Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Lots to say, so little time!
It has been too long hasn't it? Ok, I have a few moments to quickly type as I am waiting for the wood cook stove to heat up to 350 to make a special dessert for some friends coming by later this evening. Currently the Gentle Giant is out and about picking up 40 laying Golden Comet Pullets with the kitty cats and possibly purchasing our very own family dairy cow! YEAH! We will see what he decides. I sent the children along with him to see if she is a good milker or not. It is pretty neat to know I can give my children this task and they will know if the cow is worth it or not. I really wanted to go (I am one of the main milkers) but did not think it is wise at 30 weeks along (in a barn with a lantern) almost and did I mention how large I am growing! EEEK! It's going to be another big one folks J. BTW, 2 of our goats should be due to kid around the beginning of May so there will be LOTS of new life here on the farm J with some great photo ops
We are getting a brochure together of what we are selling off the farm. Let me know if you are interested in receiving one. Grass finished beef, pork, eggs, bread and local wheat berries pesticide free and more.
Spring is coming although it seems to be arriving rather slowly but one sign is all the mud. This is always the yucky time of year in the Midwest as things need to move towards beautiful spring. It is wonderful when we get there but getting there is another story J
Maple sugaring season started today. Our son went with the Amish friends to tap over 300 trees for sap. We all will help next week to make syrup. HOW FUN! We are learning and enjoying so much of everything here. Tomorrow we will go to our neighbors for a sewing day of sorts when our lessons are finished up in the morning. I am bringing bbq, a huge dessert and chips, and they will add to the community meal.
As of late I have received many wonderful and encouraging emails from all of you that are admiring our journey. Thank you so much! It really is encouraging to be hearing from you. 147% of all our criticism has come from our "friends" and distant family members. I should clarify that our immediate family has been supportive. I truly believe they criticize because they cannot grasp why we are doing this because they cannot fathom doing it themselves. That is fine, the world would be very boring if we all were alike wouldn't it?. These encouraging emails are so uplifting! Thanks and keep 'em coming! J
We are right on track to finish our lessons by the end of April. The hard work is paying off. We gave up quite a bit this year so we could finish early and strong. It will be challenging to stay focused now with the weather warming up J
Our next goals are in the works. One, instead of purchasing a tractor we have also decided to go the "off-grid" way in this area as well. We are seriously looking for a team of Belgian horses for our farm work. We have been studying up on this for a while and it seems like a good fit for our family. Our blue van (7-passenger minivan) is on the fritz big time… Who knows, when that goes you just might see us driving a buggy… J
Well, I better go. I can actually hear that the stove has reached 350 degrees in the silence... What's up in your neck of the woods?
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Reason #7
"There is, among men, a universal longing to go back to the earth from whence they came. Man will never forget his native place in Paradise lost, nor will he ever cease to yearn for a life of perfect contentment. The hope that occupies every heart is the secret dream of a Shangri-La discovered where there is an escape from the pressures of this present society.
Each of us, in this insane world in which we live, knows something of the restlessness and the dissatisfaction that create a relentless obsession to escape the treadmill of existence this society. Each of us, in this insane world in which we live, knows something of the restlessness and the dissatisfaction that create a relentless obsession to escape the treadmill of existence this society has forced upon us-an existence that has crushed us with pressures and demands that far exceed our resources; a life that often shatters our peace and leaves us like trapped animals, pacing the cage of our circumstances, plotting how to break the iron bands of involvement. We have all know the frustrations of our self-imposed timetables and commitments that cause us to feel like wheat in the grist mill of an evil system; a system that crushes our hopes, dreams, desires and blows away, like the chaff, the highest aspirations of our souls.
As has been said before: "I write with no higher hopes than motivate the rooster at daybreak – I do not expect to be appreciated or even tolerated, but I hope to awaken some to a new day". And so, to those who are homesick and do not realize that the "home" for which they are longing is NOT A GEOGRAPHICAL location, but a way of life, I sincerely dedicate this small effort. Especially do I dedicate this book to those whose homesickness will never be cured on this earth. May we all know the truth and by the knowledge of that truth to be set FREE."
You can read the other 6 reasons here. I also CHALLENGE you to download for free and read beginning to end this wonderful little book, Henry and The Great Society. I just got my mitts on this a few weeks back! It could change your life.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Today’s “school”
Today it is 58 degrees! These cabin fever people are getting out!
Peeling last years garlic on the front porch
To be planted today
Clothes drying OUTSIDE
Pennsylvania German Lessons at a kind Amish neighbor
Playing outside
Reading tonight
Looking for any Spring nature that abounds. What more could we ask to learn?
The peace
While detoxing from society if you will, at first the silence was deafening… You may recall reading about that in November. I had nowhere to run or no "vices" to avoid the silence of facing life, myself and the reality that we had chosen this path be to still…
Now, I can truly say that after 4 months, the silence is the most peaceful thing I could have ever imagined. I look forward to silence! I even find myself turning off the radio now. In fact, it's been a week or 2 that we have not even had that on. I am not saying that a radio is a bad thing. What I am saying is that I prefer the silence over the background noise. I have even turned my phone off now and just turn it on when I need to make a phone call.
I love hearing the ticking of the clock, the hand timer on the stove (ticking right now as I am waiting for a coffee cake to come out of the oven), and the fire crackling (2 fires going). Did you know that even oil lamps make a very still and quiet noise while burning? And just today I actually heard my eyes blinking as I woke up! You can only hear this in the extreme silence. It was the neatest thing.
I am enjoying facing my thoughts now with a clear and still understanding. I love hearing new and undiscovered sounds. I love hearing the house at night with children breathing up and downstairs without the refrigerator humming… I love this life!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Off-grid wee hour baby bottles…
The Great Him is still waking in the night. After nursing sessions we offer a bottle to put him back to sleep. Making bottles in the dark is interesting, to say the least. We have had some pretty bright nights here with the moon shedding quite a bit of light onto the snow. This past evening the Gentle Giant went to make a baby bottle and didn't bring the flash light as there seemed to be enough light to pour the milk. When we woke up in the morning there lay the baby (almost 16 months) drinking chocolate milk in a bottle! He was very happy J Mother was horrified!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
A found random journal entry…
I am not your typical 15 year-old. I am not into the latest crazes of video games and IPods blasting my ear drums out. Nope, I'm unusual. But I am happy about that…
Every single day I pump water from the earth, make homemade goodies and learn how to really live life to its fullest. The real way, they way it has been done for ages. My "TV" is watching the sun RISE and SET or seeing the stars on my way out to the outhouse each evening. If I had a TV I may miss this and I would miss the snow coming down and all the nature that abounds in life.
The other day, I witnessed the most beautiful sunset! A dark rose red intermingled with orange and pinks. I like seeing the moon and shooting stars.
I would not want to miss the smell of hay and manure. The smell of the crisp air-with woodstove smoke mixed in. Nor would I want to miss a crisp apple from one of our trees.
I love my life. I love everything about it even with its challenges. I look forward to SPRING when I can pick a handful of daisies.
I love being up to my wrists in dough and our new wood cook stove is my favorite thing. I wouldn't want to miss ice skating on our pond and coming in for warm treats afterwards. I love my life here! No, I'm not your "average" 15 year old. I am ready to take on challenges and ready to give God the glory for all that I have!
II Timothy 2:15
Monday, February 2, 2009
LOOKING FOR RECIPE
I will now only be using the jar method as it works best. I will give away FREE to the first commenter here my Biosta Sprouting Kit, a $30- value and like new. I won't say it does not work, but I have not had good luck with it. Maybe you will? The only catch is you will need to send me a UPS type box with return freight paid. I will put it in the box and then give it right back to Mr. UPS or any other way you would do return freight. So, basically it is free but the postage is up to you. I only ask that you post on your blog and link to us here at Eclectic Culture Farm... It's free with a few strings :)
I really need a homemade recipe for dish washing soap. I go through TONS of this now as we do so many dishes by hand. I had a dishwasher before :). I would like the soap to really work, sanitize, kill germs, safe from bad chemicals, LIQUID and easy, and be economical as well... I sure can be demanding can't I. I would love to hear what actually works for your family. I am aware that Tea Tree Oil is good for cleaning as it kills germs. Maybe you use this in your current recipe.
Thanks again!
Your questions you wanted answered can be found here.
February is a short month! I am glad! Winter is getting long. I am ordering seeds in the next few weeks and getting plans together for the farm. The Gentle Giant and I sat down this weekend and drew up sketches and wrote plans down for an exciting summer! Stay tuned…
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Looking for sprout advice
Ice fishing!
