Yearly we’ve got planted a backyard. That first yr after our marriage ceremony we planted our first subsequent to the outdated barn we had simply bought in Bar Mills.
Lettuce, tomatoes, chives, strawberries, cukes, onions, beans, squash; we realized the glory of farm to desk consuming. Once we moved out to the woods or nearer the coast and eventually to Chebeague Island, we planted taking cuttings from the primary gardens and including new varieties to the menu. We benefited early from buddies that shared begins of favored crops.
Once we constructed a home in Ross Nook the place the ’47 fireplace had burned all the highest soil, buddies gave us a truckload of manure for our anniversary. Once we restored the outdated home on Pier Highway, we constructed raised beds from outdated wharf boards introduced dwelling from the Kennebunkport dump. We planted rows of Rugosa gathered by the pier behind stone partitions constructed from area stones taken from the outdated basis changed after we raised the home.
On the island we planted dozens of excessive bush blueberries and grape vines that offered jams and pies. The traditional Newcombe backyard close to the Island College offered heirloom pink climbing rose we’ve got unfold throughout southern Maine. We realized to propagate from wild crops discovered close to the seashores or cellar holes.
In each web site we realized the right way to amend the completely different native soils with native wastes. In Bar Mills it was tons of rooster manure hauled from Blackie Dearborn’s henhouses. At Cape Porpoise and Chebeague we trucked seaweed collected off the seashores. Now out in Maplewood it’s tons of leaves collected every fall.
Each web site has outdated apple timber pruned and restored and new ones planted. We now have realized to graft, layer, and divide native crops. Now on the brand new outdated farm on Mountain Highway by Province Lake we think about perennials and nurture acres of sugar maples, Fox grapes, and foraged fiddleheads.
We’re studying to maintain large cotton, milkweed, and wild irises on our wetlands. We’re surrounded with a historical past of cuttings from our earlier gardens and including new crops like elderberries every year. This yr is our first for solar holes and llama poo: one thing outdated, one thing new, one thing shared, and one thing blueberries.
— Particular to the Telegram
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