Tag Archives: Gretchen Quarterman

Sugar cane in bed and rows to plant it 2026-03-22

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With a little shovel and hoe work, we got the insulating dirt off the sugarcane bed.

[Anna's father, Bob Gronko, Anna Stange, Gretchen Quarterman, sugar cane]
Anna’s father, Bob Gronko, Anna Stange, Gretchen Quarterman, sugar cane

Inside, the cane is in good shape, much of it already sprouting.

So I used the tractor to make rows to plant it. Continue reading →

Burning five acres 2026-01-06

Thanks to Max Barzallo and Mary Clement for helping burn five acres around the house. And of course thanks to Honeybun, Blondie, River, and Sky for helping.

Now if another fire gets loose, it won’t burn to the house.

[Burning five acres, Pine fire forest 2026-01-06, With neighbor help, and dogs]
Burning five acres, Pine fire forest 2026-01-06, With neighbor help, and dogs

Here’s some video:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1644259806439943/

https://youtu.be/l3fZ-Adr_3I

For those who are not familiar with prescribed burns, we live in a longleaf fire forest. Southern pine trees are fire resistant, so burns don’t affect them much, but the fire does cut back on vines and other undergrowth, as well as competing oaks, sweetgum, and other trees.

Wildlife benefits. Continue reading →

River, Sky, and Blondie 2025-12-27

River likes to clean her sister’s ear.

Sky seems to like it.

Blondie just looks away.

[River cleaning Sky's ear while Blondie looks away]
River cleaning Sky’s ear while Blondie looks away

All three are Carolina Dogs, a little-known landrace breed that was here before the settlers.

-jsq

Tis but a scratch 2025-11-26

Whilst mowing up some privet that had grown up since Hurricane Helene, the 18-inch Ego electric chainsaw fell under the tractor mower.

[In a bucket]
In a bucket

Turns out if you shatter a lithium battery, the pieces get very hot.

After I put out the several grass fires, in the bucket is what we collected.

I think the black knight said it best:

“Tis but a scratch.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmInkxbvlCs Continue reading →