Farm Humor

                                         I looked out one morning to see this.

                                         Is this a stick-up?

                                         I can tell it's you, Emily.

Proverbs 27:27  "And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens."

Wildcrafting Herbs

  The early summer-like weather brought up a lot of wild herbs in the garden area. It was too early to plant anything so we got to see all of the useful plants that showed up. I've been able to harvest shepherd's purse, plantain, dandelion, and chickweed. There is also yellow dock, but I will let it grow for a while so the roots are bigger. I love finding the herbs in the garden area because it is fenced off from the animals and, of course, chemical-free. The comfrey is doing very well and already has flowers ready to bloom. I've been able to give starts of lemon balm, peppermint, tansy, and oregano. When looking in the woods the other day I spotted what appears to be wild yam. I will be checking that out again and positively identifying the plant before digging up some of the root.
 
"He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man...." Psalm104:14

The Future of Farming

.....and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks.....Isaiah 2:4.

Worthy Goal

When looking up a few words in Webster's 1828 Dictionary, I came across this:
HUSBANDMAN, n. A farmer; a cultivator or tiller of the ground; one who labors in tillage. In America, where men generally own the land on which they labor, the proprietor of a farm is also a laborer or husbandman; but the word includes the lessee and the owner.
FARMER, n. In Great Britain, a tenant; a lessee; one who hires and cultivates a farm; a cultivator of leased ground.
3. One who cultivates a farm; a husbandman; whether a tenant or the proprietor. United States.

One of the things that our country was founded on was the independent family farm. Certain things are the very FOUNDATIONS and this is one of them. In order to bring back our country we have to bring back this foundation. It is a must.
After reading these definitions I am aware more than ever of the precious gift that was given to us here in America. To own the land that you work. To be independent. To be free.
Bringing this back to our country is a most worthy goal.

"but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather." I Cor.7:21

Drop Spindle

Here is a homemade drop spindle for handspinning. It is nice and light so a thinner yarn can be spun.
This couldn't have been easier to make! Take a wooden toy wheel, cut a foot long piece of dowel to fit in the hole of the wheel, push the wheel onto the dowel leaving about two inches from the top, screw a small cup hook into the top, and it is ready to go! (Will round off the long end with sand paper but was too excited to wait to try it out.)
"She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff." Prov. 31:19.

Quote For The Day

   "Yeah, well I'd rather live poor in the country than rich in the city any day." (Made by a friend of a friend.)
     And, I agree one hundred percent.

Money-Saving Ideas

   The more you buy; the more money you have to earn. This takes you away from your children and your land.
   "And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands as we commanded you;
   That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing." IThess. 4:11&12 
   Some things that you can do are big: like growing your own fruits and vegetables and keeping your own animals for milk, meat, and fiber. (There are many other blessings to keeping animals and growing food,  but today we'll stick to money saving ideas).
   Then there are the not-so-big things that you can do; and many of you can start right now; right where you're at; while waiting for your land. Some suggestions are: make your own toothpaste and deoderant, make cloth napkins to use instead of buying paper ones, handkerchiefs instead of tissue, use rags instead of paper towels, sew your own clothes, make soap, make your own laundry detergent and household cleaners, create your own facial moisturizers and bath salts, etc., learn to spin fibers to knit, crochet, weave, and felt, learn how to and make your own home health remedies, grind your own grains for flour, and bake your own bread.
   Toothpaste can be made as simply as combining baking soda, coconut oil, stevia or honey for sweetening, and essential oils for flavor and breath freshening. Or you can remove the outer hulls from black walnuts, dry them, powder them, and dip your damp toothbrush in it for brushing.
   When you start sewing your own clothes you will have scraps of fabric left to use for making napkins. If you have a serger you can make a lot of napkins right away by cutting out the squares and serging around the edges. If you don't, just fold the edges over a little, press, fold again, and sew. You will also want to use some of those scraps to make quilts. There is nothing like a homemade quilt for warmth and comfort.
   If you use fabric that frays (the sides unravel) make your handkerchiefs like the cloth napkins. Flannel makes very soft handkerchiefs. If you use something that doesn't fray, like a cotton knit that you got when you took an old shirt apart, just cut out the squares and you are ready to go.
   You will save a lot of money when you make your own laundry detergent, household cleaners, and personal care items, and you will be able to make them non-toxic.
   Hope these things will help you get started.
   Recipes, more ideas, and how-to information will be coming up....