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livingontheland - Re: [Livingontheland] The Small Scale Integrated Farmstead

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Subject: Healthy soil and sustainable growing

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  • From: "Wayne" <wa2yne@gmail.com>
  • To: "Healthy soil and sustainable growing" <livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] The Small Scale Integrated Farmstead
  • Date: Fri, 12 May 2006 02:41:41 -0700

I had the advantage of growing up watching my mother can stuff, make soups and bake pies and even bread.
Though my dad told me she couldn't cook when they were married.
But she did learn.
I learned too, some by watching, some by trying things.
Although I didn't grow up with chickens in the city, I knew a tiny bit about them.
Also got to watch some bits of old type farming in the 40's when we spent our summers in a rented camp on a farm of sorts.
Given a bit of time, and decent water, I can grow reasonable produce. Still learning about some types of veggies though. I plan a decent garden using organic methods, not using chemical fertilizers.
Also a few chickens for eggs, and dinner once in a while.

More people could learn how, if they'd take a bit of time.
But most people now would rather take the modern easy way, and buy everything prepared.
Heck, most of them have no idea that cackleberries come out of the same orifice as chicken manure...
And many have no idea where milk comes from either...
YMMV

Wayne WA2YNE
www.desert-rat.com


----- Original Message ----- From: "Laurie Ann Powell" <laurie@powellclan.com>
To: <livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 10:30 AM
Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] The Small Scale Integrated Farmstead




Quote: One truck hauling a thousand dozen eggs is less of a problem than
500 cars driving out to get 2 dozen eggs apiece.

I'd like to mention that part of the shift a person has to do when s/he
learns to cook "slow food" and live without super-markets is more
long-term planning. Suburban housewives will have to fill their
freezers and add pantries and larders back in to their home-keeping
concepts. Presumably, suburban housewives will do what rural housewives
already do: grow some themselves, plan ahead, combine trips and
cooperate with one another.

To use eggs as the example, no one should have to drive a long way to
obtain something that can be produced in an 5x10 strip of land virtually
free. Changing people's perceptions of animals is necessary so that
chickens, pigs or goats are making the most of the space and producing
food within walking distance. Then, distance shopping can be much more
occasional. 500 cars making a 45 minute trip to the farm once or twice a
month for real food in bulk may balance out with however many trucks
pour daily into the freeways to drive 10 hours to deliver Egg Beaters
and Twinkies.

I'm no statistician, but I think my logic is right: everything will have
to change, not just one element of the picture. And it is changing: as
Carrie reported, we are having a constant influx of people who are ready
to live well, be well and reconnect with the land.

Let's get busy inviting people into this life, and giving the benefit of
the doubt that change is possible. If this "born in Boston" girl can
butcher her own chickens and stand in manure in an Oklahoma thunderstorm
wiping scour-y goat bottoms, I think just about anybody can!


Laurie Ann





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