Site Discussions

According to an information sheet from the NH Division of Historical Resources, there’s a state law addressing stone wall theft, and a stone wall protection policy that the state follows for road building/widening projects. You can learn more at this link: https://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/publications/documents/stone_wall.pdf

I’m hoping you can answer a question- last night my husband heard a sound, and when he went to check, some sort of small animal was scratching at our dog food bag, trying to get in.  IT was definitely not a mouse, as it was closer to guinea pig sized.  In the dark it appeared fuzzy and maybe dark gray in color, and did not seem to have a tail.  It was very bold- we’ve had mice get in before, but never has a creature climbed the steps to the main floor of our home before (it’s a raised ranch, and our two dogs stay upstairs)- they always have stayed in the basement.  When it saw/heard him it ran down the steps and disappeared, and it was FAST.  My coonhound thinks mice are tasty snacks, but he wouldn’t go near whatever this was last night.  Any ideas?

Is there any laws that you can inform me of or how I can get information concerning illegal timber harvesting.  I keep getting the run-around.  Thanks

I just wanted to thank you for helping me learn more about diatomaceous earth. It’s kind of cool that it should be applied after rain or irrigation to make sure it adheres to plants. I’m kind of interested to learn if it should be done as soon as it stops raining or if it could be good to wait about an hour or so to make sure the rain really stops.

Is there a law in N.H. about disturbing stonewalls?

The production efficiencies and amount of money being invested in maple are amazing. I’m concerned that we may be losing forest health.
Healthy, rapidly-growing trees seal tap wounds quickly. They also add thicker growth rings, allowing sugar makers to tap at the same location sooner without damaging the tree’s defenses against discoloration and decay.

Those who make massive investments in collection (taps and pipelines) and processing equipment demand returns on their investment (5 to 10 years?) then look for another investment opportunity. Will that next investment be in maple? Only if the trees are managed so they grow vigorously and are healthy enough to produce sap for the next 5 to 10 year investment cycle.

If the forests are not managed well for sustainable maple production, the investors and their money will leave the forest of depleted trees behind and we will wait a looong time for it to recover.

Dave, thanks for explaining what the trends are in the wholesale syrup business. I had no idea it has been that dynamic over the past decade.

Sorry about the jack knife. If your snow was like ours it got very slick near the ground with just a bit of tire packing.

I hadn’t considered the taplines staying in place. Although I have no use for ATVs and snowmobilers mostly stay on trails it does cut down on “sharing” the woods. My real question is what effect does this increased productivity have on the trees? And anything of 40,000 square feet is not a sugarhouse, but a factory. Perhaps the definition of sugarhouse could be figured on total production.

Think of it like this.  Take a sheet of paper, while it is fresh, that represents flat land.  Crumple it up, that same sheet now crumpled is much smaller, so if you get a larger sheet of paper it can be crumpled up to resemble hills, valleys, etc. and it will fit on the same size as the original sheet of paper, similarly, a land that contains hills will give you more surface area per acre than flat land.

No, Mary. At this point it is what it is. You may as well collect the sap.

My husband drilled one too many holes in our big, old, maple tree for sugaring. Can he plug one of the holes now so the tree won’t be stressed?

We have seen a fox whose tail keeps losing fur.  It is so cold and snowy here and this fox seems a bit desperate, just eating some bird seed.  I noticed that someone fed the fox heartgard and amoxicillin and chicken for weeks.  How much of the medications did you give and how did you ensure the fox got it?  We’re in the woods with lots of other animals.  I don’t want to see this one suffer and don’t know what to do other than to try to trap and euthanize him or her.  Would rather do something to treat him or her but it’s getting bad.

Questions: where did you get the mosquito resting box traps that you use? If you made them, how? Do they collapse for storage?

Great article! Otters remind us that every aspect of life can be fun.

I was drawn to beekeeping because the fascination I have for their culture. Truth be known? It’s not just bees!!

A pair of MD’s have been returning to nest on our firescape for 10 years.  She (or he) has been sitting on an egg for 5 days, she appears to be motionless.  He has not appeared in 5 days.  How can we tell if she is still alive?  What can we do?

Kathy said “Bring the flying squirrels you trap to the wildlife rehabber. They will take them from you and care for them until they can safely release them. Every state has wildlife rehabbers through Fish and Game.” 

Not always so easy. I rehabilitated ONE female which my cat brought in as a tiny baby and I still have it in my care 6 months later. Every single ‘rehab’ place refused it saying they were at capacity which was utter nonsense because I know they operate on government grants here in Ontario and they were just being picky and lazy…while at the same time bragging to me that they do take in Flying Squirrels. What’s the point of a rehabilitation center that refuses animals? This is Ontario Canada for you.

Bobcat siting- near Pisgah State Park in Hinsdale on 3/5/18.

Appeared to be a juvenile based on the size. Crossing the road.

Awesome to see!

Always informative and entertaining. Misery loves company?  Interesting temperature data and the disparity between gallons of sap and gallons of syrup produced this year…  As very small producers, you help us to view the seduction of the equipment dealers spiel more clearly.  Trying to stay small and backyard - less reward? Certainly less risk! More fun.  Thanks, Dave.

I believe this quote has an error:

“Once that starts, the moisture in the air goes directly from a gas to a solid. It’s a process called sublimation, with ice crystals building up on everything, said Goff.”

I believe sublimation is only the reverse process, that is, the phase transition directly from solid to gas. Not gas to a solid. The gas to solid transition is actually called deposition, or desublimation.