Meet Ruth and Chris

My mom grew up on a dairy in a rural community, and this year she decided to re-visit her roots in a way by purchasing two Black Angus calves to raise for meat. In the process of naming the castrated steer and heifer, my siblings came up with the names Ruth and Chris, of course in honor of the steakhouse - and the ultimate destiny of the livestock. (Don't kill me, PETA. Not my idea.)

Here they are below. (Little Boy Blue is my brother).

Surprisingly, watching these cattle eagerly roam through soft green grass and munch away to their heart's content is very satisfying, and it took me a while to realize why. I believe it's the sight of seeing a living creature do what it is born to do and observing the act which inherently brings it the highest degree of satisfaction. Although we may have plans for grass-fed, hormone-free beef in 18 months, I know these animals are having a far better life than most of their kind will ever know. That makes me happy.
Above, here's a fairly recent picture of our garden. Lots of straw down as mulch. However, in the past week an alarming amount of grass-like weeds have sprouted up in the midst of our seedlings. I know if we don't act soon, these weeds can choke out the plants we do want growing, so tomorrow will find me pulling as many out as I possibly can. Wish me luck!

Book Review: Farm City

If you’re looking for a fun, inspiring read, I recommend “Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer” by Novella Carpenter. Said author was born on an Idaho farm to hippie parents, then raised in free-spirited Washington. Naturally, she has farming blood running in her veins, but she also enjoys the excitement and company of city life.

Shortly after moving to a highly shady part of crime-ridden Oakland, Novella eyes a vacant lot adjacent to her apartment and envisions a thriving garden. As time goes on, she uses this empty lot (with the owner's permission) not only to cultivate all manner of heirloom crops, but to keep bees, rabbits, chickens, and eventually two pigs. She also feeds the animals by way of dumpster diving around town. This unusual behavior leads to many entertaining anecdotes and relationships with other members of the community.

The book works well because not only does the author have a quirky personality and an interesting story to tell, she is a talented writer to boot. This novel made me want to order heirloom seeds (in the middle of winter), check out a book on food preservation from the library, and rack my brain for ways to keep my own chickens. This story of unlikely successes (mixed with a healthy dose of failures) inspired will inspire you to become more self-reliant in whatever ways you can, wherever you may live.

Make Your Own Compost!

My newest determination is to begin composting. Rich, fertile “black gold” as it is called by gardeners and farmers, can be used to enrich any flower bed, garden plot or lawn - and you can make it at home!

I bought a cheap plastic smell-proof bin from amazon.com and will begin collecting my kitchen scraps (egg shells, vegetable peelings, apple cores, etc.) and adding it to a compost pile at my parent’s house one a week or so. That way, my apartment-dwelling neighbors won’t have to smell my new project (although once you get the right combination of air and moisture, compost supposedly doesn't stink).

Here is a quick guide for those of you interested in making your own compost. It may take anywhere from 6 weeks to 1 year to be finished, depending on a variety of factors that affect the speed of the process.

1. If you're doing a pile (as opposed to using a bin with holes in the bottom), start by clearing the soil of weeds (you don't want them flourishing in your lovely compost).

2. Start the pile with a layer of brown stuff (high in carbon) to serve as the "fiber" for your compost. Brown stuff includes dead leaves, plants and weeds; pine needles; old straw and hay; or shredded newspaper.

3. Next, you want to mix half brown stuff with half green stuff (or up to 3 parts brown stuff to 1 part green stuff). Green stuff (high in nitrogen) will activate the heat process in your compost. Perfect heat-generating materials include: organic kitchen scraps like the ones I mentioned; herbivore manure (from rabbits, chickens, sheep, goats, or pigeons); hair; grass cuttings; etc. Note: Never compost animal products, feces from carnivorous animals, or weeds that are alive (they might grow).

4. Mix in a little bit of soil and sprinkle each layer lightly with water as you build the heap.

5. Turn your pile regularly, once every week or two. Try to move matter from inside to outside and from top to bottom. Break up anything that is clumpy or matted. Remember that the pile needs to be exposed to air and kept moist in order to decompose properly. For faster break-down, shred leaves, clippings; and crush egg shells

6. To aid the decomposing, add some worms, which can be bought online or at Farmer’s Markets.

When the process is complete, you may use your compost as you wish or give it away! Any farmer or gardener you know would probably love to have it! Happy composting!