Those of you that know me know that I have been an advocate for the dairy farmers for a very long time. In fact my brother and his family owned a dairy farm on Swiss Hill that they moved upstate several years ago, and they are still farming.

My husband and I are fortunate to live on top of a hill that overlooks the Erlweins farm and with the leaves off the trees we can see yet another dairy farm owned by the Gieger family too. Our dairy farmers have had more than their share of hard times with sons and daughters having to work at other occupations while giving the family farm some time.

A couple of weeks ago Dawn (Myers) Erlwein sent me the link to their website that I think everyone should watch, MyersCenturyFarm.

com homepage… Rianne's story - it's about their daughter Rianne and her want to farm thus keeping up the family tradition. Please take a minute and watch her inspiring story that describes our farmers and the hardships all of them face while trying to make a living - not giving up one of the oldest and most cherished ways of American life.

Anne from “Domesticities & the Cutting Garden (located at 4055 State Route 52 in Youngsville) says that Spring is coming and they are thinking about starter plants. They are offering to start plants for you in their little hoop house in Youngsville so that you'll be ahead of the game when it's time to plant out. Stop in their shop or go to their website. Orders need to be in by mid-March. They also have a great selection of new and new to you finds, and winter items are 50% off. They will start seedlings for you at $3.99/4”pot.

St George's Church (located at 97 Schoolhouse Road in Jeffersonville) is having their Annual Pancake Breakfast fundraiser before the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 21st from 8 a.m. - noon. Price: Adults $8, Children 5-12, $5 and under 5, free. Then the Parade at 1p.m. down Main Street in Jeffersonville with lineup at noon on Willy Avenue (by the Lions Field). Great fun for the whole family! For more information please call JP Graham at (845) 807-7980.

Also on March 21st The Diehl Homestead Farm (located at 93 Diehl Rd in Callicoon) is holding a “Maple Open House” from noon to 5 p.m. with free pancakes and demonstrations on how maple syrup is “created”. More family fun!

Has been “Spring like” weather with several people telling me they have seen Robins, Geese and Bluebirds! Let's hope it stays like this!