It has been glorious. Today I put away my scarves, hats and gloves. Today, a long awaited burst of energy coursed through me. Tonight after dinner, I just had to hop on my fabulous, 'new', garbage find of a vintage green Galaxy Flyer bicycle and ride. Oh Spring, the possibilities are endless.
Our garden is growing yet again. The satellite garden is now about the same size as the main garden. Our two big bins (metal, pet enclosures) of compost were emptied to create our larger garden. I have planted tomatoes, squash, rosemary, lettuce, basil, and started a plethora of seeds. I am currently most excited about the cauliflower which i have not grown before and is one of my favorite veggies. A few weeks ago when the little white mounds finally appeared I gasped and then went running about. Peering into all of the plants, thrilled, having never seen cauliflower growing before. Now the little white mounds are big and almost ready for eatin. Pictures to follow, Im sure.
I have designated April as chicken month around here. My goal is to build the coop this month. It has been my dream to build it from all salvaged materials. But then, when the materials didnt start falling from the sky, i became skeptical. Sunday, neighbor James and I started with oh, maybe we should just buy what we need. Its for a good cause. Chickens. It would be so much easier. Its for food and independence. Blah blah blah. Falling back on easy and buying it and really its so easy to justify. And in my mind, and in so many ways it is an acceptable purchase. And then i went to bed and happened upon an article in Mother Earth News about a family who built their own beautiful home and work shop from all salvaged materials. So. Back to plan A. If people, and there are many who do, can build a home from salvage, we can certainly build a chicken coop. So, Im making phone calls and piles, this outta be interesting. Hopefully we can come up with some plywood quickly cause we are hot to get started and new friends have showed up to help. They are camping up front and it is a pleasure to have them. Yay friends. Yay beautiful people with open hearts and minds. Yay chickens and eggs and chicken poop for gardens.
Yay for everyone of us trying to live a better, kinder, simpler life, outside the box. Blessings abound.
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Kristen. What a wonderful post. I spent every moment I could outside this past week-end. I am taking vacation next week and plan on planting a few things myself. Good luck with your garden! Shunda
ReplyDeleteKristen,
ReplyDeleteI found your blog after reading your post on RadicalHomemakers.com. I've been working through your earlier posts, with bated breath and the same degree of awe that many commenters have shared. That book was so well timed for me, because we're working on a move, heading for a more suitable, economical location, but with every chapter I kept hoping, "please tell me this is feasible when it's your dream, but not a shared dream." Those the author interviewed seem either very well coupled or long settled into their independent lives. But if family is such a bedrock, how can you move forward on this path when it could very likely destroy that basic unit? I don't know my answer, yet, but heartfelt thanks to you for talking so openly and plainly about what it's meant for you. Peace.
Hi Kristen. Sounds like a beautiful weekend. Good luck with the chickens! I'm jealous.
ReplyDeleteLove this post. Just returned from rural South Africa where we built a school for a very poor community...I say "poor", but they are some of the richest people on earth! Their devotion to education, loving spirits and joy of life is truly contagious! Woke to rooster calls at 4am, ate food cooked over an open fire with much love (most of it picked from the garden) , and talked by candle light and oil lamps (NO electricity!)...ahh the simple life...no pretense, just people enjoying people, trying to make the world a better place.
ReplyDeleteThank you Shunda, Thank you Ceilia.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, I too looked through the book for the single person making it. There was the beautiful, free spirited young woman (Stormy?) in California. But.. The single mama thing, yknow, its a big part of me wanting to build community. Thankful to be able to do this on my own, sometimes i get tired of myself. I am inspired and motivated by others. Glad to be in a place where i can have people living and working along side. Maybe as you go along the other person will wake up beside you. So much of what i dream of now has only formed and solidified as I have gone along. We grow as we go. Either way, be true to you and the greater good. I wish you all the best.
Cindy, How awesome for you, how awesome for them. That sounds really beautiful. Thank you for sharing. I wish we could sit by candle light and you could tell me more.
I am documenting the trip on a blog...kaleidoscopelane.blogspot.com. Still only on day 5, but more to come.
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