Site Discussions

Thanks again Dave lll, The cold is back again but your beautiful words remind us of the great things we have to look forward to. Our woods, our rivers freezing, our forest wonderland! Thanks

I just stumbled upon this, and found it very interesting!  Tomorrow (Dec 30, 2014) my partner and I are closing on some land in VT, and I think a greenhouse would be an excellent way to start ‘building’ on the land (we’re planning on using it, primarily, for camping).  Thank you!

Thanks, great article and very helpful.

Your comparison of shaping a door with shaping an article is spot on.  I understand the analogy and get the point.  As a teacher, I appreciate the shout out to formal writing.  It is important.  Creative writing is important.  Writing is important.  When kids are exposed to the various styles and when to use them, they are better off.  Thanks for the honesty, the humility, and craftsmanship of your work.

I always enjoy Dave Mance III’s lyrical, thoughtful writing. And the Eye on the Sky guys’ encouraging reassurance that back into the freezer we go, soon.

I have beautifull 200+ acres that hunters use but think would be fair to rent out for at least to pay taxes.

In our location, we’ve had a long run of overcast—2+ weeks—and then a single day came, approx. the solstice, when the skies cleared and the sun blazed. Suddenly we gained about an hour at either end of the day! It was like jumping forward in time by a few months. Then back to gray, gray, followed by dark.

THE TREES WITH LEAVES IN WINTER REALLY MUST DRIVE THOSE LEAF BLOWER FANATICS CRAZY. OMG - A LEAF MAY BLOW OFF MID WINTER ONTO A LAWN. Another example of nature deficit disorder. Some people prefer the noise of leaf blowers over the beauty of colorful leaves-or even brown leaves on trees in winter. THEIR MINDS DON’T appreciate real beauty.

These clinging leaves must be driving my neighbor across the street crazy since he is out there almost every day once leaves start to drop sucking them up with his leaf blower LOL.  This is the first winter where his leaves have remained on the tree and we were wondering why they are still there.  We thought that it was from the regular fertilizing he does EVERY 6 Weeks.  He is totally anal when it comes to his property and will go out there to hand pick leaves if he see’s them on the lawn.  Even having just one leaf on his lawn is a no-no.  This article gives me some better insight as to why this is happening now.

Starting a small Christmas tree farm is something I have been considering and researching the past year. Your article had been very helpful.

I think the longest, darkest night calls for a fire to go with the meteor shower. Living in the woods, we have little light pollution so it should be a good show if the clouds cooperate. Thanks for pointing this out to us.

Thanks Laura. We counted it as good luck we were able to watch these toads and see one get eaten by a snake! It was so intense. Glad you enjoyed.

I was Commissioner of Mass.F&W in the 80s and then worked at Malden Mills, producer of Polertec.  In the early 90s there was a move to tax outdoor sporting equipment (not organized sports).  The hiking, camping, etc. industries (I forgot the name of their lobbying organization) easily killed it.  I say, let’s give it another try and be forceful about keeping the fringe liberationists out.
Walter Bickford

I saw a few nests on a mango tree in Bhopal India.The leaves of a branch were almost moulded together with cobwebs & they were big & oblong.Which birds nest could that be?

The illustration doesn’t make clear how the outer walls are connected to the bottom of the pond or bank. It looks like it is floating which I know can’t be. Can anyone help me understand this better?

@ Marc Beaudette, I so agree with you! The Doves, Blue Jays, Woodpeckers, Starlings, Sparrows, Cardinals, etc., that visit my feeders brings joy to my heart. I don’t see them as Game birds at al. Including the squirrels that stop by to pick up sunflower seeds! And when I’m not up early enough to put out feed for all of them? I hear a single chirp, at my second floor bedroom window, coming from a Chickadee, that somehow figured out, that’s where I would be!

Thanks for this great article. I have used Maine Indian ash baskets for many years, primarily for gathering edible wild plants and mushrooms. These “work” baskets are rugged and durable.  Many of the photos in my foraging slide show are of these ash baskets filled with native wild crops like Shagbark Hickory Nuts, Black Walnuts, King Bolete mushrooms, and even invasive species like Autumn Olives and Wineberries.

A couple years ago, my mom (who grew up in Bangor) asked Richard Silliboy if he would make a “work” basket for my birthday,.  The basket he made, and I got, is so beautiful, however, that I can’t bring myself to use it outside for foraging - so I keep it inside and use it for a mail basket.

Thank you for writing such an informative article. I have wondered about so called “mast years” and learned so much by reading this!

I’m doing research for a novel and wonder if you have any information on what a tanned buffalo hide would cost in about 1840-1845.Thank you.

Tiffany,
What a nice article. It is incredible you were able to witness such a moment. I have never thought about where toads go in the winter let alone witness such.myour writing is very expressive and allows me to draw an image in my mind of what you are saying.