Site Discussions

To take Michael Caduto’s article on heritage apples a step further back in time, as John Bunker of Fedco Trees in Maine tells it each heritage apple variety comes with its own story of people and place.  The story of the so-called nine ounce apple aka the Deane apple is a great example. Not only did the apple originate on the farm of Cyrus Deane in Temple, Maine in the 18th century, the farm was also a way station of the underground railroad.  A descendant of Deane is quoted recalling “vague traditions of Negroes arriving under cover of darkness from the southern part of the state the following night being on their way to the Canadian border.” I savor the story as Temple has been my home since 1978, long enough for me to return the variety to Temple (it was all but lost but not forgotten as Bunker would say) by planting a so-called two-part Deane apple tree in my land. The “parent” was discovered in an abandoned orchard in a neighboring town.

The quote in the piece “Rather than sequestering carbon in the soil, we saw an increase in soil respiration, which could contribute to global warming even more.” leads me to ask, “even more” than what?

An interesting and beautiful article. Thank you.

Those winter ticks are nasty. I can’t believe a researcher found 40,000 of them!!

Just came across this article. We have been “backyard” birders for the past 44 years and had observed gray jays around our camp in n.central Maine for many years.However, during the past several years we have observed these intriguing birds while snowshoeing in the NEK, specifically in the Wenlock /Ferdinand area of Vt….having now retired we seem to be spending more time exploring this area and in the past 2 years have noticed an increase in numbers of gray jays each time we are in Ferdinand..in earlier years it appeared that we would observe 2 or 3 gray jays ..they were quite timid,however,the past 3 to7 months we have noticed that they were becoming more inquisitive,and during the past month, from Sept -now mid October,we have had the experience of feeding the gray jays out of our hands..as they cache and return…weekend of 10/07 -10/10 there were 3 following us on the Moose Bog Trail..feeding as we stopped along the way…and the weekend of 10/14 -10/16 we had the experience of 8 gray jays “finding” us at the observation deck off the moose bog trail..once again voraciously competing for granola bars, raisins, cranberries!..what an amazing event for us…stayed over 1 hour as we were enthralled by these birds of the boreal forest.

I also have tadpoles in the water trough in Mid Oct….MANY of them. I was wondering if they are a different type of frog. Not sure what to do with them.

I am trying to find out if the Conn. CCC ever built a traffic tower at the intersection of Mammonasset Beach and route one in Madison,Connecticut. I would appreciate any help.Thank You.

Will the milkweed plant leaves grow back after caterpillars eat them?

Hi Natalya, I’m so sorry to hear about your birds. Yes, weasels will kill poultry though I don’t know if that was your perpetrator. I know this will come as cold comfort, but there are at least a couple possible reasons for these types of massacres, that have to do with predatory impulses in a setting weasels don’t naturally encounter (chicken yard). I encourage you to check out the comments section of “Weasel Evil Knievels” if you want more information on that.

I heard last week that Joe passed away in late September. I met him for this story—which is to say I was just a writer who showed up at his door. His studio was this wild place, full of whimsy and art. I asked if I could bring my partner’s then 10-year-old son to see the place that weekend, and Joe not only said yes, but insisted that we share a meal together, which we did. Joe was a talented man, but more importantly he was a good man.

Phoebe weight is six tenths of an ounce. Very interesting article though. Thank you.

Wonderful article! For many years I have noticed a tobacco smoke smell in areas near Beaver activity. I always thought that another hiker or hunter was smoking in the vicinity. Finally I understand!

Are weasels known to eat poultry? My heart is broken - all of my 21 quails were massacred overnight. I kept my quail in the cage and this morning I discovered one side of the chicken wire was ripped off and half of the quail are missing and the rest are dead. We live in the city and I never saw one within the city limits.

In general, Sue, it’s just a bad idea to feed wild animals. It makes them dependent, vulnerable, can make them sick. A better way to help the turkeys out is to manage the forest and fields in a way that supports them. There are a lot of resources out there where you can learn more about turkey habitat requirements. You might start with the State of Vermont’s “Wildlife Habitat Management for Lands in Vermont.”

I have morning doves on my patio it’s October should I stop feeding them so that they can fly south?

Debra Kearney, it may be a Luna moth caterpillar. I see light green ones. (?)

Can you feed turkeys in the winter by spreading scratches on the ground where they may be around?  Feel really sorry for them in the winter.

True that sap wood can be distinguished from heart wood by its lighter color, but at what age of the tree does sap wood start converting into heart wood?

Understanding carbon creation and storage is still a science in infancy, as this study helps to show.  The consequences of radical fuel plans are easy to understand (wind turbines and bird mortality for example), but real understanding of the current apparent warming of the earth is yet elusive.  We should be cautious putting limitations on energy use, as at its hear, carbon generation directly correlates with a higher standard of living.  Something people will need a very good and clear reason to forego.

Dave- Your writings speak to the soul of life on the land truly lived. I wish we were neighbors.

Chas Salmon
Raven Ridge Farm
Enosburg, Vt.