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Kingdom Farmer

Vermont farmer William Butler enthusiastically traded in his tractor for a team of horses for plowing, making hay and logging.  With the increasing price of fuel and decreasing returns on milk, this move was economical (as was switching to organic milk production).  “Now I’m keeping my money,” he says. Not only do the horses save

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Weed Control

Three MOFGA growers – Matt Williams, Dave Colson and Rob Johanson – told a large, enthusiastic audience about their organic weed control methods at a MOFGA-sponsored talk at the Maine Agricultural Trades Show in Augusta in January. Winter Grains and Summer Fallow Matt Williams grows oats and wheat at his Aurora Mills & Farm in

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Small Farm Draft Power

The power and beauty of draft animals delighted many visitors to MOFGA’s Common Ground Country Fair last September. Owners shared their expertise with numerous people who are interested in using this ecological method of farming, or who simply love the animals. English photos. Thanks to Ed Hamel for the captions. Sarah Faull of Mandala Farm

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Lifestyle and Alzheimers Disease

What is dementia? Dementia is a group of symptoms characterized by a decline in intellectual functioning severe enough to interfere with a person’s normal daily activities and social relationships. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in older persons. https://nihseniorhealth.gov/alzheimersdisease/faq/faq2a.html What is Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia

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Gardening for Monarchs

Monarch butterfly adults feed on Echinacea (and many other species), while larvae require milkweed leaves. Planting for Monarchs can help these animals as they face habitat destruction and limited food sources in industrial-agricultural monocultures. Photo by Larry Lack. Monarch caterpillar feeding on milkweed leaves. Photo by Larry Lack. By Larry Lack and Lee Ann Ward

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Milkweed Seeds

By Jean English Collecting milkweed seed is a late fall tradition in our family. When the seeds are bursting out of their pods in late fall, they’re carried away on dry and windy days – or stuffed into a paper bag to sit on a shelf by our door all winter. Come spring, when the

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Ask MOFGA

Q. I like to feed the birds but am concerned about offering genetically engineered seeds. Are any birdseeds engineered? A. Genetically engineered varieties of most birdseed ingredients have not been commercialized. An exception would be any mix containing corn; genetically engineered corn is widely planted. The Union of Concerned Scientists (www.ucsusa.org/) lists the following crops

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Honoring Hestia

Colette harvests big tomatoes, and abundance of chard, and much more to supply her family all year with fresh and preserved produce. Photo courtesy of the Thompson family. by Marada Cook Hestia was a goddess of hearth and fire. Greek script lacks capital letters to distinguish names from objects, so Hestia meant literally the ‘hearth,’

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Healthy Food in Hospitals

The stir fry bar at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Photo courtesy of Maine Medical Center. by Terry Allan For most people, hospital food conjures images of bland, institutional, overcooked meat and vegetables accompanied by surreal Jell-O. But a quiet revolution taking place gradually in hospital kitchens around the country has positive implications not only

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Redefining Soil Fertility

There is No Soil Fertility Without a Healthy Forest Branches under 3 inches in diameter, from deciduous trees, can be chipped to make a soil-building, crop-fertilizing amendment.  English photo. by Céline Caron Terms in italics are defined in the glossary at the end of this article. Have you ever wondered how a forest can grow

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