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 personal
musings |
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From Contributing
Editor
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Greetings fellow travelers,
Happy Spring! I have been just
too busy to write this month, so this column will resume next issue.
See you then!
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thoughts
to ponder |
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Though I do not believe that a plant will
spring up where no seed
has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you
have
a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.
~ Henry David Thoreau ~
Life
on a small farm might seem primitive, but by living such a life we
become able to discover the Great Path. I believe that one who
deeply respects his neighborhood and everyday world in which he
lives will be shown the greatest of all worlds.
~ Masanobu Fukuoka ~
Permaculture is based on the observation of
natural systems, the wisdom contained in traditional farming
systems, and modern scientific and technological knowledge. Although
based on good ecological models, permaculture creates a cultivated
ecology, which is designed to produce more human and animal food
than is generally found in nature."
~ Introduction to Permaculture
by Bill Mollison ~
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DiY Corner |
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Make A Rain Barrel |
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If
you have a gutter and downspout system on your house or garage, you can
build a rain barrel to gather water for your garden. To find a
barrel, check with companies that buy bulk food ingredients.
Scrub the inside thoroughly with soap and
water to remove any residues. Because they’re often hard to clean,
barrels that contained motor oil or fuel products don’t make good rain
barrels. If you can’t locate a barrel, substitute a large plastic
garbage can.
cont »
More
DIY PROJECTS |
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In
this issue... |
10 Ways You
Mindlessly Waste Money - Growing & Using A Bath & Body Pot -
Edible Flowers -
The Three R's Of
An Ecological Gardener -
Dye Naturally -
Tomato Time - DIY Rain Barrel
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Interested
in doing things yourself instead of relying on outside sources
for basic necessities? We are personally not as self-sufficient as
we would like to be, but we believe that many are on same the
path, some farther along than others.
We hope this newsletter will
be a source of inspiration and information to those who want to
break free from the modern environment and culture we are subject
to.
See
you along the path...
Words of
Wisdom
As you simplify your
life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude
will not be
solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness
~ Henry David Thoreau ~
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10 Ways
You Mindlessly Waste Money
Do
you ever feel like |
Dollar $ense
It is possible to live
better with less! Like to make the extra dough go a long
way? Then check out the
Dollar Stretcher for a collection of great $$$
saving articles. |
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there’s a leak in your bank account? It’s like the sound of
water dripping, a tiny crack through which a slow stream of money is
draining away.
more
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Growing
and Using a Bath and
Beauty
Pot
Make
three skin care |
Spring Cleaning
Green Tea and fresh orange juice makes a powerful
antioxidant as well as total inner body cleanser. By
keeping some green tea in your frig, you can splash the
cold mixture on face as a quick pick me up as well as
tighten facial tissue.
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products from herbs you can grow in
containers. There are so many herbs that make fantastic skin care
ingredients. The three in this project - borage, chamomile and
calendula.
more
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Edible
Flowers
You're
probably thinking that you wouldn't eat flowers!
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Colorful Edibles
Flower cookery has
been traced back to Roman times and was especially
popular in the Victorian era.
recipes
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It's weird! Well,
you've probably already eaten some type of flower and
didn't even realize it!
more » |
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The Three R's Of The
Ecological Gardener
Gardeners
practiced the concept of the three R's:
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Tomato Time!
Starting tomato seeds
indoors gives them a jump on the season, especially with
late maturing varieties. Start seed 6-8 weeks before
your last frost.
read how » |
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, long before it became trendy. People
who grow things have a special relationship with the land and they
naturally take steps to take care of it.
more » |
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Dye Naturally
No,
we're not talking about kicking the bucket!
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Dyers Garden
Plant a dyers garden with this collection of natural and
vegetable dye plants and wildflowers.
more
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Learn how to make natural
dyes from plant material.
read how
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« see more
links on this subject » |
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featured websites of the month |
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Build Your Own "EarthBox" - Photo directions on how to make a container tub.
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Free
Plants
- Easy plant propagation techniques
that work great at home.
All
Fiber Arts
- You can find over 1000 pages of information, free patterns,
resources and instructions for weaving, spinning, dyeing, knitting, crochet,
felting, papermaking, needlepoint, sewing, and other textile handicrafts.
Fruit Garden -Tips on growing & using
fruits.
«Check
out new links»
Know of a website that you'd like to see featured? Contact us |
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And Finally...
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Beyond Sustainability
"The
Permaculture Flower shows the key domains that require
transformation to create a sustainable culture. Historically,
permaculture has focused on Land and Nature Stewardship as
both a source for and an application of ethical and design
principles. " read more at
holmgren.com
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 ramblings... |
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Sun 2/23
Winter's
fast becoming a faded memory |
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We are planting
like maniacs, getting ready for Spring and Summer! Yup,
been
bitten by the Spring Bug... and dreaming of warm days with our
plates filled with veggies and fruits.
Every season is
like a renewal of faith. By planting a seed we are
believing in something before the evidence, all we have is a
vision and dream of what is to come.
Already we have
started tomatoes, corn, beans, squash. We are also planting another
rotation of broccoli, snow peas, radishes, and salad greens.
It is certainly a
challenge to keep a constant supply of year 'round food
production, but every year we are getting better, learning the
patterns and rhythms of a seasonal garden.
In addition we are
continuing to add to our edible jungle. So far this year
we have added: loquat, more guavas, dwarf bananas, dwarf
citrus and bare-root fruit trees, and berries. We are
whittling down our wish-list to only a few "wishes" left. Yeah,
right!
There are still a
few "trouble" spots left in the yard that we'd like to find
perennial edibles for. One of the problem areas we are
working on right now is the shady front porch. We are
searching out perennial edible plants that like shade, and
lots of it, which will produce something we can eat or use.
This is going to be a challenge!
On another subject,
we had a local group of homeschooled families come by for a field
trip. The kids really loved the animals and one girl remarked
to her mother upon leaving: "We have to grow more food,
mom!" It's wonderful to see the kids get enthusiastic
over growing plants. Their eyes light up with such
excitement!!!
This year we hope to
freely share our place even more, especially with children.
Our place is a bit small and tightly packed together so,
unfortunately, we will have to limit class sizes.
Amazingly, in one year we have had over 80 visitors come and
take a free tour of the garden.
Where this
path of sharing our blessings and knowledge with others will lead to in the future, one never knows.
Happy Spring
to all!
Editor of PTF
«
Read
FEBRUARY
entries»
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newsworthy |
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free
thinkers |
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Dead on Arrival: The Fate of Nature in the Scientific
Revolution (Culture Change)
- How Western science
served to sanction an altogether new, predatory approach to
the natural world in early modern times.
Bloated
(Simple Planet)
- My cords are trying to
tell me something. How about yours?
Worldly Wise
(Hope Mag)
- It takes a village to
understand world geography--and the future of the planet
Is Our Food Safe?
(Tom Paine)
- Genetically engineered
crops are here -- whether we like it or not.
How To Feed The World (CSM)
- With the Earth poised
for a population spurt, a debate ensues over the future of
farming. |
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