Hello!

My name is Aldona, but you can call me Alda. I don't want to bore you, but incase you're wondering who is writing this farmy blog, here are a few words about me:

   Grew up outside of Masontown WV, moved away for college (I have a BA in photojournalism and digital media), travelled in Europe and volunteered on farms in Italy, France, Spain, and Lithuania through the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) program, took a cross country road trip, worked in Pittsburgh for a minute, and then moved home to delve (dirt covered) hands first into homesteading.
   I learned a lot from my parents about gardening and homesteading, but I am still learning as I go - both from them and from my own trials and errors.
   I write a weekly column about homesteading and local interests for The Dominion Post of Morgantown, so pick up a Monday paper and let me (and the editors) know what you think!

A little about the farm:
   We have a few gardens, an orchard, a small flock of chickens, cats, and a dog. If we are counting critters we feed with our hard work, we also have deer, groundhogs, bunnies, bears, gophers, birds, bugs, mice, moles, voles, and just about any other pest you can think of - although these are not pets we're fond of.
   The woods here are great for mushrooming, berry picking (if we can beat the bears and birds), and other types of foraging.
   We preserve as much food as we can and I'm hoping that within a year or two I'll be growing enough food for my family, and working toward self-sufficiency.

   I hope you find some of my farm and home activities interesting and inspiring, and please let me know what you think. I'm always looking for new ideas, insights, and community. Let's be friends!