Norfolk’s Weather—March 2016
Record Low Winter-Season Snowfall By Russell Russ This winter’s unusual and relatively snowless pattern continued through March. Temperatures were well above normal for most of the month. Record warmth on March 9 and 10 cleared the remaining ice from most local lakes and ponds, which was over five weeks earlier than last winter. For […]
Through The Garden Gate—May 2016
Getting Your Garden Back Into Shape By Leslie Watkins Here in The Icebox of Connecticut, tradition holds that our last possible frost date is Memorial Day. Global Weirding may fool us into planting out earlier, but it is better to hold off for the tender annuals like tomatoes, basil, peppers, begonias and impatiens. There […]
Norfolk’s February 2016 Weather
A One Month Winter Season? By Russell Russ Winter finally arrived this month, bringing with it a near-average amount of snowfall and briefly some very cold temperatures. Unlike last year’s snowy deep freeze of a month, this year gave us just a taste of what normal February weather should be. Even with a brief […]
Norfolk’s January 2016 Weather
Winter Weather Still on Hold By Russell Russ Unlike our previous two Januarys, January 2016 came and went without much in the way of winter weather. It was warmer than normal and snowfall was well below normal. It just seemed that winter was on hold. Our last two Januarys had above average snowfall and […]
Through the Garden Gate—March 2016
March, Who Are You Calling Chicken? By Leslie Watkins Permaculture is the conscious design of agricultural systems that behave like natural ecosystems. According to Graham Bell, “It is the harmonious integration of the landscape with people providing their food, energy, shelter and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way.” One principle of […]
A Playful Presence in the Woods
The North American River Otter By Wiley Wood The tracks look dog-like, big pugmarks in the snow coming up from the lake, crossing the ski trail and climbing the bank on the far side. But the coyote, if it is one, is dragging something heavy in its mouth, making a long, shallow dent in […]
Norfolk’s Year-End Weather and a 2015 Summary
Unusual Weather to Finish the Year By Russell Russ The closing months of 2015 brought warm weather and below-average amounts of rain and snow. While unusual for Norfolk, but it seemed a fitting end to a strange weather year. Numerous months throughout the year ranked high in several categories. Warm temperatures, rainfall deficits […]
It’s Only Natural—February 2016
A Legacy of Conservation By Hans M. Carlson The end of 2015 was dry, and before all the recent rain and snow the swamps and ponds were very low. It was nice to walk dry-shod into new places, but ecologically the low water in the wetlands was worrisome. So many amphibians rely on being […]
Through the Garden Gate—February 2016
February, Time Travel By Leslie Watkins What if you could travel through time, predict the future and divine meteorological events? And what if by doing so you could create food, clothing, shelter and a less stressful existence–an existence that would afford you more time to enjoy leisure activities, have deeper relationships with loved […]
