Merry Christmas to all of you!!!!
no one is posting any more...
Too much to do???
would like to here from you again...
best wishes and lots of love
michaela
Saturday 26 December 2009
Friday 13 November 2009
Are you compost?
Seeing as this blog isn't exactly crowded, some relevant words I post.
Fritz Peters, 'Boyhood with Gurdjieff', Chapter IX
When I went for my lesson the following morning, Gurdjieff looked very tired. He said that he had been working very hard - most of the night - that writing was very hard work. He was still in bed, and he stayed there throughout the lesson.
He began by asking me about the exercise that had been given to all of us to do, and which I referred to previously as "self-observation". He said that it was a very difficult exercise to do and that he wanted me to do it, with my entire concentration, as constantly as possible. He also said that the main difficulty with this exercise, as with most exercises that he did - or would in the future - give to me or any of his students, was that to do them properly it was necessary not to expect results. In this specific exercise, what was important was to see oneself, to observe one's mechanical, reactionary behaviour without comment, and without making any attempt to change that behaviour. "If change," he said, "then will never see reality. Will only see change. When begin to know self, then change will come, or can make change if wish - if such change desirable."
He went on to say that his work was not only very difficult, but could also be very dangerous for some people. "This work not for everyone," he said. "For example, if wish to learn to become millionaire, necessary to devote all early life to this aim and no other. If wish to become priest, philosopher, teacher, or businessman, should not come here. Here only teach possibility how become man such as not known in modern times, particularly not in western world."
He then asked me to look out of the window, and to tell him what I saw. I said that, from that window, all I could see was an oak tree. And what, he asked, was on the oak tree? I told him: acorns.
"How many acorns?"
When I replied, rather uncertainly, that I did not know, he said impatiently: "Not exactly, not ask that. Guess how many!"
I said that I supposed there were several thousand of them.
He agreed and then asked me how many of the acorns would become oak trees. I answered that I supposed only five or six of them would develop into trees, if that many.
He nodded. "Perhaps only one, perhaps not even one. Must learn from Nature. Man is also organism. Nature make many acorns, but possibility to become tree exist for only few acorns. Same with man - many men born, but only few grow. People think this waste, think Nature waste. Not so. Rest become fertilizer, go back into earth and create possibility for more acorns, more men, once in while more tree - more real man. Nature always give - but only give possibility. To become real oak, or real man, must make effort. You understand this, my work, this Institute, not for fertilizer. For real man, only. But must also understand fertilizer necessary to Nature. Possibly for real tree, real man also depend just this fertilizer."
After a rather long silence, he continued: "In west - your world - is belief that man have soul, given by God. Not so. Nothing given by God, only Nature give. And Nature only give possibility for soul, not give soul. Must acquire soul through work. But, unlike tree, man have many possibilities. Ans man now exist he have also possibility grow by accident - grow wrong way. Man can become many things, not just fertilizer, not just real man: can become what you call 'good' or 'evil', not proper things for man. Real man not good or evil - real man only conscious, only wish acquire soul for proper development."
I had listened to him, concentrated and straining, and my only feeling - I was twelve then - was one of confusion, incomprehension. I sensed and felt the importance of what he was saying, but I did not understand it. As if aware of this (as he surely was), he said: "Think of good and evil like right hand and left hand. Man always have two hands - two sides of self - good and evil. One can destroy other. Must have aim to make both hands work together, must acquire third thing: thing that make peace between two hands, between impulse for good and impulse for evil. Man who all 'good' or man who all 'bad' is not whole man, is one-sided. Third thing is conscience, possibility to acquire conscience is already in man when born; this possibility given - free - by Nature. But it is only possibility. Real conscience can only be acquired by work, by learning to understand self first. Even your religion - western religion - have this phrase 'Know thyself'. This phrase most important in all religions. When begin know self already begin have possibility become genuine man. So first thing must learn is know self by this exercise, self-observation. If not do this, then will be like acorn that not become tree - fertiliser. Fertiliser which go back in ground and become possibility for future man."
Fritz Peters, 'Boyhood with Gurdjieff', Chapter IX
When I went for my lesson the following morning, Gurdjieff looked very tired. He said that he had been working very hard - most of the night - that writing was very hard work. He was still in bed, and he stayed there throughout the lesson.
He began by asking me about the exercise that had been given to all of us to do, and which I referred to previously as "self-observation". He said that it was a very difficult exercise to do and that he wanted me to do it, with my entire concentration, as constantly as possible. He also said that the main difficulty with this exercise, as with most exercises that he did - or would in the future - give to me or any of his students, was that to do them properly it was necessary not to expect results. In this specific exercise, what was important was to see oneself, to observe one's mechanical, reactionary behaviour without comment, and without making any attempt to change that behaviour. "If change," he said, "then will never see reality. Will only see change. When begin to know self, then change will come, or can make change if wish - if such change desirable."
He went on to say that his work was not only very difficult, but could also be very dangerous for some people. "This work not for everyone," he said. "For example, if wish to learn to become millionaire, necessary to devote all early life to this aim and no other. If wish to become priest, philosopher, teacher, or businessman, should not come here. Here only teach possibility how become man such as not known in modern times, particularly not in western world."
He then asked me to look out of the window, and to tell him what I saw. I said that, from that window, all I could see was an oak tree. And what, he asked, was on the oak tree? I told him: acorns.
"How many acorns?"
When I replied, rather uncertainly, that I did not know, he said impatiently: "Not exactly, not ask that. Guess how many!"
I said that I supposed there were several thousand of them.
He agreed and then asked me how many of the acorns would become oak trees. I answered that I supposed only five or six of them would develop into trees, if that many.
He nodded. "Perhaps only one, perhaps not even one. Must learn from Nature. Man is also organism. Nature make many acorns, but possibility to become tree exist for only few acorns. Same with man - many men born, but only few grow. People think this waste, think Nature waste. Not so. Rest become fertilizer, go back into earth and create possibility for more acorns, more men, once in while more tree - more real man. Nature always give - but only give possibility. To become real oak, or real man, must make effort. You understand this, my work, this Institute, not for fertilizer. For real man, only. But must also understand fertilizer necessary to Nature. Possibly for real tree, real man also depend just this fertilizer."
After a rather long silence, he continued: "In west - your world - is belief that man have soul, given by God. Not so. Nothing given by God, only Nature give. And Nature only give possibility for soul, not give soul. Must acquire soul through work. But, unlike tree, man have many possibilities. Ans man now exist he have also possibility grow by accident - grow wrong way. Man can become many things, not just fertilizer, not just real man: can become what you call 'good' or 'evil', not proper things for man. Real man not good or evil - real man only conscious, only wish acquire soul for proper development."
I had listened to him, concentrated and straining, and my only feeling - I was twelve then - was one of confusion, incomprehension. I sensed and felt the importance of what he was saying, but I did not understand it. As if aware of this (as he surely was), he said: "Think of good and evil like right hand and left hand. Man always have two hands - two sides of self - good and evil. One can destroy other. Must have aim to make both hands work together, must acquire third thing: thing that make peace between two hands, between impulse for good and impulse for evil. Man who all 'good' or man who all 'bad' is not whole man, is one-sided. Third thing is conscience, possibility to acquire conscience is already in man when born; this possibility given - free - by Nature. But it is only possibility. Real conscience can only be acquired by work, by learning to understand self first. Even your religion - western religion - have this phrase 'Know thyself'. This phrase most important in all religions. When begin know self already begin have possibility become genuine man. So first thing must learn is know self by this exercise, self-observation. If not do this, then will be like acorn that not become tree - fertiliser. Fertiliser which go back in ground and become possibility for future man."
Tuesday 11 August 2009
Foraging
Website/blog of a guy in southern England trying living only on wild food...
Also, how mushrooms can save the world...
Also, how mushrooms can save the world...
Wednesday 5 August 2009
Farming with terraces in Austria - very inspiring!
Hello all
Some of you may have become familiar with this guy through a video that Nick was sharing. I have only now got round to watching that video. This is most amazing. Have likewise been reading Fukuoka again. If you have never read 'One Straw Revolution', it is highly recommended. Reason I decided to do the course at Emerson was to learn about traditional European farming techniques. Nonetheless, I was always conscious throughout the course that little attention was given to newer, alternative approaches, which suggests to me that the Biodynamic 'movmenent' is operating in a bit of a limiting paradigm. There is no reason why the understanding of life forces got from BD cannot be combined with the understanding of ecosystems got from natural farming/permaculture. I for one would have liked more on insects in the course (of course no time blah blah). But anyway it's up to us to pioneer this territory. I have met up with some people that will be starting a project growing grains without machinery here in the west of Ireland. The real question is why not?
Anyway these links are much recommended...
Intro
Video 1 (Google Video)
Video 2 (Google Video)
Article by Sepp Holzer
Sepp Holzer's website
The Harmonious Wheatsmith (published by Mark Moodie)
Enjoy, comment, take action...!
Adam
Some of you may have become familiar with this guy through a video that Nick was sharing. I have only now got round to watching that video. This is most amazing. Have likewise been reading Fukuoka again. If you have never read 'One Straw Revolution', it is highly recommended. Reason I decided to do the course at Emerson was to learn about traditional European farming techniques. Nonetheless, I was always conscious throughout the course that little attention was given to newer, alternative approaches, which suggests to me that the Biodynamic 'movmenent' is operating in a bit of a limiting paradigm. There is no reason why the understanding of life forces got from BD cannot be combined with the understanding of ecosystems got from natural farming/permaculture. I for one would have liked more on insects in the course (of course no time blah blah). But anyway it's up to us to pioneer this territory. I have met up with some people that will be starting a project growing grains without machinery here in the west of Ireland. The real question is why not?
Anyway these links are much recommended...
Intro
Video 1 (Google Video)
Video 2 (Google Video)
Article by Sepp Holzer
Sepp Holzer's website
The Harmonious Wheatsmith (published by Mark Moodie)
Enjoy, comment, take action...!
Adam
Tuesday 2 June 2009
greetings from wheat country
hi everyone.
just a quick note to tell you all i have found my home. i am so loving this place, the farm the community, the weather, the wine and cheese!
for being out in the sticks it is amazingly progressive, there are allot of young people doing innovative things in agriculture and allot of talk about localizing the food economy and organic conversion of the wheat fields.
for me, i have designed and installed a big market garden with every vegg, melon and flower you can imagine. i have endless amounts of the most delicious compost at my beck and call. i milks 100 sheep and goats 2 times per week, and they are a joy.
we are making 9 different cheeses for now, 3 fresh cheeses, 4 soft aged cheeses, 1 hard and 1 pure sheep's cheese as well as gillato ice cream and Popsicles, selling duck and chicken eggs and more.
and the best part is on sat. and sun. i run the cheese and wine tasting room. we are open to the public and people come to learn about what we are doing and why and sample all the goods. this, as you can imagine is so fun. i have my own personal bar and steer the conversation to bio dynamic and sustainable agriculture at every chance. i have perfected my what is bio dynamic spiel and i will be speaking about my training and what i see for my future in this community at the next sustainable blablaba something meeting in June.
yeah for bio dynamics, yeah for education and the confidence it gives one to take on the worlds challenges and yeah for people who actually want to listin and talk about this stuff!
also a big hiphip horrah for all of those who dream big and live it! with all of the challenges that brings, it is thease people who have so much to teach us, and it will be us living our biggest dreams soon.
keep dreaming, bigger and bigger. i know i am, i have 3 bissness plans in my head now i just have to get them on paper.
i am high on this life, so happy for all of the learning and challenges that have brought me to this amazing place in the world, physically, spiritually and emotionally.
sending you all all of my luck and love.
erin
ps, adam....thanks for visiting me in my dreams. i feel like we check in regularly, but drop a line in waking life and let me know where and how you are.
blessings to all,
xoxo
just a quick note to tell you all i have found my home. i am so loving this place, the farm the community, the weather, the wine and cheese!
for being out in the sticks it is amazingly progressive, there are allot of young people doing innovative things in agriculture and allot of talk about localizing the food economy and organic conversion of the wheat fields.
for me, i have designed and installed a big market garden with every vegg, melon and flower you can imagine. i have endless amounts of the most delicious compost at my beck and call. i milks 100 sheep and goats 2 times per week, and they are a joy.
we are making 9 different cheeses for now, 3 fresh cheeses, 4 soft aged cheeses, 1 hard and 1 pure sheep's cheese as well as gillato ice cream and Popsicles, selling duck and chicken eggs and more.
and the best part is on sat. and sun. i run the cheese and wine tasting room. we are open to the public and people come to learn about what we are doing and why and sample all the goods. this, as you can imagine is so fun. i have my own personal bar and steer the conversation to bio dynamic and sustainable agriculture at every chance. i have perfected my what is bio dynamic spiel and i will be speaking about my training and what i see for my future in this community at the next sustainable blablaba something meeting in June.
yeah for bio dynamics, yeah for education and the confidence it gives one to take on the worlds challenges and yeah for people who actually want to listin and talk about this stuff!
also a big hiphip horrah for all of those who dream big and live it! with all of the challenges that brings, it is thease people who have so much to teach us, and it will be us living our biggest dreams soon.
keep dreaming, bigger and bigger. i know i am, i have 3 bissness plans in my head now i just have to get them on paper.
i am high on this life, so happy for all of the learning and challenges that have brought me to this amazing place in the world, physically, spiritually and emotionally.
sending you all all of my luck and love.
erin
ps, adam....thanks for visiting me in my dreams. i feel like we check in regularly, but drop a line in waking life and let me know where and how you are.
blessings to all,
xoxo
Finaly the first cut is done! finished sillage making for now.... it s waiting for the grass to grow again xD
weather is good and the last few jungstock who are still inside are getting out to pasture today!
Went to Hamburg to the Oper yesterday... five hours of Wagner (Die Meistersinger von Nuernberg)....havy stuff.....
all is going good here..can milk the cows now on my own! still takes a bit longer, what ever... makes fun....
so nearly lunch time!
hope you are well!!!
theire are still too few posts here from all of you!
weather is good and the last few jungstock who are still inside are getting out to pasture today!
Went to Hamburg to the Oper yesterday... five hours of Wagner (Die Meistersinger von Nuernberg)....havy stuff.....
all is going good here..can milk the cows now on my own! still takes a bit longer, what ever... makes fun....
so nearly lunch time!
hope you are well!!!
theire are still too few posts here from all of you!
Wednesday 27 May 2009
It's flower time again!!!
Oooh how I love my flowers! The sweet peas just keep going, making everybody happy, and now also the sweet William is really starting to take off. All sorts of different colours, and very, very scented... Hmmmm.... Unfortunately the wholesaler just wants the colour 'cerise' which I don't know whta that is, but since my sweet Williams have all sorts of colours I don't think they want them. So, I printed some nice leaflets, had a bath, a shave and a clean pair of underpants, and off I went on tour with two buckets of flowers, to visit 7 different farm and flower shops in the area. Alison, my WWOOFer, came along, and we made so many people happy with our free flower bunches! And now the orders keep streaming in, so much so that I am running out of flowers! It's now just picking picking picking, bunching bunching bunching, and off they go. Really flowers are fantastic! Flowers flowering everywhere - flowers in your hair! Flowers, flowers, flowers!!! Oh what beautiful flowers... Yeehaaaaaa
Monday 25 May 2009
Bonjour Tous le Monde!
Hello everyone!
I just thought i'd check in with you wild biodynamic love cats! I hope all the BD2 lot are doing well out there and BD1's are learning lots on their placements. I'm working on a little family market garden here in the south of France and i'm really enjoying it! Its only 9 acres but next to a big river at the foothills of the Cevennes mountains, very pretty! Working in polytunnels in severe heat is a killer although I may be able to work off some of the lager that Sparky forced me to drink at college! I'm also starting to spray preps at our place (see website) we're turning it well Biodynamic init!
sending you all love....
Nick x
P.s. Contrats to Arjen with Marriage and baby!
I just thought i'd check in with you wild biodynamic love cats! I hope all the BD2 lot are doing well out there and BD1's are learning lots on their placements. I'm working on a little family market garden here in the south of France and i'm really enjoying it! Its only 9 acres but next to a big river at the foothills of the Cevennes mountains, very pretty! Working in polytunnels in severe heat is a killer although I may be able to work off some of the lager that Sparky forced me to drink at college! I'm also starting to spray preps at our place (see website) we're turning it well Biodynamic init!
sending you all love....
Nick x
P.s. Contrats to Arjen with Marriage and baby!
Sunday 17 May 2009
Not even pretending to farm
Its raining, which is good. The grain needs rain. I have planted some lettuce, beans, carrots, sweetcorn and sunflowers in my raised beds after having gone to great expense and ringed the edges with copper tape in an attempt to inhibit slug action. All seems a bit low key compared with what everyone else is up to. The ulterior motive was partly met as someone made an offer on the house, low, but it's a start. The farm we are looking to rent is proving a hard nut to crack and so we might rent a small house for a few months while we look around and await the downward repricing of the next phase of the global economic contraction (this article is especially for Adam).
Just read Animal Pharm by Mark Purdey, extraordinary book, should be on the BD reading list. As Monbiot says, 'If Pudey is right he should get a Nobel prize for medicine'. Great exploration, research and analysis of BSE (globally) and TB. Does leave you feeling disgusted and saddened at central governments (how surprising) but also relieved that there are answers to the questions BSE raised about how we keep our animals. It's in the soil. However, I am now worried about grasssickness in the horses (found where there is low pH, CU & K deficiency and excess Fe, like our buttercup covered, iron clay fields, often triggering Clostridium botulinum of the TB family). Symptons, are severe gut paralysis and sudden death. Not much of a heads up there then. I could spread some lime on the fields and an Fe chelating compound. Or I could not worry about it. Maybe I'll spray some 501. I wonder what Glen would say? I shall go and study my charts.
Make sure you have read this regarding golden rice and its benefits (hhmmm), the proGMOers use it as their standard bearer for saving the world. It is always useful to be able to debunk that line of arguement.
Happy planting, prepping, parsing, picking and packing.
Just read Animal Pharm by Mark Purdey, extraordinary book, should be on the BD reading list. As Monbiot says, 'If Pudey is right he should get a Nobel prize for medicine'. Great exploration, research and analysis of BSE (globally) and TB. Does leave you feeling disgusted and saddened at central governments (how surprising) but also relieved that there are answers to the questions BSE raised about how we keep our animals. It's in the soil. However, I am now worried about grasssickness in the horses (found where there is low pH, CU & K deficiency and excess Fe, like our buttercup covered, iron clay fields, often triggering Clostridium botulinum of the TB family). Symptons, are severe gut paralysis and sudden death. Not much of a heads up there then. I could spread some lime on the fields and an Fe chelating compound. Or I could not worry about it. Maybe I'll spray some 501. I wonder what Glen would say? I shall go and study my charts.
Make sure you have read this regarding golden rice and its benefits (hhmmm), the proGMOers use it as their standard bearer for saving the world. It is always useful to be able to debunk that line of arguement.
Happy planting, prepping, parsing, picking and packing.
Saturday 16 May 2009
First Job offer!
Got my first Job offer! my farmer asked if I want to stay after the placement, he needs someone xD not bad for me!
I' ve got a good time here milking and carring for the cows.
Mowing will start next week after the rain....
Got a few woodcutting etc to do after a huge storm last weekend.
Finally I know allmost all the 25 cows by name ;-)
have a good weekend and post, post, post!
michaela
Saturday 9 May 2009
What's happening at emerson?
Things are thriving here as usual! The may fair has just passed (Arjen, Rob, and others dancing merrily before a very large crowd of people ranging from outsiders to ex-emersonians to scientlogists and even anthroposophists! The courses are well on their way and coming closer to their endings, and someone’s been rotivating up about a quarter of an acre behind carson!??
Well, it seems as though a lot is transpiring here at Emerson, in the garden and in the course. Im sure most of you already know the Neir (spelling?) has joined Arjen in carrying the course. I get the sense that they both have been working extremely hard since all of us began our placements and/or took our leave from Emerson, and I believe that there are a few things in the cooker for the course itself which is very good.
The lunches now include a few things from the garden! Amazing huh? After all that whining we did in october about Emerson not having a garden and now it is no longer only talk or planning but reality. Yes, there is plenty in the ground and it is only getting buisier.
Well, i send my blessings to you all and i hope your biodynamicing is going great!
Well, it seems as though a lot is transpiring here at Emerson, in the garden and in the course. Im sure most of you already know the Neir (spelling?) has joined Arjen in carrying the course. I get the sense that they both have been working extremely hard since all of us began our placements and/or took our leave from Emerson, and I believe that there are a few things in the cooker for the course itself which is very good.
The lunches now include a few things from the garden! Amazing huh? After all that whining we did in october about Emerson not having a garden and now it is no longer only talk or planning but reality. Yes, there is plenty in the ground and it is only getting buisier.
Well, i send my blessings to you all and i hope your biodynamicing is going great!
Wednesday 6 May 2009
Fix the Food Chain
Wandered into the fields of Plaw Hatch today to watch Richard and Tony roll out their latest gizzmos. After the (ancient) transplanter had been steamed back into life (with help from a couple of Findhorn groupies plus Claire) the latest watering contraption appeared. Fortunately it was strapped atop a tractor that was unable to exceed 5mph otherwise a little sideways sloshing might have had it aside (rather than astride) the newly planted celariac. Overall the garden looked great and the shop displayed almost an entire wall of farm grown produce.
Friends of the Earth started a campaign 'Fixing the Food Chain' earlier this year, very timely given the Swine Flu, sorry, novel human flu virus H1N1, outbreak. Read their 'Feeding the Beast' article. If you felt so inclined you could even write to your MEP (elections next month) - (European member of parliament - we all have one). And at the same time remind her/him that GM food should probably continue to be restricted until substantive, meaningful test are carried out to verify their safety.
If you haven't read it, find the time to take a look at the best commendation for ending intensive farming yet published. The UN FAOs 'Livestock's Long Shadow'. And, for those long winter nights (huh?, Ed.) the UNCTAD report on how organic agriculture is Africa's best hope. Or the IAASTD report from last year on how the world should look at agriculture, esp. Point 4 which includes the line 'Existing multifunctional systems that minimize these [environmental] problems have not been sufficiently prioritized for research.'
Sadly, Obama's new Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced he will be pushing harder for bio-tech (read GM) than Bush was. Not a surprise but likely means heavy lobbying of Europe/Africa to buy Monsanto/Dow/Pioneer Hi-Bred/Syngenta products. Will there be a serious debate in the US about this? Will anyone point out that yields have not been increased, that the only success story are seeds that are herbicide resistant meaning guess what, yup, more Roundup? Oh, and this is Monsanto funded research saying their crops require a lot of work especially due to over-relience on herbicides and that super pigweed and ragweed is becoming a serious problem.
The US public don't appear to be completely fooled, despite a sharp economic downturn sales of organic food were up 16% in 2008. However, total organic meat sales are a paultry (there's a joke in there somewhere) 0.34% of total. That's $448mm vs $8.5bln on fruit & veg. Odd how people are happy eating non-organic meat but love their organic apples and lettuces. Having said that, I saw lots of very free-range, pasture-fed beef wandering around Arizona, the owners of which wore funny hats and boots, occasionally said 'yeeeha' and thought organics was for uptight, liberal citytypes (at least I think that's what they said).
Friends of the Earth started a campaign 'Fixing the Food Chain' earlier this year, very timely given the Swine Flu, sorry, novel human flu virus H1N1, outbreak. Read their 'Feeding the Beast' article. If you felt so inclined you could even write to your MEP (elections next month) - (European member of parliament - we all have one). And at the same time remind her/him that GM food should probably continue to be restricted until substantive, meaningful test are carried out to verify their safety.
If you haven't read it, find the time to take a look at the best commendation for ending intensive farming yet published. The UN FAOs 'Livestock's Long Shadow'. And, for those long winter nights (huh?, Ed.) the UNCTAD report on how organic agriculture is Africa's best hope. Or the IAASTD report from last year on how the world should look at agriculture, esp. Point 4 which includes the line 'Existing multifunctional systems that minimize these [environmental] problems have not been sufficiently prioritized for research.'
Sadly, Obama's new Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced he will be pushing harder for bio-tech (read GM) than Bush was. Not a surprise but likely means heavy lobbying of Europe/Africa to buy Monsanto/Dow/Pioneer Hi-Bred/Syngenta products. Will there be a serious debate in the US about this? Will anyone point out that yields have not been increased, that the only success story are seeds that are herbicide resistant meaning guess what, yup, more Roundup? Oh, and this is Monsanto funded research saying their crops require a lot of work especially due to over-relience on herbicides and that super pigweed and ragweed is becoming a serious problem.
The US public don't appear to be completely fooled, despite a sharp economic downturn sales of organic food were up 16% in 2008. However, total organic meat sales are a paultry (there's a joke in there somewhere) 0.34% of total. That's $448mm vs $8.5bln on fruit & veg. Odd how people are happy eating non-organic meat but love their organic apples and lettuces. Having said that, I saw lots of very free-range, pasture-fed beef wandering around Arizona, the owners of which wore funny hats and boots, occasionally said 'yeeeha' and thought organics was for uptight, liberal citytypes (at least I think that's what they said).
Friday 1 May 2009
fire
happy beltane. the goddess has been transformed into the flower maiden and united with the green man, don't you know? if not then wake up like...
Wednesday 29 April 2009
Swine Fever
Whaddya know....I finally decide to take a trip out to Arizona to see what all the fuss is about with these horses and find myself sandwiched between a Californian and Mexican biohazard.
Is this a result of the consolidation and concentration of pigs into 10,000 head units (esp. North Carolina)? Factory farming having deadly side effects? I cant believe it. Check out the link.
Is this a result of the consolidation and concentration of pigs into 10,000 head units (esp. North Carolina)? Factory farming having deadly side effects? I cant believe it. Check out the link.
Monday 20 April 2009
hello all
i am greatly enjoying time off. my brain has officially shut down and i am in a beautiful place and the sun is shining. I have bought my first home, a 10 ft x 10 ft wall tent and will be moving to the farm in just over one week. i am excited and as good as the break has been i am so ready to get dirty, plant some seeds make some cheese and milk some goats/sheep.
funny story:
yesterday i was hunting for morel mushrooms with some friends in the woods. as i was face to face (literally, crawling) with the soil through the under story of the forest, looking at all the lovely critters and marveling at decomposing leafs, i began to think on fungi. (fitting, because i was looking for fungi) the mystery of it and the beauty of all mushrooms especally the morel! i then started wondering what roll gnomes may play in the mysterious growth habits of mushrooms....... when to my surprise every other crawl on my belly through the forest reveled yet another morel! larger than the last!!! so of course, i thanked the gnomes and continued to be amazed by the beauty and size of the mushrooms i was being gifted by said gnomes.... of course they would be gifting me what i sought out of appreciation for me recognizing their roll in the fungi world!
after 2 hours of crawling in the leaf litter i was called to lunch. i was so excited so show everyone how skilled i was and tell them my secret! (gnome appreciation) and suggest they try it too. my friend Dan was the first to tell me, all the mushrooms i had painfully and tediously gathered were false morels. he dumped them out onto the ground an showed me the difference so i wouldn't be fooled again.
Fooled i was. and you know i could almost hear all of the little gnomes laughing hysterically.
tricky bastards.
all the best of love and luck to all.
watch out for gnomes, bulls and pigs on your placements
erin
funny story:
yesterday i was hunting for morel mushrooms with some friends in the woods. as i was face to face (literally, crawling) with the soil through the under story of the forest, looking at all the lovely critters and marveling at decomposing leafs, i began to think on fungi. (fitting, because i was looking for fungi) the mystery of it and the beauty of all mushrooms especally the morel! i then started wondering what roll gnomes may play in the mysterious growth habits of mushrooms....... when to my surprise every other crawl on my belly through the forest reveled yet another morel! larger than the last!!! so of course, i thanked the gnomes and continued to be amazed by the beauty and size of the mushrooms i was being gifted by said gnomes.... of course they would be gifting me what i sought out of appreciation for me recognizing their roll in the fungi world!
after 2 hours of crawling in the leaf litter i was called to lunch. i was so excited so show everyone how skilled i was and tell them my secret! (gnome appreciation) and suggest they try it too. my friend Dan was the first to tell me, all the mushrooms i had painfully and tediously gathered were false morels. he dumped them out onto the ground an showed me the difference so i wouldn't be fooled again.
Fooled i was. and you know i could almost hear all of the little gnomes laughing hysterically.
tricky bastards.
all the best of love and luck to all.
watch out for gnomes, bulls and pigs on your placements
erin
Charlie's song
Hi everybody,
Nice to read from all of you... I am currently in Plawhatch and will be till the end of this week - don't know how I'll ever be able to leave, really... But there you go, crash course in milking, looking after the animals, feeding, fencing, counting eggs... Calving ! There were 4 birthes last night, including twins !! Oh how nice to be out there and part of life, it's hard to imagine ever sitting in a classroom again. Moving to Cherry Gardens next Saturday to immerse myself into vegetable life.
Graduates, as promised, here is your song ! Lyrics by Charlie Wannop (where are you by the way, Charlie, it would be good to hear from you !), melody as in the original song, chords G-G-C-G-G-D7-G and more G. Enjoy !
"Last year's students had a farm"
Young Katrina had a farm - E I E I Oh
And on that farm she had a cow - E I E I Oh
With a great diet here and no vet bills there
Here a calf, there a calf, profits everywhere
Young Katrina...
Mid Mac Phil he had a farm - E I E I Oh
And on that farm he had some preps - E I E I Oh
With a 501 to a 507
A bit of Maye Bruce and a shot of 08
Mid Mac Phil...
Banker Bob he had a farm - E I E I Oh
And on that farm he had.. a HORSE ??? - E I E I Oh
With mini dairies here and a garden there
Another job elsewhere and a stress-free life
Banker Bob...
Young Mac Adam had a community farm - E I E I Oh
And on this farm he had some thoughts - E I E I Oh
With a rain gun here and a garden there
Here a house, there a house, people everywhere
Young Mac Adam...
Our Erin had a CSA farm - E I E I Oh
And on that farm she had some veg - E I E I Oh
With courses here and boxes there
Here a yurt, there a yurt, happiness everywhere oh
Our Erin...
Mr Kristoff had a farm - E I E I Oh
And on this farm he had some goats - E I E I Oh
With cheeses here and cheeses there
Here a veggie plot, there a goat - oh hell !
Mr Kristoff...
Old McHall he had a farm - E I E I Oh
And on this farm he had a scheme - E I E I Oh
With boxes here and boxes there
Here a profit, there a loss, everywhere a balance
Old McHall...
Old McJeff he had a plan - E I E I Oh
And with this plan he had some fun - E I E I Oh
Tree crops here and ducklings there
Here a pond, there some duck pooh aaaaarghhhhhhh !
Old McJeff...
Mac Kaela had a farm - E I E I Oh
And on that farm she had some grain - E I E I Oh
With tractors here and tractors there
Here a hen, there a cow, loads of work everywhere
Mac Kaela...
Well all these students got a farm - E I E I Oh
And we all hope they get some fun - E I E I Oh
With hard work here and enough money there
Here a laugh, there a giggle and lots of love everywhere...
...May all these students have a farm ! E I E I Ooooooooooooooooooh.
ANd BLESSINGS on YOUR JOurNeys !!!
Love,
Marie
Nice to read from all of you... I am currently in Plawhatch and will be till the end of this week - don't know how I'll ever be able to leave, really... But there you go, crash course in milking, looking after the animals, feeding, fencing, counting eggs... Calving ! There were 4 birthes last night, including twins !! Oh how nice to be out there and part of life, it's hard to imagine ever sitting in a classroom again. Moving to Cherry Gardens next Saturday to immerse myself into vegetable life.
Graduates, as promised, here is your song ! Lyrics by Charlie Wannop (where are you by the way, Charlie, it would be good to hear from you !), melody as in the original song, chords G-G-C-G-G-D7-G and more G. Enjoy !
"Last year's students had a farm"
Young Katrina had a farm - E I E I Oh
And on that farm she had a cow - E I E I Oh
With a great diet here and no vet bills there
Here a calf, there a calf, profits everywhere
Young Katrina...
Mid Mac Phil he had a farm - E I E I Oh
And on that farm he had some preps - E I E I Oh
With a 501 to a 507
A bit of Maye Bruce and a shot of 08
Mid Mac Phil...
Banker Bob he had a farm - E I E I Oh
And on that farm he had.. a HORSE ??? - E I E I Oh
With mini dairies here and a garden there
Another job elsewhere and a stress-free life
Banker Bob...
Young Mac Adam had a community farm - E I E I Oh
And on this farm he had some thoughts - E I E I Oh
With a rain gun here and a garden there
Here a house, there a house, people everywhere
Young Mac Adam...
Our Erin had a CSA farm - E I E I Oh
And on that farm she had some veg - E I E I Oh
With courses here and boxes there
Here a yurt, there a yurt, happiness everywhere oh
Our Erin...
Mr Kristoff had a farm - E I E I Oh
And on this farm he had some goats - E I E I Oh
With cheeses here and cheeses there
Here a veggie plot, there a goat - oh hell !
Mr Kristoff...
Old McHall he had a farm - E I E I Oh
And on this farm he had a scheme - E I E I Oh
With boxes here and boxes there
Here a profit, there a loss, everywhere a balance
Old McHall...
Old McJeff he had a plan - E I E I Oh
And with this plan he had some fun - E I E I Oh
Tree crops here and ducklings there
Here a pond, there some duck pooh aaaaarghhhhhhh !
Old McJeff...
Mac Kaela had a farm - E I E I Oh
And on that farm she had some grain - E I E I Oh
With tractors here and tractors there
Here a hen, there a cow, loads of work everywhere
Mac Kaela...
Well all these students got a farm - E I E I Oh
And we all hope they get some fun - E I E I Oh
With hard work here and enough money there
Here a laugh, there a giggle and lots of love everywhere...
...May all these students have a farm ! E I E I Ooooooooooooooooooh.
ANd BLESSINGS on YOUR JOurNeys !!!
Love,
Marie
Sunday 19 April 2009
Be afraid, be very etc.....
War on terror (downgraded to central Asian excursions), war on want (huh?), war on drugs (failed miserably), war on poverty (5/10, could do better). War on food, coming to a field near you, soon.
Saturday 18 April 2009
Tescno go all hippy (even screw tops!)
Tescno (see link) have adopted the famous Maria Thun wine tasting calendar. I think its progress.
My agricultural involvement has extended to equine waste management and ditch digging so far this summer (and a couple of evenings lambing, ah, sweet). I hope at least to plant my newly constructed raised bed. I am also hoping, under the law of sod, that by doing so will accelerate the sale of our house. We looked at a farm house (surrounded by farmland but unconnected, in the modern English countryside way) that was very overpriced but with many facilities that would be useful (like fields, farm machinery and other accommodation units). We made them a cheeky offer and are waiting a reply. Otherwise we will keep hunting, hopeful that more unemployed City types (boo) will be looking to rent out their estates to err, unemployed City types, with BD diploma. Off to Waitrose then.
My agricultural involvement has extended to equine waste management and ditch digging so far this summer (and a couple of evenings lambing, ah, sweet). I hope at least to plant my newly constructed raised bed. I am also hoping, under the law of sod, that by doing so will accelerate the sale of our house. We looked at a farm house (surrounded by farmland but unconnected, in the modern English countryside way) that was very overpriced but with many facilities that would be useful (like fields, farm machinery and other accommodation units). We made them a cheeky offer and are waiting a reply. Otherwise we will keep hunting, hopeful that more unemployed City types (boo) will be looking to rent out their estates to err, unemployed City types, with BD diploma. Off to Waitrose then.
Friday 17 April 2009
peat cutters
So folks chapter 1 of my Irish adventure has come suddenly to a close. It seems that I did not take the apocalypse seriously enough, or dig fast enough as part of their 10 hour/7 day a week working schedule (the father/fuhrer there is building a tower for a windmill, which is to serve likewise for defensive purposes), to be an acceptable helper on the Belgian family's survivalist farm that I came here to work on. So.. I have now been relocated to the closest organic enterprise, which is clearly the real reason that I came here for. It was nonetheless most worthwhile to have seen the setup that the first place had: they grow lots of exotic, particularly Andean crops (the idea being that when the collapse happens and the ransackers come, they will not be able to recognise many of the edible crops - they even eat guinea pigs!), lots of perennial crops, 2 polytunnels, cows (4), sheep(30), goats(7), pigs(4), hens(30), ducks(30), geese(15), turkeys(5), pigeons, guinea pigs, ferrets, dogs and honey bees. And building lots of new things. Some work ethic. But somewhat too much an atmosphere of doom and gloom to say the least. They are neo-Darwinists/Dawkinsists to top it all off. I got a bit bored by these things quite fast, which didn't help. Actually not afraid of death, which they clearly are. Anyway I am now working for guess what a Dutchman who is growing organic (but he doesn't certify due to getting crap from bureaucrats) who is a most helpful teacher. So I suspect that I shall remain here for some time. Over/out.
a.
a.
Sunday 5 April 2009
BD on Radio4
Radio4 Food Programme visits Camphill Larchfield Community village, due for broadcast next Sunday 12.30pm.
Saturday 4 April 2009
Congratulations
Hey...congratulations Arjen & Margaretha. Fantastic news, we'll put the date in the diary.
Above is link to piece by Charlie's favourite author Joel Salatin (Everything I do is Illegal, amoungst others). It was writtin in '04 but worth a read and a reminder of why the esoteric perspective and the common sense approach are essential components of agriculture and life.
Above is link to piece by Charlie's favourite author Joel Salatin (Everything I do is Illegal, amoungst others). It was writtin in '04 but worth a read and a reminder of why the esoteric perspective and the common sense approach are essential components of agriculture and life.
Hi All,
Firstly a big congratulations Arjen to you and Margaretha and wishing you every happiness for the future. I was going to say peace but it will probably be noisy...
As far as placement goes I am being kept very busy and it is varied. The most scary aspect is that I am introduced as the biodynamic expert and they keep asking for advice. On the plus side, after a week I have realised that compared to almost all of them we BD1 ers do have quite an amount of BD knowledge squirreled away. There is a beautiful walled garden, amazing labs, many hectares of land and tea/coffee whenever you want. But hours are long - 9-6pm with half hour for lunch. The farm manager here is very supportive and will include me in various meetings. Next Monday I have a BD spray strategy meeting for the vineyard, then need to do an onsite assessment of trials set up last week in the walled garden. The afternoon will be an induction to the rapid compost method used here (they also have a large more traditional compost area that took me 1 and half hours to temperature probe the numerous windrows last week). I should be doing 2 days a week with the stockmen - that is even longer hours - they start at 7. - lambing hasn't started yet. I think de-thistling a field by hand and helping to transport buffalo and finishing the stags bladder preps are also next weeks agenda.
Hope you are all well - post news when you can. I'll try and take some pictures....in my free time!!
love
Margie
Firstly a big congratulations Arjen to you and Margaretha and wishing you every happiness for the future. I was going to say peace but it will probably be noisy...
As far as placement goes I am being kept very busy and it is varied. The most scary aspect is that I am introduced as the biodynamic expert and they keep asking for advice. On the plus side, after a week I have realised that compared to almost all of them we BD1 ers do have quite an amount of BD knowledge squirreled away. There is a beautiful walled garden, amazing labs, many hectares of land and tea/coffee whenever you want. But hours are long - 9-6pm with half hour for lunch. The farm manager here is very supportive and will include me in various meetings. Next Monday I have a BD spray strategy meeting for the vineyard, then need to do an onsite assessment of trials set up last week in the walled garden. The afternoon will be an induction to the rapid compost method used here (they also have a large more traditional compost area that took me 1 and half hours to temperature probe the numerous windrows last week). I should be doing 2 days a week with the stockmen - that is even longer hours - they start at 7. - lambing hasn't started yet. I think de-thistling a field by hand and helping to transport buffalo and finishing the stags bladder preps are also next weeks agenda.
Hope you are all well - post news when you can. I'll try and take some pictures....in my free time!!
love
Margie
Friday 3 April 2009
A wedding and a baby...
Hello boppers,
I miss you all terribly but still... life goes on so I marked your market garden projects. Most were pretty good and I will send you an individual email with more details (but not today). I have just come back from Holland to drop off Ramon at his granny's, and I had a look at the biggest Dutch flower auction in Aalsmeer: pretty impressive stuff there. Then a good time in a big big horticulture shop and when I left without money but with my hands full of tools I went to Keukenhof, the biggest spring flower park in the world. They're open for just 2 months per year but the rest of the year they spend planting 7 million bulbs in different themes every year, quite impressive stuff again.
Now the big news: Margaretha and me are getting married! If you are around the 7th August please feel welcome to attend: our priest will be Werner Wecker!
And in November we will have a baby...
Well, if this isn't good news for a first post on the blog this year then I don't know what is. Enjoy your placements and have a look at the pictures that Begoña took during the graduation which you can find if you click on the link on the top right hand of the page.
Love from Arjen
I miss you all terribly but still... life goes on so I marked your market garden projects. Most were pretty good and I will send you an individual email with more details (but not today). I have just come back from Holland to drop off Ramon at his granny's, and I had a look at the biggest Dutch flower auction in Aalsmeer: pretty impressive stuff there. Then a good time in a big big horticulture shop and when I left without money but with my hands full of tools I went to Keukenhof, the biggest spring flower park in the world. They're open for just 2 months per year but the rest of the year they spend planting 7 million bulbs in different themes every year, quite impressive stuff again.
Now the big news: Margaretha and me are getting married! If you are around the 7th August please feel welcome to attend: our priest will be Werner Wecker!
And in November we will have a baby...
Well, if this isn't good news for a first post on the blog this year then I don't know what is. Enjoy your placements and have a look at the pictures that Begoña took during the graduation which you can find if you click on the link on the top right hand of the page.
Love from Arjen
Thursday 2 April 2009
Hollidays
Hi everybody,
Graduates, where have you all gone ?
I'm enjoying much longed for hollidays in the beautiful plain of Lorraine... and never seem to get enough sleep :)
Where is everybody, how are you doing on this first week of placement ?
Lots of love,
Marie
Graduates, where have you all gone ?
I'm enjoying much longed for hollidays in the beautiful plain of Lorraine... and never seem to get enough sleep :)
Where is everybody, how are you doing on this first week of placement ?
Lots of love,
Marie
Wednesday 1 April 2009
Lambs Galore
Seems I missed most of the action, only about 50 sheep left to lamb, mainly singles. The barn was a delight last night with the central aisle full of leaping, exploring lambs, dashing hurriedly from one end to the other. Two good strong lambs born on my watch but there were four requiring much manual intervention; placing on teat, stomach tubing and the like, at least one of which didn't make it to this evening. Grumpy, sleepy farmers and apprentices abound as we enter the 4th week of lambing. David was so tired he didn't even notice that the tractor had been removed from the workshop and parked in River field in the middle of the night as an April fool's joke!
Tuesday 24 March 2009
BD Viticulture Discussion
Not really my cup of tea, so to speak, but here's a BD discussion in which I participated on a California based wine website.
Monday 16 March 2009
Tuesday 3 March 2009
Declining nutritional value of fruit & veg
US Journal of HortScience publishes University of Texas paper reviewing evidence of declining mineral content and poor taste of US fruit & veg.
Sunday 1 March 2009
Wednesday 11 February 2009
Monday 19 January 2009
Sonic bloom etc
Link to discussion on BD Now! Yahoo group about Sonic bloom and similar techniques. Very interesting. Not sure if you can read this without being signed up to the list, but if not then you should be on the list! See also the website linked in the title of this post and likewise the relevant chapter in Secrets of the Soil...
a.
#Edit: I have now posted the text onto my blog, since it is not accessible without a Yahoo account. I intend to document my research project on this blog...
a.
#Edit: I have now posted the text onto my blog, since it is not accessible without a Yahoo account. I intend to document my research project on this blog...
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