Me ? Lots of book smarts not practical application. It's been a humbling 8 months on the self sustained / eating locally/ survival skills side of my mini hybrid lifestyle experiment. I am getting the results I need though.
I know food comes from the garden plants and chicken comes from a dead bird but when do you harvest them. How do you know. How do you care for the plants? How do you kill those damn cabbage munching moths? Does this look right? why didnt that can seal? why is this bread different then yesterdays good grief
.... If your idea of prepping for an event is reading good luck. If youre interested in growing food and you think your ready because you read a book good luck. If your ready for a cultural melt down because you watched a tv show, read a book and have an emergency first aide kit in the bathroom, good luck. If you think your going to heaven because you own a bible good luck. So much to learn so little time.
The garden.
I’m sure to some extent, from a hobby point of view; experimentation in the garden is good if you have the room. If not Gardening is not at all about wonderful exotic beans, Okra and the rhubarb crisp you were dreaming of the day you planted. It is instead completely about what foods can sustain you and foods that you can preserve. Also one needs to consider the output of a plant vs. the space it takes. At least I think that’s right-- I’m still wiping “stupid drool” off my chin.
Planting is not about choosing 8 rhubarb plants where beans could have gone. It is not an experiment in red OKRA where a tomato could have gone. It is not about 16 large cabbage and broccoli plants where corn could have gone. It is not about pride and conversation pieces it is completely about -" thank goodness I’ve got food." Next year we rethink our strategy.
On the upside I have wonderful cabbage and okra, more cucumbers that I can ever pickle or eat and just the right amount of tomatoes. As an afterthought I put in a watermelon where a cucumber had failed. I have 7 watermelons and this will be enough. I all ready know going forward each year I will plant a single watermelon vine to remind me enough is a feast.
Midstream Mainstream
I’m not home this week I’m in the great state of Texas. This morning my yogurt came in a plastic tube. It sure was sweet- almost like candy it had lots of sugar and gelatin and some artificial flavors. They place them out for you to take. You could take a bunch and toss them in the fridge in your room. They taste good and it takes nothing to throw a few in your laptop case for later. It takes me 13 hours to make mine and I’m carful about portioning it out into reusable jars so I’m sure it stretches through the week for the whole family. Two extremes on the yogurt scale, which is better? My way is better for my body but the other feeds the masses. Maybe it’s not about pass fail and changing the world but instead doing what’s right for you. As long as you arent being a sheep and have thought it through its your own dang bussiness
I’m more curious also as I eat in restaurants this week.
I’m enjoying the eye rolls from the restaurants when I ask if the vegetables are locally grown and if the fish is farm raised or wild caught. I think I have a new label. Instead of angry white conservative I think people are seeing me as a environmentalist tree hugging bean sprout eater. I have to laugh. Im not sure what I am anymore I do know now the fuel waste it takes go get the Chinese grown tomato to my plate instead of the one grown 8 miles down the road. This understanding causes me to pause.
Sure is a lot of waste in the world. I saw the Book of Eli with Denzel Washington a few weeks ago. They used this line
Eli: People had more than they needed. We had no idea what was precious and what wasn't. We threw away things people kill each other for now.
No comments:
Post a Comment