This should be enough to scare some sense into a good portion of you.
That's right, the government will soon have the ability to check your genetic profile "on the fly" as it were, and presumably without your consent. So much for democracy, liberty, and all those other hallmarks of freedom provided to us by our founding fathers, seems like now days those words are just dusty old definitions in an ill used dictionary that don't mean much of anything to anyone with the power to effect any amount of real change.
BTW, you guys keeping an eye on the revolutions springing up across the middle east? You should be, and with good reason, things can and do change overnight.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
.....hatching eggs and guineas!
Hey, soon were gonna be overrun with hatching eggs, for those of you living locally this is good news!
Mixed heritage turkey eggs 15.00 a doz.
Coturnix Quail 3.00 a doz.
We've also got about 10 guineas too many, 100.00 takes 'em all!
Check it out!
Mixed heritage turkey eggs 15.00 a doz.
Coturnix Quail 3.00 a doz.
We've also got about 10 guineas too many, 100.00 takes 'em all!
Check it out!
Farmstand Credit Option!
We got so much play from this option last year and such fantastic feedback from local customers that we have decided to offer this option once again this season! Definitely check it out if you live local and join up! If nothing else pass it around to others who might be interested! Thanks Guys!
-Alan Bishop
Bishop’s Homegrown Farm Stand Credit Program!
2011
Bishop’s Homegrown is a small “Eco-Logical” and self sustainable farm in the town of Pekin Indiana. We are family owned and a fourth generation farm focused on providing quality produce from yesteryear as well as the new food and flower crops of the future to our valued friends and community members. We use the strictest possible organic guidelines for on farm food production and make no exceptions. We feel that it is of utmost importance that locavores, members of the slow food movement, and community members, know who and from where their food comes from and how it is grown. We produce 90% of our own seed crops as well as 100% of our own organic fertilizer and we never ever opt for chemical options to control pests or disease issues on farm, feeling that growing food “eco-logically” is the only alternative to our failing food system in the United States. We have searched the world over to bring you the most unique, exciting, and rare food crops from diverse cultures the world over with an emphasis on nutrition and taste! Our doors are always open to our community and customers who we encourage to visit the farm in order to see and know where and how their food was grown. Food security begins when a relationship is formed between the community and its farmers, this essential connection is what allowed civilization to flourish 10,000 years ago. This year we would like to introduce you to our farmstand credit program which we feel you will find immense value in!
The Farm Stand Credit Program:
The concept of Community Supported Agriculture (AKA. CSA) is generally defined as a mutually beneficial arrangement between a farmer and his customer wherein the customer agrees to share in the risks and rewards of local farming for the benefit of their food production and the farmers well being. The CSA consumers become by proxy shareholders in the farm and it’s well being by paying an upfront “membership“ due which covers the production of food in a “share“ system. Generally a traditional CSA allows for the consumer to pay for up front costs of the farmers start up cost with the farmer reciprocating by preparing a pre-determined amount of produce every week through the growing season which the shareholders pick up once a week. The farmer generally picks the produce that the customer will receive.
This year Bishop’s Homegrown is looking to create a viable alternative to the traditional CSA program by creating a farm stand coupon program which will allow customers to still share in helping us get our business going during the part of the season in which seed and implements and other essentials are being purchased while also making the relationship more convenient for the farmer and the shareholders.
In this arrangement, instead of the farmer putting together a box of produce weekly he has selected for you you will instead receive “credit” from our farm which will allow you to visit our farm stand or farm where you can make your selection of produce that we have available including also a selection of seedlings, nursery stock, seeds, compost, poultry, meat, animals and other items from our farm. This gives you the opportunity to decide what you want instead of us deciding what you want. Every $100 you invest will also get you a 10% discount which means that you will actually get 10% more produce for your food dollars.
Our produce will be available to you via the Washington County Indiana farmers market held at the fairgrounds in Salem Indiana on Saturday Mornings from 8 AM to 12 PM. Occasionally we also will be available at the Wednesday market operating during the same hours. Credit is also redeemable at our roadside stand in the town of Peking or on farm. It is important to note that we don’t usually deal in custom ordered bulk produce on a normal basis (i.e., a bushel beans, or a bushel of corn) but that when these items are available at market, as they often are, your credit can be used to purchase them as well.
FAQ’s:
How much does it cost?
The investment levels start at 50.00. An investment at the 100 dollar or above level will earn you a 10% discount which means that an investment at the $100 level only costs you $90! That’s right; $100 dollars of credit only costs $90! That’s essentially the same as getting $10 of produce free just for paying ahead of time! Your credit is good for two years which means that whatever isn’t spent this season can be carried over to next season!
The maximum investment is $500.
Here is the layout:
$50 credit for $50
$100 credit for $90
$200 credit for $180
$300 credit for $270
$400 credit for $360
$500 credit for $450
How will we keep track of your credit?
Good old fashioned pen and pencil, anytime you make a purchase we will deduct that price from our ledger. You will receive a receipt after each transaction so you too can keep track of the amount of produce purchased.
What if I make it to market late and you are out of what I want?
Unfortunately this may happen from time to time which is why we are keeping the investment level low to start with. Sometimes we just flat out run out of an item due to popularity. The best bet is to show up to market early, the best of the best goes quickly! There are occasions when we may not be able to make it to market from time to time due to emergencies or just the need to take a break here and there but we will inform you a few days ahead of time via e-mail (unless it’s a last minute emergency) that we will not be at market in the coming week.
This year our primary market residency will be here on the farm as well, so if you miss us at market or we won't be there you can just stop by the farm pretty much any day of the week!
What can I purchase with Bishop’s homegrown credit? Does this offer only include produce?
No, any item we bring to market or sale on farm is eligible for purchase via this credit, including seeds, plants, seedlings, poultry (chicks), occasionally rabbits, compost, fishing worms, handcrafts or any other product we have at market or our farm stand. We also occasionally have winter produce available and this Thanksgiving and Christmas we will for the first time be offering butchered heritage turkeys.
When is payment due and how do I pay, when does credit take effect?
Payment is due by the end of March in order that we know what we have in the bank and can plan accordingly. Payment can be made by check, money order, or well concealed cash. Credit takes effect the first Saturday of May, in conjunction with the opening of the farmers market.
Make checks or money orders payable to:
Alan Bishop
And send to:
Alan Bishop
5604 S. State Rd. 60
Pekin IN 47165
Also include a note with your full name, address, e-mail address, phone number and a list of people who you will allow to purchase items with your credit if you need to send someone to the farm stand in your place!
How can I learn more about Bishop’s Homegrown and follow the on farm developments?
We invite you to come and take a tour of our small farm at any time you would like to learn more about us or at any point during the growing season, before, after, or even if you don’t join the credit opportunity. We also maintain a blog at http://homegrowngoodness.blogspot.com where we often write research articles, report about our plant breeding and poultry breeding projects, explain our on farm techniques and more. As well we run a small message board for experimental gardeners and plant breeders located at http://alanbishop.proboards60.com as well as our local harvest site located at http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M24902
We should also point out that farm tours are available to those interested at any time in the growing season…
Please feel free to pass this around to others who might be interested in joining this unique opportunity.
Feel free to contact us at:
Alan Bishop
1-812-967-2073
Or
bishopshomegrown@gmail.com
-Alan Bishop
Bishop’s Homegrown Farm Stand Credit Program!
2011
Bishop’s Homegrown is a small “Eco-Logical” and self sustainable farm in the town of Pekin Indiana. We are family owned and a fourth generation farm focused on providing quality produce from yesteryear as well as the new food and flower crops of the future to our valued friends and community members. We use the strictest possible organic guidelines for on farm food production and make no exceptions. We feel that it is of utmost importance that locavores, members of the slow food movement, and community members, know who and from where their food comes from and how it is grown. We produce 90% of our own seed crops as well as 100% of our own organic fertilizer and we never ever opt for chemical options to control pests or disease issues on farm, feeling that growing food “eco-logically” is the only alternative to our failing food system in the United States. We have searched the world over to bring you the most unique, exciting, and rare food crops from diverse cultures the world over with an emphasis on nutrition and taste! Our doors are always open to our community and customers who we encourage to visit the farm in order to see and know where and how their food was grown. Food security begins when a relationship is formed between the community and its farmers, this essential connection is what allowed civilization to flourish 10,000 years ago. This year we would like to introduce you to our farmstand credit program which we feel you will find immense value in!
The Farm Stand Credit Program:
The concept of Community Supported Agriculture (AKA. CSA) is generally defined as a mutually beneficial arrangement between a farmer and his customer wherein the customer agrees to share in the risks and rewards of local farming for the benefit of their food production and the farmers well being. The CSA consumers become by proxy shareholders in the farm and it’s well being by paying an upfront “membership“ due which covers the production of food in a “share“ system. Generally a traditional CSA allows for the consumer to pay for up front costs of the farmers start up cost with the farmer reciprocating by preparing a pre-determined amount of produce every week through the growing season which the shareholders pick up once a week. The farmer generally picks the produce that the customer will receive.
This year Bishop’s Homegrown is looking to create a viable alternative to the traditional CSA program by creating a farm stand coupon program which will allow customers to still share in helping us get our business going during the part of the season in which seed and implements and other essentials are being purchased while also making the relationship more convenient for the farmer and the shareholders.
In this arrangement, instead of the farmer putting together a box of produce weekly he has selected for you you will instead receive “credit” from our farm which will allow you to visit our farm stand or farm where you can make your selection of produce that we have available including also a selection of seedlings, nursery stock, seeds, compost, poultry, meat, animals and other items from our farm. This gives you the opportunity to decide what you want instead of us deciding what you want. Every $100 you invest will also get you a 10% discount which means that you will actually get 10% more produce for your food dollars.
Our produce will be available to you via the Washington County Indiana farmers market held at the fairgrounds in Salem Indiana on Saturday Mornings from 8 AM to 12 PM. Occasionally we also will be available at the Wednesday market operating during the same hours. Credit is also redeemable at our roadside stand in the town of Peking or on farm. It is important to note that we don’t usually deal in custom ordered bulk produce on a normal basis (i.e., a bushel beans, or a bushel of corn) but that when these items are available at market, as they often are, your credit can be used to purchase them as well.
FAQ’s:
How much does it cost?
The investment levels start at 50.00. An investment at the 100 dollar or above level will earn you a 10% discount which means that an investment at the $100 level only costs you $90! That’s right; $100 dollars of credit only costs $90! That’s essentially the same as getting $10 of produce free just for paying ahead of time! Your credit is good for two years which means that whatever isn’t spent this season can be carried over to next season!
The maximum investment is $500.
Here is the layout:
$50 credit for $50
$100 credit for $90
$200 credit for $180
$300 credit for $270
$400 credit for $360
$500 credit for $450
How will we keep track of your credit?
Good old fashioned pen and pencil, anytime you make a purchase we will deduct that price from our ledger. You will receive a receipt after each transaction so you too can keep track of the amount of produce purchased.
What if I make it to market late and you are out of what I want?
Unfortunately this may happen from time to time which is why we are keeping the investment level low to start with. Sometimes we just flat out run out of an item due to popularity. The best bet is to show up to market early, the best of the best goes quickly! There are occasions when we may not be able to make it to market from time to time due to emergencies or just the need to take a break here and there but we will inform you a few days ahead of time via e-mail (unless it’s a last minute emergency) that we will not be at market in the coming week.
This year our primary market residency will be here on the farm as well, so if you miss us at market or we won't be there you can just stop by the farm pretty much any day of the week!
What can I purchase with Bishop’s homegrown credit? Does this offer only include produce?
No, any item we bring to market or sale on farm is eligible for purchase via this credit, including seeds, plants, seedlings, poultry (chicks), occasionally rabbits, compost, fishing worms, handcrafts or any other product we have at market or our farm stand. We also occasionally have winter produce available and this Thanksgiving and Christmas we will for the first time be offering butchered heritage turkeys.
When is payment due and how do I pay, when does credit take effect?
Payment is due by the end of March in order that we know what we have in the bank and can plan accordingly. Payment can be made by check, money order, or well concealed cash. Credit takes effect the first Saturday of May, in conjunction with the opening of the farmers market.
Make checks or money orders payable to:
Alan Bishop
And send to:
Alan Bishop
5604 S. State Rd. 60
Pekin IN 47165
Also include a note with your full name, address, e-mail address, phone number and a list of people who you will allow to purchase items with your credit if you need to send someone to the farm stand in your place!
How can I learn more about Bishop’s Homegrown and follow the on farm developments?
We invite you to come and take a tour of our small farm at any time you would like to learn more about us or at any point during the growing season, before, after, or even if you don’t join the credit opportunity. We also maintain a blog at http://homegrowngoodness.blogspot.com where we often write research articles, report about our plant breeding and poultry breeding projects, explain our on farm techniques and more. As well we run a small message board for experimental gardeners and plant breeders located at http://alanbishop.proboards60.com as well as our local harvest site located at http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M24902
We should also point out that farm tours are available to those interested at any time in the growing season…
Please feel free to pass this around to others who might be interested in joining this unique opportunity.
Feel free to contact us at:
Alan Bishop
1-812-967-2073
Or
bishopshomegrown@gmail.com
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The International Cultivators Handbook: Hashish, Coca, and Opium by Bill Drake. A review.
For those of you who read the blog on a regular basis you may recall I recently had an excellent opportunity to review Bill Drakes recently updated; "The Cultivators Handbook Of Natural Tobacco" a book I highly recommend to anyone and everyone who is interested in "Starving The Federal Beast" and producing their own natural, additive free tobacco for profit, fun, or sacrament. Even more so do I recommend it to those who want to be prepared for SHTF.
Bill however is not only a specialist who is knowledgeable about only tobacco, but he is also an expert incredibly versed in the uses and cultivation, both historically and in modernity in a myriad of other entheogenic plants and substances.
Take for example his other recently revised manual: The International Cultivators Handbook: Hashish, Coca, and Opium. One quick look at this book will reveal to you the breadth of Bill's valuable Shamanic knowledge and how it can be adapted the times of crisis that are soon and sure to come to our country.
Throughout the book Bill places a deep emphasis on focusing solely on the raw product of these historic "Third Eye Opening" plants as opposed to the highly concentrated derivatives or low quality drug dealer/government cartel supply derived thereof, and for good reason; it's time that both the laws were changed via the flow of information and time we realize just where the cartels make their connections.
Bill also does a fantastic job of highlighting historical texts in each chapter discussing the legitimate medical research and medical uses of each substance on the list with information which will absolutely blow your mind!
Mr. Drake takes us on a journey across continents, time, and man made boundary lines to explore and invoke the spirit of the indigenous cultures who cultivate these valuable plants and culture them into medicines for the body, mind, and spirit. Touching only briefly here on cannabis (which he also wrote THE book about in the late 60's) where he takes us on a quick overview of those peoples still engaged in the production of hashish and charas as well as their means and methods of producing such a highly valuable and potent substance.
Next (and to me the most interesting aspect of the book, at least in terms of making one rethink ones convictions) bill tackles the highly controversial plant that is coca, yes the very plant which the cartels have helped to demonize via their extraction and amplification of a single alkaloid with complete disrespect towards it's original and likely intended use. This section is heavy on medical literature which will open our eyes to the truth; a plant is never "evil" it is only through the machinations of greed that it becomes so. The legitimate use of this leaf in raw form seems compelling when viewed under the magnifying glass that is the information provided to us here; no better (well slightly) or worse than our current societies obsession with coffee and caffeine.
I went into the book thinking the coca section would be unlikely to convince me that it had any useful property whatsoever but came out a true believer. It is here that the author truly excels at getting his message across. I have legitimate hope that in time laws will be revised (or if anarchy hits that a source will be available) to allow for this powerful and respectable plant to be added to herbal pharmacopoeias across the land.
The third section deals with Papavier Somniferium, better known as the Opium Poppy. A plant/substance that nearly once collapsed the Asian empire due to the interference of the Brittish. I am well versed in the medicinal powers of opium as well as it's addictive properties (and while I don't advise cultivation of this or any of the previously mentioned, I am an advocate of knowing how to use what is available should SHTF), I would say that most Americans are with so many drugs mass marketed to us in the form of Opiates or Opioids for use in pain medication, but the truth is, those drugs are no better for you than shooting up Heroin (also derived from the majestic poppy plant). Here we are given a wealth of cultivation information and the respect needed to handle the raw opium substance in such a way as to respect it as opposed to abusing it. Funny how it's OK for pharmaceutical companies and doctors to push their derivatives on us but not for us to grow our own supply of much safer homegrown. Hell it's illegal to even grow this flower as an ornamental in this country. For that matter it's all good for the U.S. government to protect these crops in foreign countries we have invaded but they will gladly bust you for doing the same.
The book itself contains some wonderful photos Bill Himself took back when he was first putting it together in '72 and '73 as well as some great illustrations. As always Bill's humor and wisdom shine through in the words and never once does he advise anyone to try anything in this book without them assuming a great amount of risk (as neither do I).
I think anyone who has an interest in medicinal herbs, Shamanism, or entheogen in general would do well to add this one to the collection of valuable historical as well as operational information, it is a fantastic addition to the library of the supernaut, historian, shaman, or survivalist. 5 of 5.
-Alan Reed Bishop
Monday, February 21, 2011
Urban Homesteader, Urban Homesteading, Urban Homestead
I'm all about a good bit of chaos from time to time. I find from my personal perspective that I can quite easily shape my own philosophy on history, religion, politics, agriculture and other subjects of interest based "Soul-ly" on the stupidity and the hypocrisy of others. It inspires me to take things to the next level, to push the envelope just a little bit more from time to time and to really concentrate hard on making those in the wrong realize what a bunch of heinous assholes they really are; particularly when they believe they are "justified" in their belief that they are somehow above par.
It's usually easy; I just look at whatever transnationals like Monsanto or Syngenta are doing or I take a quick stroll over to a search engine and read about politics. Politics is very fertile ground for me and when political ideology meets agricultural ideology (particularly ideologies like the one we have here, based upon fallacy) well it's like some kind of super orgy of naivety on their part and inspiration to point out the hypocrisy on my part.
If it were any single individual that makes up my complex of inspirational people and ideas that had made such a move towards idiocy, hypocrisy and fascism as demonstrated by the Devares family trademarking the common lexicon of sustainable agriculture I am sure I would write all this with a heavy heart and a burden in my head; but since it isn't and all this particular instance has truly done is to bring folks together from a myriad of agricultural and culinary backgrounds, I can look at it more like a celebration of someone elses idiocy; it's a sad fact that you truly couldn't/refused to see the forest for the trees.
For those of you not in the know The Devares Family of Pasadena California who turned their small lot of land in the city into an "Urban Homestead" are the target of this particular rant. The Devares family did some fantastic things, had some wonderful ideas, and generally seemed to be the current source well for modern urban homesteading ideas; unfortunately power, money, and ego are the pitfalls of the tight rope that one walks when they become a figurehead of modern agriculture. It is with the power of an inflated ego behind them that the Devares family trademarked several terms that have been in common use via blogs and books for over 10 years and some of which stretch possibly as far back as the 1930's and 1940's.
Let us not for once forget the Devares family are not the first to try their hand at Urban Homesteading; not by a long shot, they simply reminded the mainstream about it and created a platform big enough and loud enough to broadcast it the world. They however didn't conceive the concept anymore than we can claim to have conceived the concept of sustainable farming or of plant breeding, or of eco based growing or of any number of ideas belonging to the heritage and common ownership of mankind.
The Devares seem to have thought they were the light and the salvation of urban humanity in some manner or another; often using the phrase, now trademarked, "Path to Freedom" to promote their work. Yes, what a true path to freedom it is when one is willing to use the platform that others helped to build and sustain to take the freedom to use words in the common agricultural lexicon away from the very people who you claim to be speaking for; how very Marxist of you.
But it doesn't stop there, through all of this skulduggery the Devares have been on the defensive, decrying that they have somehow been wronged by the thousands of urban homesteaders out there pointing out their hypocrisy in this move, never realizing that they have changed things; forever. It's Pandora's box, the ideas are out there and who are you to think you have the power to put it back, to take it away from the people, to squirrel it away in some safe place where you and only you have access to it, only you can monetize it, only you can claim to have devine say over how it is used, who it is used by and why it is used. As Christians should you not ask yourself WWJD? (sorry, I'm not a Christian, I just couldn't help but to use that one for the first time in my life)
Really all I have to say is congratulations to you. It is obvious your goal was to make your name as well known as Monsanto or Syngenta in the world of sustainable agriculture via blogs, books, t.v. and more; to get the word out there about what you do and who you are and how that defines you as a people spiritually. Job well done, we get it, and you'll get our interpretation of it for years and years and decades to come. Perhaps we shouldn't view you as a villain though, perhaps we should view you much like Judas; without you would we have the profound understanding that we now do that we all need to have faith in our brothers and sisters fighting the good fight? Would we have the insight to realize that we have a voice much louder than you and your marketing skills? Would we have the power to see the rise of future Benedict Arnold's before they make their deceptive moves against us? Most importantly would we wouldn't have a name with which to associate greed, egotism, and ultimately the failure you have become in our eyes.
Perhaps if the burden is as deep and hurtful as your petty defenses on your blog make it out to be you should take a moment to realize the monumental stupidity of the career destroying move you just made by apologizing and not claiming the common heritage of mankind for yourself. You are not a messiah, you are not a genius, you are not even now one of us, so what do you have? You have family and your little garden but you no longer have the cash flow of reliable customers or of those you once inspired. You no longer have the faith of your community and you most certainly no longer have a place amongst those providing a true path to freedom to the world at large. You represent nothing, therefore you are nothing until you can realize that being something is made up of giving something.
It's usually easy; I just look at whatever transnationals like Monsanto or Syngenta are doing or I take a quick stroll over to a search engine and read about politics. Politics is very fertile ground for me and when political ideology meets agricultural ideology (particularly ideologies like the one we have here, based upon fallacy) well it's like some kind of super orgy of naivety on their part and inspiration to point out the hypocrisy on my part.
If it were any single individual that makes up my complex of inspirational people and ideas that had made such a move towards idiocy, hypocrisy and fascism as demonstrated by the Devares family trademarking the common lexicon of sustainable agriculture I am sure I would write all this with a heavy heart and a burden in my head; but since it isn't and all this particular instance has truly done is to bring folks together from a myriad of agricultural and culinary backgrounds, I can look at it more like a celebration of someone elses idiocy; it's a sad fact that you truly couldn't/refused to see the forest for the trees.
For those of you not in the know The Devares Family of Pasadena California who turned their small lot of land in the city into an "Urban Homestead" are the target of this particular rant. The Devares family did some fantastic things, had some wonderful ideas, and generally seemed to be the current source well for modern urban homesteading ideas; unfortunately power, money, and ego are the pitfalls of the tight rope that one walks when they become a figurehead of modern agriculture. It is with the power of an inflated ego behind them that the Devares family trademarked several terms that have been in common use via blogs and books for over 10 years and some of which stretch possibly as far back as the 1930's and 1940's.
Let us not for once forget the Devares family are not the first to try their hand at Urban Homesteading; not by a long shot, they simply reminded the mainstream about it and created a platform big enough and loud enough to broadcast it the world. They however didn't conceive the concept anymore than we can claim to have conceived the concept of sustainable farming or of plant breeding, or of eco based growing or of any number of ideas belonging to the heritage and common ownership of mankind.
The Devares seem to have thought they were the light and the salvation of urban humanity in some manner or another; often using the phrase, now trademarked, "Path to Freedom" to promote their work. Yes, what a true path to freedom it is when one is willing to use the platform that others helped to build and sustain to take the freedom to use words in the common agricultural lexicon away from the very people who you claim to be speaking for; how very Marxist of you.
But it doesn't stop there, through all of this skulduggery the Devares have been on the defensive, decrying that they have somehow been wronged by the thousands of urban homesteaders out there pointing out their hypocrisy in this move, never realizing that they have changed things; forever. It's Pandora's box, the ideas are out there and who are you to think you have the power to put it back, to take it away from the people, to squirrel it away in some safe place where you and only you have access to it, only you can monetize it, only you can claim to have devine say over how it is used, who it is used by and why it is used. As Christians should you not ask yourself WWJD? (sorry, I'm not a Christian, I just couldn't help but to use that one for the first time in my life)
Really all I have to say is congratulations to you. It is obvious your goal was to make your name as well known as Monsanto or Syngenta in the world of sustainable agriculture via blogs, books, t.v. and more; to get the word out there about what you do and who you are and how that defines you as a people spiritually. Job well done, we get it, and you'll get our interpretation of it for years and years and decades to come. Perhaps we shouldn't view you as a villain though, perhaps we should view you much like Judas; without you would we have the profound understanding that we now do that we all need to have faith in our brothers and sisters fighting the good fight? Would we have the insight to realize that we have a voice much louder than you and your marketing skills? Would we have the power to see the rise of future Benedict Arnold's before they make their deceptive moves against us? Most importantly would we wouldn't have a name with which to associate greed, egotism, and ultimately the failure you have become in our eyes.
Perhaps if the burden is as deep and hurtful as your petty defenses on your blog make it out to be you should take a moment to realize the monumental stupidity of the career destroying move you just made by apologizing and not claiming the common heritage of mankind for yourself. You are not a messiah, you are not a genius, you are not even now one of us, so what do you have? You have family and your little garden but you no longer have the cash flow of reliable customers or of those you once inspired. You no longer have the faith of your community and you most certainly no longer have a place amongst those providing a true path to freedom to the world at large. You represent nothing, therefore you are nothing until you can realize that being something is made up of giving something.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Firing the plant bed....
Burned a hot fire from one end of the bed to the other today. This should allieviate weed seed issues and add some potash to the ground as well.
Monday, February 14, 2011
The 2011 Egg hustle.....
Yep, it's that time of the year again, when I start freaking out about hatching eggs and breeding birds. I've had the turkeys cooped up for a few weeks now (to keep them out of the trees and get them laying a bit earlier in the season) and have been giving them some home milled high protein/high calcium feed to get the fertility rate up as well as leaving a light on them 24/7.
The finally started rewarding me today with a scant few eggs, but the coop will have to be checked numerous times a day as the toms often destroy the nests in a desperate effort to maintain their dominance over the hens.
The guineas won't start laying until late April or Early May....thank god. That gives me a good jump on all the other birds/hatching that needs to be done.
Not the least of my concerns this season is working with my Coturnix and amplifying stock with exemplary traits (Jumbo x Texas A&M) for meat and egg production.
I'm always way short on incubator space, because no matter how well I manage my money I never can find the extra cash to buy a proper sportsman or two, perhaps I do have the money, but the price tag often scares me away. Maybe this spring....tax returns are coming!
Luckily our awesome friend Blanch Perkins had a hovabator genesis she no longer needed and passed it along our way! Hovabators are absolutely fantastic little incubators for hatching quail and chickens and guineas though I have never had much luck with turkeys in them.
I dug out an old storage shelf and stuck it in the back of the hallway for a makeshift incubation center for this spring, compete with a date/note book to keep track of all the hatch dates, humidity ranges and temperatures.
I'll also keep track of the rabbits in this little book.
Blanche also had a nice flock of guineas which her dogs were using for quick snacks that she passed our way, giving us access to a whole new range of genetics we didn't have before including buff and chocolate as well as what appears to be bronze :)
For those living locally and interested in poults, keets, chicks, and coturnix this spring, shoot us an e-mail or give us a call to put in your request.
Vermicomposting progress.......2011
I've been spending a good portion of time over the past couple of weeks harvesting both vermicastings and vermicompost using the Homegrown worm harvester. This year we produced 7, 4x4x4 boxes of compost. Three of those will be screened and used for potting mix and starting mix while the others will constitute a good portion of our La Bonne Terre soil amendment.
It's a long slow process to screen out all of those castings and if I can produce the amount I think I can for 2012 a new process will have to be worked out; preferably mechanical in nature as opposed to manual.
Backwoods engineering: Cold Frame/Hot Bed
A couple years back a family friend dropped by w/a flat bed trailer carying pieces of an old bent up greenhouse/cold frame. The dimensions were impressive at 35 x 150 but ultimately at the time it was useless as there were entire sections rendered unusable due to a snow/ice collapse and the lack of anchor posts and pearlings, as such it got drug over next to the neighbors fence and lost in the myriad of weeds and briars where it became a hinderance every year at bushhoging time.
I had been eyeing some small frames that a former tobacco farming associate had on hand which had been used to make floating tobacco beds for raising seedlings, but I was never able to talk him down enough in price to actually buy the frames; one night while lamenting my lack of a hot bed (despite the fact I have a greenhouse, this project is more for producing seedlings for use on the farm as well as for rooting cuttings in the winter, and I figure if things ever get "that bad" it will be easier to find a piece of scrap plastic to cover this and produce seedlings than to find a piece of 4 year/6 mill plastic to cover a greenhouse) that I hit upon a fantastic idea.....cut the frame down to size, bend it to a usable shape, stick it in the ground and save myself a few hundred dollars.......
So, this past week I commited and drug some pieces of frame over to the Peasant barn where I cut the half sections of hoop in half and then used a wooden post and corner stone in the barn to bend the pipe (suprisingly malliable) to roughly the same size. It just so happened that each hoop also had a female connection on either side which I cut off about 3 feet below the connection for anchoring to the ground. This gave me about 10 hoops (theres still much more pipe but I don't currently need it all) of which I had enough females for four usuable pieces.
I drove the connectors into the ground (spaced in four foot intervals. 12 foot of bed total) and squared them up and attached the hoops to the connectors. I then scoured over the creek bed to find a few flat sandstones to use for walls for a raised bed on either side. After all of this was in place I excavated 8-10 inches inside the frame for a "pit" feature and piled the dirt up in birms to either side of the rock walls and on the end of the frames.
The next step is to burn a hot fire in the pit to kill out any weed seeds and add some potash to the soil, after this the pit will be filled with 12 inches of uncomposted chicken litter with a layer of woodash overtop of it and about 5-6 inches of worm compost overtop of that, it will be moistened down so that the manure composts producing heat and covered over with plastic (which will be attached to heavy rough cut 2 x 6 pieces by wrapping it around a couple times and stapling down using batton tape, giving the ability to raise and lower the plastic on either side or remove it) a week or two later it will be seeded with tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and tobacco.
This is essentially the same method used for a few hundred years to produce tobacco and tomato seedlings locally, minus the plastic of course; brush piles used to be used for frost protection and then remay material at a later date.
I'll take pictures as the season and project progresses as well, but thought those of you who might have access to some bent up frames or even metal conduit via hardware supply stores might also want to experiment as such. Much cheaper and easier to maintain than a greenhouse and if I had it to do over again I'd likely just build two or three of these to a good size.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
2011 Seed Repetoir Part 2.
Monday I spent nearly 12 hours just lining out the seed collection for 2011 (not including all the perrinials and grafted stuff). The pictures below give a good idea of the diversity I'll be looking through in 2011. Granted, not nearly all the seed here will be planted (maybe 10% of some things, 100% of others, like the corns) but this encompasses a good portion of everything being grown.
May not look as huge as most collections in terms of varieties, but since everything here is either a genepool, grex, synthetic population, segregating hybrid, or working landrace there is likely more diversity in this small place than you would find in most other collections.
As an example, Amanda Palmer Dent corn on the far left is composed of 15 varieties originaly and seed for 7 new varieties has been added. Astronomy Domine is also in there, now well over 200 parents into the growout.
The unfortunate looking pill bottles are mostly tomatoes and peppers, some of the mixes therin containing hundreds of segregating crosses, open pollinated types, and heirlooms.
Relevent political activism!
My friend Bill Drake of cultivatorshandbook.com passed this along to me in an e-mail this afternoon, thought I would share it here, hoping this possibility catches on:
Dear Friends – I apologize if this looks like a spam message but please believe me it is not.
This is the one solid plan I have come across for how those of us who consider ourselves hard working, tax paying, patriotic, honest and contributing citizens can actually do something effective about the current situation where wealthy tax cheats, big banks, big corporations and big government are hijacking our economy, impoverishing millions of us, and stealing our grandchildren’s future with apparent impunity.
This non-violent plan apparently began with 12 people over coffee, and seems to be going viral in the UK with actual, tangible results.
Please take a few minutes to read this and then consider what even just a few of us could do to make this happen in the US. What would the first step be? (I guess my first step is going to be to break down and get a twitter account.)
http://www.alternet.org/story/149806/vision%3A_everyday_brits_are_in_revolt_against_wealthy_tax_cheats_--_can_we_do_that_here?page=entire
Dear Friends – I apologize if this looks like a spam message but please believe me it is not.
This is the one solid plan I have come across for how those of us who consider ourselves hard working, tax paying, patriotic, honest and contributing citizens can actually do something effective about the current situation where wealthy tax cheats, big banks, big corporations and big government are hijacking our economy, impoverishing millions of us, and stealing our grandchildren’s future with apparent impunity.
This non-violent plan apparently began with 12 people over coffee, and seems to be going viral in the UK with actual, tangible results.
Please take a few minutes to read this and then consider what even just a few of us could do to make this happen in the US. What would the first step be? (I guess my first step is going to be to break down and get a twitter account.)
http://www.alternet.org/story/149806/vision%3A_everyday_brits_are_in_revolt_against_wealthy_tax_cheats_--_can_we_do_that_here?page=entire
Monday, February 7, 2011
Partial 2011 seed repitoire:
A list; by no means complete, but these are crops we plan on producing seed from as well as commercial and home produce from.
Corn:
Rhode Island White Cap
Rhode Island Couble White Cap
King Henry Improved
Amanda Palmer
Waxy Grex
Astronomy Domine Sweet Corn
Hickory Cane
Tomatoes:
Absinthe
Jack White
Phoenix Pink Mix
Yellow Orange Mix
Fairytale F1
Peppers:
PerfeKt
Easter Everywhere
High Voltage Grex
Watermelon:
Between the Sun and Moon
Melon:
Absinthe
Squash:
Dryland Acorn and Ornamental Edibles mixes
Butternut landraces
Millet Mix
Leaf Lettuce Mix (100 plus kinds)
Romaine Mix
Sorghum grain mix
Tobacco:
New Mexico Strain Nicotiana Rustica
About 6 other Rustica Strains
Shirazi
Frog Eye Orinoco
Raddish Grex
Turnip 3 root grex
Edamame soybean landrace
Saucerful of Secrets Sunflowers
A mix of hybridized TPS from potato tubers from Tom Wagner a couple years back as well as fresh seed
A mix of 5 types sweet potatoes
Kale Various crosses from previous 3 years including Russo Siberian and European types
Collards; yellow cabbage collards
Cabbage: Early Jersey Wakefield and Large Drumhead Savoy, possibly winter type grex
Cucumber: long white slicing and Hip-Gnosis 5203 green slicing landrace
Mustard Greens: various crosses and seeds from friends
Spinach: Long Island Seed Mix
Of course this doesn't inlclude the many perrinials and hebs sent my way or already growing.
Corn:
Rhode Island White Cap
Rhode Island Couble White Cap
King Henry Improved
Amanda Palmer
Waxy Grex
Astronomy Domine Sweet Corn
Hickory Cane
Tomatoes:
Absinthe
Jack White
Phoenix Pink Mix
Yellow Orange Mix
Fairytale F1
Peppers:
PerfeKt
Easter Everywhere
High Voltage Grex
Watermelon:
Between the Sun and Moon
Melon:
Absinthe
Squash:
Dryland Acorn and Ornamental Edibles mixes
Butternut landraces
Millet Mix
Leaf Lettuce Mix (100 plus kinds)
Romaine Mix
Sorghum grain mix
Tobacco:
New Mexico Strain Nicotiana Rustica
About 6 other Rustica Strains
Shirazi
Frog Eye Orinoco
Raddish Grex
Turnip 3 root grex
Edamame soybean landrace
Saucerful of Secrets Sunflowers
A mix of hybridized TPS from potato tubers from Tom Wagner a couple years back as well as fresh seed
A mix of 5 types sweet potatoes
Kale Various crosses from previous 3 years including Russo Siberian and European types
Collards; yellow cabbage collards
Cabbage: Early Jersey Wakefield and Large Drumhead Savoy, possibly winter type grex
Cucumber: long white slicing and Hip-Gnosis 5203 green slicing landrace
Mustard Greens: various crosses and seeds from friends
Spinach: Long Island Seed Mix
Of course this doesn't inlclude the many perrinials and hebs sent my way or already growing.
Hey local folks, don't forget about our Farmstand Credit CSA!
We got so much play from this option last year and such fantastic feedback from local customers that we have decided to offer this option once again this season! Definitely check it out if you live local and join up! If nothing else pass it around to others who might be interested! Thanks Guys!
-Alan Bishop
Bishop’s Homegrown Farm Stand Credit Program!
2011
Bishop’s Homegrown is a small “Eco-Logical” and self sustainable farm in the town of Pekin Indiana. We are family owned and a fourth generation farm focused on providing quality produce from yesteryear as well as the new food and flower crops of the future to our valued friends and community members. We use the strictest possible organic guidelines for on farm food production and make no exceptions. We feel that it is of utmost importance that locavores, members of the slow food movement, and community members, know who and from where their food comes from and how it is grown. We produce 90% of our own seed crops as well as 100% of our own organic fertilizer and we never ever opt for chemical options to control pests or disease issues on farm, feeling that growing food “eco-logically” is the only alternative to our failing food system in the United States. We have searched the world over to bring you the most unique, exciting, and rare food crops from diverse cultures the world over with an emphasis on nutrition and taste! Our doors are always open to our community and customers who we encourage to visit the farm in order to see and know where and how their food was grown. Food security begins when a relationship is formed between the community and its farmers, this essential connection is what allowed civilization to flourish 10,000 years ago. This year we would like to introduce you to our farmstand credit program which we feel you will find immense value in!
The Farm Stand Credit Program:
The concept of Community Supported Agriculture (AKA. CSA) is generally defined as a mutually beneficial arrangement between a farmer and his customer wherein the customer agrees to share in the risks and rewards of local farming for the benefit of their food production and the farmers well being. The CSA consumers become by proxy shareholders in the farm and it’s well being by paying an upfront “membership“ due which covers the production of food in a “share“ system. Generally a traditional CSA allows for the consumer to pay for up front costs of the farmers start up cost with the farmer reciprocating by preparing a pre-determined amount of produce every week through the growing season which the shareholders pick up once a week. The farmer generally picks the produce that the customer will receive.
This year Bishop’s Homegrown is looking to create a viable alternative to the traditional CSA program by creating a farm stand coupon program which will allow customers to still share in helping us get our business going during the part of the season in which seed and implements and other essentials are being purchased while also making the relationship more convenient for the farmer and the shareholders.
In this arrangement, instead of the farmer putting together a box of produce weekly he has selected for you you will instead receive “credit” from our farm which will allow you to visit our farm stand or farm where you can make your selection of produce that we have available including also a selection of seedlings, nursery stock, seeds, compost, poultry, meat, animals and other items from our farm. This gives you the opportunity to decide what you want instead of us deciding what you want. Every $100 you invest will also get you a 10% discount which means that you will actually get 10% more produce for your food dollars.
Our produce will be available to you via the Washington County Indiana farmers market held at the fairgrounds in Salem Indiana on Saturday Mornings from 8 AM to 12 PM. Occasionally we also will be available at the Wednesday market operating during the same hours. Credit is also redeemable at our roadside stand in the town of Peking or on farm. It is important to note that we don’t usually deal in custom ordered bulk produce on a normal basis (i.e., a bushel beans, or a bushel of corn) but that when these items are available at market, as they often are, your credit can be used to purchase them as well.
FAQ’s:
How much does it cost?
The investment levels start at 50.00. An investment at the 100 dollar or above level will earn you a 10% discount which means that an investment at the $100 level only costs you $90! That’s right; $100 dollars of credit only costs $90! That’s essentially the same as getting $10 of produce free just for paying ahead of time! Your credit is good for two years which means that whatever isn’t spent this season can be carried over to next season!
The maximum investment is $500.
Here is the layout:
$50 credit for $50
$100 credit for $90
$200 credit for $180
$300 credit for $270
$400 credit for $360
$500 credit for $450
How will we keep track of your credit?
Good old fashioned pen and pencil, anytime you make a purchase we will deduct that price from our ledger. You will receive a receipt after each transaction so you too can keep track of the amount of produce purchased.
What if I make it to market late and you are out of what I want?
Unfortunately this may happen from time to time which is why we are keeping the investment level low to start with. Sometimes we just flat out run out of an item due to popularity. The best bet is to show up to market early, the best of the best goes quickly! There are occasions when we may not be able to make it to market from time to time due to emergencies or just the need to take a break here and there but we will inform you a few days ahead of time via e-mail (unless it’s a last minute emergency) that we will not be at market in the coming week.
This year our primary market residency will be here on the farm as well, so if you miss us at market or we won't be there you can just stop by the farm pretty much any day of the week!
What can I purchase with Bishop’s homegrown credit? Does this offer only include produce?
No, any item we bring to market or sale on farm is eligible for purchase via this credit, including seeds, plants, seedlings, poultry (chicks), occasionally rabbits, compost, fishing worms, handcrafts or any other product we have at market or our farm stand. We also occasionally have winter produce available and this Thanksgiving and Christmas we will for the first time be offering butchered heritage turkeys.
When is payment due and how do I pay, when does credit take effect?
Payment is due by the end of March in order that we know what we have in the bank and can plan accordingly. Payment can be made by check, money order, or well concealed cash. Credit takes effect the first Saturday of May, in conjunction with the opening of the farmers market.
Make checks or money orders payable to:
Alan Bishop
And send to:
Alan Bishop
5604 S. State Rd. 60
Pekin IN 47165
Also include a note with your full name, address, e-mail address, phone number and a list of people who you will allow to purchase items with your credit if you need to send someone to the farm stand in your place!
How can I learn more about Bishop’s Homegrown and follow the on farm developments?
We invite you to come and take a tour of our small farm at any time you would like to learn more about us or at any point during the growing season, before, after, or even if you don’t join the credit opportunity. We also maintain a blog at http://homegrowngoodness.blogspot.com where we often write research articles, report about our plant breeding and poultry breeding projects, explain our on farm techniques and more. As well we run a small message board for experimental gardeners and plant breeders located at http://alanbishop.proboards60.com as well as our local harvest site located at http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M24902
We should also point out that farm tours are available to those interested at any time in the growing season…
Please feel free to pass this around to others who might be interested in joining this unique opportunity.
Feel free to contact us at:
Alan Bishop
1-812-967-2073
Or
bishopshomegrown@gmail.com
-Alan Bishop
Bishop’s Homegrown Farm Stand Credit Program!
2011
Bishop’s Homegrown is a small “Eco-Logical” and self sustainable farm in the town of Pekin Indiana. We are family owned and a fourth generation farm focused on providing quality produce from yesteryear as well as the new food and flower crops of the future to our valued friends and community members. We use the strictest possible organic guidelines for on farm food production and make no exceptions. We feel that it is of utmost importance that locavores, members of the slow food movement, and community members, know who and from where their food comes from and how it is grown. We produce 90% of our own seed crops as well as 100% of our own organic fertilizer and we never ever opt for chemical options to control pests or disease issues on farm, feeling that growing food “eco-logically” is the only alternative to our failing food system in the United States. We have searched the world over to bring you the most unique, exciting, and rare food crops from diverse cultures the world over with an emphasis on nutrition and taste! Our doors are always open to our community and customers who we encourage to visit the farm in order to see and know where and how their food was grown. Food security begins when a relationship is formed between the community and its farmers, this essential connection is what allowed civilization to flourish 10,000 years ago. This year we would like to introduce you to our farmstand credit program which we feel you will find immense value in!
The Farm Stand Credit Program:
The concept of Community Supported Agriculture (AKA. CSA) is generally defined as a mutually beneficial arrangement between a farmer and his customer wherein the customer agrees to share in the risks and rewards of local farming for the benefit of their food production and the farmers well being. The CSA consumers become by proxy shareholders in the farm and it’s well being by paying an upfront “membership“ due which covers the production of food in a “share“ system. Generally a traditional CSA allows for the consumer to pay for up front costs of the farmers start up cost with the farmer reciprocating by preparing a pre-determined amount of produce every week through the growing season which the shareholders pick up once a week. The farmer generally picks the produce that the customer will receive.
This year Bishop’s Homegrown is looking to create a viable alternative to the traditional CSA program by creating a farm stand coupon program which will allow customers to still share in helping us get our business going during the part of the season in which seed and implements and other essentials are being purchased while also making the relationship more convenient for the farmer and the shareholders.
In this arrangement, instead of the farmer putting together a box of produce weekly he has selected for you you will instead receive “credit” from our farm which will allow you to visit our farm stand or farm where you can make your selection of produce that we have available including also a selection of seedlings, nursery stock, seeds, compost, poultry, meat, animals and other items from our farm. This gives you the opportunity to decide what you want instead of us deciding what you want. Every $100 you invest will also get you a 10% discount which means that you will actually get 10% more produce for your food dollars.
Our produce will be available to you via the Washington County Indiana farmers market held at the fairgrounds in Salem Indiana on Saturday Mornings from 8 AM to 12 PM. Occasionally we also will be available at the Wednesday market operating during the same hours. Credit is also redeemable at our roadside stand in the town of Peking or on farm. It is important to note that we don’t usually deal in custom ordered bulk produce on a normal basis (i.e., a bushel beans, or a bushel of corn) but that when these items are available at market, as they often are, your credit can be used to purchase them as well.
FAQ’s:
How much does it cost?
The investment levels start at 50.00. An investment at the 100 dollar or above level will earn you a 10% discount which means that an investment at the $100 level only costs you $90! That’s right; $100 dollars of credit only costs $90! That’s essentially the same as getting $10 of produce free just for paying ahead of time! Your credit is good for two years which means that whatever isn’t spent this season can be carried over to next season!
The maximum investment is $500.
Here is the layout:
$50 credit for $50
$100 credit for $90
$200 credit for $180
$300 credit for $270
$400 credit for $360
$500 credit for $450
How will we keep track of your credit?
Good old fashioned pen and pencil, anytime you make a purchase we will deduct that price from our ledger. You will receive a receipt after each transaction so you too can keep track of the amount of produce purchased.
What if I make it to market late and you are out of what I want?
Unfortunately this may happen from time to time which is why we are keeping the investment level low to start with. Sometimes we just flat out run out of an item due to popularity. The best bet is to show up to market early, the best of the best goes quickly! There are occasions when we may not be able to make it to market from time to time due to emergencies or just the need to take a break here and there but we will inform you a few days ahead of time via e-mail (unless it’s a last minute emergency) that we will not be at market in the coming week.
This year our primary market residency will be here on the farm as well, so if you miss us at market or we won't be there you can just stop by the farm pretty much any day of the week!
What can I purchase with Bishop’s homegrown credit? Does this offer only include produce?
No, any item we bring to market or sale on farm is eligible for purchase via this credit, including seeds, plants, seedlings, poultry (chicks), occasionally rabbits, compost, fishing worms, handcrafts or any other product we have at market or our farm stand. We also occasionally have winter produce available and this Thanksgiving and Christmas we will for the first time be offering butchered heritage turkeys.
When is payment due and how do I pay, when does credit take effect?
Payment is due by the end of March in order that we know what we have in the bank and can plan accordingly. Payment can be made by check, money order, or well concealed cash. Credit takes effect the first Saturday of May, in conjunction with the opening of the farmers market.
Make checks or money orders payable to:
Alan Bishop
And send to:
Alan Bishop
5604 S. State Rd. 60
Pekin IN 47165
Also include a note with your full name, address, e-mail address, phone number and a list of people who you will allow to purchase items with your credit if you need to send someone to the farm stand in your place!
How can I learn more about Bishop’s Homegrown and follow the on farm developments?
We invite you to come and take a tour of our small farm at any time you would like to learn more about us or at any point during the growing season, before, after, or even if you don’t join the credit opportunity. We also maintain a blog at http://homegrowngoodness.blogspot.com where we often write research articles, report about our plant breeding and poultry breeding projects, explain our on farm techniques and more. As well we run a small message board for experimental gardeners and plant breeders located at http://alanbishop.proboards60.com as well as our local harvest site located at http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M24902
We should also point out that farm tours are available to those interested at any time in the growing season…
Please feel free to pass this around to others who might be interested in joining this unique opportunity.
Feel free to contact us at:
Alan Bishop
1-812-967-2073
Or
bishopshomegrown@gmail.com
Concerned about the die offs of pollinators?
You should be. The effect on local and world biodiversity due to the death of even one pollinator could be devastating.
Here is an article I found today while browsing my favorite: The Daily Grail
Here is an article I found today while browsing my favorite: The Daily Grail
Grow corn this season!
I'll be the first to admit, I didn't grow nearly enough of this precious "grain" (which to me, given my animal inputs, is worth it's weight in gold) in 2010. Even with a bit over 2.6 acres it wasn't enough to keep up with the deman of the poultry or human use this winter. That will be remidied this season with the opening up of 2 previously closed acres and a bio-intensive regime for the other crops on the farm leaving more room for the growth of grain and legumes for long term storage, human and animal feed.
Saturday I made the shot trip to the local mill to pick up some basic feed supplies (I mix my own rations and am working on individual rations for gamebirds and chickens, one of which I posted here a few months back) and was shocked by the rising price of corn. Apparently 6.65 cents was the going rate of a bushel, but considering a 50 lb bag isn't quite a bushel and I paid 6.65 for 50 lbs, someone made a good bit of profit!
Commodity prices are skyrocketing, both due to global shortages in grain production and because of the rampant inflation which we have been softly cushioned from via market manipulation, but that cushion is now wearing thin, and where do we see ourselves in the short term future?
Perhaps this article from zerohedge.com will inform you of the importance of what I speak.
If I and others are lucky we will make it into the harvest season before the enitre ponzi scheme that is the U.S. economy falls through, but China wanting to buy 9x their usual amount in imports doesn't bode well for the coming months in between with the harvest at least 7-9 months out.
I hope this will at least make you think about what the word "sustainability" really means and give you the boost you need to grow your own crop. Of course for those concerned with the dangers Genetically Modified food/feed should already be growing their own or buying from a local and trustworthy farmer.
Make use of all the diverse parts of the corn crops like we do here at Bishop's Homegrown and you will see just how much further your hard labor and "dollar" will stretch. We feed out and eat the grain ourselves, producing meat, save the cobs for bedding, shred and return the fodder to the ground, and compost the turkey and other animal litters to return to the crop. Nothing is wasted.
For those searching for seed stock we still have a ton of Amanda Palmer dent for sale. This is a new synthetic population that we began working with last season that combines the reliability of the Southern and Mid-Western Open Pollinated dent populations with the drough tolerance of a day length neutral tuxpeno and some genes from the old "prolific" lines. Makes a find cornmeal and is prefered by our poultry flock over all other varieties. You can order (in bulk as well) from faceoftheearth.blogspot.com
Saturday I made the shot trip to the local mill to pick up some basic feed supplies (I mix my own rations and am working on individual rations for gamebirds and chickens, one of which I posted here a few months back) and was shocked by the rising price of corn. Apparently 6.65 cents was the going rate of a bushel, but considering a 50 lb bag isn't quite a bushel and I paid 6.65 for 50 lbs, someone made a good bit of profit!
Commodity prices are skyrocketing, both due to global shortages in grain production and because of the rampant inflation which we have been softly cushioned from via market manipulation, but that cushion is now wearing thin, and where do we see ourselves in the short term future?
Perhaps this article from zerohedge.com will inform you of the importance of what I speak.
If I and others are lucky we will make it into the harvest season before the enitre ponzi scheme that is the U.S. economy falls through, but China wanting to buy 9x their usual amount in imports doesn't bode well for the coming months in between with the harvest at least 7-9 months out.
I hope this will at least make you think about what the word "sustainability" really means and give you the boost you need to grow your own crop. Of course for those concerned with the dangers Genetically Modified food/feed should already be growing their own or buying from a local and trustworthy farmer.
Make use of all the diverse parts of the corn crops like we do here at Bishop's Homegrown and you will see just how much further your hard labor and "dollar" will stretch. We feed out and eat the grain ourselves, producing meat, save the cobs for bedding, shred and return the fodder to the ground, and compost the turkey and other animal litters to return to the crop. Nothing is wasted.
For those searching for seed stock we still have a ton of Amanda Palmer dent for sale. This is a new synthetic population that we began working with last season that combines the reliability of the Southern and Mid-Western Open Pollinated dent populations with the drough tolerance of a day length neutral tuxpeno and some genes from the old "prolific" lines. Makes a find cornmeal and is prefered by our poultry flock over all other varieties. You can order (in bulk as well) from faceoftheearth.blogspot.com
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Popcorn and Porn: So, are you ready for austerity, power shortages, economic collapse, and anarchy?
Now that the events in Egypt have had time to set in, as well as those in Greece and Iceland, you have all had time to think about those events, how they impact us, and what is most likely in store for the rest of the world, let it sink in, contemplate it, and apply it to your knowledge base.
This is only the beginning, that is a guarantee. If you think even for a moment that just because you live in the United States that you are somehow exempt from such situations it's probably time to pull your head out of the sand, give yourself a good kick in the ass, and realize good ol' Uncle Sam's pockets are empty and he's all out of new/good ideas. Poor guy was sent to a retirement home years ago by the real owners of our country.
Have you been keeping an eye on inflation? If not you should be, food prices are rising at an astonishing pace and commodity prices are absolutely sky high, you can be your last silver dollar they are only going to get higher. Now is the time to prepare, to teach ourselves those arts and practices which were once "common sense" to our ancestors, those which we now lack.
Here is the simple fact of the matter: the world is a hostile place, even if we take away the politics and finances of the modern world, the simple fact of the matter is that life is hard, unpredictable, and flat out unfair on a daily basis. In our country and other developed countries we've had a pretty good handle on how to "game" the modern system to our advantage, to make things a bit more cushy and cozy, but in doing so we have ultimately surrendered our survival instincts. We have given our trust to a group of bureaucrats, bankers, and politicians, hell bent on making figures look good on paper while selling out our country, it's infrastructure, our rights, our security, our liberty, and our very culture while lining their own pockets. We have nothing but "free will" left and many of us have been broken of that nasty "free" thinking habit that those in power hate so much.
We have been left helpless and dependent on the teet of big government, we have been hand fed lies and illusions to build up some compulsory sense of "happiness" and passiveness by a group of puppet masters hiding in the shadows and we are woefully unprepared for the economic collapse that we are headed towards. Let's face it, as much as we'd love to believe our human brethren are above the watermark of Darwinian Evolution and it's primary concept of "Survival of the Fittest", we all know the shitstorm that's going to hit on that fateful morning that some catalyzing even toes us over the line drawn in the sand that separates civility and brotherhood from rape and pillage......and yet, tonight, millions of Americans will spend their fat fucking dollars from their fat fucking purses to buy shit they don't need with credit they don't have and they will never give a passing thought to the fact that their spider sense is tingling. Tthey will scarf down popcorn and watch porn movies while blabbering their mouths about "brown people" living in caves threatening our lives with weapons and skills they don't have all without ever turning an eye to that little dot they saw in their peripheral vision.
That's the "American Dream", right?
No it's not, it never has been and it never will be for some of us.
I'm not saying any of this to be crude, rude, or downright "doomy" I'm saying it because it's true.
Let us take a look at Egypt, I won't get into the politics of it other than to condemn our own president for not calling a spade a spade when it comes to Mubarak (an no, I don't believe a republican could have done any better, toss the coin and you'll get the same results), but have you stoped to think of the Geo-political ramifications from these events? Look up the Suez canal and get back with me, those of you "awake" will know exactly what I'm speaking of.
Meanwhile back in the U.S. Texas just asked Mexico for electricity......'cause we ain't producing it anymore. Oh and what's that, Arizona is out of natural gas?
Of course none of this is taking into account the wild card......natural disasters, we are on the precipice at any point in time on any given day of experiencing one. Yes they always cary negative consequences but at least 60 years ago we grew our own food, knew how to make our own tools, and understood the importance of caring and helping our community.
Are you prepared? I'm betting no. And how do I know that? Because I've been getting ready for 6 years and I am no where close to prepared.
Even if you think your prepared, I'm betting you have no idea what your talking about. Yes dear doom speakers building bunkers I mean you. If you need a bunker to "survive" I'm doubting your going to want to emerge into the world as it exists in a post apocalyptic world, I don't want to, instead I would urge you to focus on those things which you can control. Feed, Seed, Shelter, Storage, Water, Medicine and INFORMATION.
Of course you could get to it after the popcorn and porn I suppose.............
This is only the beginning, that is a guarantee. If you think even for a moment that just because you live in the United States that you are somehow exempt from such situations it's probably time to pull your head out of the sand, give yourself a good kick in the ass, and realize good ol' Uncle Sam's pockets are empty and he's all out of new/good ideas. Poor guy was sent to a retirement home years ago by the real owners of our country.
Have you been keeping an eye on inflation? If not you should be, food prices are rising at an astonishing pace and commodity prices are absolutely sky high, you can be your last silver dollar they are only going to get higher. Now is the time to prepare, to teach ourselves those arts and practices which were once "common sense" to our ancestors, those which we now lack.
Here is the simple fact of the matter: the world is a hostile place, even if we take away the politics and finances of the modern world, the simple fact of the matter is that life is hard, unpredictable, and flat out unfair on a daily basis. In our country and other developed countries we've had a pretty good handle on how to "game" the modern system to our advantage, to make things a bit more cushy and cozy, but in doing so we have ultimately surrendered our survival instincts. We have given our trust to a group of bureaucrats, bankers, and politicians, hell bent on making figures look good on paper while selling out our country, it's infrastructure, our rights, our security, our liberty, and our very culture while lining their own pockets. We have nothing but "free will" left and many of us have been broken of that nasty "free" thinking habit that those in power hate so much.
We have been left helpless and dependent on the teet of big government, we have been hand fed lies and illusions to build up some compulsory sense of "happiness" and passiveness by a group of puppet masters hiding in the shadows and we are woefully unprepared for the economic collapse that we are headed towards. Let's face it, as much as we'd love to believe our human brethren are above the watermark of Darwinian Evolution and it's primary concept of "Survival of the Fittest", we all know the shitstorm that's going to hit on that fateful morning that some catalyzing even toes us over the line drawn in the sand that separates civility and brotherhood from rape and pillage......and yet, tonight, millions of Americans will spend their fat fucking dollars from their fat fucking purses to buy shit they don't need with credit they don't have and they will never give a passing thought to the fact that their spider sense is tingling. Tthey will scarf down popcorn and watch porn movies while blabbering their mouths about "brown people" living in caves threatening our lives with weapons and skills they don't have all without ever turning an eye to that little dot they saw in their peripheral vision.
That's the "American Dream", right?
No it's not, it never has been and it never will be for some of us.
I'm not saying any of this to be crude, rude, or downright "doomy" I'm saying it because it's true.
Let us take a look at Egypt, I won't get into the politics of it other than to condemn our own president for not calling a spade a spade when it comes to Mubarak (an no, I don't believe a republican could have done any better, toss the coin and you'll get the same results), but have you stoped to think of the Geo-political ramifications from these events? Look up the Suez canal and get back with me, those of you "awake" will know exactly what I'm speaking of.
Meanwhile back in the U.S. Texas just asked Mexico for electricity......'cause we ain't producing it anymore. Oh and what's that, Arizona is out of natural gas?
Of course none of this is taking into account the wild card......natural disasters, we are on the precipice at any point in time on any given day of experiencing one. Yes they always cary negative consequences but at least 60 years ago we grew our own food, knew how to make our own tools, and understood the importance of caring and helping our community.
Are you prepared? I'm betting no. And how do I know that? Because I've been getting ready for 6 years and I am no where close to prepared.
Even if you think your prepared, I'm betting you have no idea what your talking about. Yes dear doom speakers building bunkers I mean you. If you need a bunker to "survive" I'm doubting your going to want to emerge into the world as it exists in a post apocalyptic world, I don't want to, instead I would urge you to focus on those things which you can control. Feed, Seed, Shelter, Storage, Water, Medicine and INFORMATION.
Of course you could get to it after the popcorn and porn I suppose.............
Sharing an article shared with me, the importance of which cannot be overstated!
Stuart from A Few Good Plants recently sent me the following e-mail and link. I think once you have had a chance to read the article you too will see the relevance of the danger that is currently smaking us in the face:
Alan
Read this piece carefully and I think you'll see this is one of the most sobering--and given its author, authoritative--essays on the seriousness of our predicament that I have seen.
Stuart
http://energybulletin.net/stories/2011-01-26/bee-keeping-energy-descent-future
Alan
Read this piece carefully and I think you'll see this is one of the most sobering--and given its author, authoritative--essays on the seriousness of our predicament that I have seen.
Stuart
http://energybulletin.net/stories/2011-01-26/bee-keeping-energy-descent-future
New World Crops!
Looks like tomato/potato breeder extrodinaire Tom Wagner and his/my friend Rob Wagner (Atash for those of you from Homegrown Goodness) have started a new seed related venture. New World Crops is a brand new seed company based on the work of Tom Wagner as well as the survivalism based research of Rob Wagner. I give the guys major props on getting the venture up and running in a time when it is needed most!
Rob also did an excellent introduction video over at their website extolling the virtures and the reasons now is the time to grow you own food.
Be sure to check it out!
Rob also did an excellent introduction video over at their website extolling the virtures and the reasons now is the time to grow you own food.
Be sure to check it out!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Returning to our roots: Growing tobacco for sacramental and economic purposes.
I always make it a point to let readers here know just exactly how I got my feet and hands firmly planted in the mud and muck of this farm; as a young child helping my grandparents and parents raise burley tobacco for market. We haven't grown tobacco as a commercial crop in many years, minus some growouts for seed production, but I am finding now is the time to turn back to it and see it as the sacrament it is and not the cheap drug it has become.
There are many reasons I have decided to turn back to tobacco cultivation (on a small percentage of the farm). The largest of course is my friend Bill Drake's The Cultivators Handbook of Natural Tobacco as well as a will and an interest in figuring out what tobacco was vs. what we see it as today, learning to revere it's shamanic qualities, and most of all respect it.
One: Trade and Barter.
You'll notice, if your observant, that the news is full of all kinds of negative stories nowdays, and nearly everywher you look people are "preparing" for something....even if it's something they don't fully understand. All around us we can see signs and visions of what might or might not be around the corner, but it's always better to be prepared than unprepared.
This is the primary motivator (secondary only to my love for farming) here at Bishop's Homegrown, the preparation for hard times, be it for any number of reasons, we should always be ready even if in hindsight we realize that a situation is blown out of proportion. If we ponder just how unnatural the world around us (humankind) has been constructed, built up, and pushed like propaganda down our throats in the last 150 years, it doesn't take a genious to realize just how fragile the system is. Those who are preparing likely already know the basics; seed saving, canning, butchering, hunting, bartering, fishing, cooking, ext.
What we should also be prepared for is the art of the barter, realizing that what people need and what people want are two different things and that learning to brew a bit of beer or wine or distilling moonshine, or growing illicit herbs (I'm not encouraging this, just saying!) for a possible future trade market, are just as important of skills as any "survival" skills you might have.
One item we often overlook is tobacco and even if were growing it, few of us know or truly understand how to properly cure it to remove the harshness. It is an art, one that is practiced with due dilligence.
Two: Reverence and Respect
I'm a freaking chain smoker. It's my one true vice. That said, I have cut back tremendously and switched over to American Spirit blend while I stand on the precipice of quitting (minus an ocassional pipe of natural homegrown tobacco or cigar in celebration or spiritual quest). I have no "respect" for the tobacco plant because I have abused it, more than that I and many family members and friends have been abused by the tobacco industry who maliciously sell us additive laced, compressed, rehydrated tobacco scrap mixed with paper and other unknown substances. It is because of these I need to reteach myself what tobacco is, why it is what it is, and what that amazing compound known as Nicotine was actually placed here for.
This will also allow me to grow tobacco for friends and family and help free them of the same chains that currently bind me.
Three: Economics regardless
Since I'm in the midst of getting the seed company off the ground and since theres a ton of other smokers out there willing to grow their own either because the price of store bought tobacco is outrageous or because they know what the tobacco companies are putting in their ciggarettes, it only makes financial sense to grow a crop and let it go to seed and to make some Ohio Valley adapted crosses and genepools available in the coming years.
Also however, looking into the laws (or lack therof) regarding the cultivation and sale of tobacco in Indiana I would be remiss not to mention that the idea of selling whole, unprocessed leaf of different types to connisiours and supernauts has crossed my mind.
This brings me to my next point. Tobbaco seed: A Sacred Gift
Often times when plant and animal breeders are looking for special traits they will turn their attention to wild species to search for little known traits, tobbacco is no different and any number of "wild" species do exist, but only one has a long history of cultivation going back to pre-columbian times, tying into the Virginia Colony and spanning such a vast geography, it is also considered highly sacred and has been used to offer blessings to the gods, to commune with the heavens, and to conjure up spirits throught the millenia.
Nicotiana Rustica.
It is very strong medicine one might say with a nicotine content hovering at about 10% as opposed to the tobaccum species which rates at 1-3% roughly.
Bill Drake founded the original Santa Fe tobacco company on this venerable sacrament in the late 70's/early 80's. It is for all intents and purposes to be considered a psychoactive herb with specific traits attuned to those with the ability and understanding to respect it.
Many different "cultivars" of Rustica exist and it is still used, only sparingly, in some pipe, cigar, and cigarette blends, but Bill was kind enough to share his strain with me. According to his book Tobacco Culture: The Cultivators Handbook Of Natural Tobacco the seeds were gifted to him by a friend who found them in a grave in New Mexico (likely that of a high ranking Shaman). Bill grew the seed and sampled the product and was astonished. To me this is the stuff of legend and truth.
My tobacco growing will be based around this venerable strain, a gift that a fellow walker as it were, shared with me but Bill was also kind enough to send along many other favorites of his which will make the list this season as well. I plan to grow in isolation and bag flowers for purity and to experiment with many different curing methods now that I have rebuilt my familial tobacco barn.
Of high interest to me is seeing how Nicotiana Rustica responds to the curing process that currently yields the well known, high quality, highly aromatic turkish, and what the right blend is for the casual smoker vs. what is safe for those wishing to see things as they truly are.
Friends from the world over have also shared unique cultivars of Rustica with me as well, another I'm interested in is called variously Mahorka or Machorka, it was apparently grown and smoked casually by the peasant class in the old soviet union up until the introduction of commercial tobaccos. Perhaps I feel a connection to it as a peasant as it has roots running deeply in that community as I do here on this farm and at my deepest tap am attuned still after all these years to tobacco culture.
Bill was also kind enough to send me one of these amazing t-shirts! E-mail him for prices directly at his site. cultivatorshandbook.com
I strongly urge any of you interested in tobacco cultivation to check out the book as well, look at it as if you were buying a text book for a require college course in your profession, in the long run you may very well thank me for the suggestion.
There are many reasons I have decided to turn back to tobacco cultivation (on a small percentage of the farm). The largest of course is my friend Bill Drake's The Cultivators Handbook of Natural Tobacco as well as a will and an interest in figuring out what tobacco was vs. what we see it as today, learning to revere it's shamanic qualities, and most of all respect it.
One: Trade and Barter.
You'll notice, if your observant, that the news is full of all kinds of negative stories nowdays, and nearly everywher you look people are "preparing" for something....even if it's something they don't fully understand. All around us we can see signs and visions of what might or might not be around the corner, but it's always better to be prepared than unprepared.
This is the primary motivator (secondary only to my love for farming) here at Bishop's Homegrown, the preparation for hard times, be it for any number of reasons, we should always be ready even if in hindsight we realize that a situation is blown out of proportion. If we ponder just how unnatural the world around us (humankind) has been constructed, built up, and pushed like propaganda down our throats in the last 150 years, it doesn't take a genious to realize just how fragile the system is. Those who are preparing likely already know the basics; seed saving, canning, butchering, hunting, bartering, fishing, cooking, ext.
What we should also be prepared for is the art of the barter, realizing that what people need and what people want are two different things and that learning to brew a bit of beer or wine or distilling moonshine, or growing illicit herbs (I'm not encouraging this, just saying!) for a possible future trade market, are just as important of skills as any "survival" skills you might have.
One item we often overlook is tobacco and even if were growing it, few of us know or truly understand how to properly cure it to remove the harshness. It is an art, one that is practiced with due dilligence.
Two: Reverence and Respect
I'm a freaking chain smoker. It's my one true vice. That said, I have cut back tremendously and switched over to American Spirit blend while I stand on the precipice of quitting (minus an ocassional pipe of natural homegrown tobacco or cigar in celebration or spiritual quest). I have no "respect" for the tobacco plant because I have abused it, more than that I and many family members and friends have been abused by the tobacco industry who maliciously sell us additive laced, compressed, rehydrated tobacco scrap mixed with paper and other unknown substances. It is because of these I need to reteach myself what tobacco is, why it is what it is, and what that amazing compound known as Nicotine was actually placed here for.
This will also allow me to grow tobacco for friends and family and help free them of the same chains that currently bind me.
Three: Economics regardless
Since I'm in the midst of getting the seed company off the ground and since theres a ton of other smokers out there willing to grow their own either because the price of store bought tobacco is outrageous or because they know what the tobacco companies are putting in their ciggarettes, it only makes financial sense to grow a crop and let it go to seed and to make some Ohio Valley adapted crosses and genepools available in the coming years.
Also however, looking into the laws (or lack therof) regarding the cultivation and sale of tobacco in Indiana I would be remiss not to mention that the idea of selling whole, unprocessed leaf of different types to connisiours and supernauts has crossed my mind.
This brings me to my next point. Tobbaco seed: A Sacred Gift
Often times when plant and animal breeders are looking for special traits they will turn their attention to wild species to search for little known traits, tobbacco is no different and any number of "wild" species do exist, but only one has a long history of cultivation going back to pre-columbian times, tying into the Virginia Colony and spanning such a vast geography, it is also considered highly sacred and has been used to offer blessings to the gods, to commune with the heavens, and to conjure up spirits throught the millenia.
Nicotiana Rustica.
It is very strong medicine one might say with a nicotine content hovering at about 10% as opposed to the tobaccum species which rates at 1-3% roughly.
Bill Drake founded the original Santa Fe tobacco company on this venerable sacrament in the late 70's/early 80's. It is for all intents and purposes to be considered a psychoactive herb with specific traits attuned to those with the ability and understanding to respect it.
Many different "cultivars" of Rustica exist and it is still used, only sparingly, in some pipe, cigar, and cigarette blends, but Bill was kind enough to share his strain with me. According to his book Tobacco Culture: The Cultivators Handbook Of Natural Tobacco the seeds were gifted to him by a friend who found them in a grave in New Mexico (likely that of a high ranking Shaman). Bill grew the seed and sampled the product and was astonished. To me this is the stuff of legend and truth.
My tobacco growing will be based around this venerable strain, a gift that a fellow walker as it were, shared with me but Bill was also kind enough to send along many other favorites of his which will make the list this season as well. I plan to grow in isolation and bag flowers for purity and to experiment with many different curing methods now that I have rebuilt my familial tobacco barn.
Of high interest to me is seeing how Nicotiana Rustica responds to the curing process that currently yields the well known, high quality, highly aromatic turkish, and what the right blend is for the casual smoker vs. what is safe for those wishing to see things as they truly are.
Friends from the world over have also shared unique cultivars of Rustica with me as well, another I'm interested in is called variously Mahorka or Machorka, it was apparently grown and smoked casually by the peasant class in the old soviet union up until the introduction of commercial tobaccos. Perhaps I feel a connection to it as a peasant as it has roots running deeply in that community as I do here on this farm and at my deepest tap am attuned still after all these years to tobacco culture.
Bill was also kind enough to send me one of these amazing t-shirts! E-mail him for prices directly at his site. cultivatorshandbook.com
I strongly urge any of you interested in tobacco cultivation to check out the book as well, look at it as if you were buying a text book for a require college course in your profession, in the long run you may very well thank me for the suggestion.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)