Description

Stories in this issue:

• High Tunnel Soil Testing: Anne and Eric Nordell write about the problem of accumulated minerals and salts as well as excess nutrients caused by regular composting in a high tunnel (or similarly protected) environment. They offer some solutions that they have used in their market gardens.
• Life Lessons … from the Bozeman Trail: In Part 2 of Jenifer Morrissey’s story on the Bozeman Trail she shares the diary entries of Nick Shrauger from his 7-week trip in 2001. Many wonderful photographs accompany the diary entries.
• “In the Box: Thinking – A Hoop Building Project: Ralph Rice chronicles the building of a “building in a box”. He gives us a step-by-step accounting from grading to cutting and milling lumber for the end wall.
• Among the Animals Part 1 – Love, Courage and Tears: Dick Courteau argues that the line between “animals” and humans is not as black as we sometimes think. He tells many stories of the domestic animals he has owned and their fascinating behaviors to prove his point.
• Among the Animals Part 2 – Toward a Common Creed: Following up, Dick Courteau gives us plenty of ideas on how to humanely treat our animals, focusing on what he observes to be our most egregious errors.
• Pondering a Garden: While considering a garden, Jenifer Morrissey uses the concept of a milpa (chaos) garden to learn about soil health, using her bokashi compost and the nutrient value of our foods as the apply to a small garden…or a large farm. As always, great research went into this thorough study home garden, vegetable garden
• Riving Shingles: Jerry Hicks chooses the roofing material for his traditional “half face” building. This DIY article shows us the tools (many handmade), material and process to hand make rived shingles.
• Tales from Carter and Fleming Counties – Stuffing: Jerry Hicks tells a story about a lovely dinner, and ungrateful guest, and … we all will side with him on the outcome!
• Foaling Tips: Dick Courteau passes along a tip he learned when he was 80. It is about feeding a foal and was passed to him by a young woman.