Many People Are Getting Privy To The Evils Of Agribusiness And Processed Food

This is a bit of good news for local agriculture and a possible hit to big agribusiness.  As Alan Nation, of the Stockman GrassFarmer reports, the growth of small producers in and around major cities is expected to continue.  The credit of this article goes to the author, Mr.Alan Nation, read on:

Local Ag Seen Getting Big Soon


Monday, 25 October 2010

A group of futurist experts and authors convened by the politically conservative business magazine Forbes have predicted that by 2018, only eight years from now, 20 percent of the food eaten in major urban areas of the USA will be grown adjacent to or in the city itself. The magazine notes that this is a huge number and would really shake up modern American agriculture which is currently built around a small number of large-scale farms and long-distance shipping. "In addition to making our cities more resilient, the health benefits, for both our bodies and our planet, of consuming food that is grown within a small number of miles of our homes or workplaces are significant," the magazine noted in its October 25th edition.

Solar Energy Comes To An Apple Farm

There is nothing wrong with solar power, I need tosay that up front.  We use it ourselves, running our cieling lights with solar panels, and we have plans to add more.  So, I am not against solar energy.  I come at it with a survivalist mentality.  That being said, I can't stand this "touchy-feely-greeny-get all the government money you can-corporate agribusiness" garbage.  I was reading this article and going along pretty well, until I get to the part of huge government grants and some greenie college kid applying for these grants.  Why is it the liberal, yuppie, hippie types are so bent on spending other people's money?

Ethical Issues Eating Meat-Some Do

I personally don't have any ethical issues with eating meat, God gave man even the animals for sustinence.  However, some folks do have ethical issues eating meat.  Here is a good article on the subject.  You don't have to be affraid of eating things that were raised in the environment they were designed to be in.

Justice Kagan Getting Shooting Lessons From Scalia?

I have so many comments on this story that I don't know where to begin, some sarcastic, some optomistic, but I think.... just read this article.  I wish I had been a fly on the wall, it must have been a hoot.

Grass Fed Beef, Argentina tyle

Here is a neat article that takes a look at Anibal Pordomingo's ranch and opperation in Argentina.  I have read many of his articles in the past and he really knows grass farming and grass fed beef.  I know many of us are not as big as he is, but I think we can still learn from his practices.  One thing we do have in common is that, like many of us, he works a job outside the ranch.  How do you balance your full time job and manage your homestead/farm at the same time?

Grazing Cattle For 300 Days Out Of The Year?

Maybe someday.  Have you ever dreamed of rotationally grazing cattle for 300 days out of the year?  The Univerity of Arkansas has done just that, read more here...

New Study Shows Grass Silage Better Than Hay For Milk Production

I don't say this about Europe and Europeans, in general, but when it comes to agriculture they've got one on us.  In fact, they understand the culture of agriculture as opposed to the USA wher the culture has given way to agribusiness-you know, farmers in three piece suits.  Once again, French researchers have dicovered something that the agriBUSINESS of the US will, probably ignore.  But, for your sake as a homesteader/small farmer, you may consider swithching to grass silage instead of hay, especially if you keep a milk cow.  Read more here...

Mayors Against Illegal Guns

Until now I didn't even know that this coalition existed-Mayors Agains Illegal Guns (MAIG).  The name, or acronym is a bit of a misnomer, they are truly aginst ALL guns, period.  This coalition is headed up by none other than the venrable Mayor Bloomberg of New York City.  This will blow your mind. 

Big Shift In The Way Dems And Repubs View The Goverment

It seems that the independents are catching on, but, somehow the democrats just feel "safer".  Do you think there is a real threat to the freedoms and liberties of the people by the federal government?  Read this Gallup poll.

Frugal Farm Living, Frugal Homesteading

We decided, not long ago, to tell our money what to do instead of our money telling us what to do.  This is a major paradigm shift.

Looking back at history and how homesteaders did things makes me think that we can do it to.  What do I mean?  Historically speaking, homesteaders didn't have much in the way of money or income, something that we have in common with those of yesteryear.  They had to make do with what they had, or make the things they needed with the material available.  What little money they did have, they held on to for emergencies, they didn't just go out a blow it.

Almanzo Wilder is an example.  Instead of buying into the latest chemicals and fertilizers, he used what he had on his apple trees-stove ash.  He had a major problem with his apple trees on Rock Ridge Farm and he spread wood ash around the base of the trees and that solved the problem.  I know that they didn't have chemicals back then, so he couldn't have bought into them if he wanted to.  However, he had to think outside the box and use what he had available-that is the point.  I think I will do the same with my apple trees, the pathetic things they are and see if that helps.

Homesteading doesn't have to cost a lot.  Cut some trees to build a log coop for the chickens, instead of buying lots of lumber and metal.  All that would cost is your time and gas for the chainsaw.  I am going to do this, myself.  Then I will chink it like an old log cabin, the chickens will thrive in style.

Saving money isn't easy, but not impossible.  I am living proof that you don't need a six figure income to survive.  What do you do?

How Did Colonists Fight Squash Bugs? Can Tansy Be Used?

We have a continuing problem on our little homestead with squash bugs. Every year we battle the little demons, leaving nothing untried. The only sure method of dealing with these bugs and keeping them from killing the precious squash plants is to pick off every little egg we could find. That, along with picking off and stepping on every squash bug we saw. Believe me, the effort always seemed futile. We have even decided to forgo growing squash for a couple of years in hopes of the bugs going away. The trouble is that we always have incidental squash plants popping up in the compost bin or elsewhere. So I am not sure how to get rid of them.




Pesticides are not an option. We like real food. So I got to thinking and wondering how farmers dealt with these squash beetles in colonial times. I am not sure that I found an answer (bummer) but I did come across something interesting and possibly valuable for us homesteaders/survivalists/farmers.



Tansy is a plant that has shown a natural ability as a pesticide and insect repellent. Townsfolk used to put Tansy wreathes on deceased loved ones and pack their coffins with the flower to ward of worms and insects. Colonists and English, alike would place pots of Tansy on window sills to ward off house flies. They would even put sprigs in bed linen to drive away pests and used it for ant control. Colonists went so far as to put Tansy in their shoes to fight off malaria carrying mosquitoes.



Try this one, Common Tansy is often planted along side potatoes to repel Colorado Potato bug. Research has shown that Tansy does, indeed repel mosquitoes, but not as well as the modern chemicals. Research in Sweden has shown a 64%-72% tick repellent from Common Tansy. Interesting, to be sure.



I don't know if I will find an answer to our squash beetle problem, but I love the way we can learn new things from the past. Maybe Common Tansy can find a place around our homestead.



A word of caution: the oils found in Tansy are toxic and can cause contact dermatitis on people with sensitive skin. Although Tansy has been used for centuries by herbalists to kill internal parasites (which is very effective), be careful. In the USA, Tansy has been limited to alcoholic beverages, so do oyur research before taking it internally.

Farm Horses Were Once Part Of The Family

The average farm in the late 1800's was 100 acres.  I bet the average size was a bit smaller than that in the 1700's.  Back then, farmers used horses or oxen for everything.  They had to get out of bed well before sunrise to feed the work horses, even before the farmer himself ate.  This was to ensure the animals were ready for the work day.  It is hard to stress how much these animals meant to a farmer.  If a horse was stolen or died, it was a very big deal.  They spent a lot of time taking care of them, for that reason.

How important are your animals on your homestead?