Maine's blueberry crop has struggled to contend with competition from less expensive Canadian-grown wild blueberries. Read More
When a fire destroyed a Clifton chicken coop last week, firefighters identified a newly installed heat lamp as the most likely cause for the blaze that killed six chickens. In the wake of that fire, officials want people to know the risks associated with those heat sources. Read More
But as much as I read about cooking in cast iron before making the switch, there are some things I just had to learn by doing. Here are a few things I’ve learned since switching to cast iron. Read More
The whole time I ate my mug full, I thought about how it reminded me of my favorite tuna salad with its onions, celery, dill and pickles. Read More
For decades, wooden cabinets with drawers upon drawers containing paper cards were used by library patrons, students, researchers and bibliophiles to search for books by author, title or subject. Read More
Ask Sarah
In two workshops, eight craftsman, each members of the 20-family Smyrna Amish church, work year-round building everything from simple storage sheds to elaborate camps ready for occupation. Read More
The owners of a 196-square-foot tiny house in Alna may pursue a petition after learning the town considers the structure illegal. Read More
Tiny houses tend to be 100 to 400 square feet. Read More
Of course you have to serve chocolate on Valentine’s Day. Read More
Good old baked beans. Where would we be in winter without them? Read More
A few weeks ago, a friend of mine introduced me to this version of a chili dog, and I thought right away that it was perfect for the big game. Read More
On the day I quit ballet, leaving the ballet company I’d been so excited to join and giving up my chance at performing all over the country with them, I sobbed uncontrollably. It was impulsive. My mother and grandmother had come to my class —… Read More
I reread “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” by T.S. Eliot recently. The poem that spoke to me as a creative, curious sixteen year old pondering aging held new meaning to me as an adult celebrating a birthday two decades and change later. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
Hot dogs with crispy, perhaps even slightly charred, skin. The rich aroma of juicy burgers cooking on the grill. The sizzle of sausages cooking. These are among the textures, smells and sounds of summer barbecues. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
More from Homestead
Every so often there are days when enough goes wrong around here that if someone offered to buy the farm, I’d simply hand them the keys and drive off on my tractor. Assuming it started. Read More
Experts agree that carbon-neutral beef is possible, though. But even the possibility of carbon-neutral beef faces issues of scalability, misinformation and whether demand for beef will ever truly be satiated. Read More
Ice fishing is a test of patience. But don’t worry: that feeling of catching a fish will be worth the wait. Read More
University of Maine Cooperative Extension will offer two sessions on using small-scale greenhouses to extend the growing season beginning 1-3 p.m. on Thursday March 12, at the UMaine Extension office, 165 East Main St. in Dover-Foxcroft. The program repeats from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday,… Read More
BELFAST — Learn which insects are enemies in your garden and which are beneficial, and plan now to practice prevention and responsible control of destructive insects during the upcoming gardening season. On Tuesday, Feb. 18, insect diagnostician Clay Kirby of the University of Maine will present… Read More
CAMDEN — The final presentation of Camden Garden Club’s 2020 Winter Horticulture Series takes place at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at the Camden Public Library. James Beard award-winning author and lecturer Sandy Oliver’s talk is entitled “Annual Vegetable Miracle – Garden to Table.” Oliver… Read More
Just in case you have been thinking about what it would be like to begin a new adventure as a beekeeper, the opportunity to do so is just around the corner! googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
What if there was a way you could spend less on food, have less trash to take out to the curb each week and eat really well? There is. Read More
Sometimes the hardest part of starting a simple lifestyle is finding the right home. Read More
It’s rare that one of my furry or feathered friends pushes me to the point of overwhelming exasperation, but it happens. Read More
Even though I am unlikely to become a full-time vegan, I figured the challenge would be like a cleanse for my culinary routine. Here’s what I learned. Read More
Overall, sausage making isn’t as gross as the axioms would have you believe. Read More
I am what you would call a “red tractor” woman. No John Deeres, Fords, Olivers or Allis-Chalmers for this girl. Read More
Over time, the program will help in developing practices that help beekeepers improve the health of their bees. Read More
Ice harvesting is certainly not for the faint of heart. The skill requires a fair number of special antique tools and knowledge of proper ice safety protocol in order to execute it safely and successfully. Read More
Forget the white picket fence. Hedgelaying may be the perfect fencing option for your homestead. Read More
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
It’s not that I don’t enjoy the outdoors or working outdoors. But gardening? I have an honest to goodness hostile reaction to it. Read More
Over the past few decades, these alpaca farmers in Maine have been able to sustain their living — even as many early adopters have left the industry — by maintaining diverse streams of income around the versatile animal, from fiber products to programs that allows people to “lease” an alpaca and board it at a farm for a fee. Read More
Natural deodorants have risen in popularity over the last few years as consumers gravitate towards natural, sustainable beauty products. 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
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
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
