See You Next Season

What do farmers do in winter... I guess that is different for everyone. We are for now hibernating. Aside from taking care of the animals, I'm spending time in my books, formulating herbal concoctions, perfumes, soon it will be soaps. First I want to come up with some nice scent formulas for them, too. Spagyrics have been on my mind, and many ideas demand answers. Homeschooling of course, and getting ready for a nice, quiet Christmas. Just the four of us. Perfect.

Mark found a computer game our oldest played interesting, and they are finally spending time together. He has his full time job of course, his vacation is used up a day at a time on Fridays, during the summer. None left for Winter.

There is still much work to do, maintenance and repairs, building on the coups and yards, but for now it can all wait. We're not going anywhere (who'd take care of the animals, and who can afford it anyway...) but are taking a little vacation from farming. In another week or three, we'll start putting seed orders together, sorting out taxes we've already started on. A little at a time gets it done. And before you know it, we'll be putting the greenhouse up again.

Since my readers seem to hibernate as well right now, I decided to give the blog a vacation, too. Thanks for the phone calls by the way. Nice of you to touch base, just because. We think of all of you, too.

Have a wonderful Christmas, and Holiday season, whichever Holiday you celebrate. May Health, Happiness and Brightest Blessings be yours always.

.Image from http://www.alchemywebsite.com/ Stone of the Wise

Happy Thanksgiving

A Very Happy

Thanksgiving to All

Every year I'm glad, that in America Thanksgiving is celebrated in November.

The Pilgrims naturally brought their customs to the new world, and to thank God for the Harvest was one. Before Christianity even, the Gods were thanked for harvests. A long tradition, and as it should be. Harvest can be a tricky thing, and sometimes better, sometimes worse. I keep saying that real gamblers farm. How much more unpredictable is harvest in a new country, halfway around the world, which you reached with hardly any possessions. I'm sure they really, truly meant every word of thanks for the harvest they had.

In Germany Erntedank is often celebrated on the first weekend of October, towards the middle of October, and even end of September, depending on faith (Catholic or Protestant) and location. Either dates coincide more with the Equinox celebration it originally was, the counterpart of Easter, when the days and nights are once again equal. Most of the harvest is in, but there is more to do. This is also the time, when Farmers get really, really tired, and ready for the season to come to an end. It makes perfect sense, to insert a celebration, to feed the spirit and body with something to look forward to, and some fun.

The decoration of the Harvest festivals and churches, is whatever the fields have to offer during the end of September, beginning of October. That is a lot. I was always in awe when going to church during that time. Produce would pour down the steps, starting at the altar, spreading out in a descending manner, until it covered a good amount of the floor of the congregation area. Piled high, whatever one could imagine was present. The people involved outdid each other in creative display arts, crafting, while only highlighting the produce in question, blending the whole into a true work of art. After mass, this food went to people in need.

The drawback of Thanksgiving/Erntedank that early is, that small farmers of our caliber don't celebrate. All holidays falling into farm season just have step aside, because there is no time to waste. Barley time to eat or sleep, never mind taking a day off - and certainly not on the weekend. At least this is true for us, and it was true for my parents as well. Only two adults in each case, to do the work. Yes, the kids help and count, but within reason and ability. Both of us have been pushed too hard when we were kids, had to grow up too fast, and we both feel strongly, that we will not do this to our children.

November is much better for celebrating. Perfect really, since it's far enough from the last harvest to make sure most important fall work has been done, it's gotten cold enough, to slow down any leftover outdoor work.

Thanks to whomever decided that Thanksgiving should be celebrated in November, we can look forward to a holiday. We might not have an impressive decor, but believe me, we give thanks when we do have that incredible display of offerings at the September markets. It's always amazing, even to us, as we year after year have to try to figure out how to take it there. Thanks for such abundance just happens, even if we had to work hard for it. Hard work doesn't always guarantee rewards. We're not taking it for granted.

We're thankful for everything we were able to get stored and in the freezer. No need to display it now. We remember well.

To us Thanksgiving is still Erntedank - and much more. I think of all the things that are right, all that went well, all the things that could have went wrong and didn't. Sometimes, in some situations, I can only be very thankful that it's over and done with - and that's good thanks, too. I feel most thankful for all the things money can not buy - the most precious things in life, but I'm very, very happy, if there is enough money for what we need. Even if it gets a little tight at times, we've been blessed to be able to figure things out as we go.

I feel Thanksgiving might be a better word then Erntedank (harvest thanks) since it is a reminder to give a moment to think of all the things we're thankful for. Often it's much more then we thought, isn't it? I take a few minutes throughout the year, thinking of things I'm thankful for, and the only rule is, that everything has to be positively phrased. Everyone has times when this can be hard, but it is possible. Changing perspective can do amazing things. Once we realize that we have a lot that matters, it's not all that bad. A good thing to do regularly. A lot of things we're told we want and need, we really don't need. I had a conversation with someone not long ago, about money problems, and she found my take on solving it very useful. All I told her was, that the way I saw it, needs stay consistent, wants change. I find this is true for a lot of things in life, not just money. What do we really need? Shelter, food, weather appropriate clothes, tools of various sorts, to take care of ourselves, someone who cares about us, and to care about someone. We also need faith and hope, above all, and to be able to appreciate what we have - then we have happiness as well. Health is a wonderful, precious gift, we often take for granted. If we have all that, we're doing great. If we have more then that, we're rich. Simple.

I feel very blessed and rich in all kinds of ways, but I can't say I feel like a million- almost did, but I'm not really sure that's always a default happiness, like the saying suggests. Not really all that much money anymore in the present economy, but more then we'll ever see in a lifetime. But I will leave this with a joke I read and found so true:

"What does a farmer do when he wins a million dollars?

-He keeps farming until it's gone..."

Even my husband laughed at this one, and he doesn't find a lot of jokes funny enough to laugh out loud. It's just too true.

For today, regardless of who you are, where in life, and what you have, let's celebrate all the things that are right in our lives, all the people and circumstances which keep us going. In this spirit, we can unite, possibly change the world if everyone would keep it up. Maybe this is what the nation's fathers had in mind. Good idea indeed.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Living Food and Healthy Water - A Wish List

Hidden Nature
The Startling Insights of Victor Schauberger
by Alick Bartholomew


What if Water, Soil and Plants had awareness and feelings? Would we treat it differently? What if there were natural healing powers in all of nature, if we didn't take them away? Would we protect them, preferring to stay healthy over healing?
What if there were energy sources which would not create destruction, while being a whole lot more efficient? Utopia? Hardly. Victor Schauberger had it figured out before WWII. Why is it not in use then? Politics. Not surprising, but it is high time for change.

Everyone who cares about healthy food, water, healthy environment now and for future generations, should read this book. Maybe if enough of us change the way we think and act, if we refuse the damaging ways, demanding change, it might happen. Seems to be a good time to do so, since everything is in upheaval, industry has competed to the max, not coming up with anything really different. Lets inspire them with demand. People do have Power, and more people have more of it.

Other important books are The Secret Life of Plants, and Secrets of the Soil both by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird, also available through Amazon.com.
I have no investments or profits in either the books or Amazon. Just some of the things I am again re-reading and re-thinking. Always looking for ways of healing what I can, hoping to eventually being able to focus on maintenance instead. To me, this is what farming is about. Ultimately, a farmer guides production to what is wanted and needed, without hurting the natural balance of things. Not soil, not creatures. This is the only way to be able to have living food, which is what is needed to sustain life. As an extension, this food should be for everyone, not "labeled" and overpriced, making "healthy" a luxury item. This kind of thinking is rediculous.
I can hear all the arguments, that this is not possible because it would not feed enough, and bah-humbug like that. It would hurt, but not the food supply, not the people, not the farmers. Many might get to keep their farms, if they could bring dead soil back to full productivity. Chemical industries and pharmaceuticals would be in trouble. Is this who we want to support, at personal cost? I don't.

The paradox is, I don't even condemn these industries - not altogether. Much good has been accomplished, and we do need to remember that. What I do object to, is when the approved and accepted toxic levels lead to total destruction, and for no good reason. Why do we need fabric softeners with overdoses of musk chemicals for example. We don't. What about the "Swiffer" type products, which encourage a disposable attitude - use and throw. Plastic disposable dishes, plastic bags, the list is endless. What about the many medications in TV ads. The side effect rattled by really quick, while showing a happy life, often include severe issues, even death. Is that why they try to sell it to the public, not Physicians? And where do medications ultimately end up? ...in our drinking water. Yup, you can do the research on this horrific fact. Medications and drugs, legal and not, are excreted, and it's not getting cleaned out sufficiently.
In farming, the poisons are advertised much like these drugs. "You need more, and stronger, to solve your problems, caused by all that we sold you up until now." Is it not obvious that this is a big problem? A little predictive thought will ring alarms, saying that you will need even more, and even stronger next year - if there is a next year, and if the soil has not turned to concrete, or started to glow... - if you use all that stuff.


No, I'm far from ranting. These are things many of us are already aware of. Sad facts, of long standing, and in time there is not much surprise over the "latest outrage" - One thing leads to another, and another... Some prefer to ignore, surrendering to being powerless. Some fight windmills, at least it gives a sense of doing something. Some just go change what they can, and set an example, helping others do the same.


These are really, really good books to read, since it's freezing outside, while taking a coffee break, or snuggled by the fire at night. Thought provoking, eye opening, and offering alternatives. Some things are simple enough to do ourselves. THAT is what I'm always looking for. How to change things on an individual level. I also love to share it with others who feel this way. This is empowerment, freedom even, and ultimately how the earth-and it's creatures, including us- can be healed. When enough individuals educate and empower themselves and each other. We can't wait until politics and industry start to care - they won't as long as they can sell illusions. I'm also really not good at waiting, so I am once again cooking up all kinds of ideas, and playing with experiments during winter, thinking of large application possibilities. If only a fraction of it all works out, I'll be happy, and something will have changed for the better. A little at a time, things fall in place. What matters most is what we focus on. Like in riding, "the horse goes where the rider looks..." or at least so I heard. I don't ride, but I know it's true for me and life. A good incentative to try to stay positive.


What's your favorite book?

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Can Albert Einstein help us today?

"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." -Albert Einstein

At a time, when there are so many challenges on all levels, influencing all of us, this might be a good quote to re-think. Some things are out of our control, others are well within our ability to change. In any case, we have to decide how we deal with what is affecting us. Sometimes this can be quite hard.

Have you ever wondered what else you could possibly do, since you're already doing everything possible? This might apply to finances, interpersonal relationships, the way you handle responsibilities, anything really.

As if individual lives weren't challenging enough, economic and environmental issues are causing problems which seem far beyond any one person's means of dealing with.
"We" in this quote does not mean you personally, as you will soon see.

I'd like to quote Scott Thorpe (From his book "How to think like Einstein):

"...Many of Einstein's contemporaries had been working on the same phenomena, but they were trying to solve a very different problem. Their problem went something like this: How can nature appear to act that way, when we know that it can't?

They did not succeed. ............Einstein succeeded because he was working on a problem that enabled a solution. He asked himself: What would nature be like if it did act the way we observe it to act?

This problem has a solution. ......... The first step in thinking like Einstein is to form a problem that enables you to seek and recognize a solution."

This makes perfect sense, doesn't it? And yes, everyone can do it.

The first step is to start from scratch. This means, for just a moment, forget what you think you know. If we have logic turned on, and especially if we have a good education, learned a lot, the reasoning is quick to eliminate what we think is not possible. We censor thoughts before they have a chance to develop. Not too easy to do, unless you do what Einstein did - find the faulty programming by just observing, drawing new conclusions each step of the way. Even if it seems completely crazy and impossible at first. Write it all down - studying, examining and proofing it all are completely separate steps.

If this seems too complex, a good example would be someone with two or three jobs wondering how s/he can make more money to be able to pay the rising bills. After changing jobs, starting a side business, still wondering the same, this person might start by going through the bills and start to ask how to save money. A drastic simplification, but showing that we can get so stuck on a problem, that we are unable to see the obvious. But it's more complex then that.

This example is not far fetched, when we look at what's happening to the large businesses. Long before Halloween we're bombarded with commercials geared towards Christmas shopping. Lots and lots of money spent, trying to guarantee customer's spending. The problem is, average people just don't have that much extra. Many are struggling to keep their heads over water. Companies are struggling, too. Many jobs are lost, and it just keeps getting worse. More spending can not save the economy, nor the individual household.

Worse, institutions helping people are also looking to make cuts, so they can survive. Understandable, considering that systems get abused by people who don't need them, but from what I've seen, a tightening usually hurts the ones who DO need it, the others find ways around it.

Where does this leave us - pressure from both ends, usually means the middle suffers the most- Middle class that is. Many have written about it, doom predictions have been made a long time ago. But where is the solution, now that is happening to a degree we can all feel?

I think more and more people are figuring it out, many have already taken the logical action, but not enough.

Lets formulate problems.

• How can you get more money, when you can't make any more, nor save anymore? (-Robbing a bank is not an option) A: This is a bad problem, since there is no answer.


• How can I keep/get what I need, by giving what I have/am able to do. A: This opens a lot of options. First you evaluate your assets, then your resources. Money will probably figure in here, since some institutions will take nothing else, but you might free up more cash, by not spending it where you don't have to. How? Bartering, trading, changing lifestyle to more self sufficiency, finding creative solutions to something you would otherwise just go and buy. Things like that. It might even mean, that you go look for a better job, more suitable, more stable, but with less pay - and once you realize your value, opportunities just might suddenly open.

If a lot more people start thinking like this, putting this in action, the easier it will become for everyone, since more and more cash is being bypassed. This is how it used to be a long time ago. Money is only an invention to simplify the process, as well as enabling hoarding. Seems there are only few who still get to hoard anyway. For most of us, it's spent before we make it. What if you have nothing material, no special skills? Don't be too quick to judge. Everyone is special in their own way. Just forget for a moment the judgements imposed on us by commercial thinking. Can you cook? Do you have extra time? Good at crafting, telling stories? Anything at all - someone out there would be glad to meet you, and trade for it in some way.

A new way of thinking for sure. How often I meet people all alone! How many complain about being bored. My heart goes out to them, because there is no good reason why this should be this way. So much aloneness in the midst of crowds. And it is THAT, which needs money and nothing else. It is THAT which needs industrial supply of everything. It takes great effort to encourage and sustain isolation of so many individuals. It is THAT which causes as consequence toxic environment, disease and an increased need for pharmaceuticals and hospitalization, which again requires a whole lot more money then most of us can afford. Again, this is a simplification, since it is - again- more complex then that, but it is a good rough outline.

Can we fix this? - We can if we want to. It will become easier, the more are willing to participate. It will not solve all problems right away, but in time the chain reaction will spread its effects, just like it did before. You can call it "turning back the clock, to times before" but really it is not. We can't, since going back is never an option. We have to learn from history, the past, and move forward with what we have learned.

You think I'm wrong? Think there's nobody willing to do this? It sure can seem that way. But here is the thing. Large companies have always done this amongst themselves, because it really does work out better.

We have been doing it for many years, wherever we can. The key is trust and honesty, and each party has to want fair exchange. Yes, there are some quick to abuse this. They soon get cut out of the deals however. There is no room for greed. But there is a lot more room to share. How often do we wish, for example, we'd have a little more help. In the fields, with sorting, even babysitting, a cooked meal. Simple things. It's not as simple as paying someone. There are the legal aspects of insurance, Workman's compensation, Social Security, just for starters. We can't even get close to be able to afford any of this, so we work alone. This gets harder as we get older. Some farmers work this, by offering internships and training with room and board. I'm not sure how fair this is in some circumstances, but if this works for all involved, then it is. We don't have rooms, but would sure be willing to share what we have, with the right people. One lady, quite a few years ago, became friend, then adopted Nana. She was a wonderful Italian lady in her eighties, kept on bringing extra pasta dishes, and loved to spend time with my oldest, when he was a baby. I know these meals were not leftovers, regardless of what she said. She knew how to cook what she needed, since she lived a very frugal life. The "leftovers" were pretty much the same amount every time, and enough for three. She felt free to ask for what she wanted. Vegetables, fruit, eggs, whatever. She didn't need all of what she took. She kept some for herself, then traded the extra with others for rides to Bingo or the Casino, gave some to her church or whatever else came up. She understood the concept well. She is still very active and involved in California now, where she moved with her sister, after her husband's death. We're still in contact, she is still "Nana."

This amazing lady is now going on- or in her nineties, still volunteering, still active. She loves people, loves to help, and in turn, people love her. You can be certain, she did not have an easy life. She has lost too much, several times in her life, and started over in California with no more then what she could take on the plane. Remember, she was already in her eighties then. That was about eight years ago. Can we learn from that?

I let Einstein have the last word on this: "Physical concepts are free creations of the human mind, and are not, however it may seem, uniquely determined by the external world" -Albert Einstein

Happy Halloween

Halloween- by Mary Jane Carr

Witches flying past on broomsticks,

Black cats leaping here and there,

White-robed spooks on every corner,

Mournful moaning in the air,

Goblins peering out of windows,

Spirit-things that rap and run-

But don't be scared-it's just October,

Having one last hour of fun!

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Have a very, very happy Halloween

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Fire Starters

Do you heat with Fireplace or Wood stove, or know someone who does? Then this little project might be of interest to you.

I've been making these Fire starters for years, and it makes starting a Fire so easy. These Wax-dipped Pine cones look great, and if you choose a scented wax, they serve as room scent until you use them up. Tie a few with a ribbon, and put a few bundles in some nice packaging, and you have a great gift. Different colors of wax make it even more fun.

To use them: Put one on top of your kindling and paper, a smaller log on top, and light the paper. How it works: The flame will light the cone, and as it burns, the wax melts over the kindling, making it more flammable as well. This gives the whole an extra boost, lighting the log. The pine cone itself burns for some time.

The greatest difference you'll see, is on days when there's some atmospheric conditions which make lighting the fire hard, when you have wood that's not as dry as you'd like it to be, or you don't have a whole lot of kindling.

Instructions:

First get some Pine Cones (we collect ours throughout the year)

and cheap candles or use up leftover candle stubs.

Melt the wax in Water bath (coffee can in pot of water is just fine) -CAREFUL wax is flammable. When wax is melted, be sure to move pot away from heating element, to prevent drippings while dipping.

Much better if you have an old Crock pot you can use! Monitor temperature however. They can get really hot. I start on high, then tun off or on low, once the wax is liquid.

With metal tong pick up Pine cone, dip in wax, set the dipped cone wide end down in a muffin pan (medium works well for most cones). I like to use a cake pan to hold the muffin pans. Metal gets really hot with the hot wax, and this also catches drips.

The extra wax on the cone will drip into the muffin pots and make little "feet" be careful when moving these pans. Let cool, and pop out - Done.

No greasing necessary - that only makes a huge mess. If they're hard to get out, which happens sometimes, but not usually, just set in some hot water for a second or two. As the wax softens, they release. I also find twisting them loose works better then trying to pull them.

Have fun, and remember to make some extra - wonderful, inexpensive, and very useful Christmas gifts. And if you don't use them as gifts, you'll be surprised how fast you'll go through them. You won't want to light another fire without them.

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Potato Pick up - and Soap

We did one more Market today - no more now, and that's for sure. As you'll see in the pictures below, it is getting really cold, and business is getting slower and slower, the colder it gets. Completely understandable. We feel the same way.

In all the years we've been doing this, we're usually done by mid October. With the Markets anyway. This year we had all those potatoes, and couldn't get them out early enough. Without proper long term storage, we decided to sell what we could, especially since a few customers got upset with us (at the first call for last market), for not bringing them. We still have a whole lot of potatoes, and would love to keep them over winter, but we still need to come up with a solution.

I had a lot of requests about picking up potatoes during the next weeks, and handed out a lot of cards, for customers to call or e-mail. If you weren't at the Market this week or last week, but want potatoes (Sweet-, Red-, White) feel free to give me a call, or e-mail. In case you lost my business card, this is also possible through the comment section on this blog, since it's moderated. Just mark it "Private" and it won't be published. While supplies last, bulk pricing is available, starting at five pounds.

And yes, for the ones who asked, I will get started with making more soap really soon, as we discussed. A Lavender -Calendula version, and after thinking about it, I will play with Aloe as well. I have never used it in soap, but since you asked for it, I'll see what I can do. This just, to show you I remember, and yes, I will definitely post here when it's ready. I'm glad you enjoyed what you bought, and feel free to stay in contact whenever you like.

Following a couple of pictures my son took today - almost everyone is bundled up, and the ones that weren't, regretted not bringing a winter coat.

The winter squash and apples area. Looks like I'm getting a bag...

In the background, Bloomfield Town hall - the leaf cover shows, time for hibernation is close.

The various potatoes on the other side, and peppers are selling fast at 4/1.-. The sign says 3/1.- but everyone was so wonderful today. Guess only nice people come out in the cold? So everyone got 4 instead, and most quickly doubled the amount they had asked for. Everything was on sale today. That's why we have the "Witch Bargain" signs up - so close to Halloween. Nobody is freezing in this picture. Certainly not I. The warmest coat I own, and it serves me well.

A blessed winter to all, and some of you I'll be seeing soon

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