My Hermit Haven

 Good morning and welcome to Hermit Hill. (July 24, 2023).

What a lovely Monday morning. I have decided to start this week on a good note; I really need to stop scrolling mindlessly and get back to blogging about my adventures here in Maine. 

As you likely all know, we purchased a logged 25 acre parcel of land in Western Maine, in 2017. 

The main goal is to eventually replace many of the trees (with fruit trees) and create a creature haven, like I did in Middlebury, only on a much larger scale. So far, so good. To date, I have planted 19 Paw-Paw saplings, which I grew from seeds off of our Vermont trees. There are 3 pears (one of which I have to move), 2 Apricots, 6 Mulberries, 3 walnuts, and 2 Hazelnuts. There is also one lone Apple up in the top orchard, as I keep forgetting to get a matey for it. It's just as well, as it also needs moving, because the Deer just will not leave it alone, despite the sledge piles up there.  I also planted many redbuds, along skid row (which will eventually serve as the wildfood path), just because I love their flowers. As for bushes, well, it seems as though I am only going to end up with a single Spicebush here, just like I only ended up with a single one in Vermont. The Goddess does speak in mysterious ways, doesn't she? lol. 

But, I also have planted 12-15 blueberry plants and at least that many Honeyberries. I think my berry planting is done for the near future as I am slightly worried about the Spotted Fruit fly invasion. I read in Samuel Thayers new tome, that they may be less vigorous if there are only a couple different berries in an area. I guess we'll see. The lot is rife with so many blackberries that it may serve as an income in the coming years, and there will be more then one section of them, so maybe that will help. Gosh knows that I really don't need Apple or Blueberry plants, as this state is chock-a-block full of orchards, still.

Someday, I hope to woodburn all of my planted greenery with their latin names on a small spare board (left over from construction purposes). It's definately a winter sort of project, but is part of my secondary goal of creating wild food walks to also educate humans about the food all around us. It can only help to make folks aware enough to practice ethical conservation. 

In any case, the work will never be done, so blogging in the morning is something I can and should, be doing. We kept no before and after records of all our work in Vermont, and I do not wish to make the sme mistake here. Plus, marking is a vital goal of education, since I can't be available all of the time.Not to mention that education is not something I love, or am particularly good at, so self hikes by donation, might and probably will be, the outcome.

So, on that note, I will leave this mornings meanderings with a final note: 

Be Kind, always.