For the past three days I’ve been working solo, weeding, mulching and mowing in the BRC orchard. Everyone (Cammy) is away. Well, not everyone. There I am, crouched under the low branches of the apple tree snipping away the pencil-like stems of the bracken ferns and the big hairy leaves of comfrey. I look up and there’s not one-not two-but three collies laying on the grassy path between the trees. Just hanging out, observing my humanish behavior. Perhaps they assume I’m doing something important despite the fact that they may not understand my logic. I’m not sure I do either.

Collies are wonderful dogs. This week we have three. Ours, and two of her best friends. They bark at night and keep the evil critters at bay. They love to sleep out on the porch even when it’s —20F. They don’t go in the gardens or chase chickens once you explain to them the deal. And they hang out with you in the shade while you do important things out in the orchard.

Today the weeding effort moved up to the Nursery. Skylar Bodeo-Lomicky joined me, and we weeded this year’s grafted trees. Despite the fact that the trees are growing well, the weeds are growing about twice as fast.