Jo Ann Abell

13 Articles

Grave Matters: About That Old Cemetery on the Back 40…

A few years ago, my husband and I spent our weekends driving…

Jo Ann Abell Jo Ann Abell

Stocking the Winter Larder

If you’re like me, the shorter days and cooler temps bring on…

Jo Ann Abell Jo Ann Abell

Seed Heads Provide Food for Wildlife and Decorate the Winter Landscape

Once the last blazing maple leaf has floated to the ground and…

Jo Ann Abell Jo Ann Abell

Keep More Cash in Your Wallet by Bartering

During the economic recession in the early ‘70s, I was a stay-at-home…

Jo Ann Abell Jo Ann Abell

The Benefits of Bats on the Homestead

Bats are among the most misunderstood creatures on the planet. For centuries,…

Jo Ann Abell Jo Ann Abell

We’re not Playing, ‘Possum: Opossums are Actually Good for the Homestead

My first up-close encounter with an opossum was one evening many years…

Jo Ann Abell Jo Ann Abell

Eco-Landscaping Can Trim Home Energy Costs

Especially in this time of inflation and rising energy costs, heating and…

Jo Ann Abell Jo Ann Abell

When Coyotes Threaten Your Livestock

One evening as the sun slipped behind the Short Hills in Rockbridge…

Jo Ann Abell Jo Ann Abell

Keeping Skunks at Bay

Anyone old enough to remember the classic Looney Tunes cartoons is familiar…

Jo Ann Abell Jo Ann Abell

Top Ten Wild Birds for Controlling Insects in the Garden

Destructive insects munching away on your garden plants can quickly wreak havoc…

Jo Ann Abell Jo Ann Abell

Thwarting the Fox: Protecting Your Chicken Flock 

It’s late March, and a red fox has been hanging around for…

Jo Ann Abell Jo Ann Abell

Nuisance Wildlife Encounters On the Rise

Encounters with "nuisance wildlife" have been on the upswing in recent years.…

Jo Ann Abell Jo Ann Abell