tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66164265699464662352024-03-13T01:21:36.999-07:00Greener PasturesJoin me on our adventure of learning how to homestead, garden, raise chickens, homeschool, and in general live lighter on the earth.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-34862935655325458712011-05-29T20:50:00.000-07:002011-05-29T20:50:31.227-07:00Who needs TV?I have said that animals are often more entertaining than TV. The chicks and the geese are proving to be a constant source of entertainment. The chicks are fun to watch as they go about their usual business and I find it amazing at how quickly they are getting their feathers. Being a city girl, this is all very fascinating and the kids are having a blast.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYs4yvlTBTppftYvVhvzH0IZ1uK5bRtxrjHsvf5ILeXmEXL-1tV1Srji7YkHF-Z9MCVKH4zR57TKKHyITtTC9wEOW04YL-KcCect1Ca2G4CnR2H9j-eUfkuzI73uNZJ8ZybYBj3lbSaYg/s1600/101_0168.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYs4yvlTBTppftYvVhvzH0IZ1uK5bRtxrjHsvf5ILeXmEXL-1tV1Srji7YkHF-Z9MCVKH4zR57TKKHyITtTC9wEOW04YL-KcCect1Ca2G4CnR2H9j-eUfkuzI73uNZJ8ZybYBj3lbSaYg/s320/101_0168.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plymouth Rock about one week old.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMRjZ3vMVqX2FO321uk9Rm7QKfIwGcXDtkqUXyby6eTaXERmcltzVWudeKVrYjXg43leaHuZc5sv4zLF28aIx1Ok9RWc1mxS0oXXcS0XEhIA-dNRibwW91XKssBClduiy0IuEfx7NTW4/s1600/101_0169.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMRjZ3vMVqX2FO321uk9Rm7QKfIwGcXDtkqUXyby6eTaXERmcltzVWudeKVrYjXg43leaHuZc5sv4zLF28aIx1Ok9RWc1mxS0oXXcS0XEhIA-dNRibwW91XKssBClduiy0IuEfx7NTW4/s320/101_0169.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhode Island Red about one week.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> They have now been moved outside into the chicken tractor so they can have more room and get used to being outside. We have started construction on the coop and I plan on buying the fencing this week so we can get one paddock put up. If we can buy materials every payday, then we can have the entire system set up in just a couple of months. They have actually gotten a lot more feathers since I took these pictures so I will have to take new ones soon. They are almost three weeks old now and it is becoming more apparent which ones are the males.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2q97R9QtNA0tBl60XSezgeOWIu37_P_ejUL5KARpLRrel3PVb4D4YTMSUXCS4XuiIBKjSO7UIllbeKN6SlUuVPymCQhJ10pz2KG-rGq06b3cP-P8wr7kXtrQ0a6ggW_PRs2xfg_0JSI/s1600/101_0177.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2q97R9QtNA0tBl60XSezgeOWIu37_P_ejUL5KARpLRrel3PVb4D4YTMSUXCS4XuiIBKjSO7UIllbeKN6SlUuVPymCQhJ10pz2KG-rGq06b3cP-P8wr7kXtrQ0a6ggW_PRs2xfg_0JSI/s320/101_0177.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chicks in the chicken tractor.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Right now it looks like we may have about four male Plymouth Rocks and 2-3 male Rhode Island Reds. It's still hard to tell but they are beginning to challenge each other. One interesting thing I've learned is that 5 goslings can out eat and drink 20 chicks. They are also noisier and smellier. Within the first week the geese were going through as much food in 24 hours as the chicks were in two days. That doesn't count the water! We have gone to letting the chicks out during the day so they can eat grass in addition to their feed and they now have use of the 1 gallon water container. They are going through at least half of that a day plus what we put in a large dish for them to splash around in. <br />
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We have also started taking them to the creek once or twice a day to let them take a dip and cool off. The temperatures have been pretty warm the last couple of days and they enjoy being able to get in the water to swim around. We will wait about introducing them to the pond until they are bigger. They actually have done very well about staying by the house when we are not outside with them. As long as they have shade and water, they will stay around the house munching on grass. Of course the funny part is how they will follow us around. We have taken to calling them our fuzzy children.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVwYhmn05K2V3CtRPqOM9r2PYzu2kh9wXBlLdAQJztW6hEuzoJSb4z9gpS-Kl3OfaMoWTXcwaWzP3HimxXJ9fesQtsDkYQOGBdpOcEq41ON-jnsSdKc71QkTIi-GXhQZmIE8lL0f6Y-4/s1600/101_0171.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVwYhmn05K2V3CtRPqOM9r2PYzu2kh9wXBlLdAQJztW6hEuzoJSb4z9gpS-Kl3OfaMoWTXcwaWzP3HimxXJ9fesQtsDkYQOGBdpOcEq41ON-jnsSdKc71QkTIi-GXhQZmIE8lL0f6Y-4/s320/101_0171.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's go for a swim!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>The garden is hanging in there and I plan on harvesting the Romain lettuce soon. The potatoes are growing like mad and we added some soil to them today. We are beginning to think about what we may want to plant for a fall garden. It's almost June so we have to start planning now. We are also thinking about ordering some berry bushes so we can get them planted this year. It will be a slow process to get all of the trees and bushes that we want but we just have to take it one step at a time.<br />
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As we make progress on the chicken coop I will post pictures and keep you updated on the progress of the chicks and geese. In the meantime, Happy Memorial Day!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg654_yUUmIUoYqP2d-QjhQImk_gG3S1Qf929FWY9lDo6PRgrgWXVi2iLzEFnm1XdoIrzJhGt-6LfQ7LdMonHU-27_Sio9zM2Gxp9KZkPc2zzXy7Lrq2D0PbjYpbhzFhxS7CdGkNpb-fZg/s1600/101_0165.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg654_yUUmIUoYqP2d-QjhQImk_gG3S1Qf929FWY9lDo6PRgrgWXVi2iLzEFnm1XdoIrzJhGt-6LfQ7LdMonHU-27_Sio9zM2Gxp9KZkPc2zzXy7Lrq2D0PbjYpbhzFhxS7CdGkNpb-fZg/s320/101_0165.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potatoes before we added more soil.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-8886297821938633032011-05-16T19:18:00.001-07:002011-05-28T19:51:13.489-07:00Chicks!Finally! The chicks and goslings have arrived! And I have to say...they are so cute! They all arrived safe and sound and have been making plenty of noise since they arrived. We ordered 11 Rhode Island Reds and 9 Plymouth Rocks. We also ordered 5 African geese.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-C-2a7s1fU1p2k35j6dm9zBlEPsrbmsj5RaFoY6-UbihE1TGS2-C-XkaSTf-yV59-ECKrP-54D7TUrJ6omcnnieGdCFqvYv9kcMMSfbJ5nJV4Xyi0LV-DqB6h100N0S-mGKcTPRTigM/s1600/101_0106.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-C-2a7s1fU1p2k35j6dm9zBlEPsrbmsj5RaFoY6-UbihE1TGS2-C-XkaSTf-yV59-ECKrP-54D7TUrJ6omcnnieGdCFqvYv9kcMMSfbJ5nJV4Xyi0LV-DqB6h100N0S-mGKcTPRTigM/s320/101_0106.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The geese checking out their new home.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKfcjZH_Y2ByvvTmsEvKMxg35p0rAS_pOghMVtm4LHAdRzFtwo3udoDQ8VV1SQsXraUdoTaGQCx2MIduGExqwdrFqieTG5AR7gwhHtd2AYbcfxNbZ6F8Ww5Gywk7y7jhH8B1oQS2Glm0/s1600/101_0107.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKfcjZH_Y2ByvvTmsEvKMxg35p0rAS_pOghMVtm4LHAdRzFtwo3udoDQ8VV1SQsXraUdoTaGQCx2MIduGExqwdrFqieTG5AR7gwhHtd2AYbcfxNbZ6F8Ww5Gywk7y7jhH8B1oQS2Glm0/s320/101_0107.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All 20 chicks. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RM8naGcg52LetJktZpQ4PXU1wHolzwQsfw_1g89QF7BV4tkIGks6E-dFlpH-B6a9NFcrUOyLtO4iYOJWSu2Y4k5VZHriXZzi3WRuwXjleZT1vNFXfUQj6oj6zBOch01AfeLfppJrUnI/s1600/101_0108.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RM8naGcg52LetJktZpQ4PXU1wHolzwQsfw_1g89QF7BV4tkIGks6E-dFlpH-B6a9NFcrUOyLtO4iYOJWSu2Y4k5VZHriXZzi3WRuwXjleZT1vNFXfUQj6oj6zBOch01AfeLfppJrUnI/s320/101_0108.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plymouth Rock</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijE7yVP9yyNnblrAXlLnWR8rSBk6g7gofus4bD2_E-nMRd9RVi7VUSOiHIzGOulB_OH87qHBUXcUZZzqXzzp6n_AjB4KLM-aNvXsgTAFW5SF6aV3NxTCWGE5i6zWh8bwoWJLrm45gMAlw/s1600/101_0109.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijE7yVP9yyNnblrAXlLnWR8rSBk6g7gofus4bD2_E-nMRd9RVi7VUSOiHIzGOulB_OH87qHBUXcUZZzqXzzp6n_AjB4KLM-aNvXsgTAFW5SF6aV3NxTCWGE5i6zWh8bwoWJLrm45gMAlw/s320/101_0109.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhode Island Red</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ht4hn9Wsb_oatJGXNZqmggdaNM8w4mtHL5mugjS5IOwdw6TD_Ev88pF2xYTf6CA9eU-qwZ6zaUs9yr64PRcmH3gW9Exe6swjcQqjBv-kTbyCpNDflqSnwJYAB_Jq7hP8fHcyc3vXOMQ/s1600/101_0110.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ht4hn9Wsb_oatJGXNZqmggdaNM8w4mtHL5mugjS5IOwdw6TD_Ev88pF2xYTf6CA9eU-qwZ6zaUs9yr64PRcmH3gW9Exe6swjcQqjBv-kTbyCpNDflqSnwJYAB_Jq7hP8fHcyc3vXOMQ/s320/101_0110.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Goose</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>The cat isn't too sure what to think about the whole thing. So far she has just sat and looked at them so we are keeping the boxes covered with a wire mesh. I just wanted to share the pics and I'll be giving updates as the grow!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQRPnWYaQaAj51LII0TfjrQdeo7EsouavOIXNHZniaqJmvCK_RcVqltQKjO-v0b-XcFUm6P9nO0t1kJNv6pAOhaunB05FqS9TM29ucJlxURrmx87vOcJenqbcaHi6fn8RKCQS526lBhE/s1600/101_0111.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQRPnWYaQaAj51LII0TfjrQdeo7EsouavOIXNHZniaqJmvCK_RcVqltQKjO-v0b-XcFUm6P9nO0t1kJNv6pAOhaunB05FqS9TM29ucJlxURrmx87vOcJenqbcaHi6fn8RKCQS526lBhE/s320/101_0111.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They think the blue bowl is a pool.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-49119546308603378282011-05-11T03:56:00.000-07:002011-05-28T19:51:42.556-07:00The Wonderful World of Poo!And no, I'm not talking about Winnie the Pooh.<br />
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Before we ever moved here we had discussed getting a composting toilet. I had looked into the commercially available toilets and thought that was what we would end up getting. I liked the idea that the compost bin only needed to be emptied once or twice a year but I knew the cost would keep us from getting one for a while. Once we decided to move here, I knew that we had to come up with another solution that would be much more affordable since we wouldn't have running water for a while. That's when we started to seriously look at sawdust toilets.<br />
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For the last several months we have used a sawdust toilet but we had been placing a bag into the bucket and disposing of the bag. A few months ago I finally finished reading The Humanure Handbook and we were inspired to get to work on our humanure composting bin. Using some scavenged lumber, my husband has gotten one bin completed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-ToRrAfdrEZSTqOdCe5T-_5TAdNwrBrvRMRg4FLiSxbskiWp0Eb87K26ESKhyphenhyphendoBPW-xmBMNynpInKa90NUvOSvM47aSwPJcjYpDKgYm_jRCjP-2wkT4FcuKmKd210B1l98yGnTwhF4/s1600/101_0052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-ToRrAfdrEZSTqOdCe5T-_5TAdNwrBrvRMRg4FLiSxbskiWp0Eb87K26ESKhyphenhyphendoBPW-xmBMNynpInKa90NUvOSvM47aSwPJcjYpDKgYm_jRCjP-2wkT4FcuKmKd210B1l98yGnTwhF4/s320/101_0052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And yes, the posts on the left are taller on purpose. Eventually there will be three bins total. The next one to be built is the center bin which will have a roof over it. Hence the taller posts. This bin will store the hay and probably the sawdust as well. The hay is used to cover the humanure so there is no odor. The third bin won't be used for about a year. Deposits will be placed in the first bin for a year and then we will switch to the other bin. The first one will be left to age for a year and then we should have some rich compost that can be used in the garden.<br />
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We also dug a hole in the bin and filled it with about 12-18 inches of hay. This forms a biosponge that will absorb liquid and help keep it from running off. We have only been using this for about a month but so far it is working very well. Our clothes line is pretty close to the bin and I have never smelled anything while back there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyRAsmuoLfLYpbbW4W1KeleK0vwq571eJ7gim8ZsgTVA_ZIr_6SEtYAoigXqcaD0MyRItaxPuL1p9JKpp7natSyzPXvV_fTeyqyagFO5aglhaYU89yvRMGwTrGOq8rw-wEdsgbSRXVq4/s1600/101_0053.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyRAsmuoLfLYpbbW4W1KeleK0vwq571eJ7gim8ZsgTVA_ZIr_6SEtYAoigXqcaD0MyRItaxPuL1p9JKpp7natSyzPXvV_fTeyqyagFO5aglhaYU89yvRMGwTrGOq8rw-wEdsgbSRXVq4/s320/101_0053.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hole before we added the hay</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Once there is a roof on the center bin, we will add some guttering that will lead to a rain barrel. This will collect rain water that can be used to clean the buckets every time they are emptied. Overall it is a pretty efficient system and not very hard to manage. We have decided that we will continue to use this system even after we finally get running water. Eventually, I want to build a nice box to encase the bucket so it looks a little prettier and not so obvious.<br />
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If you would like to see a well established system, check out this You Tube video. If you do a search I'm sure you will find more. I'm also providing the link to The Humanure Handbook website. <br />
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZTZTVv6kYs<br />
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http://humanurehandbook.com/<br />
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If you're thinking about a composting toilet don't discount a sawdust toilet. You may find it's your best choice after all!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-81366732102282013982011-03-31T19:39:00.001-07:002011-05-28T19:52:43.298-07:00Spiral Herb GardenI have finally been able to implement a project that I have wanted to do for some time. I took a Permaculture Design course before we moved here and part of the class was to build a spiral garden. We did this during the class as a group but I have wanted to build my own ever since. When we moved last summer I just didn't have the time or the materials to do it but now that it's getting warmer I have finally been able to build one!<br />
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First I placed some hay on the ground to help serve as a weed barrier and it will compost and add to the soil. Then I laid out four bricks in a square that measured one foot square and filled in the rest of the shape to form the spiral.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HsEBcMWfr0w_pG0XlpzRIDoFyw_-SYVhc-7i0L-0NKkD7lqxRbX1IgTIVvFwDslbBzQEeiqoRsJyUhJNqgPcOfcWc1XhSL8DoGHp31uss0K8rpSkijphoR6t5nDNMTygnB6e-HJz-fg/s1600/101_0034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HsEBcMWfr0w_pG0XlpzRIDoFyw_-SYVhc-7i0L-0NKkD7lqxRbX1IgTIVvFwDslbBzQEeiqoRsJyUhJNqgPcOfcWc1XhSL8DoGHp31uss0K8rpSkijphoR6t5nDNMTygnB6e-HJz-fg/s320/101_0034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Once you have the initial shape it is simply a matter of continuing to stack the brick to build the walls. You can start in the middle and build that area up first to get to the height that you want and then finish the walls. As you finish the outside walls, you will want them to taper down allowing sunlight into different areas of the spiral. By doing this you are creating microclimates for various plants.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMr5KNgmRINWGcAp8Q1so8dvcHU6akaL3y1xoreod5pg4lzGwQez_lx7gH91e4Wd_iQr8xuQUp73oUsJT7iko5H4HGlv862Vj5ptThMLrtsbRw-S3O6ib0FUyu3JrhbUSRn0ds4P2CcI/s1600/101_0036.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMr5KNgmRINWGcAp8Q1so8dvcHU6akaL3y1xoreod5pg4lzGwQez_lx7gH91e4Wd_iQr8xuQUp73oUsJT7iko5H4HGlv862Vj5ptThMLrtsbRw-S3O6ib0FUyu3JrhbUSRn0ds4P2CcI/s320/101_0036.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 courses of bricks</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInmifVIckkxi-IXGqK741JZxppTyaKvqgaDIFxlIV0KnNGePxk4ZynmUdqnDW-qYKS-gyFDlGwvBBmUfTJbBuqvjc4McKvS19X8g7fzyuutMgki5a0yoH894PHL8gWhiaa_N9wKi0LDI/s1600/101_0037.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInmifVIckkxi-IXGqK741JZxppTyaKvqgaDIFxlIV0KnNGePxk4ZynmUdqnDW-qYKS-gyFDlGwvBBmUfTJbBuqvjc4McKvS19X8g7fzyuutMgki5a0yoH894PHL8gWhiaa_N9wKi0LDI/s320/101_0037.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting closer!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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It took about 3-4 hours to rake and clear the area and then to build the spiral. I have put some old hay in the spiral that has already begun to compost and will finish it with some fresh straw. Once the new straw is in, all I have to do is move the hay aside to place a couple of good handfuls of soil in a hole and put the plant in place. The idea is that the plants will get the the nutrients that they need from the soil and the roots can spread out into the hay in search of water. As the hay composts I can add more until eventually the entire spiral will be full of soil. I would like to build some more with stone just because I think they look prettier. You also don't have to build them this tall but since I was working with brick I knew this was out it would turn out. Here's a picture of the final product.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgurfsMxkHOCwiWFirXXcSQD55pDRrJQle_I9tRRzKnp0oXA93-2AJDzYY9rFRb6gUb8Vbeker_-Jl_VxC8Tpd0EhcQbiF6SNUAKj91BlwZ9Nj25uzkeftiHZyomYTRSHQ-2PU-okrZB8/s1600/101_0038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgurfsMxkHOCwiWFirXXcSQD55pDRrJQle_I9tRRzKnp0oXA93-2AJDzYY9rFRb6gUb8Vbeker_-Jl_VxC8Tpd0EhcQbiF6SNUAKj91BlwZ9Nj25uzkeftiHZyomYTRSHQ-2PU-okrZB8/s320/101_0038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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If you look on You Tube you can find some videos of various spiral gardens and how they were made. I will put a picture up when I get all of the plants in so you can see how it looks. In the meantime, happy planting!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-76568898632163693072011-03-20T07:30:00.001-07:002011-03-20T07:30:32.818-07:00Spring FeverThe temperatures are finally getting warmer and we are beginning to see signs of spring. Not only are we seeing signs outside but the garden centers at our local stores are bustling with activity and new shipments. Spring Fever has set in and we are getting busier since it is finally getting warm enough to tackle outside projects again.<br />
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In the last couple of weeks my husband has built three raised garden beds and a cold frame. Yes, I finally have my cold frame! And it does look good if I say so myself. We have also been gathering the compost, peat moss, and vermiculite we need to make our soil for the garden. We are going to use the Square Foot Gardening method this year and see what happens. We will probably buy some plants that have already been started from local nurseries and others we will try to start from seed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7pkLq04y-g2giR7CX8PZPUDvFmy1kFTRoWxOHyFn61YXglqBJxVX2cYoUlFll6sWls3TEeg0clhD3y4yEgXVjH2aoAaEdebjGYCBAJhtWgXfvaHwLWfNnau8Dh0q9JicGRL_UP0T-PY/s1600/101_0012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7pkLq04y-g2giR7CX8PZPUDvFmy1kFTRoWxOHyFn61YXglqBJxVX2cYoUlFll6sWls3TEeg0clhD3y4yEgXVjH2aoAaEdebjGYCBAJhtWgXfvaHwLWfNnau8Dh0q9JicGRL_UP0T-PY/s320/101_0012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the garden boxes</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table> I may have mentioned it before, but several months ago we came across a door like the ones that are used on refrigerated cases in convenience stores that had been set out to be thrown away. The door was in excellent shape and that is what we are using on the cold frame instead of windows. I can't wait to really put this thing into use! I'm not sure but I think it is almost 5 feet long. A cold frame is built on a slant to catch the sun and work as a mini greenhouse. It is 18 inches tall in the back and 12 inches tall in the front. I also love that the door has the handle intact so it will be easier to open.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYjEAI3cj4cZ9a_cIuNsuXKtzIHxn-o62T_OLQ-Ltn5RT832LqaatIrQSnGxIkKpXsbADt3uqPNmaH1AmHSywfnVU0HkOCmR9F6js6iv3MB-Yxm4HAL6MZHHB8vS9dWVRyZjTujRZvE8/s1600/101_0024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYjEAI3cj4cZ9a_cIuNsuXKtzIHxn-o62T_OLQ-Ltn5RT832LqaatIrQSnGxIkKpXsbADt3uqPNmaH1AmHSywfnVU0HkOCmR9F6js6iv3MB-Yxm4HAL6MZHHB8vS9dWVRyZjTujRZvE8/s320/101_0024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the cold frame from the front.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHCL6-l29rTIUDF5uOYisMdutU1bavoXN8YIf8oABmuClgFT4uhMtKXDc7xlzXvrkkbhP89DlhUOHiSgIi4w2wTSKuguCqd1GEBcdhVD0ENrcUnWcopkP0umdZuW0xqRlH3cNRrDe2xo/s1600/101_0025.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHCL6-l29rTIUDF5uOYisMdutU1bavoXN8YIf8oABmuClgFT4uhMtKXDc7xlzXvrkkbhP89DlhUOHiSgIi4w2wTSKuguCqd1GEBcdhVD0ENrcUnWcopkP0umdZuW0xqRlH3cNRrDe2xo/s320/101_0025.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A side view so you can see the slope. </td></tr>
</tbody></table> Our seed potatoes also arrived this week. We ordered German Butterball potatoes and I hope to get them planted soon. Hopefully we will get something from them but we'll see. We ordered these from Seed Savers Exchange and they are certified organic. This particular type is supposed to be a good all purpose potato.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuWn7YXH2aifoB8FKBIDqRJkaA-RKjjus9iH94LXAs_m_1xUcm_IYnFR9GElM2-GWDc06zdk90j8_u9hiIg6DefjoC4lbxW3FPDye9ADbDuVKYN6-z_9Aj02oG2LQ9clHm-dyJzDClpM/s1600/101_0018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuWn7YXH2aifoB8FKBIDqRJkaA-RKjjus9iH94LXAs_m_1xUcm_IYnFR9GElM2-GWDc06zdk90j8_u9hiIg6DefjoC4lbxW3FPDye9ADbDuVKYN6-z_9Aj02oG2LQ9clHm-dyJzDClpM/s320/101_0018.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our bag of seed potatoes</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
And last but not least, we finally have a grain mill! I am so excited! I know, I'm crazy. It is a manual mill but that was what we wanted. I didn't want to get something that I had to rely on electricity for. It will mill from a coarse consistency to a flour consistency. I can't wait to give it a good try but I still need an oven so I can do some baking! Ah well, everything in time I suppose. From what little we have tested it, it seems to do very well. We wanted to get a mill so we can mainly mill our own flour. To me this is all part of creating a simpler life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazd9ro9TDvbOkYegbyeC-Y2ZeGy3Hnz6r1Xg46e45HWQ6mgaD02aMzL_vUXR7wQv4VryP32ulNMAGc4aAbOegFyDL3Ep51No7LlEknDdPy3P3rjttQFrLtMuuYyXnedtwnlnNSMqvZjE/s1600/101_0020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazd9ro9TDvbOkYegbyeC-Y2ZeGy3Hnz6r1Xg46e45HWQ6mgaD02aMzL_vUXR7wQv4VryP32ulNMAGc4aAbOegFyDL3Ep51No7LlEknDdPy3P3rjttQFrLtMuuYyXnedtwnlnNSMqvZjE/s320/101_0020.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The front of the mill</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZi_pBmZXp5v3Ml3gaGXXWCgbWW0z7IBW3De9YbuRLhqGIReSlRGjVKPk78JuhRJgpgvNLjjzqJdFE-9sCOVvdx1XMWGp2r7q7FRiD2nfHvE1BqDEpyMepmU15AUILi9w8vqSDAJNkzbE/s1600/101_0021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZi_pBmZXp5v3Ml3gaGXXWCgbWW0z7IBW3De9YbuRLhqGIReSlRGjVKPk78JuhRJgpgvNLjjzqJdFE-9sCOVvdx1XMWGp2r7q7FRiD2nfHvE1BqDEpyMepmU15AUILi9w8vqSDAJNkzbE/s320/101_0021.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back</td></tr>
</tbody></table> As we continue to work on our projects here, we are keeping a close eye on what is happening in Japan and the Middle East. To be honest, I don't think things look good but all we can really do is wait to see what happens. If all of this doesn't re-emphasize the need to be prepared, I don't know what does. I hope everyone is getting started with their own spring projects and hopefully I'll be back with some new updates soon!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-38094342282097095162011-02-09T06:39:00.000-08:002011-02-09T06:39:25.626-08:00Fire and IceWe knew there would be challenges when we decided to move to the country but last week we found out it can be a little dangerous too. <br />
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We have been in a drought for the last couple of months which lead to a burn ban. Last weekend someone thought it would be a wise idea to burn some trash on a windy day. Well, I'm sure you can imagine what happened. A grass fire started on the far side of the field that is across from our house that quickly spread. We were fortunate that the wind was blowing the fire away from our house but it still got a little too close for comfort.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolcuz6DMFAH7IYU1xo3L3s1nY2FvnFQOtdhp8vv3F-cowT8ohwP6MGv_c13LMxF0uQ1C3kwJyjXhaZByGXxL5TgpPAi5RJ0wHUuuO3HekU1kW5hdUJIwdEYCisXGvJaoXERNDeatuA8Y/s1600/100_1981.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolcuz6DMFAH7IYU1xo3L3s1nY2FvnFQOtdhp8vv3F-cowT8ohwP6MGv_c13LMxF0uQ1C3kwJyjXhaZByGXxL5TgpPAi5RJ0wHUuuO3HekU1kW5hdUJIwdEYCisXGvJaoXERNDeatuA8Y/s320/100_1981.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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The local fire department responded pretty quickly but because we live so far out in the county, there are no public water works, therefore no fire hydrants. The fire department has tanker trucks that would go to a nearby lake to fill up and then take that water to the fire. It may not be as efficient but it does work. There was another flair up of the fire that night around 11 PM but again, the fire department was able to get it under control. Fortunately, no homes were damaged but it showed us that we need to examine how we would handle such emergencies in the future.<br />
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All of that happened on Saturday with highs in the 70's. Just a couple of days later we were hit with the massive snow storm that was moving across the mid-west. We ended up with about 12 inches of snow and 2-3 foot snow drifts. To say the least, the kids loved it and so did the dog. I'm not sure who was having more fun. The husband wasn't too crazy about it though because he was trying to dig us out. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying 50 mile per hr wind gusts.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5OYHmTlXxQ04TcVKe9p_ILTLteUUprIQR1BV1Mb6M1qvLXoileXG1F1KMG8ARNMWYuFFT54vR-lv_io9NJuyXxk6fuZchag2IhhhhNx14gY2-SschrZcIV7QP_UbdMsJGgp4AhDpeQk/s1600/100_2023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5OYHmTlXxQ04TcVKe9p_ILTLteUUprIQR1BV1Mb6M1qvLXoileXG1F1KMG8ARNMWYuFFT54vR-lv_io9NJuyXxk6fuZchag2IhhhhNx14gY2-SschrZcIV7QP_UbdMsJGgp4AhDpeQk/s320/100_2023.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow lovin' dog</td></tr>
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We discovered rather quickly that we need to invest in a good snow shovel even though we don't normally get this kind of snow. Everyone sold out of snow shovels so we ended up getting a feed shovel which works very well. We would probably still be trying to dig out if the county had not been nice enough to clear our driveway for us due to a family emergency. Now we have buckled down for another snow storm that is supposed to dump as much as the last one. Since we don't really have any livestock we only have to look out for ourselves but this experience shows us that we will need to think a little differently about how we manage things here during these types of events.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8coR51vC60qtRL5N7zSUXYdgdLSRHWiVpBFWGOCBhjgv_720w1DSUrWqNcuO2RdYaHfxnh5PyqrcBhI8vSbG-zIwjzCMXNhB16UDwBf1vqNg59c4ashZIjIe5C-RyZQ1vsawzuh-5R0/s1600/100_1995.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8coR51vC60qtRL5N7zSUXYdgdLSRHWiVpBFWGOCBhjgv_720w1DSUrWqNcuO2RdYaHfxnh5PyqrcBhI8vSbG-zIwjzCMXNhB16UDwBf1vqNg59c4ashZIjIe5C-RyZQ1vsawzuh-5R0/s320/100_1995.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow drifting against the house.</td></tr>
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Now that we have settled in for another round of winter weather, I think I'll sit back and enjoy some hot chocolate and the pretty view outside.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-56579944152986332432010-12-21T19:02:00.000-08:002010-12-21T19:02:47.124-08:00One project down...Woohoo! We finally have one project done! Mostly. My hubby finished the storage shed a few weeks ago although it's still not very pretty to look at. We still have to put shingles on the roof and some kind of siding on it but at least it's functional. We spent all day Sunday cleaning out the tent where we have been storing several boxes that we didn't have room for in storage. We ended up throwing a good bit of stuff away and condensed down how many boxes we had. I'm happy to have that stuff in the storage shed but we still have to get everything else out of our paid storage. Hopefully by the end of next month we'll have all of that stuff here.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2LKNmHn6yfMDRk5NaW2Ln-zb0EoPwSVmVxHgsYSgCQk6tG7pkTMSJWYGEtY-6oRF_aWJJF2PW-SaeWq64zZpOeRmxrX7z2I_dgEvLU144YC5f42IUtPM73deq5RU0jzRUnht_GGTKsQ/s1600/100_1961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2LKNmHn6yfMDRk5NaW2Ln-zb0EoPwSVmVxHgsYSgCQk6tG7pkTMSJWYGEtY-6oRF_aWJJF2PW-SaeWq64zZpOeRmxrX7z2I_dgEvLU144YC5f42IUtPM73deq5RU0jzRUnht_GGTKsQ/s320/100_1961.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The great thing about this shed is that almost all of it came from salvaged lumber. We bought the door at a Habitat for Humanity store for $15 and it's solid wood. We also got the felt paper there for the roof. We did have to buy a few 2x4's but that's about it. It is 8x10 feet with 8 foot walls. We also put in two small lofts on either side for storing smaller items. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now that this is functional the husbandly unit has started on the floor for the bathroom. He has gotten some framing done and dug some of the holes for the support posts for the floor. Hopefully it won't take as long as the shed did but at least we've gotten started on it. </div><br />
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</div>I also forgot to tell you guys about the great potato harvest! A few weeks ago when we got first couple of hard freezes the potato plant started to die so we decided it was time to dig it up. It did make two small potatoes but that was it. I was impressed it did anything at all! Ah well, it was an experiment and a learning experience. We will probably use the tire method again in the spring and hopefully with some good seed potatoes. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxf7AmwFpLrne9-gLynAnjAsf1cEFG_-4eSjyvbbB1gO-q3oFhAND7-8mM7SsQq-NNHac4MKIwq_x3VJK6SJz7sS0e1t4h6ixWonGzaVwVWeFZ4mrQ180Idm_IHWD85nB0laQv2wVncQ/s1600/100_1957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxf7AmwFpLrne9-gLynAnjAsf1cEFG_-4eSjyvbbB1gO-q3oFhAND7-8mM7SsQq-NNHac4MKIwq_x3VJK6SJz7sS0e1t4h6ixWonGzaVwVWeFZ4mrQ180Idm_IHWD85nB0laQv2wVncQ/s320/100_1957.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Great Potato Harvest</div><br />
We have almost finished putting up the drywall. It stays pretty warm with our two little heaters so we have been pretty comfortable. I wish we had the chimney for the wood stove because I hate running the heaters all the time but we are having to do things in baby steps. That may be our next big purchase and then I hope to start putting money back for the pump for the well. I'm hoping that by spring or summer at the latest to have that in. Bringing water home has become an everyday task and I don't think I'd know what to do to not have to do it anymore! <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Next on the project list is the bathroom of course, building the raised garden beds and a chicken coop. There are several other projects but those are the top ones for now. Until next time I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-27119194730151206202010-11-25T11:51:00.000-08:002010-11-25T11:52:32.000-08:00The Great Turkey Experiment of 2010Happy Thanksgiving! <br />
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Well, the holiday season is upon us and we are getting ready to celebrate our first Thanksgiving on our homestead. We planned on having a traditional dinner but as you may or may not know, we haven't had an oven since we moved. This hasn't been to much of an issue because we have been making do with the camp stove, microwave, and grill. Unfortunately, none of these are very conducive to cooking a turkey.<br />
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Originally we thought about getting a spit and cooking it over an open fire. The cheapest one I could find was around $50 dollars and used a motor to turn the food. We actually wanted something that we could turn manually and I really didn't want to spend $50 on this thing, so we went back to the drawing board. As I thought about it I finally came up with a plan B. <br />
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Recently I saw a blog that talked about making an oven out of a box. The instructions said to get a box like the type that office paper comes in. Line the box with tinfoil and poke holes in the side of the box for ventilation and to place straightened coat hangers through. This will make your rack. Prepare your charcoal and place it in a pie tin. This goes underneath your rack. Place whatever you are going to bake on the rack and then put the lid in place. Here is a link to the site for those who may want to try this method. http://safelygatheredin.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-to-make-cardboard-box-oven.html<br />
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I actually brought a box home to do this, but as I was thinking about it, I didn't think this box would be big enough for a turkey or that the wire coat hangers would be strong enough to hold it so I decided to make a different one. We bought a sheet of foam insulation that is used behind drywall. We bought this kind because it has a shiny surface on one side and apparently this could also be used in making a solar oven. I figured if you could use it for that I could use it to make an oven. <br />
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We measured the turkey pan to be sure we cut it large enough and set to work. I cut the sides to be 2 feet tall to be sure it would be tall enough for the turkey. Once I had all of the pieces cut, I covered one side of each piece with tin foil. Then we used small nails to put all of the pieces together. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQy1v6TPQlZmxrlTpoCopVmHbngBfhfuEPIDrVMz1DRsa2GnM1kwZlfz_Pncr9gRX8h-uNj_0VCZI4ZT7nN7o95QDkg22X3o4vDiAF9AYNjqtCPhVRaqlfgHUWbHFQhw6QlLYt8Q3qug/s1600/100_1940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQy1v6TPQlZmxrlTpoCopVmHbngBfhfuEPIDrVMz1DRsa2GnM1kwZlfz_Pncr9gRX8h-uNj_0VCZI4ZT7nN7o95QDkg22X3o4vDiAF9AYNjqtCPhVRaqlfgHUWbHFQhw6QlLYt8Q3qug/s320/100_1940.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished oven</td></tr>
</tbody></table> For our oven rack we used a camp grill that is designed to go over an open fire pit. It has fold out legs and was perfect for placing the coals underneath. Of course because it's metal we also knew it would hold the turkey.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeL24Qerlv9WEe5vfQ61WmhnuLCdfCFEUVa2cpY_bb_k3jHIqoOFgwAs13CKXWkK6UIX303VR_bzsh-KDQBTcTUkmfNIx0xyB_GW1r5yTqcTWy3qVKXYVWjXZQ9rzXL2NjZ8l8fIfemQ/s1600/100_1941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeL24Qerlv9WEe5vfQ61WmhnuLCdfCFEUVa2cpY_bb_k3jHIqoOFgwAs13CKXWkK6UIX303VR_bzsh-KDQBTcTUkmfNIx0xyB_GW1r5yTqcTWy3qVKXYVWjXZQ9rzXL2NjZ8l8fIfemQ/s320/100_1941.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Our first experiment was to try baking some cookies. It took longer than baking them in a real oven but it worked! We also discovered where we were losing heat and used some duct tape to give it a better seal. Since we weren't sure how long it would take to cook the turkey we decided to cook it yesterday. My hubby put it in around 8 AM and by lunch it was done! It took about 4 1/2 - 5 hours to cook. Below is a picture of the turkey in the oven bag while it was still in the oven and one after we had taken it out and placed it on a platter. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighyphenhyphenR2Oaw71zgzeFPcBegf1rAgq4X3atHhzJeo6GKRRJixCqzX4eRRv2ovOW1p3TU4_89lGzkzTLgtI0pXc48n-bwG1mXSmrJEJYpt7zOyD5Md8Pr_mw-PyI2h173rgDDMIbHvBz7Cvg/s1600/100_1953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighyphenhyphenR2Oaw71zgzeFPcBegf1rAgq4X3atHhzJeo6GKRRJixCqzX4eRRv2ovOW1p3TU4_89lGzkzTLgtI0pXc48n-bwG1mXSmrJEJYpt7zOyD5Md8Pr_mw-PyI2h173rgDDMIbHvBz7Cvg/s320/100_1953.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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As far as preparation, this has to be our most original Thanksgiving. Hopefully next year most, if not all, of our Thanksgiving meal will come from what we grow or from local growers. Below is a picture of the oven while I was baking brownies in it. You can see the duct tape that we added to it and the bricks were placed on top so the lid would get a better seal. The bricks were put underneath to give it a fireproof surface to sit on. I don't expect this to be a permanent fix but it works in a pinch! <br />
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So that was the Great Turkey Experiment and I hope everyone has a Happy Homesteading Thanksgiving!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-56987327237102244042010-11-10T05:11:00.000-08:002010-11-10T05:11:23.418-08:00First AidIt is inevitable that we get hurt on occassion. A misplaced slice of the knife in the kitchen or a stumble outside and out comes the bandaids and Neosporin. But should we have more on hand than just these basics? Several years ago after a major tornado, I decided that I wanted to have more than your basic first aid kit on hand. Fortunately I was not involved this particular storm, but given the level of destruction I felt it would be foolish to not have more than bandaids sitting around in case of an emergency. Now that we are homesteading and it would take us a nice little drive to get to a hospital, I think it's more important that ever to keep a well supplied First Aid kit. <br />
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First, I felt that your standard little First Aid box wasn't going to do. Nope, I wanted a Super First Aid kit. So, I went out and bought a large tackle box. As you can see in the picture, the box has a clear lid and small compartments where you can place smaller items such as Q-tips, antibiotic ointments, and small bottles of medicine. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiOeK3Fn6Da37e3u537ytRBI_v4fy3nA4oLOtLJvuLKF_e_2wJ7DfRTh5FkDyjGt5JgoWRwq9uFpEH6TP9skVPoaNqOYLm64RiXRTOnhY12RpKRssFhxrECYqWxYUvzhLGqFcXDPDXw/s1600/100_1928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiOeK3Fn6Da37e3u537ytRBI_v4fy3nA4oLOtLJvuLKF_e_2wJ7DfRTh5FkDyjGt5JgoWRwq9uFpEH6TP9skVPoaNqOYLm64RiXRTOnhY12RpKRssFhxrECYqWxYUvzhLGqFcXDPDXw/s320/100_1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
One of the things I liked about this tackle box was that it opens in the center and has large compartments instead of the trays that lift out. This is where I keep the bulk of my first aid supplies. In here I keep gloves, bandage tape, bandage scissors, saline wound wash, bandaids in various sizes, ace wraps, Kerlix bandage rolls, tourniqets, and gauze pads in a couple of different sizes. We also have a snake bite kit but it's too big to fit in the box. <br />
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You can get all of these things at your local store on the first aid aisle. The snake bit kit is with the camping supplies. These are just basics and of course you can add anything that you might need for your own personal needs in a pinch. We take this kit with us whenever we go on a trip so in those cases I will add any medicines that we might need such as pain relievers, Pepto, allergy medicine, etc. Of course you could always leave this stuff in there for a take and go situation. <br />
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Anytime I come across something useful I may add it to my kit. Hopefully this will give you some ideas of how you can put together your own kit.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-75301831734128286332010-11-10T04:49:00.000-08:002010-11-10T04:49:38.714-08:00Back!Sorry I have been away for so long. Things have been busy but have been progressing slowly. I will give a quick update and hopefully get back to posting more regularly. <br />
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Since we moved we finally got the electricity connected which took us a few days. We have been working on getting a shed built to store some of our stuff and hopefully that will be finished soon. The majority of the insulation is up, Yay! We are now in the process of buying drywall and getting that up a little at a time. We built a worm bin a few weeks ago and a regular composting bin this weeeknd which I will probably post about later. Since it has gotten colder we have had to stop taking showers outside and we are working on a way to take showers inside. <br />
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So far, I think that's about it. We are still bringing in our water and I don't think we will get a water pump until spring or summer. That's about it for now but look for another post soon!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-61620292488673351942010-08-06T19:35:00.000-07:002010-08-06T19:35:12.698-07:00Store for the winterThis may be a short post but I wanted to bring something to everyone's attention. Today on Collapsenet.com Michael Ruppert put up a video update about the possibility of food prices taking a significant jump in the next week or so. He says this because in the last 24-36 hours there have been several news articles from major news outlets about Russia and the Ukraine not having enough wheat. These countries have been major exporters of wheat and if they are not able to export then we will feel the effects in our pocket books. There is also a fungus that has been devestating wheat crops in China. This is a brief of synopsis of what he said but he is encouraging everyone to begin stockpiling a 3 month supply of food for everyone in your home. <br />
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This may sound alarmist but this man is often right and if the major news outlets are talking about it then there is probably something to it. If nothing else keep a close eye on the food prices in your area. If you see prices suddenly starting to rise then I would take that as a sign that food prices are going to continue to go up. Also, be thinking about what you can store that will get you through in a pinch. If you can buy some things in bulk, now may be the time to start shopping with that friend who has a Sam's or Costco card. <br />
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I will try to post again soon and hopefully with a lighter subject next time!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-76046411391486659832010-07-26T20:08:00.000-07:002010-07-26T20:08:54.959-07:00Making progressI promised I would put up another post about the progress we have made so far and here it is! Thus far we have gotten the flooring down and it actually looks pretty good. We used peel and stick tile that we found for 29 cents a square foot. It was cheap and it actually turned out great. Hubby did a good job putting it down. It's a wood grain pattern and improves the looks of the shed greatly. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OyWAfsLtu3vNzroJgUh3oE5otJ6swwSnZeRIU-frspiZGKm-wngVqTaEFIWEYMRiyalozBBpxYMF_4DNtJVUicFzeAo_E0qIr_ZPxfgKMimXvipBQQgT60LoeNNF2n5uqhBUKbyY9A/s1600/100_1713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OyWAfsLtu3vNzroJgUh3oE5otJ6swwSnZeRIU-frspiZGKm-wngVqTaEFIWEYMRiyalozBBpxYMF_4DNtJVUicFzeAo_E0qIr_ZPxfgKMimXvipBQQgT60LoeNNF2n5uqhBUKbyY9A/s320/100_1713.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Here's hubby with a little helper putting down the flooring. As you can see we are still dealing with bare walls but hopefully we will be able to start buying the insulation for the walls in a few weeks. So far we have put up reflective barrier insulation against the ceiling which has helped. It looks kind of like we have tin foil over our heads but if it works I don't care. <br />
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I don't believe I mentioned this before but when we first moved it had rained right before we got here. Did I also mention that Oklahoma is made of nothing but red clay? Well, our red clay has a good bit of sand in it so it gets very mushy when it rains. To say the least, when we drove up the truck we made some nice ruts in the yard. Fortunately, it also dries quickly and the ruts can be fixed later. <br />
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We also have put together a make shift shower. There isn't exactly a lot of privacy right now but it works. Hubby fixed up a pulley system so we can raise and lower the shower to fill it. We have also discovered that even though the solar shower works very well when the sun it out, it can actually get too warm. When it's pushing 100 degrees outside and you would like a cool shower, having to use 100+ degree water isn't the greatest thing in the world. So we have figured out that if we lower the shower during the day it gets to just the right temperature. Now that I am working during the day again I have taken to heating water in a tea kettle in the morning and adding this to the shower so the water is at least luke warm. Taking a cold shower first thing in the morning isn't exactly my idea of a good time. <br />
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Hubby didn't square it up so we will probably take it apart and redo it so it looks a little better. There is also something liberating about taking a shower outside and if you've never done so I encourage anyone to give it a try just once.<br />
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We have also acquired two new fur babies. We now have an English Shepard named Indy after Indiana Jones. I let the kids name him and they are stuck on the Indiana Jones movies right now. We also have a new kitty named Sabrina. She's a little shy but very loving. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOWqbBgLEwCHu2LcEpfrJR9AJ8jjpI-IhgUQgy6plppOCgQ0sb1KZaG6arkWFz46ahJNH9hRhVBWzTcRV1wWFGMWPMJ6VauoBTAxf6oFeb8MxUa2mwZ7hjapUAh9JL5hg7iWlc7EBnw/s1600/100_1712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOWqbBgLEwCHu2LcEpfrJR9AJ8jjpI-IhgUQgy6plppOCgQ0sb1KZaG6arkWFz46ahJNH9hRhVBWzTcRV1wWFGMWPMJ6VauoBTAxf6oFeb8MxUa2mwZ7hjapUAh9JL5hg7iWlc7EBnw/s320/100_1712.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlAaAzj6w6nCZ5HqZzMhUVwM4lxSIbwqJjOspDEuHlcZ6j0MpoFCtt6lopI_r0l8JovNneIl28kDzfFvqvMAiCQdJKg_FbpeXbhvXQkfCBQCwd47nvassFUsR0kqsI_PjmGxq-4TRFQ/s1600/100_1714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlAaAzj6w6nCZ5HqZzMhUVwM4lxSIbwqJjOspDEuHlcZ6j0MpoFCtt6lopI_r0l8JovNneIl28kDzfFvqvMAiCQdJKg_FbpeXbhvXQkfCBQCwd47nvassFUsR0kqsI_PjmGxq-4TRFQ/s320/100_1714.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And now for the latest news and then I'll shut up. See, this is what happens when I don't get to post for a month. Anyway, the hubby recently got the idea that we needed to have a path back to the pond. Now after working on this for most of the week we finally have a fairly clear path to the pond. Of course now the kids want to go fishing every day. We honestly didn't think anything was in there since it is a man made pond but low and behold we have baby Big Mouth Bass! The kids both caught their first fish the other day and were so excited! We may still need to stock the pond with a few fish but at least we know there's something back there!<br />
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</div>And last but not least I have to brag about my Craigslist find today. At some point we plan on building a green house and I want to find some old windows that we can use. While looking over the free section I saw where a listing had been made for a picture window. He simply wanted to get rid of it and was giving it away. To say the least I jumped on it! As you can see in the picture the side windows open and the frame is made of metal. I can't wait until we build a greenhouse so we can put this in place. It's going to look great and this was just the type of window I was hoping to find. <br />
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So this should pretty much have us caught up to date. Now that I have internet again I will try to get back to posting on a regular basis. Everyone try to stay cool in these baking temps and I'll be back soon!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-86026842999302618732010-07-22T19:41:00.001-07:002010-07-22T19:41:23.503-07:00The longest move in historyFinally! I'm back online and connected to the civilized world again!<br />
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Outside of when we crossed the land bridge, this has to have been the longest move in history. I will attempt to give you the short version. Originally the plan was we would pick up the truck on Saturday and leave on Sunday. Well, on the Saturday of our move we picked up the truck as planned and began loading. We loaded all afternoon and realized we weren't going to get everything loaded that day. So bright and early Sunday morning we got up and resumed the process of finishing packing and loading. About mid day we realized that we had underestimated the size of the truck and needed to get a trailer. The only thing I could find on a Sunday was a 4x8 trailer so we got it and packed it as full as possible as well as the cars. Unfortunately, we <i>still</i> couldn't get everything.<br />
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Monday morning we get up before sunrise and hit the road. We get here around lunch time and began to unload and my hubby starts working on getting the electricity hooked up. Yes, we had not power yet. We end up staying in a hotel that night simply because it is too hot and we still don't have power. The next morning I go to a job interview while my hubby finishes unloading what we are going to keep here. After I change clothes we head back into town to get a storage building and turn in the truck and trailer. We finally get back on the road late that afternoon to head back to Texas to get the rest of our stuff. We arrive around 1:30 in the morning and stay in a hotel yet again. The next morning we get a larger trailer, get the rest of our stuff and head back. We get back home around 10 PM and finish unloading the next day. To say the least, we were all exhausted.<br />
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Since then we have gotten a little better organized and gotten the flooring down. Slowly things are beginning to come together. When I have more time this weekend I will try to put up another post with some pics of what we have gotten done. Thank you all for being patient while we got this move over with. Hopefully now I will be able to post regularly again. Stay tuned!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-71501008449984944702010-07-01T12:04:00.000-07:002010-07-01T12:04:22.438-07:00Quick updateJust wanted to put up a quick update. We have moved in the sense that all of our stuff is out of our old place. Right now we still have a few things sitting on a trailer and I haven't been able to make heads or tails out of the stuff that we didn't put in storage. We are still trying to get the power on so hopefully that will happen today. Otherwise it will be another warm night with no AC. At this point I think all of the food has gone bad.<br />
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I don't know when we will be getting phone and internet. The phone company came out the other day and couldn't hook up the phone because a new box needs to be put in. Ah, the joys of living in the country. The engineer was by today so hopefully in no longer than two weeks we'll be in business. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will take less time than that.<br />
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No one ever said that achieving your dreams was easy but does it have to be so hot?? I guess I shouldn't complain too much. I am convinced that that someone loves me now. Lately it has been well into the high 90's but this week we are looking at highs in the upper 80's here and when we went back down to Texas to get the rest of our stuff it was overcast with a nice breeze. Much better than the almost 100 degree temps we've been having. It's still hot but at least I don't quite feel like I may die of a heat stroke. Anyway, there is more to tell to this story but I will have to save that for later. Everyone have a great Fourth of July and I will try to post soon!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-4926837495640638502010-06-22T15:19:00.001-07:002010-06-22T15:19:34.936-07:00Getting closer!So this weekend was fairly productive even if it was unbearably hot. We managed to get the wiring done and my neighbor was kind enough to call today and let us know that the meter has been put in. Now all we have to do is hook up to it!<br />
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It's amazing how much heat these buildings hold with no insulation. Here is my poor hubby tolerating the heat to get the wiring done. The kids of course wanted to help to so he let them use the drill to make the holes bigger. I'm not sure how I feel about them using power tools already but we all know how boys are with their toys.<br />
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We also bought a reel mower so we could mow some of the grass. This one cost us about $120 at Lowe's. It has an 18 inch mowing width and comes with a bag to catch the grass which is nice if want to try and compost some of it. Of course I wouldn't try to mow a very large area with this, but it does mow pretty well even if it is slow. The nice thing is it doesn't use any gas. We may invest in a gas mower later but for now this will do the job. Our neighbor was also nice enough to come over before we left and used his riding mower to finish mowing the grass for us. We have such nice neighbors!<br />
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The funny thing is the kids were actually arguing over who got to mow. I'm sure this is something that will never happen again but it was fun to watch. The mower is easy enough to push that even Baby Bit could do it. Overall the kids actually did pretty well with it.<br />
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So as of now the move is on for this weekend. I will post as soon as I can after the move so you guys stay tuned!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-82459124829458896662010-06-18T06:46:00.000-07:002010-06-18T06:46:38.244-07:00Pieces of the puzzleEvery move has its challenges and this one has been no exception. We have hit plenty of hiccups in our plans, but slowly things may be coming together.<br />
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As much as I don't want to be on the grid, that is what we have to do for now. Hopefully the meter will be in before we move. If not, well, that's another issue that will have to be dealt with. Arrangements have been made for the phone and internet to be hooked up and this weekend we hope to get the wiring done. <br />
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Even though I am doing things I never thought I would do, I also realize that we are facing issues that we never thought would come. At least I didn't. Sometimes I think about what the future may be like for the generations to come and what are they going to think about us? There is no chance that those who come after us will enjoy the same level of comfort that we have. Will they think we were arrogant? Foolish? Conceited? I don't know, only history can be the judge. What I hope, is that the choices that we make from here on out are what we will truly be judged on.<br />
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I keep hoping that when the public realizes that the chips are down, that the American grit and ingenuity that we have become known for will kick in. That, as we have done in the past, we will dig in and do what must be done. My concern however, is that the apathy and need for instant gratification that has been developed will hamper people's ability to function in a meaningful way.<br />
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The answers to the problems that we are facing are at our fingertips, we just have to be willing to change and embrace what needs to be done. Change is never easy and many of us don't like change, especially when things are changing in a way we don't like. Unfortunately, change is coming. This is why I strongly support the use of permaculture and relocalizing our communities. Start preparing your lifeboat and thinking of ways that you might deal with changes that may be coming. Also, keep an eye on what is happening in the world. We are connected to everyone else and events that may seem remote from us could have impacts that we can't even imagine now. Talk to your friends and family. Try to make as many people aware as possible. The more people that understand what is happening, the better prepared our society will be. Let's face it, we can't count on the government to do anything useful. <br />
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Change is a part of nature and like anything else in nature, if we want to survive we must learn how to change with it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiRxxF30f2JMYw9SIgjKcR03_nBgMaXriM88HuIuc99BmcfT5QceB6uGhfl3uWywYCPCx9nBhL6b9VRW4JIV17eDqdYLpBDyHGxxP3JmWfQNv4m5TvPaY0RERTBrhI2_HbeorfBbnsQ/s1600/rosie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiRxxF30f2JMYw9SIgjKcR03_nBgMaXriM88HuIuc99BmcfT5QceB6uGhfl3uWywYCPCx9nBhL6b9VRW4JIV17eDqdYLpBDyHGxxP3JmWfQNv4m5TvPaY0RERTBrhI2_HbeorfBbnsQ/s1600/rosie.jpg" /></a></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-17459455730336894572010-06-08T07:15:00.001-07:002010-06-08T07:15:30.876-07:00Announcing - Collpasenet.comBecause I feel so strongly about this and I feel it is very important to get this out to as many people as possible, I wanted to announce the start of Michael Ruppert's new website collapsenet.com. I mentioned him a couple of posts back and I wanted you guys to know his website is up.<br />
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You may not believe in Peak Oil, or if you were like me, you're not ready to wrap your head around the idea yet. Unfortunately, I think we are running out of time. Mr. Ruppert feels that we are at the beginning of the end of industrial civilization. No matter how you feel about what he says, you have to admit that the things that are happening in our world are pretty scary. So for those that are interested, please visit his site and start making plans for your own lifeboat.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-91754376569483066892010-06-07T07:49:00.000-07:002010-06-07T07:49:11.719-07:00How far are you willing to go?As we continue to prepare for our move and I have to meet the electric company's engineer this week, I have been thinking about how much electricity we use. We have discussed at some length about getting solar panels or going on the grid. I would love to get solar panels right away and not even have to go on the grid but to get a full blown system would be very expensive. Depending on what the engineer tells me however, that may still be something we have to look at. <br />
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As we seriously discussed getting solar panels instead of getting on the grid, I wondered how much electricity we use on a monthly basis. Of course this is essential to know if you want to figure out how big of a system you need. So I found our most recent electric bill and I was a little surprised. On average, we use 1500 kWh a month. Last summer when we were having those unbearable 100 degree days for days on end we topped out at around 3000. This is for a 1500 sq ft dwelling with two central A/C units, not enough insulation, and windows that are not energy efficient (We rent so none of these features were my idea). To give you an idea of how much it would cost to get us completely off the grid, here are some numbers. A 1500 kWh system, based on where we live, would cost about $82,715.00 or $40,680.00 after incentives. Hmmm....can we see why it is cost prohibitive for most of us to go solar, at least in the way we would like? These numbers were based on one solar calculator and of course the numbers will be different for each area of the country.<br />
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Depending on how much it will cost to have a meter placed on our property we may still go with solar panels. The question is, how can we reduce how much electricity we use? I would like to cut our current energy usage at least in half, if not more. Initially however, we cannot afford a large system so we would have to start out very small and then add to it.<br />
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I would love to get a refrigerator that uses propane but those are expensive and I haven't been able to find a used RV one. Instead, I'm going to try and sell my current fridge and get one that is smaller and energy star rated. We have a window unit that we plan on using but we have also considered getting a swamp cooler instead. One we looked at uses about 140 watts of power versus our window unit that uses over 1000. The washing machine has been a bit of dilemma. If we have to get a small solar panel system we simply won't be able to use the washer unless it is on a generator as well as the fridge. I have looked at a small hand washer that costs about $50 which could be used for small loads but we would still have to go to a laundromat from time to time. Here is a picture of the washer that I found through Lehman's.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1sEWliSFCIhTb8nKzVnv9iQMlM4rKMi1Bt5SJcHKy8iMpSmx_L_GMeRrn2EmK68jLPbn0HULnQ2xvTLbg-0BQtJGwAc8sNDhPaYBgYkbq87_1zzKAimFqhtB5Zfu8pnC2t4Xr2qZqXs/s1600/hand+washer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1sEWliSFCIhTb8nKzVnv9iQMlM4rKMi1Bt5SJcHKy8iMpSmx_L_GMeRrn2EmK68jLPbn0HULnQ2xvTLbg-0BQtJGwAc8sNDhPaYBgYkbq87_1zzKAimFqhtB5Zfu8pnC2t4Xr2qZqXs/s1600/hand+washer.jpg" /></a></div><br />
As for lights, there are always candles and oil lamps to reduce how much electricity we use there. TV watching would be limited, much to my children's chagrin I'm sure. <br />
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Even though I knew that choosing this path would be difficult, I did not realize how hard it would be for me to let go of this idea of how we are supposed to live. I told my husband that we are trying to hold onto this idea of middle class living that is just not sustainable. I have to admit, I feel like a junkie trying to get off of drugs. I am used to living a certain way and even though I know that choosing a simpler lifestyle is better for my family and the world around us, it doesn't mean it isn't difficult. So if it is this hard for me, someone who is very aware that we have to change how we live as a society, how much more difficult is it going to be for everyone else?<br />
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We all have to make our own choices as to how we want to live. Some of us are willing to make greater changes than others. If you are reading this, then you have at least given some thought to greening your lifestyle and are hopefully taking steps to that end. I suppose the big question is, how far are we willing to go now and far will we be forced to go in the future?Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-79752143601193189922010-05-27T07:23:00.000-07:002010-05-27T07:23:16.825-07:00Finally! Progress!So, after a couple of not very productive trips to our property and fighting off ticks the last few days, we <i>finally</i> have something accomplished! The 12x30' storage building that we bought was delivered and is now waiting for us to make it livable. Even though it is a large shed, it's not very big when you consider we will be living in this while we build a house. It still has to be wired, have plumbing run to it, and insulated but at least I know we'll have a roof over our heads! I jokingly tell everyone that it will be like living in a camper minus the wheels. I am becoming more stressed however over pulling all of this together. There is still so much to be done and finding the time to complete it all is a challenge. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoutJYo0Nx98P0rdp6hVi-tHQsT6g_2MCXjE1ELTOQ-v0bl3j-niE_65Cq4sJu9D8oEQ2sluZlwRBATXQZavNbvbEATP0sfrguMDPMShKMzFu67LBVVWNwu7fj6bLLH5waoa0k23JCIg/s1600/100_1653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoutJYo0Nx98P0rdp6hVi-tHQsT6g_2MCXjE1ELTOQ-v0bl3j-niE_65Cq4sJu9D8oEQ2sluZlwRBATXQZavNbvbEATP0sfrguMDPMShKMzFu67LBVVWNwu7fj6bLLH5waoa0k23JCIg/s320/100_1653.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Since the tick population is getting worse we will likely get a few guineas and hopefully some chickens. This will allow us to naturally control the pest population and hopefully get some eggs as well! Hopefully this will only be home for a few months but I'm not going to expect things to go any more smoothly after we move than it has already.<br />
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As always, we enjoyed our time while we were there. The wind wasn't nearly as strong as it has been and we are becoming more familiar with the character of the land. As we look at how the water flows across the property we have begun to discuss where we may need to place swales and how we want to channel the water. Hopefully I will be able to begin creating our Permaculture design soon so that we have a road map to what we want to do.<br />
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Our target date to move is the last week of June so stay tuned and we'll see what we get accomplished between now and then! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking across our future home site to enjoy a sunset.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-81752386176815477192010-05-22T11:52:00.000-07:002010-05-22T11:52:08.241-07:00Lifeboats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxHxdBT1s0j0lEzj6w21NgvP5HYT5niL3unlMHJG2-5RAsK0OzLNNV90h3nh95kcJc7B-SN896H8r71j-OZPlB8EYpw0c0WrV_DTjEPGRAKBtYZJ_h_iF-RRTN28_D-_Tm1flYOE-bF8/s1600/titanic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxHxdBT1s0j0lEzj6w21NgvP5HYT5niL3unlMHJG2-5RAsK0OzLNNV90h3nh95kcJc7B-SN896H8r71j-OZPlB8EYpw0c0WrV_DTjEPGRAKBtYZJ_h_iF-RRTN28_D-_Tm1flYOE-bF8/s320/titanic.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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I want to discuss an idea that some of you may not have heard of before. Creating a lifeboat. Now we all know what a lifeboat is...it's that little boat that we run for when the big boat that we are on is in danger of sinking or some other disaster. The lifeboat is designed to keep you alive through the immediate emergency until you can be rescued or reach safety. So why, you may ask, do we need to create a lifeboat? Well, let's think about that one for a minute.<br />
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In the last couple of years we have seen a lot of economic turmoil here in the U.S. and in other countries as well. Greece is on the brink of financial collapse and Spain, France, Italy, the UK and others are not far behind. Despite what all of these well paid economists on CNN may be saying, we are on pretty shaky ground as well. Things are not as stable as they would like for us to believe. Our economy is based on a model of perpetual energy growth. We depend on increased amounts of available energy to support and increase our growth. Most of that energy comes from oil and as I hope you are aware, oil is on the decline. We have reached the peak and are now on the downhill slide. This is not good news for the economy.<br />
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Now I am not an economist nor do I work in the oil industry. I am just an ordinary person trying to piece together the information that is out there. I had hoped that we had at least another 5-10 years before we began to feel significant effects of Peak Oil but I am now beginning to think that we have much less time than that. So the need to create a lifeboat is becoming imperative.There are a lot of resources out there that can go into much more detail than I about what is happening and what we will probably be facing so I will leave that to those who are more qualified.<br />
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Everyone's lifeboat will look different based on where you live. There are basic needs that we all must meet which include water, food, and shelter. I would suggest starting there. Look around where you live and begin to think of what you would need to get you through an emergency that lasted a few days, weeks, or months. What plans do you need to put in place that will benefit you in the long term? What networks and community bonds can you strengthen or build so that you're not alone in your lifeboat? How will you and your family function if the things that we have become used to are not available or are only available in limited quantities?<br />
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I watched a film the other day of Michael Ruppert talking about Peak Oil and the coming collapse. One thing he said was to make your lifeboat where you feel most comfortable. Where you know the streets, the people, the customs, etc. You don't have to be out in the country surrounded by acres of farm land, but you do have to know your area and where your resources are. This makes a lot of sense to me and is why we are going back to Oklahoma. It's where we are comfortable and where we are choosing to make our stand.<br />
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The ship is sinking and unfortunately many people don't see it. An analogy that I like to use is that of a coming storm. If you know a storm is coming are you going to wait until it hits to make sure you have everything you need? The smart person is going to make sure there is adequate food, batteries, flashlights, blankets, etc. If you are not prepared when you have been warned, you have no one to blame but yourself.<br />
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Unfortunately I haven't been able to find a way to embed Michael Ruppert's video in this text but I have included the link so you can visit the website and watch it for yourself. He doesn't sugar coat anything, which I personally like, but his message is a little scary. So watch the video, look at your own situation, and decide how best you can prepare your own lifeboat.<br />
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<a href="http://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/programs/author-and-peak-oil-activist-michael-ruppert">http://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/programs/author-and-peak-oil-activist-michael-ruppert</a>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-67992410373233973252010-05-15T08:36:00.000-07:002010-05-15T08:38:44.190-07:00Permaculture Ethics Lesson #3When we were children one of the first things we were taught was to share what we have with our friends. As we got older we learned how to share many things with our friends. Good times, bad times, clothes, and food. As we became adults we noticed that we may not share as often as we used to. We get caught up in providing for ourselves and our families. Often, we may not have enough to share with others because it takes everything we have just to meet our own needs. This is where the concept of Fair Share, which is the third ethic of Permaculture, comes in.<br />
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When we produce abundance we are able to share the surplus with those who are not as able. When we share with others then everyone's needs can be met. Of course we usually think of the physical things that can be shared such as food and water. But we can also share things such as time and knowledge.<br />
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This is how communities used to f unction. We respected our elders and they continued to contribute to the community by sharing their knowledge and helping to take care of the children. Everyone else provided the tasks that were needed for the community to survive. In this way everyone was doing their part. Permaculture seeks to rebuild community on those same principles. If we begin to incorporate Permaculture into how we live it will not only help the environment but our communities as well.<br />
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The ethics of Permaculture are simple but they are practices that we have largely gotten away from. These three things are at the core of Permaculture and everything we do will revolve around them. In the future I will discuss some of the principles of Permaculture and how they may be incorporated into your own living space. In the meantime I have put some links below to books that you may find useful as an introduction to Permaculture.<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thepage06-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1603580298&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thepage06-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0908228082&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thepage06-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0646418440&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thepage06-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0896087808&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-2308790558128016632010-05-09T10:44:00.000-07:002010-05-09T10:44:21.306-07:00Permaculture Ethics Less #2The second ethic at the center of Permaculture is Care of People. Ok, so this may seem like another no brainer but let's look at this concept a little closer.<br />
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When we talk about caring for people what images does that bring to mind? For most of us the first thing we may think about is helping our neighbors, looking after the elderly, and helping those in need. All of these things are correct, but let's see what else this can mean. When we are helping those around us, it can be more than just helping to put up a fence or making sure someone has a meal. How about teaching others how to grow some of their own food? How to install a rain barrel so the water can be reused on their landscaping? And how to utilize native plants and food bearing plants within the landscape so it not only looks nice but serves a purpose? <br />
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When we talk about caring for people we need to think about how to help people meet their needs beyond a handout. By establishing community gardens, educating others about the problems we will soon be facing, and how to live sustainably to deal with those problems we are going beyond short term needs and giving them long term solutions. This also helps to build community and create an environment of support. <br />
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In my next post I'll discuss the third and final permaculture ethic. In the meantime, look around your own communities to see what may be happening that falls under the ethic of Care for People. Maybe you will be inspired to start something that will follow this ethic.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqATUFr3eFLTiwr-kTMDsrIhLbQmRfi09BjvgIzLPHaQNflJgxxtVyjjhL_U7e4hYkJxr_HtTcUCxHdqdtnJJr7UIgnvQr5lfI92y6GuGCsDW6Vf11A8loU705QPQZJKC4iXqFNa1oFg/s1600/rent-a-plot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqATUFr3eFLTiwr-kTMDsrIhLbQmRfi09BjvgIzLPHaQNflJgxxtVyjjhL_U7e4hYkJxr_HtTcUCxHdqdtnJJr7UIgnvQr5lfI92y6GuGCsDW6Vf11A8loU705QPQZJKC4iXqFNa1oFg/s1600/rent-a-plot.jpg" /></a></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-66564961232188517222010-05-01T14:46:00.001-07:002010-05-01T14:47:29.776-07:00Permaculture Ethics Lesson #1If you have been anywhere near a radio or TV in the last few days I am sure you have heard about the oil spill that is happening in the Gulf. I say "is happening" because it is an on going event. To date, they still have not been able to cap this thing and stop the thousands of gallons of oil that is pouring into the ocean every day. To say the least, I am more than a little annoyed at this situation. I am annoyed for more than one reason. Not only is this an environmental disaster but it stands to affect my home state for which I am not very happy. <br />
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As irritating as all of this is, it is not the core of what I wanted to talk about today. As we make our preparations for creating a simpler life and I focus on using Permaculture to create a harmonious living environment, recent events have made me think about the ethics behind Permaculture. For those who are not familiar with Permaculture I thought I would discuss the three ethics that lie at the heart of Permaculture and how these ethics translate into our everyday lives.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Care of the Earth</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">This is the first ethic in Permaculture. It is a fairly obvious statement, but it means our first priority is to take care of the planet and not damage the systems that we depend on. So what does this mean? Does it mean we should recycle, compost, and conserve water? Of course, but we have to go a little deeper to find the true value of this ethic. <b> </b> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">For a person to have a deep concern for the Earth, we must have a relationship with it. This relationship must be developed over time and it also needs to have a healthy dose of respect thrown in. We develop this relationship by spending time in nature. Listening to its rhythms and watching the changing of the seasons. Unfortunately, the majority of people in our society have become disconnected from the world around us. I am no exception but I am slowly correcting this problem and working on my own relationship with nature. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Because of this disconnect, many people do not respect the world around them and have trouble fully comprehending the damage we do to our environment and what this means for us. As we gain an understanding of how the world around us functions, then we can understand how we fit within the grand scheme of things. We cannot count on some government agency or our children's schools to take us by the hand and show us how to have this relationship with nature either. This is something personal that we all must take the time to explore and discover. Then, we can teach our children so that this pattern of consumerism and abuse is broken. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So the next time you spend some time outside, think about our connection to the earth and the ethic of Care for the Earth. What does it mean to you and how you interact with the world around you?</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-21702419366388301592010-04-27T08:56:00.000-07:002010-04-27T08:57:53.411-07:00Blue skies and water worriesMost people love spring and fall because of the more seasonable temperatures and the fact that it signals the changing of the seasons. I love spring and fall for these reasons as well, but this weekend while we were in Oklahoma, I remembered why I like the Oklahoma countryside so well. If you've never been to Oklahoma it is really quite pretty. There's nothing like driving down the highway to see wide open spaces of green dotted with varying shades of green from the trees. And all of this against the backdrop of a vivid blue sky that is often dotted with puffy white clouds. To me, this is beautiful scenery but I'm also fond of the open spaces.<br />
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I also love a cold glass of water on a hot day, but I read an article about how Oklahoma City wants to meet its water needs for the next several years and it concerns me. The city would like to buy the rights to a reservoir about a hundred miles away to supply the city and surrounding areas with water. The reason for this is that demand is expected to exceed supply within the next 20 years. The price tag for this little endeavor is around $42 million. <br />
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Apparently someone is not looking at some better ways to conserve water. I understand the need to meet the water demands for a large city, especially considering that within the next 20 years we may see more people migrating into large metropolitan areas due to the effects of Peak Oil. As those who commute to work find it more difficult to maintain their current suburban lifestyle, I am sure we will see more people either finding ways to work from home or moving closer to their places of employment. Naturally, this could put an increased strain on any city's resources.<br />
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I don't understand why the city is looking at this as the only way to supply the city with all of its water needs. The amount of rainwater runoff in a city is enormous due to the decreased amounts of green surfaces that can absorb and transfer that water back into the water tables. It would seem to me that the city should begin looking at ways to retain some of that rain water. Why not look at using some of that money to establish a city wide rain water catchment program? Offer some incentives for home owners to implement their own rain water catchment systems. If they expect there to be water shortages in the next 20 years, then how long do they think that reservoir will last? What will they do when that resource is no longer available?<br />
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Unfortunately, this just goes to show how little forward thinking there is. I'm sure this type of problem is happening all over the U.S. and as usual our leaders are looking for the quick fix and worry about the bigger problems when they happen. This course of action may be inevitable but I hope the city leaders will be looking at other alternatives to help solve this looming problem. In the meantime, I'll continue with my plans to set up our own rainwater catchment system in the future to hopefully meet most of our water needs.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616426569946466235.post-63048099668965289132010-04-25T19:29:00.001-07:002010-04-25T19:29:33.923-07:00The best laid plansI hope everyone had an enjoyable Earth Day last week and is looking at new ways to enhance your lives by being greener and living more simply. Unfortunately, I was not able to post Thursday or Friday like I had hoped and like so many other things, our best laid plans often do not work out like we had hoped.<br />
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Well, first for the bad news. This weekend we paid another visit to our future homestead and discovered that while we were gone someone else apparently enjoyed our home site as well. The last time we were there we had bought a small storage unit to leave our camping gear in so wouldn't have to haul it back and forth every time. So what did we find we got there? Nothing. The storage unit and all of our stuff was gone. To say the least we were not very happy. We filed a report with the Sheriff's department but I would say it's a safe bet that we will never see any of that stuff again. Because of this event we felt we had to change our plans yet again.<br />
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Originally we had planned on building our temporary house on the weekends until time for us to move. However, with this theft we did not feel safe in leaving any construction work unattended for a couple of weeks at a time. Now, we plan on buying a storage building that we can live in while we build the house. This was not what I had wanted to do but compromises have to be made. <br />
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We still had an enjoyable weekend camping out and meeting some of our neighbors. We were also able to put the Permaculture principle of observation into action by putting up the prerequisite hammock. As you can see, my husband and son did very well at putting this principle into action.<br />
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The kids also picked some pretty wild flowers for me that we found growing at the back of our property. I have no idea what they are so if anyone knows please let me know!<br />
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So in a way we are back to square one but we are more anxious than ever to make the move and really get things going. The process is slow but we will get there eventually. Anything worth having is worth working for and this will definitely be a lot of work!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278350625202414400noreply@blogger.com1