Seed Keepers

["Margaret L. Wilson" <booldawgs@frontiernet.net>]

> > tonight.  It is very unpopulated here which suits me fine.  I have pretty
> > much abandoned my dream of market farming and am just working for
> > sustainability and feeding family in the future.


> Why? No market? or markets with institutionalized protectionism?

In all honesty, I've lost the "fire in the belly" that it takes to work that 
hard.  My partner has his own career that he would like to retire from. My 
eldest adult son is not ambitious enough, my other son has a career and 
family and I am too old and cranky :-))) to start a commune.  The economic 
situation may force many of us into group living of some sort.  I guess (at 
this point) I see myself as providing the land, the tools and the knowledge 
that I have aquired over the years to give my family a safe place where they 
can eat when  the SHTF.   At this stage in my life I should be teaching the 
next generation or writing a book.  Ya know the old saying, "Those who can 
do, those who can't teach" :-))  I hope that doesn't piss off too many 
actual teachers.

I think the market is here, especially considering the population change in 
the 6 years that I have been here.  When the real estate market was booming 
in California there was a large influx of wealthy/ comfortable retirees that 
settled here.  As someone who learned gardening in Sonoma County, CA. the 
produce here is a major disapointment.  The nearest farmer's market is 35 
miles away in Grant's Pass. Organic produce is available in the local 
supermarket but it is limited and VERY expensive.  I had a list of people 
interested in a CSA a couple years ago but a bout with breast cancer knocked 
that into the background.  It is hard to get the train running back down the 
track when it has been de-railed too many times.  I guess I am in more of a 
survivalist mode at this time of my life.  I'm tired and discouraged.



> I meant Tonka. I had a GMC tilt-cab 5 yard dump truck by that name, or 
> rather it looked
> just like one of its toy namesake's. It had the famous V6 305 motor.


I should have guessed.  He stops traffic when he is near the road and yes, 
that's how he got his name.  He is adorable and a great little pet.  He has 
a brother just like him.  They are the perfect pair for a team of oxen. 
Tonka is a genetic dwarf Dexter.  They are much discouraged in the purist 
circles.  You do have to be very careful if you use them for breeding.  If 
you breed a dwarf to a dwarf you chance some serious problems.  But the 
other side of the coin is that the little, stocky ones practically live on 
air.  You have an animal that produces meat, milk, fertilizer and a draft 
animal with hardly any input.  Heritage livestock, like heirloom plants, 
need to be cared for and saved from extinction.  A team of mini-oxen does 
not require fuel like a tractor or rototiller.  They are much easier to care 
for than a team of horses or mules.  That doesn't even consider the meat, 
milk and manure that comes from a bovine.  If you have room for livestock 
they are the perfect choice.

Margaret


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