What A Mess!

My wife and I and our two girls, along with my brother-in-law, took a trip too Arkansas at our church today. Us men brought our chainsaws and gear to help with the clean up. My wife and Kids served at the church as it is a local disaster relief center. The whole thing is a mess.



We managed to get six yards cleaned up so that folks can get out. It will be weeks before power is fully restored. There were poles snapped in two with wire laying eveywhere. Many places had trees fall across the wires, tearing down the poles. The tree damage is almost total. It is a sad sight, I hate to see the trees decimated like that. But, all in all, we managed to bless six homes.



Our church is feeding 40-50 people per day and has 30, or so, sleeping there. The church has a large generator that kept them going. They now have power to the church, but the surrounding community is still without. There are people coming in with the flu and head lice. The health department is trying to deal with that, people just don't think about others, anymore, that they are exposing someone to a disease.

Pam served dinner (lunch) and was shocked at the level of selfishness in some of these people. The fire departments were coming in to eat, so they had to watch how much food they gave out. Some got mad because they didn't get enough. This makes me sad at the thought of benevolence being taken advantage of. It seems that there is a great entitlement mentality in this country that has been brought on by the welfare system and subsidies, and people always want more. It is never good enough. These folks had a place with electric to eat and sleep. And, yet, they always seem to find something to complain about. It makes me sad.

We worked hard and there were many who thanked us and truly were thankful, that warms the heart. It is what makes it all worth it. We forgot to bring the camera so we have no pictures but I think someone on the Homesteading today forum has posted some.

Thanks for stoppong by and enduring this little story. Have a great day.

Ice, Ice, Baby! Ice Storm, 2009

I have no idea how these pictures loaded this way and I can't seem to fix them. So, here are some pictures of the ice accumulation. We ended up with over an inch of it, with about 2 inches of sleet and about an inch of snow. If you look close, you can see the trees bending under the weight. The picture of our fence shows the amount of ice the best.

When all is said and done, there is still beauty to be found in God's world. What a blessing to consider His power during the storm and witness His beauty afterward.

Plus, we even took time to play. This is Abigail and myself sledding. She also had fun pelting me with snowballs. The fun time pictures were taken the day after, when things began to warm up and melt. All day long we could hear the cracking and snapping of trees in the forest that surrounds us. Thankfully, we have no trees immediately near the house. Our church family in Arkansas fared much worse than we did. We plan to head that way tomorrow. Me, with the chainsaw and My wife and the girls to the church for disaster relief help. Say a prayer for all those affected.

A Quick Note To All Our Readers

Hi all! I just wanted to post a quick note, while I can. We have had a massive icestorm that included sleet and snow, as well. There are major power outages all over the region, with trees, litterally, falling apart. I will post some more when I feel safe to keep the computer on for an extended period (I don't like the power surges-they are bad for the hard drive). Probably tomorrow, after the power has been back on for a full day (we were out for a day and a half) I will post some pics and let y'all know how things are going. Until then, accept my appology and thank you for your patience. Thanks to all who visit here, I really enjoy it. Say a prayer for those that still don't have power.

Fertrell Product Of The Week

It has been a few weeks since I posted the Fertrell product of the week. It is really because I was being lazy. So, I would like to continue with that, if I may.

This week, I want to share Fertrell's Rose Food 4-2-4. This plant food is formulated as a multi-purpose plant food. It contains readily available nutrients to get the plant off to a fast start. Time released nutrients, then, continue to feed the plant throughout the growing period. This formula is a favorite of rose growers all over the USA.

Please use the links above to visit the Fertrell website and see more about the Rose Food. There, you will find a list of the ingredients found in the food. For more information, you may contact us at sppowers@iglide.net or, you can look for a dealer in your neck of the woods at their website. Thanks and here's to a successful growing season!

The USDuh Is Still Chipping Away...

NAIS – USDA Proposed Rule January 13, 2009

As some of you farmers may be already aware, to the farmers that are not aware the USDA has issued a proposed rule that would mandate NAIS premises registration and animal identification numbers for several of the key federal disease control programs. The Proposed Rule docket can be found at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-353.htm

The Comment Period Runs Until March 16, 2009

You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal:

Go To This Website to submit comments or view comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically. Please state your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2007-00096
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmpublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2007-0096

Postal Mail / Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of your comment to Docket
No. APHIS-2007-0096, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station
3A-03.8 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD. 20737-1238.

Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its program is available
On the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.

My DR Powerwagon Mishap

I am bummed out. You never realize how much you come to depend on something until it breaks. We have owned our DR Powerwagon for around five years, now. Until this point, there has been nothing wrong with it, whatever. As far as quality and workmanship, it is unsurpassed, in my opinion.

But, this past week, the throttle cable broke. Not a big deal as it can be easily fixed. That is, if you can find the part. That's why I'm bummed. I have checked everywhere I know to look with no results. It is a funny cable with two wierd ends on it-not your typical bicycle type cable, which is why it is hard to find. This leaves the only option, which is to call the DR company. That is no big deal either, except that it is Saturday and they are closed.

This is where I am finding out just how much I depend on that machine. Without a tractor on our farm, I use "polly" for everything. Now I seem to be stuck in limbo until I can get the part. Bummer.

So, until I get the part ordered and on its way, I will have to revert back to the way it was before the Powerwagon, doing everything one arm load at a time. Good excersise, if nothing else.

Back to work, I guess. Life on the farm doesn't stop when the machines quit. I will sure be glad to get it fixed though. I will post again when I get the part and put it on. Lord willing, it won't take long to get.

A Vanqished Foe...

It was a terrible fight...

....and a ferocious foe, indeed......but, alas, the victory was won!

These are from a nice day playing in the woods with the girls. Yup, daddy can be quite silly.

A Lesson In Greek

I am a King James fan. I know that that version is the only, truly, preserved text that came strait from Antioch. And because of my love for the words that God, Himself, chose, it is constantly confirmed in my mind that the Textus Receptus, from which the King James is translated, is it. Now that I have stirred up some controversy, let me get to the reason for this post.

I am studying 1 Peter, chapter 3 that I am teaching on Wednesday nights, and I wanted to share what God has done with one, simple word. That word is "against".

The word "against", in scripture, is translated from the Greek word "epi". "Epi", litterally means, "up against", or, "on top or/upon".

When we hear the word "against" we have certain connotations that go with it. Things like, "I am against that legislation." Or, I am "opposed" to that idea, etc. Consequently, these are things we tend to think of when God says that He is "against" sin, or that He will "turn His face against those of iniquity".

But, when we look at the true definition from the Greek word "epi", we find out that God is not turning His face from evi;, but toward it. He is "up against it", or "on top of it". He does not turn from sin! He judges it!

Not only that, I can rest easy in the confidence that His face is in the face of my enemy, and we all know who that is!

Now, doesn't that knowledge change your connotation of the word "against"? It did for me. God's word is Holy and perfect, what a blessing.

If oyu want to read a really good book on the subject of the King James bible, use the link to the right and buy "In Awe of Thy Word." Well worth the money.

What Happened To All That Knowledge?

Wow! I just read a really great article written by Gerald Fry, of Bovine Engineering that really sums up the state of affairs in the realm of "scientific farming". He describes a time when farmers worked with nature, the way God intended, and how the "new thinking" came along. Then the new thinkers, after time, take a step back and ask, "Why didn't dad and grandpa have all these problems?"

This is a really good read, especially if oyu are into real food. Even more especially if you are a producer or an aspiring one, (like me). Use the links above and enjoy this great article by Gerald Fry.

Property Rights Website. Ozarks PRC

I thought I'd drop a line to you all here and invite you to our website of our local Ozarks Property Rights Congress. I know many of you don't live in Missouri, but, that's OK. There is much that the government does in the way of your rights to personal property that affects everyone in the U.S.A. not just the Ozarks. So, you can go visit the Ozarks Property Rights Congress web site and get a feel of what the government has in store for all of us.

Like I said, you can feel sure that what is happening here in Missouri, is happening elsewhere. For example, NAIS (National Animal Identification System) is something that affects all who have any animals. This is a topic of great concern to all who wish to maintain a small homestead and raise a few animals, even for their own use.

The USDA has just issued a new memo, that would make it sound as if they are backing down on mandating veterinarians to register your premises. Careful (read, "NAIS, Something New, But Isn't) examination reveals this to be not true. It is the same old story just worded differently. I really believe that the government thinks we're a bunch of idiots out here. The fact is, that the USDA is creating law, when they don't have the power to do so, and they are forcing your vet to register your property and give you a PIN number (Property Identification Number) against your will.

Thankfully, we do have those that are against the USDuh and the NAIS program. Organizations like ours, and big timers like R-Calf USA. R-Calf seems to be all over this new memo and hammering away at the USDuh. They are currently seeking help from Congress to protect producers (of any size) from the USDA's unlawful activities. Stay tuned.

So, if you're so inclined, please check out the Ozarks Property Rights Congress website. Perhaps this could inspire a few of you to start your own chapter in your neck of the woods. In the very least, keep you informed. Informed people are the only ones that can keep a watchful eye on government and take a stand.

Thanks for listening and visiting. Y'all are the reason I keep this thing going.

Building The Tabernacle: A Homeschool Project

I thought I'd share an excellent homeschool project for you and young kids. We had a ball doing this project on a Sunday evening a couple of weeks ago. You can build your own tabernacle using cutouts that were printed from the internet. Use this link to Gospel Hall and scoll down until you find "Moses Builds a tabernacle". You will know what to do from there.

This is a picture of the beginning stages of the project. We had to cut out all the pieces to prpare to put them together. This is a great hand-eye lesson for the kids, also.

This is my wife's hand. Aren't they lovely? She's in the process of putting together the Ark of The Covenant.


This is a small pile of some of the parts of the tabernacle. You can see that cutting them out does take a bit of time and patience. The item on the top is the table with the showbread.

Above, is the layout of the walls of the tabernacle. You will need posterboard for the base spanning 24"x 28". We used four pieces of poster board 11"x 14", taped together. We had to adjust for the slight difference in size.

These are some of the objects that were completed. You can see the Ark, the Ten Commandments, Aaron's Rod, Jar of Manna, Laver, and the Alter (with a trail of smoke coming out).
The girls are putting the Ark behind the curtain (not pictured) of the Holy of Holies.
Everything is in place. The Holy place is layered with cutouts of the outer coverings (four, in all). Just inside of the Holy place, on this side of the curtain, you can see the Menorah, table of showbread and alter of incense.

This final picture is a little better view of the completed tabernacle. The whole thing took approximately 1.5 hours to completed, with the four of us working on it. It was a great time and we all learned a bunch. The kids came away with a good understanding of God's House in the wilderness. This is a great homeschool project and for anyone who teaches Sunday school. Use the link above and print all the pages you'll need. The rest is up to the kids. Have fun.

Animal Health Tips From Fertrell

Here are a few more helpful tips from Fertrell. This one is for animals. It is time to think, during the slow months, of performing some routine maintenance on your livestock. Remember, healthy animals mean healthy people. Read on.

ANIMALS
Now is the time to have extra Fertrell DFM’s on hand for all the winter stresses.

Now is the time to have Fertrell Cattle Choice 12-12 on hand. This will replace the vitamin and minerals that the animals may not be getting through stored feeds.

Call Don or Jeff to get your fall and winter rations in place.

Now is the time to use the Fertrell de wormer paste or capsules to de worm your animals.

Contact Don, Jeff or your Fertrell dealer for more information.

Now is the time to have a dust bath for your chickens in place to control mites and lice.

Now is the time have extra light for your laying hens, to help with their ability to hay Eggs, because they are light sensitive.

Again, if you have any questions, we would be glad to help. Just send us an email at sppowers@iglide.net and we will assist you the best we can. Or, for more information, you can go to Fertrell's web site and read more. They have all kinds of neat stuff for your livestock, pastures, lawn or garden.

Helpful Hints For The Coming Season From Fertrell

Here are a few helpful tips to get you ready for the growing season, from Fertrell. By no means are we expert gardeners, but the folks at Fertrell are and they know fertilizers like nothing else. We plan to put some of these tips into practice, ourselves. Enjoy.

PLANTS
Apply Fertrell fall mineralizer to perennials crops to build up energy for a fast spring Start - up.

Fall is a great time to apply Fertrell Rock powers and Greensand to the soil so that it will be knitted with the soil for the up and coming growing season.

Now is the time to apply calcium to the soil because, it will take a couple of months to get the calcium acclimated to the soil. In the first year about 30% of the calcium will be available to compliment the minerals in the soil.

If you live in an area that gets cold and you bring your summer patio plants in for the winter, now is the time to add Fertrell mineralizer to the pots for the health of the plant though the winter.

Now is the time to apply Fertrell lawn fertilizer and mineralizer for the storage of nutritional energy in the roots for a fast spring start to a green weed free lawn .

Use the Fertrell link above to find a dealer near you. Or, you can email us at: sppowers@iglide.net and we will help you the best we can.

Homestead Life

Are you like me? When it comes to the farm, I seem to get the most enjoyment out of it when I am working my tail off.

There is just something about a brisk, cloudless evening on the homestead. It was the kind of dusk that you can see your breath coming out of your mouth like chimney smoke. When your finger tips get cold and stiff, yet the rest of your body is actually sweating.

Maybe I'm nuts, (don't answer that) but it brings to mind visions of life on the frontier. Sort of a man-against the elements-feel.

Maybe I'm just living in a manly dream world? But I feel like a man when I am working like that. This evening, we went and picked up a half ton of chicken feed and I had to put it up just before sun down. My back hurt, my fingers were cold and I was sweating, tired and hungry. I had to feed the cattle and bring in firewood yet. But, I felt good! I love it, this rural way of life.

The same feeling occurs when I'm stacking hay in the barn. Am I wierd? Or is this the way God intended for man to be? I've given some thought to that and I have opinions, but not much more.

Actually, the only time I don't get that "manly" feeling, is when I'm cutting fire wood. In that case, back pain usually pulls me from dream land. Splitting it, however, does give me that feeling. Doing what I do to keep my family safe, warm and fed. I don't use a new-fangled, gas guzzling wood splitter. I do it all by hand. Don't get me wrong, there are times that I wish I had a splitter, or a young lad to do it for me. But, all in all, it is gratifying to see the wood pile grow and know that my family will be warm.

OK, I'll stop the self-gratifying nonsense. I just like being outside. What about you? What do you like about homestead life?

NAIS Alert. Something New, But Isn't?

I felt like this news needs to be spread abroad, so I posted it here. Please read, then judge. If you farm or own animals, this pertains to you. Thanks for your patience. I apologize for the one, gigantic paragraph, but things don't always paste the way they are copied. I tried to break it up a little bit.

January 5, 2009

Liberty Ark Alert:USDA Issues New Memo,

But Still Plans to Register People’s PropertyIn September, the USDA issued a memo to animal health officials that mandated NAIS premises registration be used any time someone had any activity on their property (such as vaccinations or testing) conducted under any of the federal disease control programs. We publicized the memo in November, and a public outcry ensued. The September 22 memo is posted here <http://www.libertyark.net/APHIS-PIN-Mandate-080922.pdf>.On December 22, USDA issued a new memo posted here <http://www.libertyark.net/VS-Memo-No-575-19.pdf>, that revoked its September memo. The fact that USDA felt pressured to take this step is good news! But the new memo is far from being a complete victory.On the last two pages of the new memo, USDA still provides for _mandatory premises registration_ any time Veterinary Services personnel conduct an “activity” related to a federal disease control program, including such activities as vaccinations, certification, or surveillance. Moreover, accredited veterinarians are still expected to provide information on their clients to the government authorities to enable the voluntary or involuntary issuance of the NAIS registration. At the very end of the document, USDA includes language indicating that a property owner might elect not to have a NAIS PIN assigned to the premises, but does not explain how that fits with the directives in the memo that “all locations” that have a disease program activity “_will be identified_” with a NAIS PIN.” The ultimate effect is very unclear.So, what is the difference between the two memos? The primary difference is that the new memo is more ambiguous. We’ve seen this before: in the original NAIS documents, USDA had a clear list of reportable events. By late 2007, USDA had vague categories such as “local” versus “regional,” and “high priority” versus “low priority,” to determine what comingling events were reportable. So apparently this is USDA’s mode of operation. It puts out documents with clear provisions, and then responds to citizen protests by cloaking the next document in ambiguity, without making significant substantive changes.The substance of this new memo is very similar to the earlier memo, including mandatory registration of citizens’ property. The main improvement appears to be that people who choose not to be registered in NAIS will not be branded with a special code in the premises database, labeling them as dissenters.In the new memo, USDA tries to add a feel-good aspect when it re-iterates that it has a procedure for /people/ to opt out. However, if any “activity” for a disease program has occurred on the property, the /property address/ will remain in the NAIS database.In other words, the new memo appears to establish the following procedure: 1. If an animal health official or a federally accredited veterinarian conducts any activity (including vaccinations and certifications) under a federal disease control program (which includes brucellosis, tuberculosis, scrapie, pseudorabies, and equine infectious anemia), your information will be submitted to the agency and your property will be registered in the NAIS database. 2. If you then ask to opt out, your personal information will be deleted, but the address of your property will remain in the database with the assigned PIN number since a “program activity” is associated with it.The language of the memo leaves a lot of unanswered questions, including what is the role of the state authorities. USDA states that “when the State or producer, or person responsible, for the premises elects not to have a standardized PIN assigned to the premises,” a state PIN will be issued. But is this only after the property is assigned a NAIS number and its owner seeks to opt out? And will the state authorities check if the registration is voluntary or not before sending people’s information to the USDA to be placed in the NAIS database? And what “events” or “activities” will prevent people from being able to opt out and use a state PIN? The memo leaves more questions than it answers.*TAKE ACTION #1:*Write a letter to your state agriculture department or animal health agency, asking them to respond _in writing_ with an explanation of how they interpret the new USDA memo. Ask for a list of all of the specific events and activities, if any, that will result in a person’s property being registered in the NAIS database. Ask them if they will allow a property owner to elect not to have a standardized PIN assigned to the premises. If they will, how will that be accomplished? A sample letter is below.Be sure to send a copy of your letter to your state representative and senator! Attach a copy of _both_ USDA memos, and ask your state legislator to support a state bill to prevent people from being forced into NAIS against their will. You can download both memos here <http://www.libertyark.net/federal.html>.Send a copy of your letter to your veterinarian, as well. Many vets have not even heard about these USDA memos, or are unclear about their being required to gather and report information about their clients for this program. It’s important that vets know that their clients object to NAIS!*TAKE ACTION #2:*If you think you may have been registered in NAIS, with or without your permission, you can find out by contacting your state NAIS coordinator listed here <http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/contact_us/directories.shtml>. You can call or, more formally, send a letter that requests them to put their response in writing. If you have been registered, follow the steps listed on our website on how to opt out <http://www.libertyark.net/opt_out.html>. Ask for specific clarification as to whether your property will still have a PIN assigned to its address or not.If you were registered without your permission, write your federal and state legislators and tell them! The myth that “NAIS is voluntary” has hampered efforts to get anti-NAIS legislation passed at both the federal and the state level, and the legislators need proof that the agencies are forcing people into the program.

SAMPLE LETTER TO STATE AGENCY:Dear _______________ [head of the state ag or animal health department]:I recently received a copy of two memos (attached) issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The September memo explicitly provides that any state animal health authorities are to register people’s property in the NAIS database, with or without the property owner’s permission, anytime a listed activity occurs under a listed disease control program.While the December memo states that it revokes the September memo, the ultimate effect is unclear because the December memo still provides that a NAIS premises ID number will be issued for “all locations involved in the administration of VS animal disease program activities conducted by VS personnel.” The memo also states that “animal health officials” will collect the data needed to issue the ID number.Then, at the very end of the new memo, a caveat is added which indicates, under unspecified circumstances, “… the State or producer, or person responsible, for the premises elects not to have a standardized PIN issued to the premises.” What does this mean to citizens of this state? Will you allow property owners to “elect not to have a standardized PIN issued to the premise? If so, how will that be done and recorded?The citizens of this state are entitled to know how your department intends to implement the latest memo, if at all. Please provide a *written* list of *any and all events and activities* that will result in your agency either issuing a NAIS premises ID number or providing data to the USDA that would enable the USDA to issue a NAIS premises ID number. If the answer is dependent on whether the activity occurs on or off the property, please specify that fact. Your written response should also clarify what use your agency, or other state authorities, will make of information submitted by veterinarians relating to their clients.As a citizen of this state and an animal owner, I expect a prompt written response from your agency. Thank you for your time and attention to this important issue.Sincerely,NameAddressCity, State, ZipEmail addressCc: Your State Representative and Senator (with attached memos)

Perigree Moon: The Closest To The Earth

As I was heading out to do my chores this morning, at 7:15 a.m., I was struck by this sight. Behind me, in the east, the sun was just beginning to peek above the tree line. The frost on the ground made our wooden walk quite slick, and looked like it had been laid in place on the cedar fence by the hand of God. This view of the moon is one of the largest I've seen, so I took a couple of pictures to share.

It was a clear sky as you can tell from the strip of light clouds just above the moon. From the picture, it looks like the moon is mere feet above the trees. Apparently, the moon is in the closest proximity to the earth in 15 years. So, I feel blessed to have gotten to see it. The barn underneath the moon is one that I built using cedar and slab wood. Someday I'll write about that, incredible journey. I am also reminded of these verses:

Ps 19:1 ¶ <> The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Ps 97:6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.

There has got to be a lesson in there for home school.

Job Descriptions For Livestock?

If you live on, and operate a farm or homestead, have you ever given any thought to writing up a "job description" for your livestock? You think I've gone off the deep end, I know, it's not like they are paid employees. Or are they? Let's think about that.

Lets look at your job as farmer/homesteader. In the grand scheme of Creation, you are the steward of the land. You have the ability to reason, the animals do not. You have the ability to solve problems, the animals act on instinct. Thus, your job is to think. Yup, now you really think I've lost my marbles. Truly, that is your job. Yes, you have chores to do every day, so do I. But when you get right down to the nitty-gritty, your job is to think about the best ways to grow your livestock in a healthy environment, minimizing your workload, and getting the best return on your investment. That's your job description, now let's talk livestock.

The principle is simple, really, animals were created for very specific purposes. Cows eat grass and poop. The question to ask, then, is how can you use the cattle's natural abilities to manage your land? In other words, your job is to think about what your goals are for your land and figure out how to let the animals work for you. That's where actually writing down a job description for your livestock really comes in handy. It gives you a real sense of the livestock, what they are meant for, and how to use them.

For example, since we know that cows eat grass, and you have a lot of it, what can you do to maximize (or leverage) the cattle in order to manage the pasture in a way that it remains healthy and vibrant and continues to produce? Can you install portable fencing and begin a strip grazing program, or MiG program? Can you utilize the cows in a way that would minimize your outputs, like tractor fuel for brushhogging, or hiring that job out? Instead of making hay, let the cattle eat it as standing hay. Let them do the work for you.

We raise meat chickens and egg layers. Their job descriptions are to get fat while fertilizing the pasture with the golden N in their poop, eat grass and bugs and provide meat-that's the meat birds. The layers' job description is to grow up eating grass and bugs, providing insect control and fertilizer and lay eggs.

For the meat birds, we leverage their manure for the pasture and orchard by keeping them in chicken tractors. This confined area not only keeps them safe, but concentrates the manure where we want it. This is putting the livestock to work for you. Can you see, that once you have written this job description out, you have a whole new understanding of how to utilize their natural abilities?

Now to answer the above question, are they paid employees? I believe that they are. They work hard for you and you reward them with food and treats everyday, that's their pay. Just like I go to a "town job" to produce for someone else, so the animals go to work to produce for us.

Now, do you still think I'm losing it? Write down job descriptions for your livestock, it will open up a whole new world in the way you think.

Lean On Me...

I recieved this from a freind that attends our church, maybe you've seen this before, but, enjoy.


Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old deacon who always prayed, 'Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side.' After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently. He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this... I got an old barn out back. It's been there a long time; it's withstood a lot of weather; it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years. It's still standing. But one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit. So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn't fall. Then I got to thinking about that and how much I was like that old barn. I've been around a long time. I've withstood a lot of life's storms. I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times, and I'm still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the Lord to prop us up on our leaning side, 'cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning at times. Sometimes we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning toward hatred, leaning toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn't. So we need to pray, 'Lord, prop us up on our leaning side, so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Lord.'

What's The Beef?

Here is an interesting little blog entry on Alan Nation's blog over at the Stockman Grassfarmer's website. (You can find a link to the Grassfarmer's website at the right).

It is entitled, "What happened to the cattle cycle?" and questions what happened to the usual down period in price. The conclusion being drawn is that even though there are less producers in this country than there were 20 years ago, there is more beef being produced. This is because of the continued trend toward bigger, beefier animals. Less farmers are producing more beef.

The conundrum is that these bigger animals aren't necessarily conducive to grass finishing. Food for thought. Use the link above to read the article in full.

Health Freedom Needs Our Help

If the freedom to make your own choices about your health and how to treat illness is important to you, you can tell you senators and congressmen/women to support Dr. Ron Paul's Health Freedom Act.

All you have to do is sign this email and click to send it to all involved. This is serious, the FDA is doing all it can to make it illegal to say no to vaccinations or use herbal remedies and alternative methods.

Again, if this is important to you, please visit the above link. Thanks for your time and support.

Keeping The Brain Warm in The Winter

At this time of year, things on the homestead are slow. Activities are limited to the occasional outdoor project, but, mostly left to keeping the animals fed and watered. The watering part was a challenge just a week ago, keeping the ice off the tanks was difficult. The ice accumulation lessens the actual amount of water in the tank and frozen hoses make it a challenge to refill them.

Much time is devoted to cutting firewood. Something that I seem to be behind on all the time. Every year, at this time, I should be cutting for next year's supply. Instead, I am always cutting to stay on top of the current burning season. One of these days, I will prevail and surmount that obstacle. (I can almost hear my wife chuckling at that.) In my last post, I wrote about a friend of ours that helped out in that regard. I plan to use that as a springboard for next season's supply. (Is that my wife chuckling again?)

So, with the slowness of activity here, I try to write about other things that are important to us. This is mostly our faith and homeschooling. With the occasional anecdote or tall tail. I purposely want things slow in the winter. I grew up in Wisconsin and knew many folks that were "married" to their dairy farms, 365 days a year. And, though I love the rural, homestead lifestyle, we want to have time for other things in life, also. So, I plan calving for spring and give the cow a chance for some rest. Which is much healthier for both the calf and the mother, anyway.

With that in mind, I want to share something for all the home school families out there and anyone that is interested in their children's education.

For Christmas, we bought Abigail, our oldest daughter, a Lonpos rectangle game. We love these kinds of games in our home. Quite often, we parents, have more fun with them than the kids. Without T.V. we found these types of games great entertainment and very educational, working on creative thinking, dexterity and critical thinking skills. I work in a public environment in which I see many young people struggle with problem solving skills, something I want to correct with our children.

So, what is a Lonpos rectangle game, you ask? Well, it is a puzzle game that starts with the very easy and progresses to the very difficult. It involves a series of round pieces all connected into various shapes. There are two books with puzzles in them that come with it. You set up the puzzle according to the diagram and fill in the blanks with the remainder. Sounds easy, huh? Trust me, some of these puzzles have taken an hour to figure out, and there is the potential for, literally, thousands of puzzles (you can download more from their web site ). I have to tell you that their website is under construction and many links within it don't work. But, do go and look around and get an idea of what I am trying to describe to you. We have the 101 rectangle puzzle and have had hours of enjoyment from it.

This type of game is what I call an I.Q. game. No, we are not geniuses by any means, but these types of games, which we all enjoy, does keep the mind sharp. That is healthy in itself. We have several of these types of "brainy" games that we all enjoy as a family. Another great website, from which we purchased the brunt of our games, is Mindware.com we love this place.

Another great resource is timberdoodle, both of these sites offer games for kids of all ages and abilities. Timberdoodle goes one step further, offering games for children with Autism and other disabilities. Both are really great sites. Here is a link to Timerdoodle's page with this particular game on it with more info.

I think you'll enjoy these places and games as much as we do. Look around and have fun!

My Own, Personal, Federal Forestry Worker

What a day I had! I worked my tail off and I have to say that I had the best time doing it. We had a "spring like" day, here in the Ozarks with a temperature of 72 degrees. A bit breezy with intermittent clouds, but a beautiful day, nonetheless.

I'll explain, There is a family in our church that we love and appreciate very deeply. The gentleman, I'll call him Mr H, happens to be a federal forestry worker for 26 years. He has spent most of his career fighting forest fires all over the country. However, the last few years he has spent behind a desk in an administrative position, so he doesn't get out much.

Mr. H, this past Wednesday, asked if I had anything going on this weekend. I told him that I had nothing special happening, just the typical "work like a dog" Saturday. He asked if I needed help cutting some firewood. I can always use some help with firewood, so I took him up on his offer.

Guys, let me tell you, I know nothing about trees and tree species, or tree disease and I thought I knew how to work a chainsaw pretty good. I found out that I could learn a lot from a man that has been involved with the forest most of his life.

I know that you will laugh at me for saying this, but it is true. Outside of Oak, Maple, and Cedar, my tree identification skills are severely limited. And since Maple's are very scarce around here, my identification skills are limited to Oak and Cedar. Now, however, I can identify Ash, two different kinds of Elm and the difference between black jack Oak and Red Oak. I also learned about a disease that many trees have that causes them to fall in even minor storms-root ball and all. I learned about bud scars and why many Oaks keep their leaves through the winter. The dead, brown leaves stay on to protect the bud scars and keep them from getting frosted or infected. When the tree buds in the spring, the old leaves fall off.

I even learned a bit about controlled forestry burning and how to get rid of unwanted limbs and Cedar remains from past cutting. I now know how I could have saved myself a lot of trouble a couple of years ago when I had a brush fire get away from me. I learned what time of year is best to do a burn and keep the trees from getting damaged from the fire. The colder the better. In cold weather, the trees are not drawing as much moisture from the ground and their "pipes" aren't as full. That, coupled with the insulating bark, will keep the tree from scarring and damage during a blaze. Warmer weather will do the opposite. Mr. H agreed to come back some day and help do a burn for us to get rid of all those Cedar tops I left when cutting for fence posts. I just feel better with a skilled fire fighter on hand.

The coolest thing I learned today was how to make a series of cuts on a limb that has tension on it. I have used a chainsaw for years and always get surprised with those limbs that are stuck or trapped by another limb and spring in the wrong direction, pinching the saw or smacking me in the head (thankfully, I wear a helmet). This is cool, so I attempted to make a rough drawing of this procedure.

The first sketch shows a possible log on top of a smaller tree, (this happens often to me with all the little Cedars around here), and I want to get the sapling out of the way to make room to work. ( I know this didn't show up very well, I hope you can see it good enough to get the point).

The second sketch shows a series of small cuts made in the location of the tension, in the direction of the "spring". It is important that you don't cut all the way through, just cut deep enough and close enough together, to relieve the tension. You will see the tree give a bit, that is OK. That means that you are letting the tension out.

The third sketch shows the saw cutting through the middle in the area in which the small cuts were made. Cut all the way through now, and the tree will cut, not snap or spring. This, I know, will save me a lot of headaches, literally. This principle can and should be used wherever there is tension on a limb. Guys, I used it several times today and this technique has been an epiphany to me.

I also learned a bit more on how to get a tree to fall where you want it. There is truly some science behind it. Thankfully, I had a fellow with me that knew his stuff. He felled a tree right where he said it would even with the lean going in the wrong direction. I don't know if I can explain it here, but it has to do with the cut opposite the notch. It involves leaving enough connecting wood on one side or the other to get the tree to "roll" a bit. It is hard to explain with words, you'd have to see it.

My thanks go to Mr. H and his son who helped us out and got us a LOT of wood cut today. Some can be used for heat now and some will go to next years supply. That reminds me, I also learned a little about forestry management and culling practices and what to look for. Perhaps I'll write about that another time. Right now, I'm pooped.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope this can help anyone out there who has to cut some wood in the near future.

A Word On Composting Toilets

One of the things that we did with our new home that many people thought we were crazy, is a composting toilet.

I can't even remember where we bought it from, but it was a total unit. The toilet was on the inside of the house, and the composter was on the out side. The composter was of the variety that allowed you to manually rake the waste into a pan for disposal. It included a solar powered fan that dissipated the smell and dried the waste. It required "feeding" every month or so with microbes to help break down the waste faster. The toilet looked very conventional except for the absence of the tank on top. It used very little water, just enough to get the waste down the hole. The unit together, was rather pricey which made this mistake an expensive one.

It was a mistake, however, not for the reason you might think. I am fully confident the unit would have worked just fine, if it had been installed properly. We had the contractor that built the house add a pit for the unit to sit in. We gave him the specifications required for proper installation and functionality, but somewhere, it didn't turn out deep enough nor wide enough to work right. Consequently, the unit was a fight from day one.

We kept it for about a year, maybe two, and decided to call in a fella to dig and install a sceptic tank. I had to totally re-do the bathroom floor and install the plumbing for the new toilet. This took a little work and ingenuity, but I got it done. With that, we went conventional.

We enjoy the "normal" system, but do advocate a non-conventional style whenever possible. Like I said, we would probably still be using the composter if it were done right.

It is a lesson learned. However, being tied to the grid (electric well pump) to feed the toilet can be a little troublesome. If the power goes out for an extended time or the well runs dry, then we're in a pickle. That being said, there are ways around that, also.

Tell me, what are some non-conventional things you have done on your homestead? I like to talk about these things as it always gives insight in places you never thought of. Let's hear from you.