October 30, 2009
Fear
Fear of the unknown is always prevalent, preparing for the future, and the children of the future is bravery. At the beginning when all the choices are yours it is easy to make mistakes, it is natural to "try on different dresses" until you get a perfect fit. But once those initial choices are made, you join the secret society of nature and she calls the shots, shows you opportunities and mistakes and the path of least resistance for the most gain. You will feel that relief you are longing for, and your children will bloom in the natural peace and abundance that is their birthright.
October 28, 2009
Benefits of Homeschooling
Homeschooling is a misnomer and an antiquated word. It is no longer the mother being the teacher. I only have one son, we live in the woods and rarely see people, physical socialization is difficult. When he did go to school he was on the bus 3 hours a day on icy mountain roads. Up at 6:00 am, have to make sure the road down the mountain is cleared of the night's snow fall, cost $5 to send nutritious lunch and all the plastic packaging that comes with it, then me coercing 3 hours of homework out of him before bed, not to mention the "special" clothes and trinkets necessary everyday. He wasn't learning anything, it was all about the "pecking order" the "socialization". He hedged the teachers and dodged learning like he dodged the bullies at lunch. They would spend weeks on some crappy art project and months on a stupid Christmas music thing, totally out of touch with kids today. Now, my son wants to learn more, be more. He goes to school by sitting in front of this screen and the whole world is his classroom. All his lessons are electronic and he completes them like a level on any video game he would play. He talks with people from many different countries about many different things in the course a day over the internet. It has nothing to do with me, nothing. At first I had to show him "how to learn" and "why to learn" and yes there was a little bribing involved, the first time I ever resorted to this but it was effective. Now at 16 there is no stopping him. He has been invited out to parties, to drink and get stoned like kids his age, but he declines, he is too busy with more important pursuits. He is taking German, and Latin, and well too many things for me to keep track, and planning where he wants to go to college. Our conversations at home are deep and powerful for all 3 of us. We eat hot lunches together, share the natural world together, we are available for each other, it is a wonderful way to live.
October 27, 2009
Homeschooling
Today's rant -
Blogger Ruralrose said...
In Canada schooling is like beef feed lots, herd em together, cram them full of useless crap and let them wallow in all the sh@t they make, i really think you are dodging a bullet here by not tainting your son with this outdated, deprecating mode of child management - if you can stay home save your son!
Blogger Ruralrose said...
In Canada schooling is like beef feed lots, herd em together, cram them full of useless crap and let them wallow in all the sh@t they make, i really think you are dodging a bullet here by not tainting your son with this outdated, deprecating mode of child management - if you can stay home save your son!
October 26, 2009
October 20, 2009
Comparing Raised Beds
More pictures of the front garden. The board beds were made in 2000, the pole beds in 2002 and the log beds in 2006. The problem with raised beds is that they need to be refilled each year due to snow pack, decay and plant consumption. If they are deep and not refilled, young plants struggle to get enough light. The log beds need to be filled each year as well, but young plants do better earlier and there is a great place to sit and work on the bed. The board beds are decaying and the nails aren't holding. On the pole beds my husband, yes he does all the work around here, used screws and a battery screwdriver, they are holding better and went up quicker and individual boards can be replaced as necessary. He joined the poles together with metal strapping and screws. Very fast installation, very inexpensive since we used down trees. Don't use cedar trees or birch, cedar isn't good for plants and birch rots toooo fast.
Death of the Family Farm
Hiding from the chemical corporations who have bought the bureaucrats and policy makers that is bring collapse to our food security. Important farmers are leaving the country, exiled for their opposition, leaving their life's work behind. I will post a letter I received today in this regard. I think he was one of the farmers who had to cull 100's of birds because of avian flu fears a few years back. I haven't had the heart to ask him, how could you ever trust your government to protect the proper interests ever again.
Here is the letter I got today.
Hi,
About a year ago I thought I was totally obsolete and that there was no place for me any more. I saw organic start with dedicated and sincere people doing what they believe in, and now that industry stole it, it is just a convenient addition to an agri industry operation for some extra profit. Use the chemical fertilizer in one field and the blood meal in the other. An organic field is now a good place to get rid of conventional manure. Factory farms pay to get rid of their manure, and now organic composted manure has gone up to $40 from $10 per cubic yard two years ago since so many hobby gardeners in the city use it. And the organic feed can be grown with factory farm manure. Organic was supposed to be from nature, not a chemical factory. I copied my posting that was a response to Karl pointing out some flaws in the vegan ideas. The stock free vegan method is the only way that I see of preventing industrial inputs from contaminating organic food. I cannot grow enough feed for my animals, and cannot trust certified organic any more. The posting is after what I wrote now.
Friends who gave up here showed me the land they got in Ecuador. It is beautiful, and they are very happy there. I am now in contact with several people down there. The government is actually supportive of agriculture and leaves you alone. It is possible to have a high quality life there. The town I am planning to move to is Vilcabamba, there is even a wikipedia story about it.
Take care
George
Hi Karl,
The vegan issue is a lot more important than I realized. Organic nutrients were supposed to originate in the environment and there was to be no animal cruelty anywhere along the path. Now that we have industrial organic the nutrients can start with a chemical factory, GMO feed crops fed to medicated animals suffering in the industrial system, and then the uncomposted manure and blood meal used in the "certified organic" field. People are beginning to realize that they are being made fools of and that certified organic is now a farce,( when industry stole it they took out all it represented and just kept the image).
Increasingly people are starting to ask the right questions and look at alternatives. Under the current certification system ethical and dedicated farmers are labeled the same as profit oriented conventional industrial producers who just want to make a few more dollars from the organic image. A nearby factory farm where I saw thousands of chickens in cages has a big COABC logo in front of their devastated eco system because they have "organic" production at the same facility. (but no eco system, the marketing board rules forbid it, I am sure that more than one certified organic farmer was forced to herbicide his driveway this year)
If someone is concerned about their food and its impact on the planet and its inhabitants what should they eat? How can I buy organic animal feed when I know that the ingredients could be fertilized with conventional blood meal? If I buy organic composted manure, it is the same problem. IF I ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT WHAT I AM DOING, WHAT SHOULD I USE FOR FERTILIZER? Even fish fertilizer is now most probably from farmed fish.
Since I could not grow real organic food here any more, and would face huge fines if I tried I gave up and am going to a much saner country. The most humane way to kill the animal that I have seen is on the farm, and then I can look in your eyes and say this is my chicken, I helped kill it. I could not say that if it disappears in a building after a long traumatizing drive, anything could be in the box they give me.
If someone wants to eat food that does not contain cruelty, chemical and GMO nutrients and is produced in co-operation with nature then obviously they have to avoid "certified organic" unless they know where it is from personally. The stock free vagan is a good try at having food that originates in the environment and is produced with respect to nature, as organic originally was.
Karl, lets go for a good Keg steak and talk about how important stock free vegan could be in the future here. The vegans may actually support their growers now that the organic local 100 milers mostly vote with their dollars for industrial devastation and brutality while babbling comforting noises. If you don't believe me look at the Earthbound Farm salads in your local store. Why are we importing that while so much local land sits unused? An honest stock free vegan would never buy that, and I have found that not all vegans are hypocrites.
George
Here is the letter I got today.
Hi,
About a year ago I thought I was totally obsolete and that there was no place for me any more. I saw organic start with dedicated and sincere people doing what they believe in, and now that industry stole it, it is just a convenient addition to an agri industry operation for some extra profit. Use the chemical fertilizer in one field and the blood meal in the other. An organic field is now a good place to get rid of conventional manure. Factory farms pay to get rid of their manure, and now organic composted manure has gone up to $40 from $10 per cubic yard two years ago since so many hobby gardeners in the city use it. And the organic feed can be grown with factory farm manure. Organic was supposed to be from nature, not a chemical factory. I copied my posting that was a response to Karl pointing out some flaws in the vegan ideas. The stock free vegan method is the only way that I see of preventing industrial inputs from contaminating organic food. I cannot grow enough feed for my animals, and cannot trust certified organic any more. The posting is after what I wrote now.
Friends who gave up here showed me the land they got in Ecuador. It is beautiful, and they are very happy there. I am now in contact with several people down there. The government is actually supportive of agriculture and leaves you alone. It is possible to have a high quality life there. The town I am planning to move to is Vilcabamba, there is even a wikipedia story about it.
Take care
George
Hi Karl,
The vegan issue is a lot more important than I realized. Organic nutrients were supposed to originate in the environment and there was to be no animal cruelty anywhere along the path. Now that we have industrial organic the nutrients can start with a chemical factory, GMO feed crops fed to medicated animals suffering in the industrial system, and then the uncomposted manure and blood meal used in the "certified organic" field. People are beginning to realize that they are being made fools of and that certified organic is now a farce,( when industry stole it they took out all it represented and just kept the image).
Increasingly people are starting to ask the right questions and look at alternatives. Under the current certification system ethical and dedicated farmers are labeled the same as profit oriented conventional industrial producers who just want to make a few more dollars from the organic image. A nearby factory farm where I saw thousands of chickens in cages has a big COABC logo in front of their devastated eco system because they have "organic" production at the same facility. (but no eco system, the marketing board rules forbid it, I am sure that more than one certified organic farmer was forced to herbicide his driveway this year)
If someone is concerned about their food and its impact on the planet and its inhabitants what should they eat? How can I buy organic animal feed when I know that the ingredients could be fertilized with conventional blood meal? If I buy organic composted manure, it is the same problem. IF I ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT WHAT I AM DOING, WHAT SHOULD I USE FOR FERTILIZER? Even fish fertilizer is now most probably from farmed fish.
Since I could not grow real organic food here any more, and would face huge fines if I tried I gave up and am going to a much saner country. The most humane way to kill the animal that I have seen is on the farm, and then I can look in your eyes and say this is my chicken, I helped kill it. I could not say that if it disappears in a building after a long traumatizing drive, anything could be in the box they give me.
If someone wants to eat food that does not contain cruelty, chemical and GMO nutrients and is produced in co-operation with nature then obviously they have to avoid "certified organic" unless they know where it is from personally. The stock free vagan is a good try at having food that originates in the environment and is produced with respect to nature, as organic originally was.
Karl, lets go for a good Keg steak and talk about how important stock free vegan could be in the future here. The vegans may actually support their growers now that the organic local 100 milers mostly vote with their dollars for industrial devastation and brutality while babbling comforting noises. If you don't believe me look at the Earthbound Farm salads in your local store. Why are we importing that while so much local land sits unused? An honest stock free vegan would never buy that, and I have found that not all vegans are hypocrites.
George
H1N1
H1N1 flu strain found in Canadian turkey flock
34 mins ago
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) – Turkeys in the Canadian province of Ontario have become infected with the H1N1 flu virus, but no birds or eggs from the farm entered the food supply, provincial government officials said on Tuesday.
The infection poses minimal risk to human health, Dr. Arlene King, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, said in a news conference in Toronto.
However, she noted the discovery highlights the need for those who work with farm animals to be vaccinated for both seasonal flu and the pandemic H1N1 flu strain.
The risk of the virus passing between people and animals is that the virus could evolve into a form against which humans have little or no immunity, King said. There is no evidence that the virus has changed, she added.
The discovery in a single Ontario barn by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is the second known incident of turkeys becoming infected with the H1N1 virus, also called swine flu. The first was in a flock in Chile.
The Ontario case comes just over a week after the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday, which traditionally involves a turkey dinner.
Health officials are following up with people who had contact with the infected turkeys. One person with contact had shown flu-like symptoms.
The turkeys' owner has voluntarily agreed to quarantine the infected birds, but they aren't likely to be prematurely slaughtered, said Dr. Deb Stark, Ontario's chief veterinarian.
The outbreak of H1N1 flu among turkeys in Chile was discovered in August. It was also the first case of the virus being found outside humans and pigs [ID:nN20543933].
Earlier this year the strain was found in hog herds in the Western Canadian provinces of Alberta and Manitoba.
(Reporting by Rod Nickel; editing by Rob Wilson)
34 mins ago
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) – Turkeys in the Canadian province of Ontario have become infected with the H1N1 flu virus, but no birds or eggs from the farm entered the food supply, provincial government officials said on Tuesday.
The infection poses minimal risk to human health, Dr. Arlene King, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, said in a news conference in Toronto.
However, she noted the discovery highlights the need for those who work with farm animals to be vaccinated for both seasonal flu and the pandemic H1N1 flu strain.
The risk of the virus passing between people and animals is that the virus could evolve into a form against which humans have little or no immunity, King said. There is no evidence that the virus has changed, she added.
The discovery in a single Ontario barn by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is the second known incident of turkeys becoming infected with the H1N1 virus, also called swine flu. The first was in a flock in Chile.
The Ontario case comes just over a week after the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday, which traditionally involves a turkey dinner.
Health officials are following up with people who had contact with the infected turkeys. One person with contact had shown flu-like symptoms.
The turkeys' owner has voluntarily agreed to quarantine the infected birds, but they aren't likely to be prematurely slaughtered, said Dr. Deb Stark, Ontario's chief veterinarian.
The outbreak of H1N1 flu among turkeys in Chile was discovered in August. It was also the first case of the virus being found outside humans and pigs [ID:nN20543933].
Earlier this year the strain was found in hog herds in the Western Canadian provinces of Alberta and Manitoba.
(Reporting by Rod Nickel; editing by Rob Wilson)
October 19, 2009
My Life Is Average
My son ran across this on the net today. Just had to share, hope it is linked properly. Beautiful fall day today, warm happy wishes to you all.
I grew up in a college town, and one Halloween our doorbell rang and we opened the door expecting to see trickortreater—but what was in front of our open door—was another door! Like, a full-on wooden door, that had a sign that said “Please knock.” So we did, and the door swung open to reveal a bunch of college dudes dressed as really old grandmothers, curlers in their hair, etc, who proceeded to coo over our “costumes” and tell us we were “such cute trick or treaters!” One even pinched my cheek. Then THEY gave US candy, closed their door, picked it up and walked to the next house. MLIA
I grew up in a college town, and one Halloween our doorbell rang and we opened the door expecting to see trickortreater—but what was in front of our open door—was another door! Like, a full-on wooden door, that had a sign that said “Please knock.” So we did, and the door swung open to reveal a bunch of college dudes dressed as really old grandmothers, curlers in their hair, etc, who proceeded to coo over our “costumes” and tell us we were “such cute trick or treaters!” One even pinched my cheek. Then THEY gave US candy, closed their door, picked it up and walked to the next house. MLIA
October 17, 2009
Fire Me Please I Quit
. . . my kitchen overflows . . . with the rendered lard spilled over the counter . . . the pots piled high from grape jelly, split pea soup and tomato sauce (yet again) . . . the last of the concords are rotting in a box, the elderberries are drying in the branches (poisonous i know) . . . this morning our new furnace sprung a leak spewing water everwhere . . . a HUGE packrat got in through the basement when we installed the furnace and is making himself at home in my pantry, he has commandeered my large crock i was going to use today for sauerkraut (more dishes) . . . the cats and dog play cat and mouse all night upturning my drying herbs, peppers and garden seed for next year . . . 36 litres of wine to be bottled (more dishes) . . . i haven't been off the farm in over a month . . . i forgot to gather eggs today and lock up my chickens . . . looking back over this post i see things are about normal . . . so it is off to bed with me to start again tomorrow . . . peace all
October 10, 2009
Record Cold
as i sitting here my fingers cold hard like the keys, my husband gone on the 4 hour trip to get the "last fitting" (as if?!) to have my furnace finished - was very cold last night, with no heat i lost all the tomatoes, peppers, cukes and eggplant I had nurtured all summer to be able to grow inside all winter - some of my pepper plants were 9 years old, thai and jalapeno and yellow sweet and a yellow plum tomato we have been eating from steady for 4 years - the news says will be record breaking cold -10 (we usually get as low as -12 in January if ever) - so you know am to busy to do much more on here than complain, lol - thanks for the visit i will catch up with you as soon as i am warm! peace for all
p.s a happy shout out to my real life friend Terry who will be visiting my blog soon since she just got her a computer, smooches and hugs
p.s a happy shout out to my real life friend Terry who will be visiting my blog soon since she just got her a computer, smooches and hugs
October 02, 2009
Perparing for Winter
Today I am cutting up the bacons I smoked and pulling in the green tomatoes (most didn't ripen at all) before the frost which will certainly strike on the full moon. Soon I will have a lovely time posting all the pictures from this summer's adventures. Posting some here today for fun, peace for all
last day of summer
freezers are getting full
chickens are good
outdoor furnace going in none too soon
this is a 40 year old grape vine
last day of summer
freezers are getting full
chickens are good
outdoor furnace going in none too soon
this is a 40 year old grape vine
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