"Tell me a story Daddy"

As I close my eyes I see the narrow dirt road lined with weathered old sugar maples, the worn wheel tracks with grass pushing up in the middle. I see a pair of stonewalls that begin at the edge of the woods and lead the way to the north, to the old homestead. The old homestead, bought when land was nearly free, or so it seems, and kept through the generations. The old house is in need of repair, it has been for some time. The dark damp cellar with rock foundation just big enough to keep the produce through the cold winters. The white clapboards, now more paint than wood, but still holding out the rain, or most of it. I see on the lawn a little girl, waiting there for daddy to come back from town. So small, but such a big part of the growing family.



The main house, not big by any standards, but big enough for a warm living room, a couple of small bedrooms, and a parlor that we never use. The ell is my favorite place with the enamel cook stove throwing heat throughout the kitchen, keeping the family warm. One step out of the kitchen into the cold shed, a good place for the "two holer". A few more steps and the smell of hay tickles my nose. The barn, post and beam of course, holds the winter hay and the livestock which provide for our family. The milk cow, and her young calf, some sheep and a pig. Just enough, but not too many for what the land can provide. I look into the blue sky and I see lightening rods point high from the tops of every roof. A neighbors fire was lesson enough to make the sale when the dealer stopped by, nearly three generations ago now. The house is not big, its not fancy, but it surely is home. Great-grampa replaced the roof back in the 40's, maybe a little pension money, maybe the sale of a prized bull, but he found a way. Dad kept the old place looking good, but there is more to do.



A short walk behind the house and I see the old shed, weathered and gray. I see the vegetable garden, no chemicals used here. We didn't know it was organic, but it was always that way. I see the hayfield with raspberry bushes pushing on it from all sides. Beyond the field I see the old pasture, then down the hill to the meadow. I hear the groan of an bullfrog in the watering hole, I see the barn swallows dip and dive at their evening meal. I stand there for a long time.

The old tom cat rubs past my leg, he's looking for a cup of warm milk for supper. The cow hears me enter the barn, she's ready for the evening milking. I do the chores, alone tonight, talking to the animals, listening to them eat their hay. The barn becomes quiet, the swallows fly in through the broken window and into their nests for the night. I wait there, looking out the back barn door. A doe and her fawn steps into the field, their field. All this is too much for one man to own. I'm just the caretaker really, just for a short time, then maybe my son, maybe my daughter will take over the old home place. Either way, I've taught them well, they know that this place is their home.

Summer begins

Tomorrow is the longest day of the year, what a treat. Let's hope it is a day that is worth all the hype. As summer is about to begin, I begin to think about all the things around here that must be done before the changing of the next season. Firewood to finish, haying to get done and gardens to tend and harvest. Summer is usually the busiest time of the year here on the farm and off the farm. The hottest days are often filled with haying and then a quick trip to the lake. We all know that within two months the lake will be cooling off and we'll be thinking once again about school, local country fairs and Fall.


Isaac loves the water and is always ready for a trip. On those days when we are just too busy to leave the farm we take a quick dip in the brook in the back woods. No matter the extent of the summer heat, the cool brook will always do the trick. No hot car ride, no waiting, just a short walk and into the brook for a refreshing dip.



Before the days of indoor plumbing many farm families relied on a bath in the brook during the summer months. There is nothing like the the cool fresh water of a fast moving brook to wash away the dirt and sweat of hard summer work. No pool to clean, no dress code and no travel time, what a great spot. Yes there are a few mosquitoes and maybe an occasional leech, but its all good. So go have some summer fun, we are.

Welcome rain

With most of our garden planted, the warm rain falling today is a welcome sight. The pond was drying up and the soil was powdery dry. Our hay will also get enough water to continue to grow, awaiting our next cutting, hopefully in the next week or so. I've started cutting the small back field, a little each day, and I feed in green to the goats and lambs. The goats give more milk when they are eating the best green feeds.

For those who might carry clippings and brush to their goats or other livestock, caution is important. Any black cherry (and possibly other fruit trees with pitted fruits) leaves, whether fresh or wilted must not be fed to livestock. At best you'll have a very sick herd, but more likely you'll have dead animals. I buried one goat and three nice lambs a few years ago from black cherry poisoning. You can read in any good livestock book about this problem. But I'm always surprised how few people have heard about this hidden toxin in our pastures. We also take the time to walk the pastures after a summer wind storm, in case a cherry limb may have broken off a fence line tree. My dad lost a real nice riding horse back in the 70's, killed by black cherry leaves, so we are evermore careful.

The growing season arrives

Well, from the frequency of posts lately, you can tell that the growing season is upon us here at Juniper Hill Farm. The long warm days find us preparing the gardens, tending to the early crops and beginning our haying as well.

In the last few years we have planted and tended several gardens, some here on our farm and some at the old homestead located just a half mile away. We have cleared several small fertile plots, but we have found our growing family needs more garden space, and I can't seem to clear the woods fast enough. With the help of our compost from the goats, hens and pigs, our gardens have been doing quite well. We have always found that a garden right near the house will get more attention than one off in the back field. If we get at the weeds at the right time, our crops will outgrow the weeds and they will control the garden and its nutrients. It seems that some part-time gardeners are proud of how many rows of corn they planted, with no comment on how much crop they gathered.

The hay field is growing slowly now, in need of a good rain. The fields are dry and ready for cutting, but we would like the hay to get a little more height before we go full speed ahead. I did cut a little patch last week and made 70 bales of nice early first crop. It is always nice to have a small run to check out all the haying equipment. Most everything went well, now we'll watch the weather.

The animals are all doing well and getting into their summer routine. I spent two days helping to finish the new pasture at the homestead, four strands of barbed wire and one electric. The old pasture was in need of repair and we have now enclosed the enlarged watering hole. No lugging water this year. We now have three beef animals in the pasture, enjoying the abundance of sweet grass. Our extended family seems to have a growing appetite. The fields at the old homestead are helping to grow our beef that feeds the whole clan.

In my spare time I've been cutting pine logs for a couple of upcoming building projects. We want a small roadside stand for selling some farm produce and I need some more lumber to finish the woodshed that I started last winter. We'll also be building a small camp in Aroostook County this summer. Whenever we feel like life is getting too hectic here in central Maine, we go "Up North". The laid back lifestyle and the "big sky" of potato country is such a joy for the whole family. The small camper is getting tight and it's time to build. We'll surely post pictures.

Well, I guess its time to get back to more productive work. I hope this rambling is interesting, if not to all, but to some. I've never kept a journal much, but maybe this counts. Keep in touch.