Worried about your upper body and arms? Spend some time loading, unloading and stacking straw or hay bales. Read More
Which is why every farmer, homesteader and outdoors enthusiast knows the value of a good field first aid kit and woodland wound care. Read More
Over the 35-odd years we’ve been on the farm, sporadic efforts have been made at would could be called farming. And few of which could be called rousing successes. Read More
Thanks to Instagram, I now know that the resident Rusty Metal Farm felines are “adventure cats.” Read More
Have your heard the one about the one-legged duck? No, this is not a joke. Read More
Escaped and loose livestock are common on working farms and ranches. Sometimes, a critter can remain on the run for days, weeks and even months evading capture before it’s finally cornered and returned to its barn. Read More
That brain may be small in size, but don’t let that fool you. Because, well, chickens can fool you and have outsmarted me more than once. Read More
There’s a lot more to it than simply opening the coop door, dropping the new hens in among the established flock and hoping for the best. Read More
I might be a crazy tree hugger, but I’m a very happy tree hugger. Read More
“It’s a big thing with people taking advantage of folks who don’t really know how to buy firewood. There are people who don’t know what a true cord is and will just throw it behind their shed without measuring it.” Read More
State and University of Maine officials are warning farmers and gardeners to be on the lookout for a new and potentially significant threat to cruciferous vegetables. Read More
I’ve lived in northern Maine for close to 40 years, and I am still amazed by the land-use laws that stipulate property is open to the public for things like hunting, snowmobiling or off-road ATV riding, unless otherwise posted. Read More
“I was really tired and I just wanted to go to bed. I lifted up the throw pillows, and there was an egg under them.” Read More
If you're looking to raise your own meat, one of the most popular options for small homesteads or backyard farms are chickens. But before your start your flock, take a moment to learn about the different breeds of meat chickens. Read More
The first Rusty Metal Farm garage sale was productive — and, yeah, I made a few bucks. Read More
Long before there were mechanized tractors and trucks, the heavy lifting and pulling on farms and homesteads was done by teams of draft horses. Read More
Last month, the United States Department of Agriculture took what could be its final steps that consumer advocates say loosen food safety standards on a national level. Read More
Physically, Rusty Metal Farm sits atop Maine along the Canadian border, but in many ways it also sits smack at the intersection of home and wanderlust. That’s because, as much as I love this farm and my critters, I also love to travel. Read More
While wildlife is exempt from land use and trespassing laws, humans are not, so make sure you check who owns the land where the hazelnuts are growing before you start foraging. Read More
Say “Highlands” and people often think bagpipes, kilts, clans, castles and the rugged green hills of northwestern Scotland. But did you know Maine has its very own Highlands? Read More
