Monthly Archives: December 2023

farming, Uncategorized

December 2, 2023 Shed building and a walk around Saint Andrews Forest Farm

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For weeks, we have been building our shed. It will be our camp until we have more structures. We are pleased with how it has come together. The doors and windows are on and roof is sealed with a protective membrane. Yesterday, we added drip edge to seal down the roof membrane. As we worked, we heard the woodpecker in the forest laughing. We still have lots of details, trim and the metal roof to put on the shed but are pleased with the progress and could begin to use it as a camp soon. We were prepared for this weekend but our plans were rained out so we are going to use the extra time to get the inside insulated and fitted out a bit.

Sea foam in the woods? It’s Reindeer Lichen, Cladonia rangiferina found throughout the forest. This was near the bottom slope by the waterway in a cluster.
Moss
Yellow stalked puffball found in clearing
Several clusters of the yellow stalked puffball found near several old Earthstars. We have seen them along South Trail as well during the summer after rain. They are michorizal with Oak.
Cranefly Orchid leaves. We see clusters of these throughout SAFF. The corms are edible although we have not tried them yet. The flowers in the summertime are delicate and abundantly spread throughout the forest.
May be Corticoid sp. Further observation necessary.
Lichen and fungus

We’re finding interesting mushrooms and plants on our walks through the forest. Yesterday, we started our trail from front off of the driveway and walked down along the waterway and connected to South Trail. We passed by Chanterelle Trail, not wanting to disturb the fox family and headed to the bottom trail. We followed our trail around to where SAFF meets the back road and walked along our side of the property line. We passed through where we saw the black bear months back and saw no evidence of him. We have found trees in multiple spots with bark scratched pecked or bitten off.

This could be black bear or woodpecker. Most likely not deer. We have ruled out porcupine because they aren’t found in Virginia anymore. The trees with the removed bark are all dead conifers. Something is trying to get to the bugs underneath or maybe eat the bark, we wonder. …

It has been dry in Virginia. We’ve had forest fires in the National Forest and a month long drought. Hunting season is in full swing. We are careful to always wear blaze orange shirts. We hear rifles and shotguns and dogs. This weekend we finally got a good long soaking rain. This was a great relief.