Lisa Richards

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

A Really Rocking Resolution : Why not volunteer at a local farm instead of joining a gym? (posted Jan 6, 6:38am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Full Moon Issues : This is the worst part of farming, not being able to keep everyone safe. (posted Jan 5, 8:51am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Adventures in Sausage Making : I learned the hard way not to vacuum seal uncooked, unfrozen meat balls. (posted Jan 4, 8:58am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Vaporware Has No Bugs : All you have to do is order the latest and greatest, which isn’t quite ready, and all your problems will be solved real soon now. (posted Jan 3, 9:39am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Visiting the Farm : After making me prove how friendly the pigs were by petting them all and getting lots of snuggles in return, he pet a pig for the first time in his life. (posted Jan 2, 3:39pm)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

There Are No Wolves in New England : You see, if there were wolves or catamounts in the area, they would be endangered species. That would stick the state Fish and Game departments with unfunded federal mandates to create management plans to bring these species back. And then they would have to implement these plans, which would cost even more money and inconvenience the farmers and loggers. (posted Jan 1, 9:52am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Happy Holidays : Happy Holidays from all the critters here on Mack Hill Farm. (posted Dec 31, 6:39am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Lovely Lard : I know. No one cooks with lard anymore. But that’s because y’all are crazy. (posted Dec 30, 6:33am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Upgrading Fedora Disables Postfix : The preceding was a public service announcement. (posted Dec 29, 10:32am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Livestock Guardian Dogs : For anyone who has been following us at all this year, you’ll know that we have had a HORRIBLE predator year. (posted Dec 28, 8:46am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

A day in the life of ... : There is a fun group on Flickr called A Day in the Life of …, and four times a year at the changing of the season you are supposed to take five photos that illustrate a day in your life. Today is my eighth time participating. (posted Dec 27, 9:23am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Balage Babble : It’s Sunday and they are still content, which is just crazy. (posted Dec 26, 7:06am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

An Acre is not an Acre : In round numbers, that’s 100 acres that was never cleared, even in the 1840s, 100 acres that should never have been cleared even in the 1840s, 100 acres of decent orchard or pasture and about 20 acres of good farmland. (posted Dec 25, 8:08am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Off to Freezer Camp : I have the best job in the world. Petting piglets is my work. (posted Dec 24, 6:39am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Mini Minnie’s Magic : A touch of Minnie’s Magic Helps dull plants to come alive – This witch’s brew of barnyard poo Will make your garden thrive! (posted Dec 23, 5:39am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Cheese and Cherries : While I fear maraschino cherries are “food” instead of food, I had them in the icebox and I might as well use them. Frank loves him some chocolate-covered cherries. (posted Dec 22, 7:09am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Farmers’ hours : Three hours of driving before morning chores is really a bit much. (posted Dec 21, 7:03am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

An Official Barn Fund : A neighbor here told us his lovely barn was put up for $11K. Since we have our own sawmill, I’m sure hoping we can bring it in for a lot less than that. (posted Dec 20, 6:45am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Terroirism : I sort of only understood terroir in a very abstract way, and thought it only applied to wine, really. (posted Dec 19, 8:29am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Yankees for Global Warming : The same applies to our livestock: thirty below is life threatening, fifteen below means cuddle up and chow down. (posted Dec 18, 5:34pm)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

My Toulouse Geese : There I was, hanging on to a pig’s tail, followed by two barking dogs and 10 excited geese. (posted Dec 17, 9:57am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Our Pastured Pigs : It even helped with Albus Dumbleboar, our herd sire. (posted Dec 16, 6:32am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Name those critters! : How many of these critters can you name? (posted Dec 15, 7:41am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

What's done is done : We got a most of the MUST DOs done today. That makes our third day in a row of working as long as there was daylight and we are bloody exhausted. (posted Dec 14, 1:19pm)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Ground is a Lousy Ground : This is the same set up I tried to use 4 years ago and it didn’t work then either. (posted Dec 13, 7:20am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Melt, baby, melt : Of course, we are as ready for snow as we always are, which is not very ready at all. (posted Dec 12, 6:59am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Nobody Likes Brussel Sprouts : There’s half a bushel of brussel sprouts that’s been sitting in the pig trough for three days. (posted Dec 11, 6:21am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

My Cranky Cow : Did you know that I have a very loud cow? Maybe it’s that all cows are loud, but I somehow don’t think so. (posted Dec 10, 9:15am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Wellie Weather : I nearly had my Wellies sucked off of me in the mud and muck headed out to milk this morning. (posted Dec 9, 6:42am)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Happy Mornings : I’ve really become quite the happy morning person and I think it just can’t be helped. The farm is a happy, happy place, especially in the morning, and it’s very contagious. (posted Dec 8, 4:19pm)

Notes from Zone 4 by Lisa Richards (31)

Mini Pies : But what a great way to use up bits of fruit and meats and things that aren’t really enough for a whole pie or recipe. Plus, aren’t they adorable? (posted Dec 7, 6:55am)