Ever since our trip to Huckleberry Tent and Breakfast, Jacob and I have been thinking about our debt situation. By situation I really mean mortgage, since we have no other debt or credit cards. But still, in our current situation we will have to sell this house in order to purchase land for our homestead. The family at the Tent and Breakfast are full of ideas, and we were eager listeners. They told us to watch this video series on youtube titled Money as Debt. It's a 5 part video series about how money in the modern world is created, I don't mean by a printing press either. The video was enlightening, considering the present state of our economy and some say inevitable collapse. I recommend viewing it, if only for a different take on money.
Christine (tent and breakfast mom) recommended taking on roommates. My first thought was "NO" I've worked too hard at this house and I don't want to share. It's amazing how much that thought sounds like a 5 year old with a toy. So we've been considering it. With renting out the other two rooms of this house it would pay the mortgage payment alone. Then all the other money we've been putting toward the mortgage would go to saving for land. I can start teaching pioneer knowledge, gardening, chicken keeping etc... classes. Possibly put an ad in the paper for a part-time gardener for other people. So many things to get us toward our goal of acreage. All of these things never crossed our minds before, but long talks over a farm breakfast with people who are really doing it have gotten us to thinking.
I know I haven't posted any pictures of the weekend adventure but I will. In truth we didn't get to do much hiking because Kai injured her foot/hip on the first day out and couldn't do anything but limp around. We were playing on some slippery rocks in a creek and I think she may have sprained her foot and twisted her hip running over the rocks. Silly girl. She's doing much better now, it's amazing what rest can do. So we just hung out and listened to the birds and got eaten alive by mosquitos.
31 July 2010
24 July 2010
B-day weekend plans
Over my birthday weekend Jake and I are taking a small vacation. Just a small one considering we can't leave the crops or the livestock for that long 2.5 days seems reasonable. My mom is going to come over and keep and eye on the green things and the chickens water. It's going to get into the mid 90's* today and for the rest of the week. UGH! Our other purpose for the mini vacation is huckleberries, it is one of the few things we recognize and can forage. I've never been morel mushroom hunting and wouldn't feel comfortable without a guide, but huckleberries I have down.
We are going to a small town in north Idaho just outside of Sandpoint called Clark Fork. I found this lovely place called Huckleberry Tent and Breakfast. We'll be staying there, hiking, swimming, and yes in search of hucks. Should be a ton of fun and a much needed break from all the city noise. It will be a full moon on Sunday night, I love being in the woods during a full moon!
This is the "cedars" camp site and where we will be staying for our duration.
image from here.
We are going to a small town in north Idaho just outside of Sandpoint called Clark Fork. I found this lovely place called Huckleberry Tent and Breakfast. We'll be staying there, hiking, swimming, and yes in search of hucks. Should be a ton of fun and a much needed break from all the city noise. It will be a full moon on Sunday night, I love being in the woods during a full moon!
This is the "cedars" camp site and where we will be staying for our duration.
image from here.
22 July 2010
Cree Indian Proverb
Only when the last tree has died
and the last river been poisoned
and the last fish been caught
will we realize we cannot eat money
and the last river been poisoned
and the last fish been caught
will we realize we cannot eat money
18 July 2010
Busy little update
With Jacob under house arrest due to pink eye, all the outside tasks fall to me. Generally I don't mind that, but I sure miss the company. Watering the lawn, container plants, and garden checks gets lonely without my boy. I know he feels the same way, all stuck inside and held captive by his eyes. He's going on 2 weeks with this now and I can tell it's getting emotionally draining for him.
I have been busy not only with my garden tasks but with other's gardens too. For most of July I have been watching one neighbors garden out on her property and now another neighbor right here in town. I don't mind it at all but without Jakes help and the added garden tasks, my evenings get kinda crazy busy.
I harvested all the garlic. The hardnecks got pulled about a week ago and the softnecks just yesterday. Now everyone must cure before straight braiding/weave braiding depending on variety. The Inchelium Red (softneck) looks gorgeous, some I will save for seed though I doubt we will be in the house long enough to harvest them next year. Regardless I must have stuff growing in the garden to showcase it. I also harvested all 6 heads of celery. Three of them were cut up and frozen in 1 cup bags, the other 3 plants I intend to dehydrate for soups and such.
The tomatoes are finally starting to put out some fruit, none of it is ripe yet but the tiny green globes give me hope for future pasta sauce. I really need to get that food mill. I don't think I'll get any broccoli or cauliflower, a cold spring then quickly leaping into 80+ degrees has done them in. My peas did well after we stopped the sparrows from eating them alive! I won't have any to freeze for winter, but as long as I have green beans I'll be fine. The squash seem to be taking off as well, I intend to have more winter squash than I know what to do with that way the leftovers can be fed to the chickens all winter.
We've yet to do a hive check since we don't know if I am allergic, our rule is 2 people check the hive, always! That's been impossible due to the pink eye'd monster mentioned above. The bee's seem happy though, and busy as always.
I have been busy not only with my garden tasks but with other's gardens too. For most of July I have been watching one neighbors garden out on her property and now another neighbor right here in town. I don't mind it at all but without Jakes help and the added garden tasks, my evenings get kinda crazy busy.
I harvested all the garlic. The hardnecks got pulled about a week ago and the softnecks just yesterday. Now everyone must cure before straight braiding/weave braiding depending on variety. The Inchelium Red (softneck) looks gorgeous, some I will save for seed though I doubt we will be in the house long enough to harvest them next year. Regardless I must have stuff growing in the garden to showcase it. I also harvested all 6 heads of celery. Three of them were cut up and frozen in 1 cup bags, the other 3 plants I intend to dehydrate for soups and such.
The tomatoes are finally starting to put out some fruit, none of it is ripe yet but the tiny green globes give me hope for future pasta sauce. I really need to get that food mill. I don't think I'll get any broccoli or cauliflower, a cold spring then quickly leaping into 80+ degrees has done them in. My peas did well after we stopped the sparrows from eating them alive! I won't have any to freeze for winter, but as long as I have green beans I'll be fine. The squash seem to be taking off as well, I intend to have more winter squash than I know what to do with that way the leftovers can be fed to the chickens all winter.
We've yet to do a hive check since we don't know if I am allergic, our rule is 2 people check the hive, always! That's been impossible due to the pink eye'd monster mentioned above. The bee's seem happy though, and busy as always.
12 July 2010
Front garden in pictures
More pictures of stuff growing well.
This is a LONG row of sunflowers, some are titans they can get up to 14' tall. Of course not in our wind they won't but still this will be cool when they bloom... the wall of sunflowers!
Apples!!
Pole beans and sunflowers.
This is a LONG row of sunflowers, some are titans they can get up to 14' tall. Of course not in our wind they won't but still this will be cool when they bloom... the wall of sunflowers!
Apples!!
Pole beans and sunflowers.
09 July 2010
Backyard Garden Update
See all that clover.
Potato Flowers!
GIANT GARLIC BULB!!
The start of some beautiful tomatoes!!
Grape vine.
Potato Flowers!
GIANT GARLIC BULB!!
The start of some beautiful tomatoes!!
Grape vine.
Things I've learned this week
* Squash grows inches a day in 80+ weather
* Jake's pink eye makes him very grumpy
* Clover in grass sure makes it greener
* A plywood board leaned against the chicken coop gives hot chickens some shade
* An ice block in the chickens water also helps with the general unhappiness of the heat
* I want acres, peace and quiet
* Life can be lived without A/C, but you must first open your windows
* Laundry gets done much faster when it's 90 outside
* The Inchelium Red garlic bulbs are apple sized....
* I am out of garlic and getting impatient
* Jake's pink eye makes him very grumpy
* Clover in grass sure makes it greener
* A plywood board leaned against the chicken coop gives hot chickens some shade
* An ice block in the chickens water also helps with the general unhappiness of the heat
* I want acres, peace and quiet
* Life can be lived without A/C, but you must first open your windows
* Laundry gets done much faster when it's 90 outside
* The Inchelium Red garlic bulbs are apple sized....
* I am out of garlic and getting impatient
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