Garden Update 2.0

On Saturday, The Architect and I rented a little trailer and went over to Bubba's house to relieve him of his compost pile.

We spread it on the garden, and today I limed since it's supposed to rain here in a few hours.  I've begun to harden off the plants, and I hope to plant them this weekend.

I'm working from home full time now, and at first, I had a hard time making the change.  I just kind of felt... lost.  Couldn't get a groove.  I'm doing great now and much happier (despite a few annoyances due to the bureaucracy of getting the proper paperwork to make a business legitimate) to be at home with all the animals and cooking more.  I'm slowly starting to learn how to coupon.

I sold three of my chinchillas, leaving me with three.  I used to breed and show them, but I had a hard time finding good buyers, so I kept my last six as pets.  Since I've been getting into the more self-sufficient mindset, I wanted to downsize on the number of chinchillas I had since they were animals I was feeding who weren't producing for me.

Now the three I've sold have gone to a great home, and I have time to love the three I have left.  I also have a free cage to use as a grow-out cage for when I get rabbits.

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the warmer weather.  :)

Why?

I've had a few friends and family members ask why in the world I want to farm and grow my own garden, and, eventually, raise and eat my own livestock.

Personally, I find it hypocritical of anyone who eats meat but is unwilling to kill the animal themselves.  I feel, as a whole, people are too disconnected from what goes on with their food.  I think that it's appalling that livestock are kept on feedlots knee-deep in their own feces; or in tiny cages with no access to the outside or to sunlight, without room to sprawl or stretch their legs.

No, I am no PETA enthusiast.  In fact, I abhor the organization, but that's another post.

It means enough to me that the animals I eat for food get space, grass, sunlight, the best feed I can afford, and love.  Because it is that important to me, I'm willing to do everything I can to move away from commercialized meat and dairy products.

It means enough to me to have fresh fruits and vegetables, untouched or modified by Monsanto or their ilk, that I'm learning to grow my own food as organically as I can.

Furthermore, I have very little faith in this country remaining stable in any meaning of the word for much longer.  I pray I'm wrong, but my gut tells me that I'm not.  Besides, on a much less dramatic scale, it wouldn't take much to disrupt the flow of food to the supermarkets.  A gas shortage.  A trucker strike.  A natural disaster...

I feel that the more I can provide for myself and my family, the easier and more comfortable we can survive anything that's thrown our way.

While we don't have a farm yet, The Architect and I will make the best of the acre we have until we do.

Maybe I can't save the world, but I CAN save my part of it.