Samantha Johnson

BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON
It never fails—just as the long days of summer sun arrive, so do the bugs. Annoying flying insects like mosquitoes, gnats, horseflies, fruit flies, or house flies can easily spoil a nice day in the garden or on the patio. There are a lot of products for discouraging flies, but what about more natural ways?

BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON
Do you love the satisfying crunch of homegrown peppers in a fresh garden salad or tossed on the grill during a late summer cookout? There’s something deeply rewarding about going out to the garden and selecting a fresh, rich, colorful pepper right off the plant and immediately taking it to the kitchen for use. It’s a picture-perfect vision.

BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON
When people talk about the fjords of Norway, they’re likely referring to the narrow, cliff-hugged inlets that are found along the western coast of Norway. The fjords are iconic and breathtaking, carved by glaciers in long-ago times. But when you hear horse people talk about Norwegian Fjords, they’re definitely not talking about the beauty and majesty of Norwegian geography: They’re talking about the beloved horses that were domesticated in Norway many centuries ago.

BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON
There’s just something special about Australian Shepherds.
Maybe it’s their incredible intelligence, or maybe it’s those loving eyes, or maybe it’s their endearing dispositions, or maybe it’s all of those things—and more—packed into an amazing and capable canine package.

BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON
There’s an important intersection where long, winding rural driveways meet country roads, and this, my friends, is where we place our mailboxes.
A mailbox is like a handy rural portal; a receptacle for all things good and glorious.

BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON
Asparagus has so much going for it, yet it’s sometimes overlooked by gardeners. Don’t let that be you! Asparagus is very hardy in our northern zones and, even more importantly, it’s a perennial vegetable. Who doesn’t love a veggie that keeps coming back every year?

BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON
Looking for an easy way to expand your seeds for this year’s garden and a way to build community at the same time? Why not plan a seed swap?

BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON
I have a clothesline. And I use it.
Living out here in the blissful oblivion of rural America, I had no idea that clotheslines are no longer a thing.

BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON
The island country of Iceland is nestled where the waters of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans meet, with Greenland to the west and Norway to the east. It’s a country of approximately 370,000 people, and is home to one of the world’s most beloved gaited breeds: the Icelandic horse.

BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON
If you’ve seen the popular movie Frozen—and who hasn’t?—you’re familiar with the animated rendition of the breed. Anna’s pleasantly plump mount and Hans’ majestic equine companion are both Norwegian Fjord Horses. A highly appropriate choice for a film set in Norway!

BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON
We’re northern gardeners, so we lovingly embrace our short growing season and we don’t whine about winter weather (at least not very often). But that doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate a bit of Mediterranean flair in our gardens, and rosemary fits the bill!

BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON
We have Italy to thank for some really awesome cheeses: mozzarella, Gorgonzola, ricotta …and it's no surprise that Italy is also responsible for the development of some fascinating cattle and goat breeds. After all, that milk had to come from somewhere!
And Italy, with its mixture of mountains, sea, and farms, is home to some interesting—and sometimes rare—non-dairy livestock breeds as well.

BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON
Big, bold and brilliant, with stunning good looks and plenty of talent and power, the Friesian is easily recognizable thanks to its striking black coloring and abundant leg feathering. Here are 14 things you might not know about this majestic and noble breed.

BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON
Everyone knows “you can’t judge a book by its cover,” and we also know that a good horse can come in any color. But let’s be honest. You’ve probably looked at a flashy, colorful horse and thought, “Wow!” And it’s easy to see why we’re drawn to these unique horse colors—they’re fun, they’re eye-catching, and they’re just plain pretty.

BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON & DANIEL JOHNSON
So you’re planning on eating eggs for breakfast. Sound simple? Maybe not. Because we all love our chicken eggs, it’s easy to forget that other types of domestic birds also produce tasty, nutritious eggs of various sizes and types.
The funny thing about eggs is that most people say they all taste about the same. If you prepare a dish using duck, goose or even quail eggs, guests may notice subtle differences but usually will say it tastes like a chicken egg.