Spencer Pike

I'm trying some skirret seeds for the first time, and have read that they need to be stratified in the fridge; does anyone know for how long?  We still have 6-12 inches of snow on the ground, or I would just try to plant them outside.

I am trying a bunch of new plants this spring; I have hazelnut and witch hazel saplings on order, and I hope to a couple of paw paws as well,  In smaller plants, I will try to start some ground nuts from seed.

I planted a bunch of sunchokes in the fall, and hope to have enough to eat as well as leaving some to come back next year.

Ground nuts are actually New England natives, but have been forced out.  They are nitrogen fixing legumes similar to peas, but they also produce edible tubers, and have dark pink flowers that attract pollinators-- practically a perfect plant!


Here's info about groundnuts: https://www.ourtinyhomestead.com/groundnuts.html

I should add-- regarding brain fog; lately I've started taking a a niacin supplement and found that it really does seem to help with my clarity of thought and energy levels.  

I was fairly lucky-- I did have hot flashes, but the main problem for me was the way my sleep was interrupted by the hot flashes and in general. In the run up to menopause, the most troubling for me were the terrible memory lapses-- far worse than normal, and thankfully they only lasted a a few months. Also the fits of murderous rage-- far worse than normal, and similar to really bad pms.  Also thankfully short-lived.  

One thing I noticed, is that the women I know who had daughters going through puberty at the same time -- as I had also -- seemed to suffer less.  In fact when my daughters started menstruating, my own periods returned for a few years!  Finally they ended and are not missed.  But I think my experience was easier, maybe because it was made more gradual.

I do have some joint pain, but I am genetically inclined to osteo-arthritis, and so far it's starting more slowly than for some in my family.

I agree with others who mentioned the lack of info about and acknowledgment of this stage, and I'm glad to see people talking about it.