Farmers of Forty Centuries

This is a book that I just recently read and want to recommend to my followers here. It is a wonderful and enlightening book written around a hundred years ago by one of the USDA researchers who went on an extended information gathering trip through China, Korea, and Japan to study their agricultural practices. I couldn't put it down and I know you won't be able to either.

Some of the book can be quite dry since it was after all a report for the USDA on how we could utilize the successes of the Asian countries. Of course it was a wasted trip since it was never incorporated here as it is very labor intensive. Such a shame! You as an individual eco-farmer/gardener can and should consider some of their ideas into your plans. I am.

I give this book ***** stars!

URBAN FARM MAGAZINE

I am a fan of "good" magazines that give you a lot of helpful info and I just found this one yesterday, called: URBAN FARM Sustainable City Living.

You might wonder why I would be interested in a magazine for urban farming since I live out in the country on ten acres. The reason is simple...I like to make use of every tiny space I have here and this is the kind of magazine you need for this type of goal.


We have quite a few outbuildings on the two acres that we use for our own personal/business use and that takes up room. I have to find unique ways to garden amongst the different buildings, bamboo groves, and islands of exotic plants everywhere.


One of my favorite ways to find and use sunny spots is by using containers of every size and shape. I was mightily disappointed this winter when a few of my glass vases I had outside for growing lotus and duckweed broke in a million pieces from the freakish, ten day cold snap we experienced in January. I had them for many years so this was quite a shock.


Anyway, back to the magazine. There are great articles on square foot gardening, composting solutions, keeping a small flock of chickens and much more. I hope that you will check out a copy for yourself. I have not been able to put mine down since purchasing it yesterday while Db and I were shopping for some home improvement materials at Lowes.


Since the mag is put out by the same folks who publish Hobby Farms magazine, you should be able to find it where this is sold. If not, you can subscribe to it online at the link I have provided.


Have a great week!

Pond Almighty!

It was a beautiful Sunday and Db and I spent the morning and part of the afternoon working outside getting ready for the summer season.

Ornamental grasses were cut down to the ground, swing set was taken down so new chains could be purchased this week, old shutters out of an antebellum home that were sitting out front for a couple weeks were moved into one of the sheds. Exhausting but invigorating day!

Around 3:00 a load of Chad's friends drove in from town for an afternoon of fishing and relaxing. The young men were kind enough to see that our cement table top was on the ground and the umbrella in the woods where a tornado last summer touched down. Way too heavy for us to move without a lot of strong arms.

My big truck tires are filled with compost and should be ready to plant herbs in a few weeks now that the heat is here. I have strawberries in one, potatoes in another, and the other three will be planted with culinary herbs for my recipes.

I hope your Sunday was just as nice! Later gator!

Micro Eco-Farming

I recently purchased the book, Micro Eco-Farming by Barbara Berst Adams. So far I have read it from cover to cover three times. Why, you ask? I guess because it describes my own life. Making a living from my own place by doing what I do best. Soon, my dh will join me here to do what he does best.

Micro Eco-Farming is sustainablly living on your own property, no matter how small, and managing to make a living for yourself and or your family. It is being done all over the country and world but is just now becoming noticed. It is not for everyone, but those who are not afraid of hard work and do not want to have a boss hanging over their shoulder 8-10 hours a day, it is a dream job!

Those who read my posts on a regular basis know that I grow rare plants for plant collectors and bonsai enthusiasts. I also make garden art under the pseudonym, 'Lenora', sell my home baked cookies and other delectable, in a tiny gift/tea cottage next to my greenhouse and love to talk "dirt". I also sell a wonderful plant elixir that I developed myself over the past 40 years that will provoke miracles in sickly plants or new cuttings.

My dh is an auto body shop owner and has built a 30' X 50' shop next to my greenhouse and cottage that resembles a red barn. He is moving here shortly to semi-retire at stb 65 in August. To retire completely is in neither of our vocabularies.

I am not going to give anything away on the above mentioned book, but I highly recommend you read it if you are wanting to "live the good life". You won't be sorry. It will give you the encouragement and ideas you need to step out of the mainstream and step into another realm. Small, interesting, and inexpensive so give it a read.

*I have no connection with the author and am receiving no renumerations for mentioning her book here.