Site Discussions

This article makes me so happy—-to know Ski Hearth Farm thrives again! The first memories of my life were on the farm during WWll while my mother was there helping Sel and Paulie work on the farm. She loved plowing the fields and fixing the tractors. I was often left in the care of my 3 older sibs, and one day, probably due to my fear of the chickens, I “ran” away from the farmyard, crawling down River Road. A passing pickup truck picked me up and took me to a couple of farms before dropping me off at the right one, asking “Is anyone here missing a baby?” When my mother was in her 70’s, she returned to the farm to work the fields again with Sel, and in the winter to help him design ski trails (in other states). She was living with Sel and Paulie when he died.
I love the vision Mr. Mangold has for this incredible place! Perhaps I’ll come stay and ski some of the trails!

Very cool article, I found it when I was searching, “can you be inside of a rainbow”... the answer online was, “no”.  however, my experience this past Friday tells me otherwise.

I left work on the southwest side of the city, and there was a large rainbow far off in the north east that extended to just south of east. The sun was still high but setting (early fall, 5pm). I drove due east watching the rainbow brighten. What surprised me was, the sun went mostly behind some clouds, but the rainbow was still present. It dimmed, so there had to have been high angle light where the rain was. I continued the drive north, and then again east, picture a backwards Z (that was my path) roughly 18 miles (25 minutes) rainbow ever present. When I started going east into the final stretch, the rainbow turned into a LARGE double rainbow until I could see that I was somehow catching and almost starting to surpass the base of the left of the rainbow. What happened next, I’ll never forget. I could see the base, but it looked as if it was getting wider and wider, and I could simultaneously still see the rainbow, until I was in it. It looked like it was everywhere for 10 seconds until I broke through the drizzle, and the whole thing disappeared.

I was able to find one or two videos on YouTube where something similar happened, but it looked to be smaller, although they’re describing the same thing.

Wolves have been persecuted and killed unfairly for centuries. It’s time they were given a fair chance at reintroduction and establishing healthy reproducing packs here in Maine and the entire Northeast. These wild creatures are a part of the natural ecosystem and must be protected and nurtured back to their natural populations here and throughout the lower 48.

Thank you for this bit of information.  Ever since I lived in Vermont (many years ago) I was of the impression that the Very Dark (known then as Grade B) was a result of the length of time it was boiled. The bottom of the batch so to speak.  I am pleased to have my knowledge bank corrected.  I just came back from a visit to both Vermont and New Hampshire where I picked up two large jugs of Very Dark syrup.  I now know that this syrup was most likely produced at the end of the 2021 season. Knowledge is always a good thing.  Now you will have to excuse me while I eat my Cheerios with maple syrup.

Yes I was hoping you could help me. I came across a Black Raven Cruiser with the original Handle post 1930 very sweet looking axe, the nicest one I’ve ever seen. Anyway it is stamped on the back two,two. And the front stamp is massive like you know. But here’s the thing it’s never been stamped true temper on the back. It has a Turner day handle from Crossville Tennessee Stamped in green lettering the wood is stamped with an eagle that reads eagle hickory turner day Crossville Tennessee. It does not have the Woolworths name on it. It is believed to be original. I wish you could see a pic of it. If you could could you help me figure out why true Temper is not Stamped on the back? Do you think they used Turner Day handles? I don’t know how common or rare of the cruiser is but any insight on the cruiser would help.

I love the raccoons, they are beautiful little scavengers.

I’m baffled. The last two years I’ve gotten a chipmunk (the same one?) use to me. Last year it even took nuts from my hand. This year I just left them. It recognized the sounds of the doors when I went in and came out and it popped out waiting for the almonds. But I didn’t try to get it to get closer like the year before. More skittish than last year. It clearly knew I was providing, but took off after stuffing its jaws. It’d come back like that over and over. I haven’t seen hide nor hare of it in over a month. It’s October now. There were two of them that’d come out a few times. I think they were a couple! Anyway, does anyone have an idea why they would suddenly stop showing up? Carl.

I befriended a small, young, female crow last winter, when it was -20° F and it looked like she was having a hard time finding food. I started tossing meat and fish scraps out for her and even though very hungry, she would look at it, peck at it, and fly off. It was two days before she took it. She is not stupid, imo. She started coming by at noon daily, to roost in my birch tree and, most days, get some food. Come spring, she started bringing a male with and although he would hang back, she would come right out to eat. He would wait till I went inside. Then, their feeding became frantic with the two of them grabbing any food I set out. They would fly off with it, returning in a few minutes for more. Sure enough, they had young to feed and soon, 5 more very young crows were coming around. Now, there are only 3 of the young ones left, likely due to the Coopers hawks that are always around. I was about to wean them when I looked out one afternoon and saw the whole family methodically eliminating any Yellowjacket or Wasp in my yard, while leaving the bees alone. I could go outside with my dogs and enjoy the yard without one sting all summer, on me or the dogs. Now, I feed them most days, my dogs just ignore them, and they are welcome in my yard anytime. They are noisy and wonderful.

Thanks for putting the whole thing in perspective!! Makes so much sense!

I like your tree tips. I need an oak tree removed. I’ll have to hire a professional.

Thank you for the article. I thought Wild Raisin and Nannyberry are the same berry. Why the seed had to be removed from Nannyberry? Is it just too big, or may be there are other reasons?. I collected some few days ago and I am planning to make them into herbal tea.

Great article John! Protecting, restoring and conserving native fish including brook trout should be a high priority for anglers and Fish & Game departments.

Actually, red foxes can climb trees as well and do so with regularity here. So grey foxes are not the only other member of the Canidae family that climbs trees with ease. A red fox has nails that can somewhat retract and it’s not uncommon to see them high up in a tree hunting birds, eating eggs from a nest or hiding from something larger.

Is Entomophaga maimaiga to be used against Lymantria dispar (formerly Gypsy Moth) commercially available?

Is there any agreement about why the lynx population drops when they switch from hare to grouse as their primary food source?

Dear Elise, I just want to Thank You for bringing to my attention the relationship of bottle gentians and bumblebees.  I was kayaking on the Chittenden reservoir on 9/20/21 and my friends and I spotted a patch of the gentian and then a bumblebee came to seek the nectar.  So magical!  I made a “B” movie of this most mutualistic of relationships. If you are interested in seeing it, let me know!
Thank you!!
Jennifer

Such a good job and love the article! Thank you

This is a truly beautiful photo. Thank you for writing the accompanying story.

Thank you for your wonderful article.  It reminded me how lucky my husband and I are to still be able in our 80’s to get out into the woods every day.  Every time we go we “visit” our friends…the tiny toads and red-spotted efts that hurry out of our way and the deer that bound across our path or stand with a spotted fawn until we continue walking. We love to hear the sounds of woodpeckers we’ve been lucky to see and identify, and the barred owl we once caught mating.  And the flowering plants we refuse to pass by without checking how they are…the white oak that we measured at 137” diameter, the many Spikenard with berries now turning color, and the tiny white Ladies Tresses orchids mixed in with Fringed Gentian.  Two rare ferns we always go out of our way to see are Botrichium Dissectum forma dissectum and Dissectum forma oblogatum, There are now two of the, latter with fertile fronds!

Susan was my mentor in the Maine Master Naturalist course (2012 - 2013). Thank you so much for sharing this interview about a truly inspiring naturalist.