Haynes Mansfield, Author at Life Appalachia

West Virginia By Design

11 years ago

Friends And Family

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Crunching through what everyone hopes is the last snow of spring I stroll up the path to Elizabeth's little, white rental house. With a creak of the back porch screen door two things quickly reveal this is not your typical home in West Virginia. The first, a geometric abstract painting that hangs on the wall of the enclosed porch (signed E.M.) The second, t[...]

Plant Tomatoes With The Trench Method

11 years ago

Haynes Mansfield

Farm To Table, Grow It Yourself, How To

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If we only needed one reason to garden a fresh summer tomato would probably fit the bill. I’m not going to belabor this point, but the hard red orbs that line our produce aisles are not tomatoes, not even close. Those buggers have had the tomato cross-bred right out of them in favor of storage life, ease of shipping and ease of harvest all at the expense of [...]

Stout Grove Appalachian Homesteading In West Virginia

11 years ago

Haynes Mansfield

Farm To Table, Friends And Family

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The crisp air of the sunny Saturday afternoon made if feel like a fall day as Sadie and I pulled off the two lane and onto the Stout's gravel drive. It's here on 10 acres near Fayetteville that a young couple from New York State are taking a stab at Appalachian homesteading in West Virginia. We were greeted by the usual pack of dogs, all residents of the "co[...]

Winter Walks In The New River Gorge

11 years ago

Haynes Mansfield

Visit Appalachia

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You're going to say it eventually. "The Off Season". If you live in the New River Gorge region, or stay here long enough, you'll start speaking in seasons. Tourist Season... rafting season.... Gauley season... buck season... But my favorite? Yep. The notorious off season. Winter in the New River Gorge is amazing, and quiet.

Want Spinach All Summer? Grow Chard.

11 years ago

Haynes Mansfield

Farm To Table

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Maybe it’s just me, but growing spinach is no joke.I’ve had trouble getting it to germinate and trouble getting it to thrive. This year I had some success with a few plants I grew from seed last fall. It survived the mild winter and leafed out aggressively this spring. I harvested a two-bowl salad and cherished this leafy treat . Meanwhile in the garden m[...]