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Rusty Metal Farm
When you have farm critters, you have good reason for paranoia
Do you ever have the feeling you are being watched? When you share your home with a variety of critters, you are always under observation. | Photo by Julia Bayly
You know that old saying, “Just because you’re paranoid doesn't mean they!-->!-->!-->…
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A well-running tractor is this homesteader’s best friend
There's an art to connecting hydraulic lines from farm implements to a farm tractor. | Photo by Julia Bayly
I am perfectly aware that there are a great many people who live full, productive and happy lives without a tractor. I’m just!-->!-->!-->…
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Who needs a gym membership when you live on a homestead
Looking for a good workout? Try chasing down two running dogs. | Photo by Julia Bayly
It’s no secret living on a farm or homestead can be physically demanding. That’s why those who choose that rural lifestyle don’t have the desire, need!-->!-->!-->…
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On the farm or in the fields, accidents and first aid come with the territory
First aid kits are a must on any farm or homestead. Just be sure to check the expiration dates of any and all contents, lest they be expired or, worse yet, rendered to dust.|Photo by Julia Bayly
There’s an inescapable reality when you!-->!-->!-->…
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A farm by any other name is still a lot of hard work
Ask any four or five people to define “farming” and you will, in all likelihood, get four or five different answers. Farming is one of those things that while people know it when they see it or smell it, they have a hard time putting it!-->…
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My cats are adventure cats
Rusty Metal Farm's Miss Kitty Carlisle and Chiclet tag along on a woodland hike. | Photo by Julia Bayly
Thanks to Instagram and a really great outdoors feature written by my colleague Aislinn Sarnaki about people who hike with their!-->!-->!-->…
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Forget eggs, the real bonus of chickens is the entertainment they provide
Chickens of all shapes, sizes and colors congregate happily on Rusty Metal Farm. | Photo by Julia Bayly
I admit it, when I first decided to raise egg-laying chickens on Rusty Metal Farm, I honestly thought they were good for one thing!-->!-->!-->…
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Confessions of a dedicated tree hugger
Whenever trees are harvested on Rusty Metal Farm, great care is taken to flag those that are to be spared. Tiny farm dog Chiclet enjoys supervising this process. | Photo by Julia Bayly
Here’s a question -- If a tree falls in the forest!-->!-->!-->…
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Willingness to open land to hunters connects four new friends and some moose steaks
Seeing moose like this is one of the many reasons to manage land for wildlife. | Photo by Julia Bayly
I’ve lived in northern Maine for close to 40 years and I am still amazed by the land use laws that stipulate property is open to the!-->!-->!-->…
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How a country garage sale earned more than a few bucks
The first step in the Rusty Metal Farm garage sale was figuring out what various and sundry tools actually were. | Photo by Julia Bayly
Hold a garage sale, they said. It will be fun, they said. You’ll make a few bucks, they said.
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Friends are crucial if you live at the intersection of farming and wanderlust
The Rusty Metal Farm chickens are not at all shy about looking for food or treats when they feel neglected. | Photo by Julia Bayly
Physically, Rusty Metal Farm sits atop Maine along the Canadian border, but in many ways, it also sits!-->!-->!-->…
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It’s an international life here on Rusty Metal Farm
Living on the United States-Canadian border is a truly international life. | Photo by Julia Bayly
After living in far northern Maine for close to four decades, it’s easy for me to forget that life in a border town is a very novel!-->!-->!-->…
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