A little too eager!

The 'beginning' of our homesteading and what we learned thus far. Well, mostly things not to do, but learning none-the-less.

1) Don't start cucumbers yet... it's way too early! (Not even in the cold frame.)

2) Start tomatoes in small containers, but don't move outside... transplant into larger container, then into larger and so on. When it's nice out take them outside to get used to the outdoor weather. Then once big and strong, into the ground they go. Don't bother with the cold frame, it's still too early.

3) Don't start lettuce or carrots indoors at all.

What's with all the cedars?!

Cedars, cedars, everywhere!
Alright, technically they're junipers, but they're commonly known as red cedars. And they are everywhere here on Thayer Farm. Of course, that's partly because most of this land is a stone-covered ridge. And it turns out that red cedars are one of the few trees that thrive on this type of soil.
My biggest problem with red cedars is that they are growing here like weeds. Seriously, you can't turn around here without bashing into one. And this means that as I'm clearing brush I'm also creating this colossal red cedar mound. Kind of like a great green pyramid that smells like the inside of your grandparents' closet.
Now about the time I'm contemplating this gowning green mountain, Michelle and I are also beginning to plan for fences. Lots of fences. Fences around the new chicken run, fences around the new garden, a very long fence to replace the so-called "fence" that lines the back of the property, etc. One of the more expensive parts of any fence is the fence posts, and we are going to need a gazillion of them. Suddenly one day a light bulb came on courtesy of my favorite farmer/writer/blogger Gene Logsdon. He posted a very interesting blog regarding red cedars and what great fence posts they make. Eureka! My red cedar and fence post problems have been solved.
"The Lord will provide." Amen!

Pics of the new farmstead!