The Butcher

Throughout the realms where despots reign,
What tracks of glory now remain!
Their people, slaves of power and pride,
Fat Beef and Freedom are denied!
What realm, what state, can happy be,
Wanting our Beef and Liberty?

The above-mentioned verse was an ode to the Sublime Society of Beefsteaks, a song sung by the President of the Day and fitting tribute to the subject matter of the butcher.

It was with interesting appeal that I researched the trade of the butcher, through various cultures, history and times. Perhaps one of the succinct articles that struck the cord in my heart as well as the heart of the matter was this, Waste not, want not written by CJ Mouser for Agriculture Online which I suppose rang true to my own personal modified idiom (and prayer) which is “Want not waste!”

Now when one thinks of a butcher or the term '‘to butcher'’ it is oft easy these days to think of a barbaric ritual of gratuitous bloodletting and a hack & slash manner of consumptive squander.

Far a field from the art and skills employed by the non-industrialized butcher of times past, for it was with care of his craft and the necessities of economy that preserved his labors. Yet the question might be put, is it but by the standards set by the cult of efficiency, more aptly known as modern progress that we have allowed it to pass? Can the ideal and practice of a local butcher be rekindled, and diligently serve a localized economy? I think, ~Yes.

Tom & I were discussing the subject of the local butcher this past week as we '“talked shop'” and I mentioned missing the benefit of our community having one here in Catskill. Knowing that the common practice of one dressing their own has for all practical sense been regulated out of existence to the benefit of the industrialized agricultural companies and cronies at the UDSA. Makes one desire Beef & Liberty!

This topic though is not so much as to eulogies or romanticize the efforts or the local butcher, but to get to the heart of the matter of sufficiency. As well, to dispel some of the hunker in the bunker notions and thinking of those within & without the agrarian community. Was it better said, “No man is an island”?

To the concept of misquoted or misdirected thinking regarding self-sufficiency, it's a lonely row we hoe indeed if we claim that we have no need of another. For in part we are determined to "“provide for one’s own"” and it is of benefit to "“chop wood and carry water”" to use a phrase for our labor that we not become an undue burden to our neighbor. To that I would add that it is not becoming of the hand to say to the eye ~ I have no need of thee!

Community requires us to admit we each need the work, the knowledge and the skill of the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker for each in a local society provide in goods and economy for the general well being of the people. I like the idea that Small, Local, Old, and Particular are almost always better than Big, Global, New, and Abstract. That sufficiency of ones own can be defined within a community (roughly framed) as this:

Accomplishing defined or required objectives, according to the required or defined conditions, conforming with the right time, place, quantity, quality and costs.

As within a family each person within a community should have value, and that value or worth, defined by distant markets is cheapened by the mile. Something to consider when you ask yourself “what is my time worth?” and you gaze not at the face of your clock but at its base...

MADE IN CHINA

Rubadubdub

Rub-a-dub-dub

Three men in a tub, And who do you think they be? The butcher, the baker, The candlestick maker, They all jumped out of a rotten potato! Turn 'em out knaves all three.

Not to turn you toward childish prose (not that there’s anything wrong with that) but as an object lesson toward economic modality, I wanted to touch upon the subject of trades, home economies, and ways of living outside of the ‘norm’ or standards set from industrial age to the service sector economy as it pertains to sufficiency, labor and hearth.

I enjoyed pick up a copy of “Henry and the Great Society” over at Cumberland Books several weeks back after reading Chad’s Post on the material and related comments elsewhere. Always grateful when I can read something that challenges my thinking and makes me consider my ways.

Some other titles that I’ve had the pleasure to read relating to this topic were R.C Sproul Jr.’s “When You Rise Up” and “Family man, family Leader” by Phillip Lancaster as they began the thought I was having of what it means to provide for ones family and raise up children in a manner best suited to ones desire to honor God in our life and our relationships. It is with that pretext that I attempt to approach this topic as it relates to our family.

So to have others contributed greatly to our thinking such as KS Milkmaid, who helped inspire the beginning of our writing (my wife has begun her own work here) and as recently as Herrick’s contribution to our thinking of what home is as well as many others – if I were to name them all it would become the forward of a book, rather than the beginning of a blog post. So I’ll abstain in lengthier mentions and due credits.

As the saying goes, those who can’t do – teach, those who can’t teach –administrate and those who can’t administrate –legislate: to which I’d add, to those who can’t legislate –arbitrate. Knaves, the lot of them! Now I use this stereotypical axiom to make a point and not to disparage individual personages, obviously this consideration wrongfully applied to individual actions does more to apply heat rather than light if addressed improperly. The focus for my use can be found at it’s beginning, or if you will, what we do as a means to our own sufficiency.

The very thought of which begs the question of do we understand the term –sufficiency. I personally like the definition of the term, as I see it best applied to this consideration:

Sufficiency - Adequate means to live in modest comfort.

Taking a day or two to think about what that means and applied to ones own life, you might find that in comparison our goal or ideal is far a field from our practices. Surely it is a definition lost to or unfamiliar in our modern culture. Who cannot when reading that over, and over again give proper pause to consider and reflect on what is enough. Most posed the question, can we ever have “enough” would respond with a resounding NO! That by reference is the essence of the consumeristic mindset of our generation, and the habits and practices we daily engage ourselves in as a nation of consumers. There are untold volumes of information written on this subject or idea alone. A book read twice by me and now due again for a thrice, “Your Money or Your Life” addresses the concept of enough in well thought out terms. Good enough for this agrarian.

The final part of the equation is home – what it is, out of necessity what is required and what is accomplished by it. My thinking on this subject is far from complete or clear and somewhat linear and Americanized to a degree. Pardon it as a work in progress and be gentle in its critique. Somewhat like Google’s model for applications – its in beta testing – out there, but not always functional. So on with the show.

I’ll break this topic out in to three separate posts, this being it’s introduction, the following will be The Butcher, The Baker and (you guessed it…..) The Candlestick Maker. Then I’ll conclude (maybe) with some final thoughts which I’ll entitle The Rotten Potato. Stay Tuned…….

Ode to Allelon

Ode to Allelon

The photo posted above is my (uber-obsessive) ideal of organized gardening gear. No folks, please, no self help web links – this photo is a display at the Chicago Botanical garden and not my garage. (Though come to think of it, I do have a blank brick wall……) Ok, so it’s that time again, as all would-be, old world and neo-agrarian (sorry I always wanted to try that neo-something - or – another) farmers and gardeners rejoice for the days & rays of sunshine and warmer earth return. Where spring is sprung and all things green return, why should we reserve it to just one day for the Irish? Our garden gnome is ready to return from hibernation with the rather large pond frog he’s been vacationing on the shelf with this winter and building plans for our new coop-de-ville (no not an auto or a chicken tractor) but the new resident home of our fowl friends residing in their cardboard commune located in an empty back bedroom of our home for the past three weeks. The Rhode Island Reds are feathering out, healthy and attentive, a bit on the hungry side as they are learning to flock toward the feeding hand rather than away from it as days pass. I not quite sure how much or little I should be feeding them to think of it, perhaps a bit of sagely advice from you veteran chicken farmers out there would be in order. We have 14 birds all total, and I would say it’s just the right amount, any more and we’d be overwhelmed, any less and we’d miss the ‘madness’ of daily feedings and cleanings of the circle pen. We’ve learned a lot over the past few weeks and I am quite proud of my wife and her diligence and care for the animals. Faithful in the little things is important first steps toward accomplishing any thing you set to doing, and she’s done well.

If you’ve wondered where I have been as of late – no I’ve not been beamed up – or assimilated by the borg. (Gratuitous Star-trek mentions)…. to keep my good friend Jim interested enough in reading through these posts. I have not taken Lenten as our good farmer Tom (we miss you Tom!) I have been doing due diligence for getting things inline for a successful spring season for our family, farm endeavors and fiduciary duties for our Company and personal assets.

A note of thanks to Herrick for his links on page to the Daily Reckoning and mentions of the Money Changer (we’ve put some of that knowledge to work) as well his mention of the Book entitled “Crunchy Cons”. It was a wonderful read and worth picking up if you have the notion, it’s helped us in forming a more apolitical definition of our terms and what we stand for as Constitutionally and Culturally Conservative Christians in a post-industrial age of amoral attitudes, actions & ideals in a time of irresponsible and overreaching governmental authoritarianism that borders on global fascism and not the freedom and democracy (as if we ever were one) that the founders of this fine republic once shed their blood and treasure for in principle and honor.

Ok, so a bit of a rant, but I wanted to make the point clear, as not to be misunderstood.

I personally enjoyed the commentary on the greening of the conservative mindset as an idea whose time has come. After all the root wording to conservative is to conserve - which is to preserve, safeguard and protect that which is of inherent value, to the agrarian our fields – to the people our posterity, in Russell Kirk’s conviction that “the institution most essential to conserve is the family.”

Another book (finishing soon) is “Empire of Debt” which is enlightening as it is frightening as the author takes you through a historical look at the history of empires and their demise, a timely tome and insightful work, whether you agree with his premise or otherwise.

Well, a tad bit more to write, but that will have to wait for another day as I have some catching up to do with some responses and inquires, as well to read some of the generous writings of other fine folk in the agrarian blogsphere………….good nite, and good luck………..

MEDIA NEWS

MEDIA NEWS

Sometimes (just for fun) I like to take a look around at things ‘making news’ in the world these days. It’s a feeling similar to driving down a country road on a moonless night at 85 miles an hour with the headlights off and the seatbelt unbuckled. Not that I’ve done that, but that is the best word picture I can ascribe to that heart racing experiences of the infamous quote ~ “To Hell in a Hand Basket” feeling as I look around.

Word of Caution: Buckle Up! It’s a bumpy ride…….

Spread Fears

Related Bird Flu issues, now they may ‘korrect’ this at some future point, but the initial paragraph line was “Spread fears”, I believe it was suppose to say, “Fears Spread”. Freudian slips do come out, intended or unintended in media new coverage.

Why Iran is NEXT

What really ‘fuels’ the rhetoric of pundit pushes amongst nuclear threats & warnings, is NOT oil per say, but that which the oil is purchased. As someone once put it, “It’s the economy stupid!”

In this case, its’ economics, and no, I won’t be calling anyone stupid. After all Forrest Gump (Fictional Character) said, “Stupid is as stupid does”, let’s hope the US Powers that be, watched that one and are smarter than a matchstick set to strike.

Money 101

An interesting blog article on the oil and economic issues of the American Dollar; Here.

Overt Media Manipulation Anyone?

Click Here, for “The most powerful weapon in the world” As stated on their homepage; search around this site ~ it gets real scary.


Well as one Media Anchor put it in times past, “That’s the News”.

Editor’s Note: The above articles were not posted to scare the daylights out of you or to instill fear in the general populace. If you take anything away from these listings, let it be that knowledge is something not easily taken away, but ignorance is distributed freely. Avoid ignorance; you pay for what you get, caveat emptor. Regards.