We live in rural Central Massachusetts on land that is mostly coniferous and deciduous forest. We live in the 5b zone but likely have some characteristics of a more northern region as we are at about 1100 feet.

We get snow when eastern MA doesnt. We live in “snow alley” here in MA though, with recent global warming effects, we have not been getting much winter like weather and our snow storms have been much less impressive. We depend on slow release snow for our water so snow is not a bad thing.

We are growing our garden in the organic way with a goal of a permaculture loop that includes plants and animals as well as all the creepy crawlies.

Our animals now include a medium sized home flock of some 35 layers and roosters, 1 duck, and 11 female LaMancha dairy goats. We also have a guard llama named Misty.