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Over the last couple of days we received 2.25 inches of rain which was a blessing because I have been too busy to glance at the garden let alone water it. With the warmer temps and the extra moisture the produce is ready to harvest! I just picked the makings of a salad – lettuce, spinach, radishes, and green onions. I also had a little time to transplant Big Mama tomatoes and Brandywine tomatoes. I then started another round of carrots and radishes.
The other day when my brother-in-law was over we had an impromptu video shoot about the swales. Warning – the sound gets soft as I turn away from the camera. Things have be The day J-O-B really took off at the same time. All the overtime I want and then some. What is it about having to work extra right when you would really like that time for everything else that needs done. Even with the extra time away from the homestead I have managed to finish up my swale project this spring by planting trees on the downhill side and I am looking to plant a new bed of strawberries tomorrow. I was going to build a chicken coop last Saturday with the help of my bro-in-law but we decided that it was a bad idea to drag the power tools out in the rain.
Rocket stoves are simple stove designs that use a small amount of combustion material (wood) and create a hot burn. The ultimate would be a rocket mass heater. We are building several rocket stoves with the hopes of building a rocket mass heater for ether the house or the greenhouse. We built a one gallon top lit updraft stove one rainy afternoon. Our fuel is wood pellets which burn for about one hour. Once you see the flames at the bottom the fire can be extinguished and the remaining char can be used as biochar to enrich your soil. If left to burn completely the remains are a fine white ash. Enjoy the video. We had fun making it.
This is the first in a series of posts on Sustainable Agriculture. The purpose is to explore the two viewpoints of sustainable ag which are conventional farming and nonconventional farming. The hope is that when done we can try to merge the two or at the minimum understand each side without the abrasive and divisive tones that are used in today’s discussions. To start this exercise we need to define sustainable agriculture and clearly articulate the two sides. Sustainable means being able to keep in existence, maintain or support long term. Hence sustainable agriculture is the ability to support or maintain the ag operation long term. In the 1990 Farm Bill our government addressed sustainable agriculture as an intergraded system of plant and animal production practices that over the long term
The current popular agricultural system can be identified by hybrid row crops, grown on large scale farms requiring large inputs of fertilizer, pesticides, and energy inputs has been termed as “conventional farming,” and ”modern agriculture.” This method of production method has been estimated by the World Bank to be responsible for 70-90% of the food production gains rather than increased acreage cultivated. Rapid technological innovation has led to high labor efficiency. The combined effect of modern agriculture has led to the expectation of cheap and abundant food in the U.S. The most contrasting example of unconventional agriculture is permaculture. This system would be considered by a modern agriculturalist as a weed mess. In this system a diverse crop of mostly heirloom varieties are interplanted with one species providing benefits to another species. Pests are controlled by natural predators. There is no tilling of the soil beyond the initial design. As an ecological purist the permaculturalist doesn’t harm the earth or people so energy use from oils and gas is to be avoided as much as possible. This leads to a labor intensive farm. I believe that in just defining the opposing viewpoints the picture begins to develop on why there is animosity towards conventional farming. In the next post we will explore conventional farming and its transition to sustainable farming.
The native habitat was a small range of eastern Texas, Southeastern Oklahoma, and Southwestern Arkansas, the same area where the Osage Nation was found. Today the hardy plant is found throughout the United States. The tree is known as Bodark, Bois d’ arc and Bow wood in its natural range because of the early use in making bows. The hedge apple is very dense hard wood that is very rot resistant. These properties made it very popular for rail ties and fence posts. Straight grained branches make great bows and it’s yellow wood is considered an exotic wood for woodworking. A yellow dye made from the wood is a sought after natural dye. Dried wood is great for burning for heating having the highest btu rating for wood(don’t burn in an open fireplace although it tends to spark a lot). The “apple” has a long folk history of The hedge apple was used before barbwire as a living fence. Today hedge rows are making a comeback on modern homesteads. They create wind breaks, prevent soil erosion, provide habitat for small game and birds, and can create microclimates and contribute to biodiversity. These hedge rows can be made with a number of plants besides Osage-orange. Hawthorns, Black Locust (a nitrogen fixer), Honey Locusts, and Roses could also be used. Planting the trees with a spacing of one foot will produce a solid hedge in 3 to 5 years. After the first year tie the shoot over to the next one. As the hedge grows keep weaving the branches to produce an impermeable hedge. The tree can grow 3 to 6 feet a year and can reach the height of 40 to 60 feet so regular pruning is needed to keep the hedge manageable.  Abandoned Hedge Row
Today we are reviewing Renewable Energy for Your Home by Alan and Gill Bridgewater. This book is written for the basic beginner who just woke up and realized that they want to do something “green” but have no idea where to go beyond that. This book covers all the forms of renewable energy. Solar, wind, wood, bioenergy, water, geothermal, biogas, and storing wood, heat,electricity, and water. This book uses large type and basic diagrams and drawings to relay the information to the reader. The reader shouldn’t have any problems adsorbing the ideas presented. Different scenario’s are presented for urban, rural, and small town setups for each of the different forms of renewable energy. If you are a complete novice you may want to read this book. I recommend borrowing this book from your local library because once you are introduced to the different forms of renewable energy and have an idea on what route you want to take there is no need to reference this book. You will want more in depth material to begin implementing your energy freedom. Today I want to review a book I received for Christmas. Sepp’s Holzer’s Permaculture printed in the United States of America by Chelsea Green Publishing. I was really excited to receive this book because of some videos I had viewed about Sepp’s farming on YouTube. My first impressions of this book after flipping through it did nothing to dampen my excitement. The book is well laid out and makes good use of glossy images and charts to present the authors ideas. Sepp has been practicing alternative farming methods of diversity and interacting with nature since 1962 which has earned him the name ”Rebel Farmer” well before Bill Mollison and David Holmgren termed the phrase “permaculture”. This book is a practical hands on guide to permaculture. Sepp walks you through how he does permaculture on his farm the Krameterhof. He explains his methods of using raised beds, terraces, and ponds to create microclimates that allow a diverse ecoculture to thrive. Livestock, fruit trees, and cultivating mushrooms are also covered. He provides a list of plants and trees to use in different soil conditions that can be used as a starting point for others. Above all you must experiment (observe and interact) with nature on your own place. If you’re looking for a book on the mechanics of permaculture this is the book for you, an easy read. If you are looking for permaculture theory to help you with your PDC I would recommend something different. This book goes beyond theory to the actual application.
Where can I find materials you ask? Just look around. I have a wood pile that comes from a barn that a tornado took down, 2x4s that were spacers for shipping trailers, and raised beds made from old corn crib lumber. Shipping pallets can be used whole as fences or the boards can be used in smaller projects. Other sources of larger material can be construction companies. The left over material brought back from the construction site may be picked up at discounted prices. The next time your starting a project like raised beds, chicken tractors, or greenhouses look around and visualize where to reuse scrap lumber and start saving money.
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