Back, in the saddle.

So I feel like we have crossed this major milestone! After our self-sufficient homestead efforts being delayed for multiple reasons (such as cancer, and babies, and clots in the brain, and military deployments, and horrific car accidents, and ... well, I'm sure the list goes on) it finally feels like we are getting back on track. Very exciting developments here. Finally got our chicken coop!!! Hoorah! :D A few other things going on. Vermicomposting provided soil for the two raised beds in place, bat house just needing the video feed, and seed storage continued through the tough times. I am very hopeful, and ever so excited to be moving forward. Quite a lot planned for this year, but I realize I need to go slow. In the works is video feed to the coop and bathouse. Going easy on the gardening this season, as we still do not have working sprinkler system. Watering manually in the Mojave Desert is grueling at best. Lots of innovations out there for disabled gardening, so researching those before making a huge investment. Eggs is a good start. Everyone here at homestead misses our ducks dearly, so the bantams will add a bit of cheer. We will be documenting things on our YouTube channel, and here in the blog, as well as on friendface (aka FaceBook). We are, of course, on G+ . ' When we started this Journey in 2002, not many people were doing edible landscaping or gardens or backyard chickens... in the last decade these things have really taken off. I am so impressed and grateful for all the wonderful resources there are out there. Many familiar faces from those days of muddling through and asking one another "how can we...?" are successfully DOING, and teaching. It is very humbling. I thank you all for the shared knowledge and experiences. I count my many blessings! Wow! Next leg of the journey ahead. Happy dance! In deepest gratitude and excitement, MojaveMomma

Bees Please

I want the Golden Mean Top Bar Hive. :D

Keep Moving Forward

So I haven't posted much... okay, at all, in the last year. Lots of changes, and still much remains the same. Family size went down by one when my husband's kid brother moved back with his mother. Finally received disability determination, phew! Money helps! First attempt at getting pregnant interrupted by horrific car accident... and now several years later doctors willing to let us have another go; resulted in a year of angst and hormonal ups and downs while trying, and no baby. Soo grateful for the two little miracle babies we have. One started his freshman year of high school, and the other started first grade. Finally got the definitive diagnosis of high-functioning autism for the little one, a relief and a starting point to be sure. A TIA, two surgeries and a lot of convalescence time in between, and I think we are at a good moving on point.

Now that those things are under control, I am ready to push into the other things that got waylaid after the car accident. Garden wishlist done, landscape plan drafted, orchard knowledge acquired, researching Nigerian dairy goats, ponds ready to install, crawdad contact on standby, tortoise group membership paid, coop and pergola plans ready... next step is to pull it all together and "Get'er Done!".

Funding?

Oh yeah, there IS that. LOL!

Recession Proof Family?

Nightline interview with Jules Dervaes, taking a good look at their Urban Homestead, which Jules explains is his recession proof plan.
Living the Real Simple Life (ABC Nightline)


The Dervaes' family has been an inspiration for me and many others.
A hearty Thank You to Jules and the other visionary people creating the revolutionary urban homesteading movement.

Making THE Difference

On my first day at a new job with a national non-profit agency, my boss saw I was overwhelmed and shared with me one of his favorite stories:

"After a huge storm, a young girl was running along the shore and rescuing the little fish that had been trapped in  pools on the beach. I watched the girl for more than an hour, thinking how much energy and time she was wasting. As she approached she asked me if I would help. I explained that there would never be enough time to rescue them all before the puddles dried up, and that it simply wouldn't make any difference. She looked me square in the eye and as she scooped up one little fish said very plainly 'I may not be able to save them all,' as she tossed it back into the safety of the ocean 'but to This fish, I have made all the difference in the world."

It is in this spirit that I want to share a charity that has touched our lives:

"The Dinner Garden provides seeds, gardening supplies, and gardening advice free of charge to all people in the United States of America. We assist those in need in establishing food security for their families. Our goal is for people to plant home, neighborhood, and container gardens so they can use the vegetables they grow for food and income." (or visit The Dinner Garden on Facebook)

Please consider donating goods, time, or financial support to this incredible organization if you can. It may not end hunger for everyone, but for one family it makes all the difference in the world!

Thank You.

Goji ~ 2009 & 2010

Goji Harvest, October 2009

  

Goji waking up! (thought it was a goner), March 2010

Words to Live by

We all have a few "Words to Live by", quotes that we love and that inspire us.
I wanted to take a moment to share a few of my favorite with you.
I hope that you too will share your own words of wisdom, please comment below.

Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do Without. (WWI era saying)

"In our society we are not called citizens anymore, we are called consumers"   Fritz Haeg 

(gives one pause, does it not?)

"Rethink the possible. Start where you are, and do something different." Jules Dervaes