by Dan | Mar 30, 2019 | Black Sheep Manor, Blog, Featured
One of the new things we’re trying in Year Three here at stately Black Sheep Manor is a seed-starting system based on a U.K. technique called “soil blocking.” My stepfather, Michael Sasser, gave me his soil blocking equipment in the winter of...
by Dan | Apr 24, 2018 | Black Sheep Manor, Blog, Random Xarking
Today’s long but thought-provoking read is Dylan Matthews’ “The myth of an ending: why even removing Trump from office won’t save American democracy/It feels like this moment in history deserves a definitive ending. It won’t get one,” at Vox....
by Dan | Jan 30, 2018 | Black Sheep Manor, Blog
For those of you keeping score at home, here’s the run-down on the current state of the 2018 BSM food-raising plan. BACKGROUND In 2016, we cleared an overgrown, eroded field that I calculate at about 0.30 of an acre. We made a vegetable garden on about 2k square...
by Dan | Nov 1, 2017 | Black Sheep Manor, Blog, Uncategorized
Imagine a Democratic Party platform that begins with the following lines: The conscience of the people, in a time of grave national problems, has called into being a new party, born of the nation’s sense of justice. We dedicate ourselves to the fulfillment of...
by Dan | Oct 12, 2016 | Black Sheep Manor, Blog, Books
Let’s talk about names in fantasy stories. Not just character names, but place names, plant names, animal names. Any kind of name, for any kind of thing you can imagine. Make a thing too exotic, your readers won’t remember them. Doubt me? OK, thought...
by Dan | Sep 21, 2016 | Black Sheep Manor, Blog
Q: My (tractor/tiller/chainsaw/trimmer/weedeater/truck/gas-powered-vibrator) won’t start. What should I do? Asking for a friend. — Random Internet Person A: I generally find that ignoring it for a while works wonders. If it still won’t start later,...
