Refreshments and rest rooms along the way. Come one come all! For info call 207-474-8973 or 474-9319 or email nelsonscandies@myfairpoint.net

Telephone Exchange Numbers for Maine

maine is a pretty big state! gas prices are not user friendly! so if you are looking for a job or possibly thinking about that free item you saw in the paper or on line, you might want to refer to the following website and check out where exactly it is. it just might save you.

http://www.maine.gov/meopa/telephone/maine_exchanges.html

Spicy Pork w/Asparagus & Chile

i found this recipe in the most recent bon appetit magazine dated april 2011, page 61. i have made minor adjustments to it and it was absolutely delicious and cheap too. (i grow my own asparagus). the recipe is just about the same but i have found over the years that in both gourmet and bon appetit, the amount of sauce in a recipe is simply not enough, i double and sometimes triple the sauce portion and it is always a big hit!

8 tablespoons of soy sauce

1 tablespoon of rice wine

2 teaspoons of cornstarch

1 1/4 lb ground pork

3 teaspoons of vegetable oil

1 lb asparagus (thin spears trimmed and cut on the diagonal in half)

hot pepper to taste - i used a habanero and about a teaspoon of finely chopped / no seeds

1 tablespoon of minced fresh ginger

6 tablespoons of oyster sauce

1 tablespoon of honey

3 scallions finely chopped

whisk 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, rice wine and cornstarch in medium bowl. add pork; toss to blend. heat 2 teaspoons of oil in heavy large wok or deep skillet over high heat. add asparagus, hot pepper/chile and ginger. toss until asparagus is crisp tender about 3 minutes. using slotted spoon transfer mixture to plate. add remaining 1 oil to wok. add pork mixtue and stir fry into small pieces. 2 to 3 minutes (i found this took about 5 - 7 minutes is what it actually took to cook), return asparagus mixture to pan. add 6 tablespoons of soy sauce, 6 tablespoons of oyster sauce and 1 tablespoon of honey to mixture stir and let simmer for a couple of minutes. add scallions and serve with plain rice.

Pork and Chive Pot Stickers w/ dipping sauce

the recipe found at the link below is absolutely yummy! i have made this numerous times, it is easy and delicious. and inexpensive too!

http://www.marthastewart.com/317953/pork-and-chive-pot-stickers

i serve with the following sauce also found in the martha stewart everyday food book dated october 2009. although i have made slight variations to the one below....

soy ginger dipping sauce

in a bowl, stir together 1/4 cup soy sauce, 3 tablespoons rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon minced peeled ginger, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1/8 teaspoon sesame oil.

Chicken Soup w/3 Variations

this soup sounds easy and delicious, furthermore it has 3 additional ways of making it. i found it in the most recent woman's day magazine, march 2011, page 148.

4 oz of medium egg noodles

1/4 bunch fresh dill

4 bone in chicken breast, split, about 3 lbs

6 carrots, sliced 1/4" thick

4 celery stalks, sliced 1/4" thick

2 medium onions, quartered and sliced crosswise 1/4" thick

10 cups low sodium chicken broth or water

kosher salt and pepper

1.) cook the noodles according to directions.

2.) meanwhile, tie the dill together with a pice of kitchen twine or thread and place in large pot along with all other ingredients, except noodles. bring to boil. reduce heat and simmer until the chicken is cooked thru about 20 to 25 minutes.

3.) discard the dill. transfer the chicken to a bowl and when cool enough to handl, shred meat, discarding any bones. stir the chicken and noodles into soup.

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Pozole - omit noodles and dill. add two 28 oz cans of diced tomatoes (drained) and 1 tbspn ancho chili powder with the vegetables. add 2 cans 15 oz hominy beans rinsed, along with the shredded chicken and simmer and heat thru.

Thai Chicken Noodle Soup - omit the dill - add one 2 1/2 in piece of ginger (sliced) along with vegetables. before returning the shredded chicken to the pot, add two 14 oz cans of light coconut milk and bring to boil. stir in chicken, noodles, 1/2 cup fresh lime juice and 1/2 cup roughly of fresh cilantro (chopped)

Chicken, Chickpea, & Couscous Soup - omit the noodles - add 2 15 oz cans chickpeas (rinsed) along with the shredded chicken and simmer thru. cook one 10 oz package couscous; fold in 3/4 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives, 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, and 1/2 cup chopped flat parsley. spoon couscous into bowls and top with the soup.

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cold cures - woman's day - december 2010

vitamin c - (one of my personal favorites - i once rode the bus from winthrop to east boston everyday with a nurse from mgh and she said you cannot od on vitamin c, when a cold comes on keep pumping them, you may need to go to the bathroom a few more times than normal, but that is actually good, and i have taken vitamin c as directed ever since - and i have stayed pretty healthy).... prevent a cold, but only if you take before exposed to the virus, says kathi kemper, md, chair for the center for integrative medicine at wake forest university. one study found that athletes who took vitamin c slashed their risk of developing a cold in half. try 500 mg twice daily during cold season.

ginseng - works to prevent a cold but like vitamin c, you have to take it well ahead of time. cold-fx, which contains an extract of ginseng was found to reduce the incidence of colds by 25 percent when taken twice daily over a four-month period.

echinacea - works to - shorten a cold's duration and possibly prevent you from catching one. try one 500mg capsule daily as soon as symptons arise or whenever someone around you gets sick, says lynne david, nd, a naturopathic doctor at the center for integrative medicine in washington, dc. to ensure quality, look for the american herbal pharmacopeia (ahp) or nsf international seal.

zinc - works to shorten a cold's duration and make symptons less severe. studies suggest sucking on a lozenge every 3 to 4 hours, starting as soon as you have symptoms.

vitamin d - works to - keep your immune system strong. if your levels are normal, then taking extra d is unlikely to help, but since so many people are lacking, it's a good idea to ask your doc for a blood test.

if you decide to take any supplements, discuss with your doctor first.

4 legal document wills for later years

My parents are getting older, I'll be old one day, sooner than I think, everyone should read this found in Woman's Day - March 2011 - pg 36 -

will - regardless of age and assets, everyone should create a will. if there is no will to indicate a person's wishes with regard to his or her home, car, etc. upon the person's death, the court will step in and distribute the property according to the laws of the individual state. if th person has no apparent heirs and dies without a will the estate/assets will go to distant relatives.

living will - this tells the doctors what kind of care the person does and does not want to receive if he's terminally ill and incapacitated. (some states, including kentucky, minn, ok, or, sc, va & wy, combine the living will and durable power of attorney for healthcare in the same form).

durable power of attorney for healthcare - this document allows the person being cared for to identify who will make medical decisions if he or she becomes mentally incapacitated. (this is also known in some states as an advance directive or healthcare proxy.)

durable power of attorney for finances - only necessary in some instances, this document designates who'll handle the finances and money decisions of the cared-for-person.

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websites which might be helpful

www.eldercare.gov - is a public service of the administration on aging. that connects older americans and their caregivers with information on senior services in their area. just type in your zip code and type of information you are looking for. or call 1-800-677-1116.

www.naela.org - national academy of elder law attorneys - find an elder or special needs attorney in your area using the search function on this not for profit site.

www.ncoa.org - this non-profit advocacy group works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits. improve their health and live independently. it also offer an excellent free booklet "use your home to stay at home" that gives an overview on reverse mortgages in an easy to read format. go to the site and click on "news & NCOA publications" at the top, then scroll down to the bottom of the page for the download link.

www.medicare.gov - the single best place to learn all about medicare. includes up to the minute changes as well as help wqith the benefits eligibility and enrollment. or call 1-800-medicare

www.longtermcare.gov - this site is a clearinghouse for long -term care presented by the u.s. department of health and human services. you'll find a lot of good information here - from how to assess your need to what to look for in long term health insurance policies.

these websites were also found in the same woman's day magazine.

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these people can help you get healthier - woman's day - march 2011 - pg 102

patient advocate - consider one if you need extra guidance navigating the healthcare system.

what they do - help fight health claims disputes with your insurance company. what type of care to consider after a new diagnosis, and give advice on what to do if you have a health condition that is affecting your ability to do your job. who are they - nurses who previously worked in a hospital or doctor's office, social workers and professional case managers, attorneys and other experts. where to find - at the patient advocate foundation's website (patientadvocate.org) case management services are free or at (advoconnection.com) fees usually range from $40 to $200 per hour.

health insurance brokers - consider one if you're trying to purchase health insurance for yourself and your family on your own. what they do - help you compare costs and benefits and figure out the right plan - who are they - licensed brokers trained in health insurance coverage (they must pass state and federal exams) services usually free, but since brokers get commissions from insurance companies, ask if they're paid by just one company (means they're an agent and not a broker) where to find - at nahu.org/consumer/find-agent2.cfm (the national association of health underwriters site lets you search for a nearby broker) wants to compare options on your own? ehealthinsurance.com

wellcoaches - consider one if you want help developing a multifaceted approach to improving your health. what they do - work with you to create an overall healthy lifestyle by focusing on factors such as diet, sleep, stress, exercise. for example, stress can cause poor sleep, which then leads to low energy and bad eating choices. a wellcoach can help you address issues collectively. who they are - health, fitness or mental health professionals (such as personal trainers, psychologists and nutritionists) who launch a second career as a certified wellcoach (program endorsed by the american college of sports medicine) where to find - at wellcoaches.com ($40 - $100 per session)

wash a wool sweater

wash a wool sweater - woman's day - march 2011 - alison gootee l.l. bean - llbean.com

i have been washing my cashmere sweaters for years. i have also been purchasing a good many of them second hand. i wash mine on the hand wash cycle of my washer, i hang dry them on padded hangers. I have never had an issue with wrinkles, i smooth the sweater out before hanging.

but my aunt washes hers very similar to the article below and has had equally as good luck....

step 1 fill a basin or sink with cool water and add 1 tbspn of mild detergent that's free of bleach, such as woolite extra delicatesx care; swish the water to create suds. place the sweater into the water and swirl it ournd until its completely wet. don't scrub or stretch the sweater, which can damage the shape and fibers. let sit for 10 minutes while the detergent breaks down the soil.

step 2 gather the sweater in your hands, lift it out of the water and gently press a few times (don't wring) to remove excess water. empty the soapy ater and refill the basin or sink with the cool water. submerge the sweater and swirl around to rinse. empty and refill the basin again with fresh water, repeating the swirling process until no detergent remains in the water.

step 3 gather the sweater, gently press and remove water and lay in on a white or colorfast towel that has been spread on a flat waterproof surface. spread another white or colorfast towel on top so that the sweater is sandwiched between the towels. starting from the top, tightly roll the towels downward together - they'll absorb most of the moisture in the sweater.

step 4 unroll and pick up the sweater, lay in on the third white or colorfast towel that has been spread on a flat waterproof surface away from sunlight and heat (to keep the wool from becoming brittle). gently reshape the sweater, extending the arms and buttoning, if necessary. let dry. to touch up wrinkles turn inside out and iron on low heat with steam (but first, test on small area).

Safely Store Household Hazards

Ladie's Home Journal - February 2011

safely store household hazards - the average home contains 3 - 10 gallons of hazardous waste. clear your garage of what you don't need, then cut your risk with these storage tips.

pesticides - they kill bugs and can be hazardous to people and pets too. store them on a high shelf or in a locked cabinet and follow the advice on the package for safe disposal.

leftover paint - some paint products are flammable, but if you must keep them for touch-ups, seal the cans tightly, covering the top with plastic wrap before closing the lid. since paint can freeze, keep cans on a high shelf indoors, not in the garage.

gasoline - store extra fuel in an approved container with a tight sealing lid and a safety lock feature. keep it out of sunlight and away from heat sources. clean your garage floor regularly to get rid of oil and fuel tracks.

car products - antifreeze, brake fluid and motor oil are all poisonous if ingested. keep them in locked cabinets and out of reach of pets and kids.

air it out - some new furniture made with particleboard or fiberboard and wall-to-wall carpet (as well as the padding and adhesives used to install it) emit VOCs. to help limit exposure, leave windows open and run a fan for 48 hours after you've had carpet installed or furniture delivered to remove chemical vapors.

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5 ways to clear the air - ladies home journal - also feb 2011 - pg 58

scary but true - the air inside your house is up to five times more polluted than what you breathe outside. use these strategies to improve the air quality.

don't let anyone smoke. secondhand smoke contains hundreds of carcinogenic and toxic chemicals. research shows they linger in furniture, carpets, and drapes and mix with indoor pollutants to form dangerous carcinogens.

ventilate - crack a window and run exhaust fans (make sure they vent outdoors and not into other parts of the house). move furniture away from outside walls for better air circulation.

switch paints - most paints release volatile organic compounds even after they've dried. these gases have been linked to cancers, memory loss, developmental damage and reproductive problems. cut your exposure with low VOC paints.

rehab your closet - use toxin free moth repellents like cedar chips and take plastic off dry cleaning before putting clothes away.

keep moisture down - mold and mildew can aggravate allergies and asthma. to keep them from infiltrating, regularly check your roof, foundation and basement for leaks or evidence of moisture problems.

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6 spots your cleaning routine might miss - ladies home journal - feb 2011 - pg 58

dirt alert! twelve percent of surfaces in the home that look clean are actually crawling with germs. remember to give these hot spots some extra attention with disinfectant.

doorknobs

light switches

refrigerator door handles

telephones

remote controls and

video game controllers

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5 steps to a healthier Bathroom - ladies home journal - feb 2011 - pg 60

close before flushing - studies have found that bacteria filled mist can travel several feet every time you flush, so get your family in the habit of putting down the toilet lid. telling them this fact may help!

rearrange toothbrushes - if your toothbrushes touch one another they can spread germs. keep them separated, buy new ones every few months (or after you have been sick) and rinse thoroughly after using.

change your shower curtain - plastic curtains are likely to contain phthalates and other plasticizers, chemicals that have potential hormone-disrupting effects. instead of a pvc liner, go for a fabric one.

switch to a safer toilet cleanser - some traditional toilet-bowl cleaners may contain odor-killing p-dcb a potential carcinogen. try healthier alternatives from clorox green works, seventh generation or method, among other brands.

discourage mold - turn on an exhaust fan to remove humidity, and let it run for 20 minutes after you shower, to keep mold spores from growing. scrub tiles with mold killing borax or hydrogen peroxide to keep grout lines clean, and change towels and rugs frequently to avoid moisture buildup.

Make Your Own Dog Treats

Ladies Home Journal - February 2011

Great Christmas Present

peanut butter snaps - preheat oven to 290 degrees. mix 2 cups oat flour and 1/2 cup potato starch in mixer. in separate bowl blend 1 egg, 2 tsp vanilla, 1/4 cup honey and 1/4 cup canola oil; slowly add to dry mixture. add 3/4 cup peanut butter and 1/4 mashed banana; slowly add cold water until dough begins to stick together (if it gets too sticky, add more flour). remove dough and roll to 1/4 inch thickness. cut with cookie cutters; place on ungreased baking sheet. bake 50 min, turn off oven and leave treats inside for 2 hours to harden.

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I thought cookie cutters in the shape of a cat, gingerbread man, or a dog bone might be cute!

Molting & More

I subscribe to a number of magazines, and I'm rethinking how I get them, ebay or thru the library, I simply can't afford the luxury anymore! Everything keeps going up but my pay!

I get them, I read them, I tear pages out and one day....... So my newest idea is to incorporate them into this blog.

About 3 years ago, I bought 6 chickens from my use to be neighbor. She had a 100 and sold them all and moved. My other half built a wonderful chicken coop. We really know nothing about raising them. We now have 4, we lost one to a raccoon and one to the heat. I found this article in Hobby Farms - January / February 2011. I thought it might be worth sharing.

"some of my chickens have been losing their feathers, and they don't seem to be growing back. is something wrong, or can it be fixed? what should i do? ... many backyard chicken owners assume their chickens are molting when they lose their feathers. but i would look at other reasons for feather loss first. it can be difficult to tell if backyard chickens are in molt, because many of them molt at different times and in different ways. some lose their feathers a little at a time and grow them back a little at a time. some lose all their feathers and stay naked for four or five months. if we can rule out everything else, then we can blame the feather loss on molting.

if your problem is flock-wide, and all of your chickens have lost their feathers, parasites or fowl pox could be the cause. chickens can be infested with lice, mites and fleas. lice have to live on the body, so look for lice at the base of feathers. fleas and mites don't have to stay on the body. red mites, for instance, will feed during the night and hide during the day. you will see a powder puff - it looks like white cotton - on barn floors or walls where the mites hide. if you can't see parasites on the chicken, look for signs of damage, such as scratches and bite-like-lesions on the skin. you can part the feathers and look for parasite feces, or "dirt" usually around the belly or the tail. if parasites are your problem, clean the coop and remove any cobwebs, and treat the coop and the birds with a poultry insecticide dust or spray.

fowl pox looks like pimples - big angry ones with bleeding and scabbing. it's usually on the unfeathered portions of the skin - face, vent, sometimes where the unfeathered portion of the leg joins the feathered portion. there is no treatment for pox, as it is a viral disease. the lesions can be kept clean and free of flies. if they are in a sensitive area such as around the eyes. pox can be prevented by vaccination.

one more cause of flock-wide feather loss is significant reduction in protein intake or change of diet. feathers and their point of origin, follicles, rely on high protein. flock nutrition is crucial to plumage health.

if the feather loss in some birds and not in tohers, it's most likely feather-pecking. chickens, by nature, are aggressive to other chickens, no matter their space or housing. the closer the breed is to the original jungle fowl, the more aggressive the birds. a chicken exerts its dominance by getting on the back of another chicken, grabbing the neck and back feathers with its beak, and removing feathers with its toenails. this is also the way the roosters mate with the hens.

if the skin isn't broken and you aren't too upset by the feather loss, you can just let it go. if the skin is damaged or you want the pecking to stop, tree-pruning sealer works great. it acts as a second skin while the feathers grow back and the skin heals. it's cheap and can be found at any garden center or hardware store. because the tissue under the skin or damaged skin is moist, you might have to layer it on pretty heavily. it will stain your skin and your clothing, so wear old clothes. the other benefit is that the sealer is black, and chickens aren't attracted to black. but if a chicken does peck, the sealer will stain its beak, and you will know who the aggressor is.

blinders work very well for stopping aggression. available at poultry suppliers, blinders sit on the bird's nose and are secured by a pin that goes through the nares (nasal holes), from one side to other. the nasal septum is really thin in a bird, so its not painful. the blinders are red, and the color makes the birds less aggressive - by patricia wakenell, dvm, phd, associate professor of avian diagnostics/comparative pathobiology, cohead of avian diagnostics at purdue university in west lafayette, ind.

Winter is Officially Over - Got Our 1st Egg of The Season!

Who says there is 6 more weeks of winter! My chickens have officially declared winter is over. One of them has layed an egg!

I started my seeds this week, well some of them. And I have chosen to try a different approach. I am putting the seeds between paper towels that are wet and then into a baggy, labelled and dated, stored on the top of the refrigerator and will check every couple of days. I will only transfer those that actually germinate.

Happy Seed Starting......

Mainely Gardening - Happening in Maine

The biggest thing that I have learned is LOCAL, buy and support your local economy. Try to buy seeds that are from your area, seeds that have been tested and tried and adapted to fit your area, by all means organically or by the all natural process but never modified.

Until I started this blog I had only heard of "johnny's seeds" located in Maine and I never heard of the others in our great State, so I asked my buddies and they wanted a copy:

allensterlinglothrop.com - allen, sterling & lothrop - falmouth, me - specializes in seeds adapted to the climate in northern new england. maine's oldest seed company.

fedcoseeds.com - waterville, ME - We are a cooperative, one of the few seed companies so organized in the United States. Because we do not have an individual owner or beneficiary, profit is not our primary goal. Consumers own 60% of the cooperative and worker members 40%. Consumer and worker members share proportionately in the cooperative’s profits through our annual patronage dividends. This seed company is right in my own back yard and I didn't even know it until this blog. I will be looking at their catalog a little more closely, again I truly believe we should stick to local for the bulk of our product,if not the saving of our own seeds.

http://www.lookfar.org/agriculture.html - teltane farm - monroe, me - Teltane Farm Produces; certifiable grade & Maine nursery licensed Seed & Tablestock Garlic. We also serve the midcoast Maine markets and pre-order direct to consumers with a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Rather than certify, we prefer to "Green Pledge" all of our crops based on non-toxic and lasting soil fertility practices which focuses on soil and crop nutrition using composts, rock powder minerals, and biologically enhanced foliars.

johnnyseeds.com - winslow, me - my personal favorite. I think everyone should find a local seed company, a garden shop, in your area and befriend them. Not only does it support your local economy but who knows best as to what grows in your area than they do. They are full vegetable, herb, flower seed catalog and internet store.

This is on my bucket list of things to do.

Johnny's Farm Tours

Johnny’s farm is located on Foss Hill Road in Albion, Maine, a farm community 10 miles east of Waterville, Maine. Our trial fields are open to guests for self-guided tours from July through September. The farm is open daily, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Johnny’s provides an informational, self-guided tour packet complete with a map to help guests navigate.
Download self-guided tour guide here (.pdf).

Or, if you wish to arrange a guided group tour of our facilities, please call our Retail Store at 207-861-3999.

http://www.mainepotatolady.com - the maine potato lady - guilford, me - organic seed potato, fingerlings, onion sets, shallots and garlic.

https://www.superseeds.com/ - pine tree garden seeds - new gloucester, me - container seeds, herb seeds, flower seed, grass and cover seed, tobaccos and sprouting seeds.

http://www.sweetpeagardens.com/ - sweet pea gardens - surry, me - specializes in sweet peas, annual and perennial.

http://www.veseys.com - vesey's seeds - calais, me - specializes in short term growth season, certified organic products, custom seed packages, flower seeds, herb seeds, vegetable seed.

http://www.woodprairie.com/ - wood prairie farm - bridgewater, me - organic potato, vegetable, cover crop, herb seed, organic grains and flowers, organic baking mixes, organic aged cheese and more!

----SEED SWAP----SEED SWAP----SEED SWAP----SEED SWAP

Sunday, March 27, 2011
12-4 pm
MOFGA's Common Ground Education Center, Unity

There is no admission charge though donations are always welcome and benefit our Heritage Orchard.

The Maine Tree Crop Alliance, the Maine Seed Saving Network, Fedco and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association will host the eleventh annual combined Seed Swap and Scionwood Exchange, in MOFGA’s Common Ground Exhibition Hall in Unity.For gardeners and orchardists, it’s like the most wonderful flea market in the world. Not only that but most of the best stuff is free!

Please bring any seeds, scionwood, or cuttings you have to share freely with others. Last year we gave away scionwood from well over 100 fruit varieties. These contributions are what make the day a success. We’ll supply the labels and tape and markers. On sale will be T-shirts, books, grafting supplies and rootstock.

2010 Presentations

12:30 pm Building a Food Forest by Lauren Buyofsky & Bill Errickson
Lauren and Bill will be discussing the permaculture methods
of designing, establishing, and managing an intergrated perennial food system, including dynamic accumulators, soil building, pollinator plants, water features, etc. They will show vivid pictures of installations/techniques, existing plantings/gardens, and less familiar
plants.

Lauren Buyofsky & Bill Errickson
Lauren and Bill are permaculture gardeners, designers, and educators, currently managing the farm operations at Newforest Institute in Brooks, Maine. Lauren?s background in natural resources, ecology, and herbal medicine allows her to create resilient garden systems that provide for humans while rehabilitating the landscape. Bill's academic and practical studies of biology, soil science, and sustainable agriculture form the foundation for his work with regenerative and perennial food systems. Lauren and Bill both hold advanced degrees from the University of New Hampshire and Permaculture Design Certifications from Humustacia Gardens in Whitefield, Maine.

1:00 pm Tour of the Heritage Orchards with CJ Walke (meet at the front entrance)

1:00 pm Tour the scionwood with John Bunker

1:30 pm Hand Pollination of Corn by Pamela Prodan

One of the most commonly genetically engineered foods is corn. Learn how to grow your own corn seed using hand pollination techniques that prevent crossing with other varieties of corn and prevents contamination of the seed by GMOs. This presentation uses photographs to show the steps involved in hand pollination. You can use hand pollination to select for earliness and other characteristics such as disease resistance, insect resistance, and weather hardiness of the plants.

Using these techniques, Pamela Prodan, has been saving seed from a heritage corn grown over a hundred years ago in Wilton Intervale, a small valley in the western Maine mountains, where she lives. Will Bonsall of the Scatterseed Project named the corn “Byron Yellow Flint Corn. He collected it from the Mosher family of Wilton, which has been saving it for generations. The Byron Flint that Pamela entered in the Common Ground Country Fair in 2008 won a Judge’s Prize. Her intention is to preserve the genetic diversity of this early and tasty corn.

2:00 pm Grafting Fruit Trees by Mark Fulford

Join Mark Fulford for a 2 hour session covering all aspects of grafting fruit trees. Techniques to be discussed include: whip and tongue, summer "t" or sheild budding, inlay and cleft grafting and bridge grafting.

Mark Fulford is a well known, independent farm consultant and educator whose range of topics and expertise encompasses: Transitioning from conventional to organic and biological agriculture. Soil, crop, and forage nutrition. Preparing agriculture for peak oil, climate change and economic drift. He also teaches; non-electric water technologies, hands-on skills in organic orcharding, organic no-till crop production, commercial and small scale composting, as well as fundamental rural skills and small farm food preservation.

3:00 pm Tour of the Heritage Orchards with CJ Walke (meet at the front entrance)

Not sure how to store your scion wood? Contact CJ Walke, MOFGA's Landscape Coordinator.
For more information, call MOFGA 207-568-4142.

----SEED SWAP----SEED SWAP----SEED SWAP----SEED SWAP----SEED SWAP----

Maine Seed Saving Network

PO Box 126
Penobscot, ME 04476
(207)326-0751
No web address.

Devoted to preserving and sharing heirlooms, this organization hosts an annual seed swap each spring, and serves gardeners and organic farmers in Maine and the Northeast.

---------Garden Clubs / Forums -------Garden Clubs / Forums ------- Garden Clubs / Forum --------

http://www.mainepumpkins.com We are the Maine Growers Organization. MEPGO is an organization whose mission is to unite the growers of giant pumpkins within the state of maine, to extend the sharing of knowledge and experience, and to promote the hobby of growing giant pumpkins for competition and personal satisfaction within the State of Maine and throughout the world.

Facebook Account For Seed Swapping

We have 4 cats, this one wants to be 5 - See her looking in - We call her "mary" - She's been hanging around since Christmas!

I am not completely focused on my blog, or my website or even my facebook account, I have to study for a test. I am presently taking courses for a certificate in Medical Office Procedures / Billing, I hope at bare minimum to get a p/t job at one of the local hospitals. Perhaps, insurance, wouldn't that be nice!

Well I have modified my facebook account to include a list for seed swapping, I was on earlier today looking for sites and I found a blog/facebook page that stating a site started to do so, but the site that I was reading from wasn't very helpful and no link could be found for that seed swapping site, but he/she had many links for their's. That is my next project, listing seed swapping sites. How green can you get when swapping seeds, I think this is a wonderful idea and every state / county should participate. rather than the old "grange" maybe we should rename, reuse, as the "seedy swappers".

Check back and I hope to have more to add, my goal is this weekend. Test is Thursday. Wish me luck!

Seed Swapping

https://sites.google.com/site/thedummyfarmer/home

I have just started to look at sites for which you can trade your seeds, and I have started my own, well a list. If you follow the link above, you can view my seeds. I just started to build this web page today, so I haven't quite figured out the details, but if there is seed that you would like to trade for, email me. Most of the seeds that I am presently offering are store bought. This year I intend on seed saving and will be offering next year one year tested garden seeds . My soil is all natural, I could opt for an organic status but choose not to, expensive. Ideas, suggestions are welcome.

I have discovered that there is a "National Seed Swap Day", the last Saturday of the Month in January. This phenomenon started in Washington in 2006 and since then cities across the nation have joined the celebration.

http://www.backyardgardener.com - backyard gardener - forum - seed exchange – many offerings – not a very friendly user site.

http://www.blossomswap.com/wiki/swap-seeds-on-blossom-swap - blossom swap - Post your list on The Seed Swap forum. In this forum Blossom Swap members offer seeds for trade and request seeds they are interested in. Lists may also include offers for postage. When your seed is gone you must edit your listing to remove.

http://www.emilycompost.com/seed_exchange.htm We have decided that we have to shut down the seed exchange at least temporarily. We have been overrun with spam e-mail to the point that it is uncontrollable. As we redesign the remainder of the site we will redesign this page so as not to generate spam. Thank you for your support. Keep checking the site for a redesign.

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/exseed/ - recommended by mother earth news magazine - this site trades seeds and plants and garden articles too. just about anything that goes in your garden can be found.

http://www.garden.org/seedswap/ - national garden association - traditional swaps are a 2-way trade. interested parties will contact you by phone or email. We store information about your seed offering or request in our database, along with your email address. when someone wishes to swap seed with you, they will submit their email address. we will then send you an email with that person's address so that you may contact them and make arrangements for the seed swap.

http://www.seedswaps.com -Seedswaps is a community where we make seed trading with others easy and convenient. do you have more seeds tahn you need for your garden next year?would you like to have hard to find seeds for your garden?

http://www.thriftyfun.com/board_seeds.html - this is the easiest web site so far for swapping. Over 310 listings!

Companion Gardening

What is companion gardening? It is an opinion, an observation, one farmer's method vs. another. I was quite afraid that I had not been doing things right and after several hours of research I have nothing to worry about. But I can incorporate some of these ideas with my garden planning. I used 3 websites to build this grid. I hope you find it useful. Please check out these sites for additional information.

http://www.gardenguides.com

http://attra.ncat.org

http://no-dig-vegetablegarden.com

Plant Name	Friends	Foes
Asparagus	Tomatoes, Parsley, Basil	Onions, Garlic Potatoes
Basil	Tomato, Pepper, Marigold
Beans	Nasturtiums, Most Vegetables & Herbs
Beets	Garlic, Bush Beans, Cabbage, Onions, Sage
Broccoli	Dill, Rosemary and Sage	Oregan, Strawberry
Brussel Sprouts	Potato, Thyme	Strawberry
Bush Beans	Beets, cabbage, carrots, celery, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, pea, radish, strawberry, savory, tansy and marigold.	Onion
Cabbage	Mint, bush beans, celery, onions, tomato, strong herbs, nasturtium, and marigolds	Strawberries, Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants, Rue, Grapes, Lettuce and Pole Beans.
Carrots	Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Lettuce, Onion, Peas, Radish, Tomatoes, and Sage	Dill
Cauliflower	Beans, Celery, Oregano	Nasturtium, Peas, Potato, Strawberry, Tomato
Celery	Bush Beans, Cabbage, Onions, Spinach and Tomato	Parsnip and Potato
Corn	Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Cucumber, Melons, Peas and Squash	Tomatoes, Celery
Cucumbers	Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Corn, Lettuce, Onions, Peas, Radishes, Marigold, Nasturtium, and Savory	Sage, Rue, Potatoes, no strong herbs
Eggplant	Garlic, Beans, Marigold, Capsicum, Potato and Spinach
Grapes	Strawberries, Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants, Rue, Grapes, Lettuce, hyssop, Clover, Chives and Pole Beans
Leeks	Carrot, Celery, Strawberry
Lettuce	Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Carrots, Cucumbers, Onions, Radishes, and Strawberries
Melon	Corn, Nasturtium, Radish
Mint	Tomatoes, Cabbage
Nasturtiums	Beans
Onions	Strawberries, Chamomile, Summer Savory, Leeks, and Carrots	Bush Beans, Pole Beans and Peas
Parsnips	Bush Bean, Garlic, Onion, Pepper, Potato, Radish, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Eggplants, Rue, Grapes, Lettuce and Pole Beans
Parsley	Tomato, Asparagus
Peas	bush beans, pole beans, carrots, chicory, corn, cucumber, eggplant, parsley, early potato, radish, spinach, strawberry, sweet pepper, tomatoes and turnips	chives, late potatoes, and onions
Pepper, HOT	cucumbers, eggplant, escarole, okra, tomato, swiss chard, and squash chives, late potatoes, onions, basils, oregano, rosemary and parsley	beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, or fennel
Pole Beans	Carrots, corn, cucumber, eggplant, lettuc, pea, radish, savory and tansy.	Beets and Onions, Beets, Kohlrabi and Sunflower
Potatoes		Tomatoes
Pumpkins	Corn, Marigold	Irish Potatoes
Radishes	English Pea, Nasturtium, Lettuce and Cucumber	hyssop, cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts and turnips
Rhubarb	Broccoli, cabbage, columbine flowers, garlic, onions and roses.
Sage	broccoli, cauliflower, rosemary, cabbage, and carrots	cucumbers, onions, or rue
Spinach	Peas, beans, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, onion, peas, strawberries and fava bean
Squash	beans, corn, cucumbers, icicle radishes, melon, mint, onions, and pumpkin, borage, nasturtium, and marigolds	Potatoes
Strawberries	beans, borage, lettuce, onions, spinach, and thyme	cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and kohlrabi.
Sunflowers	Corn
Tomatoes	asparagus, basil, bean, carrots, celery, chive, cucumber, garlic, head lettuce, marigold, mint, nasturtium, onion, parsley, pea, pepper, marigold, pot marigold and sow thistle	Corn, Potatoes, Apricot, dill, fennel, cabbage and cauliflower
Turnip	English Pea	Irish Potatoes
Zucchini	Nasturtiums
http://www.gardenguides.com
http://attra.ncat.org
http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com/companion-planting.html

Let's Say Thanks

If only life was as simple as this! my family and i simply do not say thank you enough; apparently we are not alone, I turned on the news the other day and there was a segment on thank you notes, woman's day magazine november 2010 issue included this....

thanksometer.com - started as a way to highlight nice things people do for each other every day, this site allows visitors to anonymously thank friends or relatives for a kind gesture - or simply get inspired by other's stories. a drop down menu prompts you to thank someone by choosing more thank 50 options (including "for being courteous" or "for a job well done") or writing in your own reason. then, check off how it made you feel and share your full story. you can also sign up to receive weekly email with a featured story of gratitude from the site's submissions or plucked from the news.

graceinsmallthings.com - this site encourages members to list five things they're grateful for every day. to get started, gist lets you create your own blog to chronicle this 365 day journey. not a wordsmith? you can also upload photos and videos - of that sanity saving weekend vacation you just took or your new puppy, for example. interact with other members by reading and commenting on their blogs, or join one of the groups hosted by the site (such as "knitting in small things" or "the great midwest"), which aim to bring members together through shared interests and backgrounds.

facebook.com/aogp.org - set up to function like a online gratitude journal, the attitude of gratitude project encourages members to answer the question "what are you grateful for today". browse the responses daily and add you own. growing steadily since 2009, the facebook page is now 13,000 fans strong and also features information on upcoming gratitude get togethers, where members can interact face to face and listen to guest speakers discuss living more gratefully. what's more, aogp recently started a namesake nonprofit organization which donates to various charities.

i pledge to enter a thank you every day and i pledge that my children will join me. at bare minimum i will have 2 followers, just kidding!

mom - 1/26/11

I am thankful for my family and friends

I am thankful for my animals and the pleasure they bring

I am thankful for my job - its not the best job - but i don't work nights & w/e's & most of all its a job

Compost - 140 Degrees - Am I Gonna Die?

I find compost to be a scary subject, my whole life I have thrown food scraps in the trash or down the drain, now I'm going to save them, throw them in the backyard, pray to God...nothing eats my cat and let it winter so I can add it to the garden's soil with some chicken manure that I have been saving aka compost activator. Yummy, can't wait for those tomatoes!

I found this chart which I plan on printing and paste to my refrig, perhaps you might want to do the same. http://eartheasy.com/grow_compost.html#a (smaller version below)

Benefits

Carbon: leaves leaves breakdown faster when shredded shrub prunings woody prunings are slow to break down straw or hay straw is best; hay with seeds is less ideal pine needles acidic, use in moderate amounts wood ash only use ash from clean materials, sprinkle lightly newspaper avoid using glossy paper or color inks shredded paper avoid using glossy paper or color inks cardboard shred material to avoid matting dyer lint best if from natural fibers corn, cob stalks slow to decompose, chop up sawdust high carbon levels, add in layers to avoid clumping wood chips high levels of carbon, use sparingly Nitrogen: table scraps add with dry carbon items fruit and vegetable scraps add with dry carbon items grass clippings add in thin layers so they don't mat into clumps lawn & garden weeds only use weeds which have not gone to seed green comfrey leaves excellent compost activator flower cuttings chop up any long woody stems seaweed & kelp rinse first; good source for trace minerals chicken manure excellent compost activator coffee grounds filters may also be included tea bags loose or in the bags Neutral: eggs best when crushed ________________________________________________________________________ garden plants use disease free plants only