February has been a slow reading month for me. I have been doing my research on gardening. Ordered seeds, planted seeds, etc. I have been reluctant to start several of these books and finally dove in. I plan on dedicating my next batch of books to getting another book read in a series of some sort. I want to finish some of them too. Perhaps I will even begin another series.
A Game of Thrones (Song of Ice & Fire #1) - Wow! I rarely give a five star review on Goodreads, but this was so worth it! You know a book is serious when it comes with a map and appendix of family lineages. I have not ventured much into the fantasy realm when it comes to fiction. For that reason, I was reluctant. I really wasn't sure what to expect with fantasy other than dragons, knights, fairies, wizards, etc. I did read The Hobbit and thought it was ok... well, it was incredibly dull compared to this... at any rate, I have thankfully been introduced to this genre, properly.
I am more excited to read Lord of the Rings because of this book and I will even pick up the Dark Tower again (even though I am still 'meh' about it). As for this book itself, once the characters are established, which takes hundreds of pages, it was captivating. The more I read, the more I was hooked and couldn't put it down. The range of characters evoked emotion and passion. I really have a hard time pin-pointing my favorite character. This first book has done a good job at anchoring the series and I really need to know what happens next. We only got a taste of certain plots in the first book and I am anxious to see where they go. I managed to find the first episode of HBO's version on YouTube and it didn't disappoint. I am just as excited about watching the series as I am reading the next one.
11/22/63- When I got this book from the library I was appalled that it was 900 pages. Seriously, Stephen King, what the hell else can you write about? And how can you never fail?? This novel put my mind in a time frame and gave me a good feel for the place, the people, the life. Even little me, born in 1977, could wrap my mind around the significance of it all. The scientific part of my mind that barely understands quantum physics will always have my mind blown by anything related to time travel, string theory, a forth dimension, gravity, fabric... my head just sploded.
The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #4) - This is a series that I just haven't fallen in love with. Some teen fiction I can really wrap myself around. Some, I can't. I couldn't wrap myself around Harry Potter either but it was just. so. good. I will say that I am learning a lot. I knew next to nothing about Greek mythology before reading this series. I haven't been fact checking though. I am interested to try another one of Riordan's series.
City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2) - Another YA fiction candy attraction for me. The first of this series was bad. But I heard that the second was worth it. I did like it better and it seems that there is more momentum leading up to the release of the 5th book, later this year, that has my interest spiked. Why not?
Monday, February 20, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Reading
One of my resolutions this year was to blog a bit more. I haven't really felt like it lately and on some level it seems like an exercise of the mind to write just as much as it is to read.
I decided that one of my subjects should be a commentary on the books that I have read. Now, I am absolutely not qualified to be a book reviewer. Most book reviews that I have read seem so eloquent and lovely, even when the review is negative. I am not eloquent, I am not even a good writer, I have a dry scientific brain. Hey, I can try.
Read in January:
The Language of Flowers - Written well and easy to get through. Certainly gave me a different perspective on floral arrangements.
The Art of Racing in the Rain - Seems like more of a book a man would like... car racing. It was a book that raised so many different emotions in me though that any woman would like it as well. Such a unique point of view, it was hard not to enjoy it. The Stephen Hawking thing at the end was a bit too much but quite painless in the overall entertainment value.
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy - My original goal was to compare and contrast Little Women with this current version of four girls and their adventures. I tried to read Little Women and it was difficult for me to get through. I can't exactly point out why I didn't like it other than to say that it just didn't' "click". All I can say is that I found it boring and corny and even 100 pages into it I couldn't find a plot. I never finished. The Penderwicks is a series of four books. This one is about a third as long as Little Women but it was easier for me to read. I read it in a day... it took me days to get 100 pages into Little Women. This was the first of the series and was certainly similar with the characters and development of the characters but there was a plot. A tale was actually told and I am looking forward to the next ones.
The Night Circus - Simply magical. I thought it would be too 'over the top' for me to get into. I heard an interview with the author on NPR and she said that one of her influences was Einstein's Dreams. That was certainly clear in the early chapters. Still quite unique and so lovely.
Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #2) - Oh, young adult fiction! You are such candy! After Twilight, I thought I would never be able to stand another book about vampires or werewolves. This one is about the latter and it isn't bad... Twilight is bad. There is one more in the series and I am excited to see how it turns out.
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - I am a huge fan of Barbara Kingsolver. I put off reading this book for a long time. I tend to check out many books at once and work my way through the pile. This one was at the bottom of my pile and I finally gave in. I was seriously afraid that this book was going to be incredibly self indulgent. Like M. Night Shyamalan's "Lady in the Water" or like the last chapter of Omnivore's Dilemma... enough to get me all riled up inside. It was incredibly good though. I have read so many works on food that are informative, scientific and dry and of course I really like them for that reason. This book was informative, personal and gave a good insight into what a little bit of land, sweat, and determination can get you.
Gathering Blue (The Giver, #2) - Just as the first (award winning) book in the series, it gives an interesting view of a different version of society.
Chasing Fire - I got this book as an entrance to romance fiction. Nora Roberts seemed like a good and popular author to start with. It was certainly an exciting book with all the Missoula fire jumping. As a mystery, it was quite predictable early on. As a romance, it could have been steamier. I have certainly read steamier things in the historical fiction genre. I'll give the genre and the author another shot though.
Possessing the Secret of Joy- A re-read. I love Alice Walker's works. Even when writing about something so horrible she writes so beautifully.
February has started off as a slow reading month. I have been afraid to start A Game of Thrones. It has been at the bottom of the pile for a while now. Most of the time books end up there because I am afraid that I am not going to like them, that they will be a struggle to read, and/or that I will not be able to finish them. So far, now that the characters have been formed, it has been exciting. I am certainly interested in starting the HBO version one of these days.
I decided that one of my subjects should be a commentary on the books that I have read. Now, I am absolutely not qualified to be a book reviewer. Most book reviews that I have read seem so eloquent and lovely, even when the review is negative. I am not eloquent, I am not even a good writer, I have a dry scientific brain. Hey, I can try.
Read in January:
The Language of Flowers - Written well and easy to get through. Certainly gave me a different perspective on floral arrangements.
The Art of Racing in the Rain - Seems like more of a book a man would like... car racing. It was a book that raised so many different emotions in me though that any woman would like it as well. Such a unique point of view, it was hard not to enjoy it. The Stephen Hawking thing at the end was a bit too much but quite painless in the overall entertainment value.
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy - My original goal was to compare and contrast Little Women with this current version of four girls and their adventures. I tried to read Little Women and it was difficult for me to get through. I can't exactly point out why I didn't like it other than to say that it just didn't' "click". All I can say is that I found it boring and corny and even 100 pages into it I couldn't find a plot. I never finished. The Penderwicks is a series of four books. This one is about a third as long as Little Women but it was easier for me to read. I read it in a day... it took me days to get 100 pages into Little Women. This was the first of the series and was certainly similar with the characters and development of the characters but there was a plot. A tale was actually told and I am looking forward to the next ones.
The Night Circus - Simply magical. I thought it would be too 'over the top' for me to get into. I heard an interview with the author on NPR and she said that one of her influences was Einstein's Dreams. That was certainly clear in the early chapters. Still quite unique and so lovely.
Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #2) - Oh, young adult fiction! You are such candy! After Twilight, I thought I would never be able to stand another book about vampires or werewolves. This one is about the latter and it isn't bad... Twilight is bad. There is one more in the series and I am excited to see how it turns out.
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - I am a huge fan of Barbara Kingsolver. I put off reading this book for a long time. I tend to check out many books at once and work my way through the pile. This one was at the bottom of my pile and I finally gave in. I was seriously afraid that this book was going to be incredibly self indulgent. Like M. Night Shyamalan's "Lady in the Water" or like the last chapter of Omnivore's Dilemma... enough to get me all riled up inside. It was incredibly good though. I have read so many works on food that are informative, scientific and dry and of course I really like them for that reason. This book was informative, personal and gave a good insight into what a little bit of land, sweat, and determination can get you.
Gathering Blue (The Giver, #2) - Just as the first (award winning) book in the series, it gives an interesting view of a different version of society.
Chasing Fire - I got this book as an entrance to romance fiction. Nora Roberts seemed like a good and popular author to start with. It was certainly an exciting book with all the Missoula fire jumping. As a mystery, it was quite predictable early on. As a romance, it could have been steamier. I have certainly read steamier things in the historical fiction genre. I'll give the genre and the author another shot though.
Possessing the Secret of Joy- A re-read. I love Alice Walker's works. Even when writing about something so horrible she writes so beautifully.
February has started off as a slow reading month. I have been afraid to start A Game of Thrones. It has been at the bottom of the pile for a while now. Most of the time books end up there because I am afraid that I am not going to like them, that they will be a struggle to read, and/or that I will not be able to finish them. So far, now that the characters have been formed, it has been exciting. I am certainly interested in starting the HBO version one of these days.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
The Christmas Miracle... Bra
For many years I have enjoyed running. Yes, it has been on and off during the kid years but I really do enjoy it. Everything about it... the quiet, the pace of my breath, my thoughts while running. I run without an iPod so I can clear my head. Hence the common bumper sticker, "Running is Cheaper than Therapy."
One of the biggest obstacles that I faced early on was finding the right shoe. I would run and then hit a wall with knee pain. The wonderful experienced runner's at the Trak Shak took one look at my stride and fit me with a shoe that has alleviated me of all knee problems. I can tell when the shoes have gone 'flat' when my knee pain flares up. I order my new shoes and I am off once more.
The other obstacle is finding the right bra. I am picky about my bras to begin with. I like full cup minimizers that could function as a sports bra but they are too expensive for me to trash them like that. For running etc. I was just using an old expensive running bra that pre-dated children along with another really snug jog bra. While that did contain the girls, the problem is that having two bands around your ribs makes it hard to breathe. And they were just too old to function as they once did.
I have been drooling over the Title 9 catalog for years and finally ordered a couple of their 4+ dumbbell bras for around $50 each (plus shipping.. seriously who charges shipping any more). I deemed it my Christmas gift from my SIL. Now, very few of Title 9's items are their own. They simply rename them... "Three Reasons Bra" and "Seven Wonders Bra" were in my cart. What came to me was Moving Comfort's Fiona and Juno bras. $29 on Amazon by the way. Anyhow, both bras are wonderful! I need only one and I can run with either. The Juno, however hard it is to get on and off, is worth the trouble. I wear a 34DDDD(G) or 36DDD, so I ordered the 36DD because they don't make DDD. Yes, I spill over but a 38 would have been too big, so be it. I am just out there to work out. If you still look good after running you didn't run hard enough.
One of the biggest obstacles that I faced early on was finding the right shoe. I would run and then hit a wall with knee pain. The wonderful experienced runner's at the Trak Shak took one look at my stride and fit me with a shoe that has alleviated me of all knee problems. I can tell when the shoes have gone 'flat' when my knee pain flares up. I order my new shoes and I am off once more.
The other obstacle is finding the right bra. I am picky about my bras to begin with. I like full cup minimizers that could function as a sports bra but they are too expensive for me to trash them like that. For running etc. I was just using an old expensive running bra that pre-dated children along with another really snug jog bra. While that did contain the girls, the problem is that having two bands around your ribs makes it hard to breathe. And they were just too old to function as they once did.
I have been drooling over the Title 9 catalog for years and finally ordered a couple of their 4+ dumbbell bras for around $50 each (plus shipping.. seriously who charges shipping any more). I deemed it my Christmas gift from my SIL. Now, very few of Title 9's items are their own. They simply rename them... "Three Reasons Bra" and "Seven Wonders Bra" were in my cart. What came to me was Moving Comfort's Fiona and Juno bras. $29 on Amazon by the way. Anyhow, both bras are wonderful! I need only one and I can run with either. The Juno, however hard it is to get on and off, is worth the trouble. I wear a 34DDDD(G) or 36DDD, so I ordered the 36DD because they don't make DDD. Yes, I spill over but a 38 would have been too big, so be it. I am just out there to work out. If you still look good after running you didn't run hard enough.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Foiled!
Yes, I always try to do my best, but there is evil and Murphy's law lurking around every corner.
I set up David's fish tank last year for his birthday. I read up on tanks and learned more than I need to know about community fish and how to keep them. We added our fish slowly, methodically and then we got to our big fish... the gourami. It's only a ten gallon tank. Small tanks take more care, oddly enough. But we had a happy community. Then we left for summer vacation. Jeremy always turns the air temp up to save on energy, but we forgot that the boy's room is the hottest in the summer (coolest in the winter). It didn't take long before the temp got above the "green zone" on the thermometer and it was that way for about a week. Ugh, we had only three fish left when we got back; the gourami and two zebra danios. I knew that the tank needed to balance out so I had given it some time before I bought more fish. I was about to get David some fish for his birthday until... the other day I came in to feed the fish and noticed that it was oddly warm. I checked the temp and it was 110 degrees! The thermostat on the heater went haywire and was cooking my fish. The gourami was going berserk and his colors were all wrong. After a trip to the fish store and only one dead fish, the tank was back to normal. The gourami was laying on the bottom of the tank for two days, exhausted, and the last zebra danio was acting like nothing happened at all... they managed to survive! I still need to let things balance out once more before I get more fish. What can you do?
On Halloween, I took the kids to the grocery store. Normally we go to the store after breakfast. I tell the kids that if they don't eat a good breakfast they cannot have one of the store's free kid cookies. Yes a cookie before noon... I never have cookies in the house, so what the hell. Anyhow we went to the store late, closer to lunch time. I told the kids, "no cookies." They understood and did not have a fit. Nathan pouted but no fits. We got to the cash register and the cashier handed each of them a Reese's Halloween Pumpkin. Never asked, didn't hand them to me... straight to the kids. UGH!!! I know that there is something mentally going on with this cashier, he's worked there for a long time. He is a bit off but capable enough to do his job. I could not get mad because it made him so happy. Reese's are the worst candy though!!! I smiled and gritted my teeth and went home to make lunch. Dammit.
I was on a good reading streak until I started reading The Hobbit and simultaneously found out about Pinterest. I flushed a couple of days down the drain sitting on the computer because The Hobbit was boring me, not that it is a bad story. I knew from reading the first couple of chapters that I wasn't going to be 'all about it' but I stuck it out and wasn't going to start reading anything else until I finished it. I went pinning like crazy for a few days, then things settled, I finally finished The Hobbit and have moved on to something more worthy of my time.
I had once heard about the importance of sending regular old batteries to an appropriate waste thoroughfare. So once we had kids and AA batteries became like beer cans, I put them aside in an appropriate place. Twice a year Jefferson County has an environmental/hazardous waste 'recycle day' to get rid of the odd things that don't normally go in the trash. I missed the first couple and accumulated our batteries for over a year. FWIW, we don't replace batteries in many of our toys... it's up to imagination after they are gone. Anyhow, after *really* looking into the battery recycling... they don't take the regular old Duracell, energizer, rayovac battery. Most battery recycling is for the cell phone or the lithium type of battery. I looked into Alabama Environmental Council and found that there is one place, miles away from us that will take these batteries at a huge price per pound! Now, we had saved many pounds of these batteries and most web sites discussed how this form of recycling is obsolete since the heavy metals stored in the current batteries are so low. So Jeremy and I found ourselves shoveling our piles of old batteries into the regular old trash. It made me sick... all I know is that we tried. Dammit!
All I know is that I try, sincerely 'try'. What we eat, what we do, what I wish we did do...
I set up David's fish tank last year for his birthday. I read up on tanks and learned more than I need to know about community fish and how to keep them. We added our fish slowly, methodically and then we got to our big fish... the gourami. It's only a ten gallon tank. Small tanks take more care, oddly enough. But we had a happy community. Then we left for summer vacation. Jeremy always turns the air temp up to save on energy, but we forgot that the boy's room is the hottest in the summer (coolest in the winter). It didn't take long before the temp got above the "green zone" on the thermometer and it was that way for about a week. Ugh, we had only three fish left when we got back; the gourami and two zebra danios. I knew that the tank needed to balance out so I had given it some time before I bought more fish. I was about to get David some fish for his birthday until... the other day I came in to feed the fish and noticed that it was oddly warm. I checked the temp and it was 110 degrees! The thermostat on the heater went haywire and was cooking my fish. The gourami was going berserk and his colors were all wrong. After a trip to the fish store and only one dead fish, the tank was back to normal. The gourami was laying on the bottom of the tank for two days, exhausted, and the last zebra danio was acting like nothing happened at all... they managed to survive! I still need to let things balance out once more before I get more fish. What can you do?
On Halloween, I took the kids to the grocery store. Normally we go to the store after breakfast. I tell the kids that if they don't eat a good breakfast they cannot have one of the store's free kid cookies. Yes a cookie before noon... I never have cookies in the house, so what the hell. Anyhow we went to the store late, closer to lunch time. I told the kids, "no cookies." They understood and did not have a fit. Nathan pouted but no fits. We got to the cash register and the cashier handed each of them a Reese's Halloween Pumpkin. Never asked, didn't hand them to me... straight to the kids. UGH!!! I know that there is something mentally going on with this cashier, he's worked there for a long time. He is a bit off but capable enough to do his job. I could not get mad because it made him so happy. Reese's are the worst candy though!!! I smiled and gritted my teeth and went home to make lunch. Dammit.
I was on a good reading streak until I started reading The Hobbit and simultaneously found out about Pinterest. I flushed a couple of days down the drain sitting on the computer because The Hobbit was boring me, not that it is a bad story. I knew from reading the first couple of chapters that I wasn't going to be 'all about it' but I stuck it out and wasn't going to start reading anything else until I finished it. I went pinning like crazy for a few days, then things settled, I finally finished The Hobbit and have moved on to something more worthy of my time.
I had once heard about the importance of sending regular old batteries to an appropriate waste thoroughfare. So once we had kids and AA batteries became like beer cans, I put them aside in an appropriate place. Twice a year Jefferson County has an environmental/hazardous waste 'recycle day' to get rid of the odd things that don't normally go in the trash. I missed the first couple and accumulated our batteries for over a year. FWIW, we don't replace batteries in many of our toys... it's up to imagination after they are gone. Anyhow, after *really* looking into the battery recycling... they don't take the regular old Duracell, energizer, rayovac battery. Most battery recycling is for the cell phone or the lithium type of battery. I looked into Alabama Environmental Council and found that there is one place, miles away from us that will take these batteries at a huge price per pound! Now, we had saved many pounds of these batteries and most web sites discussed how this form of recycling is obsolete since the heavy metals stored in the current batteries are so low. So Jeremy and I found ourselves shoveling our piles of old batteries into the regular old trash. It made me sick... all I know is that we tried. Dammit!
All I know is that I try, sincerely 'try'. What we eat, what we do, what I wish we did do...
Friday, November 4, 2011
Oh no she didn't...
My post yesterday had me thinking about new recipes. Don't get me wrong, I love trying out new ones but few make the cut into the "trusty" category. David and Caroline are good eaters. They will eat anything, fruit or veggie. We often call Caroline the "fruit bat" if there is fruit around she will sniff it out and eat it. David is a bit more picky but he will try anything... that's all I ask. Nathan is called the "anaconda", he can eat a good breakfast, decent lunch and never touch dinner. Jeremy also groans about eating his veggies. He only likes green beans, asparagus, and salad coated in ranch. He will also tell me that he likes onions but who serves up a plate of onions?
Anyhow... looking for new recipes. Monkey bread caught my eye and I had immediate memories of being taught how to make this childhood treat at my best friend's house. We took a can of biscuits and tore them to bits. Then melted butter and brown sugar together. Mix the biscuit balls and sweet butter mixture together. We took a large glass bowl and placed a glass in the middle (think homemade bunt pan) then put that in the microwave (yes the microwave) and zapped it till it fluffed up. This mess had to cool forever because coming out of the microwave this stuff was hotter than napalm. Flip it out on a plate and voila... monkey bread. What a treat!!! I came home and showed my mom. It was awesome!
The monkey bread recipe I came across was this though. OMG, can I do that with can biscuits and a homemade bunt pan in the microwave????
I really don't like baking. Yes, I will turn on the oven to cook a pizza, or bake a potato but bread and cookies??? No, I don't do that. These look so yummy this adult version of monkey bread may be worth a try.
Anyhow... looking for new recipes. Monkey bread caught my eye and I had immediate memories of being taught how to make this childhood treat at my best friend's house. We took a can of biscuits and tore them to bits. Then melted butter and brown sugar together. Mix the biscuit balls and sweet butter mixture together. We took a large glass bowl and placed a glass in the middle (think homemade bunt pan) then put that in the microwave (yes the microwave) and zapped it till it fluffed up. This mess had to cool forever because coming out of the microwave this stuff was hotter than napalm. Flip it out on a plate and voila... monkey bread. What a treat!!! I came home and showed my mom. It was awesome!
The monkey bread recipe I came across was this though. OMG, can I do that with can biscuits and a homemade bunt pan in the microwave????
I really don't like baking. Yes, I will turn on the oven to cook a pizza, or bake a potato but bread and cookies??? No, I don't do that. These look so yummy this adult version of monkey bread may be worth a try.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Recipe Roundup
I tried two new recipes this past summer that have stuck around in my recipe repertoire. Many new recipes fall into several categories... kids didn't touch it, Jeremy didn't touch it, it wasn't worth my time, or any combination of the above.
Zucchini Basil Soup - Oh my, this soup was so simple and so dreamy. I feel horrible that I am posting this now... months after the height of summer squash season. The recipe is incredibly simple and very tasty. Blending the zucchini really does give a rich creamy consistency to the soup. I honestly believe that given the right pans and modifications, I could have easily made this a raw meal. I don't know much about "raw" cooking but you can heat to a certain degree. I made this for lunch several times on small scale, the proportions are forgiving (not that I ever measure anyway). I made it for the family as well with compliments. I will admit to going all out one time and used homemade chicken stock instead of water and added a dollop of cream... yes it was even better but in no way necessary.
Turkey Meatloaf - I was watching a pbs cooking show and my ears perked up when they were making something with ground turkey. I love cooking with lean meats and happened to have just bought some ground turkey breast with another recipe in mind. I didn't have any leeks and substituted some celery and onion; I used regular old pre-sliced button mushrooms instead of the cremini; I used half as much cheese and often substitute havarti for fontina to save money. The fresh sage with the creamy cheese make this so yummy. I honestly think you can put anything you want in it as long as you have those two things. Not your run-of-the-mill ketchup and bell pepper meatloaf... different is good and the family approved.
Zucchini Basil Soup - Oh my, this soup was so simple and so dreamy. I feel horrible that I am posting this now... months after the height of summer squash season. The recipe is incredibly simple and very tasty. Blending the zucchini really does give a rich creamy consistency to the soup. I honestly believe that given the right pans and modifications, I could have easily made this a raw meal. I don't know much about "raw" cooking but you can heat to a certain degree. I made this for lunch several times on small scale, the proportions are forgiving (not that I ever measure anyway). I made it for the family as well with compliments. I will admit to going all out one time and used homemade chicken stock instead of water and added a dollop of cream... yes it was even better but in no way necessary.
Turkey Meatloaf - I was watching a pbs cooking show and my ears perked up when they were making something with ground turkey. I love cooking with lean meats and happened to have just bought some ground turkey breast with another recipe in mind. I didn't have any leeks and substituted some celery and onion; I used regular old pre-sliced button mushrooms instead of the cremini; I used half as much cheese and often substitute havarti for fontina to save money. The fresh sage with the creamy cheese make this so yummy. I honestly think you can put anything you want in it as long as you have those two things. Not your run-of-the-mill ketchup and bell pepper meatloaf... different is good and the family approved.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Farming
We went down to my brother-in-law's farm recently with the kids. The Davis family has thousands of acres (5,000+) with cattle, peanuts, and things to feed the cattle (fields of hay and a bit of corn). They also have horses and some of the family breaks them for others. It is a true working farm on large scale with all the large equipment for baling tons of hay and digging peanuts.
I mostly talk with Randy's dad, Neil, about farming and such... he thinks I am a hippy ding-a-ling. This is the time of year that he sends his steers off to auction for feed lots, then slaughter. He does give them sweet feed (that contains corn) but he does not give them enough to get sick from it. He never uses antibiotics or hormones but once they are sold, that is another story.
I am working on convincing him to save a small herd of steer for grass feeding only and we take them to slaughter ourselves with a local butcher. Hard to teach an old dog new tricks though. I wouldn't even know what to do exactly since all the farmer's markets are Memorial Day to Labor Day. Slaughter in the spring and freeze or take pre-orders? Bulk or small scale sales? We would never go "organic" because of the bureaucracy but all the government oversight gives huge credit to the term 'organic' in a big way..... He feeds his own cattle his own hay... I have no idea what is done to the hay pest/herbicide wise either. Making feed organic is another ball of wax.
Grow Alabama (our CSA) has options for local "organic" chicken. They keep talking about pork but it has yet to happen. Beef is not an option.
We have tons of seasonal farmers' markets, many are not organic, some are technically but not certified by the government anyhow. I try to be a locavore as much as possible more than organic. If it is grown in the proper climate during the right season, it needs less. That is if the small farmer is practicing good permaculture methods.
Anyhow, I am becoming family by default and am headed down there for a long weekend to burn off fields and so some serious farm work... sans kids. I really does sound like a vacation though and I am excited to get a bit dirty. If I keep going down there I will need my own cowgirl boots. You can't really ride a horse in hiking boots.
Of course I am going to be reading much more about farming now that I am curious AND have a reason. I am slowly working my way through Oceana. Farming on a totally different level. Read a book... read a chapter in Oceana... then read another book, etc. Sometimes I really am reading three books at one time. I can't believe my brain can keep up.
I mostly talk with Randy's dad, Neil, about farming and such... he thinks I am a hippy ding-a-ling. This is the time of year that he sends his steers off to auction for feed lots, then slaughter. He does give them sweet feed (that contains corn) but he does not give them enough to get sick from it. He never uses antibiotics or hormones but once they are sold, that is another story.
I am working on convincing him to save a small herd of steer for grass feeding only and we take them to slaughter ourselves with a local butcher. Hard to teach an old dog new tricks though. I wouldn't even know what to do exactly since all the farmer's markets are Memorial Day to Labor Day. Slaughter in the spring and freeze or take pre-orders? Bulk or small scale sales? We would never go "organic" because of the bureaucracy but all the government oversight gives huge credit to the term 'organic' in a big way..... He feeds his own cattle his own hay... I have no idea what is done to the hay pest/herbicide wise either. Making feed organic is another ball of wax.
Grow Alabama (our CSA) has options for local "organic" chicken. They keep talking about pork but it has yet to happen. Beef is not an option.
We have tons of seasonal farmers' markets, many are not organic, some are technically but not certified by the government anyhow. I try to be a locavore as much as possible more than organic. If it is grown in the proper climate during the right season, it needs less. That is if the small farmer is practicing good permaculture methods.
Anyhow, I am becoming family by default and am headed down there for a long weekend to burn off fields and so some serious farm work... sans kids. I really does sound like a vacation though and I am excited to get a bit dirty. If I keep going down there I will need my own cowgirl boots. You can't really ride a horse in hiking boots.
Of course I am going to be reading much more about farming now that I am curious AND have a reason. I am slowly working my way through Oceana. Farming on a totally different level. Read a book... read a chapter in Oceana... then read another book, etc. Sometimes I really am reading three books at one time. I can't believe my brain can keep up.
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