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Since oaks are monoecious, I’m wondering what Alice in NJ means by “male” and “female” oaks.

Your writing has relieved my fears of the unknown…meaning I wasn’t sure where wood burning falls in it’s contribution to greenhouse gases relative to other fuels. What I am unsure of now is how wood pellets vs. chunks of fire wood in a woodstove compare on their emissions. Any knowledge or thoughts on this comparison?

The day after Thanksgiving I saw a cute little rodent by my lily pond which is man made and next to my patio. I thought it was a weasel. It was brown. It was eating something. Duh.. it did not sink in. Next day I checked on my pond. Every single adult fantail was gone. Do weasels swim? Was it a weasel? What else could it be?

I had blisters that were itchy and weeping the day after my husband cut and worked with holly putting it around our door for a Christmas decoration. Every where he touched me I broke out. I thought it was poison ivy but don’t have any in the yard. Has anyone ever gotten a dermal reaction like this with holly?

The falls are quite wonderful and are worth the trip.

I brought my tadpoles in as their habitat started to freeze solid. They thawed out of dormancy and are now swimming around in their tub. Couldn’t stand the possibility of them dying after watching them for 6 months.

Thank you for your article. It is a good summary of info to then further study particularly with the associated beetle. I am currently using the hoof fungus to mould and then cast for a series of bronze bells. I would like to incorporate the beetle as well.

After I allowed 3 wikd willows to take root in my garden,  we had Mourning cloak butterflies.  8 pupas appeared & hatched.  Most flew away but 2 stayed.  They were friendly,  sat on my head or shoulder as I tended the garden.  Drank from hummer. feeder & the bird bath.  They were with us for years.  I thought it was the same ones like Monarchs live a long time.

The tire and wire are excellent ideas!!!  I have a BAD back, and splitting the kindling is typically much harder on it due to the additional amount of leaning forward and bending down to pick up. So having it trapped all up top would be great!  Otherwise simply splitting nice dry wood is actually healthy for your back. Can’t do it as continuously as pre injury, but can still do it.  I’m one who swings the axe when splitting rounds in almost a 360 with speed/momentum and let the axe do the work. Really helps to loosen even a bad back up if I can get away with an axe vs a maul. The Fiskars seem the best to me. Great article.

The word merchant delivered several cord of product there in the few seconds between question and answer.

Hi Cory,
Thanks for your interest in the article—the long lead time between planting and harvest (and income) is definitely a challenge in the industry. The best resource for additional information would be your state Christmas tree growers association (for you that would be http://www.indianachristmastree.com)—go to a meeting and talk to other growers, I bet you’ll find them willing to help answer any questions you might have. One other resource is this book (http://www.storey.com/books/growing-christmas-trees/), which offers more technical growing information than this article (full disclosure, I helped to author the book, but have no financial incentive in its sale). Hope that helps.

The short answer is no, Todd. I usually trim up any meat on the hams that was exposed to the body cavity and has globs of fat or clotted blood or anything else that looks unappealing to eat on it. But otherwise i don’t worry about the exterior. As you cut the meat the darker exterior portion will be relegated to the outer edge of your finished cuts, and so will be exposed to direct heat as you cook it. Any surface funk will be killed in the cooking process.

That was such interesting reading. I have loads of toads visiting my garden in the summer months and they live under the sheds in my garden. I did wonder where they went when it got cold and now I know. It’s funny to think that whilst us humans are trying to keep warm during the winter months, all these creatures are now fast asleep all over the world. Roll on spring.

This article is very helpful. I have been thinking about a change in jobs for a while and have wanted and been planning a Christmas tree farm with also a pumpkin patch. I’d like to do it full time, but the drop in salary until the farm is completely up and running is daunting. Are there any other resources you would suggest for getting started in the business?

Thanks for the great information. I have been aging some venison in my garage fridge for about 7 days. I went to check on it yesterday and noticed the darker jerky-like appearance that you described. I plan on butchering and packaging the meat tomorrow. Do I need to trim that darker exterior off the meat?

Another eye catching attraction of tamaracks is the brilliant red female cones, when they first “blossom” in Spring. They look like little compressed roses, in ranks along a branch. Unfortunately that display is on upper branches of mature trees, so one needs to search saplings to enjoy that visual treat.

Amen!

This information was very helpful Thank you very much.

Dave, you said more in a few paragraphs than I could say in a lifetime about being in the woods in November.  Bravo

Replying to Charles North

Thanks for your kind comment!

Water scorpions certainly occur in Ohio. I find them in pond vegetation and they are easier to net from reeds (less tangling…not sure if they are more common in reeds or not). They don’t seem too picky about water quality. I get them in a VT pond that drains parking lots.