Urban Farmer

Re-Igniting the flame

2012-01-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

So life has been hectic, I mean beyond crazy busy. I got a job a little over 2 months ago and assimilating into that role has been both challenging and difficult but the kicker is I have been doing that simultaneously while moving into my new apartment with the beau, and also buying a vehicle with him because his SUV blew up. And you know I don't blame it, because we drove it like 7 thousand miles in a two month period. So it was a tank and it got us home safely and we have every reason to be grateful that it didn't happen sooner, but Lordy, when it rains it pours don't it now!

I have been experiencing a string of blessings, and it is something I've always known, that with persistence, faith and patience, good things do come to those who wait. And better news is that the truck we got, is going to be part of our plan which I haven't shared with any of my audiences and I may have to keep on the DL a little bit longer, but we are going to cut our expenses down to the bare minimum so both of us can get out of this rat race and live a life unrestricted. Most people invest their money into endeavors, and I think I am going to take the other road. Live simply.

Now, my old dream was to buy a homestead and be self sufficient and off the grid. That is an awesome dream, and it still haunts me, but it is just not realistic and requires an inordinate amount of toiling that can't really be quantified or measured in terms of time=money. Because you end up spending all your time working, and then what? Yes, it is not like working in a cubicle, or at a factory, it is exceedingly satisfying and even primal, but I have reconciled myself with reality.

Yes, and that is the dollar is going to be devalued beyond repair, and property ownership is going to ultimately become something intangible and the headaches associated with it make me question that route anyways. So in two years our goal is to have an RV/fifth wheel. We already have a truck with the ability to haul more than enough weight, and I am going to be spending the next year getting rid of stuff that I really don't need and start adapting into a mobile lifestyle. Cut my crap down to the point that I literally can take everything I own with me and I can keep my valuables in a deposit box in my hometown.

After going to NC and experiencing a life unhinged, while stressful beyond belief, I can't help but reminisce about all that we accomplished, saw and did. It has changed me, I mean truly, I have evolved as a human and the material has become inconsequential. I still have those crazy sentimental attachments to "things" but I am slowly and surly learning to disassociate.

So that is the plan, and the other part of the plan is this, enjoy the present while things creep along at a snails pace to get us closer to the point where we can again together embark upon the unknown.

The biggest expense to us was lodging and food. With a trailer/RV in tow, other than paying to hookup if we needed to, our expenses would cut down substantially, having a kitchen and place to sleep at night leaves the biggest expense as being fuel. And that is a write off for the type of work we will be doing.

I would invest in a composting toilet, or make one myself out of a five gallon bucket and toilet seat with saw dust to cut down on having to hook up. We could get a couple solar panels, and use those camping showers and just buy water by the 5 gallon jug. You can park for free at most Walmart's and on BLM land.

So roughing it, yes, possibly, but in case you didn't notice, we are a very resilient and adaptable species. And the type of money we will both be making, we will be able to save up enough to maintain life on the downtime, travel and sight see and experience a life without obligations that most people have when they start a family, or are tied down to a mortgage payment, or stuck in a dead end job.

We both terribly miss the variety that work had to offer, the constantly changing dynamic, the many many new places, cultures, people we came across and having to work through some of the most difficult obstacles either of us has ever faced and coming out on the other end unscathed.

I am soo very excited about what life holds for us both. It was funny, when we got back, we were both so stressed out we almost broke off our relationship. And here we are a mere three months later, living together, like I'd vowed I would never do again after my last relationship!

And we wouldn't be in this situation if we hadn't taken that risk and gone to NC. Life has changed for me, I will never be the same.

The glass is half full and half full of air, making it all FULL

2011-11-14T17:39:00.002-07:00

Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results.
I'be been reading Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters and the book is rampant with great advice on looking for and securing a position in todays climate. (Which as you know, is exceedingly difficult to get noticed if you have had to contend with being unemployed for any given period of time after 2010.) I have actually changed my strategy as I get deeper into the literature, and found that it has in fact, exerted a more positive response to my efforts. I am actually getting interviews, and it is somewhat consistent, so even if I don't get the jobs, at least I have enhanced my methods and I'm getting the opportunity to practice interviewing. The only way to improve is to practice, it has been proven time and time again.

I have been taking my experience in North Carolina, (time having allowed the sting of taking a loss to diminish) and turing it around to find the good. You know, I had an interview today and spoke to a group of some very inspiring people who appear to be quite successful. What they all had in common was a history of taking risks. And that gave me quite a bit of hope for my own future, because in the short period of time that I have been an adult, I haven't even thought twice about taking certain risks. I see the value in learning through failure, which is something most people can't wrap their mind around.

In many regards, it can be frowned upon, because it is possibly perceived of as being careless, but as an avid gardener in Colorado, a semi-arid desert, the only way to learn what will work and what won't is through a meticulous case of trial and error. More importantly, being able to document ones progress and measure the results, because it is easy to forget what it was you did initially to forge a successful outcome, and if you aren't constantly taking notes, how can you replicate the outcome?

You know, if anything I have experienced something of a paradigm shift, in that I feel like a job is not exactly necessary but a rather nice option or luxury. I mean, I can truly sustain myself if needed and I know my own value, I don't know many people that are capable of the feats I've accomplished, but on the flip side, I also haven't necessarily grown my network to include those individuals that would challenge my own ideals of success. I feel that whomever you spend the great majority of your time with tends to determine your standards, and if those individuals have low standards, how are you going to expose yourself to other notions that might cause you to feel a little out of place and as a result of that dissonance, conform to the newer standards by which they account for themselves.

I think that values are another great example of this phenomenon. You know, being held accountable for your actions and having a sense of morality versus the excuse of "to each their own" and "it is all relative"excuses for bad behavior that people seem to overuse. I've recently been a witness to such brash behavior and it got me down, because it hurt someone I care very deeply about, and I've been thinking a great deal about this. Lack of transparency, no accountability, no one ever standing up to this person who espoused a most certain level of self centeredness as such that I've never encountered before. And I wondered to myself, what could possibly motivate such a person to change their behavior? And I have yet to determine the answer to that question.

But in the meanwhile, and along the lines of my prior rant, I feel that if you surround yourself with people that are challenging your own notions of worth, but in a good way, in such a way that inspires you to better yourself and improve your situation and find the positive in things, I do think it will inadvertently start rubbing off on you, simply by the default of being surrounded by those people.

It is entirely possible this happens through harmonic resonance, or various other means we have yet to understand, but I notice that either you clash or click with people and I am really beginning to understand the value of getting involved with people who have ambition, values, and a moral obligation to contribute to their communities and fellow man.

We are living in great times friends, great times, and while there are issues of economy and poverty and malnourishment and financial duress, we are still part of the few who enjoy the luxuries of having running water, electricity, carpeted floors in lieu of dirt, medical services, vehicles with which to travel, roads, and an abundance of food. The opportunity is there, you just need to sometimes get the right view by maybe asking the naysayer to move out of the way...

Back Home

2011-11-01T19:22:00.002-06:00

Well, I am back at home safe and sound but with some minor adjustments. Ok, major adjustments.

The thing, it was a wash. Yeah, I mean, we went out there to make some money and our expenses ended up taking on a life of their own, turning in a monster that sort of consumed everything in sight. And that is a really, very difficult reality to contend with. So not only did we not break even, but I am down a few grand. Yes I repeat, not a couple, but a few grand and this puts me in a sort of questionable predicament being that I can't replenish those funds without, well, a JOB.

However, and I emphasize this part.. Wait for it. I, well, my b/f and I (that is currently in question actually) got to experience something most people never will. We took a huge risk, and in some ways it did not pan out for us, and in other ways we will always have this experience to look back on.

It was incredibly arduous, and it was enlightening and I'm sure that at some point in the future, I will understand why it was necessary. With the overpowering sense of failure blinding me, it is hard to see value in the lessons as of present. Boy oh boy were there lessons....Maybe I exaggerate about my feelings about this experience, because really we did not fail, we finished what we set out to do, with little guidance or direction and entirely of our own volition. And I honestly cannot say I know many people who could have done what we did. It is pretty incredible. Having to learn software, an entire vocation while on the job and with limited resources and more so- time...

We saw some beautiful places. Savannah being one of them. We stayed with the "b/f"'s mom in Florida and actually tanned a couple days on the beach. I was able to visit my friend Silvia in Memphis Tennessee on the way back home and we experienced Autumn in succession as we gained ground going north and while ascending in altitude at the same time. It was literally like we were either behind the season change or in front of it at any given point during our trip, but on the way back it was realized to its full extent in the vast vistas engorged with trees throughout Arkansas and Missouri. Scenes I will never forget.

In fact it made such an impact that while driving through the Ozarks, I thought to myself, what a wonderful place to settle down on my dream homestead. Who knows? Maybe someday that will happen for me, but in the meanwhile I have to face the reality that exists in this present age. I don't want to let my imagination get away with me lest I am disappointed when either it does happen and then falls apart, or never happens at all. It is better to just accept the way things are and not have delusions of grandeur. I know what happens when you lose the things you have put the most of yourself into. It is, in a word-debilitating. So not a fan of engaging in that form of self torture anymore.

We spent a bit of time playing at Mammoth Springs where I obtained a number of pictures of the leaves and was astounded by the spring. It apparently spews forth over 9 million gallons of mineral laden water a minute, into a vast section of lake that sprawls out against the landscape below The spring water itself originates on the plains of Western Missouri as rainwater that percolates through the sediment and enters a vast terrain of underground caverns where it reaches its final destination at the bottom of a hill in Mammoth Springs. It is a quaint sort of landmark, one that will remain ingrained in my memory for all time.

We had our ups and downs the b/f and I. There is really nothing like being "imprisoned" with someone 24/7 during a highly volatile and stressful situation to show you their character and limits of patience. It also shows you quite a bit about yourself. We had a number of less inspiring moments on our trip. A few random blow outs and it got us both questioning whether or not we are as compatible as we both once thought. That could be circumstantial, but we have some other issues that have been recurring since the first year we were together, stemming around trust and it has been exceptionally difficult to forge a balance since that time. But to our credit, we have tried to work through our issues and we do love each other with a sort madness I can't quite explain.

Relationships definitely take work, and with a couple of impassioned individuals, it is easy to misplace energy that might be channelled into a positive way. If I have learned anything it is that I know that I need to take care of me. I know that is so cliche but I've come to the realization that I tend to put everything I have into my relationships, and whatever might be left over into the other person. I do this to the extent that if perchance, there is an end to our story, I am left with lack, while they are left with lots. I am obviously a very generous person, and I have the best intentions, but things go array and somehow, I lose myself in the duo I've become part of.

This isn't a bad thing by any means, unless the relationship ends, which tends to happen. So what do you do? Do I go through life deciding to be selfish and not give of myself to others because I am constantly getting burned? I feel like that is half assed and if I am anything, I am not half assed. Everything I do, I do with intention and I give it 100%. So I suppose, if the relationship we have now, being on rocky ground gives way to a reveal a quarry below, then I think I will simply have to allow myself the liesure to fall and maybe
break a few bones but get back up stronger from it
down the road.

I've only been in two relationships granted, but I am a serial monogamist in the truest sense. I stick it out, during the good and the bad and I only give up when there seems to be no reconciling myself to the reality that things are simply not working. I also love my solitude and independence, and I know for a fact, that if I concentrated even a fraction on myself and developing my own autonomy, as I do on my relationships, I would be a successful woman indeed.

And I have the self discipline when on my own to do just that, but with another person in the picture, you get a skewed perception of what the future holds, so you prioritize to accomodate your collective vision. Again, not a bad thing in the right context, such as marriage.

Marriage....

Sigh. I don't think I will ever find myself entertaining the idea of such a contract. Anyways.... I guess I am kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. We are taking a breather from each other after the crazy 2 months of non-stop in your face exposure to each other, and if things don't work out, well, that is simply part of the process of growing up I suppose.

On a side note, still looking for a job, but going to prioritize and finish some projects up so I can maybe have a way to market my self more thoroughly and with better results than I have been encountering as of late. Reading a few books here and there, making an effort to reprogram my mental attitude by utilizing hypnosis techniques from hypnosisdownloads.com that have proven to be exceedingly helpful if at least to get me to fall asleep at night. I am sure though, that they are going to be a healthy alternative to some of the stress management techniques I've encountered.

So while the future is uncertain and I can't help but wonder and worry incessantly at the prospects ahead, I am doing my best to recognize how much worse it could be and trying to learn from each moment I encounter without judging it too much.

2011-10-19T07:51:00.001-06:00

Savannah Georgia is absolutely one of the most aesthetic cities I've ever encountered. I was there at just the right time and the right place, but I ascertain that it may be one of the most beautiful cities in America.

It was a much needed break from the chaos I had so grown used to, and the complete and utter lack of things to do in North Carolina, let alone the luxury to follow through on any such urges to entertain oneself.

So we spent a couple days acquainting ourselves with this wonderful city, and here are some pictures I've displayed as a result of my meanderings. Hope you enjoy! And if ever you have the chance, do stop by this impressive locale!

Winding down

2011-10-09T09:16:00.000-06:00

So things have begun to slowly come to head. The weather here in North Carolina is like something out of a dream and I'm glad that both the b/f and I have been able to enjoy the more positive aspects of this job. Such as spending a bit of time at the beach, going to the 2nd biggest Seafood festival in North Carolina, going to Mumfest yesterday in the historic town of Newbern and just being able to go outside without a sweater when everyone in Colorado is battling sleet and frost!

That aside, I am still quite bummed I'll be missing out on Autumn, so I am hoping that on our drive back, we will be able to observe the change throughout the country. One place I'm quite looking forward to is driving through Kentucky, because it is gorgeous and has no lack of foliage.

I was really hoping to visit Virginia to attend an event we were invited to by an older couple we met at a hotel here. Because that is where the concept of Autumn undoubtably makes Colorado's attempt at Fall look like child's play. Unfortunately, we have encountered some additional impediments to our plan, and the finances are not conducive towards that end. So it is what it is and I will make sure to visit that area when I do actually have the luxury to follow through on one of my life long dreams of visiting the East in Autumn.

In lieu of that, we are going to hop skip and jump on over to Florida, because after all our hard work and insane work schedules, we deserve to enjoy some serious down time.
My b/f's Mom lives by Cape Canaveral so we won't have to worry about paying for a room, and food expenses will be minimal except when we gorge ourselves on seafood at this wonderful establishment.

It is only going to be an extra 700 miles to our overall trip, and we can relax, hang out with my beau's Mother and get tans before finally heading home and getting back to looking for a job. At least now I am armed with couple new guns for my resume and even though this has turned out not being lucrative, or even close to it, I've acquired some very valuable experience that will hopefully elevate my applications above the rest. More specifically as I am applying to insurance related jobs, I can boast about knowing quite a bit about policies, insurance jargon, estimating software, and what have you.

So yeah, while I am a little disappointed with the outcome, I also have been humbled yet again by life and its unforeseeable perils. Pun intended. That being said, I cannot even express how much more confident I feel in my own abilities. This situation has been so exceedingly brutal, in so many ways, that it has challenged me as a person, as a partner, as a competent human being. And surprisingly, and I am not sure why this surprises me, the ability to adapt is so inherent in us all. Going forward, it is going to prove to be a very comforting thing to me, knowing that even while things may at any given time, prove seemingly insurmountable, I will overcome and it will get easier and I will look back on it wondering why I ever even doubted myself in the first place.

In some ways, this experience has been so enlightening and so eye opening, that I am afraid to go home and not be satisfied with the state of non-change I find things to be. I do feel like this has changed me, and in a way it has awakened something inside of me. I don't know exactly how to define it, but I am hungry. I am hungry for change, I am starving for value, I want to gorge myself on being purposeful in my actions. I am soo ready to work, to make money, to get on with the next step of my life! And I am open to doing that anywhere really. I love Colorado beyond comprehension, but after doing something like this, I feel this nomadic urge. I want to see more new places, experience more new cultures and get out of my comfort zone. There is something to be said for routine, but to be knocked out of that so abruptly and forced into a place of extreme pressure, the perceived threats of yesterday become the non-issues of today.

That being said, I've been applying to jobs whenever I get the chance, most of which are insurance type jobs, but anything really to get this ball rolling. In the meanwhile, I am going to concentrate on this mini-vacation we are heading on tomorrow and try to re-group, re-ground and re-vitalize for what lies ahead. I know I am going to need as much energy and motivation as I can possibly muster!

New Chapter

2011-09-26T07:18:00.003-06:00

Its funny, because that is the name of what I coin "Therapy Sessions". An attempt to reconcile myself to the reality of life by writing it out in a diary of sorts as if I am telling it to a psychologist. Done more out of the fact that I think psychologists are idiots and psychiatrists are even worse and writing is free and cathartic.

That being said, I guess I have an update to do.

I came to the realization before making this crazy decision, that this is the first time in my life I actually have that luxury. No, seriously. I have been otherwise engaged in some form of obligation for the last 26 years,. Stuck in school, trying to finish my degree. Committed to working for a certain organization or establishment. In a long term relationship that had its roots tangled up in one place. Even tied to a mortgage as a landlord having to deal with the issues of property management and keeping my tenants happy. I mean, I guess I hadn't realized the meaning of freedom until just a few months ago, when I experienced a taste of it by getting laid off, having obtained my degrees and not being stuck in a lease of any kind.

At first it was so foreign to me, I wasn't sure I liked it all that much. I have become so conditioned to a certain level of business, that no agenda on the plate was disconcerting. I don't know about you, but for the most part I've been living my life with the idea that there is some goal to accomplish down the road. If it wasn't one thing I had to do, it was another. Deadlines, papers to write, projects to complete, work to initiate and orders to be taken. It has been a never ending barrage of doing things I didn't necessarily want to do, because I had to jump through some hoop to prove I was a capable and competent person in this society.

So, while on my own, without the luxury of having directions forced down my throat, I became overwhelmed with the sheer enormity of what lie ahead. So many options...You see, there have been studies done within the genre of consumer research, but more largely as a result of attempting to understand behavior and how it affects purchasing power...When faced with too many options, someone is liable to opt out of the responsibility of having to make a decision, because the resulting cognitive dissonance is too uncomfortable and too stressful to deal with. So large product pushers will typically offer a standard value item, a middle value item and a luxury value item to lessen the burden of choice on a consumer and help them feel comfortable with their buying decision.

I guess you can say to some degree that this is what I was engaged in. A struggle to define what I wanted to do, to filter through the many skills I've acquired throughout the years versus the talents I naturally posses and determine a healthy medium where I could apply both and do something worthwhile and lucrative. Of course, this didn't actually happen. I mean, I was able to go and refine my abilities and experience into a one of a kind resume to showcase what I bring to the table, but as I applied to place after place and was rejected time and again, I came to the realization that whatever I can do or offer isn't necessarily of value in the current climate and that I would have to figure out another way to set myself apart.

My plan had been to learn Adobe Creative Suite because I prefer creatively driven work where I can design and produce quality media. But life kinda got in the way, and even though I didn't have any obligations, the job hunt was taking up a great deal of my time and so were the little nit picky things that seem to develop into an insurmountable mountain of things to do.

I couldn't make a decision on whether or not I should invest in myself by honing the skills I had acquired in school, or get certified in Microsoft Office so as to settle into a safe position doing administration in some dusty cubicle somewhere. And it got to the point that I felt a certain level of apathy I'd never encountered in my life. More like defeat actually.

Jacob and I had many many discussions about insurance being a good industry to get into. In my experience, my ex fiancee had gotten a really lucrative job before I left him doing roofing estimates after the large hail storm of 2009. On the flip side of that is the insurance that pays out. And in the middle is the insurance adjuster. Finally, we decided Jacob would attend a course and get certified as an adjuster, I wouldn't take the course because everything he learned he could convey to me and I could become an adjuster trainee and get my license that way.

This was all kind of on the side of course, a second to my career and I don't know if I was actually serious about taking that leap if it presented itself, or just being encouraging. Either way, he ended his training and then......Nothing. We had thought we would be heading out to value properties after Hurricane Irene and in a flash had obtained all the necessary equipment and supplies to do the job as we understood it. well, news came in and we were both let down that he would not be getting deployed. At least not for a week.

The truth is that neither of us had anything to lose except for the already dwindling savings I'd managed to scrounge together during my time with the SSA. And money, well, who cares, that comes and goes, so fuck it and lets try something new. Even if we fail, we would still have gained experience, and that is the most important thing. And we will have seen a part of the country neither of us has been to. Well, exactly a week later, the morning after a wild birthday party I threw Jacob, we got wind that a company was in need of adjusters and we promptly repacked our things and headed who knows where with no idea of what lay ahead of us.

And now, here I am, almost 3 weeks later glad to finally have a plan. We are finishing up our first 30 batches of claims, it took us much longer than anticipated and we encountered some real hoops, but they are the kind that you take pride in overcoming. Not that you are doing because you apathetically agree to as a means to an end. Even last week I thought I wouldn't really be all that good at adjusting, there is just so much you have to learn, and I have no construction background whatsoever. Well, lo and behold, it is just coming to me, and thank God for Jacob, because I wouldn't know up from down about it if he weren't here to offer his construction expertise.

So all in all, while I am not exactly on top of my shit here, we still have a lot to learn.. I do feel very confident, and even if this doesn't lead to a career in adjusting, it might open up some doors elsewhere such as underwriting, or claims processing, or maybe I'll become an agent? Who knows? But all I can say is being your own boss to an extent, making your own schedule, determining your own workflow process is very rewarding. The stress has been difficult to navigate, and I'm sure all the comfort foods hasn't helped either, but I'm getting back to a place of balance and hoping that because I was, because we were willing to take this leap of faith, we will be rewarded with more work. After all, I have all the time in the world! Might as well make myself useful.

Well, that being said, I had better get to work. Gotta finish up these claims so we can get more...

My new challenge

2011-09-10T21:27:00.000-06:00

So I've gone ahead and done something crazy. I've taken all my money and accommodated my b/f to the East Coast to find work dealing with the damage that has resulted from Hurricane Irene. Basically since the job hunt is not fruitful, we have decided to follow the work and travel cross county to pursue a potential career for the both of us. It has been exceedingly stressful, difficult and taxing on us both, but we couldn't do it without one another. We have a symbiotic relationship to a great extent.

I just am at the end of my rope. If I can't find a job now, I'm never going to find one and I have got to get crazy and find me some work. I'm showcasing my progress at my new blog www.moderndayprospector.blogspot.com

Mushroom Hunting

2011-08-18T10:35:00.000-06:00

So we went a little early this year and didn't find nearly the bounty of mushrooms that are normally apparent in them thar hills. However, I was having so much fun taking pictures it didn't matter all that much! Here are some of those babies for your viewing pleasure.

Update

2011-08-10T20:20:00.001-06:00

So it has been a while since I wrote.
Scratch that... I write and write and then save my posts as drafts because I am never fully convinced that in all the typing I've done, I've actually said anything of value!

I am probably being unduly difficult on myself, but the truth is that I've started to realize the value of what isn't said. As of late I have been reminded, humbled if you will at the fact that I still have so much to learn.

I am a very prideful person no doubt, and I see the value in having conviction and passion, but not overbearing others with my knowledge. And even so, I don't know all that much compared to what I could know, it is disproportionate and rather relative when you put things in perspective.

I am still on the Job Hunt. While I am looking for a job however, I've learned quite a bit about hardware and software in an attempt to make myself more marketable. I have upgraded my own Ram in my Mac, which would have cost me $200 at the Mac store. But since I watched a couple videos on Youtube, invested in a mini Phillips screwdriver and bought third party ram through crucial.com, I managed to do it for less than $75!

Now I am currently in the process of upgrading my harddrive, from a mere 250 gigabyte operating at 5400 RPM, to a generous 750 Gig operating at 7200 RPM. The reason why? Well, with just my software alone, I'm working with only 60 gigs of ope-ratable space on my computer. For those of you having experience with video files, and especially Final Cut Pro, you know that these files will eat up your space in a hurry. When I went through after the last semester and cleaned out all my final cut documents, I was astounded to find they were consuming 90 gigs of space on my comp.

That was just raw video files, unedited. So in my line of work you can understand the necessity for additional space. So I am cloning my hard drive as I write this, in order to avoid the process of having to re-install the software as that is just a huge pain in the ass and going forward, I realize I can just create a bootable external drive, so as the cost of memory continues to decline, I will probably invest in an additional terabyte and use that to run my OS if I find that my space starts to become an issue again.

I plan to start working on some mini-documentaries about some important issues in the upcoming weeks which I will go into detail about later.

So, here is my pride again, I don't know many chicks who can do or have the guts to take their own laptops apart and attempt such a feat. The Mac experts have brainwashed people into believing is far too difficult to even comprehend and have done so at great expense to the people they claim to "service". But I suppose that explains why Mac stock is the only one that maintains its ascent while all the other stock seems to be on the decline.

Aside from being technologically savvy, I have also rediscovered my passions. I had basically given up on having a homestead, and with the continuation in the deterioration of the dollar, I am not sure if I ever will be able to afford a little land of my own. I let that dream go, but with it a part of me died.

I am realizing however, that I can still be impassioned by going and interviewing people who are able to do what I want, in an attempt to inspire and engage people to make little changes in their lives towards self sufficiency. I did study video production, and I wanted to be able to tell stories of the human experience as unique as it is in this time in history, so I have no job at present and a very cheap little camera. I might as well put those skills to use in the meanwhile as I have the leisure to do so.

Reigniting my passions has sparked a light under my previous optimistic self, and while I spend a lot of time consumed with righteous indignation aimed at the rise of Corporate Fascism, I still believe in the individual and our ability to overcome these injustices which have been allowed to take place in our great and vast country.

Seed saving has been my own form of resistance to the culture of death that has been introduced biologically into inherently living ecosystems designed to perpetuate profit. Participating in age old forms of food preservation have empowered me with the knowledge that I can restore the balance of my own body while making my food last to further its value both economically and nutritionally.

So there are things that we can do, personally and collectively to show those in power that we will not be passified or let our food be pasteurized. And my new contribution to this movement will be to document the ways in which the people in my community are taking steps to ensure the integrity of their life's work. Having to slave for a dollar that is ultimately being obliterated and forcing us into servitude even though many things could have not only prevented it, but measures are being taken to ensure its decimation. Lets not get into that.

The point is, that there are actions we can indulge so that the affect of this travesty against our sovereignty will be softened. And I intend to provide people with the tools to do what is within their grasp and with the resources at their disposal to step by step, make a transition towards self reliance.

That being said, I have a couple ideas..

I would like to plan a canning party where I document the process and engage people within the community to partake so we can learn this skill that was once a mainstay of the American family unit.

I am also planning a trip to the mountains to collect a bounty of Porcini mushrooms that are so prevalent in the foothills and I will document that as well when that season arrives.

Take it moment to moment!

My Website

2011-03-06T13:33:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time coming, but I finally launched my website that is under renovation. I took an Interactive Media class last semester that entailed building a website using a program called Dreamweaver.

It is not even anything more than a skeleton, foundation if you will of what is to come. Although I must say, with as much as I've got going on right now, the website seems a far cry from a priority for me. I just need to make it through this last semester with my sanity intact and I will have considered that a success.

There is just so much going on, between the internships, the promotional modeling jobs on the side, all the projects I've been procrastinating on, I'm going to have my work cut out for me in the next couple months.

I tend to get a little bit side tracked and told myself I wasn't going to do this again! I'll start about 5 projects simultaneously and end up seeing only one of them to completion. And I can't imagine not ever having anything to do with myself, but when it comes to school I have a tendency to procrastinate.

Needless to say, 4 months later, when I was supposed to have my website up, I didn't because of technical issues that were really nothing at all. Here is the link Traditional Nutritionals. It is far from complete, in fact it isn't even begun really, but now that it is up and running at least, I can continue to go from there.

Goals 2011

2011-01-10T15:43:00.006-07:00

This is one of those dreaded activities most of us avoid participating in.

I subscribe to the school of thought that living in the present is the way to go, with all else ending in headaches and an unrelenting sense of hopelessness. I just have had it with envisioning the future and what it holds in store for me, often to the point of stressing myself out beyond reconciliation!

However, I do know the value in planning and having goals, so I will set all my fears aside for a moment and attempt to envision this year as its "Ideal" version and hope that for the most part, I can create that as a reality.

Some major things I want to reiterate that I've been working on for the most part during much of 2010

The goal of cleaning up my diet remains one of the top priorities in my life. The reasons being, if I am to operate at peak condition, mentally, physically and in any other way possible, I need to provide my body with optimal fuel and building blocks to ensure that outcome.

My main goal is to prepare meals at home and eat out less. Trying to include organ meats, healthy fats, broth and enzyme rich foods (sprouts, fermented, raw) in my diet wherever I can. It is less about what not to eat than it is about what to include, because for the most part, we are suffering from nutrient deficiency, not caloric deficits. But a general rule of thumb for me is that the less my food resembles its original form, the less inclined I should be to partake of it. (Boxed, processed, etc.)

Also of importance to me is engaging the things I most enjoy. While my garden this year is not nearly as impressive as the one I built at my ex's house, it still needs some TLC and I find having access to fresh veggies to be imperative to my own feeling of self efficacy. I like having an abundance of dark leafy greens around for the picking if I so choose, or biting into a juicy heirloom tomato that I grew from seed.

These are some of the most satisfying things to me. Reaping what I sow, in a most literal sense. The garden is where I ground myself, and realize the chaos of this world is but an illusion and that the truth lies in a seed whose potential is much like our own, waiting to be untapped when conditions arise for the occasion.

I also want to get back into my foodie projects. My neighbor now has goats, that means raw goat milk for me which means raw butter and cheese for one and all! Oh ok, maybe not everyone reaps the rewards of my odd hobbies, but those who do, never regret I have them. I need to make more yogurt so I can derive the whey from it to start fermenting more veggies and I want to get into curing and pickling meats! That will be scary but fun, I've already made a fermented raw liver Pate and that was actually quite delicious. Next on my list is pickled salmon. So these are additionally some projects I would like to pursue in my spare time.

Social Grace. My previous relationship took up a large portion of my time and resources, so much so that I was unable to cultivate the very necessary skills of socializing. Since my departure from that relationship, I've forced myself out of my comfort zone and met new people and honed my skills yet once again, to the point where I feel good about my ability to relate and communicate with others.

However, such skills must constantly be revised and practised, much like all great things. I never expect that I will be fully proficient in communicating, but I aim to constantly improve myself in this regards. I would like to sign up with a toastmasters club here in Denver so that I can start getting exposure to public speaking. I'm one of those rare birds that actually likes flaunting her colorful speaking wings in front of people/groups. That doesn't necessarily translate to me being good at it. Not to say I'm bad, but the truth of the matter is that I lack experience, and that which I have is limited to those in the classroom. What I lack in experience and tact, I make up for in passion for the subject I am speaking about.

I envy those people that have charisma and charm and can engage and enrapture an audience through storytelling and know how to build interest or suspense in their topics finally to climax and leave the audience satisfied with their performance. This doesn't always have to be of an entertainment genre, but even being able to build rapport when you are educating a group or attempting to motivate them to action. I think these are very important skills that will come in useful in any array of situations, and it is a goal of mine to improve them.

I have passion for many things, and I would like to parlay that into some sort of self directed career, but I am trying to be realistic for the future. I know the caveats to being a business owner, as I assisted my last domestic partner in managing his business for much of our relationship. There are many pro's and con's, but I would have to admit, less advantages than seem apparent at the onset.

That being said, I've reconciled myself to the fact that I'm limited for the time being to working for others, but hopefully, I can find a career within an area that contains at least some relation to my interests so that I can feed off that and nurture my passions growth. I have many great business ideas, and I have the uncanny ability to foresee trends so you would think I could exploit that to some degree and capitalize off it.

Well, perhaps, if I wasn't a full time student with a job on the side, I could allocate my time towards that endeavor, but at present it simply isn't possible and I wouldn't even know where to start if I had that freedom. Therefore, I am going to keep this goal simple for now. I hope to find something akin to a career I can begin, that will provide me with the resources to do what I love on the side, and hopefully I can figure out a way to develop a residual income based upon following my bliss. This can have anything to do with Gardening, Nutrition, Production, Design/Publishing-digital and otherwise, Communication, Writing, Research etc.

So I will be ok doing something mundane for the time being, assuming it pays decent, but ultimately, I have bigger goals and anything I do now, will in fact contribute to that ultimate display of genius I have planned to unveil once I can invest myself in it fully. And this will only likely happen once I graduate this Spring with my two degrees that may or may not contribute to my cause.

Spirituality- this should really be part of the top priorities in my life, as I have somewhat slacked off this year in relation, but truthfully it is what allows me to obtain all of the aforementioned goals and those that will precede. I've had the fortune to be humbled by life. I've been in situations that would have broken some people, but for me, they gave me incentive to strive for something more, something outside of myself. That connection I made to my maker, is what has allowed me to take a leap of faith and live my life outside the realm of fear.

I've been confined to a box for most of my young adult hood, and I know now, that with persistence and faith, good things come to those who wait and trust that provisions are being made, but don't sit idly by expecting blessings to fall from the sky.

I believe God has endowed each of us with a pursuit unique to us individually, we are talented in various facets, and to know how to utilize ones inherent skills will result in great things. I have been a generalist for far too long, so I see the value in allocating my eggs to one basket rather than dispersing them throughout. Part of why I've drawn these conclusions, and seen their progress in my life is because of my relationship with my higher power. I don't have to worry anymore, and the more I trust and put my faith in God, the less my burden gets in between me and my goals. It is imperative to my success.

Relationships- While I know maybe I take my familial ties for granted at times, I try to express my appreciation to those people in my life who deserve the credit. Outside of my family, I have many friends from all different walks of life who bring tremendous value to my life. Nevertheless, I can be a little flaky and sometimes don't meet people half way.

We know relationships take work, and an investment of time. They also take faith and trust in others, which is a difficult concept for those of us who have been disappointed by the lack thereof in our own previous relationships. This year, I want to be committed to everyone in my life that wants to be an active participant. I also need to work on not taking it so personally when I find out I'm not a priority in other peoples lives.

We are all so very busy working on attaining our goals, being breadwinners, attempting to maintain a roof over our heads that friends can sometimes be a luxury some of us can't afford all the time. I plan to devote a portion of my time weekly to friends, new and old, because with out someone to share this life with, I just can't imagine it being as enjoyable alone, although I have done it and can manage that way, it isn't ideal for me anymore.

I also want to be someone others can rely upon, for anything, and not flake out. I don't want to burn bridges anymore, as that only leaves me with resentments, and I don't want to harm anyone in any way if I can help it. However, I have a responsibility to both my friends and myself to hold them accountable and call them out on their BS when the need arises. It is a rare occasion, but I hope I can be honest without fear of breaking the special bonds I share with my loved ones.

It would be in my best interest to learn Spanish or at least start the process this year. Not just because of the implications on ones mental health, but also because of the job market being such a mess, anything I can learn to give me an edge will be helpful.

Money- For the most part I've been doing a good job of saving, although I ran into a couple bumps in 2010. I lost a job, had to live off savings for a few months before finding something to sustain me. Thankfully, my mother has provided me with shelter after having ended my prior relationship that entailed a different living arrangement. I had car issues on top of that, in addition to various unforeseeable expenses that hit me from all angles.

It has been an arduous process being able to allocate funds, and even so, everything I save will ultimately go into paying off my loans once I graduate. I never make the mistake of thinking that this money is "mine" because it isn't. Only until I am debt free, will I have the luxury of "saving" money. But I do need to budget and spend wisely based upon the fact that I don't know how long I will be without a job in the future, whether my car has issues or anything to that effect.

At this point, there are a couple major things I need to save up for. One is a trip to Europe in 2012 that may span 2-4 weeks depending on my job situation at the time. And I'd like to start paying down the principle on my school loans as soon as I can. Those are my main concerns right now.

Functional fitness- as much as I like lifting weights and doing cardio on a machine, I just don't necessarily see the value in such aimless and repetitive movements. I want to cultivate some set of skills while working out, so I have something to show for what I'm developing, whether endurance or strength or flexibility.

I've taken up dancing classes upon the cajoling of my good friend which just so happens to be an incredible workout. I also intend to once again stair step at Redrocks once conditions are better. Here, at least I have a beautiful view to work towards, and opportunities to meet like minded people not to mention get great aerobic and anaerobic exercise at altitude to prepare me for hiking and other real life activities. These are just a couple of activities, but I have others I'd like to pursue.

I bought a bosu ball last year that has hardly seen the light of day. I need to exploit it and use it to the full advantage. Physically, my goals are to work on building strength in my legs and bum. My upper body is quite strong and doesn't need much work, although for pain management purposes I need to strengthen my neck and back, and especially my core for all around body strength.

In addition to this, there is the pelvic girdle muscles that need to be conditioned so as to avoid incontinence in my latter years, and also to assist in other activities of a cardiovascular nature to which no reference is required. I also want to get back into some relaxation/meditative exercises like Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Yoga to calm myself down. I'm very high strung and stress management is of utmost importance to me being as I want to lessen the load on my adrenals as much as possible.

This seems pretty good for my goals in the next year. There are little things like getting organized and planting the garden and meeting new people, cultivating a sense of adventure and most importantly maintaining a sense of awe and appreciation for all the great people, experiences, and things in my life.

A little obsessed?

2011-01-07T15:29:00.003-07:00

So I can see how some people might think I've been a bit over the top with my newly acquired sense of logic as it relates to diet. I will admit, sometimes I quite enjoy the reactions people give me when I reveal that I am on a High Fat diet. And then when I go and try to explain the dynamics, I get various retorts from people. Most of them are staunchly opposed, although they don't seem capable of backing their arguments up.

Others are open to what I have to share, although these individuals are few and far between. And then there are those who are well, upset by my unconventional approach. They simply do not want to partake of any alternative viewpoints, believing fully and wholeheartedly that the advice we've been given is infallible!!

I could then proceed in the fashion of bursting their bubbles by educating them about Subsidies, the agriculture and pharmaceutical industries and how one can hardly distinguish between the two and how -"Isn't it uncanny that most disease results from malnourishment?" and therefore what would having ulterior motives do for corporations whose best and brightest are serving along side our good friends the USDA and FDA, sometimes replacing their best and brightest with more of their own. HMMMMM. Needless to say, that sort of blabber sometimes ensues and then everyone thinks I'm a conspiracy theorist, and I have to correct them and remind them that I am a conspiracy factualist, and this doesn't help my credibility.

BUT!!!
I have something that WILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I went to the doctor, after having my insurance reinstated due to the new legislation that allows a full time student to stay on their parents insurance until the age of 26. So being that this is the case, I have to hurry up and get all my business in order before it runs out again, in a few months. Needless to say, I obtained various tests of all sorts and one truly shined...

My doctor paid me a compliment as if ever such a one could exist. No, he did not make references to my physique, that is not ethical. But he did reveal how ASTONISHING my cholesterol panels are. He just couldn't get over how great my blood work looks on paper, and my blood pressure and LDL to HDL ratio. He suggested that GENETICS are on my side, which is not true, because as we speak, my own grandma in her 60's is suffering from all array of heart based health issues, not to mention slight obesity. My father has tons of health issues as well, and is on various Statin drugs from what I believe to be blood pressure and atherosclerosis issues.

My Mother seems to be in good health however, so I shouldn't discount that, but her siblings are unfortunately not faring as well as she. So I really can't imagine that it is genetic. Perhaps that is a contributing factor, but clearly cannot be the only contribution.
He then also mentioned that
"What ever it is you are doing, KEEP IT UP!"
And he inquired as to whether I exercise or not, I revealed that I do not, and mentioned that my heart sounds very steady and "You must do aerobic exercise right?" "No-unless you count walking to work every day?"

So that being said, I almost, I was just so tempted to tell him, I eat tons of fat doctor. I eat inordinate amounts if I can help it! When I get coffee, I ask for extra whip cream, I butter my bread like I'm preparing for the apocalypse, I scoop pork lard into my soup like it is cream, and I eat as many eggs as a person feasibly can in one swoop. Of course, I haven't been able to stay on top of getting an adequate amount of fat in my diet, I really do try but it is a rather difficult feat!

So, maybe you think I'm kooky, and one of those far fetched gals who has taken on an agenda to fatten up America. Well, I have to tell you, everyone I talk to that I haven't seen for a minute, feels inclined to comment on how I've lost weight and asks me what sort of activities I'm doing to stay in shape. I never have anything to tell them except, well, I've started eating a lot of fat.........

Now, the only bad thing I've started including in my diet is alcohol, but I think I can keep that under wraps for the most part, I don't engage in it over 2 days a week if I can help it. Any weight I gain will probably result from that consumption, but if I keep it moderate, then I don't believe it will be a problem.

So there you have it, something of an update, but like I said, it is hard to keep my fat intake high because of convenience. I just don't have time to prepare my own food all the time. Anyways, will keep doing research. I am currently reading "Know Your Fats" by Mary G Enig, and did a whole bunch of research from a project I had last semester that I'm finding is just being confirmed by what I'm now reading in her book. I also want to read "Eat Fat Lose Fat" by the same lady and her cohort Sally Fallon. I am also very excited to eventually purchase, Fat: An appreciation of a misunderstood ingredient, with recipes. So I will venture into the various methodologies that will make my diet that much more possible to maintain.

Now just because I'm on this fat kick, does not mean I have left enzymes and lacto fermentation by the wayside! Not to mention the importance of Organ Meats! Not that I ever have time to eat any of this stuff, but eventually I'm hoping to compile all my combined knowledge into a sort of video/documentary or book of some sort.

I see print becoming further and further obsolete as everything is digitized so might have to consider a more creative medium with which to promote this information to the lay public. That being said, I am in my last semester and will be studying the final, in a series of steps that will instill me with the ability to polish my productions so as to engage and enrapture an audience. I know your eyes are glazing over at this article, and that is why video is so much more efficient a communication method.
I will keep you updated as to my going on's.
WOW, I'm almost done with school, who can imagine that it would only take me 7 years? Life has a way of humbling us, or at least some of us.

Fat fat fat

2010-11-27T14:16:00.002-07:00

So this Thanksgiving was interesting enough. My family seems to think I'm losing weight, even though I've been consuming inordinate amounts of fat in various forms.

I've ordered Edible Pork Lard in little 4lb buckets, a 5 gallon bucket of Beef Tallow, purchased rendered Duck lard and already have tons of Grassfed Butter and Unrefined Coconut and Palm oil from before.

I am also doing what Matt Stone recommends in his blog 180degreehealth.blogspot.com; to increase one's metabolism by also increasing consumption of nutrient dense foods of all calibers, including carbohydrates, fats and protein. Now, this only works if you can to an extent, abstain from processed and refined foods which is what I've been working towards anyways!

However, he suggests doing this for about a month and being as sedentary as possible which would potentially lead to weight gain, if only temporarily, but also increase one's metabolism so that once physical activity is resumed, your efforts will be increased without nearly as much work.

Personally, having been an exercise freak for much of my adolescent and young adult life, I don't necessarily espouse being overtly physically active. I have a couple of reasons for this.
For instance, if you were engaged in such activity and for some reason had to stop, (illness, no time, an injury) you would suddenly be unable to keep off that weight you've been avoiding by exercising your ass off.

And now that I work for the Disability Branch, I've seen what sorts of crazy things can happen to people to make them not only unable to live a normal life, but further, put them in a situation completely vulnerable and unable to sustain themselves. Taking that into consideration, I realize the value of not placing undue stress on the body I'm going to be living in for the next century, and exercise happens to be a way to increase the chances of injury later on in life if I am not caring for it properly.

Caring for it properly includes making sure I get my colloidal minerals in the form of broth to ensure that my joints don't deteriorate, plenty of saturated fats, and nutritionally dense foods as dark leafy greens, wholesome grains that have been sprouted or soaked before hand, plenty of enzyme rich foods such as those that have been fermented, and animal derived foods from livestock that have been humanely reared- esp. utilizing the organs.

Now as for the exercise I do plan to engage in once I've finished with this increasing metabolism experiment, I think walking is great for starters. Not just walking, but briskly walking, keeping your heart rate up, going at a pace that is just slightly over comfortable and warms you up on a winters day.

Other things I feel increase muscle mass and bone density are climbing steps. I have the fortune of living not far from a world famous amphitheater known as Red Rocks that boasts steps galore, so much so that is a haven for all health nuts. I like to just take my time and climb them, occasionally building up my endurance to the point that I can actually run up the stairs, but such is not necessary. All you want is about 30-60 minutes 3-5 times a week, of elevated heart rate and the point of this is mainly to purge your body of the stress hormones that accumulate from everyday stressors, not necessarily to lose weight. That is just a happy byproduct of the process.

Matt also emphasizes getting enough rest. I have noticed that when I go to bed by 10 pm, I'm much more well rested than if I wait an hour or even two. The quality of my sleep seems to deteriorate exponentially the later it gets, even if I compensate for my tardiness by sleeping in a couple hours more, it always seems as though it were a shallow attempt. There are some studies on this to corroborate my own findings, in that the pituitary gland operates in such a way as to modulate your melatonin production through the amount of sunlight that hits it through your eye.

So say, not getting enough sun everyday will interfere with your sleep pattens and even exposing yourself to harsh light before bed doesn't allow the sleep hormones to operate efficiently. So it is recommended to dim the lights an hour before bed as to stimulate those hormone producing glands into action.

So on top of increasing my caloric consumption, I am lessening the burden on myself physically and also trying to get to bed before 10 and committing to at least 8 hours of sleep a night. I am trying to abstain from caffeine, or any foods that stimulate my adrenal glands- the ones that release stress hormones- and while I do occasionally drink, I am doing so in moderation and limiting the event to one night a week if at all.

So upon having learned that the ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 makes a difference, and I'm still trying to figure out what it is, I realized that I needed to balance all the fats and oils in my diet. I'm not going to any extremes of documenting the exact proportions of tallow to lard, but I'm just trying to mix it up as I go. For instance, if I ate pork lard yesterday, today I will eat tallow. I do coconut/palm oil mixture every other day, and then duck lard on occasion as well. Butter I eat on occasion since it has been pasteurized and tends to lead to mucous build up in my lungs and sinuses. However, if I can start making my own butter with the raw goats milk I have at my disposal, that would definitely be an intricate part of my diet.

Why would I do this you ask? Lots of reasons. Fat along with the meat it accompanies, is a source of fat soluble vitamins. Meaning you cannot absorb these vitamins without a lipid along side it. This is why you want to cook your vegetables with some sort of fat, so as to assimilate the nutrients in them, otherwise, they will be wasted. That which is inherent or innate, dousing your carrots in butter, or cooking your collards with lard, is the nurturing way to eat. Who ever thought to drown their mashed potatoes in corn oil? I know what it tastes like because when I was on the Macrobiotic diet, all I ate was vegetable oils that easily became rancid.

Just a note, I was emaciated on that diet, and developed some serious acne problems because I was refraining from meat consumption, ate lots of grains and ultimately eliminated the saturated fats from my diet. Not a good idea!!

Needless to say, I've also been eating pemmican, a Native American super food designed to meet all your nutritional needs in a one stop shop. It has a ratio of 40% Beef tallow (@30 g fat) to 60% Pulverized Beef Jerkey (@20 g Protein) and some berries and honey (@ 4 g carb). It keeps you satiated because of the fat content, and is designed to last indefinitely having been preserved in fat with the berry content also contributing vitamin c which is otherwise known as ascorbic acid and used as a preservative in making jams.

So you can see why it is a good food to have stored in the event of an emergency and in general was used by the natives and frontiersmen of old during their travels. I bought a batch to save me money on food since I have been eating out a lot, and since it is conveniently stored at room temp or can be frozen or refrigerated, I've stashed some in the work fridge for snacking, in my boyfriends freezer and where-ever else I can possibly put it so that I am not tempted to spend $10 buying crap food.

So what are the results? At first I thought I might gain some weight and that slightly scared me, even if it is just a temporary sacrifice to get my metabolism jump started so I can burn more fat later. Well, I will have to say, I've given myself free reign to eat as much as I like at any given time, occasionally overeating (esp. on thanksgiving!) and I don't feel guilty #1.

#2, I have not made any substantial weight gains. I would say I've actually lost weight, but the difference is it seems my fat is being deposited where it should be. On my hips and thighs and isn't unsightly at all. In fact, I kinda feel more feminine if anything! It is actually somewhat liberating. I wish it would be deposited in my chest, but I'm afraid my ignorant youthful counterpart that was obsessed with exercising prevented that from happening. Since I had no body fat during my development, I never received the endowments that my siblings are blessed with, and I'm more than 90% sure it is because I had an eating disorder.

Needless to say, I do feel more like a woman with my new found fat deposits, and I am not as eager to eradicate them as I feared. I do want to however, get back into stair stepping in the spring, as that has provided me with ample muscle mass on my backside and legs that seems a very attractive attribute to myself and from what I can tell, other people as well.

So that being said, thus far, I don't feel unhappy with my progress. My internal temperature has increased slightly, and I know this because I'm usually the person that is always cold while everyone else is sweating their balls off, and now it seems I've balanced out a bit. My acne isn't as bad as it used to be, but that is a hard one to figure out because of fluctuating hormones and the like. There are just too many variables to consider with my skin issues. But I think making sure I get broth in my diet on the daily will absolutely help with that.

I will continue to document my progress. As far as clarity of mind is concerned, I believe once I get myself off the refined carbs completely, that will help in this matter. And I don't have nearly as many cravings for sweets as I used to. In fact, the idea of them sometimes really turns me off! Which is a phenomenal advance in my opinion.

So that is my update as of late. I will try to stop in sooner.

UH-Oh...

2010-11-05T13:28:00.000-06:00

I have been doing research for a multi-media project for one of my classes. The topic of interest you ask? Well, it just so happens to be fat. Whoulda thunk it?

In my attempt to understand the science of fatty acids, I've come accross various sources of information that have left me feeling in awe. I've recently discovered a couple new advocates of a highfat diet with whom I was not acquainted. I'm more than pleased with my findings, so much so that I will have to share them with you here.

Hyperlipid

Weight of the Evidence

Dr. Jan Kwasniewski - this is a page translated by google from Polish but you can do research on him aside from this, seems to be enough material out there. (Also- I don't necessarily condone some of his wild ideas about our origins, but I don't believe just cause this dude has some crazy theories, it should discredit his nutrition research, and frankly the proof is in the pudding. The way I "weigh" (pun intended) credibility of knowledge of any given source is by noting whether or not it actually works in reality, not theory.

Needless to say, I started reading some of these articles and started feeling a little bit excited.

And then my hopes were dashed to splinters as I realized that I will never be a credible source of information in this society, unless I have the appropriate technical training. So I looked into what it would take to get my Masters in Science in Food Science and Nutrition, in addition to what it would take to become a registered Dietitian. Well, the situation looks exceedingly dire folks.

I had been considering a Masters Degree for some time now, and I can't tell you how many people have told me to become a nutritionist or a dietitian being that is where my passion lies. Unfortunately, there are a number of deterrents, and less incentive to pursue that route!

Not only will I have to re-take the dreaded Chemistry courses I had such a problem with the first go around (Although I feel better suited to tackle such difficult subject matter, now that I don't have a mortgage to worry about, or tenants to evict...) but an entire slew of courses and get the approval of faculty to participate in what is otherwise known as the Didactic Program in Dietetics. This program looks daunting at best, with three years of coursework required, internship and other unmentionables. Do you know what the anticipated salary of a registered dietitian is? About $50k annually if you are lucky to land such a position.That does not warrant going further into debt to pursue another degree that is going to have me busting my balls.

Another factor that contributes to my utter state of dissappointment is the fact that the training I will be receiving, for the most part, will be misinformation designed to perpetuate profits for large industrial conglomerates that have a monopoly on the "Credible" organisations providing the masses with erroneous nutritional advice!!!!! (sigh- that was a run on sentence if ever such a one did exist)

I just can't help but wonder whether it is worth it, when I will be throwing probably more than 70% of what they teach me away, so I can actually HELP people. And all just so I could have a couple of letters behind my name that elevate me to a position of Authority in the eyes of those who need it, when the reality of the situation is that, this conventional "medicine" is obviously not working for you. All those pills may help your insulin levels, but what are they doing to your liver? I'll tell you what they are doing. Securing jobs for more Doctors who haven't been trained in nutrition to dish out some more pills for that new problem of yours, that was perpetuated by the first bit of advice they gave you to take that pill. And why? Because you never learned truly nourishing wisdom and have instead relied upon the FDA and USDA and all the different organisations that have provided you with advice about what to eat. I'm sorry, but they do not have your best interest at heart! You see, you are a money making machine! The sicker you are, the more pills you have to take, the less educated you are, the more processed food you eat, which is subsidized by these entities and creates a supposed "need" for their tampering in affairs in which they have no business.

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Cultivating my new garden....

2010-10-17T22:16:00.006-06:00

It has been in upwards of a year since I last posted on this blog. Once my brainchild, my baby in so many words, it has taken a back seat to newly acquired priorities in my life.

In more words or less, the hailstorm is a great analogy for what I've gone through. I learned, that while I can make preparations for any anticipated event, there is always the possibility of some unforeseeable set of circumstances that has the potential to alter my original plan.

I left my fiancee not shortly after my last post on this blog. The only strings holding me in that previous situation were the perceived material investments I had made therein. Having spent much of my youth gutting, remodeling and land lording that property, (not to mention the wonderful and spectacular spectacle that was "The Garden") I was unable to choose without having to make a great sacrifice of both a financial and emotional kind.

I've had to go through an array of difficulties (as we all do) that have left me with a great compassion and ability to empathize with others who have a similar plight. However, being unable to fulfill my potential in a relationship that had me channeling my energy into the dirt, was taxing at best.

Gardens are great parallels for reality, you can sew your seeds in fertile soil, but if there is no water to be had, what good are your efforts? Futility my friends... And being able to discern the quality of the soil is invaluable. But I do hold to the belief, that in order to learn about the quality, one must attempt to take the risk of cultivating a garden whose outcome is not known. No efforts go unrewarded, even if you are never able to enjoy the fruits of your labor, because the insight you gain into the process itself, will teach you manifold.

I learned much from my previous relationship spanning nearly a quarter of my life! I also decided, after that hailstorm, that I could no longer live in fear. Fear of lack, the future, being alone. A cornucopia of fears plagued me, after all, aren't we all subject to fears influence? If we don't take chances, are unable to take that leap of faith and hope that things work out for the best, but knowing if we don't, we will regret it for the rest of our lives, then what is the point???

Fear has held me back for a good portion of my life. But I finally decided to break free from its suffocating grasp....

When I did so, things unraveled in a most natural way for me. I don't regret my past, I most definitely don't regret my decision. I do sometimes feel like I received the raw end of the deal, not having been given credit for the things I've accomplished nor being compensated for the many contributions I made to that property, but in the long run, I think that will fade and I will be able to accept the past for what it is. (A valuable experience in and of itself that can't be translated monetarily.) Knowing this and feeling it are two different things unfortunately....

I hope to continue with my blog, but I don't necessarily have the means to reproduce the same impressive garden that I was able to share with my audience prior. I am in school right now, studying the medium by which I will be able to more efficiently convey to you all the knowledge in my stead. As I am continuously learning, I will be able to revise and update what I know as truth to include more of the same..

I am in the process of creating a website where I plan to host this information. The future, while frightening is also exciting and many prospects lie ahead. I am hopeful!

Thank you for partaking in my journey, and being patient as I gain the necessary tools to fully explore my passion and the ability to share that with you. God willing, I may do great things!

Garden update beginning of June 2009

2009-06-11T15:24:00.005-06:00

So the seed crops are all doing tremendously well except for a bought of aphid infestation which seems to plague my collards. Seedlings are more than ready to be transplanted, I have actually done this after taking the video and missed out on showing you the pea pods! I didn't even realize I've already got an abundance of peas on my hands.

What I've been harvesting thus far?
Mesclun Salad mix
Fennel
Herbs- currently drying some peppermint, oregano, going to dry some savory and mint.

Going to harvest my innumerable Feverfew flowers and hopefully I can start selling some as a tea for those who suffer from migraine headaches. Feverfew is also a very beneficial contribution to treating leukemia.

I've gone and planned my garden according to very specific principles of being able to collect and save seeds of all my produce so as to have acclimated versions of the same product next year that can withstand the Colorado heat and drought conditions. Eventually, I may start my own seed company, or I may use the seeds to barter with. The advantage of having acclimated seeds are invaluable in a survival situation. Pest resistant and drought tolerant is going to go a long way when you have limited access to water. I've been researching alternative methods of water retention in my garden and deep mulch seems to be one's best bet in the Colorado climate.

I've not had to water my garden manually very often or at all thus far this season because we've been experiencing an unusually wet season. This is not to say I will be able to continue in this fashion for the remainder of the season, and that being said, plan to invest in a few soaker hoses or possible drip irrigation system that I design myself.

I'm very excited to harvest my turnip seeds. I will have an excess of them and can even use some of the seeds for sprouts. My next project if I can organize my house and life, is to learn how to grow microgreens and edible fungi. Of course, I've recently encountered some serious obstacles which will keep me from being able to further pursue my goals of sustainability, as another one of my plans was to get a beehive and I haven't even been able to do that as of yet. Such is life, that unexpected events take place and I believe, being able to adapt to them is of the utmost importance and one of the very best skills a person can take the time to cultivate. Of course, in most cases, one doesn't have a choice but to adapt.. (Sigh) Gods will be done..

All in due time!

Build a garden for Mom!

2009-05-18T10:30:00.016-06:00

So for those of you who like to follow pictures and detailed instructions here is the second portion of my blog. The video pretty much says it all, but does it really?

Last year I just kinda half attempted to help my Mom out with her garden. She planted the typical home depot variety seedlings and just stuck em in the ground thinking all is well. So I took it upon myself to at least mulch between the plants. She was wanting to make the side next to the fence just like a stone path, and changed her mind later, so only half the garden was productive, and not nearly that to be honest!

View from the South

View from the North

View from North newly built fence and fresh dug dirt over sheet mulch. Cardboard beneath the dirt and organic matter (ie. straw and dry leaves and compost). It's purpose is to kill all the vegetation below, which through the process of tilling would, in fact be replanted! Many weeds propagate through their root systems.
When you chop up a root into many tiny pieces, you get many weeds! So it is better to kill them using this method of smothering. Seeds typically need light to germinate also, when you double dig or uncover the soil, you are planting an assortment of weeds through another common known method of propagation, seeds!

East view of Garden, the green plants along the border are Sorrel I planted many years ago which spread. In fact most of the garden was filled with Sorrel! You can make soup out of it or eat it in salad, it is sour like lemons.

South view. Having sheet mulched, I also prevent weeds from establishing a tap root system as this is a barrier which will allow me to easily pull them out of the beds. The first year weeds will grow, but with each following year, assuming the soil remains undisturbed, the weeds will eventually decline in number and frequency. You can feasibly eradicate weeds, it just takes time and patience!

So this is essentially how one goes about sheet mulching. Just break apart your nifty cardboard boxes and lay them flat against the ground. (side note, it helps if the cardboard has been soaked before hand, if not, make sure to soak it with a hose before applying any organic material on top of it.) If you want to "work" you can double dig into the ground and place the cardboard into the dug out bed. This may be necessary for those who don't have any excess dirt available, but know that it is a one time deal! No more double digging after this!

So here you see I have added a layer of straw. You can use any organic matter you have on hand. Dry leaves will work, newspaper, grass clippings, although keep in mind you should alternate nitrogen rich sources with carbon sources (dry) so the mixture is aerated and doesn't go anaerobic. There is a difference between aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Typically in nature, the anaerobic guys are pathogenic, and will attack your plants, while the aerobic guys will protect your plants. Just something to consider as you embark on your gardening journey!

So here I've added a layer of very aged vermiculture (worm) casting compost. This is prime, the best you can get, "black gold" is what it's called by garden enthusiasts. It will inoculate my organic matter with the necessary microbes needed to break it down and work it into what will eventually become soil, the life giving substance, the inhabitable domain of innumerable micro-organisms.

I had to work the garden in sections as there was a huge pile of dirt impeding my progress right smack in the middle. I worked around the darned thing, but not without frustration! Anyways, finally got it squared away and was able to sheet mulch beneath the area. You can see where I put the clay! It is in the wheel barrel awaiting application.

Just about done! You can see it coming along. I packed some clay/topsoil over the cardboard even in the path, otherwise the darned stuff would just end up drying out and flying away!

Subsequently I mulched the path. Nearly there!!! (Wipes sweat off brow)

(Sigh!!) Just about. You can actually differentiate between the "piles" of Earth as now they resemble raised beds! Notice the darker soil on the left bed. I used that to fill out the bed as for some reason, it simply narrowed right at that juncture. That is the vermicompost which is probably more than 5 years old at least! My Mom's old compost bin (which I built in high school) housed the red wiggler worms I ended up harvesting for my own use and that now comprise my worm bins with their presence!

It's official! I mulched the entire garden and finally planted within the mulch. If you look closely you can see holes where I placed seeds, and two heirloom Black Russian tomato plants! I intend to save the seeds of everything I grew in this garden, as I only planted heirloom seeds.
I did some weird pioneer winter squash, giant pumpkin, beets, carrots, radishes, kale, collards, yellow crookneck squash, mustard greens, cilantro, dill, parsley, thyme, oregano, sage, yarrow, swiss chard, peppermint, mint julip, gourmet mesclun salad mixture, bush beans, peas, sweet indian corn and I can't think of what else but I'm sure we will find out soon enough!

View from South. This sort of methodology should be initiated in fall of the preceding year so the organic matter has time to decompose and the cardboard can biodegrade. I made this garden in about 2.5 days without any help, but both half days. It is the most input I will have to put into this space ever again!
From now on, I will only continue to amend the soil by adding organic matter, I can still fertilize on top of the soil, and by planting nitrogen fixing legumes every winter while the garden lies fallow. I may consider building my mom a hoop house for the winter months, so she can have fresh greens, but this is not a priority at this time, merely a luxury.
I will be sure to keep you updated!

Garden work May 2009

2009-05-13T20:57:00.006-06:00

This is an update on my garden beds and herb garden.
(Thanks to Tim for the hops!)

This second video is the new garden I have built in the front yard.

I've utilized a variation of such concepts as lasagna gardening, sheet mulching which are going
to help me retain moisture during the dry summer. This front yard garden is in partial shade, which is not a bad thing, because the Colorado sun is intensely hot and has on occasion burned my leaves! I've considered building a shade cloth bearing structure in my back yard over my raised beds because of this very reason.

The front yard is a bit sketchy as the mulch I used is comprised of straw, wood chips and has very little nitrogen bearing content mixed into it. So I'm planning on incorporating some nitrogen fixing crops in these beds for this first year to get the composting process activated. For now, I'm content with building the soil and as such is the concept behind my gardening methods, it is supposed to essentially get easier and better each year!

That is the idea at least, I suppose we will see if in fact it is successful. Don't worry, you will remain updated as the year progresses.

My potatoes are growing like mad! I hadn't expected that. Pretty soon they are going to be taller than myself.
Turnip greens are on schedule, I will have a small bounty of seeds when all is said and done. My peas are on their way, and some from last year germinated too! Yay..

Mustard greens planted themselves all over my yard, so may have extra produce that I hadn't planned on, and things are coming along. I'm a little behind, but I am not worried about it. This is life! Not everything happens on a schedule.

Fermenting Endeavors

2009-05-10T23:28:00.005-06:00

So I'm kind of on a fermenting rampage.
Please excuse me for being "redundant" I was slightly repetitive in this video, but I emphasize how important it is to include lacto-fermented food into your diets!

Two words ENZYMES and Microflora!!!!
Which actually, bacteria in your gut also produce what is known as "accessory enzymes" which also contribute to your ability to digest food.

What is the funniest thing to me is that I will imagine as I'm eating some kefir with fresh fruit, the bacteria are eating the sugars in the fruit while I am eating them. It is like one of those mirror images that keeps going on and on and never ends..

So what I've got fermenting;
*Kefir-Milk (Kefir Grain is symbiotic relationship of yeast and bacteria which convert the lactose into lactic acid. Great item for those who are lactose intolerant, {which is everyone to a degree}.

*Lacto-fermented Veggies/Kraut/Pickles- Enzymes, and the original nutritional content of the food. Better than eating it raw if you ask me. Fermentation increases all the best parts of raw food.

*Kombucha tea- Mother of Kombucha is yet again a symbiotic relationship of Bacteria to yeast which convert sugars into Lactic acid, acetic acid (vinegar) and alcohol. It is something in between an alcoholic beverage and vinegar.

*Fruit Enzyme- This one I'm new to, so I can't say I'm sure what is going to happen. Had some of my fruit enzyme (whey) mix this morning with my Kefir and it was a bit on the alcoholic side. I may have let it ferment too long before introducing the whey, and the yeast is now competing with the bacteria for dominance. Eventually, alcohol will convert to vinegar, and I do plan to make another test bottle and incorporate some Kombucha strain into that one rather than the whey.

*Sourdough!!! (Smells fresh bread baking!! Yum..) This is a variation on a theme, I used Kefir to inoculate this sourdough and it fermented for a couple days. I also included some of my old sourdough culture from the fridge into the mix and will find out if this is a successful mixture. I did not use commercial yeast.

You can and should also ferment your grains for a morning porridge/gruel type of deal. This makes the nutrients more accessible and completely eliminates all the anti-nutrients present in the grains. It is a misconception that a whole grain diet leads to health. Rather a sprouted/soaked/fermented whole grain diet in fact leads to health.

When testing out your fermented food products, be sure to utilize your senses and if it doesn't seem right, don't eat it!! I take quite the risk, I let things sit and ferment and I taste everything and if it isn't totally gross, I consume it because I want to expose my immune system to all sorts of bugs so it has a chance to exercise.

On a side note, I made a drink out of Molasses and Kombucha mixed with lemon juice and honey and spring water, and forgot about it for a week in my car, lo and behold it had undergone fermentation. The sugars where no longer present and I still drank the stuff, it was kinda weird, the molasses without the sugar is indeed bitter, but I'm still alive and Molasses is actually very good for you. It has tons of Potassium, Calcium and Iron. (Blackstrap unsulphured of course.) There are many ways to ferment.. And it is fun to experiment!

Prepping the beds

2009-05-03T20:19:00.011-06:00

Today was slightly less dreary than the preceding days as we've experienced an onslaught of moisture in the form of a weary drizzle which has graced us with it's very presence, for about a week.

Realizing the short amount of time I have before the last frost date, I decided to prep the beds for official planting which will hopefully be taking place this very week.

First order of business was to pull out the green manure crops by the roots or as much of the roots as possible. I emptied the bed being careful not to harm the biennials Collards and Kale I intend to collect seeds from. I then inoculated the soil with Mychorrizal fungi. In addition to this, I also amended the soil with some gypsum lime and also blood/bone meal and then chopped up the green manure crops (rye/wheat) and covered the soil.

I then took several large paper bags and soaked them in a bucket of water to make them easier to manage. Upon having done this, I sheet mulched over the green manure. Once finished, I again placed a thin layer of fungal inoculate over the mulch and over that I added a layer of compost into which I am determined to plant.

I'm going to do each bed differently, variations on a theme if you will. To see what method is the best for my environment. I have a feeling sheet mulching over the cover crop was not necessarily the best idea (come to think of it, I believe I mulched straight over one of my collard plants! Ooops..) What I may do rather than that in my next bed is sheet mulch straight over the soil and THEN add the green manure and over that a layer of compost. This seems like it may be the best way to go about it. I'm just hoping I'm going to have enough compost to go around, I have only planted one bed thus far!

So this is my plan. The sheet mulch will deter the cover crops from trying to grow back,(I don't want the grass to compete with my veggies) and it should retain moisture in the beds for an extended period of time. Usually sheet mulching is done with cardboard, but that seems unnecessarily thick to me and I would like to kill the grass roots while also allowing the roots of my veggies to penetrate through the mulch in a about a month or so. I imagine it is thin enough to have biodegraded by then.

If not, I guess I will be in for a surprise, stunted plants being the surprise so I guess if I know what to expect, I won't be surprised.

What does the green manure do? Why did I add it back into the bed instead of throwing it into the compost heap? Well it does a number of things. It is a rich source of nitrogen which is a much needed component for the plant growth process. In addition to this, it is also very full of simple sugars which are the ideal food for beneficial aerobic bacteria which inhabit the soil and foliage. It will provide them with ample time to become active so that when my seedlings grow, they can reap the benefits of the symbiotic relationships which ensue not shortly thereafter.

It is also again, a source of organic matter, which yields it's structure to the soil, providing it with adequate moisture reaping abilities and dwelling places for many soil inhabitants like earth worms, protozoa, bacteria, mites, nematodes and the latter. Diversity within the soil creates an ideal environment for healthy competition which lowers the incidence of disease causing pests and their associated actions on the plants themselves.

The good bacteria out compete the bad guys, and essentially act as guards for the plants. I'm not only farming vegetables and herbs, but also my own army of bacteria that works for me and with me against any and all threats. I feed them, they feed my plants and protect them, the plants feed them in return. It is just a great big cycle of life.

So that is where I'm at with the garden. Hoping I have time to get things situated and am not running too far behind!

Variation on a Theme

2009-04-25T19:30:00.006-06:00

I make spicy pickled radishes, beets and carrots!

Ingredients include;
*Daikon Radishes
*Carrots
*Beets
*Green Onions
*Ginger
*Garlic
*Cayenne pepper
*Salt (non-iodized)
*Spices/herbs
*Fresh Cabbage
* Unpasteurized Sauerkraut
*Spring water

Materials;
Crock/Container/Jar
Masher
Weight (glass jar filled with water, or simply a freezer bag filled with water)

Dice all root vegetables into slices or rounds. Place them in a bowl mixed with salt to begin the osmosis process and extraction of their juices.

Mix your spices together.

Alternate layers of old sauerkraut with layers of new vegetables and spice interspersed throughout. Smash contents down with clean hands to ensure everything is saturated.

Once you fill the container, if you need more fluid to cover the veggies add some spring water and a bit of salt to offset the dilution that will take place.

Then weigh the contents down with a glass jar filled with water on top of a barrier and wait!

You should have a finished product in a months time, but you can start dipping into this as early as a couple days after making it.

Good luck and God bless!

April 2009 Garden Update

2009-04-11T17:21:00.003-06:00

So Now it snows!

2009-04-04T01:25:00.003-06:00

I just wanted to take the time to post an update on the goings on here at my pseudo homestead.
I've started planting seeds obviously, some in my cold frame and other cold tolerant varieties in a couple beds. Well, not shortly thereafter, the weather decides to do a u-turn on me.

It has been consistently cold and snowy for the last couple weeks, rendering me somewhat helpless at the moment, as there is really no work that can be done. What I accomplished in this 2009 season before the first flake of spring snow hit my beds is as follows.

I planted seedlings to keep inside. They did not turn out so good because I left them outside for a bit too long and being it was around 75-80 degrees, they dried out! So, I then filled a garden bed about 1-2 inches full of compost from my vermiculture bin and planted seedlings in that. Luckily, I was able to get my hands on some plastic sheeting which I then placed over that bed to create a makeshift cold frame.

I had planted several varieties of seeds, many of which need a long season to mature, (nightshade varieties) and also cold tolerant plants like carrots, brassica family (cabbage, collards, kale etc.) and what ever I could think of starting early. In a separate bed, I filled only a portion of it with the same compost and planted mesclun salad mix and root veggies like beets, radishes and carrots. These all take time to form, so it is best to plant early. Between each row of these root veggies, I planted Calendula flowers, because they repel root dwelling nematodes. Those little guys can stunt the growth of roots and disfigure them as well.

I bought some of that plastic trellis material that you can use to protect your free trees with, or to grow vining veggies and made two pea trellises along the sides of my beds where I planted the peas. They need support to produce an abundance of peas. A side note, you want to continue to pick the peas once they mature, so as to promote more fruiting. Don't just let them sit on the vine, until they are dry, unless you wish to save the seeds, in which case this is how you would do it.

I built a second compost heap since I've filled the first one and am now in the process of harvesting it's contents for this years garden. If you are inclined to build a worm compost heap, they prefer a bedding of horse manure and straw if you can get it, and will feed on your kitchen scraps in addition to their own bedding. Be sure to add rock powder and crushed eggshells to the mix for their benefit.

I mulched the entire yard, so it will be easier to manage, and my shoes won't get muddy once all this snow melts leaving behind what typically was an unavoidable mess for me. Now I can garden and not have to worry about scraping my shoes off before entering the house. The mulch also lessens corosion and keeps the moisture in the ground instead of allowing it to evaporate.

So that is essentially what I've done thus far. I'm really annoyed with this weather we've been having, but I appreciate it at the same time, because where I live, there is hardly any moisture whatsoever and this is going to get spring time rolling in! A sight to behold for a mere 3-5 weeks. Then everything dries out again, except for the trees of course. I suppose that is part of what living in a semi arid desert entails.

I harvested part of my compost crops for myself. I took the wheat and rye grass and juiced it with my manual juicer to make what some people consider an enzymatically powerful cleansing and healing juice. It is rich in clorophyll and contains a substance known as vitamin B-17 which is a lesser known treatment in the prevention and rehabilitation of cancer cells. So I try to include it in my diet to an extent, wheat grass is not to hard to grow inside, but it has a dual purpose in my garden which I've explained in earlier posts.

Some things I may consider making videos and blogs about while the weather gives me the runaround is how to make herbal tea's, tinctures and syrups so that we can focus on some traditional knowledge of preventing disease.

Garden update, build a compost heap!

2009-03-22T22:00:00.004-06:00

I built my garden last year based upon the design of Patti Moreno, who has a channel here on youtube called Gardengirltv.

This winter I planted cover crops of Rye, Wheat and Clover. These till my soil for me and the clover adds nitrogen to the soil through it's symbiotic relationship with nitrogen fixing bacteria.

I have several plants coming up for which I intend to use for seed saving purposes, swiss chard, collards, Kale, and turnips. These varieties are biennials. Meaning you plant them the first year and they give you leaves, the second year they give you flowers and seeds. They don't come up again.

I'm using the no-till method on my garden. I've mulched and I plan to simply cover the mulch with a 2 inch layer of compost and plant directly into that. I will add gypsum and bone meal to my compost before spreading it into each bed and will continue to amend the soil with fish emulsion and actively aerated compost tea and unsulphured molasses. This will feed the microbes in the soil and they will in turn feed my plants.

My vermicompost bin has gotten too full, so I've made a second bin to which I plan to add my biodegradable kitchen waste. I dug a square hole about 1.5 feet deep, and alternated layers of straw and carbon rich matter with vegetables and nitrogen rich matter. In between each layer, I dusted with some dirt and some of the other compost from my first bin. This inoculates my compost with the appropriate microbes so they can get to work.

My first compost bin turned into a worm bin when I messed up my indoor worm bin and threw it's contents into my outdoor bin. (They multiplied! And others migrated from throughout the yard into my bin as well.) I also stopped turning the compost heap which effectively made it cool down, and they then took residence there. I plan to supplement my chickens diets with these worms and if worst came to worst, I could even eat them myself! I also add these worms to my garden beds, they do a good job of tilling the soil and eat the mulch. They love straw I've found from experience. Newspaper is good, but straw is better!

Composting is a great way to reduce waste in your home and it will be helpful in your garden uses. I made this one out of chicken wire and posts. You can even use sticks if you want to save money! I plan to line the inside of the bin with cardboard, to keep the content inside. I also dug a hole beneath the compost bin, so as to reduce the amount of space needed, I find that I'm constantly throwing stuff in there and the pile can get unmanageable. It will also encourage worm migration through the contents of the pile and retain the moisture. I place a tarp over the compost so the moisture stays inside and it is nice and dark for all the little creepy crawlies that turn my waste into black gold!

+Correction! -If you put organic matter over the area you plan to garden in to soften the soil, there is no need to till it. However, it is a good idea to do this JUST the first year, double dig the bed and take that organic matter and mix it in with the soil to increase it's nutrition and is softer. The following years, it will not be necessary to till the soil, this will lower your weeds and if you mulch, the soil should stay in good condition!
Good luck and I will be keeping you updated!

Mulch Madness in March!

2009-03-03T23:17:00.012-07:00

Leeks and Onion plants from which I plan to obtain seeds.

Being that the weather is so cooperative, I decided to get the ball rolling! I had a ginormous stack of railroad ties sitting in my backyard that my boyfriend was talked into allowing residence on our property by some slick fella who helped us dig out the space for the garden. We finally got to moving those suckers outta the way. Then we had a bunch of wood lying around which we cleared out. This allowed me to access the large pile of dirt which had been left over from creating the space for my garden last year.

Where did all the dirt go?

Anyhow, this pile was very massive and I had my work cut out for me. I moved the entire thing with my own two legs and arms and a shovel, spread the bulk of it out over the "lawn" to level it.

Once I finished that, I got some meadow grass seed and wildflower mix and clover and spread it over the entire yard. The b/f wants a place to chill, but I still plan on sneaking in some food crops around the perimeter of the yard.. You know, sprawling squash plants and things! I guess he has to have his own space too, after all I've taken over most of the yard.

So then what I did was take 3 straw bales and covered the entire yard. WHY? A couple of reasons to be honest, some of which have yet to be substantiated, mere theory at this point, but only time will tell.

1. Because I had moved that dirt pile and due to the activity of building my garden last year, the remainder of the yard was exposed ground. This causes erosion of the topsoil. By mulching, you keep the dirt in place, until the plant have a chance to establish their roots and eventually take over that job. (Erosion control)

2. I think my area was hotter since the dark color of the bare dirt retains the heat of the glaring sun, so mulching the area with a lighter colored material, may reflect the heat away, and bring the temperature down ever so slightly?

3. By mulching the entire area, if it happens to rain or snow, I won't have to worry about trailing mud into the house! LOL, I'm sure my b/f will appreciate that reason, since I always wear his shoes while I'm gardening!! HAHA

4. The Straw mulch will retain moisture, rather than allowing it to evaporate, plants that aren't just drought tolerant weeds can then gain a foothold and show some love to the barren landscape.

When I watered this herb garden, water would just
flow right over the edges. After mulching, I immediately noticed a difference.
No water escaped over the sides to form pools in the path, rather, it stayed put!

5. Mulch provides a much needed refuge for various microorganisms and soil dwelling inhabitants that are needed to do the manual labor you would otherwise have to do. If everyone mulched the area where they planned to put a garden, the year before, that spot would be much more manageable because those critters would have done most of the work by then. So this improves the soil permeability, and it's overall quality, in addition to increasing the biodiverstity that is needed to keep plants healthy.

6. Eventually the mulch breaks down and becomes organic matter which is essentially like compost. A source of carbon, and food for the microbes therein, improving the quality and texture of the soil, and increasing it's capacity to store water. (Think of a sponge)

7. It looks nice I think. More organized, less messy.

So those are the reasons for having mulched all my yard. I'm going to see how it works out. For the next week, I'm going to water more than I typically do, so that my meadow germinates and gains a foothold, and also so that the weed seeds can germinate. I plan on getting some chickens, and I need to have some greens for them to forage. In their designated area, I planted various dark leafy greens. Some bok choy and arugula, which I don't particularly like, but they will love!

The area in front of the low bed is where I plan to build my chicken
coop and associated run. It is also where I planted those greens!

Another reason why I am planting these items, is so they will sprout early and flower sooner than the rest of my garden, so as to attract pollinators, when everything else is a barren wasteland. So this will establish my garden as the oasis that is truly is, to all my friendly pollinators!!! ( I even have set up a watering hole for the bee's and wasps, with complimentary stepping stools, or yarn to climb while taking a drink, so they don't drown.)

My cover crops are coming up! The wheat and rye are making their appearance as the days grow warmer. And here in Colorado we are experiencing record highs for this time of the year. I should be surrounded by a blanket of snow, but instead, I'm out in my tank top and shorts, getting sunburned! Yes I know! Crazy.

See the Wheat/Rye grass popping up?

I also planted some potatoes. I diced them up, leaving two eyes on each piece, and I took the exposed portion where I cut it and dipped it into wood ash to protect it from rotting. Then I stuck it my wooden "rain barrel" (which I bought off craigslist, but the darned thing doestn't actually hold rain!) with some compost, peat moss, dirt and and straw. I only filled it about 1/4 of the way with these items, because as the plants grow, I will continue to cover them with dirt so that they form spuds all the way to the top of the barrel.

Vertical gardening at it's best. My conundrum is that the barrel with even that little amount of soil is very heavy, or it was after I watered it, so getting the finished product out will be tricky, but I'm sure I'll manage when the time comes. I also hope there isn't a freeze between now and spring, but I do have this insulation fabric that should help offset a frost if it were to occur.

My turnip greens are also growing and the Swiss Chard and collards are popping up too! From last year. As are various herbs, such as my peppermint, my lemon balm, Angelica, Valerian, Catnip and Feverfew.