Why My Maine Homestead Is Suddenly Under Attack

Something has definitely changed around the homestead this summer. The wildlife seems bolder than ever, and keeping the orchard and garden productive is becoming a daily challenge. In this homestead update, I take you around my Millinocket, Maine property to show how everything is growing in mid-summer. The apple trees are absolutely loaded with developing fruit, and my Contender peach tree looks like it could produce well over 100 pounds of peaches if Mother Nature—and the local wildlife—cooperate. I'll also show you: • My blueberry bushes and the effects of mummy berry disease. • The incredible bird pressure on my cherries and blueberries. • My raised-bed vegetable gardens filled with tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, squash, peppers, and peas. • The surprisingly fearless deer that have been helping themselves to the garden since losing my hunting companion, Blazer. One large doe was eating peas just a few feet from me in broad daylight! • The steps I'm taking to protect this year's harvest, including installing a hawk kite, reflective bird tape, and other deterrents before the birds move from the cherries to the apples. • My ongoing work creating a defensible space around the house by pushing the tree line back to reduce wildfire risk. Every season brings new challenges, and that's part of what makes homesteading in the Maine woods so rewarding. Some years it's weather. Some years it's disease. This year, the wildlife seems determined to claim its share before I do. If you enjoy homesteading, gardening, orchards, country living, hunting, Maine lifestyle videos, and following along with life in the North Woods, I hope you'll subscribe and join me for future adventures. Thanks for watching! — Rick Theriault Your Maine Real Estate Guide