News from Up North
April 27th, 2014 · No Comments · Posted in News from Up North
A great sense of relief settled on the farm this week with the arrival of electric netting to protect our flock of laying hens.
We recently suffered a 30 percent loss of our Rhode Island Reds to some kind of predator attack. Fox? Coyote? We’re still not sure. It started brazenly during the day, then continued after dark when many of the chickens failed to make it back into the coop before it was closed for the night.
The poor chickens were confined to their little capsule of a mobile coop in the fruit orchard while we waited for the new fencing to arrive. But now they’re happy again, roaming an area inside 320 feet of netting. They are back to scratching in the grass, foraging on whatever bugs they find and clearing patches of bare soil for their dust baths. And they are laying eggs on a daily basis with no signs of predators so far.
Sadly, the hens don’t get to wander around the property freely anymore, as we originally envisioned. But the electric fencing is easily moved to a new area whenever the chickens start to wear out their current locale. It can’t guarantee we won’t lose any of our hens. They’re still vulnerable to hawks and other birds of prey. But we feel reasonably assured that they are safe from critters of the four-legged variety. Fingers crossed….
If you missed it yesterday, you can still catch the Washington County Fiber Tour today. The weather’s been a bit miserable–cold and rainy. But numerous farms in the area will have their gates open to visitors on this self-directed tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sheep, goats, alpacas–they’re all on full display along with various fleecing and spinning demonstrations. You’d never know it for all the dairy farms, but at one time, wool production was a huge industry in Washington County. Go to www.washingtoncountyfibertour. org for tour details.
Emerald ash borer, which threatens to devastate our region’s population of ash trees, is fast approaching. It’s already been sighted in Rensselaer county. Cornell Cooperative Extension is offering a class in identifying the pest and ways of responding on Wednesday, April 3, at 7 p.m. at the extension office in Troy. Fee is $6. Call Marcie for registration information at 518 272-4210.
Hubbard Hall in Cambridge has opened its production of John Steinbeck’s classic, Of Mice and Men. Based on Steinbeck’s novel, the story of two migrant laborer’s, the play runs through May 18 with 13 performances. Tickets are $25, or $15 for students and children.
On Thursday, May 1, Hubbard Hall’s “curiosity forum” presents Bill Morgan to discuss his book, The Civil War Lover’s Guide to New York City. You may be surprised to learn that citizens of the Big Apple were largely sympathetic to the cause of the Confederacy and twice voted overwhelmingly against Abraham Lincoln. The mayor refused to fly the American flag over city hall on the day of Lincoln’s inauguration.
Fund raising has begun for LariAnn Finning-Hayes, a well-known waitress for years in these parts who is scheduled to undergo a double-lung transplant after being diagnosed with bronchiectasis. She will probably spend a month in the hospital, then require lifelong medication and treatment. A ham dinner hosted by friends Kathleen and John Mills is scheduled at the Cambridge Food Pantry (Lower Brieman Building) on May 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. Or you can support LariAnn by visiting www.gofundme.com/8c3rew, where some $2,000 has already been raised toward a goal of $30,000.
Organizers of the annual Cambridge Valley Balloon Festival are looking for sponsors and volunteers. The balloon fest is one of the area’s biggest events each year. This year’s festival is scheduled for June 6 through June 8. To become a sponsor or volunteer, contact the organizers at 518 677-0887.
Greenwich American Legion Post 515 is holding its annual “spring fling” on Saturday May 3. The event features hamburgers and hot dogs from 1 to 3 p.m. and a barbecue chicken dinner at 5:30. Green Core and special guest Mike McMann provide the music from 6:30 to 9:30. And there’s a horse shoe tournament with a nominal entry fee at 1 p.m.
Finally, the Greenwich Community Garden is scheduled to break ground May 10 at its new location behind St. Joseph’s Church on Bleecker and Hill Streets. Plans are being finalized for plowing, disking and rototilling some 6,300 square feet. Most of the garden’s plots have already been spoken for, but there are still a few left. To sign up, residents can email the garden at greenwichcommunitygarden@gmail.com.
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