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“If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.” Thomas Jefferson

Saturday, February 28, 2009

I sure would like to see this for real!

Arrogant Bureaucrat


A Department of Agriculture representative stopped at a farm and talked with the old farmer.

I'm going to inspect your farm."

The old farmer said, "You better not go in that field."

The Agriculture representative said in a wise tone, "I have the authority of the Government with me. See this card? I am allowed to go wherever I wish on agricultural land."

So, the old farmer went about his farm chores. Later, the farmer heard loud screams and saw the Department of Agriculture representative running for the fence and close behind was the farmer's prize bull. The bull was madder than a full nest of hornets and the bull was gaining at every step.

The old farmer called out, "Show him your card!"

I make no apologies

Some of my readers may not realize yet that I am unabashedly, unashamedly Southron. I am proud of my Southron heritage and ancestry. I do find it interesting these days that the things that my ancestors fought for, are now being fought for around the whole country. Our message is finally being heard, I pray it isn't too late. I would like to clear up some misconceptions that mainstream media and entertainment have put out there.

1.Just because we talk slow doesn't mean we think slow. We actually are quite intelligent down here in the south and have given the world such great thinkers as William Faulkner, Mark Twain,and others.

2. Southern women are neither weak, wimpy, nor shallow. Southern women are strong, but gracious. The women of the south have endured when no other could have. After the war and Sherman's march in which all food supplies were destroyed, the women of the south did not idly sit back and starve. They work hard to find food and simply do what needed to be done. Southern women carry their strength quietly, using it when needed while all the while remaining the gracious lady.

3. Southrons do not hate yankees or persons of color. This makes me so mad that hollywood portrays us as hating yankees or blacks. We are not a people who are prone to hate, period. We judge a person on their character, not on where they come from or what color they are. It is poorness of character and lack of manners (we call this breeding) that we hate.

4. We are Christians. True Southerners are Christians. We make no bones about it and make no apologies either. Christianity is our way of life we simply do not accept any other. Modern Christianity likes to be politically correct and say that all religions have their path to God. Bulldooey!!! Jesus said," I am the way, the truth and the light. No one comes to the Father but through Me." I believe Jesus versus some preacher trying to get more money in his coffers. We Southrons believe Jesus too, it is our way.

5. We are not all married to our cousins, at least not in modern day society anyway!

6. We live our lives by a code of honour. The same code passed down through the ages. We take a person at their word and don't expect it to be broken.

7. We wave and say hello, even to people we don't know. It is polite and hospitable.

8. We have never forgotten our cause and will never forget it. The same cause of our founding fathers, freedom and liberty.The South will rise again.

9.We believe in working had and supporting ourselves and our families. We don't believe in welfare and a free ride.

10. We believe in stopping to smell the roses. There is much enjoyment in life to be had, unless you are too busy rushing by that you miss it.

So there is so much more but that about covers the basics. We are a tough breed of people who can have a lot of fun along the path of life. God bless and take care!

Our Southron Heritage

"To you, Sons of Confederate Veterans, we will commit the vindication of the cause for which we fought. To your strength will be given the defense of the Confederate soldier's good name, the guardianship of his history, the emulation of his virtues, the perpetuation of those principles which he loved and which you love also, and those ideals which made him glorious and which you also cherish. Remember, it is your duty to see that the true history of the South is presented to future generations."
--- Lt. General Stephen Dill Lee, Commander General, United Confederate Veterans, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 25, 1906.


From the Lost Cause to the New South:
A Brief History of Southern Heritage
by K. Steven Monk
From 1861 until 1865, the Southern states of what we today call the United States of America existed as a sovereign nation known as the Confederate States of America. Because of differences in culture, economics and religion which the South felt were irreconsilable, they had seceded from their alliance with the Northern states. This was an act which, under the terms which they had ratified the Constitution, they had the right to do (they had in fact entered that union as sovereign states under contract with the other sovereign states and a federal entity known as the United States or federal government).

All would have been well and good had the federal government simply let the Southern states go their way. We had no hatred for the Northern people, we simply wanted to be left alone. But empires are not built through pacifism and so federal forces acting under the dictatorial authority of Abraham Lincoln invaded our homeland with a vehemance that was unprecedented in the history of mankind. In the single most costly war in American history brother was often times pitted against brother in a conflict that took more American lives than have all the wars that she has ever fought in combined.

Although we lost the War for Southern Independence, the cause for which we fought still lives on in the hearts of our fellow Southern patriots, or Southrons, as they are more properly termed. It will always live on so long as men desire to be free -- free to live their lives in the way they see fit without the constraints and infringments of government. Government without the consent of the people is tyranny and, as such, has no legitamacy (please refer to the quote at the top of this page entitled "Why We Fought the Civil War"). Patriots fought against tyranny in 1776 and they fought against it again in 1861. Man's desire to be free does not sleep nor will it die. It is an inalienable right granted by God and not by any governmental institution created by men.

The war ended in 1865 with the peace to which Robert E. Lee agreed, but the hostilities continue. It has been 138 years since the last shots of the War for Southern Independence were fired, but still, Yankee troops remain on our soil and their Washington based government continues to rule us with an iron hand. We are living under an occupational government. The Yankee Empire has replaced our constitutional form of government with a bureaucracy, backed by a non-elected judiciary of unprecedented power. Its open-door policy on illegal aliens is daily destroying our unique Southern culture with government-enforced multiculturism and "political correctness." This same wave of politcal correctness has incited the removal of many of our monuments and memorials from public display. The removal of still others is a constant threat. Even our cherished banners--symbols of Southern Pride--have been banned from public display and from schools in many areas of our beloved Southland. I can remember a time when the playing of "Dixie" at a school football game would bring the crowd to its feet with wildly exuberant cheers and Rebel Yells. Now it too has been banned from school grounds and alumni events, right along with prayer.

Even though we lost the War for Southern Independence, the cause for which we fought has not been lost. It still lives on in the spirit of the Southern people, of all color. This spirit, undaunted by reconstruction and guided by the hand of God, like the phoenix which rose from the ashes, will lead Southrons to build a new South that will rise in prominence among the nations of the world.

Rain, Rain, and more Rain

Gotta love these spring rains, except we have so much to do outside. It has been pouring down rain since yesterday about 1 pm with no sign of stopping anytime soon. Looking out the windows, everything is one big sloppy mess. I am thankful for the rain, but I would like to spread it out a bit more. Couldn't we have just a few hours here and there instead of all this at one time? Oh well, it isn't my decision. Sometimes although the rain is welcome it can come at an inconvenient time. I just hope that it lets up before I have to drive into town today. Rain drops keep falling on my head.......

Can't Never Could

My grandaddy had a saying "Can't never could". I have often thought about that saying. There are times when I am tired, my muscles hurt, my bones ache and I think I can't do one more thing that day. Then my grandaddy's voice echoes in my head with those words "Can't never could". It makes me change my attitude and once that is changed then I find the strength and the drive to keep going and keep doing. It might take me longer to do somthing, or I might do it differently. However, once I have given up the defeatest thought of I can't, then amazingly I can draw from deep down inside and find the strength to keep going. I cannot stand the word "can't". It is an awful word that sets a person up for defeat before they even start because once the mind is made up that it can't be done, then the body follows suit. I used to event horses and when I was 14, I was riding a new horse on a very remote course, that wound for miles back through woods. Nowhere near any kind of civilization. The person that was riding with me got way ahead of me and I was left by myself to bring up the rear. The horse and I both made a bad call at a very big jump and I flipped over his head and came down on the top log. As I crashed down that solid jump made of logs, the bones in my hip cracked and shattered. I was miles from anywhere, on the ground, in agony, but I still had the reins in my hand and a relatively calm horse looking at me like I was an idiot. I knew I could lay there and it would take hours for anyone to find me or I could get back on that horse and get back to the barn. "Can't" never entered into my mind. I pulled up on one leg and my arms on top of those logs and then coaxed the horse close enough that I could slide into the saddle from the wrong side. Then I made my way slowly back to the barn, where everyone was wondering what was taking so long and just getting ready to go out looking for me. I rode straight into the barn and they had to get me down and take me to the hospital. I got back to that barn because I thought I could. Looking back on it over the years since, I should never have been able to get back on that horse. But because I thought I could, then I did. I was also told then that I should never ride again. I have ridden ever since and even evented since then. I have ridden and competed with broken bones, cracked bones, sprains and pulled muscles. All because I never said "I can't". The pain of all those years has taken its toll, but I won't let it stop me. Instead of thinking I can't because I hurt, I think I will just because I can. The attitude can make or break a person. It can give you the strength and the willpower to go on or it can defeat you before you ever get started. Those who rodeo have a saying also, "Cowboy up". It means the same thing, look deep inside yourself and draw your strength from sheer willpower and determination. If you want something bad enough then do it instead of finding excuses why you can't. Can't never could. So cowboy up and do what needs doing.

US Food Supply in Jeopardy

Since I have done recent blogs about my strong dislike for corporate farms and supporting family farms this article fit right in. Family farms have been rapidly declining over the past 20 years especially because they cannot compete pricewise with the corporate machines. Family farms are in danger and with the decline in family farms comes the decline in our nations food supply. Currently the United States does not produce enough food to feed its citizens, that is why so much food is imported. What is going to happen when those countries themselves face food shortages and stop exporting food? I will tell you people in the United States will begin to starve. It is not a matter of oh just start the farm back up mentality. Many family farms have been replaced by suburbs and many more lie fallow. A farm that has been not been maintained takes years to get back up and running properly, especially the family farm. Take it from me, we took on a fallow farm and have been working for years to get it back in shape and up and running. It is not an easy task and not one that many people are willing to take on. Those of us who have farms, need to be diligent about using them as such. Many have farms nowadays yet don't farm. They have simply become retreats from city life and nothing more. A farm is an extension of the family who lives there. It receives love, attention and care just like the rest of the family. A farm is more than just a piece of land, it is a part of the souls who work it and tend it. Those of us who have land have an obligation to work that land. The very nature of our survival as a nation depends on it. As more an more corporations go bankrupt the need for family farms and the goods they produce will rise. So again I implore my readers for the sake of our communities, our family and the people of our nation grow grow and grow some more. Use the gift that God has granted us. May God bless you in your journey. Here is the article I was talking about.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Rain is Coming

We have rain coming in this afternoon, so my blog will have to hold off until I can't get outside to work. I have several posts that I wish to write and will be doing that this afternoon when the rain comes rolling in. This morning I am getting outside to try and get some more work done on the garden fence. I finished the chicken house yesterday so hopefully I can get some pics and post for all to see. It isn't the prettiest thing, but it is sound and safe. The best thing about it is that it did not cost us a penny. So......hiho,hiho, it's off to work I go!! See you this afternoon. God bless

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Tips for Pasture Maintenance

A good pasture is one of the most valuable assets that a homestead can have. It provides feed for a long period of time meaning that you have to buy less. However, pastures that are routinely grazed need a good maintenance program. Everything I know about maintaining pastures I learned from my grandaddy who was a cattle farmer. Most of the feed for his cows was gotten from the pasture. So I thought I would pass on a few of the tips that he passed on to me.

1. Rotate your pasture. This is important as the pasture needs time to rest and put on new growth. So even if you have limited pasture, divide it up. Even a short rest of a couple of weeks is better than none at all. Not rotating your pastures will lead to a lot of expense trying to keep forage in them for livestock.

2. Choose grasses and legumes that grow best in your area. I love Kentucky bluegrass and there is nothing that makes a prettier pasture. However, I know that my climate just will not support this grass. It is important for a successful pasture to grow the forage that grows best in your area. Down here in the deep south we grow Bahia or bermuda pastures mixed with clover. We overseed with perennial rye in the early fall for winter forage. I always recommend a mix of a grass and a legume. The legumes put nitrogen back into the soil which creates balance in soil health and the nutrition content of pasture.

3. Mow your pastures twice a year. We mow in the spring and in the fall. This will remove any rank growth of the grasses as well as keep the weed problem under control

4. Fertilize and lime your pastures. This can be done organically by using lime which is all natural and spreading manure each time you move livestock. If you can disk in the lime because it take an awful long time to get into the soil just by spreading it. If using commercial fertilizers, don't graze livestock on the pasture for several weeks after fertilizing. We also will use extra compost to fertilize with.

5. De-thatch if necessary.Horses and cows are hard on the ground, they compact it which does not allow for water, nutrition and air to get to the roots. It is important that periodically you go through the pasture and poke small holes in the ground so these things can get to the roots. Also de-thatch by taking a rake and pulling it through the grass. Somtimes clippings and such can build up around the plant further making it hard for water and nutrition to get into the soil.

By following these tips and working to maintain pastures you can provide year round nutritional grazing for your livestock, thus cutting down your feed bill.

Cloth Napkins

We stopped using regular napkins a long time ago. I love cloth napkins, especially antique napkins. These napkins surprisingly are often easy to find in thrift shops and at flea markets. Often they are relatively cheap because they are not a complete set and people just don't know what to do with them. I have picked up quite a few and they do make a bit of an eclectic collection. I find the fact that I do not have a full set to be charming. If you can't find them you can make them. Cotton muslin is a wonderful cloth. I use it for so much and it is not too expensive. It tends to be a bit thicker than some other cloth and can be dyed to any color or variation of colors (read tie dyeing). It is super soft and seems to get softer with every wash. It doesn't take much of it to make cloth napkins and for those women who like to go the extra step they can make fun embroidery projects. By using and reusing cloth napkins there is quite a bit of money to be saved also, just as there is with other cloth. To make a cloth napkin I use two sizes, one for company and one for everyday. For the everday napkins I cut my muslin in an 8" x 8" square and for company napkins I cut them in a 12" x 12" square. To hem them you can simply do a machine rolled hem or a hand embroidered rolled hem. To hand embroider a rolled hem the simplest way that I have found (not necessarily the correct way)is to dampen the end and roll it slightly. Then stitch a simple overlock stitch using a small stitch length. You could also do a pin stitch around the rolled edge, but this will take a bit more time, especially if you are slow like me. I love hand embroidery and much prefer it over machine embroidery because it does give a unique look that is much more elegant than that of machine embroidery. Hand embroidery always tells me that an object was created with much love. So ditch those awful paper napkins and head to the fabric store for some great cloth napkins. Another idea instead of buying more fabric is to use some of those old cotton sheets that you have been saving for some use. They work real well and it is a great way to reuse something you already have. God bless

The South Must Rise Again

The South Must Rise Again is a sermon by Pator John Weaver. It is one of the best sermons I have listened to for a long time. I will summarize and then you can take a listen. It is about an hour long, but well worth the listen.

Lincoln was the first president to ignore the Constitution of the United States and to directly ignore the orders of Congress. The Civil War was Lincoln's war and he went so far as to imprison congressmen that disagreed, including those from northern states. The Confederate Union was a union of states willing to stand for Christ. This was a religious war as well as a war for liberty and freedom. The leading theologians of the time were in the South. Lincoln sought to destroy the South. He was the first president to enact executive orders. The Civil War changed our government from a Constitutional Republic to a democratic empire. The Unitarian principles that were prevalent in the north, that man needs no Savior and has the power of redemption for themselves,had invaded our churches ever since. We now see the ultra liberal school of thought that all religions have their way to heaven. This heresy proclaims that none need Jesus Christ, he is just one of many ways. The South must rise again in order to defeat this heresy and once again stand on the principle that Jesus Christ alone is the way to salvation. The south must rise again to restore the republic that we all hold so dear. Lincoln allowed and proposed the growth of our federal government and the idea that the government must take care of the people instead of the people taking care of themselves and the government. Lincoln did not preserve the union he utterly destroyed it. We now see disasters in which the people do not cry out for the help of God almighty, but instead call out for the help of the government. The people of this country have replaced God with the government. The south must rise again as what it once was, the bastion of the Biblical faith and the citadel for the Constitutional republic. There is a reason we are called the Bible belt and we must be willing to stand up and defend such an honor. This is a must listen to sermon, especially with so many states declaring sovereignty. This sermon explains the history and biblical reasons behind why we need to go through this act. May God be with us all.

The South Must Rise Again

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

What Time do You Start Your Day?

I hear from a lot of homemakers and homesteaders that often wonder how I do all that I do during the day. In addition to what I post on a daily basis here I have other things going on. I homeschool so much of my morning is taken up with schoolwork. I also have a toddler whose main mission during the day is to see houw fast she can totally destroy a room, which leaves me with constant picking up and putting away. I am also a freelance writer and an artist. There are meals to be prepared, livestock to feed and clean up after, horses to groom, and general things here and there that always need to be done. My days are full. However, I would not possibly be able to get all that I do in a day if I slept later than I do. I awaken at 5 am every morning. From 5 until 7, I read my Bible, read the news, respond to emails, write blog posts and anything else that needs to be written ,and start a load of laundry. My day formally ends at 8pm when the children go to bed and I can sit and relax with my husband for a couple of hours before heading to bed. Homesteaders that don't get out of bed until 8 or 9 are not going to get everything done in a day that they want to, especially if they are just beginning their homestead journey and establishing that homestead. I have never known a farmer, and I have know quite a few in my life, that does not begin their day before daylight or close to it. My grandfather was up before daylight every morning. My Dad milked cows and fed chickens by the light of the lantern because the family farm did not yet have electricity. He did all of that before school. Homesteading is a career that begins early in the morning. So those that are sleeping until 8 or 9 and not getting really started on their day until even later than that are missing out on valuable time and cutting themselves short. So if you are wondering why you can't get what you want to get done in a day then maybe you need to reasses your time schedule.

The first Step Toward Energy Independance

I have talked to quite a few people lately that express an interest in energy independance for their homestead. We too are interested in becoming independant of the big companies. Sometimes in the excitement and rush to get solar or wind power people miss a very important and basic step. Unless, one can afford a very large and very important system it is unlikely that solar or wind can support the average energy use of a home. I know, when I looked into getting enough solar panels 2 years ago to support the energy consumption of our farm the cost would have been around 25,000.00 dollars. That is a very large chunk of change. What I needed to do was to reasses our energy consumption and cut it down. So for these past two years we have cut down our energy usage, little by little. Go a little longer during the year without aircondition, add extra insulation to the deep freezer and water heater, use as little lighting as possible, cook outdoors, hang clothes on the line, things such as these make a big difference. Then there are a few little things such as turning off power strips so there are no little blue lights drawing minute amounts of power. When I my coffee is finished brewing I will place my coffee in a thermos and turn off the coffee pot so that it is not on for several hours. We are working on cutting down on our refrigeration needs which will also lower our needs. We wash laundry in cold water and wear some clothes twice before they get washed, cutting down on the number of loads. We have assigned shower days, so that there are not multiple showers being taking every single day. We are also seeking to make our home more energy efficient, which can be a difficult task as it is quite an old home. We have caulked windows and stopped leaks around doors. Little by little we have reduced our energy use 1400kW per month. We are still seeking to reduce that number further. We will be putting solar on the chicken and rabbit house this summer, just enough to power a light and a fan. That will be the first victory for us and the first reward for all our hard work to reduce our needs.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Understanding Corporate Farms

I will make no bones about it, I hate corporate farms. The men who run those corporations are no more "farmers" than I am an astronaut. They have totally ruined the farming reputation by introducing chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers and GMOs. They have stripped this fertile land of ours all in the name of farming. They don't farm, they mass produce and like any other mass produced piece of crap, well it is a piece of crap. Too cheap to pay decent labor and produce healthy food for the community, they milk sick half starved cows, cover our food with toxic chemicals and destroy our honeybee population. These men are money hungry uncaring and lying sons of guns. Let's take Dole for instance. Ask Hawaii how they feel about Dole. Dole wanted to exploit Hawaiian pineapple and eventually Hawaii lost their sovereignty as a nation. Folks, if you want healthy food grow your own or buy local from your local small family farms. We almost saw small family farms wiped out in America, but we are a tough breed. Many hung in through those hard years and struggled. Now, those of us that were just little tykes back then are coming back to the land. We have small family farms struggling to survive all over this country and they actually care about your health and your business. You might pay a little more than you would in the grocery store, but then again you may not. You might actually get some produce that is not 90% chemically based. And you might get a chicken butchered at the perfect time without any antibiotics. Oh and the eggs, lets not forget the freshest most delightful tasting eggs money can buy. That is a whole lot better than those month old tasteless things you get in the grocery store. So check out these two spots to find a farm near you. The advantages are you keep your money in your community, you eat healthier, you support local family farms, and you send the corporations that strawberries with arctic fish genes injected in them are not ok with you. Did I mention I hate corporate farms?

Local Harvest
Pick Your Own
Buy Local Food

Raised Beds vs. Rows

Raised garden beds are very trendy now and they are quite nice looking and convenient. They tend to be less maintenance also. I have seen a lot of homesteaders talking about using raised beds for their gardens this year. A lot of this has to do with the environmental movement and not wanting to till the ground for fear of soil erosion. While this is a great idea and for the small gardener that simply wants to supplement their food supply would work quite nicely. However, for those of us that seek to provide all of our food supply and supplement our animals food supply then raised bed gardening is not only impractical it is expensive. Traditional row gardening is our only way to go and with good stewardship will not lead to soil erosion. For a row garden the first thing is the site. If it is flat, it is a good spot. Row gardeners don't garden on a slope or hill. Second, when the garden is not in use for gardening plant forage for animals, this will helps anchor the soil along with using the dead plant matter on top of the soil. Not only will the dead plant matter decay and add nutrition back to the soil, but will anchor the soil in place. So if you are considering serious homesteading and providing most if not all of your food supply then row gardening is your best bet. You will get more food per square footage and have much less expense. Besides the extra work of weeding and defining rows is good excercise. God bless.

Stepping out of the Mainstream In Your Life

It is difficult to live a goodly Christian life and especially difficult to make the transition and the move outside of mainstream society. Even mainstream Christianity is corrupted by the pitfalls of this world. The biggest difficulty in making the move to be an obedient Christian wife, and life an agrarian lifestyle is the criticism and the feeling that you are alone. People sometimes treat you as if you have lost your mind when in fact all you have done is find it. Jesus Christ never said that living according to His will and no one else's would be an easy road to walk. However, the rewards are great. I have seen tremendous changes and growth in our family since our step out of the mainstream. We are closer together and closer to God. My husband has taken the role of head of the house, as ordained by God, when at one point in time I never thought he would. It took me changing myself for him to be able to assume his role. The reason being was that I took that role from him. When I stepped back and into my role as his helpmate then he was able to be the man that God wanted him to be. I do think there are more of us women who are telling women's lib to go jump in the lake. Women's lib is one of the most evil things to come to this country. It made us women think that if we were not acting as men and trying to be men and fulfill manly roles, then we were nothing. But there is an old saying "Behind every great man is a good woman" and that is so true. When they are little boys, we raise them teach them and mold them. The way they view women is entirely up to us mothers. They learn to be strong men by seeing strong fathers and mothers who work together. We have created a generation of weak cowardly men and look where our country has come because of it. The men are weakened because women have told them that they are not needed. A man needs to be the head of the house, the provider, the protector and the guide for his family. Without that he feels he has no purpose. Being outside of mainstream in our lives is difficult at times. We do get some ridicule, but our focus is not what they think of us but what God thinks of us. Am I raising our children to follow in His ways? Am I being the best helpmate to my husband that I can be and do I allow him to actually be a man? As long as we women assume the role of the head of the house men will remain little boys. It is only when we relinquish that role that they become men. Men who take up this role that God has given them have a terrible burden on their shoulders, they are responsible for all of us and the way that we live our lives. Wow, I am really glad not to have that burden and responsibility. My husband will answer to God for my transgressions and those of our children. It will be his failing, if we fail. Women's shoulders nor their hearts were meant for this burden. Living with God's order and following His path is not an easy task and mainstream society and Christianity places a stigma on those of us who do. However, I would rather that the world hate me and God smile on me, than for the world to love me and God to shed tears for one more lost soul. May God bless you in your journey outside of the mainstream.

Chickens arriving this week

I am really excited. The finishing touches will be done on the chicken house today and then we will pick up our chickens later this week. We are getting 20 Rhode Island Reds. With the protection at night of the new very well built and secure hen house this flock should stay safe and secure against all predators. Within the next month we will also be getting turkeys and ducks to add to the poultry collection. Next on the list will be rabbits. A few repairs and such to the rabbit house are in order and then we will be picking up our breeders. The chicken garden will be planted soon, still a little cold. We will be growing chicken feed in the old garden spot to supplement our feed needs. Our goal is to provide most of the feed for our chickens. We feel that if you depend on your feed dealer to feed your livestock then you are truly not self reliant, you are still relying on someone else for basic needs. The goats are coming soon also. The two months around here will be very busy and hectic. With garden planting (after we finish the fence on Wednesday). So if I don't blog too much over the next couple of months please forgive me. I will use my early mornings to update and post, but dinnertime and evening posts will probably be in short supply. I will do what I can to keep the information flowing. Spring is a busy time of the year and because we are making so many additions all at once especially busy for us. I also didn't help that we decided to move the garden, which even though I was not fond of doing wound up being a good idea. The garden surrounds the pond which will house tilapia. So there will always be water convenient to water the garden. It is a spring fed pond and never has yet gone dry even in our worst drought year. So we actually made a good decision. Also because it is much larger than it was we will have room for livestock feed as well. I am looking for information about building a corn crib so that our feed corn can be stored. Anyone out there who knows how please leave a comment. We would love to know. Well I will get on with the business of the day and quit with my rambling. God bless you all.

Christians and Self-Defense

I know for many Christians that it can be tough to reconcile ourselves to owning guns and preparing to defend ourselves and our own. This is a tough topic because mainstream Christianity would have us believe that Jesus wanted us to lay down like doormats. It is because of this heretical teaching that many Christians proclaim there is nothing they can do to help save this country. Cowards! There is a time for everthing and there is a time for self defense. There is a time to stand and become and do the work that God has commanded. Mr. Rawles on his blog Survival Blog has put this in a much better way than I can this morning. Please take the chance to click the link and read what Mr. Rawles has to say. May God bless and keep you

Monday, February 23, 2009

I must apologize

To my readers I must apologize for my rant yesterday about homesteading vs. yuppie environmentalism. This topic has just been striking a raw nerve with me lately so please forgive my harsh words. They were not nice and they were disrespectful. So I must apologiz for them. We all need to be conscious of the things that we do in order to be the stewards that God intended for us to be. So please forgive my ugliness, it was temporary insanity! God bless.

Alan Keyes: The Words of a Brilliant Man

Many times, especially over the past year or so, I hear the race card being pulled when it comes to whether or not a person supports Obama. I am like Alan Keyes, I won't call him President. It seems like since he has been elected there has been a drive, almost a need to incite racial hatred in this country. When people wake up they will realize that they are simply being used by and evil and corrupt entity. This man Allen Keyes cannot be accused of being a racist, and yet he speaks the truth that so many refuse to hear because they think that somebody says these things based on race. I don't care if Obama is purple with pink polka dots and has green antennae coming from his forehead, he is still a communist and has nothing good in mind for this country of ours. Allen Keyes is a brilliant man and I urge all to listen to his words, as they are spoken with honor. May God be with him and all of us.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Homesteader vs. Yuppie Environmentalist

I have debated for quite sometime about writing this post although it has been a pet peeve of mine for quite sometime now. There are two sets of environmentalists in this country and the newest one is driving me nuts. Let me explain fully before you get mad and decide to not visit my blog anymore. Lets talk about the "homestead" environmentalists first. Hoemstead environmentalism has been around ever since people have been depending on the land for their food. Farmers cared for the land because their life literally depended on it. The small family farmer still does that. It is only with the invention of corporate farming that farming got a bad rap. Traditional family farmers/homesteaders have always cared for the land and their environment and their resources. Typically these people have been conservative in their use of natural resources and been conscious of their waste. Traditional homesteaders have traditionally not been wasteful, finding a use and reuse for everything. You don't have to have land and property or to even really farm to be a traditional homesteader. It is the way that you perceive your life that makes a traditional homesteader. I have met these people who live on a city lot and they reduce, reuse, and recycle just because that is what they do. They will grow a small garden or a few tomatoes just because. They don't do these things because someone tells them too or because it is the latest trend and they apply these principals to their whole life, not just one aspect of it. So whether one lives on 100 acres or a small city lot they can still fall into the category of being the traditional homesteading environmentalist. Now, who are the yuppie environmentalists and why do they get my goat so badly. This environmentalist is such only because it is trendy. They are the kind that have a 5 bedroom home, heated and cooled, with large spa bathtubs in their 3 bathrooms. The problem is that only 2 people live in this huge energy consuming, water wasting household. However, they proclaim their environmental stewardship because the wood for their doors came from sustainable forests. For one all forest are sustainable, it is called re-planting! Second, if that wood had to be shipped from halfway across the world then it really wasn't all that environmentally friendly because of the transportation. The yuppie environmentalist fills their perfectly landscaped yard with water consuming useless grass and high maintenance plants, and then spend a fortune at the grocery store on "organic" produce that had to be shipped thousands of miles to get to that grocery store. A yuppie environmentalist recycles only when the city will pick it up at the curb and rarely do they reuse something. So anyway, I think I am done with my rant for right now. Yuppie environmentalists get on my nerves because they are the way they are because it is trendy. Those of us who do this because it is who we are and the way we live without thinking about it are the true stewards of the earth. And by the way while I am making people angry... Global warming doesn't exist!! Research and find out the truth, the majority of true legitimate climate scientists will say that this is a hoax by the governments to steal more of our money and impose hefty carbon taxes. Now the people in Australia will be paying per toilet flush in environmental taxes. Wow, so sad that they bought the lie. Don't worry if you are a yuppie environmentalist, you can become a true environmentalist with a little help and knowledge. God bless and take care.

Summertime on the Homestead

Continuing with the seasonal scheduling on our little homestead I am moving on to summertime. Summers are pretty hot and miserable here in the deep south and we spend most of our time running from the mosquitoes that threaten to carry us off to another state. However, we do manage to get a few things done. Usually our chores and projects outside are best done in the mornings. We head outside shortly after daylight so that we can be someplace cool during the hottest part of the day. We spend every afternoon swimming to stay cool. Since we are really conscience about our energy usage we go for as long as possible without air condition and this is the main driving force in how our days go around here. We cook outside as much as possible to keep from heating up the house. We do have a lot of shade around the house so that helps us to go as long as possible without AC. Last year we made it to July before having to turn on the air. By then it was so hot and muggy we couldn't stand it. September starting cooling a bit and the AC went off and the windows opened back up. Anyway I am rambling now so here is a look at what summertime will look like, hopefully, around here.

Summertime projects:
Canning: This year we plan to do more canning since our garden is bigger. Especially of homemade jams and jellies. This is the kind of work that we do early in the morning before the heat of the day because we still use our stove inside for this and it can really heat up a home.

Firewood: We spend time in the summer and fall getting in firewood for the winter. We harvest most of it from already fallen wood. We have had two very large very old oak trees come down within the past year or so and are still cutting those things up for firewood. We also gather wood that people in town need to get rid of so we have an abundance of firewood that just needs cutting and splitting. That is a project that goes all year but gets special attention in the summer.

Build new worm beds: We will be officially harvesting our worms for bait. Having already talked to some bait shop owners who would be interested in a local supply of fishing worms it would be a good source of a little bit of income. So we will be building a few boxes to contain our bait that currently has free run of the farm.

Outdoor oven: We are looking into building an outdoor oven because we cook outside most of the summer. We just don't have oven capabilities outside and using the oven inside for bread baking and such is really tough in our heat. So we have figured out the cost by using reclaimed materials once again on our farm and for about 30.00 we will be able to use an oven outdoors. This is exciting for us because not only will it help keep the house cooler, it will reduce our energy needs even further. We have managed to shave off 1400kW per month from our power bill and are looking to cut that even further.

Build a solar panel: Ok, I am real excited about this. I have found plans on the internet to build your own solar panel for about 30.00. Compared to the price of buying a panel that is awesome. Why are we building just one panel? Well, because this panel will be used to power a fan for the rabbits in the summer and a heat lamp for the chickens in the winter. That is all. We are starting with those two because there is already electrical wiring and outlets in those two buildings. They used to be connected to the house, but were long ago disconnected. So we figure if we get the wiring wrong and blow something up at least it won't be the house. We will remove the livestock from harms way when first hooking up and turning on this experiment so at the worst we will lose a building and not the animals. Of course that is not exactly in our plans, but as we are not really electricians and this is an experiment we plan for the worst. We will let you know how it goes when we get to that point.

Swimming, swimming and more swimming. We spend the afternoons swimming in the summer. It is good excercise and loads of family fun when it is too hot to do anything else.

I think that is about it for this summer. The rest of the time we spend just maintaining what we have and trying to stay out of the heat. By July down here we are all looking forward to fall and cooler temps.

Sunday Duties

Normally, we do not have duties on Sunday because it is the Lord's Day. For us Sunday usually means church and spending time with family. However, because we have had a few days that have put us behind in schedule we will take this afternoon to try to get the garden fence up. Once the fence is up then the horse won't be tromping through the garden and we can actually plant it. See our garden is in one portion of her pasture, so right now she still thinks that it is hers. Since the ground has been tilled she thinks we have made her the best rolling spot in the world. I have caught her taking her morning nap there several mornings. Speaking of naps all three of our horses take a morning nap. The other day our old stallion, he is 22. Was napping and I got nervous because I couldn't see him breathing. Because of his age and the fact that he is having a harder time each winter, I thought we had lost him. Well, I went out there calling his name and not a flinch. I got right up on him and reached down and touched him. He jumped like somebody had just shocked him. I guess we can assume that he is now hard of hearing. Now I know why he has gotten so slow to respond at feeding time. He used to outrace his son (they share a pasture) to the barn to be fed at night. Now his son gets there and all of a sudden the old man comes flying up at breakneck speed. I guess it takes him a minute to realize his son has gone to the barn. He can't hear me call. Well so far, as long as he has BC (his son) he doesn't miss feed time nor do I have to go looking for him. Our horses are a never ending source of amusement around here. We have Thunder, the old man, his son BC and Thunder's daughter Whisper. She was born here right after we moved here and so she was named after the farm. So anyway, that is our horse story. For right now the old man is still kicking, but not real high!

Homesteading Seasons

I will be doing 4 posts about seasonal projects. There are certain times of the year that we do things around here at Whisper Wind and there are new projects that we have planned to do during different seasons. Each season brings something new, fun, and exciting. I will start with our spring projects and adventures since spring is almost here. Doing things with the seasons is a great idea (we think) for a couple of reasons. One big outdoor projects can be planned when the weather is tolerable and two it helps to organize and make the farm run more smoothly. I am a big planner and organizer. I love lists and schedules. I understand those who don't but I must have a schedule. So here are our spring projects:

Springtime on the Farm
Chicken House: our old chicken house was small and needed some serious repair. It also did not do real well for protecting our last two flocks of chickens. So we decided to build a new one. It is almost finished, built entirely of reclaimed materials and I will post picks soon.

Rabbit House: We will be adding meat rabbits to the farm this year. We have decided since rabbits live in cages, we will repair the old chicken house and house them there. So this will be next once the new chicken house is finished. We need to reroof it and put on a new door. There are some holes in the walls that need repair, also and then the cages to put it. We will be building our cages, from reclaimed materials. Same thing with the roof and the door.

New Garden: I think this is the biggest project this year. Our old garden was small and not in a good spot. It did not lend itself to expanding where it was so we decided to move it. It is about 8 times the size that it once was, now being approximately 60 feet by 40 feet. We are currently preparing it and getting ready to fence it.

Tilapia Pond: We have a pond, that use to be a swimming pool at one time. The previous owner got tired of maintaining a pool so she turned it into a pond. While it supports some brim, it needs a good cleaning. So we plan to clean it and raise Tilapia in it this summer to provide our fish needs next winter. Some of the Tilapia will be wintered inside to repopulate the fish supply next year.

Goat Pasture: We will be adding goats to the farm this year also. We are having to refence the pasture that will be their's as it is currently fenced for horses. This particular pasture is in rough shape also being taken over with weeds. Since we will be milking goats, we are going to restore it. We will be planting bahia grass, cowpea, and clover mix for the goats. This will provide a good high quality forage for them at minimal expense.

Well, that is about it for spring. As you can see it is pretty busy around here and will be really busy for the next several months. Of course, once the garden is fenced we will have to start planting so that will add to the business. Hope everything goes smoothly, we have had a few days that have set us back with bad weather, but we are diligently working. Also, because we use reclaimed materials sometimes it takes awhile to gather all that we need. It is a fun adventure to find what we need and have it cost us nothing but time. So next up: Summertime

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Is Homesteading Expensive?

I hear many times from people that they are waiting until they have the money to homestead. They don't have chickens because they can't afford materials to build a chicken house, or they don't have a garden because they can't afford to fence it in. Well, this is the "new" era mentality of homesteading. Let me tell you about the "old" era of homesteading. The new way is relatively easy. You go to the hardware store buy lumber, nails and roofing shingles. Then you open up your checkbook and pay out a large sum of money. By the time you purchase your chickens say for 50.00 or so you have chickens that have cost you several hundreds and one whamdinger of a beautiful chicken house. The old way on the other hand requires a little more effort. It requires scavenging. In the old way you hunt the farm for things that you can use, even natural materials. Have you recently bushhogged some small trees? Do you have a stand of bamboo? These are free materials that could be used. How about scraps leftover from a project? Try asking the local lumber yard for their scrap lumber or small businesses for their leftover pallets. Oftentimes in the farmer's trade guide for your state there will often be an old building that someone wants torn down and you can have the whole thing for free. All these things cost is time and labor, no checkbook required. The old way of homesteading is about being as frugal as possible and still getting what you want. The chickens don't care if their home is a little on the eclectic side and your checkbook will thank you. This is why the old timers saved everything, because there might be another purpose for it. Old timey homesteaders were the first environmentalists. They repurposed everything. So if you are waiting to build that chicken house or that goat shed until you have the cash to do it you may be waiting for no reason. Homesteading is only as expensive as you make it and it is limited only by your creativity. I have seen homesteaders that made nesting boxes from cardboard boxes gotten from the local big box pharmacy store or gift shop. They were free and when they wore out she simply replaced them for free. They served a purpose and cost nothing. We currently are building our garden fence from pallets that are gotten for free from two local landscaping companies. The new chicken house is being built with reclaimed materials here off the farm and gathered from other sources. My husband's place of employment was going to burn 8 heavy duty wooden tables. They were in perfect shape and so he brought them home. Two have been used for nesting boxes in the new chicken house and 4 will be used in the rabbit house. The other two are going to be made into worm beds. All free. We also have a local company that has a very large stand of bamboo. Bamboo is an excellent building material when dried and it quickly replenishes itself. Anybody that has ever fought this plant from taking over their property knows that bamboo has a tremendous growth rate. It is as strong as any lumber you could purchase also. Here are just a few ideas for reclaimed materials that one could use:

self harveted bamboo
pallets
scrap lumber
scrap roofing tin
leftover roofing shingles
meterials from old torn down buildings
materials from freecycle
old screen materials
small trees cleared out of pastures
scrap tires
scrap wood flooring

Creativity is the key to success in being a frugal homesteader. It can be loads of fun trying to find and reuse old materials. I find that it is one of the joys of homesteading.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Hyperinflation

I know I talk a lot about preparing to be self sufficient and stocking up on food. For that I tend to get quite a bit of ridicule from people who are still content to be inside their bubble and think that things are going to be the way that they were. You know the ones, "Oh, this is just a temporary slump" kind of people. I am not the only one though that is seeing what is coming down the road. Many world economists have been saying over and over that the Greatest depression is on the way. Let me explain a little why it is so important to be prepared. Hyperinflation, not inflation, will be seen and that will stop quite a lot of commerce. Including grocery store commerce. Jobs are being lost right and left. My own husband has been cut down to almost nothing at work. If there is no money coming in then there is no money for groceries. Being prepared doesn't mean that you are just anticipating the end of the world or economic disaster, it means that you are prepared for whatever life has to throw at you. The more self reliant you are the less helpless you feel when things go bad. There are many reasons for families to face financial hardships sometimes it may be medical issues and unplanned expenses or it may be job loss. Being prepared is one of the smartest things a family can do to empower themselves against the hazards that life can throw at them. However, just in case you are wondering where this economy is heading and how bad it really is going to be check out the video below and it will explain what hyperinflation (which by the way we have never seen in the US) is and what it will be like.

Don't Forget About Yourself

One of the hardest things for a wife and mother to do is to remember to take care of themselves. We women sometimes get so busy doing for others and in turn neglect ourselves. It is important to take care of ourselves and our health. Our children depend on us to be healthy and our husbands depend on us also. I know for me it is very hard in my very busy days to remember to take care of myself. I have been feeling the effects lately. So I am encouraging myself and all you other moms out there to spend a little more time thinking about your needs and your health. Let us make a commitment to making 2009 our healthiest year ever for ourselves. I am not talking about the resolutions that always get broken. I am a notorious breakfast skipper and I think I am paying for it energywise. So I vow that I will make an effort to eat a healthy breakfast each morning to help my energy levels. So think of the things that you do or don't do and what you could do to be a healthier individual. Come on moms our families need us and we are the only ones who can take care of ourselves. May God Bless you all.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Collecting and Saving Heirloom Garden Seeds

After all the hard work and expense of putting in your first heirloom garden you will want to collect and save seeds for next years garden. This way you garden year after year and only purchase seeds once. So these are some tips in collecting and saving seeds for next years garden. The first thing is to make sure that you only collect seeds from your healthy and best producing plants in the garden. Then you want to wait until after the first fruits. Harvest from the second or third bloom.

Fleshy plants (Tomatoes and Squash)
When the fruit is fully ripened then scoop the seeds and the fruit around them out. Then place them in a glass jar with water. Twice a stay stir the misture until the seeds sink to the bottom. Then pour off the liquid, rinse the seeds well and place them on newspaper or paper towels to dry.

Beans and Peas
Let the pods stay on the vine until they are dry and cracked and you can hear the seeds rattle in the pods. This may take up to a month after you would normally harvest them. After harvesting then spread them out to dry in a well ventilated area for another 2 weeks. Then you can harvest the seeds from the pods.

Corn
Corn should be left on the stalk until the kernels start to dent and become hard. Then the corn can be harvested and brought in to dry further on the cob until they are good and hard, about 2 weeks.

Peppers
Allow some of the healthiest peppers to stay on the vine until they wrinkle. Then remove the seeds and lay them out to dry on some newspaper.

Once all of your seeds are dry you can store them in ziploc bags (mark the bags)with some powdered milk. Keep them in a cool dry place and you will have seeds for next year.

Things like carrots and such. I just usually purchase seeds because it is almost impossible to find the seeds much less save them.

Parental Rights Under Attack

As many of you may or may not know former President Bill Clinton signed a treaty with the United Nations, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The senate has not ratified this treaty yet. This International Law is a huge threats to parents across the country. It strips parents of their rights and allows the child to dictate and command how they are to be raised. This threat to our parental rights is looming larger than ever with the new administration. Hillary Clinton has always been a big proponent of this law. I don't know how many know this, but any international treaty that is signed into law becomes the law of the land and has more power than the Constitution of the United States. It in fact overrides the Constitution. This is just another mechanism to strip Americans of their sovereignty. This treaty strips parents of their right to be parents and gives it to an ever increasing state. Join to fight to preserve our parental rights and get the word out to parents everywhere. To view the latest news check here.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Eight States Have Declared Sovereignty

Eight states have recently declared their sovereignty. The Federal government has been stepping on states rights for too long and the states are beginning to get upset. Let's see.... where have we heard "states rights" before? Oh yeah, in the 1850s right before South Carolina took the bold move in seceeding from the Union on December 20, 1860. It will be interesting to watch and see where this goes. It will be interesting to see what the federal government has to say for itself. Here are the states and the links to their declarations of sovereignty.

New Hampshire
Arizona
Montana
Michigan
Missouri
Oklahoma
Hawaii
Washington

We the People Demand Answers

"Congress shall make no law...abridging
...the right of the people...to petition the Government for
a redress of grievances."

We the People of the United States have petitioned the Federal Government to answer the following Redress of Grievances as guaranteed us under the Constitution of the United States.

(March, 2008)
The Petition for Redress Regarding
the WAR POWERS CLAUSES
printable version

(March/2008)
The Petition for Redress Regarding
the GUN CONTROL LAWS
printable version

(March, 2008)
The Petition for Redress Regarding
the FEDERAL INCOME TAX
printable version

(March, 2008)
The Petition for Redress Regarding
the FEDERAL RESERVE
printable version

(March, 2008)
The Petition for Redress Regarding
the "USA PATRIOT ACT"
printable version

(March, 2008)
The Petition for Redress Regarding
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
printable version

(March, 2008)
The Petition For Redress Regarding
the NORTH AMERICAN UNION
printable version


It has been a year and there has been no answer. We the people have the right to expect our government to uphold the Constitution of the United States. We the people of this country have an obligation and a duty to hold our government officials accountable to that Consititution. We must uphold that document if there is to be freedom and liberty in the United States, otherwise we simply live in tyranny. Join the We the People Foundation and stand up for your rights. Expect accountability from our government.

Bill of Rights December 15, 1791
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Dexter Cattle for the Homestead

As many of you know, we simply were having a hard time deciding between a cow or a goat. For right now we have decided on goats. However, we have not totally ruled out a cow and when the time is right we have decided which breed will be right for us. For the small homestead farm I don't see how you could beat the Dexter Cow. Originally from Ireland these are triple purpose animals. They produce high quality milk in the 4 -6% milk fat range. That is right up there with Jersey's. They also produce good quality meat and body percentage produce more than most beef breeds. A typical beef cow will give 50% of its body weight in meat while a Dexter gives 60%. They are also good to use as oxen. Triple use for one price, you can't beat that. Now the real advantage to the homesteader with these cows is their size. They are small with the cows ranging from 36" to 42" in height. They eat about one third of what their full sized counterparts do, making them much more economical for the homesteader producing some or most of their own feed. Even those who buy feed will get off much cheaper. They have an easy going temperament and are easy for children to handle. While a cow is not in our immediate future I do see Dexters as part of our homestead life at some point. They definitely are the cattle of the future small homestead. For more information on this wonderful breed or to find a breeder near you check out the American Dexter Cattle Association.

No Waste on the Old Time Homestead

On my grandfather's farm there was absolutely no waste of anything. Leftover's were never thrown in the garden. So I would like to talk about those scraps and scrapings that your children leave on their plates, or the food that got pushed to the back of the refrigerator, or the new recipe that didn't quite turn out as good as you thought it would. There are the farm animals and the compost pile that will happily dispose of those items for you. My grandfather never wasted anything, all scraps were fed to the barn cats or the dog. It cut down on their feed costs and saved him from throwing away hard earned and hard to come by food. Now, I know that veterinary medicine has become so much like human medicine and now people are worried about their dogs cholesterol and all that jazz. And because of today's backyard inbred population of dogs that is probably a very legitimate concern. Backyard breeders looking to make a quick buck have destroyed the hardiness and toughness of most breeds. And the "good" breeders, don't let me forget them, many of them got so involved in what did well in the show ring that they have bred weak examples of their breed. Pitiful excuses for animals that were once fine, majestic examples of the animal kingdom. OK, now that I have royally ticked off a number of you. I will get back to my original train of thought. Nothing on a farm is wasted. What the humans don't eat the animals will. Chickens, rabbits, and goats will clean up all those fresh veggie scraps. You know the ones- the ends off the carrots, those few leaves that you peel off the lettuce or cabbage, things like that. Worms will clean up those things also including egg shells. When feeding a worm bed just make sure to chop everything up fine. Dogs and cats will clean up the rest. I prefer to feed it to the dogs first as they are opportunistic feeders, eating what they can when they can. Cats really are carnivores and so don't really take kindly to bread and rice and such. Dogs will happily clean up those scraps off the plates and, you have cut down on your feed cost, and nothing has gone to waste.

**Disclaimer. I am not a veterinarian. This is not considered medical advice and if you have one of those poorly bred pups that has health problem the use your own judgement about what you feed your dog.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Planting with a Purpose

Most seed packets for the garden recommend that you use a method of broadcast seeding. This is when you simple scater your seeds along a row and then when the seedlings come up you thin them out. This is not the most productive method of planting and is actually very wasteful. In times past this method of seeding was never used even by the larger scale farmers. Seed was expensive and not to be wasted. Farmers of times past planted with a purpose and that purpose was that every seed possible produce a viable plant. In order to do this we must go back to the old way of seeding our garden, planting each individual seed in the spot that you wish it to grow into a full sized plant. We plan to do this in our pasture this year as we plant a cover crop. Simply use your finger to make a small hole and plant each individual seed. No waste! It is more time consuming, I think that is why there was the movement to just scatter and thin out. I don't plan on wasting my seeds this year, I am going to take the time needed and enjoy a bountiful plentiful harvest from each and every seed.

One of the Best Patriotic Speeches Ever

This is one of the most inspiring patriotic speeches I have heard in a long time. Adam Kokesh is a marine and Iraq war veteran. Listen to his words, embrace patriotism, and make a stand for what is right and good. Our founding fathers are watching to see what we do with the legacy that they bled and died for. Don't let this be the generation that let it be destroyed. We the people built this country, we the people must protect and defend it against the tyranny that has infiltrated from within.

This Months Homestead Carnival is Up

This months gathering of homesteading blogs is up and running with loads of recipes and tons of sewing projects for children. It looks like a great carnival of homesteader's so check it out.

Homestead Carnival