Under Siege

Under Siege

When the first explosion struck the village, it was sometime after 10 at night. Most people were caught unaware. It seemed not days ago, the artillery sounds emanated from the ten o’clock news not next door. What had happened? There was nothing, not one warning from Washington or Albany that such events could or would unfold so quickly – with out warning.

Catskill was a small village, of little importance – socially or economically – there were no political unrests, uprisings or factions. Half way between NYC and Albany, hardly a ‘Mecca’ of any sorts for the “hot bed” of activity it would soon become, a village under siege – a village of victims, the first to be reported as causalities of war. A war we did welcome or want, this in the United States of America. Martial law was declared the next day, the elections were suspended and life as we once knew it to be – had changed – forever.

The date was Saturday July 29th 2006, not unlike any Saturday numerous weeks before, no special numbers for this one 9/11 – 7/7. The papers the next morning read

CATSKILL COUGHT UNAWARE

A headline several hundred of the townsmen would never get to read…………

Now that never happened, and sure it might make a great piece of fiction, but really, such an event when we look to the world around us...... cannot we but at least consider the ramifications of empire. These were the real events that took place in the village this evening

Amidst the thundering repeat of explosions, I couldn’t shake the thought that one day as the farmers say the “chickens will come home to roost”.

Chicken Man

Chicken Man

…………………..and for my next trick, I will attempt to balance this chicken on the little boys head!

Ok, so nothing quite magical about that, but not all nephews have an uncle who will bring pet chickens to the ‘burbs’ of Albany. So, I have been dubbed “The Chicken Man” unofficially by my family and neighborhood kids – in quite whispers, they go by……..(to a friend) ‘here’s where the chicken man lives……….’ Life is good!

So what are you known for? Is it so bad to be the chicken man, the milkman, or farmer Scott? Not at all! We are known for few things in life; so many of our fellows are known for less – such as a corporate title or occupation. When asked “who are you?”, in a social setting how do most people respond – I’m an (insert title here) for (insert corporation or state agency here), perhaps it’s some other blather.

All things considered, “The Chicken Man” is not such a bad title to have, after all Mr. Bean & Mr. Coffee makes me feel like some cheap imitation. Besides coffee & compost, I raise a few birds. Guys got to have hobbies!

COMPOST

COMPOST




Well enough of the cow themes for the while, though I was tempted to comment on the recent article today about Canada’s latest folly. I’m sure you’re all quite aware. I wanted to touch upon a subject that I’ve given a lot of attention to lately in my pursuits and endeavors. Some thing dear to my heart – compost. Recently while purveying a link over to Joel Salatin’s site, I was checking his reading list and came across a title that he gave high mention to, Permaculture: A Designers’ Manual by Bill Mollison. I’m sure several of you are familiar with his work & writings, for those who are not it would be time well spent researching some of his interviews and articles online.


Several months ago I acquired a few Red Wigglers from Acme Worm Farm (great folks!) with intent on the propagation of compost in hopes of learning more on soil make up and health. Having several “sick soils” when we first moved to this property, I decided to see if I could turn things around with out the dumping of chemicals or a large expenditure in top soil. Now granted when you talk soil, you talk chemistry, and it would be falsehood if I were to lead you to think there’s no science involved here or that it was some form of shamanism, gnomes or magical thinking. We just purposed that we wouldn’t dump synthetics on the soil, pesticides or weed killer to tame the lame, anemic earth. Heavy clays in which only the heartiest weeds and seeds survived, lack of nutrients and compression filled the forty, that was to be our backyard.

The first year was our garden tester, as we tilled up a third of the soil and laid in amaranth, tomatoes, and peppers hot & sweet. We planted grapes, beans and corn. Carrots were late and like the corn came to naught. Also note, the corn we planted the first year was GMO corn that was not even a “good mule”. Disappointed but not daunted, I tried again this year, to far better results – GMO FREE!

Now we have plated 80% of our soil to corn, pumpkins, tomatoes, potatoes, and grapes in the second year, cucumbers, lettuces and mangled beets. As well an assortment of flowers and fauna adorn the outer edges of our crops. We have soil enhancers operating under cover and producing 24/7 – our chickens & worms! I have three composting venues for our soils, plant matter, chicken manure and household disposal & vegetable matter which is feed direct to the “incubator” for the worms. One of the most prolific feeds or bedding starters for the red wigglers is shredded and soaked newspaper mixed with coffee grounds. I pulp the newsprint after soaking it for two to three days in a five gallon bucket of water with a stucco mixer on a portable drill. Gets it to the beginning of the break down cycle before introducing it to the worms. All this helps reduce the “trash” run we make to the dump. Most of what we produce in our household’s here in the US can follow the motto of “Reuse, Recycle, Reclaim”. It is the “Cult of Efficiency” motto or resulting actions to the proverb “Haste makes Waste”. Here in the US we are some ‘hasty folks’, aside from the ecological impact (of which we are aware but do little about as a country) the economic impact of waste is taking its toll as well. I am a conservative, not based out of any strong held political belief, but because I seek to live a life of conservation – economically as well as ecologically. It just makes sense.

Soil science, as Bill Mollison described “modern technological agriculture as a form of "witchcraft."

“Well, it is a sort of witchcraft. Today we have more soil scientists than at any other time in history. If you plot the rise of soil scientists against the loss of soil, you see that the more of them you have, the more soil you lose.”

“The important thing is not to do any agriculture whatsoever, and particularly to make the modern agricultural sciences a forbidden area - they're worse than witchcraft, really. The agriculture taught at colleges between 1930 and 1980 has caused more damage on the face of the Earth than any other factor. "Should we tamper with nature?" is no longer a question - we've tampered with nature on the whole face of the Earth."

"If you let the world roll on the way it's rolling, you're voting for death. I'm not voting for death. The extinction rate is so huge now; we're to the stage where we've got to set up recombinant ecologies. There are no longer enough species left, anywhere, to hold the system together. We have to let nature put what's left together, and see what it can come up with to save our ass.”

Well, I suppose at times – you got to be blunt. He is an interesting read, and (as the English say) Spot On when it comes to ideas that work. I found my self somewhat slack jawed & excited at the same time as I read a few of his interviews. There are a few: Here, Here & Here. I hope you take the time to give them a read. As for me I’ll wait to report more as I acquire his book on permaculture - it’s a pricey read – so I’ll seek an alternative source first. If anyone has this title and would consider a barter/loan arrangement for say, a few pounds of fresh roasted coffee, please email me separately from my contact page.

WEEDS
Interestingly I have come to two personal discoveries this year in regards to “weeds” about my property – not all things are, as they first seem. First was Lambs Quarter – or bacon weed, fat hen, or white goosefoot. This pernicious weed plagued me & my garden the first year, then I saw a photo of it and learned it’s name. As well our Rhode Island Reds love it! (Here it is by the coop)


Turns out it is great form of “greens” for juicing and several other uses. (Little did I know) Here are some blog mentions of this “Green Gold”. (Here and Here) The second “weed” was one I hesitated to pull because I “saw it” somewhere before, so better wait on this “interesting” weed. Well turns out – good things come to ‘dem who wait!

Introducing our second “Mystery Weed”:

“Little Hogweed” or Purslane. Another “discovery” by the: none so smart (but ever patient) ardent agrarian as I will now encourage (though check) it’s growth and winter-ability indoors as well. Here is a blog post with some more information on it.

So now, as I remarked to my wife, as we look for more land, what I most want to take with me from this house we call home – Is The Weeds!

"What is a weed? A weed is a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered" ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson 1878

Chicken Update II

Chicken Update II

Well we have completed the course on our first round of chicken operations. From hatchlings to hatchet you might say? Our ladies laid their first eggs this week, as I went out to feed them & was greeted with 10 small brown eggs – which prompted an “instant omelet”, complete with salsa, cheese & hot peppers. To say they were “fluffy & delicious” would be an understatement! Reminded me of that Slavery Card commercial:

Cost of 14 Chickens: $23:66

Feed & Lodging: $184.00

First Egg Omelet: PRICELESS

"For some people in life there’s never anything BUT store bought industrial agriculture, for the rest of us – we eat well."

This week we also processed our first poultry, as “Speedy” our rooster had an up close and personal introduction to the nifty axe I received this year on my birthday. (Thanks Mom!)

All things considered, we are having a ‘banner year’ here at the Holtzman Homestead, with many more hopes and dreams for our future – as the Lord wills!

Blog mention of Note: Jim Warmke at A3 has a nice 12-minute chicken processing video over on his blog. You might want to stop by and see it, leave a note for Jim & encourage your fellow farmer. Regards.

GOT BAIL?

“…Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it...”

RAW MILK?

Few things these days cry out “Idiot!” to me. Perhaps because I’ve grown so accustom to the tireless never-ending siege of autocracy, or perchance I’ve come to expect that the mass & the mob would sooner kill the Good Samaritan, as to reward him for a gracious act………..

Story Here.


My Favorite Quote:

''You can't just give milk away to someone other then yourself. It's a violation of the law,''

said LeeAnne Mizer, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

WOW! Now that's kind of hard to swallow.

Cow Power

Cow Power

“In a sense, it is the ultimate renewable source of fuel. Weather anomalies can kill off corn crops, calm the winds, obscure the sun — but through rain or shine, gusts or stillness, cows and hogs and turkeys spew forth a steady stream of manure, one of nature's richest sources of methane, a principal component of natural gas.”

I came across an interesting article on the subject many have termed “Brown Energy”, and thought I’d post some relevant highlights as well as ask for feedback regarding perceived merits from everyone.

The article, written by Claudia H. Deutsch for the NYT gave me some ponders as to the application of technology to sustainable resources. Several of the ‘benefits’ seem to have merit and value; I’d be interested in your thoughts.

Excerpts:

“…now, farmers and entrepreneurs are recognizing that this immutable fact can yield a steady stream of revenue and profit, too. Slowly, but steadily, they are replacing the malodorous lagoons used to treat the waste with machines that can wrest energy from excrement.”

“…technologies, some of which have been around for decades, have finally grown more reliable. "There's been a lot of time and energy spent on making these as effective and efficient as possible, so anaerobic digestion will be a growing business," said Daniel J. Mannes, vice president of Avondale Partners, a securities research firm that recently initiated coverage of the Environmental Power Corporation, the company in Portsmouth, N.H., that owns Microgy.”

"The business model of producing energy along with food will transform the economics of rural America,"

said Michael T. Eckhart, president of the American Council on Renewable Energy, based in Washington.

(continues)

Indeed, anaerobic digestion yields not just methane, but leftover liquids that farmers can use or sell as fertilizer, waste heat that can heat their homes and barns, and fibrous solids that make excellent bedding for cows. Farmers also save the costs of controlling odors and treating waste. "Two years ago I couldn't even convince farmers that digesters work," said Melissa Dvorak, marketing manager for GHD, a company based in Chilton, Wis., that sells digesters. "Now, all they ask is what the payback will be."

Now proper research will provide information that some of this “(cow) Pie in the Sky” hype is funded in part by good ole’ government subsidies (to which this author is not a big fan of by any measure) so it will be interesting to see how this plays out – sustainable development or just old fashion BS? You decide.

Note: This author does own shares in Environmental Power Corporation (EPG) and in no way shape or form recommends or suggests investing, purchasing or even remotely considering purchase of/or investing in such company or any company for that matter. Fact of the matter is this company is likely to go “belly up” as much as going “sky high”, as well any reference to “belly up” no way is a solicitation to ‘cow tipping’ and ‘sky high’ does not infer that one should go ‘sky diving’. All these thing are inherently dangerous and could incur risk to you or the cows. Caveat emptor; drive responsibly, blah, blah, blah……………I hope that covered it! Regards.