The solution to reducing, and even eliminating, Maine's fossil-fuel dependency could lay in state’s potential to produce much of the energy it needs through wind generated power. Read More
Natural deodorants have risen in popularity over the last few years as consumers gravitate towards natural, sustainable beauty products. Read More
Drizzle some vinaigrette on a pile of shredded cabbage sauteed with bacon fat and onions, and it will taste a little like a hot winter coleslaw. Read More
When I shared my decision to start replacing my worn-out skillets with durable cast iron last week, I didn’t realize how my cookware would resonate with readers. But it did. Read More
There’s a lot to love about living on a farm or homestead raising your own animals and vegetables. But there are some downsides, and for me the worst is the stark reality that critters don’t live forever. Read More
“I think it’s going to change the look of the village." Read More
The country’s love of unconventional houses is not always shared by its bankers, who have a well-earned reputation for having a deep preference for financing conventional homes. But that may be starting to change in Maine. Read More
It’s become enough of an issue that online sites devoted to tiny living now contain sections on securing tiny houses — inside and out. Read More
The idea of taco pie caught my interest. Cold, damp weather makes anything from the Southwest sound good. Read More
This salad is hearty enough to be a substantial part of the meal and not a green afterthought to be dutifully eaten. Read More
All you need is one pie crust, four or five medium apples and a jar of jelly or jam for this easy-to-make pie. Read More
Between the benefits to my health, budget and kitchen sustainability goals, making homemade nut butter seemed as natural an addition to my regular routine as snacking on said spreads. Read More
We polled various staffers about what they loved in 2019, and after a quick memory jog, here are their picks. Read More
I was maybe 10 years old the first time I experienced a blizzard. My mom and I were flying back from our annual mother-daughter skiing trip in Aspen, Colorado, when our flight was unexpectedly grounded in Cleveland. Outside, the snow was coming down at a… Read More
“Don’t play like a girl,” a little girl on the soccer team I coach said to another this weekend. We were mid-game, standing on the sidelines, talking about a play my daughter, Paige, 8, just made as goalie. She’d caught the ball — the first… Read More
Through three states and at least a dozen moves, the books traveled with me. “Wuthering Heights,” “The Trust,” “On Bended Knee,” “Fahrenheit 451,” “Charlotte’s Web” and so many others. I’d collected them since childhood — the volumes I loved most or attached some varying… Read More
More from Homestead
This year’s design will highlight a pollinator and a native flower. Read More
No one ever said farming or raising livestock in Maine was easy. And if they did, they certainly never said it was easy during the winter when temperatures drop to well below freezing and snow drifts are higher than some agricultural outbuildings. Read More
BDN staff writer Sam Schipani tries homemade face wash. Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Famed mythologist and storyteller Joseph Campbell once said, “Your sacred space is where you can find yourself over and over again.” This February make the Thompson Free Library (TFL) in Dover-Foxcroft your special place for learning, connection, information and fun. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
The latest phones, tablets, and wireless accessories are popular holiday gifts, but many may ask, “What do I do with my old mobile device?” While it may be tempting to trade them for cash, there are some benefits if you keep that old phone. If you have a… Read More
BELFAST — Is renting a home or apartment by yourself beyond your means? Do you have a large home that may be too expensive for you to upkeep by yourself? Could you use a little extra income to help pay the expenses of your home? Would you prefer… Read More
KENNEBUNK — Join Maine Farmland Trust on Wednesday, Jan. 29 for a free film screening and discussion. Clear-eyed and intimate, “Farmsteaders” follows Nick Nolan and his young family on a journey to resurrect his late grandfather’s dairy farm as agriculture moves toward large-scale farming. A study… Read More
It’s time to say goodbye to pans I know I’ll need to replace in a few years. Read More
Inexpensive, simply stored and packed with protein, fiber and essential vitamins, beans really are the magical fruit — or legume, rather. Read More
Managing stress on the farm is just as important as maintaining physical health. Read More
Assuming DNA does not lie, my tiny farm dog is half Chihuahua and half miniature poodle. In other words, a choodle. Read More
It turns out the nation’s farmers are just discovering what northern Maine farmers have known for years: When it comes to tractors, nothing beats old rolling iron when it comes to value and maintenance. According to an article on the website Vice, farmers in… Read More
Starting a cookbook club in 2019 turned out to be the creative food-related outlet I didn’t know that I needed. And it all started with something I read online. Read More
I’d like to say I’m the kind of person who stands firm in the face of demands from critters looking for extra food or attention. But it would be a lie. Read More
Farming is fulfilling, but it can also be exceptionally stressful, especially because the causes of stress are quite unlike those of any other occupation. Read More
A month or so ago, when brainstorming ideas for my column, my editor approached me with a challenge: spend $10 at the local Goodwill and wow her by upcycling thrift store finds into new treasures. Read More
Close interaction or cuddling with that same chick or its adult poultry parents can be a real health risk for humans. Read More
Let’s talk about waste. Specifically, let’s talk about how to waste less in 2020. Read More
When it comes to helping me get out of whatever jam I have gotten myself into here on Rusty Metal Farm, I’ll take a northern Maine farmer in Carhartts any day of the week. Read More
I have spent so much time caring for animals that I haven’t written in a while. We’ve also been able to get some work done on the house recently. Fortunately, there’s a lot to report, including the recent addition of a puppy! In early… Read More
These pests can wreak havoc on hard-earned crops. And some of them are expected to make appearances in Maine next year. Read More
Making a no-sew t-shirt bag helps reduce textile waste and plastic waste. Plus, it seems much more likely that you’ll remember to actually use a bag that has sentimental value that you made with your own two hands. Read More
It’s looking like a blue Christmas here on Rusty Metal Farm. Not blue as in sad or melancholy, though. Blue in color. Read More
In general, though, the process is fairly easy, and making maple syrup snow candy is a fun way to spend a snowy day, Laura Ingalls Wilder-style. Read More
I never imagined it would be running every day that would lead my son to rediscover the joys of cooking. I’m not complaining though. Read More
By April, I’m pretty sure I’ll have some new and quite color descriptions of winter in Maine. Read More
Upcycling in one of its earliest forms — how could I resist? Read More
