The last few days were quite busy. We had the sheep sheared on Friday and then I had to go to the feed store. I have to load the feed sacks on my toboggan and pull them one hundred yards to the barn. It is good exercise. Today, I finished my Morning chores, washed my dishes, looked at the Sunday paper and now I am sitting in front of this key board with no idea what I am going to say.
We are planning for the Spring. Jamie has ordered seeds. We will be starting some seeds in the house and some in the green house, soon. I would like to order more orchard trees. We have four young apple trees and four bearing age trees. I would like to plant a mixed orchard of nut and fruit bearing trees and shrubs; perhaps begin with an acre. In our area we teeter between zone three and four. If the climate change holds, we are zone four. I tried apricots before and they did well until we got 40 degrees below zero in December. They might have survived this kind of cold later in the season, but this was a warmish Fall and the cold came suddenly before the trees had a chance to harden off. That is an example of the situation we need to prepare for in planning an orchard. I am always willing to experiment; twice I had peach trees live for five or so years before they Winter killed.
Living this life style helps one stay focused in the now. There is always something to bring you down to Earth. Taking care of animals is a wonderful thing; especially in the Winter, they are always so happy to see you. I marvel how they can live and even thrive in our Winter environment. The barn is pretty cozy, but certainly not warm. The chicken coop feels warm on a cold day, but their water will freeze at night. The animals are free to go outside any time. I just lock the chickens and turkeys up at night because there are animals, besides humans, that enjoy eating them.
As our economy deteriorates, there are going to be more and more people interested in subsistence farming. We have discovered that a family could live well on a very few acres. However, better yet, would be some form of cooperative agriculture where each family could raise somethings for themselves and each other. Some people would be especially adept at raising chickens, others apples or sheep or cabbages. I know that if everybody does what they love to do, there will be plenty for all.
Those of you who raise gardens may be interested in saving your seeds this year. I think it is a good idea for folks to learn how, even in the best of times. Plants will adapt to the conditions that are presented in your particular situation and it is a shame to lose this. Plants have intelligence; their experience is stored in their seeds. At this time, we have the added uncertainty of the availability of seeds following the collapse.
It is a gray day. We have not seen the Sun. It was suppose to snow 2 to 4 inches; nothing so far. We need the moisture but I would just as soon see it wait for a couple weeks and come as rain. But what do I know?
I hope you are all having a peaceful day and finding it easy to love the one at your elbow and the one across the room and the one across town.
Love and Peace, Gregg
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