~Hat Tip Of the Sovereign Sentient Being
By Ravi Kumar~My News
The Indian government is finally talking tough, the Ministry of Science and Technology is planning to purpose a new law which will see a jail term for anyone who oppose a genetically modified (GM) product.
The purpose law will prosecute any Indian citizen who opposes or questions the product of any genetically modified (GM) food or medicine and is punishable by at least a minimum of six months behind bars.
The clause to silence critics of GM food is contained in the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill 2009 prepared by the Department of Biotechnology, which is a wing of the ministry of science and technology headed by Prithviraj Chavan.
‘Misleading public about organism and products’ is one of the crimes for which punishment has been prescribed in Section 63, Chapter 13 of the Bill which deals with various “offences and penalties”.
The clause specifically deals with critics of biotech products including GM food crops.
It reads, “Whoever, without any evidence or scientific record misleads the public about the safety of the organisms and products specified in Part I or Part II or Part III of the Schedule I, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to one year and with fine which may extend to two lakh rupees or with both.”
GM products covered under the Schedule I include genetically engineered plants and organisms, DNA vaccines, cellular products, gene therapy products, stem cell products and other such genetically engineered or transgenic products.
The list also includes vaccines for use in humans or animals that contain living genetically engineered organisms, cellular products including products composed of human, bacterial or animal cells as well as genetically engineered micro- organisms that may have application in agriculture, fisheries, forestry or food production.
Curiously, while every little term in the proposed law such as a “company” or a “director” has been defined, no explanation or definition has been given for terms used in section 63 such as “evidence”, “ scientific record” and “ misleading”. If the Bill becomes a law and comes into force, anyone questioning the safety of Bt brinjal or stem cell therapy “without evidence or scientific record” can be put behind bars.
This is a scary scenario because many of the technologies mentioned in the Bill are still in the realm of research and have not been proven safe for humans.
Not just this, the Bill has another provision to punish anyone who “without reasonable excuse, resists, obstructs, or attempts to obstruct, impersonate, threaten, intimidate or assault an officer of the Authority or any person assigned to discharge any function under this Act, or in exercising his functions under this Act” with a jail term of three months and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh. In short, this clause seeks to punish anyone holding a demonstration or rally near the BRAI or where any official of the authority is visiting.
“This is a gag order, absolutely draconian and violative of Article (19) (1) ( a) of the Indian constitution which guarantees the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression,” said Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan.
“It is definitely meant to scare people so that they don’t say anything against GM technology. Even journalists writing critical articles can be punished.” The Bill has been criticised by several civil society activists.
“If this law was in force today, environment minister Jairam Ramesh, who has questioned the safety of GM crops, would have been behind bars because he would have violated it,” said Devinder Sharma of the Forum forBiotechnology and Food Security.
“It is a dirty attempt to turn science into a ghetto, where all of us will be subjected to unhealthy GM products pushed down our throats by a willing government.” Kavitha Kuruganti of Kheti Virasat Mission said the Bill was meant to harass civil society groups concerned about the application of hazardous technologies.
“Who will decide what is misleading’, and on what basis? How about the ones who are making misleading claims about safety even when there is no conclusive proof of safety?” asked Kuruganti.
Aruna Rodrigues, whose public interest writ against GM crops is in the Supreme Court, said the Bill failed to recognise the basic scientific fact that all GM organisms are inherently hazardous.
She also questioned the ministry of science and technology hosting the BRAI when the subject actually was related to food safety, health and environment.
The proposal to set up an independent authority for biotechnology regulation has been in the pipeline for more than five years now, but the process of setting this up is being hastened after the recent moratorium imposed on Bt brinjal by environment minister Jairam Ramesh.
The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) – which is currently the apex regulatory body for biotechnology – is housed in the environment ministry.
Ramesh had asserted that the approval to BT brinjal granted by GEAC was not final. He also plans to convert it into an ‘appraisal’ committee. Piqued by this move,the department of biotechnology has speeded up the process of setting up BRAI, which will be housed within the department.
The proposed legislation has no clauses on public participation in the process of approval.
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (under the Convention on Biological Diversity) which has been invoked in the preamble of the Bill, clearly states that signatory countries should “consult the public in decision- making process regarding living modified organisms”. The liability clauses in this legislation are also very weak, experts pointed out. It has no explicit clauses on redressal, compensation, remediation or cleaning up in case of damage due to genetically modified organisms.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Take Action with the Grassroots Netroots Alliance
GMO's are out of control! "We the People" NEED to take a stand agains Monsanto, now before it's to late!!!!
Take Action with the Grassroots Netroots Alliance
Take Action with the Grassroots Netroots Alliance
98 Organizations Oppose Obama's Monsanto Man, Islam Siddiqui, for US Agricultural Trade Representative
Read the article below and........
Please forward your thoughts to your Senators and Representatives
98 Organizations Oppose Obama's Monsanto Man, Islam Siddiqui, for US Agricultural Trade Representative
Please forward your thoughts to your Senators and Representatives
98 Organizations Oppose Obama's Monsanto Man, Islam Siddiqui, for US Agricultural Trade Representative
Alternative crops for animal feed.
There is method to my madness, with the way our economy is going I'm looking into the future a bit( it's called foresight and yes blonde's do have this ability*wink*). When looking to the future, preparing a more natural way and source of feed for our animals.
Breaking free of commercial feeds was our first step. We then mixed our own grain feed for poultry and our feeder pigs.
In feeding grains there is compromise( GMO and pesticide usage), shortages, rising costs, etc....
We're searching and learning more natural alternatives of feed for our animals, especially our poultry, as they are the primary grain consumers on the farm.
Our plan includes fencing our property( to contain poultry) so our poultry can free range and forage for their own needs. Then we're going to increase our alternative crops, such as; flax, amaranth, millet,oats, rye, Indian corn, sunflowers, mangle beets, extra root crops and squash, etc.... Many of these items will be stored in our cellar, some harvested, dried and bundled for later use.
We have the ability to grow a portion of our hay needs and have sources for the extra needed. The cows and horse only receive hay, graze and "alternative treats", such as; mangle beets, carrots, alfalfa cubes, apples, etc.... We do supplement with a mineral as well.
This will be the first year we're going to try to get away from commercialized grains and feed our own alternative food sources.
This winter we supplemented our poultry with old hay and alfalfa hay that was weedy and the results were great! Now if we add to this free ranging and foraging, bundles of grains we grow, veggies and herbs they should be fine.
In other news around here;
Cortney is working on building up her jewelry for resale( see above photo of one of her latest creations), as well as woven pot holders and hot pads for table tops.
Today I'm concentrating on getting laundry finished and on the line, making use of our excess carrots in the root cellar, by pickling them and need to look into either dehydrating potatoes or canning them. The ole' say goes; "Waste not Want not", right?
We ordered our chicks for meat, White Plymouth Rocks. They are due to arrive 25th of March, before then we have 8-10 old hens that will become stew hens. We may look at butchering a turkey as well.
Slow germinating seeds( rosemary, thyme, habenaro peppers, a few varieties of tomatoes and flowers) will be started by this weekend with the remainder being started second week of March. This way we only end up re potting once before hardening off and planting in ground.
If our weather holds I have plans to begin hauling wheelbarrow loads of composted manure for the gardens, before Mike fires up the tractors and gets to spreading it on the pastures*wink*
I still have Jon's old room to clean up, it's become the catch all for junk*sigh*. I sorted our old taxes and bills that I need to re-sort just to be sure and then burn. After it's all cleaned up I have to paint the whole room and get it set up for sewing/ quilting and crafts. The time just seems to be flying and I haven't gotten all the items I'd hope to get done finished but there is always tomorrow*wink*
Breaking free of commercial feeds was our first step. We then mixed our own grain feed for poultry and our feeder pigs.
In feeding grains there is compromise( GMO and pesticide usage), shortages, rising costs, etc....
We're searching and learning more natural alternatives of feed for our animals, especially our poultry, as they are the primary grain consumers on the farm.
Our plan includes fencing our property( to contain poultry) so our poultry can free range and forage for their own needs. Then we're going to increase our alternative crops, such as; flax, amaranth, millet,oats, rye, Indian corn, sunflowers, mangle beets, extra root crops and squash, etc.... Many of these items will be stored in our cellar, some harvested, dried and bundled for later use.
We have the ability to grow a portion of our hay needs and have sources for the extra needed. The cows and horse only receive hay, graze and "alternative treats", such as; mangle beets, carrots, alfalfa cubes, apples, etc.... We do supplement with a mineral as well.
This will be the first year we're going to try to get away from commercialized grains and feed our own alternative food sources.
This winter we supplemented our poultry with old hay and alfalfa hay that was weedy and the results were great! Now if we add to this free ranging and foraging, bundles of grains we grow, veggies and herbs they should be fine.
In other news around here;
Cortney is working on building up her jewelry for resale( see above photo of one of her latest creations), as well as woven pot holders and hot pads for table tops.
Today I'm concentrating on getting laundry finished and on the line, making use of our excess carrots in the root cellar, by pickling them and need to look into either dehydrating potatoes or canning them. The ole' say goes; "Waste not Want not", right?
We ordered our chicks for meat, White Plymouth Rocks. They are due to arrive 25th of March, before then we have 8-10 old hens that will become stew hens. We may look at butchering a turkey as well.
Slow germinating seeds( rosemary, thyme, habenaro peppers, a few varieties of tomatoes and flowers) will be started by this weekend with the remainder being started second week of March. This way we only end up re potting once before hardening off and planting in ground.
If our weather holds I have plans to begin hauling wheelbarrow loads of composted manure for the gardens, before Mike fires up the tractors and gets to spreading it on the pastures*wink*
I still have Jon's old room to clean up, it's become the catch all for junk*sigh*. I sorted our old taxes and bills that I need to re-sort just to be sure and then burn. After it's all cleaned up I have to paint the whole room and get it set up for sewing/ quilting and crafts. The time just seems to be flying and I haven't gotten all the items I'd hope to get done finished but there is always tomorrow*wink*
Monday, February 22, 2010
Again for those interested in poultry feed findings..
It's actually nice to see there are studies going on to replace soy in feeds. Looks like the results were good, so for those of us mixing or feeding our poultry naturally, Faba beans might be a good source of protein and amino acids, what it boils down to is whether or not your birds like Faba Beans?
Nutritional value of Faba beans for broilers
22 Feb 2010
New Zealand scientists conducted two experiments to evaluate the nutritional value of four cultivars of faba beans (Vicia faba L.) for broilers.
In experiment 1, the apparent metabolisable energy (AME) and ileal amino acid digestibility coefficients of these four cultivars were determined.
The cultivar effects were significant for AME, but ileal amino acid digestibility coefficients were not different between the four cultivars.
The AME value of South Tic cultivar was higher than those of Spec Tic and Broad cultivars, but similar to that of PGG Tic.
Similar performance
In Experiment 2, using the AME and ileal digestible amino acid values determined in Experiment 1, diets containing 200 g/kg of the four cultivars of faba beans were formulated and the effects of feeding these diets on the performance and the digestive tract development of broiler starters were investigated.
Weight gain, feed intake and feed per gain of broilers fed faba bean diets were similar to those fed the maize–soybean meal diet. The performance of birds fed diets containing different cultivars of faba beans was similar.
In general, the digestive tract development was unaffected by the inclusion of faba beans.
The exceptions were the relative empty weight and digesta weight of gizzard which were found to be higher in birds fed diets containing faba beans than those fed the maize–soy diet.
Birds fed faba bean diets had better excreta quality scores than that of the basal diet.
These results suggest that faba beans are good sources of energy and amino acids, and that faba beans can be included at 20% inclusion level as a partial replacement for soybean meal in broiler diets without any adverse effects on the performance.
Nutritional value of Faba beans for broilers
22 Feb 2010
New Zealand scientists conducted two experiments to evaluate the nutritional value of four cultivars of faba beans (Vicia faba L.) for broilers.
In experiment 1, the apparent metabolisable energy (AME) and ileal amino acid digestibility coefficients of these four cultivars were determined.
The cultivar effects were significant for AME, but ileal amino acid digestibility coefficients were not different between the four cultivars.
The AME value of South Tic cultivar was higher than those of Spec Tic and Broad cultivars, but similar to that of PGG Tic.
Similar performance
In Experiment 2, using the AME and ileal digestible amino acid values determined in Experiment 1, diets containing 200 g/kg of the four cultivars of faba beans were formulated and the effects of feeding these diets on the performance and the digestive tract development of broiler starters were investigated.
Weight gain, feed intake and feed per gain of broilers fed faba bean diets were similar to those fed the maize–soybean meal diet. The performance of birds fed diets containing different cultivars of faba beans was similar.
In general, the digestive tract development was unaffected by the inclusion of faba beans.
The exceptions were the relative empty weight and digesta weight of gizzard which were found to be higher in birds fed diets containing faba beans than those fed the maize–soy diet.
Birds fed faba bean diets had better excreta quality scores than that of the basal diet.
These results suggest that faba beans are good sources of energy and amino acids, and that faba beans can be included at 20% inclusion level as a partial replacement for soybean meal in broiler diets without any adverse effects on the performance.
Thought this was interesting.......
I receive a news letter on things going on around the world, related to animal feed and this was one of the headliners this last week. Never hurts to see what even the big time feed industries are finding out. Since we mix our own poultry grain feed, I like to keep up to date of scientific findings and then judge for myself to see if it is accurate.
Implications of sorghum in broiler chicken nutrition
18 Feb 2010
Sorghum is a common grown grain in Australia. Due to some anti nutritional factors it is not much appreciated in chicken feeds. Kafirin seems to be the main problem.
Sorghum-based diets have been associated with inconsistent, and even sub-optimal, growth performance of broiler chickens.
Sorghum is unique in that it contains kafirin, phytate and may contain condensed tannin; these factors can negatively influence the nutritive properties of sorghum.
Both phytate and tannin have the capacity to complex proteins in the gut and depress protein digestibility and intestinal uptakes of dietary and endogenous amino acids (AA).
A substantial proportion of sorghum protein is composed of kafirin, which is relatively poorly digested and contains a paucity of lysine (lys). Therefore, as kafirin proportions of sorghum protein increase, digestibility of AA and lys concentrations decline.
Because of variable AA concentrations in sorghum protein, the accuracy with which intended dietary levels of AA are met in formulating sorghum-based diets may not be precise.
Starch digestibility
Kafirin is also associated with harder grain textures and higher starch gelatinisation temperatures and the digestibility of starch in sorghum is generally inferior to other grains.
The particle size and method of grinding sorghum influences broiler performance but the optimal particle size appears to be dependent on grain texture.
Sorghum is vulnerable to ‘moist-heat’ because it induces disulphide cross-linkages in β- and γ-kafirin located in the periphery of protein bodies that represents a barrier to the more digestible, centrally located α-kafirin component.
Starch granules are intimately associated with protein bodies and the protein matrix in sorghum endosperm and starch digestibility is also compromised by the formation of disulphide cross-linkages, which impede starch gelatinisation and enzymic degradation.
This raises the possibility that steam-pelleting sorghum-based diets at high temperatures may constitute sufficient ‘moist-heat’ to compromise nutrient utilisation.
Enzyme supplementation
The identification of the most appropriate processing methods of sorghum-based diets should prove advantageous and inclusion of exogenous proteases with the capacity to degrade kafirin may hold promise.
In low-tannin, phytase-supplemented, sorghum-based diets the more important causes of inconsistent broiler performance may be the kafirin content, variable concentrations and digestibilities of AA and grain texture coupled with inappropriate processing methods.
Implications of sorghum in broiler chicken nutrition by P.H. Selle, (Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney), D.J. Cadogan, (Feedworks, Romsey, Victoria), X. Li and W.L. Bryden (School of Animal Studies, University of Queensland, Gatton) all in Australia.
Implications of sorghum in broiler chicken nutrition
18 Feb 2010
Sorghum is a common grown grain in Australia. Due to some anti nutritional factors it is not much appreciated in chicken feeds. Kafirin seems to be the main problem.
Sorghum-based diets have been associated with inconsistent, and even sub-optimal, growth performance of broiler chickens.
Sorghum is unique in that it contains kafirin, phytate and may contain condensed tannin; these factors can negatively influence the nutritive properties of sorghum.
Both phytate and tannin have the capacity to complex proteins in the gut and depress protein digestibility and intestinal uptakes of dietary and endogenous amino acids (AA).
A substantial proportion of sorghum protein is composed of kafirin, which is relatively poorly digested and contains a paucity of lysine (lys). Therefore, as kafirin proportions of sorghum protein increase, digestibility of AA and lys concentrations decline.
Because of variable AA concentrations in sorghum protein, the accuracy with which intended dietary levels of AA are met in formulating sorghum-based diets may not be precise.
Starch digestibility
Kafirin is also associated with harder grain textures and higher starch gelatinisation temperatures and the digestibility of starch in sorghum is generally inferior to other grains.
The particle size and method of grinding sorghum influences broiler performance but the optimal particle size appears to be dependent on grain texture.
Sorghum is vulnerable to ‘moist-heat’ because it induces disulphide cross-linkages in β- and γ-kafirin located in the periphery of protein bodies that represents a barrier to the more digestible, centrally located α-kafirin component.
Starch granules are intimately associated with protein bodies and the protein matrix in sorghum endosperm and starch digestibility is also compromised by the formation of disulphide cross-linkages, which impede starch gelatinisation and enzymic degradation.
This raises the possibility that steam-pelleting sorghum-based diets at high temperatures may constitute sufficient ‘moist-heat’ to compromise nutrient utilisation.
Enzyme supplementation
The identification of the most appropriate processing methods of sorghum-based diets should prove advantageous and inclusion of exogenous proteases with the capacity to degrade kafirin may hold promise.
In low-tannin, phytase-supplemented, sorghum-based diets the more important causes of inconsistent broiler performance may be the kafirin content, variable concentrations and digestibilities of AA and grain texture coupled with inappropriate processing methods.
Implications of sorghum in broiler chicken nutrition by P.H. Selle, (Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney), D.J. Cadogan, (Feedworks, Romsey, Victoria), X. Li and W.L. Bryden (School of Animal Studies, University of Queensland, Gatton) all in Australia.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Photo Friday
Whole wheat griddlecakes on the griddle
Breakfast at 6:30am
8am working on a tie blanket
All finished, one we made last night
So soft and cuddly :o)
Breakfast at 6:30am
8am working on a tie blanket
All finished, one we made last night
So soft and cuddly :o)
Thursday, February 18, 2010
We'd like to introduce.........
Romeo! He is a yellow Canary
and boy can he sing! Cortney has been wanting a bird for a long time
and finally decided this is what she wanted.
If you click on the photos you can see him much better.
Now to keep Callie( the cat) from being so interested. We may end up
hanging Romeo's cage from the ceiling.
and boy can he sing! Cortney has been wanting a bird for a long time
and finally decided this is what she wanted.
If you click on the photos you can see him much better.
Now to keep Callie( the cat) from being so interested. We may end up
hanging Romeo's cage from the ceiling.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Heads up, I knew it was to good to be true
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 8:53 AM CST
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Parker: Animal I.D. battle isn't over
Contrary to what you are being told, National Animal Identification System is not dead - just renamed, reworded and still very much alive.
That was the message brought to the Ozarks Property Rights meeting in Gainesville last Thursday by Republican congressional candidate Bob Parker, who said he hated to bring that news. "Being one of those who has worked hard over the past four or five years to stop NAIS, nothing would please me and my co-workers more than to be able to report that indeed NAIS has gone away. But sadly it is still here under a new name and coming at us with a reshuffled approach." Parker read excerpts from a fact sheet released Feb. 5 by USDA that outlined the new approach.
Parker said the animal identification program will now be called the Federal Animal Disease Traceability System and premise identification registration numbers are now "unique location identifiers." Parker pointed out that the USDA paper says that since so much taxpayer money has been spent on efforts to implement NAIS that as much of the failed program as possible must be salvaged and used in the new program such as use of the NAIS "840" ear tags. They say it would be fiscally irresponsible to disregard all elements of NAIS, he said.
USDA acknowledged that massive public opposition to their proposed NAIS program has caused them to revise the prior policy and offer a new approach.
Parker noted that while USDA says the framework for the new approach will emphasize state's participation, they are very clear and emphatic on one major point which seems non-negotiable in their view. They intend to enforce animal identification at the level of interstate commerce as they said they would do under the original NAIS plan. This would force Missouri producers into their program as the state has practically no in-state feed lots or major slaughter facilities causing nearly all of the state's livestock production to cross state lines, Parker said.
Addressing the issue of states like Missouri that have passed laws prohibiting forced participation in NAIS, the fact sheet points out that this program is no longer called NAIS and the new framework will spell out what states must do for their animals to be able to move in interstate commerce.
Parker expressed disdain for those elected officials who quickly put out news releases bragging how they were instrumental in stopping NAIS. "They evidently didn't read the rest of the story and were quick to make political hay. They do their constituents a real disservice by touting a hollow victory," he said.
OPRC president Russell Wood said the fact sheet Parker was referencing can be found at the group's web site www.ozarkprc.com, www.r-calfusa.com or www.USDA.gov.com under Questions and Answers: new animal traceability framework.
http://www.houstonherald.com/articles/2010/02/16/news/doc4b7aaaeaac718467235798.prt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parker: Animal I.D. battle isn't over
Contrary to what you are being told, National Animal Identification System is not dead - just renamed, reworded and still very much alive.
That was the message brought to the Ozarks Property Rights meeting in Gainesville last Thursday by Republican congressional candidate Bob Parker, who said he hated to bring that news. "Being one of those who has worked hard over the past four or five years to stop NAIS, nothing would please me and my co-workers more than to be able to report that indeed NAIS has gone away. But sadly it is still here under a new name and coming at us with a reshuffled approach." Parker read excerpts from a fact sheet released Feb. 5 by USDA that outlined the new approach.
Parker said the animal identification program will now be called the Federal Animal Disease Traceability System and premise identification registration numbers are now "unique location identifiers." Parker pointed out that the USDA paper says that since so much taxpayer money has been spent on efforts to implement NAIS that as much of the failed program as possible must be salvaged and used in the new program such as use of the NAIS "840" ear tags. They say it would be fiscally irresponsible to disregard all elements of NAIS, he said.
USDA acknowledged that massive public opposition to their proposed NAIS program has caused them to revise the prior policy and offer a new approach.
Parker noted that while USDA says the framework for the new approach will emphasize state's participation, they are very clear and emphatic on one major point which seems non-negotiable in their view. They intend to enforce animal identification at the level of interstate commerce as they said they would do under the original NAIS plan. This would force Missouri producers into their program as the state has practically no in-state feed lots or major slaughter facilities causing nearly all of the state's livestock production to cross state lines, Parker said.
Addressing the issue of states like Missouri that have passed laws prohibiting forced participation in NAIS, the fact sheet points out that this program is no longer called NAIS and the new framework will spell out what states must do for their animals to be able to move in interstate commerce.
Parker expressed disdain for those elected officials who quickly put out news releases bragging how they were instrumental in stopping NAIS. "They evidently didn't read the rest of the story and were quick to make political hay. They do their constituents a real disservice by touting a hollow victory," he said.
OPRC president Russell Wood said the fact sheet Parker was referencing can be found at the group's web site www.ozarkprc.com, www.r-calfusa.com or www.USDA.gov.com under Questions and Answers: new animal traceability framework.
http://www.houstonherald.com/articles/2010/02/16/news/doc4b7aaaeaac718467235798.prt
Hey! we've been blessed with an award from.....
Debbie over at http://happydays1948.blogspot.com/ Thank you Debbie, we love the fact that you rank our blog so highly*wink*This award is given to
Blogs that bring a smile to your face, or
just make you feel all warm and fuzzy
inside. I would like to award this to the
following people and their Blogs that I
find fun, and fuzzy and warm! Of course this is only a small sample of the blogs we enjoy. Please visit our sidebar of Favorite Blogs.
http://wyo-helpmeet.blogspot.com/, This blog, is a wonderful source of info! The recipes are to die for, you won't be disappointed. Wyo helpmeet is an inspiring person and has shared many good lessons with me. We're hoping to make connections this summer, it's something I'm looking forward to.
http://ndhomekeeper.blogspot.com/, Lynn and her family have a wonderful blog and invite you to visit them. You won't be sorry, she shares such great information you can't help but come away smarter*wink*
http://newlifeonahomestead.com/ This blog is filled with daily inspiration for those seeking a more simple life. There is humor, wonderful recipes, and great inspiration to be found here.
http://homesteadofpink.blogspot.com/ This blog is a real blog, what I mean is she keeps it so real and true it's inspiring. Life is filled with challenges, but this blog shares how to overcome them. Please visit this blog, you won't be disappointed.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Off again to a fresh clean start.....
or so the new blanket of snow makes it seem. Yesterday most of the ground was
thawing and muddy with very little snow left, only patches of ice.
Yesterday(Sat.) Cortney and I attended our friends annual sheep shearing. All
total 82 sheep were sheared, including a 300+lb ram. I'm NOT a spinner or weaver
but can however appreciate a beautiful fleece when I see one. Several of us cleaned up
the fleeces and my favorite ones were the brown and grey. Our friend raises Targees
and Romneys, each breed has it's own type of fleece, the Targee(sp?) fleece is lighter
and the Romney fleeces are much heavier.
It was fore casted that we'd get snow and finally about 2:30 pm it began, then by
3pm it was as if a blizzard had set in with a wind coming out of the Northeast
When we woke this morning the picture below shows the amount received.
It's a heavy wet snow, so good moisture content which is a blessing for our pastures
and upcoming gardening season.
thawing and muddy with very little snow left, only patches of ice.
Yesterday(Sat.) Cortney and I attended our friends annual sheep shearing. All
total 82 sheep were sheared, including a 300+lb ram. I'm NOT a spinner or weaver
but can however appreciate a beautiful fleece when I see one. Several of us cleaned up
the fleeces and my favorite ones were the brown and grey. Our friend raises Targees
and Romneys, each breed has it's own type of fleece, the Targee(sp?) fleece is lighter
and the Romney fleeces are much heavier.
It was fore casted that we'd get snow and finally about 2:30 pm it began, then by
3pm it was as if a blizzard had set in with a wind coming out of the Northeast
When we woke this morning the picture below shows the amount received.
It's a heavy wet snow, so good moisture content which is a blessing for our pasturesand upcoming gardening season.
If you'd click on this photo, you'll be able to see the steam rising off the river.
This photo was take at 10:30am and our temp was 22F, at 6am the temp
was 0F
This is on top of the cellar and it was glistening like diamonds, didn't
show up in the photo.
Shows how the snow was blown out of the northeast and it was an
interesting photo.
Again was trying to catch the glimmering of the snow, it does show on the
bottom of the bell.
Just a quite Sunday for us, enjoying the crisp clean new snow.
Blessings for your new week :o)
Friday, February 12, 2010
A Homesteading Neophyte: Homestead/family farm business listings
Those of you interested in selling your homestead products, produce and/or animals/meat please contact Phelan and give her your info.
Take a look at the site she's working on
A Homesteading Neophyte: Homestead/family farm business listings
Take a look at the site she's working on
A Homesteading Neophyte: Homestead/family farm business listings
Monday, February 8, 2010
I am recanting my choice of words in the last post. I didn't mean that we bloggers are in competition, what I meant was that there are times when many blogs have similar entries and I may have the same info but don't feel it needs to be repeated again. This is our slow phase and while we don't have much to blog about we are enjoying our down time. Below are a few pictures as proof*wink*
Mike and Cortney enjoying a quick game of Dutch Blitz while I was preparing supper. I'm not good at this game, I can't multi task fast enough and Cortney whips me inside out every time, LOL! She gets to giggling because I get...... MAD and begin telling her she has to slow down or she can't make that move, shameful I know! *grin* Mike gives her a better run but he still has to keep on his toes to beat her more than once or twice, LOL! Cortney is a card shark, LOL!!!!
Poor boys, they wanted out for their evening pit stop, only to find it was snowing and cold, so quickly returned to the door, awaiting me to let them back inside.
This was one evening early, 5pm'ish. If you look closely at the middle set of panes, to the far right, you'll see a yearling Mule deer doe, enjoying a nibble of our bean pods. We actually leave them to dry and the birds and deer enjoy them throughout the winter.
This was the next morning, she as back, this time looking for apples under the trees. We have a small herd of about 15 mule deer( mostly does and last years fawns) that travel through this area.
We are also enjoying more frequent sightings of Bald Eagles. We miss them and the Robins and look forward to our first sightings of each. My all time favorite bird to watch is Pelicans, they are so amazing to watch them float on the wind currents, and their shadows below are almost haunting. At one time we counted, in our bird book, where we've identified 63 different varieties of birds. We of course look forward to our family of barn swallows that have nested in Mo's stall for two summers. Last summer they hatched two clutches, three in the first and four in the second. They are becoming familiar with us, so simply sit on the corral panel while we clean the stall, but once the babies hatch they become fearless, swooping and dive bombing us, we just giggle and tell them they are okay, we're hurrying.
Our weather has been unseasonably warm, even with a cold front hoovering over us. I've ordered some new herbs, we like to add a few new ones every season. This year we'll be making new herb beds, our 100ft long, main bed and another that is 20ft long, are full.
I'm anxiously waiting to see if our asparagus come up well again this year. This is the second season since a friend of my Mom's shared crowns with us. I also planted some asparagus berries and will see how they wintered.
Hoping the ground thaws soon, we've got 75 ft of parsnips to eat. My folks will take some, but I'm the only one who likes them here. I do sneak them into hot dishes and soups, shhhh... don't tell*wink*
Soon we'll begin plotting our garden for the season, gathering our seeds and starting them. This season we are looking forward to as this is the season we step out on faith and begin making our farm earn some $$. We are going to work on flyers, signs and even a web page for our farm. We've felt from the beginning, that we could supply enough produce and meats for our own use but now, as our need has decreased, we find we should market the extra. Having said this anything leftover, we'll supply the food pantry with fresh produce as well. So many elderly, who need the extra help enjoy fresh produce.
Okay I need to knead down the bread and wring out a load of laundry and hang outside to freeze dry, before bringing in to dry thoroughly on the drying racks.
Take care and blessing for your week
Mike and Cortney enjoying a quick game of Dutch Blitz while I was preparing supper. I'm not good at this game, I can't multi task fast enough and Cortney whips me inside out every time, LOL! She gets to giggling because I get...... MAD and begin telling her she has to slow down or she can't make that move, shameful I know! *grin* Mike gives her a better run but he still has to keep on his toes to beat her more than once or twice, LOL! Cortney is a card shark, LOL!!!!
Poor boys, they wanted out for their evening pit stop, only to find it was snowing and cold, so quickly returned to the door, awaiting me to let them back inside.
This was one evening early, 5pm'ish. If you look closely at the middle set of panes, to the far right, you'll see a yearling Mule deer doe, enjoying a nibble of our bean pods. We actually leave them to dry and the birds and deer enjoy them throughout the winter.
This was the next morning, she as back, this time looking for apples under the trees. We have a small herd of about 15 mule deer( mostly does and last years fawns) that travel through this area.We are also enjoying more frequent sightings of Bald Eagles. We miss them and the Robins and look forward to our first sightings of each. My all time favorite bird to watch is Pelicans, they are so amazing to watch them float on the wind currents, and their shadows below are almost haunting. At one time we counted, in our bird book, where we've identified 63 different varieties of birds. We of course look forward to our family of barn swallows that have nested in Mo's stall for two summers. Last summer they hatched two clutches, three in the first and four in the second. They are becoming familiar with us, so simply sit on the corral panel while we clean the stall, but once the babies hatch they become fearless, swooping and dive bombing us, we just giggle and tell them they are okay, we're hurrying.
Our weather has been unseasonably warm, even with a cold front hoovering over us. I've ordered some new herbs, we like to add a few new ones every season. This year we'll be making new herb beds, our 100ft long, main bed and another that is 20ft long, are full.
I'm anxiously waiting to see if our asparagus come up well again this year. This is the second season since a friend of my Mom's shared crowns with us. I also planted some asparagus berries and will see how they wintered.
Hoping the ground thaws soon, we've got 75 ft of parsnips to eat. My folks will take some, but I'm the only one who likes them here. I do sneak them into hot dishes and soups, shhhh... don't tell*wink*
Soon we'll begin plotting our garden for the season, gathering our seeds and starting them. This season we are looking forward to as this is the season we step out on faith and begin making our farm earn some $$. We are going to work on flyers, signs and even a web page for our farm. We've felt from the beginning, that we could supply enough produce and meats for our own use but now, as our need has decreased, we find we should market the extra. Having said this anything leftover, we'll supply the food pantry with fresh produce as well. So many elderly, who need the extra help enjoy fresh produce.
Okay I need to knead down the bread and wring out a load of laundry and hang outside to freeze dry, before bringing in to dry thoroughly on the drying racks.
Take care and blessing for your week
Okay I admit it I've got a case of the..... humdrums! *sigh* I've been taking more time to enjoy our broadband connection and I've realized that there is so much info. out there and most of it I'm simply repeating. Lately I've felt like it's some sort of competition between us bloggers, to see who can have the best looking blog, most exciting information in a week, videos, etc.... That isn't why I started this blog and I realize it's probably just me, but I just feel like I don't want to compete, but instead I just want to tell the story of our simple homestead life. Some of this stems from Spring Fever too! I'm sorry to admit this but I'd MUCH rather be outside digging in the soil, growing and weeding or simply mucking our barns, verses sitting on the computer thinking of what I can blog about that is exciting.
Right now my life is pretty cut and dry, it's just a daily repetition of the same chores and trying to work in a few new projects here and there.
So if there is time between blogs it's because I simply don't have anything worth adding , that all you other bloggers haven't already said so well. I am however enjoying my time, enjoying your blogs*wink*
Blessings,
Kelle
Right now my life is pretty cut and dry, it's just a daily repetition of the same chores and trying to work in a few new projects here and there.
So if there is time between blogs it's because I simply don't have anything worth adding , that all you other bloggers haven't already said so well. I am however enjoying my time, enjoying your blogs*wink*
Blessings,
Kelle
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
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