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Hi everyone, With the downtime in Maine...and me escaping to the warmer climates in Australia for a few weeks, I have completed and launched my eBook on how to market your farm/homestead "stuff"! Its about 6,000 words long and contains the basics to get you started and thinking about the best...

Hi everyone (been away for work....and came home to an overgrown garden and some tools that needed some repair). The biggest hassle has been the broken handle on a cheap wheelbarrow that we have been using for years. While we were tempted to go buy a new stronger wheelbarrow, I decided to have...

(Been away playing with volcanoes...but back and enjoying the wonderful late summer...and planing my farm/homestead for next year) .....so this is how i use permaculture zones to plan and make sound decisions on what-goes-where! http://www.almostafarmer.com/using-permaculture-zones/ I hope...

I've been away for work...but had a chance to visit a tea farm! Considering I am a tea drinker, I had no idea where all the types of tea come from. I (foolishly) thought they came form different types of plants :( So here is the scoop: http://www.almostafarmer.com/facts-about-tea/ I hope...

I am an Australian living in the USA. While I love my adopted country, I also love my homeland. I want to be able to show my patriotic leanings by flying a flag or two or three. So I had to learn the rules so I did not make an "issue" with the locals or even break the law. So here is what I...

We had two tornado warnings in 24 hrs up here in Maine .....we left Colorado in part to escape the threat of tornadoes! So here is our "Living with Tornadoes" information http://www.almostafarmer.com/tornadoes/ I hope this information will make other folks be safe in this severe weather...

When we bought our farm in Maine it had a dug well....and we found a second well. I worries about this...and decided I needed to do some research so I know what it was all about.... So here is summer for other to help them understand the basics of groundwater and wells...

I am always looking for good science data to help me understand my gardens - and why things grow better in some places than others etc. I found this awesome free tool to get data on the soils on my place in Maine. It took me a little while to work out how to use the system to get what I wanted...

After buying two homestead properties - our first in Colorado and the second in Maine, we came up with a list of the ten things we need to consider. I know others will have ones to add to the list...but here are ours http://www.almostafarmer.com/ten-tips-for-choosing-a-perfect-homestead/...

After a month or more of flourishing potato plants, the beetles have arrived. Within a few days - even after trying to pick them off - my plants are looking poorly, yellowing and sad. I really did not want to spray...but I think after a few years of dealing with them and trying different...

Two years ago we were shaken by an earthquake in Maine.....not a big one, but as a geologist I would tell you that Maine is NOT a place that gets a lot of quakes. I was asked by the local school to come the next day and talk about earthquakes and what people can do to be safe. I thought that...

We have two small children - and all they have experienced is growing up on our farm. I have two older children who grew up in a city...so as a dad I have seen the good and bad of bringing children up in both environments. My choice would be having my children on a farm....but maybe there choice...

Hi all I wrote this piece because of a hassle I had with my last farm. We were told that the fences were along the property line - later on we found that was not the case and all hell broke out :( So here is my lessons for everyone who has a property...

While I wrote this thinking about my farm and what climate change is going to man for my long term plans, I think it has implications for everyones gardening: http://www.almostafarmer.com/climate-change-and-your-farm/ I hope you find the information useful. Gaz

I have been experimenting with a number of ways to label things in my garden. I already use a Homestead Planner to recored what a plant and when, which has proved to be so valuable to me each year to see what worked and what to avoid. I also use it to work out plant rotation etc. My daughter...

I am working with my daughter (6) to develop a fun vegetable garden. As part of the process we decided to label the garden beds using rocks we had collected. They really look fabulous - and adds a sense of order to our vegetable plots. Here are how we did it ...

Hi all I have been writing about rocks and soils - and trying to cover the major rock types. You can find the list here : http://www.almostafarmer.com/category/farm-science/ I hope this is a useful series for people who wonder how their soil is affected by the rocks below. Gaz www.almostafarmer

Hi all Some of us consider ourselves as hobby farmers more than gardeners...and want to sell our excess items. Here is some notes on the difference between being a retail "farmer" and a wholesale "farmer"....and some things you need to consider when thinking about setting up a farm stand or...

Hi all Have you always wondered how the rock that underlies your farm affects your soil etc? Here is a simple primer on how to start understanding the geology of your farm - including links to see maps etc. http://www.almostafarmer.com/rocks-make-soils-primer-geology-affects-farm/ I hope...

Hi all As I keep learning how to grow things in my climate and soil conditions in Maine I have been trying out many methods that are probably second nature to the 'green thumbs'. Raised beds are a must on my place...and the square foot garden approach made sense to me. You can find out what...