Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Breaking News


Forbes named Monsanto Company of the Year. The accompanying article The Planet Vs. Monsanto is irritating in so many ways. Monsanto is not out to save the world, the poor, or the earth as this article suggests. But I think what really makes me mad is that we as people of the world of all different religions of all different races, we all claim the earth. Some say God made the earth for them, some say Gods, some say the earth is their provider. But what no one says is Monsanto is their God, their provider. They genetically modify seeds "to ward off insects or make a crop immune to herbicides." In this article it says "people have been selecting plant genes for 5,000 years was no defense." But this is not what Monsanto does, it takes genes of a plant and introduces "a genes from bacteria living in the wastewater" and you have a whole new plant resistant to Roundup. This is not God, earth or whatever you believe in. But if the people of this world keep wanting cheap food this is what will continue to happen. Check out U.S. Food Policy for another take on this article.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Diagnoses; Klutz


Well it has happened yet again, I am laid up! So it all started yesterday morning, Chuck and the kid were going to take me to work. Having only one vehicle, and me working so much Chuck is going a little stir crazy, and the kid had her first day back at gymnastics since holiday break. Everything was going smoothly, we were on time and then I went to take the kid and my work stuff out the to vehicle and I slipped. The kid hit her head pretty hard on the ground and I hurt my ankle enough so I could not walk. So it was off to the emergency room. The kid was given a CAT scan just to make sure there was no head injury- all clear, and I was given ex-rays, nothing broken but boy did it hurt like hell. The doctor wanted me to go see a orthopedic physician to make sure there was nothing wrong with the ligaments. So back to the house, made some calls, and then Chuck headed back up to the hospital to get the ex-rays, then back to the house to get the kid and I and off to yet another hospital. The orthopedic doctor said it was a sprain, I have to wear a splint and be on crutches for 2 weeks and then if everything is going well it is a walking boot for another 2 weeks.
So my wanting a time out from accidents lasted just over a month! I have never had this many problems- there must be something in the air or water up here that does not like me. Chuck still has one more week before classes start, so that helps, next week should be interesting. Although I think that kid kinda likes that I need her help so much.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Ammonia treated meat


Check out this link. Apparently our great food system uses ammonia to kill bacteria in the nations beef supply. People need to really think about why in the world does the meat need to be treated with ammonia in the first place. It's disgusting to think about. The big meat producers are producing an inferior product full of bacteria. And some of the biggest sellers of the meat,(Cargill, Mcdonalds, etc.) know this product to be inferior(and potentially dangerous) so what do they do? Require different ways to produce the meat so that it is safe to eat? Nooooooo, they treat it with ammonia so a potentially poisonous meat can be used to feed America. By the way, Cargill is the same company that came up with the patent of treated beef with Carbon Monoxide to make the beef keep that nice red color that you see at you local grocer. Happy Shopping and Happy New Year, Chuck

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/taste/80429647.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUr

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

I apologize it has been so long since we last updated, life has taken over here at the farm. Between me working and the snow storm we have been bogged down. I am not sure the total snow fall, the first storm was somewhere between six and eight inches, the second- or maybe it was the third I seem to have lost track- was wet and rainy good for making snowmen.


The animals all seem content, I am not even sure the sheep are sleeping in the shelter at night. They have a pretty think layer of wool. Earlier this year we bought ourselves a ram. The last couple years we had been able to find a ram, but then you have to wait until that person is done using him, and then there is the whole trying to find the right breed. This year we were able to put our ram in early enough that we should be lambing by May- perfect! We have spotted him doing his job a couple times. Some farms choose to use a marking harness (a harness that you put a big crayon in that leaves a mark once he has mounted the Ewe) we bought one with every intention of using it, but really in the end who cares. Either they get bred or not, not all gestations are exact they range from 144 to 152 days so in the end you can not really predict the exact date, and if you leave him in with the girls long enough everyone should be bred. And to be honest do you really want to try and put a t-shirt type thing on a ram, I don't think so.


This spring we are thinking about adding on. I know, I know, is 384 square feet not enough, well as it turns out we could use just a little more space. A few weeks ago Chuck purchased an old grainery. When the weather allows he will take it down, move it here and attach it to our existing house. This new addition will be for the bedrooms, it even has a loft, we are thinking this will be where we sleep. It is very exciting to think about, our very own bedroom!

These last couple weeks I have had some interesting conversations with people about our food system. Last week at work a guy said to me 'I heard you were into health food,' well not exactly I told him, I consider us into real food, and believe me that is a lot different than what people consider healthy food. I think sometimes people get this idea that we are some sort of purists. In the traditional sense of food, we are into healthy food but unfortunately people think of healthy foods as skim milk, even soy milk, tofu, fat free and low fat this and that. Anyway as we were talking he said tell me why I should buy, for example eggs from a local source. Now this is where I have a problem, sure eating eggs from someone who lets their chickens roam free has many health benefits- for you and the chicken, and I could list them (and have) but what really gets me is if you go to some stores you can get a dozen eggs for under a dollar. Lets break this down, the farmer has to purchase the hens, raise them for 5 to 6 months before they start laying, then once laying has to harvest the eggs, clean, weigh, candle, grade, package, then ship them to the stores where someone stocks them, scans them, and bags them, oh and did I mention the feed and water costs. All for under $1? I just can't figure out how this is done?? Oh, yeah our tax dollars subsidize farmers for growing and raising food at a loss. But if you buy from lets say us or some other local grower- that whole $2.50 goes to us, who raise, feed, water, collect, clean, package and sell. It is not only good for your health it is good for the environment, the local economy and those farmers that are stuck in a rut of producing things at a loss. I bet they would love to be able to actually make a profit from their hard work. So what can you do- remember every time something you buy goes across a scanner that is a vote- a vote to keep producing that item. I know I have said it before but when Walmart customers stopped buying milk made from cows given hormones - Walmart stopped carrying it. Your voice and your dollar counts. I am not sure I convinced the guy at work, he then proceded to tell me he bought a 5 pound tube of ground beef for under $5 and it was great- it did not even cook down, I felt like my lecturing for the day was over so I skipped telling him that was because ground beef in the stores is from old dried up milk cows- it is so lean because they have no fat left in their poor little bodies.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

This Land Is Your Land

http://imagecache5.art.com/p/LRG/27/2779/OWNTD00Z/eric-schaal-folk-singer-woody-guthrie-playing-guitar-with-sign-on-it-reading-this-machine-kills-fascists.jpg

This Land Is Your Land

This land is your land This land is my land
From California to the New York island;
From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and Me.

As I was walking that ribbon of highway,
I saw above me that endless skyway:
I saw below me that golden valley:
This land was made for you and me.

I've roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts;
And all around me a voice was sounding:
This land was made for you and me.

When the sun came shining, and I was strolling,
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,
As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting:
This land was made for you and me.

As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said "No Trespassing."
But on the other side it didn't say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.

In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,
By the relief office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking
Is this land made for you and me?

Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.

--Woody Guthrie

Friday, December 11, 2009

The black Pearl


We seriously have something wrong with us. This summer and fall we were given a few kittens for barn cats. Well one of them has become a favorite of Chucks, so she is now a house cat. Pearl really is a nice cat and has a great personality. She stands up to the dogs and is friendly with the other indoor cats. So we are up to 3-4 cats in the house at any given moment and 4 dogs, and 1 kid. Remember the house is 384 square feet, plenty of room almost, 35 square feet per person/animal. Anyway the other day while the kid was sleeping and I was doing the dishes I heard a sound like running water- not having any in the house I was looking around and this is what I saw:
Just in case you are wondering the new cat is going potty in the kid's potty chair. This was the first time I had seen it but have seen her use it a few more times since this picture. Crazy cat!

Thursday, December 3, 2009

The Root Cellar

The block had to be sealed from water, we had many ideas but this one was the winner

Done and ready for fill
Filled
Ramona checking things out- dew claws up! (get it instead of thumbs up- hahaha)

Had to put some boards under to lift it up onto the block
Lined up ready to go
Since there was not enough room to push, with it being so close to the house and the deck, we had to pull it


Now that there is room a little push


Half way there

Just a little further

Finished

The inside- plenty of room!