In this episode, Master Gardener Volunteer Nicole Schmitt joins Tim and Jean to talk about her mini farm where she raises goats, chickens and hogs amidst an active flower farming operation. Small-scale farming is experiencing a resurgence, and Nicole has hands-on experience to share. Nicole describes how she came into Hannacroix Hills Farm, her ten acre farm based from a nineteen thirties farmhouse, by chance. Since assuming the property, she has been able to fulfill her dream of escaping suburbia and knowing exactly where her food comes from. She is also striving to have the farm support itself in an ecologically responsible manner.

Her descriptions of the herd of Nubian goats, dozens of chickens, and a small group of pigs tell about the ultimate uses for each type of animal. The goats are dairy goats, and their product is for personal use, with surplus being fed to the pigs. Some of the kids are sold for livestock as 4-H projects. The pigs are a seasonal endeavor, being bought as piglets in the spring, then allowed to forage in a special fenced area until the fall, when they are sent to be butchered and sold as half and whole shares, custom butchered. All her animals are raised as near organic as possible, although regulations make it too cumbersome to qualify as officially organic with the state. Each type of animal serves as a factor in the cycle of life on the farm. Surplus dairy product from the goats feeds the chickens and pigs. The chicken waste becomes fertile compost, and the pigs roaming their fenced area are rooting up the soil and serve as disruptors to improve the ultimate quality of the soil for other farm uses.

Nicole admits to being fond of her animals, more than she probably should be, but counts her emotional well-being as part of the benefits. Her chicken flock is dear to her heart. There are no favorite breeds, as she finds them all beautiful, each in their own ways. One group of hens is dedicated to egg production and another to meat production, both essential to the financial survival of the farm. In answer to Tim's question about maintaining general healthy conditions among the animals, Nicole explains that twice daily flock inspection for egg gathering keeps an eye on conditions among the birds. Likewise, the goats and pigs are monitored daily at feeding and milking times. To date, this vigilance has headed off any surprise disasters.

As usual, the conversation went astray, with random questions flying. A brief discussion focused on Nicole's current stint as manager of the Coxsackie Farmer's Market. The episode closed with Nicole giving a thoughtful comment on what she would like to see in the near future with her experiment in farming and livestock rearing.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas Guest: Nicole Schmitt

Photo by: Jean Thomas Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Jean Thomas

Master Gardener Volunteer for Cornell Cooperative Extension in Ulster County, Barbara Bravo, joins the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley podcast to provide some guidance and ideas. This collection of four previously aired Made in the Shade short segments has been consolidated into a single episode that focuses entirely on shade gardening.

The first segment discusses the differences between light shade, partial share and deep shade, some of the advantages of shade gardening, and things to consider when selecting appropriate plants for your garden.

Next, learn about Barbara's recommendations for drought-tolerant plants that thrive in dry shade. They are a game-changer for those struggling to cultivate their gardens. Epimedium, brunnera, liriope, hellebores and carex are all options that may work for you.

The third segment focuses on the wide range of options available to add some height to a New York shade garden which usually consist of low-growing plants. But structure and interest can be added with a number of shade tolerant plants such as flowering quince, giant fleece flower and goat’s beard. Ninebark is one of Barbara's favorites. Typically known as a medium shrub native to the eastern and central United States, there are ninebark cultivars that do well in shade. In addition to being a pollinator favorite, most varieties are drought tolerant too.

This episode concludes with a segment on how to add contrast and texture to a summer shade garden. By incorporating plants like Ligularia ‘Britt Marie Crawford’, Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’, Athyrium niponicum, Dryopteris Ferns and others, your shade garden doesn’t have to be ‘boring’. Keep it going into the fall with Colchicum autumnale ‘Pleniflorum’ a/k/a Autumn Crocus, or Asarum Europa a/k/a European wild ginger. Listen to the possibilities!

These tips can help you make a shade garden the focal point of your landscape.

Host: Jean Thomas

Guest: Barbara Bravo

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Jean Thomas

Resources

In this episode, Master Gardener Volunteers Jean and Tim chat with Joe Behn of Behn's Best Perennials in Malden Bridge, NY. Joe has been our guest multiple times before, on episodes 9, 65 and 66. On these prior occasions, we delved into the world of perennials, as Joe is a respected wholesaler of perennials to the landscaping world. This time, we spoke to him during his winter hiatus and he described his life as being “me in my pajamas, accompanied by the dogs".

For a change of perspective, Joe was asked to provide a topic other than growing and/or selecting perennials. He suggested talking about a style of gardening that goes in and out of style... making garden rooms. This is an almost inevitable response to the ever-present challenge of deer. Joe explained that the core idea of garden rooms was making walls and fences around “rooms” where deer could not penetrate. This would make it possible to garden with plants the deer would usually wipe out in one visit. Hardscaping was one focus of a wide-ranging conversation, with ideas flying fast and furious. Joe has strong opinions about the idea that a fence should be beautiful on both sides as well as impermeable to deer and other freeloaders.The conversation then ranged from plant selection, to space demands of a smaller garden, to the value of hardscaping for simplifying maintenance. And, as usual, Jean and Tim had many questions for Joe about their own gardens and plant shopping. Enjoy!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas Guest: Joe Behn

Photo by: National Park Service Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Jean Thomas

Resources