It’s been one of the cooler, wetter summers in memory, enough so that everyday banter about the weather seems even more ubiquitous than usual. A friend in Maine emailed that his pumpkins…
Thymelicus Lineola In the Fields
We were on a gravel road that wound through a hayfield—just walking through, talking as we went. At first the butterflies were so tiny that we didn’t really notice them. But then…
Vermont’s Current Use Program
Vermont’s Current Use Program is one of those rare pieces of legislation that garners high praise from both the left and right side of the political spectrum. Established in 1980 as a…
Why Hire a Forester?
So the other day a mass mailing went out to landowners in Corinth, Vermont from a timber harvest/tree removal company in New Hampshire. The company was peddling their services, which include…
Sinkhole Mystery
My friend E’s a barrel-chested logger who lives down in southwestern Vermont. He’s a tough hombre, as is anyone who makes their living cutting trees. I’ve seen him bull his skidder up…
What Should I Plant?
My brother and his fiancé just built a log cabin home on a broomstick lot in southern Vermont. It was a bit of a nightmare to build—ledge issues, drainage issues, septic issues,…
Lynx and Logging
The good news is that Canada Lynx are thriving in Maine. Hundreds of the leggy, snow-loving cats are breeding in the state’s vast north woods, perhaps a historic high. The bad news is…
The Early Garden
There’s something about the beginning of things; Bohemian poets are always reveling here: new lovers, fresh starts, changed perspectives. For those of us with underdeveloped Bohemian…
Amelanchier By Any Other Name
Our first showy tree blossoms of spring are popping out all around us now. Alternatively known as shadbush or serviceberry, assorted varieties of Amelanchier are dressing up the edges of roads…