by Pa Mac | Oct 29, 2012 | How'd They Use to Do That?
The privilege and blessing that came with owning and maintaining your own wagon back in the days before automotive power can never be accurately assessed. The necessity of the farm wagon was such that it could be reckoned a central hub of all farm life. From family...
by Pa Mac | Oct 21, 2012 | Gardenin' n' Orchards
Pole beans with good, sturdy horizontal support are just a bit easier to protect from frost Pole Beans Beyond the sprinkler method I mentioned in the previous post last week, not much will protect late planted bush beans from frost (because there’d be too many of...
by Pa Mac | Oct 14, 2012 | Gardenin' n' Orchards
Since winter’s hand is soon to teaseThrough icy hands of frost,Be cautious of an early freezeThat renders quite the loss.—Earl E. Pickens If you’re a temperate climate farmer or homesteader like me, your warm weather loving varieties of vegetables must be protected...
by Pa Mac | Oct 4, 2012 | Livestock Raisin'
Once a common thing to find But now a sight that just amuses, The man who pulls a load behind A couple sets of cloven hoov’ses —Ike St. Pulliam I’d like to give you a brief sketch of my journey breaking steers to be oxen. When asked by friends about my experience with...
by Pa Mac | Sep 26, 2012 | How'd They Use to Do That?
In years past, when privileged to eat out or when visiting friends I’ve often been asked “What would you like to drink?”—to which I’d usually answer, “Water, please”—thinking the tap would be used to accommodate my humble reply. When asked this at friend’s homes my...
by Pa Mac | Sep 7, 2012 | Livestock Raisin'
If I had to choose the one animal that’s held my fascination the most over the course of my life, it would undoubtedly be the chicken. As a child I could, and did, rack up hours of watching roosters and hens scratch around our backyard from sunup to sundown daily. The...
by Pa Mac | Sep 7, 2012 | Gardenin' n' Orchards
When our forefathers packed up and moved westward during the 1800’s, they ideally sought to homestead a vast spread of level land suitable for growing crops. Lots of folks today discover they’ve got the bug for homesteadin’ and gardenin’ too—but AFTER they’ve already...
by Pa Mac | Sep 7, 2012 | Gardenin' n' Orchards
Of primary concern with young fruit trees is heading off potential weaknesses in the early years of a tree’s life. With pruning habits the future growth of a young tree’s branches can be pointed in a strong, healthy, direction. Plus, you can help ‘em look downright...
by Pa Mac | Aug 27, 2012 | Buildin' or Makin'
I was halfway through my childhood before gathering the nerve to watch the Wizard of Oz without hiding at some point during the movie. I suppose it was the witch (the one from the west). It would be an understatement to say she intimidated me. The scarecrow was a much...
by Pa Mac | Aug 27, 2012 | Trees 'n' Wild Plants
I’m pretty sure that greens are called greens for no other reason than…they are, in fact, green. Some are red or blue tinged, but still basically green. Their hue is most noticeably observed in late fall or early spring when not much else around has hue....
