Gorgeous House

Ben Law builds a wooden house

This is my idea of perfect!

Milkwood: Joel Salatin on debt free farming.

Some valid points that if we follow may lead to a more balanced life style.
                                                                                                                                                            Right now I am surrounded by 'stuff' yet contentment is out of reach.  Granted, this 'stuff' we have  is mostly hand me down.  We have never had the income to spend freely.  I don't mind used things, but everyone around us thinks that we are a dump site.  That we don't have enough 'stuff' to show outwardly how good life is.  Well, I am going to garage sale a lot of it; then the excess will go the goodwill!  Good grief, I have 6 sewing machines, 3 are antiques of which I think the one treadle might work if a band can be found to run the wheel.  I love antiques though and have had to sell the few we have owned.  I need to get rid of them . . . . . .  dang!  So basically, we are not in debt (especially because of buying 'stuff' - not!) we just don't have the income to support the venture onto land.  Making do once we could get there would be easy for me because I already re-use or go without.  People around me think we are odd because consumerism isn't a constant need!

Circumstances can change, instead of feeling bad I am going to move forward and purge 'stuff' to create a simpler home for better harmony and a smaller home!  Following thru will be my challenge,  this is not my strongest trait.  My life as an adult has been practicing voluntary simplicity except in the accumulation of 'stuff', I am feeling weighed down and jump for joy at every dump run and charitable drop off!

Mother Earth News Fair

Went to Puyallup, Wa for the Mother Earth News Fair and in order of what blew my mind:

• the draft horses who logs with their owner - demonstration,  WOW, and the portable saw mill
• the fibers information - spinning, TOUCHING, absorbing knowledge
• the plate of sample cheese (I am still nibbling on) mostly soft with rinds Mmmm, Mmmmmm
• lecture - rotation of pastures, wow! so do-able.  (I think lazy comes to mind if this isn't incorporated into animal husbandry), this will be used in the future!

I thoroughly enjoyed browsing and learning new information, thank you SO MUCH !

This has been a GOOD weekend with family and sad because my son in law is going to Iraq for a year. Bittersweet, hard to wrap my mind around it and this will be very hard on his family.  I'm very glad we can be there for them.

We also went to the Nisqually Estuary with the grandkids and had a great walk with them.  They love nature and are very inquisitive.

Future, Freedom or Government 'Slavery'?

I have been reading a lot on sustainable living, mostly opinion and some practical information to try.  Most of the opinions are establishing 'self' sustainable living.  I don't believe this is possible, there is not enough hours in the day.  A sustainable community is a must with trade to 'help' each other.   We are mired in cutting ourselves off from each other, depending on technology, sitting in front of a TV going numb in the brain.  I don't see the good in our so called advanced civilization.  How many people don't have medical/dental insurance, enough food, clothing,  housing.  We don't all have access to big incomes,  we are the working poor!  Raising animals, growing vegetables, keeping occupied with activities that improve home life is better than being brain dead, government slaves.  Helping and caring for each other gives us satisfaction but most important, trade.  We are all gifted in different skills.

Sustainable living is something I want to aspire to.  Is it possible?  Can't hurt trying.  I think that getting back a sense of community is crucial.  ".... the world is ending" is too common a thing to say, I do think something may happen to change how we live life.  A kind of creepy, hair raising feeling, it's making me feel antsy, our government doesn't take care of us (just the rest of world).  Taxes continually go up, while cuts are made in the 'wrong' areas.  I know everyone may not agree with this, but I don't see any balance in our government.  We need to take care of ourselves.  So my 'community' will start with my kids. Trying to have property together, helping each other.  The gardens and outbuildings will be community, houses separate.  Yes, there could be a lot of problems.  Working them out will be worth it,  community is a century's old way of life.  Trying is better than what we have now!  In the past we have taught ourselves to garden, raise chickens, keep goats and horses.  So yes, I want to learn more!

I have believed all this in pieces but only recently have my thoughts and conversations been put together at the same time.  The signs of the times have brought it all together and is making a big impact in my life.  To my surprise is how many others believe the same as I do.  Wow, am I sounding radical.  This was not my attitude growing into my adult years.  Disillusion has been slowly setting in the last 10 years.  The future is not looking good for our children. Mine already see it and that is sad.  They also see the need to learn homesteading skills because our government may fail them. 

Sustainable future

I found a site last week called Peak moment TV, conversations about 25-30 minutes long.  (people who are trying to create a sustainable future) Just love it!  The conversations have set my imagination to work and I want to try out some of the projects others have done.  Yesterday, I watched a program  showing how to set up a grey water system with a wetland pond  with plants that help clean the water (no water is visible) as it travels to final destination sites.  (program  #141) and it was done with local codes and approved by the city.  We rent an OLD house that has a 'grandfathered'  grey water pipe.  It's not used for it's potential, it just makes a puddle in the field.  What a waste!  I will definitely want to set up a system like this.

I am keeping a compost pile that I will take with me.   The container is a hand me down that wasn't being used!  Sad.  So yesterday I dug out the bottom (there is a door to pull up) and added the beautiful, black compost to the top with all the lovely worms.  This will distribute the moisture and bring the good bacteria in faster to recently added debris (I did this a couple weeks ago).  I have been adding the guinea pigs bedding and am running out of room,  this adds the carbon I have been lacking, works great.  I used to use rabbit years ago, fresh in the holes I'd dig for pumpkin and squash and never had problems (we had chickens, their manure HAS to be aged).  When starting my raised beds,  I am going to burn logs (in a trench, cover them with soil, this will let them smolder and put the logs out slowly.  This will create charcoal.  Good bacteria lives in it for years!  The Mayans did this (National Geographic article) and experimentation has been done with success recently.   Covered with my own compost and a layer of good dirt.  The first year should be good.   All of this is my plan for a part of my garden to be NO till, also from recent articles I have read.  Every year the beds are top dressed with compost and mulch.  If we happen to move to a property in the fall, I am going to try the lasagne  method of starting a garden.  Corn and sunflowers will be grown in quantities to large for raised beds.  So, many new methods to experiment with.  When?,  don't know.  Soon? I wish for.

Denim love to use and re-purpose jeans.  Covered a couple of tall chairs for someone as a favor with it.  I stapled right over the previous cover to make it easy.  They do look nice, should be durable too.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/Make-Biochar-To-Improve-Your-Soil.aspx