tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26842992619820094512024-03-20T04:26:09.362-07:00Elizabeth's ForrestAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-19474506358456538822014-10-21T20:20:00.001-07:002014-10-21T20:20:56.994-07:00It All Went By So FastHow is it possible that it is already getting close to November?! This summer (and Autumn?) has flown by but some how I managed to pack a whole lot into it. The camping, the traveling to and from Spokane, the farming, the school, Chicago, cooking, spending time with the family... And now I only have one weekend left of farming before we pack up for winter.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0z0eZe9AlSXssW7l6p2uMJ_menthFjXT8UPmnFWRloGj25vuTK9tRYAir-Q2wE3zRgLH7T9FIQhJKkihz9S0qcgP3xb4HztVTOrovnbS0-xDJv7M0WnsUD2EjDloRblOXZZdgoCW4QE4/s1600/IMG_20140618_155304752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0z0eZe9AlSXssW7l6p2uMJ_menthFjXT8UPmnFWRloGj25vuTK9tRYAir-Q2wE3zRgLH7T9FIQhJKkihz9S0qcgP3xb4HztVTOrovnbS0-xDJv7M0WnsUD2EjDloRblOXZZdgoCW4QE4/s1600/IMG_20140618_155304752.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Meaning that all of this...</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilB4ckay7LqNq0zMtlC68ywu9Qd3ZpjFuKhxYnUbQbur5fVGr6yXLu08dcUnuQ8MBUvoBR_a9ybJzi4-nmIzJMWDAI9CgOu-uuhzvHgMjvmjuATi4RtNOPsSpJkvgMBoKwfzggiDYbLSeX/s1600/PSX_20140919_082637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilB4ckay7LqNq0zMtlC68ywu9Qd3ZpjFuKhxYnUbQbur5fVGr6yXLu08dcUnuQ8MBUvoBR_a9ybJzi4-nmIzJMWDAI9CgOu-uuhzvHgMjvmjuATi4RtNOPsSpJkvgMBoKwfzggiDYbLSeX/s1600/PSX_20140919_082637.jpg" height="640" width="638" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>And all of this... will be gone :(</i></div>
<br />
The farm floods in the winter so we have to get everything off of the land and pronto. The rains have started and more and more cars are threatening to get stuck in the new mud. So this weekend we are taking down the tent and the hoop houses and saying our goodbyes. This may be a permanent goodbye as the land has changed owners and we don't know if the new land owner wants to lease from us. If they are able to stay, which I really wish they are, then it will still be goodbye for me. I am moving on in my life and finding new paths to take.<br />
<br />
I currently have a possible job lined up that I am very excited about and if it goes through I will tell you all about it :) <br />
<br />
The reason all of these thoughts came up was because I was thinking about the time I would have available to dedicate to this new job. I knew weekends would be booked while running the farm stand only to look at a calendar and realize that I only have one weekend left on the farm. It came as a bit of a shock.<br />
<br />
But I am headed on to new things! Exciting things! The possibilities are endless and I can't wait to get started!<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-68763424997728324882014-10-20T11:45:00.000-07:002014-10-20T11:45:00.930-07:00This May Not Be The End After AllThese last few months I have been counting down the days until I am done with college (45 days). I have been so excited to finally be done! But sadly, that may no longer be the case.<br />
<br />
I have been doing some bookkeeping for the farm this summer and have had a lot more fun doing it than I ever thought I would. So the thought came creeping into my mind of going into accounting. The more I thought about it, the better it sounded. A consistent job, good income, I can take on as many or as few clients as I'd like... and I think it would be a lot of fun for me. (I never thought I would say that about accounting before!)<br />
<br />
When I looked into what it would take for me to sit for and pass the CPA exam, I realized that I am going to have to go back to school. But I had a strange reaction to that... I got excited. What?! Excited about school? The one thing I have been aching to get free from for over a year? How can that be?<br />
<br />
Part of the reason I really dislike school right now is because every class I have taken has been lecture style and I am anything but an audio learner. I cannot for the life of me sit down for an hour or two and listen to someone talk, no matter how interesting the subject matter, without dosing off.<br />
<br />
The other part of the reason is that, I like what I am learning, but I'm not passionate about it. I am interested in everything environmental, so my major environmental studies is great, but I am passionate about farming and homesteading and working with my hands, which is not what is covered. I constantly feel like I am putting my passions aside so that I can finish school and I'm tired of that! So in 45 days, I will be out of one school and trying to find my way into another.<br />
<br />
I have already started looking for better schools for me. One that I can learn at my own pace, without having to sit quietly in large lectures for hours. One where I can learn hands on!<br />
<br />
Any suggestions?<br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-62312960508121807582014-10-16T06:00:00.000-07:002014-10-16T06:00:08.266-07:00Where the Name Came FromI get a lot of questions about my blog name "Elizabeth's Forrest" because 'Forrest' is spelled wrong and my name isn't Elizabeth. I've gotten a bit worn out telling everyone separately, so here is the simple explanation of where the name came from and why I like it so much.<br />
<br />
A few years ago my mom started selling books on Amazon. My parents had way too many books and couldn't keep hauling them around every time they moved, which is surprisingly often. She used the seller name Jane's Vineyard because my sister's name is Jane and my parents used to have a vineyard and made wine for a few years. It was a family thing and sounded lovely.<br />
<br />
I chose my blog name in order to have one that was similar because I like the idea of having a family theme. Forrest, with that particular spelling, is a family name so it seemed natural to use it in replacing vineyard. Multiple people in my family have it as a middle name, so to keep middle names a theme I used my own middle name, Elizabeth, to proceed Forrest.<br />
<br />
So there you go.<br />
Jane's Vineyard, family names, nature-y feel, Forrest, middle names, Elizabeth's Forrest.<br />
Simple, lovely, and filled with family.<br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-87060083831322586902014-10-14T15:47:00.000-07:002014-10-14T15:47:06.879-07:00School is Throwing Me OffI'm now a few weeks into my last quarter at school and I am completely turned about. I can't concentrate on anything properly no matter what it is, school, blogging, job searching. <br />
<br />
I have a really bad habit that is proving very hard to break, and that is any time I have school work to do, my brain shuts down into a big pile of mush that can't be motivated or disciplined into doing anything! I can't even procrastinate well anymore! It's a real problem.<br />
<br />
What happens is that I sit down at my computer ready to do some work and somehow, with out me realizing it, I end up on imgur looking at picture after picture, and I don't even like it. It's not like I say, 'I think I'll spend some time avoiding doing homework by doing something that I like, such as imgur.' I just end up there and think to myself 'What am I doing?! I need to stop before I hate myself anymore.' but then I don't stop and I just feel gross.<br />
<br />
It's like I can't procrastinate by doing something I like because then I might spend all day doing that so I get on imgur because I can tell myself I'll only be on for a few minutes, but then four hours go by and I've done nothing. Plus there's that sickening feeling of my brain turning to slush from staring at a glowing screen and not using my brain at all.<br />
<br />
So that sucks... But I'm working really hard at not letting that get the best of me. Yesterday I woke up knowing that I had an assignment due and it was going to get done on time and be well written! So I woke up, took a nice shower, made a good breakfast and a cup of tea. I sat down at my computer and pulled up everything I needed and instead of stressing out and going back to the bad habits I then got up and walked around a bit.<br />
<br />
When I was ready I sat back down and just read through the material. I worked 45 minutes on then 15 or so minutes off either knitting or walking or something where I wasn't at the computer. Any time I was about to get on imgur or facebook or whatnot, I just stood up and did something else for a bit. I made a delicious soup for lunch, cleaned all my vegetables from the farm, worked on my knitting project, anything that was moving around.<br />
<br />
Then I sat back down and worked. And I really did a lot of work! I wasn't stressed, I got my assignment done early enough for me to read through and edit, and I may have even enjoyed myself.<br />
<br />
So that is what I am going to try to do from now on, just relax, take it slow and for the love of god avoid imgur at all costs!<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-42639100584287365942014-10-08T17:35:00.001-07:002014-10-08T17:35:53.294-07:00Knitting for EVERYONE!<div class="MsoNormal">
Hello everyone! I have had a crazy and super fun week. I
flew out to Chicago with my family to visit my cousin and attend her beautiful
wedding! It was a ton of fun. Great food, great drinks, dancing, connecting
with family, visiting the city of Chicago, and watching my cousin walk down the
aisle at the Art Institute of Chicago… how could it not have been amazing?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklZ_tPwDEtMBvqpUgGijGn7yvQH5vm9qq5mzwksfDhrplvyn6emaPx6y9EQvjvAQdH4bHHq3zyzHURKZCn-Zqo0eQy7Cb2MdMo8L6hLAjOCeozF0Og3eh0-YiEhvNb0nFcVSCICRTYEcU/s1600/PSX_20141008_170008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklZ_tPwDEtMBvqpUgGijGn7yvQH5vm9qq5mzwksfDhrplvyn6emaPx6y9EQvjvAQdH4bHHq3zyzHURKZCn-Zqo0eQy7Cb2MdMo8L6hLAjOCeozF0Og3eh0-YiEhvNb0nFcVSCICRTYEcU/s1600/PSX_20141008_170008.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I did, however, get caught up in all of the fun and not blog…
oops.. I will get better with time. You know, learn time management and all
that good stuff. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This time I want to share with you an awesome knitting
project I just finished that I am really excited about! It’s a very simple and
fast tunic tank top that looks great and can fit almost all sizes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo20tX0RBExGjlNWCjHl0wS-Ik938tg6ZYTDUO4u5QwtXr1W7_eZWaXx1Emxt98ehzjFm-nuZuXI5VdNyhx2nnOH3KgoYTvIwJr4ddMh-xn8VhsJSJrnvhi9y83Fl7YrWlZHgj9oSpSw-R/s1600/PSX_20141008_155940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo20tX0RBExGjlNWCjHl0wS-Ik938tg6ZYTDUO4u5QwtXr1W7_eZWaXx1Emxt98ehzjFm-nuZuXI5VdNyhx2nnOH3KgoYTvIwJr4ddMh-xn8VhsJSJrnvhi9y83Fl7YrWlZHgj9oSpSw-R/s1600/PSX_20141008_155940.jpg" height="640" width="403" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love knitting projects where I see results fast. I have
the tendency to get bored with projects where I feel like I am not getting
anywhere, so this shirt is perfect because it uses large needles and before you
know it you’re almost done!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I spent the plane ride back to Seattle knitting and when I
realized I was ready to bind off we were a few minutes from the ground and I
raced the plane to see if I could get it done before touching ground. (I won by
10 seconds!)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I just picked a yarn that I liked that was easy to work with
and a nice color. No fancy yarns with the frills or changing in size or extra
fuzz, just nice, soft, and straight forward.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Needles are size 15 US (10 mm) circle (long circle, enough to fit 96 stiches)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvf_4k9l3UKemRw3Fa3stITQNGenVXreTgqmqMyjmga7lpOcJsbXvJpVbkiA2m2i70x6nQ2I4qT3qvtE2-F1nHHPw2oTRDvRBlUzMEnQa4B70a4OWXiKR4o7Gn3KNw3sYAYBwqYFpvCax/s1600/PSX_20141008_171314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvf_4k9l3UKemRw3Fa3stITQNGenVXreTgqmqMyjmga7lpOcJsbXvJpVbkiA2m2i70x6nQ2I4qT3qvtE2-F1nHHPw2oTRDvRBlUzMEnQa4B70a4OWXiKR4o7Gn3KNw3sYAYBwqYFpvCax/s1600/PSX_20141008_171314.jpg" height="482" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cast on 48 stiches</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s ribbed all the way down so knit one, purl one all the
way to the end of the row and when you turn it around for the next row it’ll be
knit, purl again (knitting the knits and purling the purls).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The pattern I used had me work 26 rows, but I think that
leaves pretty big arm holes so for my next one (oh, yes I will be making more in
different colors!) I will try 20 instead.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When you finish that, put a scrap piece of yarn through the
holes to keep the stiches live.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That is the top half of the front. To start the top half of
the back, go to the cast on edge and pick up the first twelve stiches. Then
cast on 24 stiches, and pick up the last 12 stiches. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I originally made the mistake of picking up the last 12
stiches in the wrong direction so there was a little twist in the shoulder so I
undid the work and started again, but now that I think of it… that might have
been a cool design.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, now you’re going to do the exact same thing on the
back side as you did on the front side, knit and purl each row down to 26 rows
so that it continues in the ribbed pattern.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once you have 26 rows on either side, pick up the live rows
from the front side and work in a circle knitting and purling the same pattern
as the top half onto the bottom half.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I just kept going until it was as long as I wanted it then
binded off.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The real mistake that I made that I will make sure not to do
again is that I did a regular bind off (I’m assuming it’s the regular one
because it was the first one I learned and what I use for nearly everything). That
bind off is not stretchy so the bottom of my shirt is stiff while the rest is
really stretchy. There are a lot of different bind off options to choose from
that are stretchy, so if you try something and it works, let me know! I’d love
to hear what works. I will be experimenting with my next one.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwOJkCT6XIBurbQvjSmAB6JwIJWNxKd0aauGa5Sov_eXaIFPKlLpxYdbb8j40AuwngjsB3auvlrf6brFAGNKLK_s2Yddrk5yURNp9dDNu6DyFhw9mtdd72QyoY5nlHFvPnrITtQe8GjEw/s1600/PSX_20141008_160115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwOJkCT6XIBurbQvjSmAB6JwIJWNxKd0aauGa5Sov_eXaIFPKlLpxYdbb8j40AuwngjsB3auvlrf6brFAGNKLK_s2Yddrk5yURNp9dDNu6DyFhw9mtdd72QyoY5nlHFvPnrITtQe8GjEw/s1600/PSX_20141008_160115.jpg" height="640" width="402" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me know how it goes!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-90006623622321069782014-09-30T00:00:00.000-07:002014-09-30T00:00:08.710-07:00Fall is Here!<br />
I honestly don't know what happened... One day it was warm and sunny, albeit windy, but really lovely and definitely summer. Then I go to Spokane for a week and by the time I get back... BAM! Autumn.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZo0JlHrOvGvl84jZNTAhh17ngFbpDribVe7CZQFFXYc_fJ8bHBEu3iKxderqhCcYj5c4YHQ_AQBIgwJpkV39I8S2NPI9IbWASz0CdxQ9SJQ7vjgPYBOj7bYFp0IMta6tvbyqfAghSF0ul/s1600/IMG_20140929_174214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZo0JlHrOvGvl84jZNTAhh17ngFbpDribVe7CZQFFXYc_fJ8bHBEu3iKxderqhCcYj5c4YHQ_AQBIgwJpkV39I8S2NPI9IbWASz0CdxQ9SJQ7vjgPYBOj7bYFp0IMta6tvbyqfAghSF0ul/s1600/IMG_20140929_174214.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It's cold, it's raining, starbucks is selling it's pumpkin spice lattes and there's that sweet smell of rotting leaves on the ground. No, but really, I love that smell!<br />
<br />
Yesterday (Monday) was my first class of my last quarter and, not expecting this seemingly abrupt change in weather, I went outside with nothing more than a cardigan to keep warm. The moment I stepped out the door I realize that it is pouring down rain! I turn right around to go back inside... only to remember that I didn't grab my keys. Well, my class is close to the bus stop so no worries, I'll just wait a couple minutes in the rain to hop the bus. Oh, but wait, my bus pass is sitting on my bookshelf in my locked apartment. So I walk the full half hour to my class in the wind and rain in my summer outfit. le sigh...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcs14tpUKq6BszHZZH9H5_FcU9DHCp7E3s_TSHExfJ-EvTMN32iwfm5bmWZs-Z0Slva0X1C1zgvWzNu1Bux093NB29KVCBDyxMkTOdBtXD0nYtbKNXmdN2MEz8r7w6wVtlGXvm6VFyg7a/s1600/PSX_20140929_172931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcs14tpUKq6BszHZZH9H5_FcU9DHCp7E3s_TSHExfJ-EvTMN32iwfm5bmWZs-Z0Slva0X1C1zgvWzNu1Bux093NB29KVCBDyxMkTOdBtXD0nYtbKNXmdN2MEz8r7w6wVtlGXvm6VFyg7a/s1600/PSX_20140929_172931.jpg" height="558" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>selfie alert! My gray cardigan was soaked completely through</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
I am actually glad that I walked to be honest. It wasn't raining that hard and it's always nice to walk. Walking keeps me happy in this busy, asphalt and cement covered city.<br />
<br />
Fall really is my favorite season. I may prefer not to get caught out in the rain all the time, but the cool weather, the constant breeze, the winter squash in everything, the sweaters, drinking tea and it not making you too hot, big fuzzy socks, curling up on the couch to watch a movie and knit or read a book because it's dark out in the evening. I love all of that. Oh, and the smell of rotting leaves... it's such a good smell.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz25ha4uUU7mTjsFxDUL0mutXhibPUfxrmAnRBYUyIKniqihTg1mfDBk7rMu7dxHZ91p8GJzCdsoSD0CGbY_dtdZucTG1c9glabvG2WFn2ne1URARJTxj4pWYAUWXptnE05skU7mv5EXtM/s1600/PSX_20140929_094246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz25ha4uUU7mTjsFxDUL0mutXhibPUfxrmAnRBYUyIKniqihTg1mfDBk7rMu7dxHZ91p8GJzCdsoSD0CGbY_dtdZucTG1c9glabvG2WFn2ne1URARJTxj4pWYAUWXptnE05skU7mv5EXtM/s1600/PSX_20140929_094246.jpg" height="566" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The fall also means something special when working on a farm. It means putting things to rest, planting to over winter, collecting seeds for the spring, and preserving as much as you can for the coming months! This year, it means possibly my last month at First Light Farm before I move on to different things in my life. Where that is I have no idea.<br />
<br />
One of the little things that I often dream about is gathering a group of friends and family during the fall to spend the whole day sitting around together, chatting, and shelling beans out around a backyard fire pit. Maybe with a mug of tea. Then finishing the day with a cookout over the fire and beers all around!<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-63932674294609420552014-09-26T12:10:00.003-07:002014-09-26T12:10:37.934-07:00Where Life is Taking Me<br />
<br />
I may have mentioned before that I am on the home stretch of graduating college. Just a couple more months and come Christmas I'll be on my own in the real world. I am only taking one class this quarter, have to write one paper, make one poster board and one presentation and then I'm out! Woo Hoo!! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjl_3-k44rARzRm1vB4zgRf4zclEiJ4PU6il6TJgGr_KsUVHY7Dn8BFt43a08NBw_-K7Fd9fLA6sDSLbnYNRKken151vFtNRRuYqnJtDpRXNE7YTgRFYM_OgXFrlQycaRIIbNzcjR_aRzE/s1600/IMG_4243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjl_3-k44rARzRm1vB4zgRf4zclEiJ4PU6il6TJgGr_KsUVHY7Dn8BFt43a08NBw_-K7Fd9fLA6sDSLbnYNRKken151vFtNRRuYqnJtDpRXNE7YTgRFYM_OgXFrlQycaRIIbNzcjR_aRzE/s1600/IMG_4243.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
College has been a blast, but I now know that I am not a college person. I'm glad that I have stuck it out to get a degree, but I HATE school! It's just not for me. I can't sit in lectures, and listen to someone talk for multiple hours in a row. Even if I love the subject matter and really want to learn, my brain just can't take in information that way. I also have a hard time listening to books on tape for that reason. I wasn't always that way, back in high school it seemed to go by so easily... but maybe that's just me now comparing it to college.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeg1sjOlIq-jT3kZtRlp5EAAmHMUtV_v_BcWhVUF78DoGxnS8TbEOr4Nob0fGOG1RvAt5l9zlHfUY6w6MW0ZYfDzUMQ9ho-pcMdLy9tORsg6n3iDZ7mVwkQvHNBRtXcjQS6HCLIp8cq8a/s1600/IMG_6239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeg1sjOlIq-jT3kZtRlp5EAAmHMUtV_v_BcWhVUF78DoGxnS8TbEOr4Nob0fGOG1RvAt5l9zlHfUY6w6MW0ZYfDzUMQ9ho-pcMdLy9tORsg6n3iDZ7mVwkQvHNBRtXcjQS6HCLIp8cq8a/s1600/IMG_6239.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anyway, what I really want to talk about is my feelings, worries and fears about being let out into the real world and needing to find my way. I'm not exactly worried about being able to find a job, I'm sure I can find work at a coffee shop or restaurant or what have you to make my way. My worry is that I'll need to work at a coffee shop or restaurant in order to make my way. I'm worried that I wont be able to make my dream a reality for the next ten years while I am saving up for it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnoz20ynyP45_jVSM3GA6zPO8t4bbwJzj-SNsOOXz22SWx8J25M5AettSyR1JDaou0yIpC7qUCYHnB2qiHsdqKo_bcnsFHPt3qXI85Q2jfpdvIbz00031bJoVFVTy4autHFtV5lIUpcd6/s1600/IMG_20140405_105105612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnoz20ynyP45_jVSM3GA6zPO8t4bbwJzj-SNsOOXz22SWx8J25M5AettSyR1JDaou0yIpC7qUCYHnB2qiHsdqKo_bcnsFHPt3qXI85Q2jfpdvIbz00031bJoVFVTy4autHFtV5lIUpcd6/s1600/IMG_20140405_105105612.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Part of that problem is that I don't know exactly what my dream job is. I know I want to homestead and have a farm with vegetables, an orchard, animals left and right, and a live-off-the-land mentality, but in order for that to happen I need capital to get started. But where is that going to come from? So I need a start up job. I don't think that there is anything wrong with being a barista or waiter, I just think that it would make me miserable. I am just not that kind of person. So I need to figure out what else I can do. I have heard one story after another about people, my friends, graduating college and then not being able to find a decent job for the next few years... but I want to start working on my dream now! Not in a few years!<br />
<br />
<br />
But what is that dream? What do I actually want to do to support myself? I've thought of a few different ideas. They usually involve making things that would take some start up capital.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQBIP5jXggWix-HVEdmb02MiEuWvDrj5Qy44fkHcQXaQAZYx3EtgN19vXSZpjjxn9g_v0EAQuh5cLl4vHjtgmTx_5rT6wC7VjUveEYy_uEcSAuL-j-ib6At7kpWc2NJt8FdR54iIkwt7_/s1600/IMG_20140406_221004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQBIP5jXggWix-HVEdmb02MiEuWvDrj5Qy44fkHcQXaQAZYx3EtgN19vXSZpjjxn9g_v0EAQuh5cLl4vHjtgmTx_5rT6wC7VjUveEYy_uEcSAuL-j-ib6At7kpWc2NJt8FdR54iIkwt7_/s1600/IMG_20140406_221004.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I've felt a lot of pressure to know what it is I want to do and to have a plan on how to get there right out of college. But the truth is, I don't know what I want and I can't know how to get to someplace if I don't know where that someplace is. One thing I do know, coming out of a school setting, is that I want time. I want to have the time to decompress, to feel free from due dates, to be able to travel at a moments notice if I want (although, I'm much more of a homebody); I want the time to explore my passions without the pressure to figure out my life right away. For once, I want to be accountable to no one but myself.<br />
<br />
I guess we'll see come Christmas.<br />
<br />
(The flowers really have nothing to do with the post, I just didn't have any other pictures that I thought worked, and they're pretty)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-5468862695797112152014-09-23T10:52:00.006-07:002014-09-23T10:52:44.894-07:00Sustainable Preparedness Expo<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m a little late posting this today because I usually write
the day before I post it, but yesterday I was feeling terribly sick and ended
up sleeping pretty much the entire day. Today I’m feeling much better though,
thank goodness!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This Sunday I went to the Sustainable Preparedness Expo in
Spokane, WA and it was a blast! If you don’t know what preparedness is, it’s
doing what you can to be prepared for whatever the future can throw at you,
everything from a nuclear war or zombie apocalypse, to losing your job or
getting sick (like me yesterday). Now add being sustainable to that. So a lot
of people are into growing their own food and camping and handyman fixit stuff
(all the stuff that I love!). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClLrNCxICXTjxbBbQovFTKcpIHBs0I1B3_yMMkqZUI9IyKb-s_V5bUxCib2uXl3EPRu_PzoN4A51tIrdDzza7CpLQpueUhbIBk556WXTCorP4JuqoJr6A7tuLx9-AOda1tIjmkiOJLdWj/s1600/IMG_20140921_102725324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClLrNCxICXTjxbBbQovFTKcpIHBs0I1B3_yMMkqZUI9IyKb-s_V5bUxCib2uXl3EPRu_PzoN4A51tIrdDzza7CpLQpueUhbIBk556WXTCorP4JuqoJr6A7tuLx9-AOda1tIjmkiOJLdWj/s1600/IMG_20140921_102725324.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were different speakers going on all day and then a
bunch of vendors selling all kinds of fun things. I went to a bunch of the talks
including one on making money with webinars, a family plan for food
self-sufficiency, an essential oils first aid kit, and more. Some of the talks
were really great! Like the webinar one, even if I never do a webinar he was
just an excellent speaker, was interesting and engaging the whole time. But if
I ever decide to do a webinar, I know what to do!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBa49zMMYxJpaBLKUFaRINRrdFhpGV-GZ3W67cB5NRVc5zpxHEcLDyoCV91s4ytFRk8qeiCoYAj5GQJXRIXKcItOW9mHnLjAjRMF9B1tpvom8aIPG6H5fDOC3fnwi-yu_OaLy_6nU9RQUV/s1600/IMG_20140921_145845676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBa49zMMYxJpaBLKUFaRINRrdFhpGV-GZ3W67cB5NRVc5zpxHEcLDyoCV91s4ytFRk8qeiCoYAj5GQJXRIXKcItOW9mHnLjAjRMF9B1tpvom8aIPG6H5fDOC3fnwi-yu_OaLy_6nU9RQUV/s1600/IMG_20140921_145845676.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The speakers that I liked best were the ones that were as
realistic as possible. My favorite talk was called Planning Considerations for
Sustainable Preparedness. He talked about how to make your own personal plan
for whatever might happen, big or small, whether you are at home or out and
about, whether it will last a moment or years (even if it doesn’t happen at
all). For example, keeping some kind of knife on you at all times is a good
idea because you never know when you might be attacked or stranded in the
wilderness, or much more likely need to open a box or cut off an annoying tag
in the back of your pants. It’s not that you need to do these things because
something terrible is going to happen, but because it can just be a good idea
for everyday things and then if something very unlikely does happen, you’re
already prepared. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iqULkLHMm_LEqIEh-U5FK4oyk_Ung4IXgwNGp7DR99cUbBTAyVFsSqqEIIy7U30uiBWgtZSy5sQRHhIHF-u04nypJlFda_EXa9cJppiZpYTXfUHOHAVpMmpCUrTy0c_6GlNHUNitjyPO/s1600/IMG_20140921_151118022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iqULkLHMm_LEqIEh-U5FK4oyk_Ung4IXgwNGp7DR99cUbBTAyVFsSqqEIIy7U30uiBWgtZSy5sQRHhIHF-u04nypJlFda_EXa9cJppiZpYTXfUHOHAVpMmpCUrTy0c_6GlNHUNitjyPO/s1600/IMG_20140921_151118022.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I was in high school, the power to my family’s house
went out for days due to a wind storm that took down power lines left and
right. All the food in the fridge went bad, we couldn’t leave the neighborhood
(downed trees blocking every road) we didn’t have lights… It was a good thing
that we had a gas stove or else we wouldn’t be able to cook either. Our
neighbors next door were much more prepared than we were. They had a backup
generator so besides the noise, they hardly knew the power was out at all. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6NpjYhFTisDf1xRw7GXy5VrGp_auC-dgk1U5ZrO3B7jBGX5MTeM2S48usq9CCL34jN_SV-msyf5nafUCVhPhHIa0al3CBoU2IOcBJGAYmXbKIGtoMR0gaElL37lzMHXgGeufPGG7lA7T/s1600/IMG_20140921_151124347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6NpjYhFTisDf1xRw7GXy5VrGp_auC-dgk1U5ZrO3B7jBGX5MTeM2S48usq9CCL34jN_SV-msyf5nafUCVhPhHIa0al3CBoU2IOcBJGAYmXbKIGtoMR0gaElL37lzMHXgGeufPGG7lA7T/s1600/IMG_20140921_151124347.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The speakers that I did not like as much were the ones that
were trying to get you to buy their stuff by making people afraid that a
nuclear holocaust is about to happen. One told us that we had only a couple
years and by then we need to have an underground bunker in each of our
basements with enough food to last a year because all hell is going to break
lose! The world as we know it is coming to an end! Buy my book or else you
won’t have the knowledge to survive! You will DIE!! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNt3wM8KSMz5TbVqqMTncuWGexQJN8CCTnnIb9N5UUouDebMx4Zac0P4-ANN7O0pTNRzxBBNSaCXcXdf9Of0iRFbgoaVc-VRKGlowriM77cBv36tJJOlmFDuOvYAEuLqSLs7yHhEh5WisE/s1600/IMG_20140921_160720249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNt3wM8KSMz5TbVqqMTncuWGexQJN8CCTnnIb9N5UUouDebMx4Zac0P4-ANN7O0pTNRzxBBNSaCXcXdf9Of0iRFbgoaVc-VRKGlowriM77cBv36tJJOlmFDuOvYAEuLqSLs7yHhEh5WisE/s1600/IMG_20140921_160720249.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t buy it. Not that I’m saying there’s no way that all
hell could break lose, I just don’t know. But if you’re prepared for the little
stuff, the stuff that is likely to happen to you in the next year, then you’ll
be much better prepared for the big stuff. The biggest thing to do to help you
be prepared for whatever life throws at you is to get completely out of debt
and live within your means. Which I think is good advice for everyone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkzPR06rV8YHIdigS5OOBGzhXhnwlkHBofr7sJN6kHztfHsZwSzIt5QId4t3VCgpf_2jOGJI8FmJkzEfI6ElkbInkaaqfzX-JaovsIQEu5nqQlFFsHs4cKF5swQpVG0jAGsOG9i9BxJyt/s1600/IMG_20140921_152418127_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkzPR06rV8YHIdigS5OOBGzhXhnwlkHBofr7sJN6kHztfHsZwSzIt5QId4t3VCgpf_2jOGJI8FmJkzEfI6ElkbInkaaqfzX-JaovsIQEu5nqQlFFsHs4cKF5swQpVG0jAGsOG9i9BxJyt/s1600/IMG_20140921_152418127_HDR.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The only thing I bought at the expo was a little do-hicky
that makes clamps really fast. It’s good for wilderness preparedness because
you can easily make crutches or spears, but I was thinking I really could have
used it all summer at the farm when I was doing repairs. I am going to fix all
the signs! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy35NfrawWMMYWT1vq80lD3UxNrMKtTNsD6suXJRu0ecId91FVXxcm3jibi7RxqD9iP3tcIhd-mXk_ogbecqY5d-WkwakLKC9ggL1EubNlZkWqzdFEIJyToHL6A84mG_pgvuG9ArpCtcK4/s1600/IMG_20140921_152428783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy35NfrawWMMYWT1vq80lD3UxNrMKtTNsD6suXJRu0ecId91FVXxcm3jibi7RxqD9iP3tcIhd-mXk_ogbecqY5d-WkwakLKC9ggL1EubNlZkWqzdFEIJyToHL6A84mG_pgvuG9ArpCtcK4/s1600/IMG_20140921_152428783.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-28133267625704326912014-09-19T00:00:00.000-07:002014-09-19T00:00:08.598-07:00Sleepless in Seattle<br />
"You know what a really good idea is? To blog about something that I don't do in order to force myself to do it!" was what I told myself two weeks ago. It didn't work. I often do things like this, try to work myself into a corner so that I have to do something that I do want to, but am not particularly excited or enthusiastic about. I am referring to my 'read every week and blog about it' statement.<br />
<br />
A couple problems came up, the first being that it was difficult finding the time to do the reading which is why I don't read as much as I'd like to in the first place. The second being that when I did read, there wasn't a whole lot that I cared to say about it, so I wanted to pick a new book but could't find enough time to get into that too... so it all came crashing down.<br />
<br />
Part of the reason that I wanted to do that was so that I wouldn't run out of things to say in the first week or two of blogging but as it turns out, I have a lot of topics that I can't wait to cover.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CEx5nZHhQt6u6NvHIwP2wsGs6QiDln8WpUuH3blMYx7D_-FZhapUCWVC0RwithWS-_PgolCtaGVoftJ9RE035KshNR2qqfm_1MozJPo1CyR7Wu6hJBf1Zd-OgwTDkGQ32jXQ-n7rulPS/s1600/IMG_20140614_194644974_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CEx5nZHhQt6u6NvHIwP2wsGs6QiDln8WpUuH3blMYx7D_-FZhapUCWVC0RwithWS-_PgolCtaGVoftJ9RE035KshNR2qqfm_1MozJPo1CyR7Wu6hJBf1Zd-OgwTDkGQ32jXQ-n7rulPS/s1600/IMG_20140614_194644974_HDR.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Since I recently posted about my experience on the farm this summer, I want to follow up with what it has been like returning to the city life... So far, not great. I mean, I love being able to see my friends and hang out more often but I am anything but a city-go-er.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCk8eD3X3Xh5e_VZef-By7wR9n4kgk0AeZjNxgvKnDEyrqas0M4gTURexXZXQKnkJeRBqhv4sLcckKzf-k5pAxF6UmTqA8p6VrOA6xABagiAOiDNTZ8gA0bNj6UY7Rzfh9DCupYJ1268b/s1600/IMG_20140704_194333176_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCk8eD3X3Xh5e_VZef-By7wR9n4kgk0AeZjNxgvKnDEyrqas0M4gTURexXZXQKnkJeRBqhv4sLcckKzf-k5pAxF6UmTqA8p6VrOA6xABagiAOiDNTZ8gA0bNj6UY7Rzfh9DCupYJ1268b/s1600/IMG_20140704_194333176_HDR.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Me cooking at my trailer :)</i></div>
<br />
<br />
The first day back was a not-so-warm welcome. I had all my things in my car as I pulled up to my new apartment ready to meet my new roommate and pretty excited about the prospect of having a shower in the comfort of my own place. I walk up with my first box of things and I am told that the management hasn't come to clean the carpets yet so I can move in but I can't put anything on carpet. They're also cleaning the kitchen and bathroom so I can't put anything in there. The only spot this leaves is the 25sq ft balcony that's covered in pine needles and dirt. They also have no idea when they are going to be able to come by so I might just have to wait until tomorrow.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGwxw-p696o5_pjpIZULHfWtVrW-IH49FtCXmI1JK3rxcuMIVonNx2W6LCcA5c-w4_KaNEOIFKh2w-uKXUObYQTnr6aIXAowLDGrPQitJZZqzqhO4wEXRI26uhV46ZcaFZXoi_n6_pYA2/s1600/IMG_20140702_052637973_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGwxw-p696o5_pjpIZULHfWtVrW-IH49FtCXmI1JK3rxcuMIVonNx2W6LCcA5c-w4_KaNEOIFKh2w-uKXUObYQTnr6aIXAowLDGrPQitJZZqzqhO4wEXRI26uhV46ZcaFZXoi_n6_pYA2/s1600/IMG_20140702_052637973_HDR.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Well they did come by that day but then the carpet was wet so I didn't want to put my bed down for fear of keeping it damp and attracting mold. So my first night back in Seattle and I couldn't sleep on my bed. I ended up staying at a friend's place which was thankfully a block away. Except, they live right next to a loud bar on a main street so the whole night I was woken up by music and drunken yelling. The street lamp glaring into the window didn't help either. I didn't get much sleep, needless to say. On top of that I had to move my car in the morning because no place nearby allows all day parking, so anywhere that allows night parking doesn't allow morning and vice-versa.<br />
<br />
I moved my car and went back to my place. The carpet was dry enough so I put down my bed and went back to sleep. Or, I tried. As you see, next door to my new place is a huge construction site, where, even with the windows closed, the machines make way too much noise to ever get any shut eye.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBeLc7WToHHGMIkkZTGPPLSt2DH6YwyYcQSlWIJUXqWS5rN2yN2hkjqEEGJv_R9daLetHtUu1KeQuGbUjgQJTeOAT5JhLscUZTpDNxQUw3RSu4eCj8fZ4RXnoJfdmihIKMSBOzQIwwL7u/s1600/IMG_20140902_093449037_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBeLc7WToHHGMIkkZTGPPLSt2DH6YwyYcQSlWIJUXqWS5rN2yN2hkjqEEGJv_R9daLetHtUu1KeQuGbUjgQJTeOAT5JhLscUZTpDNxQUw3RSu4eCj8fZ4RXnoJfdmihIKMSBOzQIwwL7u/s1600/IMG_20140902_093449037_HDR.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Doesn't my new room look so cozy? That was the first day, it's actually a little better now, but not by too much...</i></div>
<br />
That was all just bad fortune on my first night back, and I knew it wouldn't stay that way, but a few things are permanent in the city. Like the lack of nature anywhere except tiny pockets; the constant noise of drivers and people talking and trucks backing up and sirens blaring; the need for me to wear shoes again; the pavement that covers everything. These are the things that really get to me. I need silence every once in a while, I need to feel surrounded by nature, and I love feeling grounded through my feet.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8iSQBYH66LnRFme6vnHMt6flLph0r_MlMfPQS3-ffn_WuSC9jTLMMlRctrrl_RUhEZfMzOQTDbOSSeXth4VZKYgT2-EOnB6bw-B24PdwJ6bQUydA2uFbfzg_NtsnE_qvVitAlPrfxLjZ/s1600/IMG_20140702_052441523_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8iSQBYH66LnRFme6vnHMt6flLph0r_MlMfPQS3-ffn_WuSC9jTLMMlRctrrl_RUhEZfMzOQTDbOSSeXth4VZKYgT2-EOnB6bw-B24PdwJ6bQUydA2uFbfzg_NtsnE_qvVitAlPrfxLjZ/s1600/IMG_20140702_052441523_HDR.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
But I try to keep my head up. I wont be here for too long, so while I am I want to make the best of it. Good things about the city include: Friends and bars are always within walking distance, and often in the same location. There is always something new to try. I can always find something to do. I can eat all the thai and korean food!! Chipotle. If I need to go somewhere I can usually walk. It fuels my desire to homestead in the future.<br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-2180298722133648842014-09-16T00:00:00.000-07:002014-09-16T00:00:07.799-07:00What To Do With a Million and One Zucchinis: Garlic Spread<br />
Something that I learned this summer, is that it takes very few squash plants to make a whole LOT of squash. When they grow, boy do they grow!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPGmmuBkjHCL8bYpAHao3uYNBHI6l72j3OYDVbCFnnUoiXHPK-3UFVPFmFvxH1q3ABxRQRDODNfq7ofilKf0MQ65pYgD3RCPS_uNp8aMFhye1Bpe4y0yvCkbaer-3lSn0qwr3CASFuXlo/s1600/14+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPGmmuBkjHCL8bYpAHao3uYNBHI6l72j3OYDVbCFnnUoiXHPK-3UFVPFmFvxH1q3ABxRQRDODNfq7ofilKf0MQ65pYgD3RCPS_uNp8aMFhye1Bpe4y0yvCkbaer-3lSn0qwr3CASFuXlo/s1600/14+-+1.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This picture is a small amount of the squash we have gotten this summer. We have yellow zucchini, patty pan, and picco squash. It doesn't take too many nights of sauteed squash before getting tired of it. So in order to actually use all of this and not let it go to waste, I have been asking around for some good recipes. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Since I have been swimming in squash (like could literally fill a bathtub, possibly to the point of overflowing) I was looking for one that used up a lot of squash but wouldn't give me enough food for three meals a day for a week. This was actually quite a bit easier than I thought. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The winner?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Garlic Squash Spread.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7_K-g15szIXpX2d3Bz2OE3T50HpERqElMYivnBXKQ9NiZv2HO3uD4lBodDpx2bpKaroR95GdWXx0DP7CKUUc0RTD7ID_yCF5MxLz6DMcqsNwK5Jt_dS-ImE5fsKbiDLmRy1cYLuHuNXc/s1600/garlic+squash+spread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7_K-g15szIXpX2d3Bz2OE3T50HpERqElMYivnBXKQ9NiZv2HO3uD4lBodDpx2bpKaroR95GdWXx0DP7CKUUc0RTD7ID_yCF5MxLz6DMcqsNwK5Jt_dS-ImE5fsKbiDLmRy1cYLuHuNXc/s1600/garlic+squash+spread.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Part of the reason I like the recipe so much is because it's so simple! The other part is because it is SO delicious!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-3un6bjtiTt-VYPPdkC5mO2sxmjxvhA8kzzLDyCaoNwPZNt6HNrv7KhMX0jBFPEsxTfueb2INuxyEZM84FUSWCLgep-qq_rcSE9DPaljJvu-4863bM3uFPqu92dMN2jCkmMEl74whAgc/s1600/spread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-3un6bjtiTt-VYPPdkC5mO2sxmjxvhA8kzzLDyCaoNwPZNt6HNrv7KhMX0jBFPEsxTfueb2INuxyEZM84FUSWCLgep-qq_rcSE9DPaljJvu-4863bM3uFPqu92dMN2jCkmMEl74whAgc/s1600/spread.jpg" height="456" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So far I have eaten it on chips, in lasagna and on burgers! It is amazing no matter how you eat it. Plus it's totally vegan and gluten free! So a perfect dish for pot lucks or dinners where people may have different diet preferences :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>3 lbs summer squash roughly chopped (I left the skin on to give it more to chew on but if you want it creamier think about peeling the squash)</li>
<li>2 tbs butter (I guess I just used vegan butter to make it vegan, but it does not have to be vegan)</li>
<li>2 tbs olive oil (or more, you know, whatever. I wasn't exactly low-fat on this one)</li>
<li>7 cloves of garlic (I used 10, which I loved but my dad suggested I use tad less, he's crazy but I'll let you make your own choices)</li>
<li>Thyme, ten good shakes of the spice bottle or four sprigs</li>
<li>Salt to taste</li>
<li>Pepper to taste</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Instructions:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Melt butter in a medium to large pot (one that will fit all the squash) over med-low heat.</li>
<li>Crush garlic and add to the butter stirring it together well.</li>
<li> Add the squash a little bit at a time stirring as you go to coat in the garlic butter. Don't worry about coating thoroughly, it's no big deal. Also it is okay if the pot isn't big enough to let you really stir the squash, it will cook down a lot so you will have plenty of room soon.</li>
<li>Pour the olive oil over the squash.</li>
<li>Add salt now to help bring the liquid out of the squash and let it cook down a bit.</li>
<li>Bring heat to med once you can stir the squash more easily making sure that it isn't burning on the bottom. This will bring the water out a bit faster. If it does begin to stick or burn, bring the heat back down and add a splash of water or white wine. Maybe just add the white wine any way. Definitely add some wine.</li>
<li>Once it's really watery add the thyme and pepper. Bring heat back down to a simmer.</li>
<li>Then bring your computer over to the couch and sit down for a while and read some of my other blogs, checking the squash occasionally to stir.</li>
<li>You're waiting for the water to boil off enough to where you have the perfect spread consistency. I doubled the recipe and it seemed to take FOREVER! but I just sat back with my computer, and some knitting and relaxed as the house filled up with the amazing smell of garlic. </li>
<li>Once you think it's go the right spreadability, just take it off the heat, let it cool down and proceed to gobble it all up at once!!!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPHgzRBX9QfxB2jRAc0MDg8VIdnN2Z204KsDyo0cCrK15zvuplIhVsCGCAF2HZer8x390ML1p8Hy2uPxQvn1owXUptZjl4-E-OYdXPI0k-hYvQhlN1MG0elz0UTAAhsVVW65OEz1u7iZW/s1600/squash+spread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPHgzRBX9QfxB2jRAc0MDg8VIdnN2Z204KsDyo0cCrK15zvuplIhVsCGCAF2HZer8x390ML1p8Hy2uPxQvn1owXUptZjl4-E-OYdXPI0k-hYvQhlN1MG0elz0UTAAhsVVW65OEz1u7iZW/s1600/squash+spread.jpg" height="482" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Crazy good. My family scared me and told me they had eaten it all while I was talking on the phone in the other room. Thank goodness they were kidding! But now I have a kitchen all my own so I wont have to visit every time I want to cook.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyone else have amazing squash recipes? Or any recipes? I'm not that picky when it comes to food and cooking.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-50839867435205495442014-09-12T00:00:00.000-07:002014-09-12T00:00:10.935-07:00The Forest Feast<br />
I am trying something new. On Fridays post about a book that I have been reading as kind of like a book club type thing. I am just going to see how it goes and if you guys like it, great and if not, I'll just move on to something else. Unless I love it, in which case I'll add a new day for more other stuff and keep my book club for just me :)<br />
<br />
So the book I am starting off with is actually a cook book, and it's not from my shelf... I was all excited to start pulling books from my neglected shelf and start reading, but then I realized that I am in the middle of moving and all my books are still at the farm and I did not think ahead enough. So this book belongs to my sister but I love it!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFfJQs16rUpcVvZM_KY6-AVykhSXM_tZN7wPcDRT3iZtHOsNX9rnxaxDU1p69LcPHSf2qc_P5r9rgFzmoddADvFPnRwERkZur4MA-MWj4uqanNruafUfn-gFyicJzbIuJiOwfh1RziHqy/s1600/forestfeast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFfJQs16rUpcVvZM_KY6-AVykhSXM_tZN7wPcDRT3iZtHOsNX9rnxaxDU1p69LcPHSf2qc_P5r9rgFzmoddADvFPnRwERkZur4MA-MWj4uqanNruafUfn-gFyicJzbIuJiOwfh1RziHqy/s1600/forestfeast.jpg" height="640" width="562" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
The name is <a href="http://theforestfeast.com/" target="_blank">The Forest Feast</a> by Erin Gleeson. It is a cook book with a bunch of really simple recipes that look amazing and gourmet! Most of them have less than a handful of ingredients and very easy cooking instructions. Often the instructions are just to throw all the ingredients together and serve.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-G2TcpOLM7eGlh7pdXwMIzkWvQOcZ8dn6SFKmRDxtdIMEtaXQyURYsOXPoApIxnEyQdSPZnvNjyZSXGvdAmuAHmLqbua8vXu0otaz-iwar6M6FX-VGUUAI3qgndLkl-rBbUyxGxIFytT/s1600/forestfestsalad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-G2TcpOLM7eGlh7pdXwMIzkWvQOcZ8dn6SFKmRDxtdIMEtaXQyURYsOXPoApIxnEyQdSPZnvNjyZSXGvdAmuAHmLqbua8vXu0otaz-iwar6M6FX-VGUUAI3qgndLkl-rBbUyxGxIFytT/s1600/forestfestsalad.jpg" height="640" width="592" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Those are all great things about the book but what I really love about it, what makes it really exceptional to me, is that all of these recipes could be made from complete scratch on a farm or homestead. It takes beautiful fresh ingredients, most of which you can grow right in your garden! Some recipes take cheese (like the Watermelon Salad with fresh mozzarella) but I dream of someday raising cows and goats and making fresh cheese of my own. A few take bread or maybe a tortilla, but that is all (relatively) easily made at home too. The eggs are easy if you have chickens (which I want too!). Beyond salt and oil, she really doesn't use anything that can't be very easily made or grown by yourself.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVGXlk8xMR3VClrakF67vTzgvvWcyAFmaVPHIh6HGiKv1OxwsAOGmiqVvlOy8v_9M9M0V5W2KiHeuPqpHNhJNSfNPEOikFsajWzNrQyMOrYJN33dGwjxCLMt-h2zZ6RpmCv8uDxJOUcbA/s1600/forestfeastavocado.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVGXlk8xMR3VClrakF67vTzgvvWcyAFmaVPHIh6HGiKv1OxwsAOGmiqVvlOy8v_9M9M0V5W2KiHeuPqpHNhJNSfNPEOikFsajWzNrQyMOrYJN33dGwjxCLMt-h2zZ6RpmCv8uDxJOUcbA/s1600/forestfeastavocado.jpg" height="556" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
The recipes include delicious appetizers, fun drinks, beautiful salads, enticing entrees and more!<br />
I would highly recommend this book to anyone, even if you never want to grow food or raise animals. You can be involved as much or as little in the process as you want. Everything in it that I have tried so far has been amazing so, if no other reason does it for you, there is always that.<br />
<br />
What are your favorite cookbooks?<br />
Is there a kind of cook book you want but haven't been able to find?<br />
<br />
p.s. I feel super weird taking bad pictures of someone else's awesome photography...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-4094417316617037702014-09-09T00:00:00.000-07:002014-09-14T17:23:51.893-07:00Camping out... all summer long!<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hey everyone! I’m back. Who knew this summer would be so
crazy that I would totally fall apart with blogging? Not that I was every
really on top of it… But I have a schedule now! And I am going to keep to it! Here’s
the plan:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tuesdays are going to be my life and thoughts and nature-y
things, and Fridays are going to be something a little different.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You see, I always have a stack of books on my bookshelf that
I collect for one reason or another, but don’t get around to reading. Either I
get too busy with school, or I got them for school and so neglected to read
them out of principle. Even the school books are really quite interesting and
worth some thought and attention. So, I am going to start a little book club.
Each month I am going to pick one book from either my bookshelf or one that you
guys recommend and every Friday I will blog about part of it as I go along
reading and ask you guys a couple of questions. If it totally sucks though (as
I’m sure some of the school books will) then I’ll just pop down to the next
book on the list.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxloXnHI7DoEFldlSkGAKKoHIKtGC_nb0Hk-Ihil9UN-ekUK1KhdbplTm5M9ZWYCaVPWBTfmPDm0-riOmdQU1hKs8oYc1VBS0hbrnt4saG0sASe0PKDfd0OzQkK30xAUmGFQyTUR-QGDCs/s1600/Photo+Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxloXnHI7DoEFldlSkGAKKoHIKtGC_nb0Hk-Ihil9UN-ekUK1KhdbplTm5M9ZWYCaVPWBTfmPDm0-riOmdQU1hKs8oYc1VBS0hbrnt4saG0sASe0PKDfd0OzQkK30xAUmGFQyTUR-QGDCs/s1600/Photo+Art.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As you may have noticed, today is Tuesday! And so it begins
with my thoughts and life and stuff.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What I wanted to talk with you guys about is my experience this
summer. I have mentioned a few times that I have been living in a pop-up tent
trailer with no running water or electricity. Which, at the time, sounded
really nice to me! Being out in the wilderness and quiet while experiencing
what it takes to be self-sufficient (to some extent) and eating what I grew at
the farm. Well it definitely had a lot of benefits! It was beautiful and
peaceful and a huge learning experience all together. It was, however, more
difficult than I anticipated. I just didn’t really know what I was getting
myself into.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the biggest things was the sink. It was a tiny
trailer sink. Probably about one cubical foot or a little less. Oh, and no
running water. So if I ever wanted to do my dishes, I had to take my tiny pot
and heat up a little bit of water to wash my dished over a tiny sink and then
rinse them off with the cold water from my 2 gallon water tank that I had to
balance on the tiny bit of counter between me and my tiny sink. And that all
drained into a 2 gallon bucket that I would then have to carry over to the
porta-potty to dump out so that it didn’t go on the ground (no holding tank).
So I had to be very careful about how much water I was using. Dishes were the
worst. Although, I do now feel that I
will be very good at controlling my water usage. You become very aware of how
much water you’re using when you have to carry all of it in and out. It is unbelievable
how much water it takes to do a proper load of laundry.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That leads me to my second difficulty, which was laundry. At
first I was excited to do laundry. I saw this cool bucket idea on Pinterest
where you take a five gallon bucket and a plunger. You cut holes in the rubber
of the plunger, fill the bucket with clothes, water and detergent and then use
the plunger as the agitator. It’s just like a man-powered washing machine! I
build my own clothes line to go with it and it was beautiful! I was all set to go.
So I did my laundry. I had to go get more water because I was silly enough to
think that I could wash with one bucket of water and rinse with another. Really
it’s another three to rinse. I also didn’t realize that to do it that way, you
have to agitate that thing for hours!! So my first load went in smelling bad
and came out smelling bad… I took a weekend trip to my parents’ place to do a
load there… <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those were a few good lessons. Have a better plan for waste water than a two gallon bucket, get a big tub for dishes, and either wait until you have hours to kill before doing laundry, or just visit someone with a machine. But that said, it was a
wonderful experience that I am very glad to have done and may even do it again
sometime… just with a little more forethought.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
What has camping (or lack thereof) thought you? <o:p></o:p></div>
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-50701327966555621742014-07-14T13:45:00.001-07:002014-07-14T13:46:52.695-07:00I'll Get It Right Next Year (I Say Every Year)<br />
<br />
The other day, my sister, Jane (from <a href="http://www.pursuitofpoppiness.com/" target="_blank">Pursuit of Poppiness</a>), read aloud my entire families zodiac signs and what they mean (according to which, my mother has no real personality traits other than being a true sexy beast, which she was quite dismayed to hear, while I was not prepared). When she got to mine, Virgo, it went on and on about how organized we are. It is rare to find a disorganized Virgo. Well, you may have noticed from my sporadic posts that I do not live up to that standard, although I do dream about it. I guess it's the little bit of Leo in me that wont let me organize my life, but I really want to be organized and I often think of ways that I could try to organize my life and everything in it better. It is just the living up to it that's difficult.<br />
<br />
Since I have been gardening a lot lately (it comes with the territory when working on a farm) I have been doing a lot of thinking of the things I would really like to do in the future to keep an organized garden. I thought I would share them with you because I think they are rather brilliant ideas and would very much like to get your input.<br />
<br />
Making a Calendar:<br />
<br />
I actually did this early on this season for the farm but I don't think they are using it. I could have done a better job and the real trick is to do it before ordering seeds so as a project during winter holidays would be what I would like to do. This calendar would include the last frost date for the region and monthly weather averages so you would know what to expect all the time. Every year is different but that way you can be a little more prepared for what is likely to happen. The most important thing to put on the calendar is planting dates. You can either have what to do each month, each week, or (if you can keep up with it), each day. Have a column for sowing outdoors and indoors. With a calendar you can decide how many successions of plantings you want and then can divide up your seeds accordingly. Kale is one plant that can pretty much grow year-round here, so if you wanted you could plant some in the early spring, again in the late spring and then late summer early fall. It can also be started either indoor or out but that will depend on when you want to start it so having a calendar makes you think of all these things ahead of time so you know what to do and when.<br />
<br />
Ordering Seeds:<br />
<br />
Now that you have a calendar you know when you want to begin planting. You'll need to have all your seeds by that time so making a shopping list of all the seeds you want early on can make things go so much easier. I try to keep some kind of notebook on me pretty much all the time and it has many different kinds of lists in it: to do lists, shopping lists, lists of books I want to read and books I want to write, what to look up on the internet, projects I want to try... everything! One of my lists is a growing list. I put all the plants that I want to try the following year. Maybe I see something fun at the farmers market, or over have a conversation with someone about what they grow, or read some article about the healthiest and tastiest plant ever! Then I want to try to grow it so I just add it to the list. That way, come winter I know what to order.<br />
I also think that it's a good idea to order seeds from a few different companies. They're all going to have slightly different varieties and maybe some different plants, but that also gives you the chance to see whose seeds do better in your soil.<br />
<br />
Other Materials:<br />
<br />
Now you have an awesome calendar and all your seeds! But before planting there are a few more things that need to be done if you want to have a truly organized garden. This is also where I fall apart. Labels! Like the little plastic white ones that stick in the ground or in starter pots. If you're planting for the first time and don't know what things are going to look like when they are growing, labels are a life saver. If you're going to be planting for multiple years, labels let you know what worked and what didn't, what you liked and what you disliked.<br />
What I really want to try is to make a master list of all the seeds I bought, their variety and where I bought them from along with labels that go where they are planted. Then when they grow I can make notes for each one telling myself what I should definitely buy again and what I should avoid. See how organized I want to be?!<br />
I like the idea of having generic labels to go in the ground, they'll just say Kale, or Tomatoes, instead of the variety because then they can be fancy ones that are reused every year, and the varieties will be listed on a map. Which brings me to my next organized garden idea...<br />
<br />
Maps:<br />
<br />
I love the idea of making a garden map that has everything being grown on it, then you can write down what varieties you have where. I tried to do a little one for my garden this year but my map was done too poorly without proper spacing and that just did not work out very well... I didn't have a plan and things were all wonky looking and over crowded. It's good to have a plan ahead of time. If you know what all your seeds are then you can assign each seed a number or letter and then make a key and only write the letter on the map instead of trying to write everything out. You can also section off areas to make it more organized.<br />
<br />
I have more ideas and thoughts on the matter but this post is getting long and taking way too much time to write, so I'll leave it at this for now and put more up later.<br />
<br />
How do you keep your garden organized? Or do you like it better not being organized?<br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-82736533720611606922014-06-28T09:05:00.000-07:002014-09-14T11:30:11.755-07:00My New Clothes Line And So Can You<br />
I have recently moved in to my trailer at the farm and it has been wonderful!! It is not completely set up yet, I'm waiting for a few things in the mail, so once it's all put together I'll take a bunch of pictures and take you through a tour :)<br />
<br />
Just a day ago I made myself a clothesline so that I could, you know, do laundry. I just did a little research on the interwebs and then went for it! I thought I would take you through what I did step by step so that you can make one too. This is my first 'how to' and I didn't really plan ahead so I don't have any pictures of the building process, but I'll do my best to make it as clear as possible.<br />
<br />
I made a T post clothesline with supports.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What You Will Need</span>: I really just winged it, but it all turned out great so all is well :)<br />
Two 10" 4x4<br />
One 10" 2x4<br />
One 10" 2x2<br />
8 long nails, 2 1/2' or longer<br />
16 shorter nails, 1 1/2' or 2'<br />
8 medium hook screws (Again with the not planning ahead, I don't know the exact size I used but they were not small flimsy and they were not huge industrial)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tools</span>:<br />
Saw<br />
Hammer<br />
Rod-like-tool for tightening hooks (I had a screwdriver handy but any strong tool that can fit through the hook hole will work)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Step One</span>:<br />
First you want to cut all the wood pieces. The 4x4's don't get cut so you can just put those to the side for now. The 2x4 gets cut in half at the 5" mark. I did not have a measuring tape handy so I took the clothesline sting, laid it along the board and measured the board with that marking the spot where the board ended. I then folded the sting in half and marked the string at the half way crease and then used that to mark the half way point on the board.<br />
<br />
I also don't have a place to saw things, so I put one end of the board being cut on top of the 2 4x4s stacked to get the sawing point off the ground.<br />
<br />
The 2x2s get cut into 4ths, at the 2"6' mark, the 5" mark, and the 7"6' mark. Now your four 2x2 pieces get cut again. Each corner needs to be cut off at a 45 degree angle so that they can support a 90 degree corner.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QMGJ2jopGZMa-hw8q7rGG4EbHbB_ZX9LVeZ6mUK9ZAjEFaVwQ9nPacgiYpSQs-URMy64RcDCwRbwB6iiX1P58hq9guMD2FkofkpryPJqpHgGU6Cd0QOxTbdIZYvctvcTj0m4vcHZlgBk/s1600/IMG_20140618_181137380_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QMGJ2jopGZMa-hw8q7rGG4EbHbB_ZX9LVeZ6mUK9ZAjEFaVwQ9nPacgiYpSQs-URMy64RcDCwRbwB6iiX1P58hq9guMD2FkofkpryPJqpHgGU6Cd0QOxTbdIZYvctvcTj0m4vcHZlgBk/s1600/IMG_20140618_181137380_HDR.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
Of course I didn't have any tool for making perfect angles, so I took a piece of thick paper/thin cardboard that was a square and folded it in half to make a triangle and used that to mark out the 45 degrees on either side of the boards. I drew on all four sides of the board so that I would have multiple lines to follow during sawing. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Step Two</span>:</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Now that you have all the sawing done you can put it together! (see how fast this is going?)</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
First you want to make the 'T' and to do that you need to mark the middle of the top of the 4x4 and the middle on the length of the 2x4 so that when you nail them together one side of the T isn't longer than the other and it wont be pulled off balance when you have heavy sheets on there. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
You want to lay them down on a flat surface so they line up perfectly and line up your two marks. I put four nails in the top and that seemed to work well. You want to start with two nails on the diagonal, one on the top right followed by one on the bottom left.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
Do that with both posts so you have two 'T's.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
It's starting to look like a real clothes line now! I have seen some clothes lines that just left it at this and have had success with it, but I wanted to make sure it was more stable. That and I like the look of the supports.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
To nail the supports on I stood the T on it's side so it looked like it was a side plank champ. It is easy for the top to wiggle out of it's 90 degree by a smidge so double check that everything is nailed on tight. Take your time placing the support so that one side is against the top and one is against the middle post. This is where you want to use the smaller nails since where you will be nailing will be relatively thin and bigger nails could easily crack the 2x2s in half. There will be four nails in each support so you want to do that diagonal thing again (I'm not really sure why to do the diagonal thing but I heard it from someone who knows a thing or two about building so I have just done it ever since and everything has worked out great) starting with the bottom right nailing the support to the 4x4 and then moving to the top left nailing it to the 2x4. Then finish off the bottom left and top right.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
Flip the T to the other side and repeat. Pretty soon you'll have two T's with supports. How easy was that?!</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucM4p12J4vJ0ZOMIIWzyzTl6bB61Yu5UFk2zkA4IXC47C6-DUwoPVvWQoh1Zgu8ti950XcOFDpSQ7kR41MXr1guaBhMJj489jeVn8XO5QEesKJmfmE1oDDIkLezrAKQ1GV0g20in_c0fM/s1600/IMG_20140618_181117511_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucM4p12J4vJ0ZOMIIWzyzTl6bB61Yu5UFk2zkA4IXC47C6-DUwoPVvWQoh1Zgu8ti950XcOFDpSQ7kR41MXr1guaBhMJj489jeVn8XO5QEesKJmfmE1oDDIkLezrAKQ1GV0g20in_c0fM/s1600/IMG_20140618_181117511_HDR.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
The only thing left to do is put the screws in!</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Step Three</span>:</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
Put the screws in! I put four on each post for no real reason other than that sounded good to me. One went over each support.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeS4aY2VQEb1i-SWoktt-zeIebmMED0_ajfNNN6JdAH2YTJ24zKuuK4fqwUc47MRkBL5Y8yto_AAPaNmOhVqILKvjAW1_uhrr0oSNWg4C3Uz7D5Wwg89WE-jaAtWIO1K-FI7N75I_FRYi/s1600/IMG_20140618_181156167_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeS4aY2VQEb1i-SWoktt-zeIebmMED0_ajfNNN6JdAH2YTJ24zKuuK4fqwUc47MRkBL5Y8yto_AAPaNmOhVqILKvjAW1_uhrr0oSNWg4C3Uz7D5Wwg89WE-jaAtWIO1K-FI7N75I_FRYi/s1600/IMG_20140618_181156167_HDR.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The other two I put half way between the middle and the first hook. This way I either have two sides that are a bit separated for whatever reason, or if I decide that I need five lines, there's a spot right in the middle with proper spacing on either side that I can add another.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
That only took three steps and you have a clothes line!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIw8nCLNmgejQRLP_pHInatWmnPfCoyhELoWRxBbu0CW0RZPzF8RfhaEnUZpWCf2H8mPrbLu7rGCMWt8NLQB9P7eT1SwjR1fQHkFAMKNl5To7LhwnlLVn5NvxoOHOdnrxc98A-gCiTT94/s1600/IMG_20140618_181208706_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIw8nCLNmgejQRLP_pHInatWmnPfCoyhELoWRxBbu0CW0RZPzF8RfhaEnUZpWCf2H8mPrbLu7rGCMWt8NLQB9P7eT1SwjR1fQHkFAMKNl5To7LhwnlLVn5NvxoOHOdnrxc98A-gCiTT94/s1600/IMG_20140618_181208706_HDR.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Now all you need to do is find the perfect spot to put it, dig some holes a couple feet deep and pack your posts in. That is my goal for today to finish, but it's been raining so it's not like I could dry much on them now anyway.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Sorry for the lack of pictures really showing the steps, I'll be sure to document my next adventure in building more thoroughly.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Tell me how your clothesline went, or what you did differently, I'd love to hear!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<center>
</center>
<br />
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
<center>
<br /></center>
<center>
Linking up with DIY Show Off</center>
<center>
http://diyshowoff.com/category/other/that-diy-party/</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-62371430976350347472014-06-19T08:54:00.002-07:002014-06-19T08:54:59.155-07:00My Home Depot Story<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
On a couple occasions I have been known to browse tumblr.
When browsing I often look at #feminist posts as I personally identify as a
feminist myself and think that it is important to listen (or read) other
peoples’ stories. More than once, although not many more, I have read the story
of a woman going into a home depot, or store like it, and having employees
assume that she had no idea what she was doing when she was fully capable find,
buy and put to use everything she needed. In one story a man whom everyone assumed
knew exactly what he was doing, in fact, desperately needed help and had never
built anything before in his life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Quick Side Note: I’m down the road less than a mile from a
kids camp and I think they just put a rooster up to a megaphone to wake everyone
up…either that or that was the LOUDEST ROOSTER EVER!!! And I know how loud
roosters can be.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, back to home depot.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After today, I have a home depot story of my own, albeit a
little different from these stories.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I went in looking to get some wood to make a clothes line,
for my new found trailer living <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> and one that I am now very proud of and will be
making a how-to post for. I had gone in with most of a plan but was wondering
the lumber aisle looking at all the different sizes and lengths and seeing what
they had so I could pick the perfect materials. I was in no rush so I meandered
my way back and forth. While I was looking at the pressure treated ten foot
4x4s, a store employee (male) came up and politely asked if I needed any help,
as I’m sure he would do to any customer staring blankly at a pile of wood.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I pondered for a moment thinking, <i>Do I need help? What are all the things I need and do I know where they
all are?</i> After just a couple seconds I looked at him and said “No, thank
you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He smiled, replied “Alright.” And kept walking. That was
all.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I finished looking around, grabbed everything I needed, two
4x4s, one 2x4, a 2x2 along with some hook </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
screws and command hooks (to hang my
animal calendar!) and made my way to the check-out line.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was helped by a different employee, this time a woman and
I was thinking to myself, <i>How great is
this? No one assumed I needed more than I let on and now I’m being helped by a
woman working the lumber section!</i> Last time I was there I was helped by a
trans person, Go home depot!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it was the friendly check-out counter conversation that
ruined it all for me. She was probably just trying to be nice and make a
connection, as many people do when working retail, but I wish she had done it
another way. She took a look at what I had (not as though she could have
avoided it while scanning everything) and told me “A piece of advice: Always
try to get someone else to do it for you.” All while donning this ‘you know
what I mean’ smile. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My first thought was, <i>No
way! This is my project, I want to do this all on my own, ain’t nobody else
doing it for me.</i> And I should have just let that role right off my tongue,
but for some reason I didn’t. I tried to play it off with “Oh, haha, I don’t
think I can pull that off this time.” The inner conflict avoider is strong in
me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She followed that up with “Yeah, but it’s still good
advice.” Very matter of fact. She wasn’t asking my opinion of her advice, she
was just letting me know that she was right. I smiled and walked out with my newly
purchased lumber.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wish I had stayed. I wish I had said something. That is
terrible advice! For everyone! I mean, if there is something you need done and
you legitimately are unable to do it yourself, that’s one thing. Actually,
that’s not even in the same ballpark because that is just asking for help,
which I don’t think pertains to what she was saying at all. What she meant was,
never do something that you can coax someone else into doing for you. So I wish
I had stayed and asked her a couple of questions.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who exactly should I be getting to do these things for me? A family member? A friend? A big strong, good looking man? A stranger? By the 'you know what I mean' smile she had given me, I had at the time assumed the big strong man. But why would that be the go-to person? Because they are so willing to prove just how strong and manly they are? Well that is making a very large assumption about a great many people right there. It is perpetuating all of the expectations that we put on men and women that are completely stupid. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And how exactly should I be getting this strong man to do these things for me? With my womanly wiles? (another assumption I made from that face she made) So I am supposed to get myself all dolled up and pretend to be completely helpless, a real life damsel in distress, to trigger his need to prove he can do it, just so I don't have to? Well that is messed up on a few levels. If I were to simply ask someone, knowing full well that I am completely capable and not trying to hide it, to do things for me, why would they? Even if they were a good friend, there is no reason for them to because I wouldn't be acting very friendly towards them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next I would have liked to ask her what, exactly, should I be asking this strong man to do for me? Since I had some lumber and screws on my cart, I made another assumption. I assumed that she made the comment because of what I was buying meaning that she had projects in mind that require lumber and screws and possibly hammers and saws and screwdrivers, you know, the manly tools. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lastly, why, exactly would I ask anyone to do something for me that I am fully capable of doing myself? Because I don't want to do it? But I do want to do it! I love that kind of stuff, taking pieces of wood or other materials and creating something useful out of them, it's the best! Am I getting them to do things for me because I can? Well that's a messed up reason. Maybe I can, but I think I shouldn't. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People should take responsibility into their own hands. If they need something done, they should do it themselves! If for nothing else, for some learning experience so next time you'll know how. Maybe then you can help someone else (help, not do it for them). And if you don't know how to do something or really aren't able to do it yourself without difficulty, asking for help is a great thing! Maybe you do something once and realize that it is just not for you, sure you <i>can </i>do it but it's the biggest drag since a zombies left foot. Asking for help is great then too. I would now like to stress the difference between asking someone to help you do something and asking them to do it for you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was talking about this to my partner and he made the comment that sexism against women exists in a lot of ways because it is pushed on to women by other women. I realize that I made an assumption or two about her and what she said and I tried to highlight what those assumptions were, but she made an assumption or two about me as well. She assumed that because I am a woman walking around home depot with some lumber and screws, there is a project that needs to be done and I would rather find a way to weasel out of physical labor and put that on someone else than do it myself. She was wrong. I feel good about myself when I am lifting lumber and using tools, I get joy out of physical labor and working hard, I try to find new ways to put my hands to work in the dirt every day. Not all women are this way, because we're all just people and not all people are that way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People should really quit assuming they know anything about anyone and find new ways to make 30 second connections over a check-out counter. Maybe with a question: "Do you have a project for these?"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-65920349830330894942014-06-09T23:02:00.001-07:002014-06-09T23:02:18.789-07:00What Can You Do?<br />
<br />
So I have written a couple of blog posts now on permaculture and I wanted to write one more on what the farm I work at can do to become more sustainable by following some permaculture practices.<br />
<br />
This farm is a little different in the way that the land we use is not ours. We lease the land year to year so putting permanent structures is not a real option right now. It is also a bit different because the person who does own the land is putting it up for sale. He has another business that is doing well and is no longer interested in running the extra property. So the owners of the farm I work at are trying to find a way to purchase all the land so that they can create a real farm that they can do with whatever they like. If that all works out the way they hope, then I will have a lot more suggestions that, at the moment, just don't make sense.<br />
<br />
The one thing that we could start doing right away is moving towards no-till practices. I talked in the first permaculture post about how turning the soil is harmful to the ecosystem in a few different ways. The reason that most farmers still till today is because farmers don't know how to do it any other way. We have been taught the benefits and reasons for tilling because it has been the practice for generations, but if you want to know the benefits of no-till you have to really do research on your own and then take a risk at putting it into practice instead of using the old tried and true. Also in our particular situation because we run a community farm with lots of different people on tiny plots, we're not the only ones who need to turn a new leaf, we'd have to ask every person that leases a Mini Farm from us to use our same practices. That is another risk to take in a business, but maybe we'd only stick to no-till for our u-pick veggies.<br />
<br />
There is also the practice of planting different kinds of plants together that are complementary (such as beans corn and squash) and help each other grow better, but at a u-pick our costumers would probably like to know what is planted where without the confusion of many different kinds of plants all strewn in together. Before I started farming I didn't know how to tell many plants apart, which ones are leaks and which ones are onions and which ones are garlic? I can't expect customers to know the difference if we plant them all in one thing together (I still don't think I could tell those three apart if they were all mixed up). It is a lot easier on everyone to have rows with a single kind of plant to each row, so with our current business model it's not very plausible.<br />
<br />
The rest really relies on perennial plants and trees which is not currently realistic because we only lease the land year to year, there is a serious risk of lots of flooding (sometimes up to eight feet like last March) in the winters and now that it is up for sale, we may have to find a new spot all together. Fingers crossed that the farm owners can find a way to purchase the land and then create their dream farm which is a vision I truly believe in. Until that happens, permaculture may just have to wait a little while.<br />
<br />
What we can do is provide information on it to anyone who comes to the farm. One Mini Farm family is doing their best to practice permaculture in their 300sq ft plot and it is a wonderful looking plot! It would be great if we could spread the knowledge to anyone who wanted it while offering a tiny plot to get started and try it out.<br />
<br />
Some day everyone will farm no-till because we won't know how to do it any other way, so that is what we have to start teaching.<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-48384125453067255062014-06-06T12:18:00.000-07:002014-06-06T12:18:03.649-07:00Take a Look Around<br />
<br />
It's been a while since my last blog... sorry. I do have at least have a good reason for part of that time! I went to live at the farm for a week as a test run for this summer. This time I didn't have a bike or anything to go to the local coffee shop where there is internet so I had no internet for a whole week. That was actually really nice! I get distracted with silly things in the internet way too easily, so having a complete break from it was quite welcome. The rest of that time was just me being stressed about school and moving, and generally just being really sucky about doing what I told myself I would do.<br />
<br />
Today I want to talk about those permaculture lectures I have been watching. It's the last week of the quarter so I want to wrap it up with something that they keep coming back to almost every week. There are so many different topics covered but there seemed to be one overarching theme that was touched on all the time. That was observation. Permaculture follows how nature does things on it's own, so all of your questions can be answered by observing nature.You can obviously learn a lot from reading about it (most of what I know about nature is from all my class work over the past four years) but that can't tell you everything. Every piece of land is different and needs to be examined before work should really begin.<br />
<br />
They said that one of the most important things to do when you begin a permaculture farm is to watch the land for a whole year before doing anything. See what it does in all four seasons, when it rains and snows, where water pools and flows, where the wind comes from, how strong it is, if there are wind barrier hills or trees, what kind of plants are growing, where the land is in a recovery succession. There are so many different aspects that need be looked at to know what is needed to help that land become healthier and productive. Sitting still and watching the land for a year is something that people usually don't do. It takes a lot of time, time we may not have. I know I have a lot of ideas for my farm and the last thing I will want to do is wait even longer before I can get started on them. But the benefits from observing the land really are great.<br />
<br />
The lectures are broken into a few different categories: Fundamentals, Design and Patterns, Climate and Soils, Water and Aquaculture. For each of these, observation plays a huge role. Many of these observations will take a lot of time, but some can be done quickly. Patterns are often simply observable if you know where to look. Patterns usually refer to the physical shape of something like the dome of a hill or cave, the shapes of tree branches, or the stacking hexagons of a bee hive. You can observe these by simply walking around in nature and looking. Then by taking note of their different functions you can use those patterns purposefully. Domes function as strong structures and can be put to use in buildings and cellars. Branching patterns are used for collection and distribution, this concept can be used for irrigation or pathways. Bee hives are great at packing things together and this pattern can be used for storage or anything where a lot of stuff needs to fit in a small space.<br />
<br />
Climate and Soils takes a little more time observing. You need to take note of what the weather does in every season, when it rains and when it is dry, when the temperatures change and when the storms come. It helps to do a little research on the climate in your area, but climates all over are changing and it is important to know exactly how they are changing if you are going to design your farm in the most efficient way. Soils can be observed in a few ways. Simply picking up a handful to see what the composition is, whether it is mostly clay, sand, or loam can be helpful but also taking a close look at what is growing there right now. Are they water loving plants, or plants that need drainage? Are they early succession weeds or late succession forest trees? I also think sending your soil in to be tested for specific nutrients that are available is a good idea.<br />
<br />
All of these things play in to the design of a farm. All of these things must be observed first to know where everything should be planted and built. The trees should be placed where they can block the wind best, the water catchment system should be built where the water can best be collected and then distributed, dams should be made in the gullies and every plant should be put in spots that are best for them. If we really observe, we can design a farm where nature does most of the work for us.<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-48284875220868657232014-05-09T19:14:00.001-07:002014-05-09T19:14:41.556-07:00When Hoop Houses Go Awry<br />
<br />
Remember those super awesome hoop houses that I mentioned a couple posts ago? The ones that we slaved away on from dawn til dusk for four days straight? The ones that looked so good because of my partner's great design? Those? They collapsed...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13Q6Vrljb3fLKe8KbTZ-HZ1K_347-oHKU-eytTmWKXi50nFSfZVwEt9y_1u53zUh9JwbZq9Vf2l0CRf73nWI2aOny_hjrQuCE69ll7NTE7-65Qp8PD1Fz-GnVNXMAro47smjBR9Gb_ndo/s1600/WP_20140504_10_14_23_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13Q6Vrljb3fLKe8KbTZ-HZ1K_347-oHKU-eytTmWKXi50nFSfZVwEt9y_1u53zUh9JwbZq9Vf2l0CRf73nWI2aOny_hjrQuCE69ll7NTE7-65Qp8PD1Fz-GnVNXMAro47smjBR9Gb_ndo/s1600/WP_20140504_10_14_23_Pro.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There was a slight flaw in the design because we wanted to use all pvc piping to save on money. Basically, there was a little spot where water could collect from rain and as it collected the water weighed down the pipes creating a larger spot to hold water... The one pictured here ^ was the worst. We used a different size plastic and the ends were able to lift up to create deeper pools so it was pulled all the way to the ground. Some pipes were just bent a bit, but there were eight that were snapped in two.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lrE8tJaObmHfhth386iEOSNf_uoPFAQVSjz0A-c7z7oEMp75-pIpI7MaxM3WY5Bj2euZu_oLPutAKYUh2VcrhmpGKCdFeOlDC-mUGQVQC_XTpt0oiCdBBq8nZiiDbs2VQKptYT6HXcx6/s1600/WP_20140504_10_16_59_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lrE8tJaObmHfhth386iEOSNf_uoPFAQVSjz0A-c7z7oEMp75-pIpI7MaxM3WY5Bj2euZu_oLPutAKYUh2VcrhmpGKCdFeOlDC-mUGQVQC_XTpt0oiCdBBq8nZiiDbs2VQKptYT6HXcx6/s1600/WP_20140504_10_16_59_Pro.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You can see how it made a big water bucket here ^</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpOI-oJyOR13IFYGEF_WYw3iPY90Y_UQFl6ThkhhaRUT_K4QrfxA8m_hcbm0oVQQZyKv_NVOJvlChBJuoxYKQNtlFItg0Y4xkgiKaLE8cyZS8bwWQPciWcKE7Zq79kuiv7Y02lS3ZSIBD/s1600/WP_20140504_10_14_05_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpOI-oJyOR13IFYGEF_WYw3iPY90Y_UQFl6ThkhhaRUT_K4QrfxA8m_hcbm0oVQQZyKv_NVOJvlChBJuoxYKQNtlFItg0Y4xkgiKaLE8cyZS8bwWQPciWcKE7Zq79kuiv7Y02lS3ZSIBD/s1600/WP_20140504_10_14_05_Pro.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And so a new project began. We had to figure out a way to stop water from pooling without getting rid of the pipes that were collecting the water in the first place because of how much support they gave to the whole structure. What we really needed was a way to stop the pvc from bending so that only a small amount of water could collect before rolling off. It was a really good thing that our first idea worked so that we didn't spend any extra money on something that was useless.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What we did was buy posts for every other domed pipe so that it would be stopped from sinking any lower and making that water shelf. We also made little platforms to keep the posts from sinking into the ground. Then we got pvc connectors and cemented the broken pieces back together. Now they look better than ever and are even stronger! Now we know for next year and wont make that same mistake again.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMgE3Gou2rP4n2j7rE9_90JRmbPdubU7LROO0UIHCdz7SfCJ8GAkvcBu_HVJXhsjTdccENAVRlDwdFDoCCmGFnydXLE_x1tVangNaDRpV7tx7I7AZyuMzhUkkX3e0Ack2bYBB0tmWVQr0/s1600/WP_20140504_18_37_05_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMgE3Gou2rP4n2j7rE9_90JRmbPdubU7LROO0UIHCdz7SfCJ8GAkvcBu_HVJXhsjTdccENAVRlDwdFDoCCmGFnydXLE_x1tVangNaDRpV7tx7I7AZyuMzhUkkX3e0Ack2bYBB0tmWVQr0/s1600/WP_20140504_18_37_05_Pro.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So beautiful :)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsnmL55N95Nk2OtW45R96W0jXrN2Xh7HR8JkEDhIpxW75TeUQ1i4tqwSJT9AkObcTvTZHJ4iMjwKGx0oQItwjQyPfWrw6FbuKXMJPETl0G7pXUB19slU_0L0AhW71_jD4OVCzEYLYE2PP/s1600/WP_20140504_18_37_31_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsnmL55N95Nk2OtW45R96W0jXrN2Xh7HR8JkEDhIpxW75TeUQ1i4tqwSJT9AkObcTvTZHJ4iMjwKGx0oQItwjQyPfWrw6FbuKXMJPETl0G7pXUB19slU_0L0AhW71_jD4OVCzEYLYE2PP/s1600/WP_20140504_18_37_31_Pro.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It has rained a couple times since the fix and they have stood up great!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-40114385526750758732014-05-05T19:19:00.000-07:002014-05-08T12:41:55.606-07:00What is Permaculture?<br />
<br />
So the plan was to write three blog posts about permaculture for my class, one in April, one in May and one to bring it to an end in June. Well I started writing and realized that there was way too much awesome stuff to cram into only three posts. The first one was on soil, which I am really interested in because there is just so much I didn't know (and much more I still don't)! But I realize that I didn't introduce permaculture at all. So this post will be a quick introduction to what permaculture is in the first place.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There really isn't a single set definition of what permaculture is (making this post a bit of a challenge)... If you google the definition it'll tell you that it is "<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 1.2;">the development of agricultural ecosystems intended to be sustainable and self-sufficient." That is not a wrong or bad definition but I would say that it is incomplete. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 1.2;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: lighter; line-height: 1.2;">Permaculture can be either permanent-culture or permanent-agriculture. Permanent meaning ultimate sustainability where agriculture can be done year after year forever and make the land and ecosystem healthier, while never diminishing land anywhere. Many operations claim to be sustainable but are only taking into account things that happen on site and not other areas that are affected. I am very </span></span><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">skeptical of products or businesses that claim to be sustainable.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">The way it achieves sustainability is by mimicking the natural world and allowing Mother Nature to do a lot of the work for you. It is letting food grow just as it would in nature and creating a space where as many aspects of a complete ecosystem can be expressed all the way from the bacteria in the soil, to the top predators roaming your land.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Because permaculture has both the 'culture' and 'agriculture' it is not only a way of growing food but also a way of life. It is growing food for a better world and trying to bring that better world into every aspect of your life. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">You don't have to grow food to be a permaculturalist. You can support people who are doing permaculture, or just make your life more sustainable by trying to follow nature's lead in other ways. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">In what ways are you a permaculturalist?</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: lighter; line-height: 1.2;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: lighter; line-height: 1.2;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="xpdxpnd" data-mh="-1" style="-webkit-transition: max-height 0.3s; background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.600000381469727px; max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s;">
</div>
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
<center>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-40184444647007802022014-05-05T12:43:00.000-07:002014-05-05T13:32:45.252-07:00Flying Over First Light Farm<br />
<br />
This is not a real blog for today, I'll do a longer one later but I really want to share this with you guys! One of the people who has a mini farm also has a little helicopter thing with a camera attached and he took a video flying over the farm. We're hoping he does this every month so you all can see how the farm is growing :)<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/TFs1WakL9jg" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-48589041829485246402014-05-03T05:30:00.000-07:002014-05-03T05:30:02.381-07:00First Night on the Farm<br />
<br />
I spent my first night out at the farm this week :) I haven't moved in yet, I was just camping for the night, but it was still very exciting! We stayed in the trailer though, which is still floor-less on one side, but on the other side, it's pretty nice... just a bit dirty... but for camping it's great!<br />
<br />
I stayed out there this week because we were building the hoop houses for the tomatoes and were trying to get three built in four days (which we accomplished but it was a lot of work!) We worked until 8 at night and then were up and working again by 8 in the morning. They turned out great!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvf_Uz3SvdqRgoQGD0itdBkOkZ0nyqhkTkovAw4DrSYvTqaqO69tR166_Ck6HDOk_YwD2NJB9-2eaKwR9DZkKnXd71R619uTLzdkD_0dP4CqL9opW-zdnw4cB_yKbMfYGTGEGGuTGFxmD/s1600/IMG_20140501_191757281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvf_Uz3SvdqRgoQGD0itdBkOkZ0nyqhkTkovAw4DrSYvTqaqO69tR166_Ck6HDOk_YwD2NJB9-2eaKwR9DZkKnXd71R619uTLzdkD_0dP4CqL9opW-zdnw4cB_yKbMfYGTGEGGuTGFxmD/s1600/IMG_20140501_191757281.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Staying the night let me experience things that you really can't during the day. We were working until it started getting dark but thankfully we stopped in time to fully experience the sun set. I was so entranced by it that I completely forgot about taking pictures, for which I am now kicking myself! We got to walk down to the lake and watch the sunlight reflecting off of the water, and in that beautiful lake we saw beavers! We had been trying to keep an eye out for them sense last week when we spotted some chewed up branches and beaver channels in the tall grass. A beaver channel is where they dig out a path so they can get to food sources more easily. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na2HYq11yuM" target="_blank">Here's </a>a nifty video about beavers if you're interested :) My partner is really into using beavers to restore ecosystems, so I've been learning a lot about all the awesome stuff they do. Their dams create an incredibly diverse habitat that acts as a nursery for lots of different species and can help regulate rivers so they flow steadily all year round. They're basically amazing, so getting to see them at the farm was pretty darn cool.</div>
<br />
When we were all getting ready to get to sleep (in the trailer all locked up) we heard a pack of coyotes! That was exciting! At first I couldn't tell for sure if they were coyotes or screaming children, they have a high pitched screech, but then they started barking so that was easy to tell. We were pretty certain that there were two packs or a pack and a single coyote that were on opposite sides of the lack and trying to get to each other. They barked and howled back and forth across the water getting closer and closer to us until they met up and headed back away. It was good to learn early on that they like hanging around the valley at night, so I'll have to be careful. That will probably be easy though with no electricity so once it gets dark, there really wont be any reason to stay awake. Late night bathroom runs will be tricky...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a></div>
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-55900565348356457012014-05-02T13:11:00.001-07:002014-05-02T13:11:23.025-07:00Let's Talk Permaculture!<br />
<br />
Do you remember how I said on my first blog post that part of the reason I am doing this blog is for an independent study course? Well this is my first post on the super awesome things I have been learning in my free online permaculture class. But don't worry, it wont be boring because it's permaculture and that is about as awesome as it gets!<br />
<br />
It's not exactly a class so much as a free collection of lectures from different classes organized into different topics. (If you're interested in learning more about permaculture, I would highly recommend checking it out <a href="http://www.openpermaculture.com/#" target="_blank">here</a>!) So far my favorite lectures are done by <a href="http://www.onestrawrevolution.net/One_Straw_Revolution/Larry_Korn.html" target="_blank">Larry Korn</a> who was a student of and worked under <a href="http://www.onestrawrevolution.net/One_Straw_Revolution/Massanobu_Fukuoka.html" target="_blank">Masanobu Fukuoka</a>. If you don't know who that is, you should find out! He basically started permaculture by observing the plants, land, and animals seeing in what ways they thrived.<br />
<br />
The very first thing that Larry stressed was how important it is to not turn the soil, which is something that farmers do everywhere, by plowing, disking or tilling and often all three over the same piece of land again and again. You see, soil is an entire ecosystem all its own with trillions of microorganisms and organic matter and bugs and stuff, so when you turn the entire ecosystem on top of itself, bad things happen, just as bad things would happen if our houses were turned upside-down. One of the worst things that happens when we turn the soil is the introduction of oxygen. All the little bacteria and living things need oxygen, and all the decomposing organic matter (dead plants and roots and fallen leaves) need oxygen to break down, but when there is too much in the system they essentially get burned up. We're the same way, we need oxygen to survive, but too much is poisonous. The organisms die and the organic matter is used up faster than it can be replenished. Not to mention, going back and forth on the soil with a large tractor compacts all the soil underneath creating an impenetrable layer where water can't drain and organisms can't live.<br />
<br />
So what is the big deal with the bacteria and microorganisms? I mean, who cares if they are there or not? As it turns out, they play a really big role in the health of the soil and the plants that we want to grow in it. All of the nutrients that plants need to grow comes from these organisms which is why industrial farms need to add so much fertilizer, they have destroyed the soil ecosystem by plowing and other poor practices.<br />
<br />
So, if plowing is so bad and turns out to be harmful to the plants that we want to grow, why do we do it? Partly because we don't know how else to do it and partly because it's easy. It is a fast way to get rid of all the plants that aren't wanted so they don't have to compete for space or nutrients. Now companies make ridiculous amounts of money providing fertilizer that they want everyone to think that there is only one way to grow food so that they can continue making money off of us (I could rant about how much I dislike fertilizer companies for days!).<br />
<br />
I'm realizing that I could go on and on about all this stuff for much longer than I thought, so I'm going to have to break this up into a few different blogs...<br />
<br />
On another quick note, I'm so sorry that I have been so off schedule, I have been spending this whole week out on the farm helping build three big hoop houses and camping out. I'm going to have to write a whole other blog on my first camp out of the season cause it was AMAZING!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbQRwA2tyRrJ2TRt1Szzr5VEDNwc4sixKE0WRpqF1OTGLnBouqfZ8JM87oL7VUyFv3GI2yiC0TB70iHQeue6qLoLQsp-vDFT1d-TpKjcxEk4aawo4MDRRpNhiijbuWVkSGWWHoPQOoBkl/s1600/IMG_20140501_191745011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbQRwA2tyRrJ2TRt1Szzr5VEDNwc4sixKE0WRpqF1OTGLnBouqfZ8JM87oL7VUyFv3GI2yiC0TB70iHQeue6qLoLQsp-vDFT1d-TpKjcxEk4aawo4MDRRpNhiijbuWVkSGWWHoPQOoBkl/s1600/IMG_20140501_191745011.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We are going to grow so many tomatoes!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTGy1EtEy8CXwRlHa5JJuaAn3Pph0t9vGB_Rjhb2wZYaCUCgN3tqiVUHw93goDK3eIdhluYMUo2usrc4Fblctp-ISeXD1XbBQJrLCFroHxCtts1D3tyynjmkI4ulCZGXh0j2k8D47SlMj/s1600/IMG_20140501_191757281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTGy1EtEy8CXwRlHa5JJuaAn3Pph0t9vGB_Rjhb2wZYaCUCgN3tqiVUHw93goDK3eIdhluYMUo2usrc4Fblctp-ISeXD1XbBQJrLCFroHxCtts1D3tyynjmkI4ulCZGXh0j2k8D47SlMj/s1600/IMG_20140501_191757281.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-24102122188439370322014-04-23T21:52:00.001-07:002014-04-23T21:52:38.171-07:00Earth DayHave you ever heard someone talk about "listening to the land" or "listen to what the earth is saying"? That is something that I have heard a few times from various people and depending on what mood I'm in, I either really try to hear, or I'll scoff and right them off as too hippy-feely for me! I always thought of listening to the land as paying attention to the sounds of the birds and of the buzzing bees and wind blowing through the branches of the trees (made myself a little poem there) but Tuesday out on the farm I experienced a new sound, a sound from underneath the surface of the ground, emanating from below the grass.<br />
<br />
We arrived late in the morning and were going to get to work fast because it was supposed to start raining <i>again </i>in the afternoon. It has pretty much been raining almost every day so there are puddles everywhere out there, I'm happy the car didn't get stuck. I had to get from the car to the horse trailer, where we keep our tools and work boots, by walking up through the vegetables to avoid all the huge puddles. As I was walking I heard this trickling sound that seemed to be coming from all around me. I stopped and listened closely, but it faded away. I began walking and there it was again, that trickling or bubbling, so I stopped and listened, but again it faded away. The next time I heard it I bent down to the ground right away and sure enough it was coming from ground all around me. I called out to my partner to come over and listen to this with me (partly to make sure I wasn't crazy). Of course he instantly knew what it was. Apparently when the ground is saturated with water, especially with clay heavy soil, air bubbles get trapped close to the surface and walking on the ground shakes the soil enough to release the bubbles and then water trickles down as the bubbles pop at the surface (He asked me to double check on the interwebs in case his facts were wrong but I couldn't find anything about it, so I'll just take his word for now). I have never had so much fun jumping up and down! It was as though the ground was acting like a big rain stick :) It puts a new meaning to "listening to the land".<br />
<br />
After that fun adventure we spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon working on my garden. We put up trellises and planted a bunch of goodies. I had just finished listening to the first lecture in the permaculture series on design, so we made spinach spirals and key holes and used the trellises for shading the partial sun plants. I can't wait to see it all grown up!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BsiSEq0m62jaISlXfb2wmrppXu103tgMJx6ZnbYDL6hRaNbPkF9UlSPbezX3_Ag0IV2KjY6CSF3COOZBS3rJgDNVkKoKAnLfXm2DeuN0OEl33rdRmWtdBn5dpnczdPlg5nI2iCUtTIBH/s1600/IMG_20140422_142014121+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BsiSEq0m62jaISlXfb2wmrppXu103tgMJx6ZnbYDL6hRaNbPkF9UlSPbezX3_Ag0IV2KjY6CSF3COOZBS3rJgDNVkKoKAnLfXm2DeuN0OEl33rdRmWtdBn5dpnczdPlg5nI2iCUtTIBH/s1600/IMG_20140422_142014121+(2).jpg" height="267" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It doesn't look like much now, but just wait until all my little seeds start growing :) It wasn't until today that I realized that Tuesday was Earth Day, and what a way to celebrate!</div>
<br />
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-32954278679767871762014-04-21T12:45:00.002-07:002014-04-21T12:56:00.588-07:00Trailer Living<br />
<br />
Getting used to being a presence on the internet is going to be a challenge for me, I can tell. I'm more likely to avoid spending too much time on the internet because I like being active more than I like working on a computer, but I am determined to make this blog work! And of course this all happens right when my 'backspace' key decides to quit on me. So whenever I misspell something or make any mistake, instead of just backspacing, I have to highlight it and replace it with something else... and trust me, I misspell just about every other word when typing. It's not even that I'm bad at spelling, it's just that I can't get my fingers to hit the right keys.<br />
<br />
Anyway, on to my adventuresome life: As I mentioned in my previous post, I am going to be moving out of my current apartment and living on the farm this summer. I am so excited to be spending all that time down there with all the other farmers! To add to that experience I have decided to live in a camper trailer with no electricity or running water, but to do that I first had to find a trailer. Ideally it would be cheap, I'd like to actually save money by doing this. Well, I found one! And boy is it a uh... beauty? Someone who works next to the farm had one that they may end up just tearing apart but were willing to let me make use of it for a few months.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeeijk8fCMmVqzRA7lhIHk29eSCPdpiDzxpsscCJ130Mgz-An1gYqDsdogRntEfv1ZmJoMEEVILmYAszKDWtIx4YiYepAmvBbQ5r6u_C1xPMGIDBg9zksVvAbdExQKrZ3JquYVFPqQVci/s1600/IMG_20140417_163337467+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeeijk8fCMmVqzRA7lhIHk29eSCPdpiDzxpsscCJ130Mgz-An1gYqDsdogRntEfv1ZmJoMEEVILmYAszKDWtIx4YiYepAmvBbQ5r6u_C1xPMGIDBg9zksVvAbdExQKrZ3JquYVFPqQVci/s1600/IMG_20140417_163337467+(2).jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
As you can see... there's not exactly a floor... There was so much water damage in the kitchen from a leaky roof that the floor had rotted away to a pile of mush. This was taken after we had taken up the carpet and the linoleum underneath. The plan right now is to clear away as much of the bad wood as possible without taking out the entire kitchen, then lay a couple new support beams and just put some plywood on top so that we can walk on it. I wont worry about nailing it all down since it's not going to be moved while we're there and it is extremely temporary. The rotten wood that we wont be able to take out is going to be bleached within an inch of its life so that all the mold goes away at least and the space will be livable.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4RiPbAfSJCAQQB9yvMr2eAQDfh5mZm-uBfVqLUKxzr808KjY1nAYxO3hdD_QcZtx7dXkE4au7JFxvFplSAQ2kdCqHfYDvsIfvCWDlQU4ssqUY0MA7VptkxULCGln6QIxNck5G1IaVL6g/s1600/IMG_20140417_163606777+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4RiPbAfSJCAQQB9yvMr2eAQDfh5mZm-uBfVqLUKxzr808KjY1nAYxO3hdD_QcZtx7dXkE4au7JFxvFplSAQ2kdCqHfYDvsIfvCWDlQU4ssqUY0MA7VptkxULCGln6QIxNck5G1IaVL6g/s1600/IMG_20140417_163606777+(2).jpg" height="320" width="313" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The rest of the trailer is in pretty great shape, besides being dirty... and having a yellow jacket nest somewhere... but those are easily fixed with a little elbow grease :) It even comes with old school Yahtzee and Scrabble! What more could I ask for? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'll keep you updated on our progress in making this trailer a summer living paradise! </div>
<br />
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2684299261982009451.post-30228754566202751742014-04-16T00:00:00.000-07:002014-04-16T08:18:00.903-07:00Elizabeth's Forrest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today marks the day of my first real blog post, and I am very excited! I've been putting this off for a couple weeks because I didn't know how to begin. How do I start a blog when I'm not even sure what I want it to be about? So I thought I would start by telling you why I even want a blog in the first place.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I want to blog for a couple of reasons, the first being that I am about to go through some big life changes and want a way to keep track of my experiences and share them with people who share my passions. This summer I am interning at a farm (I interned there last summer too) but this time, I am living out there with no electricity or running water, trying to make the most of everything I've got. There is a town near by so I can go charge my phone and use the internet (for blogging!) when I need to, but I'm going to be hand washing all my dishes and clothes, hauling my own water, storing food without a fridge and a million other things. And I am so excited! This will be a true test of my ability to kick my laziness in the butt and I can't wait! I have never had an experience like this one before and have spent the last four years living in Seattle, which is a tiny bit different from the farm life... There are so many things that I want to try when I'm out there and (hopefully) this blog will keep me accountable to try everything I would like and serve as a way to reflect on what works, what doesn't and how someone else (maybe you!) could do it better.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another reason for this blog is school. I am in the last stretch of college getting ever closer to graduating with a degree in Environmental Studies and moving into the "real world". Talk about scary! All I have left to do is finish an independent study course for which I am taking a free online permaculture design course, and a capstone project which will include my time spend working on the farm this summer. I am going to use this blog to tell you all the fascinating things that I am learning about permaculture, sustainability, farming and anything else that comes up.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So that is a pretty long winded way to tell you that I am going to blog about permaculture, growing food, eating and cooking food, sustainable lifestyles, and all kinds of diy stuff that will hopefully all be sustainable too :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On a different note: I have the wonderful privilege of being sisters with Jane from <a href="http://www.pursuitofpoppiness.com/" target="_blank">The Pursuit of Poppiness</a> who has been blogging for three years now. She has been very supportive of my new blog in many ways and I am so thankful for her! So in celebration of my first blog, she has invited me to her April Giveaway!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33rTJs-tccGfJa9i5dcGd3X_D8jsCQ4lx58qOz2baofWjSMtLsgmtWS6weRzfNMBaSNmgDwGfXOQrQqCPM1VXkmdRMKdz7pBrTO_kk1hROV9yVXZ2I2TtiyQ9JFCjFy4RupjfmFUh0Xg/s1600/giveaway+button.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33rTJs-tccGfJa9i5dcGd3X_D8jsCQ4lx58qOz2baofWjSMtLsgmtWS6weRzfNMBaSNmgDwGfXOQrQqCPM1VXkmdRMKdz7pBrTO_kk1hROV9yVXZ2I2TtiyQ9JFCjFy4RupjfmFUh0Xg/s1600/giveaway+button.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfd1fDhONmTa2Odq5eOPkTDY0Kyzwa4LayjzI4jVqUUWIEsTo9yF3QOganGIA941Xe-s9tStnCeMEy3svvbcSmu29O2bh6g8oAYO3U2I0kwcq1CYvBkvFrncKCwjkNvLyBRdsrJCQt9E/s1600/blog+ladies+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfd1fDhONmTa2Odq5eOPkTDY0Kyzwa4LayjzI4jVqUUWIEsTo9yF3QOganGIA941Xe-s9tStnCeMEy3svvbcSmu29O2bh6g8oAYO3U2I0kwcq1CYvBkvFrncKCwjkNvLyBRdsrJCQt9E/s1600/blog+ladies+1.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goingcoastalwiththeplumes.com/" target="_blank">Katie</a> | <a href="http://www.rheaetcetera.com/" target="_blank">Rhea</a> | <a href="http://meganwadsworth.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Megan</a> | <a href="http://www.alexmhons.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Alex</a> | <a href="http://www.newsomsnestblog.com/" target="_blank">Katherine</a></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4CsHnfCdwEoHjwb6vtU7ccf4g3wvdSLK7MwuSKPyAA9N_nI0UJFyLZYUll9oXYKqvpmCPv4YD7ZHUB1AimDUj3QHGlfjWLXYbytDAHdZiuXG4OmchwycUsHjNo2Miphi2XQhw_Bb-Qc/s1600/blog+ladies+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4CsHnfCdwEoHjwb6vtU7ccf4g3wvdSLK7MwuSKPyAA9N_nI0UJFyLZYUll9oXYKqvpmCPv4YD7ZHUB1AimDUj3QHGlfjWLXYbytDAHdZiuXG4OmchwycUsHjNo2Miphi2XQhw_Bb-Qc/s1600/blog+ladies+2.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://riccialexis.com/" target="_blank">Ricci</a> | <a href="http://www.freeborboleta.com/" target="_blank">Fran</a> | <a href="http://www.malsmiles.com/" target="_blank">Mallory</a> | <a href="http://happinessisntadestination.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kristen</a> | <a href="http://otterwifeforlife.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Karen</a></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKR2_F5VMhZprxcb4v5o456L43UItIiLZdlqkr8_BGscgdzkyE_CB3c2xWkIy4rZ5dzGf9kJg2PujkJYRm6-89skuA4Hrf8WKkLixxkv-OyAomd_1HlrLi-DxLYUsDmg1s8yZLUf8KLY/s1600/blog+ladies+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKR2_F5VMhZprxcb4v5o456L43UItIiLZdlqkr8_BGscgdzkyE_CB3c2xWkIy4rZ5dzGf9kJg2PujkJYRm6-89skuA4Hrf8WKkLixxkv-OyAomd_1HlrLi-DxLYUsDmg1s8yZLUf8KLY/s1600/blog+ladies+3.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.theyoungretiree.com/" target="_blank">Elizabeth</a> | <a href="http://elizabethsforrest.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Hayley</a> | <a href="http://www.thestickynoteaddict.com/" target="_blank">Paige</a> | <a href="http://amanda-burkey.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Amanda</a> | <a href="http://www.pursuitofpoppiness.com/" target="_blank">Jane</a></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<center>
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0e7a9417/" id="rc-0e7a9417" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>
</center>
<br/>
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF6BDrq8puUGrxX5IW8jTgdYvDrvWiZHdH5aUX9U-wZpGohzw6gS_aGIDMDu0DWlEFQUQp2Ud0DcKZXyarO210KUokdWdGLzHWsYE0-1ugResOii5Eyx9htd9sba1FM-xJFXvHFQ_bOb0/s1600/signature.png" /></a>
</center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826224683578461964noreply@blogger.com1