Text Enhance links

You can disable 'text enhance' advertisements by going to this link and opting out of the "free" advertising service.
http://support.text-enhance.com/entries/20352211-disabling-text-enhance-links
We do not support this company and their ads are apart of a Firefox browser update that is unavoidable.
Our apologies. Peace and much Love- Eliza and Nick

The Responsibility is Ours

Welcome Earth Servants. You have reached this information for a reason. By continuing to read this you are given the responsibility to care. It is our job to step back, look at our situation and ask ourselves as a member of humanity what is happening that needs to change in order to open up new possibilities for the people who are yet to be birthed? It is a time to instigate great transformation. A time of breaking free from this pattern of denial we are born into. This denial is manifested in our justifying the mismanagement of earthly resources. Our blinders must be removed in order that we can open a door for our own ability to liberate ourselves into a time of spiritual empowerment. This open door will guide each of us in a direction that will begin to heal our misguided behavior. Acceptance of our counter productive participation in global oppression and world greed is the only way to become an open vessel for truth.

This is the awakening that is needed now. Each person has the power to tune into the great forces of existence. True power is found in ways that are longstanding. There can be no real argument at this time that justifies the actions of the modern industrial and technological systems in place. It is without question a destructive way of being, science shows this to us. We are creating more pain and suffering by overusing resources that we cannot count on to last. We are like a giant reservation under the control of a government that creates laws that inhibit our ability to feed  and empower ourselves. We, as people who are on the planet now, are subject to the success or failure of an oil dependent system.

We live in a great illusion of false security. We cannot continue to believe that grocery stores can replace localized agrarian food systems, as the latter has proven to be more reliable in the long term. We must fight our inner desires for convenience as it is a trap into dependency. We must change our demands as a society. We can't fight natural gas mining if we are still turning on our gas powered machines. We cannot fight forest destruction if we keep demanding it continue by purchasing lumber from home depot. We cannot stop the destructive ways of humanity if we are still dependent on them for our own living systems.

It is a process that begins with awareness and daily decision making. We must begin to set ourselves up for the transformation. We need to observe closely all the infrastructure in place so we can develop strategies for implementing new ways of being. We do need to begin to cultivate an awareness of food systems that can be managed with less machine dependency.  We must deeply engage in our relationship to soil. This is where the wisdom resides. The soil holds the bodies of all our ancestors, it holds the wisdom of the earth. As we engage in our relation to it we can begin to here the language of connection. It is a time of rooting ourselves by listening and engaging in earth care. The scale in which this occurs need not be overwhelming. I assure you that if you engage you will transform and become receptive to your needs in the path of transformation. This is not about taking over the system that is, it's about implementing the system that will be. By setting up centers for food production and distribution on a localized small scale, we instill a foundation for a realistic transformation.

The creation of many small scale food systems will feed the future. With this type of system in place we empower the children. Imagine being a small child who understands seasons, planting, harvesting, processing, and surviving by age 6. With such a foundation to begin with there can be only hope for positive growth in all aspects of the future. These skills have been depreciated, forgotten, and deemed as lower class. We are taught from a young age that the pursuit of money is the path to happiness. Money cannot bring lasting happiness, and it cannot replace wisdom. Wisdom cannot be bought nor sold. Wisdom and true happiness can only be retrieved from where it comes from, the Earth.

I accept that I am a baby in this new world of being, that I myself have many lessons to learn, I accept that what I write here may have flaws and faults, I accept that I have participated and participate in systems that are depleting finite resources. I also accept the responsibilities of creating a better world. I have put my hands on the earth and asked for help. I am receiving guidance from the elements as they seem to be open to sharing all the wisdom there is. I accept that this time is a time of sacrifice and challenges, that nothing will be easy or convenient. I trust that the path of reconnecting to the cycles of nature, no matter how much pain and suffering, will lead to a place that is safer for the future.

Earth servants unite in practice. Begin to localize food systems. This will open the door to many more wonderful and empowering opportunities for tomorrow.

The New Goat Times - Bucks

When fall comes on down the road, and you got some randy does on your hands, there is only one cure for the 'buck fever'. A stinky, horny, nasty ol' Buck-a-roo. 

Breeding season is a fun time on the farm. It means the coming of little lovely goat babes, it means the entertaining display of goat courtship, it means getting dry humped while trying to change the water bucket of a reeking doe-crazed man-goat.

Here are some things to be considering when thinking about the different ways to get your does impregnated!

Plan ahead when breeding your does

• If you are planning on selling the spring kids consider these different options. 
• Pure-bred and papered - This is an huge advantage when selling kids in the spring, people trust papered goats more than non, and will pay a lot more for them. That is definitely merited, but the best thing someone can do to insure they are getting a quality animal is visit the breeder and ask the right questions. 
• Pure-bred and not papered -  These animals are sold at a much lower price, and tend to be kids that don't meet breed standards or are from a breeder who does not take part in the American Dairy Goat Association. They are sold at a moderate price and tend to be just as easy to sell as papered.
• Mutt - This kind of kid is going to be the hardest to sell to a good home and will have to be sold at a discounted price. Cross breeding genetics can be a great way to diversify your gene pool, but you have to understand that along with incorporating good traits, you can create bad ones as well. You should be prepared to have all kinds of results.

Choosing a buck is very important - Own your own or get a loan?


There is an old goat husbandry saying that goes "The buck is half your herd" - which is so very true, not only in terms of genetics, but also in regard to responsibility. Bucks require an entirely different management, so to some it is not worth the infrastructural costs and smells to own your own. Yet, owning your own offers many advantages and security in breeding success.

Zeus is our La Mancha buck

• Owning your own buck
• Investing in a quality animal is essential, and a healthy pure-bred buck can cost anywhere from 300$ and up. Pure breeds are not a must, but more reliably healthy. If you choose to go with non-pure bred animal make sure you know and trust the breeder. Before you purchase an animal go to the farm and meet with the breeder and the buck you wish to buy. When you meet the buck look for these qualities.
• Sturdy legs and walk, no limping, no swelling in the knees or ankles
• Friendly temperament, no aggressive reactions to your presence  
• Healthy coat with no lice or mites
• Run your hands over his body and make sure he has no lumps on his neck, around his head, or under body
• Clear eyes with no discharge
• Penning up a buck can be tricky, especially when he goes into what we call 'rut'. Or in other words 'horny goat mode'. The fence should be able to hold up to lots of standing on and be at least 4 ft tall. However, our little Nigerian buck that comes up to my knee is able to easily clear a 4ft fence when he has the urge to find the ladies. SO, some fellas need a 5-6 ft. fence! 
• When a buck is in rut they get very very stinky from peeing on their face and legs constantly. Housing them away from your home is a good idea. Just keep in mind that the stinkier the buck the more the ladies love them.
• Feeding a buck is much easier than feeding a doe and they can be very useful for clearing brush and dreaded poison oak. You do not need to feed your bucks grain, they don't need it and too much in some cases can be fatal. A quality mold free grass hay and forage will suffice. Feeding them a ration of alfalfa can boost their testosterone as well, which is useful during breeding season. 
• Loaning/renting a buck 
• This is a great option - however - it is very hard to find quality bucks on loan, there are all kinds of diseases that goats pass on to each other, and a lot of quality breeders do not want to risk infecting one of their animals and bringing it back to their herd after the loan is over.
• If you find a buck to loan or rent you usually pay for a month or two of time to have the bucks live at your farm. This is useful for spurring the does into their heat cycles as well as being able to easily detect when they are ready for breeding. You also then don't have to house and feed the buck for the other 10 months of the year when they aren't "needed".
• Then once the signs of heat are obvious, you can just put them in a pen together and watch the magic happen. 
• Some choose to house the buck with the females, not separately. there are many disadvantages to this in opposed to the convenient benefits.
• The bucks can be relatively aggressive and some people believe they can cause aborted pregnancies with their constant butting. 
• If you're still milking your does, the odor of a buck in rut can taint the taste of the milk and make it very "goaty".
• You cannot tell when exactly they breed, thus planning for kidding in the spring tends to be a surprise, in stead of an expectation. 
• If you have more than one buck, you cannot selectively breed them with the does you wish to see them with.
• Find a breeder in your area that you have visited and trust. Inquire with them if they rent bucks - if they do not - sometimes they allow on-site breeding.
• On-site breeding is another option that people without a buck on their farm choose. If you only have a few does this can be the best option. But, you end up with the least likely possibility that they will get pregnant. 

Thor the Nigerian Dwarf buck contemplating jumping the fence.

That is a preliminary run-down of some things to consider when it comes to owning and utilizing bucks for breeding your milk goats. There is much more information available out it the internet ethos, so don't stop here and any questions or comments are welcome! 

Awaken To Energy Flow, Learn to See Elements in Life, Be Thankful

So much is happening on the earth every season, every day and every minute. To witness this transference of energy is to join in the flow of nature and its cycles that keep life living. When you begin to recognize that everything around you contains elements that nourish the body and soul, you begin the awakening process. At this point the elements can begin there teachings. These are the gods that provide us with all our elementary lessons; water, air, fire and earth. Stewarding the land in reverence of the elements can give us all the teachings we need to continue on a path of health and growth.

First we begin to see that everything that was once alive contains energy as it decomposes and in-turn feeds the living. This step helps us make the connection between recycling waste and storing excess resources/energy from our home and land in order to feed it back to the life which we are cultivating. Now without getting too scientific or making this process seem too complicated I will list a few elemental resources that are commonly wasted as a means to help us all begin to look at our own methods of energy efficiency.

• Earth

• Yard waste/ lawn clippings, leaves, anything that grew on your land is an asset to your land. To bag it up and throw it in the garbage is to deplete your lands fertility. Every fall people throw away their biomass (by raking up and bagging their leaves) believing it is garbage. Nothing should leave your land unless it is participating in community service of some sort, i.e. feeding people or creating return that makes it possible for you to stay on your land. Anytime energy that was created by your land leaves your land you participate in the depletion of fertility and health of that space. This is true with all earth. We must begin to slow down the amount of earth we need to move thousands of miles and create something that could be way more efficient and secure.
• Fire
• Kitchen waste is another place that we can catch and utilize energy. I see the kitchen as fire, a place where a lot of heat and energy are managed. With this sight the kitchen becomes a means to filtering out wastes that still contains energy that can be distributed among the farm and fed to other life. By creating methods to gather the excess energy of the kitchen and feed it to your garden or animals is how we can begin to establish a healthy nutrient efficient home. This is the only security anyone should be concerned with. If you know where and how to gather all that you need from your home without machines you are establishing a home that will be the only kind left if and when we run out of oil and collapse as a oil dependent system. The culture that is developed in hand scale agrarian life is one rich in love and ceremony. A stable long term approach to a humble-service-based life rich in love, food, and community. This is what we need as people taking care of earth. The Kitchen. The Hearth.
• Water

• Water is energy, it is the medium that feeds all life on this planet. We are all dependent on it in order to survive. It deserves to be worshiped and used with a manner of respect. It is common in civilized society to use it without this reverence as we have been brought up to practice inefficient ways to utilize this precious resource. To live life without seeing the power of water is to ignore and pollute our home. Water needs care and respect, it is our job as earthly stewards to protect it from pollution. Water carries and gathers energy as it travels its path to the ocean. We can choose to speed that decent up or slow it down and retain that energy so life can become abundant. Seeing plants as a method to store water is a healthy and beautiful way to manage water. By absorbing water near to our home we store energy and produce abundance. We must focus on storing our water waste in places like the garden. We need to respect water enough to not pollute it with chemicals that kill life rather than feed it.
• Air
• Air is found in the breath of all life, all life is a lung absorbing this precious gas. Where we find it being wasted at home is in when we burn oil. Our cars and use of planes and misuse of agricultural lands etc. etc. even down to our gas powered leaf blowers. This is a painful one to address because we as a culture so mindlessly abuse by polluting with oil that is not suppose to be removed in huge quantities and then shipped all over the world to then be burned into the atmosphere. The acceptance of industrialism was the birth of a culture that forgot that air was sacred.

Composting is one way to begin to be more efficient and return energy back to earth. Compost is a balancing of elements to create a desired medium for life to live and thrive. Training the mind to see elements in all life is the foundation for becoming good at composting. Good composting practices are the foundation for health and long term energy management. Efficient energy practices result when we begin to actively manage compost heaps. 

There are many other waste streams that occur, to list them all here is not needed to make the point that by seeing how energy works we can intervene and redirect it so it can serve the health of our families and homes. By awakening to our methods of waste management we can begin to change. By understanding and paying attention to the energy systems of a home we are able to cultivate care that feeds itself and your community.

To successfully make the shift into energy efficiency there is a need for respect and reverence for what sustains our life in relation to our home, the Earth. Every little step made that is rooted in love for our home and the elements will steer us closer to feeling a sense of purpose and need that will fulfill our longing for connection to place. Let this connection be your guide towards serving the Earth in a way that is rooted in love and gratitude.

Cultivating Spirituality in the Garden

A garden is so much more than we can even begin to imagine. Tending a space on the earth is a direct link to our origins and ancestry no matter who we are. By planting seeds and raising crops we tune into natures cycles, we begin to see our connection to the seasons, and we begin to worship the power of the universe that creates the earth. Each garden becomes a temple, a piece of all our ancestors, a space that deserves respect and gratitude for being and for feeding us. The garden becomes more fruitful when it is honored as a temple for life and existence.

Disconnection from the basics has guided the modern world and it's modern societies towards shallow rooted ways. We need to remember that we, as a society are extremely young and it's turning out we are extremely damaging for the short amount of time we have existed. We have become a society that is rootless and at the mercy of a faulty non-long-term-based system.

Mossy Oak Temple and Food Garden

Re-connection to how the earth cares for us through participation in the creation of food we depend on, is a pathway to spiritual existence. To seek spirituality, acknowledge the divinity of existence and understand that we are here because we are connected and not aliens to this planet. Spiritual pursuit is about finding purpose and self discovery, developing a practice that connects us to home. The garden fulfills that purpose, we are earth stewards and we are dependent on the earth for our ability to continue living. The better we care for our home and the more respect we have for all life and elements, the richer and more purpose we will feel as earth inhabitants.

Rituals in the garden are obvious and happen every year. By planting, watering, weeding, harvesting and eating we become busy living in our rituals. We develop an awareness of the seasons, we know the path of the sun and moon, we pay closer attention to weather patterns, all this brings us to a realization that we exist in a mysterious and unbelievable miracle. To have the freedom to care for the earth is a direct link to the depth of spirit the soul desires.

By empowering ourselves through earth care practice we liberate our selves to a greater connection. A garden is a place to be of service to the greater forces that parent us all. With a garden we have the strength of nature in us. Join in the movement of earth service through planting gardens that serve as temples that help guide us with rituals and service.
Let your gate be the doorway to the temple of your connection to earth.

Alternative Lenders

Young Farmers Joining Forces with Alternative Lenders.

Eliza and Nick find themselves on another farm

Access to fertile healthy land is an obstacle for young people seeking alternative ways to create honest earth based living. It seems unethical that land access could require so much money for someone who wants to care for it. If you lack a trust fund or have no family financial support it can feel impossible to acquire. Take me as a case study. I have invested all my energy into the pursuit of growing food for myself and community. I have been at it for 6 years, growing vegetables and caring for animals on whatever land I can get permission to use. This has led me to a variety of situations that all are rooted in other peoples land and generosity. Growing small market gardens in backyards has proven to be a wonderful education in establishing gardens that work. As I plod ahead into the world of providing veggies and animal products to the community, I keep running into a common roadblock; not being a land owner limit's me (the grower) to the mercy of social situations not working out. A grower who stewards the land of another is subject to a lack of land access security.

What is the answer to land access for people pursuing a life of small scale alternative farming?

Mossy Oak Garden, Ruch OR

When pursuing alternative farming there isn't much hope in gaining support from capitalism. Namely Banks. Banks, which are created by the big scale corporations are only friendly to big scale economic practices. It's saddening that agriculture has become one of the most polluting industries in the world, we shouldn't have to pollute in order to grow food. It's unfortunate that mega scale farming has eliminated small farms nearly to the point of extinction in this country. And though small farms do exist, they don't thrive in the economical sense. Most small farms mimic conventional agricultural practices, even organic farms often times practice conventional modern plow-till-plant-fertilize methods. These practices are defined by use of machines to pulverize the earth to create  input-dependent growing methods that ultimately depletes the soil and subjects it to erosion, compaction, and less fertility.

This type of farming is the only kind recognized by capitalism, and the only kind they are willing to fund. Thus, if you go to a bank looking for a loan on a 5 acre homestead/ alternative farm, you'll be laughed at. The most likely way to acquire land access for small scale alternative farming methods that aim to care for the earth is through alternative lenders i.e. people in the community who have acquired wealth and are looking to diversify investments.  

Young's Little Farm, Prescott AZ

Networking is important to bringing these two parties together. Lenders with dreamers who have demonstrated the ability to bring land into fertility and feeds the community. Ideally the people caring for the land and growing food wouldn't have to go into debt in order to provide such a service. Maybe there are even people who want to sponsor young visionary farmers who need land and not even make them pay back with anything but the food that is produced. We must create a way to connect alternative lenders with such farmers to allow for investments in food security and future generations.  

Another reason this is such a great way to go about land access is it unifies people in community. By becoming a lender you create opportunities to ensure there are reliable systems in place that will feed you and your great grandchildren.

If you happen to be in the position to be an alternative lender and you are looking to invest in the future by financing opportunities that can help carve out a better long-term earth care plan. Please let us know as we are looking to create our dream, which is a center for earth-care-methods that sustain small community food availability. It's time to make a change, invest in the future. Earth care is needed.

Farm Guardians

A guardian adds tremendous peace of mind to a farmer, but there are many things to consider when deciding on the kind of guardian to choose and if you have the need for them.

If you have large livestock animals such as goats, sheep, pigs, cows and so on, it is a good idea to consider a guardian. For example, a well bred milk goat is a serious asset to a farm, and if killed not only impacts that seasons milk production, but robs you of generations of milk and goats to come. However, sometimes a situation does not merit the down sides to owning a guardian.

Here is a list of different situations that call for different kinds of guardians.

so sleepy, so vulnerable

 If all you have are chickens...a regular pet dog (that lives outside) and sound housing/ fencing can provide enough deterrence from predators. Mind you, dogs tend to love chasing chickens, these fun chases can turn into fun chicken dinners. So, don't let your dog think they are toys. Proper training is required.

If you live in an area with lots of larger natural predators such as mountain lions, wolves, bears, foxes, and/or coyotes you are definitely in need of a true farm guardian on top of  fencing and housing.

Terrifying

 In a ranch type situation, where the land you live on is vast, flat, and open you might consider a Llama, Alpaca or Donkey. Two or three is best, due to their ability to work as a team protecting their flocks. These protectors are very effective at keeping medium to small sized predators at bay. The main advantages of this style of guardian are;

• Minimal feed requirements - if any
• Cover large areas and patrol fence lines
• No training need - but definitely trainable.

The main dis-advantages are;

• Tend to be very skidish and possibly over aggressive- due to little human interaction
• If overly shy - can be impossible to catch
• Only one is not effective against Cougars, Bears, or Wolves

In a situation where you live in a diverse farm landscape with forest, brush, riparian areas, and topography you are going to need a more diverse guardian. The livestock guardian dog is the most diverse and adaptable choice. However, it is very important to remember there is a huge different between a pet dog, a normal guard dog (such as a pit-bull or doberman) and a livestock guard dog. There are only a handful of livestock guard dog breeds that exist, and these have been bred for hundreds of years to hone in on their protective instincts, so they bond with their flocks. Also a livestock guard dog is NOT a PET. They live and die with their animals. This can be a hard thing for people to understand and respect. If you don't treat your livestock guard dog like a function of the farm, the difficulties that arise can be overwhelming.

Positive aspects of a livestock guard dog;

• Very alert and effective towards all predators
• Adaptable 
• Highly trainable

The downsides to livestock guardian dogs are;

• Require daily feeding - which can be pricey
• Training is very important and needs to be very strict
• If poorly trained can be dangerous to strangers, flock, and you
• Night time barking

This short little rundown is only a primer to the experience of utilizing a farm guardian. Assess your situation, weigh your options, and plan accordingly. No matter the situation or guardian- never employ an un-castrated intact male to guard your livestock. Even multiple CASTRATED males can be a problem.

Another thing to focus on in this situation is that even though you are fending off predators, they are not the enemy, and they are not to be resented. They are trying to survive like the rest of us and we can prevent the worst from happening by taking the steps towards keeping our livestock safe. It is a balance and respect is the key!

New Goat Times

Hello out there in the world. I am going to make it a point to do some blog entries about my experience taking care of our milk goats and some of my struggles and solutions that I have encountered along the hilarious path!

For starters I would like to profess my goals in goat husbandry. I am beginning a long journey towards the creation of the perfect homesteading goat. This is going to involve selective cross breeding for traits such as...

• Hardiness to weather and disease
• Ideal teat shape for hand milking
• Strong foraging instincts
• Milk quality (taste and butterfat)
• Milk quantity 
• Friendly and easy to handle 
• Medium size
• And packed with personality!! 

This is going to involve incorporating three main breeds in my program.

• Toggenburg - This old and wise breed of goat hails from the valleys of Switzerland and is considered one of the oldest and purest breed of European milk goats. They are extremely hardy and have very good milk production. They have a calm demeanor.
• La Mancha - This exotic breed is from Spain but was developed for the most part in the United States in the early 1900's. It is noted for its lack of ears, dubbed 'gopher ears'. They have extremely high milk production and very high butterfat. They also have a bubbly goofy personality.
• Nigerian Dwarf - This small spunky breed came to the united states from Africa initially being bred as Lion food! However, they are much more valued as milk goats due to their convenient size, intelligence, plucky attitude and extremely high butterfat.

 Stay tuned for updates on the ladies and our journey towards milk goat excellence!

Winter squash Pie Filling

Squash/Pumpkin Pie

1 winter squash or pumpkin
1 cup honey
1 cup cream
1/4 stick melted butter
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1tablespoon cinnamon
1teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon vanilla
1teaspoon cloves

Prepare winter squash by cutting in half, removing seeds and baking at 350 for 1-1.5 hours until soft. With spoon remove squash from skin and put in a large bowl. Measure 3.5 cups of cooked squash and add to a separate bowl. Combine all ingredients and mix well until it is smooth. Pour into pie pan with crust. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Let cool and serve with whip cream or ice cream.

Pie Crust

Pie Crust Recipe (makes one pie crust bottom)

1 cup white flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 stick of Butter (chilled)
11/2 teaspoon salt
optional 2 tablespoons Brown sugar
2-4 tablespoons ice water

In a large bowl add flour salt and sugar and mix.

Next cut thin slices of butter to mix. Then with fork or butter cutting implement press and cut butter until it is finely integrated. Take a little time for this part.

Now take ice water and add a tablespoon at a time and mix. Keep adding ice water a little at a time until the mix begins to stick together. Too much water and you won't be able to work with your hand. Better to stay on the dry side. Use hands to need the mix together. Stop as soon as it can be held together in on ball of dough.

Put in refrigerator until needed or roll out with rolling pin immediately. Put in pie pan mold it to form and you are ready to add filling.

Enjoy

The Simple Truth

Warning: Following content is only valid if you believe that change is needed.


In a world full of gadgetry, distractions, complexity and waste, I find myself wondering what is it we need to do in order to help humanity move towards a healthier and more caring future? We face a time that is the result of much pollution. Industry has made many abusive habits that society has become blindly addicted to. No matter who you are in this world you are a participant in the continuation of the destructive forces that threaten our own homes and all the homes of all of earth's inhabitants. So what do we do?

Well the answer is not so easy and the one that reverses our negative impact requires an effort that seems nearly impossible for all of us addicts out there. Let's look at our addiction to the destructive forces. Take for example the idea of a small organic farm. Sure the name almost immediately implies a beautiful image that could save the planet, however look closer and find that even such a pursuit in most cases is a participant in global pollution. Not to say that going organic is a bad thing at all, it's definitely a move in the right direction. The point I'm trying to get at is that even our best practices are dependent on industrial degradation of earthly resources. Organic farms are spending a lot of money on fertilizers that reek havoc on the environment. Example: Sea bird guano as a fertilizer, sure it works great and it is not a chemical so it fits into the organic movement. What we don't think about often is the process of how that guano got into the bag and then the store. The truth is the process was not so organic. It required large machines that invade sea bird habitat and stripped cliffs in a manner that could not be viewed as an environmentally friendly process. There's a good chance it was doing this in another country and that money is what made it possible. Money that comes from the people that demand the product, organic farmers.

Bergamont flowers

That is one little example that isn't even that destructive in comparison to other products that the organic movement requires. Research blood meal, bone meal, potash, kmag, plastics etc. and you will find that it is not as organic as we would like to believe. Yes it is better than the conventional practice of using petroleum products as fertilizer but does that excuse it? Could there not be better alternatives that could be harnessed and utilized?

Mossy Oak Garden, Ruch, Oregon

There are indeed ways to proceed towards even healthier growing practices that require less participation in industrial decimation of earthly resources, but it is so radically different from the world we are living in that it casts you far from the norm and enters you into the realm of freakdom. To be ethical enough to move in the direction of Earthly stewardship is a serious challenge in this time. It is a challenge we need to address and take on one step at a time. Now I could go on and on about what is wrong and believe me I have spent too much time already obsessed with such practices in my life, so I will spare you the ongoing rant of my youth.

So what are the steps?? There are no answers that will satisfy everyone at once. Everyone is on there own journey with life in this day and age. From people who don't even think anything is wrong, to those who believe we are doomed. Everyone has a right to there own idea's and beliefs. So here are some of mine that may or may not help, depending on who is reading.

One step I believe in is simplicity. The idea of simple living can begin to reduce our impact greatly. No matter where you stand in your beliefs about the world, politics and systems. One truth that most can see clearly is the modern world has become very complex right down to the very food we eat. Everything goes through a process that involves many complicated steps before it ends up at the store. This is why industry is so prevalent. The machines that are created to wrap let's say a bags of carrots, are big and complex and cost a lot of money. Are such processes needed? Well when there is demand for it, it will continue. The only way to reduce demand is to stop spending money on these products. The problem is most everything that is bought at the store is connected to a process that supports the world of mass production which in turn creates a demand for it to continue. It's hard to see this when we are in a hurry to finish shopping so we can pick up our kids at school. Even our most radical environmental protesters are participating in the demand for services that they are fighting. Does this invalidate their struggle? Well it sure doesn't help it, but it doesn't mean that what they desire is wrong. It is good to desire a less petroleum dependent way that aims to reduce pollution and overuse of finite resources. My point in this babble is that when we simplify by eliminating the need for these processes in our own life, we change the world that we exist in.

Tobacco flowers

It is as simple as this example. Natural gas extraction (hydro-fracking) natural gas mining. Many people are fighting this process based on its potential threat to the environment. I surely am not a proponent that we continue to engage in practices that threaten our fresh water, however it is complicated because I have been a user of natural gas my whole life as has everyone else brought up in this world. The only way to fight this is to go on strike and stop creating the demand for natural gas. That is hard to do in the modern lifestyle because natural gas is so pervasive we can't even begin to see how much natural gas is connected to our daily life. If there is a demand for it there will be money and when there is money backing exploration it will continue. If no one used it the industry of it's extraction would not exist. So if you don't want it to happen don't use it. Find alternatives and promote them. But most importantly stop using. Sound simple? Yes it does, but is it simple? That's up to you?

Simplifying your life so you are aware of what you impact. If you believe cars pollute, do everything you can to reduce the amount you use them, and start planning for a lifestyle infrastructure that can reduce the need for them. Life is simple when your needs are in walking distance from home. For example instead of going to the store to get your food, walk to the garden. Reducing impact ultimately comes down to spending less. Every time we spend money we are voting for the processes that created what we spent our money on. Less spending equals less demand. In order to reduce spending we have to re-awaken to the world of the basics. Water, Food, Shelter, Love, and community. This is the focus we need to reduce impact. It is possible to acquire these basics without spending money. Grow food and trade with neighbors, eliminate the need for money to have to be involved in every exchange. Awaken the barter system and redefine value. We all know you can't eat paper money. Many hear this and think yeah right, no way. But I believe in it. I'm not saying stop all together, that may be nearly impossible but I am saying begin the reduction of impact by making little steps that lead to less demand for services we don't desire.

I am a proponent of reducing the value of money and putting value back into items that contain real value. We should rather desire a cellar full of food than a wallet full of money. There is too much value in money. I don't believe it is completely useless but I do believe it gets more attention than it deserves. Money is not simple, it is abstract because it contains no real value. Example, if all you had was money and no place to spend it would it, by itself, get you through a cold winter? It seems dangerous to put so much power into a piece of paper. A sort of false security that is too dependent on a system that is subject to failure.

Real insurance or security, to me, is wisdom of land and how to manipulate resources in a localized setting in order to ensure warmth, food and social stimulus. To be able to know how to grow food for the winter by using resources at hand, not from a catalog or store, is security. Basic living skills are missing, not gone completely but missing, therefore by regaining that wisdom through experience we can be prepared for running out of mined finite resources. This is simplicity, to know how to care for the basics is simplicity.

Odysseus

We, as an environmental movement towards less pollution and over consumption, need to be strong now more then ever and take a stand. Do everything you can to simplify. Free yourself from being so dependent on the mega infrastructure that is the system. Stop blogging and start growing.

Establishing No Till Permanent Growing Beds

Here's what is needed to establish a healthy no till permanent grow bed:

1. Carbon layer for sheet mulch
2. Manure/compost
3. Shovel, pick with adze, and and metal rake
4. Wheel Barrow
5. Wood chips (a lot)
6. Trace mineral amendment if you know your soil is lacking. Glacier dust is great as is Kelp.

Once you have what you need you can then begin to think about creating your grow bed. A few considerations should be made when choosing where to grow.

1. Aspect: south and east are the best aspects. West works in climates where the sun isn't blazing hot in the afternoon but is still less desirable then east and south. South is ultimately the most productive aspect especially for sun loving crops i.e. (tomatoes, peppers, corn, sunflowers, melons, cucumbers). East takes my vote for greens and root crops. East also has advantages in areas where you have limited water because it doesn't cook in the afternoon sun therefore retaining more moisture in the late day.
2. Slope will determine the direction your grow bed will run. Generally speaking on a slope a terrace is more ideal as it intercepts energy flow and prevents erosion. Energy flow being water. So having a basic understanding of contours will help here as your grow beds should be either on contour or close to it in order to collect and store excess energy flow. If land is flat have beds run north south so you can grow tall plants on the west side and gradually shorter as you go to the east, creating a solar trap. If rows are east west then you can grow more tall crops throughout as the sun will track in line with the beds.
3. Relation to home. You want your growing area to be close to your home. This will increase the amount of care and harvesting ease. If the garden is far away from the house you are less likely to monitor and use it as much.
4. If you are growing around trees remember the aspect advice and avoid the north side as well as stay outside the drip line of the canopy as tree roots often compete and hinder nutrient uptake by annuals. Don't grow annuals underneath the canopy.

OK now we can begin the establishment. If the ground has grass growing on it that is a bonus which would eliminate the need to break up the surface. If the ground is compacted and hard it will likely need a little encouragement to breath. This means breaking up the top 6 inches to increase energy flow. If the ground has not been trammeled and is growing vegetation there is no need to do anything to it. If there has been serious machine work that has compacted and damaged the land you may consider double digging to expand root zone.

Figure out your beds by marking out where they will be. I suggest 4 foot wide by as long as you can go. 4 feet is ideal for harvesting because you can reach 2 feet in from either side. 2 feet in between rows is adequate space for the path way. It is nice to keep good wide pathways as plants tend to creep in onto the paths and shrink them considerably. 2 foot wide beds are nice when only able to access from 1 side.

Get all your materials near your site so they can be worked with easily. Then the process is relatively easy and only need to be done once in its entire existence. Let's get started. Be sure the soil is in good condition to be worked. Not too wet, not too dry. Ideal conditions are a moist, not muddy, but more crumbly. If too wet you get compaction, if too dry you ruin structure and loose fine particles that are important. Water the area, including pathways a day or two before working in dry conditions. Wait to work if conditions are wet.

• Beds are marked width and length. Earth has been opened by loosening the surface if it has been compacted. 
• Add sheet mulch layer: This is a very important step as it is a life sponge that will absorb energy beneath the surface. Be sure to add enough to smother underlying vegetation. 6-10 inches of carbon matter is adequate. Newspaper can be thinner though I recommend using hay straw and leaves for best results. Again don't skimp here, it is this layer that will allow you to get by with less water as well as increase yield on the bed. Sheet mulch the whole area that you are to grow in.
• Now for the soil-lens layer: The soil lens is exactly what it sounds like. Basically you bury the sheet mulch with the top soil from the pathways excavating the pathways shovel and or pick with adze. When on flat land use 1 foot of pathway (top 6 inches of soil) from both sides of grow bed. If establishing on hillside excavate uphill side dirt only, creating a step or terrace in the land. If the pathways have grass and roots be sure to flip and break it up so it discourages continuation of growth. Now's a good time to add kelp meal or glacier dust (a thin layer). The soil lens does several things, 1. It compresses the sheet mulch so it is not so airy. 2. Provides a medium for roots to develop. 3. It adds more soil to the grow bed increasing the root zone.  
• Now for the manure/compost layer: This layer will be the final dressing and the most rich and nutrient filled. This is saved for the top so the nutrients can sink into the rest of the bed with time. Be generous with this layer. for every 3-4 feet of grow bed I use a full wheelbarrow load. This is a lot and requires some effort but is well worth it. Be sure that if you are going to plant immediately after creating that the manure/compost layer isn't hot. If manure is fresh it can be put on but you will need to wait a while before planting in it. If manure has been sitting for over a month it will likely be safe for planting.
• Once sheet mulch, soil lens, and manure/compost layers are finished you the can rake the bed out so it is uniformed and level on the top. You should have what looks like a raised berm that will slowly settle as the season progresses. I  create two growing rows on each berm.
• The Final step to create the healthiest garden is to go back and mulch the pathways with a fat layer of wood chips, the more the better. Ideal if you can mulch deep enough to leave only the tops of the grow bed exposed. That is it for establishment. All that is left is irrigation and planting and/or transplanting.

Maintenance for permanent grow beds is needed when you expect to continue production from that space. This way of growing is not commonly practiced so proper care of such systems differ greatly from traditional tilling based farm and garden practices. Main differences in management are as follows:

• Never pull roots out of grow bed when crops are finished, instead cut plants at just above ground level leaving roots intact. The exception to this is root crops when you have to in order to harvest. Once plants are cut bury the stems in fresh layer of compost and replant.
• Treat pathways as long term composting areas. Each year as pathways break down the composted mulch can be added to the grow bed. As years progress the grow berms should get bigger and bigger. More life will move into the area and materials will be consumed more quickly thus creating more fertility for plants and soil.
• Management of garden requires adding new mulch and compost as needed. Winterizing garden beds can be just adding a fat layer of hay or straw over the bed to protect the soil from exposure and nutrient leaching or planting in cover crop for warmer climates. Never leave soil bare.
• Never again do you go and break the ground up. It is the goal on No Till growing to increase and maintain a mature soil structure that promotes increased activity in the soil ecology. To disturb the top soil  layer is to destroy the structure that is the soil's ability to breath and maintain health.
• Whenever there is expectation of production from a grow bed there is a expectation from the steward to replace that which is taken away. This means actively composting continually so you are able to always give back.

Good luck on your journey of growing food with respect for the earth. You can expect to face challenges as each area has it's own strengths and weaknesses. You can also expect that advice from most gardeners and farmers will not be valid in this method as most people are trained early on to believe that pulverizing soil is the only way to grow veggies. The important thing to remember is the more you care for and observe the more likely you can troubleshoot and be rewarded with success. By growing food you engage in communication with the most basic elements of existence, you begin to understand the language of cycles and you enter the pathway of being connected to your home, The Earth.

No Till for the Benefit of the Earth

• No till farming is the answer to long term soil fertility.
• No till focuses directly on soil structure preservation for the benefit of all life that lives.
• No till recognizes that the life in the soil is what enables plants to receive the nutrients they need.
• No till is a means to eliminate outsourcing fertilizers and creating soil stability and fertility.
• No till farmers are encouraging soil micro-biology to thrive and grow.
• No till growing methods are the future for real sustainability.
• No till methods require adding organic matter in order to keep yields high.
• No till foods are higher in micro-nutrients because healthy-intact- soil- structure have a more complex ecology that leads to a diversity in available nutrients.
• All small farmers and home gardeners would benefit by exploring the no till growing methods.
• No till is the way agriculture can be healthy and good for the earth.
• Find a no till farmer to acquire the very best foods available.

Juicing Greens for Ultimate Nutrition

Kale, Chard, Collards, Beet Greens, Turnip Greens, any and all hardy greens from the garden, farm or market can add great benefits to your veggie juice. Be sure to use more than a leaf or to, it is my suggestion to be unafraid to use bundles at a time. Combine with carrots apples ginger and if you are a sweet freak add some honey or maple sugar to the mix. Make this a regular practice and I can assure you many benefits.

There are so many benefits to juicing. There is no other way to concentrate so much nutrients into a glass from fresh whole foods. One of the major problems with health in this modern world is lack of nutrients. This exists for many reasons but one is simply not consuming enough raw nutrient rich produce. Greens and roots are the answer to balancing this problem out. Another problem that leads to poor health is toxicity. Hardy greens support liver function and health. By juicing we can begin to address lack of nutrients and toxicity. This is the path to prevention of serious illness.

Another benefit of juicing is pulp. The left over pulp is a perfect byproduct that can serve many functions at home. One of those being soil building. Add pulp to compost or a worm bin. Because it is so finely broken down it is available to micro organisms immediately and will break down into plant food at a very rapid rate. Another benefit is it can be added to animal food to increase fiber and nutrients. Pulp from juicing can be added to dog food, thrown to chickens, fed to pigs etc..

Keep exploring Greens and all the ways to use them. It's time to create health and reduce our need to consume food products that have had all the nutrients processed out of them. Reduce your need for industrial food products. Figure out ways to acquire as many greens as you can from a local farm or garden. Be sure the growing methods of your food are without chemicals to ensure care for your body and this Earth, one in the same.

Steamed Greens

You got a fridge full of greens because your CSA box is loaded with a variety greens you don't even know the name of? 


Any kind of greens.
Chopped small (with stems) and crammed into a large steamer pot.
A few cups of water.
High heat and steam for 10 minutes or until desired.
Put steamed greens into large bowl add butter generously.
Salt and pepper
chevre (goat cheese)
Mix thoroughly and serve heaping portions.
Trust me you will like it and it will make your body happy.
Works great as a side to the main dish.
See you later greens.
Thanks Garden.

Using All The Veggies From Your CSA

This is meant to serve as a guide to help you figure out what to do with all those less common veggies that you get in your CSA (community supported agriculture) box or from the farmers market. If you don't know what a CSA is I urge you to look into it as it is a method for small farms to be supported.

The first category I would like to dive into is Greens. Greens include a wide variety of different veggies that you will find in your weekly box. I have heard often and from many that they are unsure of how to go through all the greens that are in the box. To this, my answer is, we need to begin to change our idea's about amounts of veggies we consume. The average american citizen is malnourished do to there lack of consuming a lot of veggies and in particular the lack of greens. Greens, all greens have highly beneficial nutrients that our bodies crave. It is my belief that people who eat some kale or spinach every once and a while think that they are getting all of that good nutrients. The fact is a few leaves here and there aren't going to suffice in the body's needs for the nutrients of this special food. People need to eat more greens. More greens equals healthier body and mind. Highly processed foods need to be weened from our diet if we want to experience our true vitality.

Suggestions that may lead you towards feeling better:

Vital Massaged Greens

• When you find greens in your box, (this includes kale, chard, collards, turnip greens, beet greens, broccoli greens, etc. etc.) take all of it and chop it up put into bowl and massage it hard to break down the fibers a bit to make it more tender. Be rough with this part.
• Add a good squeeze of lemon, a good sprinkle of salt, a couple splashes of apple cider vinegar, and a couple splashes of olive oil, other chopped veggies you like and a few spoonfuls of yogurt. Toss in bowl till it is all evenly combined. 
• Let stand in refrigerator for a couple hours and eat whenever hungry

 This meal will create vitality and nourish the body by providing important micro-nutrients. This type of food should be eaten daily and in large quantity. It will last in the fridge for a week or longer and just get better. This is also a great salad for a potluck where you can share in the beauty of eating nutrient rich food. By providing such opportunities you are caring for the earth simply by sharing healthy practices. Healthy, well nourished body's support healthy minds. Greens may just be the revolution our country needs. Start now I can assure you that as you continue to make greens a daily meal your life will become more vibrant. You will glow with vitality.


By eating this you become infused with plant energy making communication to all plants better.
You will want to begin growing your own so you can always have an abundance of energy nearby.
Eat more Greens for a better planet.