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Latest Entries from Dust and Roots
2024 Monadstock V
In 2011, we hosted a backyard concert at our home in the Monadnock region of NH, calling it "Monadstock." It ran for three years on Labor Day weekend, featuring local musicians and food from Fedder’s Famous Smokehouse, drawing 70–90 people annually. After taking a break in 2014 due to work, we revived Monadstock in 2023 and plan to continue the tradition for years to come.
What’s up with the Old Tractors?
Several people have asked me recently “What’s up with the old tractors? You have a couple of new ones, what are you going to do with the antiques?” And sometimes they throw in “and what exactly is Dust and Roots about?” Fair question, but for many I have found...
Limey Summer Vegetables over Linguini
This is another recipe that is more of an outline than a strict recipe. Much of what goes into it is dictated by what’s in the garden or the vegetable drawer. A few of the components need to be a part of it: the limes, garlic, cashews, mushrooms and parmesan are...
Farm Life: Chores
Chores are a part of the fabric of our life; a part of all farmer’s lives. If you are reading this because you are curious; or contemplating or just getting started homesteading, this may help you understand some of what’s involved. We will likely write essays like...
On Being Nature’s Steward
My father loved reptiles and passed his interest on to my brother and me. In hindsight I’m not sure but there may be some deep symbolism in his affection for these cold blooded creatures. He grew up in a hugely dysfunctional family that he rarely spoke about and...
Putting up Electric Fencing
I haven’t put up an electric fence in thirty years, but I need to now. When I go back twenty, thirty or more years; the runways of my memory are often shrouded in heavy fog. I don’t remember much about this process although when I went to Tractor Supply I seemed to...
The New Potato Patch
We grew potatoes in one of the large diameter raised beds in 2021. We planted on planting weekend which is Memorial Day here in Zone 5B. They could have gone in earlier but we didn’t get to it. We had modest success; I think we harvested around 25 pounds of...
Alan Brunacini… a Life Well Lived
I was thinking the other day about the intersections of our lives where one aspect of our life crosses over into another. This of course happens a lot. In this particular case I was thinking about my how my professional life influenced the rest of my life. I have...