A New Year, A New Home

December storm at home 2013

Life has been quite the roller coaster ride for several months and even now I sometimes feel like I’m on sitting on top, holding on tight, for the ride down.  I would be lying to say everything is going well as I know even with a new year, we still have old problems, problems that we as human beings will no longer be able to fix. I wonder how I manage to climb the next hill, and I’m humbled by my strength to keep climbing.

We’re now renters in our home of 13+ years thanks to some very nice buyers who didn’t need to occupy the property right away and have allowed us to stay in hopes of finding what they have found, a new beginning, a newer end or just a fresh chapter to an old tale.  We feel lucky to be turning this property over to those who are able to take it to the next level and the enthusiasm has been contagious.  This has been a welcomed relief with the stress of moving. 

We have often said that “communication” is the thread that we have available to us right now and we should be using it to the best of our ability.  For too long we have met those who are wanting something else out of life but they only end up saying more, communicating less and doing nothing to change the situation they are in.

Our home was listed by owner and we advertised on sites where we knew food was important.  We contacted sites like friendsoffamilyfarmers.org, tenriversfoodweb.org and the local permaculture group. We knew it would be hard to find the right buyers but we were willing to risk not finding them as we knew the value was in the land and the infrastructure in place to move in and grow. 

We’ve worked with realtors before, this being our 13th home in 36 years and we know how impersonal they can keep the transaction between the buyers and the sellers. Our agreement was to advertise until the middle of November and if it didn’t sell by then, we would stay and downsize the garden space.

When realtors called saying they had buyers, they asked how much commission we were willing to pay.  Usually this was a stopgap as they always wanted more.  We had already dropped the price of the property 50k prior to their calls and didn’t feel a whole lot of wiggle room left. 

Then came a call from a realtor asking us if we were willing to work with one.  “Yes” we said, though it was never discussed until the offer was submitted what exactly that meant.  The realtor brought the buyers over and we did all of the work showing them the property as we expected to do.  Needless to say it was a horrible meeting and we didn’t expect to hear back, but we did.  The second meeting was a little better as we had more conversation amongst ourselves as buyers and sellers.  We even explained our future plans of having a small micro community to not only help with the work but share in the resources.  We spoke with compassion about the blood, sweat and tears.

When the offer was presented, the commission was set at 6% and mind you this was done online through an email.  Needless to say we declined the offer without a counter as we were so disgusted that her communication was so bad.  She then encouraged us to counter so she could at least present something to this young couple who were purchasing their first home together. We then wrote up a counter with a $3500 flat rate commission.
 

****side note both sales totaled $585,000 so if we were to have paid the going 6% commission, it would have totaled $35,100****

The commission we felt was fair as there were no advertising fees for the real estate firm, nor much of anything else except bringing a buyer over that saw our ad on Craigslist.  We couldn’t understand why this couple didn’t contact us directly to save us both some money, but later learned that they were out of state and thought it would be easier working with a realtor.

Hopefully this experience taught them the difference between having one or not, especially when buying rural property.  We’ve found in our transactions that most realtors would rather the buyer and the seller never meet.

I remember closing on our first home in the late 70’s when we sat across the table from the sellers with a stack of pens in the middle, passing the papers from one to another.  Even with both realtors present we were still able to look each other in the eyes and shake hands after.  Most of our recent sale was done online.  Had it not been for us contacting the buyer directly, we may of had a whole different experience.  Good communicating usually serves a purpose. 

After things went awry somewhere between the home inspection and the wood stove inspections, we decided to take things into our own hands (as they too had served us well) and call the buyer directly to see if we could sit and discuss some of the concerns each of us had together perhaps breaking bread, which has always been our specialty.
“Come on over, take your shoes off and lets talk.”

Well our phone call ended up binding the gaps and leaving all parties happy and content.  Who would of thought that two parties could come together and mutually agree to do their part in making this work?  We don’t have many examples in our two party government anymore and they won’t even begin to talk to the 3rd.  What would we do without realtors and where would all that money go if we didn’t have them?  Hmmm….

Fast forward to this past week, one of the buyers friends who lives in the area came over to dormant spray the fruit trees, using our sprayer.  We shared what worked for us including the product we used and he purchased it to do the job.  My husband spent a few hours going over the types and varieties of the trees, 39 in all.  This was just the natural thing to do for us, why wouldn’t we want the new owners to succeed after all our hard work, won’t be on us if they don’t!

One basket of apples during the harvest of 2013

Community building has always been a part of our lives, but now especially we recognize the importance of talking, sharing and working together whether it’s with our neighbors or joint owners on our own property.  Some we met early on in our endeavors have told us how hard it is to “go it alone” and we know what “burnout” feels like.  Our previous blogs have addressed these issues.  There will come a time before long when it will be necessary to “buddy up” in order to live, and while we wait for this time we’re learning and saving.  What could possibly be wrong with that?

Helping new occupants with dormant spray December 2013

In searching for properties, we have looked with the intent of trying again to find others to join us though our main focus this time was finding another property that could generate a small income as well as provide a comfortable shelter to take refuge in.

In our years of trying, we haven’t met many we felt we could live with.  Either work ethic, different philosophies and/or communication along with trust, honesty, and dependability prevented us from making it work.  We realize we’re asking a lot, but it’s no more than what we expect from ourselves. 

With time running out to find a place, we were packing one night to make another trip south to look at one last possibility as well as some rentals, when we received a phone call from a couple we met online.   

We’ve known each other for over two years and have met face to face twice.  They said that it was just a wild card they were throwing out, and voiced their interest in sharing property with us as they knew we were looking.  We always felt like they would be a good match considering all of our skills and they had already lived a life of frugality (mostly out of the system) and amazingly grew lots of food in a very harsh climate.

After getting their phone call we left with enthusiasm and new energy thinking of the possibilities.  We came home with a property in mind for all of us and worked out the details of the purchase.

Beautiful oak trees on our new property 2013

Since it is also a FSBO, “for sale by owner” we have managed to type up our own purchase agreement/offer and negotiate closing as the owners also need to find a new home.  Most of these forms can be found online or picked up at your local title company.

Last week we made a quick day trip south to sit down with the sellers and go over important property information that only a homeowner would know.  It was great to sit down and have lunch together listening to them sharing memories and what worked well for them.

Looking each other in the eyes when talking has been the greatest asset; that wonderful thing called trust and so far it’s worked for all of us.  Maybe it’s the fact that we’re all good stewards of the land and believe in what we’ve done and are looking forward to doing.  Torches have been passed without the flame ever flickering.

No, we were not able to accomplish what we planned for this property, but the new owners have wonderful ideas and lots of enthusiasm as well as help.  We on the other hand, have discovered a new world in a place we once knew and have met those who may help us accomplish what we were unable to do here, who knows?

Recently a dear friend said, (paraphrasing), “you’ve both been pushing that huge rock up that steep slope for so long and it keeps coming back on you, sometimes when one stops forcing it the stones just tumble in place”.  Thank you Zoe for listening all these years and trying to help in whatever way you can, you too are a bright spot in our journey.

Always looking for the "bright spot" 

Speaking of good people, we met Olivia and Michael from thefarmingfish.com, while visiting potential properties.  The amount of work that’s been done on their farm in just a couple of years shows they know how to take action and are committed to changing our food web.  We look forward to a new found friendship and helping each other grow into a bigger vision of what that may look like.

Just because our vision didn’t work here, there is nothing to say that it can’t work somewhere else, it’s the relationships of people working together that will make or break it.

Recently we had a taste of our Rattlesnake Pole beans in a wonderful pasta salad that we shared with the owners of our new property.  Not only did we grow them but the seeds came from more good people in Alabama that we had the great opportunity to meet online.  Thank you Kathy C. for sharing in our meal.

We only go forward into this New Year because that’s all we know how to do, go forward.  Still trying, still searching for a new something or should I say an old style of life that others before us knew.  We thought we had a new world order but come to find out, it didn’t include 99.5% of us.  Just a new year with the same old shit.

When I’m sad, crying or angry, I know I can go outside and walk in nature to gather my thoughts and put things back in perspective.  I watched the turkeys and peacocks the other day eyeballing the fresh straw that covers the new garlic bed just planted.  We bartered with the new owners so we’ll have garlic next year for all of us to split.

New garlic bed planted December 2013

Roughly 10-12#’s were planted in two beds (one in the main garden and one up front).  This should roughly yield 120+ pounds next summer.  Browsing through the new Territorial seed catalog that just came, I realize once again the amount of money saved from growing your own.  Garlic seed is priced between $14-28 a lb.  Anyone can do that kind of math.  We haven’t had to pay for garlic seed in ten years.

It is hard leaving our food supply and lately I’ve cried a lot.  It’s not like other moves we’ve made.  I’m not looking at where the sofa will go or if the kitchen has enough room for my dishes.  No, this move is about finding some level property which at our age is easier to work, good water and a shelter that is comfortable enough where I can spend the last of my days enjoying our time left. 

However sad it is leaving, we rejoice in the little things that count.  These things we cherish, whether it’s building foundations of a relationship or passing on real wealth to those who aren’t kings and queens, but just worker bees doing a good job of preserving what we have left.

Well here we are nearing the end of our relationship/friendship/kinship with the property that has cared for us, as we it.  A mutual understanding from the beginning and both sides know that it wasn’t because we didn’t try or it didn’t give back.

We know the New Year will bring more hardships with economic pressures as well as climate chaos, but as always one foot goes in front of the other enjoying what we can and doing everything possible to protect the nature in our own backyard, happy new year.

Felted slippers made from homespun, one foot in front of the other

The Home Team is Moving On

"Slipperyslope", looking up from the main garden

Some of us woke up years ago and decided to redefine what it is in our lives that truly sustain us.

Before I retired in 2008, we both realized our dream of owning and running a small restaurant together was in fact a dream and we decided to incorporate the property we owned in helping to generate a small income where others could join us in the "good life" of owning how we live and sharing what we have.  David grew the garden space to feed 6-8 people and we worked on the existing infrastructure  in hopes of building a small community.

More than 10 years later we've learned that most of whom we've met don't want to share, don't want to work for their food and instead would rather have fun since time is running out, or to simply deny that our future will be any different than it is today and continue living the way they always have.

After failing at building community, we thought we would be able to find "business partners", someone(s) looking to team up with us to generate a farm income from fruit, as we fenced in a large area of the pasture and had hoped to put in drip irrigation from stored water at the top of the property.

Because we hoped that "they" would come and "they" never have, and because the property is too much work for just the two of us; we decided to market it ourselves hoping to find some youthful interest who can/may take it to the next level and prosper from the work we've done, and maybe we succeeded in that, we hope so.  With inspections happening this week, we should know if the deal is real and if everything goes well, we will be moving on before the winter solstice.

It's a bittersweet time for us, the longest we've ever been in one home, the hardest we've ever worked on one property and the most tears we've shed under one roof.  Someone once said, "the pain intensifies the joy" and we've certainly experienced joy while living here.

We believe that no one is exempt from working for what sustains them, especially food and water.  If you are not working for what you eat, then someone else is.

A great read by Walter Haugen, The Law of Physics Are On My Side, explores the fact that slavery still exists and states:

"Consequently, we pat ourselves on the back and think we have somehow slipped the age-old pattern of enslaving somebody else so we can have a good life.  However, this is just a delusion.  Instead of human slaves, we have energy slaves." 

We know we have worked for others in our lives and can say that it hasn't destroyed us.  In fact it's made us stronger in body and healthier in mind, all of nature works for food and we're no different.

Who we are:
David and Elaine married young at ages 21 and 19, been together for 36 years.  Not only do we still like one another,  we work well together and have always dreamed about having our own business or helping others to maintain/keep theirs.  Elaine retired from the telecommunications industry after 30 years in 2008 working from the lowest paid title of “operator” to the highest paid craft job of Central Office Technician.  David provided security for our two daughters teaching them “hands on” skills and spent time volunteering in classrooms and gyms where he coached basketball as well as mentoring as a “Big Brother.”  He held numerous job positions once our daughters were older such as Campus Supervisor,  Fraternity Cook, Sorority maintenance and Building Warehouse Supervisor for a major lighting company.

What we’ve done since 2001:
While I worked full time,  David built 1.5 acres of garden space where we grew the majority of our vegetables, fruit and herbs.

Our ad for selling stated this:
Secluded, small, productive farmstead on 5 acres 10 miles west of Junction City, Oregon
Land is gently sloped with southern exposure.
Soil is loamy, well-drained, balanced pH. Irrigation from 39 GPM well.
Ability to catch rainwater off buildings and slope of property.
No Chemicals or sprays.
Updated 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1488 sq. ft ranch home built in 1978.
Attached 2 car garage converted into recreation room
Separate 3 sided carport 33' x 36'.

Much has been written about our endeavors on our blog, specifically here:
http://embracingcollapse.blogspot.com/2013_07_01_archive.html
and here:
http://embracingcollapse.blogspot.com/2013/08/homesteading-not-just-way-of-living-but.html

We enjoy processing the food we grow and cooking with fresh ingredients during the summer season as well as stored in the winter months.

Fresh peppers stuffed with shredded zucchini and topped with homemade Ricotta cheese and cherry tomatoes

Green beans from the garden 2013

We both enjoy gardening, hiking, and reading. Elaine loves any type of craft including knitting and spinning as well as writing.  She has been a hospice volunteer for Signature Hospice in Eugene since 2010.

Shetland fleece from the Black Sheep Gathering 2013

Knitted and felted slippers made for David 2013

Here is some of what we had to offer (before selling):
• Fifty 4 x 26' raised beds.
• No till for the last seven years.
• Utilizing cover cropping, composting, companion planting, and crop    rotation.
• Maintained using hand tools.
• Well-established medicinal and culinary herbs.
• Young orchard, 40+ fruit and nut trees, 25 blueberry plants, 150' of cane fruits.
• 20 HP diesel tractor with front-end loader.
• Breeding pair of Ancona ducks.
• Chicken house capable of housing 25 chickens with fenced in run (90' x 45').
• 10' x 14' well insulated greenhouse.
• Framework installed for a 20' x 65' greenhouse with cover crop growing in it.
• Approximately two acres ploughed, tilled and deer fenced.
• Beehives.
• No Chemicals or sprays for the past 10 year

Eight beds of drying beans in front garden May 2013

Drying Beans in front garden July 2013

 

Taking down one of the bean trellises August 2013

What we’re looking for:

• To possibly join others who would like to share resources and/or living expenses while helping with a business operation.
• Help work/manage a small farm operation where our combined hours a week would be in exchange of food that we can process/store for ourselves.
• Possibly opening a small business with the help of others where food can be processed and sold.  Perhaps incorporating a commercial kitchen onsite where we can all benefit from the profit as well as the food shared.

What we have to offer:

• Financial Resources
• Familiarity of using hand tools
• Knowledge of processing fruits and  vegetables by using methods of drying, freezing, canning, fermenting and long term storage
• Experience with doing starts in a greenhouse, seed saving, composting and vermiculture
• Skilled in using herbs for cooking as well as making lotion, salves and tinctures
• Some plumbing, electrical and carpenter skills

Along with some of our better attributes such as:

• Organized
• Physically in good shape
• Dependable
• Trustworthy
• Ability to think “outside of the box”
• Adapting and dealing

Homesteading: Not Just a Way of Living, But an Act of Resistance

Time passes, things change and shit happens, so now what?  We come to terms with what we know, what we “can” do and how to take action, at least that is what we do.

Guy McPherson say's, "birth is lethal"; so every moment we live.  Moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day, some better than others.

Homesteading can be hard work but the energy invested is usually well worth the effort.  As a pacifist resists war, you might say a homesteader lives to resist giving up.  The more we learn about societies collapsing through economic fraud, resource depletion, population overshoot and climate change, the more we realize that NTE (Near Term Extinction) is not a disease but an ultimate death that we have allowed to kill us.  The choices we make today will not save us but will perhaps make the time left more bearable.

We don’t believe in hunkering down or living in fear of what inevitably will happen as death to us will come soon enough.  Instead we awaken to each day with chores in hand and a mindset of making the best of living.  This is not done without the help of nature to grow our food and/or the support of others who compliment our way of life.

We’ve found differences amongst us in our crowd of doomers that have prevented us from sharing, caring and helping one another and we have found commonalities with those who believe Revelations is all about collapse.  We laugh at our ability to get along with others and we rejoice in the overlap of the circles.  We're thankful to have some we can talk to, that will at least acknowledge how we’ve messed up our living arrangement with the earth.  We won’t ever see all things in the same light but we can agree on what is wrong even though we may not agree on what is right.

Knowing what is wrong can become so overwhelming that it prevents us from moving forward or should I say living.  Our lives are controlled by institutions such as our food system, banking businesses, military industrial complex, sickcare, education, info-entertainment (including the sports industrial complex) and the so called technology that will save the day.

Recently we read a report that stated on average people watch 34 hours of television a week.  We wonder, what if those people spent half the time securing their food source cutting down on costs and helping/supporting their small local farms?  So lets discuss food since it's something we need and it directly affects the health of us as well as the living planet. 

We've never been completely self sufficient as far as food goes and have learned to focus more on how close to home we can obtain it, either by purchasing outright or bartering.

We grow a variety of vegetables and fruit which we process and store.  What we don't grow ourselves, we purchase from small local farms or barter with honest, hard working folks.  This supports our local community, cuts down on packaging such as styrofoam, plastics and aluminum tin cans that are harmful to our health.  It also eliminates the middle person who mostly shuffles paperwork and makes money doing so.

Last year we had a surplus of 40#’s of garlic which we sold at $3 a pound to a goat farmer who wanted it not only for himself but as a booster medicine for his goats.  The $120 paid for 300#’s of hard red wheat that we purchased from an northeastern Oregon organic wheat farm.  We grind our own wheat to make bread.

Home made whole wheat bread (I now use the whey from the ricotta cheese, which gives it a springy texture)

Home made whole wheat bagels, not very pretty but they tasted good!

We have also purchased beef from the same person for the last four years, he lives within 25 miles of us and raises two cows a year that are grass fed. We pay $2 a pound hanging weight plus .50 cents a pound cut and wrap.  Experimenting with the different cuts of meats have made for some interesting meals, we hardly ever go out to eat, why would we when we can eat better at home?

T-bone steak and turnips, served with salad of lettuce, spinach, radishes, cauliflour (all veggies fresh from the garden)

Our milk comes from owners of six goats which we make our own cheese with. These connections have built relationships where I have taught spinning in exchange for sewing lessons.  Since our walnut trees are still young and not producing yet, our yearly supply of 100#’s (yield after cracking and shelling is about 48-50#’s) has been purchased from the same farm for the past four years less than 15 miles away from us on our way to town.

We purchase in bulk when possible.  I remember years ago buying granola, now we make our own.  Oats we purchase in 50# bags and cinnamon, pumpkin seeds and flax in large quantities.  Our dried strawberries are a nice addition or frozen berries left to melt in the bowl with the milk also tastes good. 

Here are a couple of examples of local meals we've had using our dried veggies as well as fresh when we have them.

Breakfast omelet made with re-hydrated tomatoes, peppers and dried zucchini, topped with canned tomatillo sauce

Dinner-

Our frozen spaghetti squash mixed with canned sauerkraut
, dried tomatoes, garlic, green onions
 and local chicken sausage
.  Served with a fresh salad made of lettuce, spinach, radishes, green onions and Amish peas (all fresh from the garden), tossed with our own herb vinegar and olive oil.

Local sausage fried with garlic and green onions, turnips, broccoli and cauliflour from the garden

Raw Pepper stuffed with scrambled eggs made with garlic and onions, ricotta cheese and cherry tomatoes, served with homemade bread

In keeping local we choose who we purchase from usually after chatting on the phone with them or visiting their farm/homestead.  Like Barbara Kingsolver said in her book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle there isn’t anything better than a farm visit as even labels that say “organic” can be grown not far from GMO crops and we live to see words backed up by actions.  We’re kind of funny in that way.

Many things can be done on the homestead to keep costs down.  We incorporate new things all the time and recently have found time to make our own toothpaste.   I’ve enjoyed learning how to infuse oils with my rose scented geraniums, calendula and lavender which I make lotion and healing salves from.  We had hoped to have our own beeswax to use in our salves but have found many local beekeepers have lost their hives recently.

Calendula from the garden

Herb vinegar, and infused oils

Chickens seem to earn their keep on the property and we love their eggs and so does our dog!  

We make his food also.

Buckeye Chickens

Our Ancona ducks mostly forage though they gotten quite spoiled with leftovers from the garden, the main reason we have them is to clean up the snails and slugs in the winter months.  Our hen don’t lay much but we sold four ducklings that paid for the pair.

Leigh-Leigh, Dolly and her four hens

As most homesteaders, we are very frugal and waste very little.  Our egg shells go back into the organic chicken feed as well as the worm bin and our compost is heaping this time of the year.  Sometimes it gives back in more than one way and we’re honored with squash, zucchini or pumpkin growing in it.

Black Beauty zucchini flourishing in the compost

                                                                                                                                                              Our hops look promising and we may get a chance to brew on own beer,

Waiting for a good brew!

and this year’s elderberries may give us a fine wine to drink on the solstice when we can celebrate once again the gift of our garden.

Elderberries wanting to become wine

I can’t imagine had our plan for a micro community worked out.  Homesteading is not for those who are lazy, but for those who don't mind a little hard work, the rewards are gratifying.  Contrary to belief, we still have fun while working.  We save money and get to see where we do spend it, and the challenge of living differently keeps us motivated.  There is no better way to live for our body, mind and soul...not for us anyways.

Moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day

Food Freedom

Who needs daylight savings time to tell them when to get up or that it’s too light out to rest your body horizontally?  The heat is on, and when you’re contending with the sun, the better you get done. 

In our years of networking one avenue we ventured was trying to engage city folk into a relationship with country folk, or people living on acreage.  City lawns will not feed city blocks, not by themselves.  Take a look around at your neighbors, neighbors kids and figure an average daily calorie count by what you see, then think about the food that it will take to fulfill that calorie intake.

Even though we know as hunger goes up, calorie intake will go down, much like what happened in Cuba (Power of Community).  We also know that it will take more physical energy to grow food without the resources we have available to us today, causing us to look more like we should or I’ll just say healthier.

So where does one start when planning a garden in the midst of collapse?  Though we don’t consider to be experts on the subject, we do have a fair amount of knowledge that we’ve gained growing food for a combined 20+ years of our married life, and most recently 10+ here in the PNW.  We’re happy to share what we’ve learned as we know time in running out for those who are just starting to contemplate the idea of sustaining themselves sufficiently.

Trading these secrets will become more important than wire tapping as we know the real terrorists live in our gardens destroying our crops, hiding in their underground tunnels where the green revolution has just begun for them.

In our neck of the woods, we’ve had to use an arsenal of weapons such as castor oil, wicked killing traps and golf clubs.  The game is called “whack a mole” and for every one we catch, 2 more escape so the war on terror continues an food takes the place of oil and one has to wonder how many miles to the gallon one will get?

Trying to work with pests sharing a percentage of food (one year it was 40#’s of potatoes out of 150#’s) with them will only become more problematic when we’re producing less due to extreme and erratic weather patterns as we’re already witnessing.

This past week our area was under an Excessive Heat Warning and for several days it was 90+ degrees.  Our boysenberries and marionberries bloomed earlier than ever and were looking very healthy. 

Marionberries from the garden 2013

We were excited about having a bumper crop but as of today  (the 4th), we picked a handful of the marionberries and the new berries that are coming on are small.  They look like they’re withering on the vines.  The boysenberries have yet to ripen but appear to have taken a beaten from the heat.  Our thornless blackberries may be our saving grace as the canes are huge and the berries come on later.  With nature crying outside our back door, we never hold our breath though.

Dying Big Leaf Maple outside our backdoor 2013

Unlike others who may just be starting their gardens, we’ve been at it for awhile and have come to learn that it’s not just a date on the calendar that tells us when to plant a certain crop but many small details such as soil temperature, nighttime temps, dry/wet spells and a long history of being “in place” and paying attention. 

So much is affected by weather and yet we’ve heard so many say, “we’ll soon get rain, we always do”, or “this heat can’t last forever”.  Both of these statements may be true but depending on when we get rain/heat or not, can test anyone’s ability to grow a good enough crop to either collect seed from, supply our own food, or generate an income.

With the yearly weather fluctuations we have to thank our wall street criminals that taught us to diversify, diversify, and diversify.  Unlike monocropping we’ve tried to create a living system that feeds more than just us. 

The bees are out in numbers now and we step lightly on the clover planted between the beds.  By interspersing the garden with flowers, and herbs, we manage to isolate some of the pests to certain areas away from the food we both love.
 
Growing  a large variety of different things helps when certain families of vegetable don’t do well (ie: brassicas that bolt in the heat, beans that sit in cool/wet conditions, and tomatoes, peppers and melons that like it hot).  Variety has allowed us to succeed when the weather has caused crops to fail.

Perennials we grow:
Asparagus, Grapes, Boysenberries, Marionberries, Blackberries, Elderberries, Strawberries, Blueberries, Currants, Hops, Apples, Plums, Cherries, Filberts, Walnuts, Pears, Clover, Chives, Sorrel, Kiwi, Strawberry Spinach, Dill and Sunflowers.

Herbs we grow:
Comfrey, Motherwort, Mugwort, Rose Hips, Echinacea, Arnica, Calendula, Sage, Oregano, Stevia, Sweet Woodruff, Lavendar, Rosemary, Lemon Verbena, Thyme, Skullcap, Cinquefoil, Feverfew, Lemon Balm, Bee Balm, Marshmallow, Yarrow, Chamomile, Amaranth, Valerian, Cilantro.

Annuals we grow:
Broccoli, Beets, Celery, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Onions, Garlic, Green Beans, Drying Beans, Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Tomatoes, Peppers, Squash, Potatoes, Radishes, Turnips, Rutabaga, Melons, Cucumbers, Clover, Buckwheat, Vetch, Fava, Carrots, Kale,  Corn, Wheat, Barley.

Seeds we’ve saved:
Broccoli, Potatoes, Garlic, Tomatoes, Peppers, Squash, Spinach, Celery, Kale, Peas, Drying Beans, Turnips, Lettuce, Dill, Cilantro, Cucumbers, Carrots.

Perennial Flowers we grow:
Oriental Poppies, California Poppies, Bachelor Buttons, Columbine, Sunflowers, Lilacs, Honeysuckle, Gladiolas, Dahlias, Roses, Cala Lillies, Iris, Hollyhock, Daffodils, Borage, Azalea, Cosmos, Nasturtium.
  

As Russia learned when they went through collapse in the 90’s the importance of potatoes,  we’ve learned about other root crops that are staples to us such as turnips and rutabagas.  They both have long growing seasons and store well.  Both have done well for us when we leave them in the ground over winter.

Drying Beans in front garden 2013

We’ve also discovered the importance of protein and have tasted many different varieties of drying beans.  In our six years of growing them in our 4’ x 26’ raised beds , we have yielded between 10-13#‘s.  This year we have seven different varieties using a mix of both bush and pole types.  Our main problem here is our early rains in late August or early September and if we don’t pull them, they rot.  Doing this on a small scale, we can pull the vines and place them on tarps undercover to let them dry out.  If the rain stops and we get some sun we just pull them out of cover.  Not only are they good for us, but they are a great nitrogen fixer for the soil.

Lots of beans 2013

Front garden with five beds of drying beans 2913

Today on the fourth of July we think of food sovereignty and we celebrate our own independence by consuming burgers on the grill from less than 20 miles away, “freedom fries” (potatoes from the garden) with our own ketchup and tonight, once again, we’ll gaze up into the black sky at the sparkling diamonds that nature displays for us.

Burger with strawberry spinach, tomato and sauerkraut (all from the garden), Freedom Fries and homemade ketchup...
no Heinz here

A Message in an Envelope

What a nice surprise yesterday when I went to retrieve the mail.  I reached in the box to find a small brown envelope addressed to both of us.   The envelope had a return address with a name that was unfamiliar to me.  Curiosity led me to quickly open the package marked media mail to find a book inside titled, The Law of Physics Are On My Side written by Walter Haugen.  I bounced down the driveway reading the back and the dedication:

This book is dedicated to Toni Lyons -

crack editor, fellow weeder and best companion.

Every day she gets up and does something positive.

When that is done she does something else that is positive.

My emotions were as raw as meat waiting to be tenderized.  I can't begin to say how I felt while reading this.  Standing at the top of the driveway I was surrounded by trees and I felt hugged. 

I ascertained from the back of the book that Walter is a small farmer who makes a difference every day by feeding people and he wanted us to know that there are others who relate.  I haven't felt this inspired to write something for quite some time,  thank you Walter and Toni for thinking of us.

A gift shared from someone you don't know is like a breath at the end of time, one never knows if or when it's coming.  

Two weeks have passed since we put our property up for sale and I thought it would get easier.  Many emails have been sent to family and friends not only hoping to get the word out, but hoping to find a buyer who appreciates what it has to offer, very few replies have come back.    

Maybe too often I expect others to at least acknowledge the hard work that went into creating this sanctuary that feeds us,  though I remember my New Year's resolution was to give up my expectations and I begin to chastise myself for thinking.  

Walking back down the driveway I decided to hide the book that we just received and present it to my husband tomorrow,  as a "thank you" for all that he has done.  

Inspired by a thoughtful stranger, I sat down to write this letter that flowed out of me in less than 30 minutes.  For me inspiration is so strong when it feels so right.

The letter to my husband, reads:

We received this book in the mail today and I've only read the back and the dedication.  It put a bounce in my step as I wondered how the author had heard of us, but even more important is the fact that he felt a need to reach out when perhaps we needed to hear the message.

You especially have worked so diligently in building our small farm which we both know is going to be so needed if not by us,  then by others who can breathe more life into it.  If we sell, the feather will be placed so justifiably on the side of your cap.  

I think I've learned more in these past 11 years than I will ever learn and together once again we weather the storm and embrace what it is we need to, we always do.

I know you have said that you were not cut out to be a father but then I have to ask who is?  You have never been anyone else than who you are and authenticity is a trait that many strive to have but fall short because they would rather be liked.  I for one struggle with this and have learned from you that one of the most important things we can give and share with each other is honesty, without it, is a world full of lies and deceit which we see so much of today.

Wherever we have lived,  you have always managed to create a sanctuary of peace.  This one is not without sadness as so much of the surroundings are now dying.  Our maple tree that once served as a shelter from the rain is already shedding it's leaves now in June.  Nature is crying in pain and all we can do is watch.  But before me is a splendid garden tended by you with the love and interest of a child painting their dream of a lifetime.  

I look at this work of art and I know how it was mastered, one day at a time, putting one foot before the other.  Positive change can only come from the endeavor to face the truth and work with what you have, offering your physical strength and endurance to persevere through sorrow and pain.

No, I am not your daughter,  I am your wife.  I honor your love and friendship every day and I admire your honesty as a father who has been nothing less than honest with your children just as you have been to yourself.  

Thank you for taking the time to explain and teach most of whom has given you the opportunity.  You have gone from the player on the sidelines who listened,  to a coach in the game with a message.

Happy Father's Day from your wife. 

The Will To Go On

While planting peppers outside last Friday, we took pictures of our bigleaf maples and compared them to some pictures we took in 2011.  What you see here is happening every day before our eyes,  this is collapse up close and personal.

Bigleaf maple over deck 2011

Bigleaf Maples 2011 (one on right is above the deck)

Same one in picture above on left side 2013

Bigleaf maple over deck 2013

I've watched every year since 2007 the changes that have taken place to many of the trees around us, especially noticing the one by our deck.  What was once a big beautiful canopy towering majestically over us is now a mere skeleton.  The leaves (some of what use to be a foot across) are now about half that size.

Recently I read an article posted in the Eugene Weekly here:  http://www.eugeneweekly.com/20130530/about-time/its-about-time-june-2013 stating that it's a "banner year" for the bigleaf maples.  Today I emailed David Wagner to find out exactly what that means?

I remember when the tree over our deck served as a big umbrella, it's branches reaching almost to the ground from the weight.  When sitting under it,  we were completely shaded from the sun and it was quite interesting to look up and see nothing but green.

Umbrella of bigleaf maple by deck 2013

Working outdoors is a mix of bittersweet.  I feel as if I'm on a roller coaster suffering overwhelming feelings of despair and enthusiastic bouts of joy.  My gardens are filled with life this time of the year and I welcome the season of hard work as I remember the tastes of the rewards. 

Making Tomatillo sauce 2012

In 2002 we purchased a small 4WD diesel front end loader tractor with tiller and mower attachments.  I cleared an area of brush, wild blackberries and weeds and brought in a few loads of chicken manure from a local farm.  Along with the 50 yards of Blended Mint Compost we had delivered, we collected maple leaves and grew cover crops of annual clover which I worked into the soil.  This allowed us to grow food for a few years before reading Eliot Coleman's books, Four Season Harvest and The New Organic Grower. 

In 2006 after reading these books (which I highly recommend),  I decided to build all raised beds which would keep the costs low and make the garden easier to manage.  Our decision was based on the size needed for a small community of six people as this was our goal.  Since then we have found  most people don't want to work that hard for food and our community building efforts have failed.

For our design of raised beds, I tilled a large area and used string to mark each one 4' x 28'.  I heaped up soil in between the string and tilled and heaped again until the beds were 10-12" high.  This left a 2' flat walkway between them in which I planted perennial clover.  I continued this process tilling on each side of the finished bed I was working on until all 50 beds were completed.

Garden raised beds planted with onions 2013

Framed hoop house before raised beds, planted with perennial clover 2012

Framed hoop house after raised beds 2013

I have found that this system keeps the integrity of the beds intact (alleviating the need for wood), feeds the bees (which we really need to do), fixes nitrogen and is aesthetically pleasing to look at.  I keep the clover trimmed and use it for mulch.

The beds/garden have not been tilled for over seven years which allows the growth of microorganisms as well as increasing water and decreasing soil erosion.   This method also allows for carbon sequestering by increasing the organic matter that is kept in the soil. We use no chemicals and maintain by cover cropping, composting, mulching, companion planting and crop rotations and all maintenance is done using hand tools...manual labor.

Crop rotation chart for lower garden

Our wide variety of flowers and herbs help with pest management and our ducks are allowed in the garden at the end of the season to clean up.

Ancona ducks in Spring garden 2012

I sit under my skeleton of a bigleaf maple that is dying while I peer down into the garden that is full of life.  Even though the majority of the work has been done, I'm now 11 years older and even the maintaining has become too much to handle.  Our property is now up for sale;  such a great find for those who are not afraid of hard work and can appreciate knowing where their food comes from. 

Main garden below April 2013

Main garden 2012