What the Economic Crisis Really Means - And What We Can Do About It

Yes, ANOTHER video for you to watch. I would really appreciate your thoughts and feed back. I know our system has and is collapsing. Our little family even feels the affects of that. I don't have such an optimistic view as this video of a future Utopian society... at least not until Christ returns. My faith tells me there WILL be such a Utopian society on Earth but frankly things get a lot worse before they get better. I do think community, local projects, and technology mentioned such as 3D printers are amazing. Money is worthless we just haven't realized it... so what can we do to change things around? Is it possible? Clearly we can work to live within our means, live debt free, share what we have, repurpose, reuse, recycle, etc. Can we do more in the mist of a crisis? 

My passion remains with food. It is hard to explain but I want to help grow food. To feed my family and make some additional income to help take such a heavy burden off of Gary but also to feed the hungry and needy. What are your thoughts on this video? Are things getting worse or better? What is your family doing to prepare for harder times?

Food Stamped: Watch for Free One Week Only!

Did you know that September 2012 is hunger action month? Did you know that 49 MILLION Americans face hunger daily? That is 1 in 6 people - 1 in 5 children. **Wow**. Let that sink in. Someone and their KIDS are hungry in your neighborhood. I just don't know what to do with that number. With the rampant increase in diet related health problems in our country it is easy to see the correlation. Cheap food doesn't equal good-for-you food. 

Husband and wife Yoav and Shira Potash, in their documentary "Food Stamped", take a look at whether or not it is possible to eat healthy on food stamps. With $50.00 a week for two people, a dollar per person per meal, they shop for organic ingredients for a full seven day period. Is it possible to eat healthy, real food? Watch to find out (free until Saturday). If you have the money please support this film or any number of food related causes. One thing is for sure: eating healthy requires time, knowledge, access and of course good planning.

I have thought of our family as frugal and wise with our food dollars (with room for improvement of course) spending $100-$150 roughly every week for five people but now I feel pushed farther to be even "thriftier". To increase my efforts if you will. Here is a family that spends only $100 a month on food and they chronicle their choices on their blog "One Hundred Dollars a Month". Transforming their food budget from $800+ monthly to just $100 a month in four years is pretty impressive. Granted browsing through their blog this evening did revival some food choices that real foodie snobs would turn up their noses at I give them huge props for what they are achieving. Looking for more you can do right now? Visit Hunger Action Month for ideas.

I need time to digest what I just watched, how it affected me, and what I am going to do about it. Clearly 2 a.m. is not the time for that but I wanted to watch the film in it's entirety before I recommended you do the same. I think it is more than worth it though. 

Let's all think heavily on this issue. It shouldn't be one that we just glance at and ignore. How do you make your money go far in this really rocky economy? What do you think we should do to help feed America's hungry? Until next time.

Stop Internet Censorship

Update! According to an email I received last night 13 million people told Congress to protect free speech rights on the internet and the SOPA  and PIPA bills were dropped. Apparently even other major nations stopped and took notice. Pretty impressive.

Now if only we could protect the right to choice for vaccinations, raw-milk, and the rights of small organic farms the same way. I can't tell you how many petitions I have signed asking GMO foods to be labeled as President Obama promised before he was elected.

However, it is still awesome to see that the people do still have a say in the politics their government practices...

Normally this would go on our soapbox page... but it is time sensitive and happening today!

Ways to see just what this is all about:
Infographic (a general diagram of what the bill will do... notice censorship of emails?!? How about Uncle Sam just listen in on every phone conversation while they are at it.)
Stop American Censorship Website (sign a petition)
Wikipedia - Stop Online Piracy Act
Craig's List SOPA & Action Page
List of Strike Sites

Watch this video:

On Jan 24th, Congress will vote to pass internet censorship in the Senate. Kill the bills: PIPA in the Senate and SOPA in the House. Our rights to free speech, privacy, and prosperity depend on it.

Sheep Lawn Mowers, and Other Go-Getters

OBERLIN, Ohio

In this verdant lawn-filled college town, most people keep their lawn mowers tuned up by oiling the motor and sharpening the blades. Eddie Miller keeps his in shape with salt licks and shearing scissors.

Mr. Miller, 23, is the founder of Heritage Lawn Mowing, a company that rents out sheep — yes, sheep — as a landscaping aid. For a small fee, Mr. Miller, whose official job title is “shepherd,” brings his ovine squad to the yards of area homeowners, where the sheep spend anywhere from three hours to several days grazing on grass, weeds and dandelions.

The results, he said, are a win-win: the sheep eat free, saving him hundreds of dollars a month in food costs, and his clients get a freshly cut lawn, with none of the carbon emissions of a conventional gas-powered mower. (There are, of course, other emissions, which Mr. Miller said make for “all-natural fertilizer.”...

Check out the rest of the article at NYTIMES.COM

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Oberlin is right in my backyard practically. Just 20 minutes away and with some dear friends living in that city if feels as if this little piece of news is taking place right here on the streets of Berea. And why shouldn't it!?! But don't stop with the summary above. There are some awesome people out there creating a living for themselves in unusual and practical ways. I am inspired. Plus, I want to open up a StockBox Grocers down the street in our personal food desert.

The Global Village Construction Set

He had me at "farmer"... completely worth watching. The concept of open-sourced blueprints for civilization is just awesome. No doubt Gary will want to be building a tractor in our backyard once he sees this. Although as far as farming goes give me a pony and a plow and I will be happy...





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I love learning something new everyday. Honestly, the majority of my reading is non-fiction. I find so many interesting and informative pieces of information that I would LOVE to share but I have to hold myself back. I apologize now if you are in information overload. I really do try to contain myself. 

Alternatives to Toxic Medical Cancer Treatment

I share this video (which may or may not be available to watch online for free much longer) because I find it directly correlates to certain farmer's struggles with the FDA. Just as farmers and consumers a like struggle for the right to sell and consume raw milk and healthy traditional, real food, so is Doctor Burzynski struggling to be allow to save people's lives.

Our government has a strong hand on our health and choices regarding our health. If you don't know that, then you need to. If you choose to not vaccinate or delay vaccinate your own child, no doubt you have felt some pressure regarding your choices. One parent in the video even states that as they faced terminal cancer in their very young child's brain their very doctors told them that the parent's opinions and choices don't weigh as heavily as the doctor's opinions and choices. Those doctor's were in favor of heavy radiation treatment that would leave the child a vegetable for the rest of his or her's very short life.

What a travesty it is to live in a nation that alternative and scientifically successful medical treatment is treated as fraud and persecuted as our farmers are. I share this video not just for Dr. Burzynski's struggle but the struggle of every person facing cancer and not able to have honest choices regarding their health.

Burzynski: Cancer Is Serious Business from BurzynskiMovie on Vimeo.

Please take sometime to know the battle's these parents, individuals, and doctors are going through.

Who Says A Farm Can't Be Pretty?

Source

There are times when I feel surrounded by mud and chicken poop. The mud gets into the cracks in my feet and hands and I simply can't even scrub it away. Dust and dirt fills my house and my baby crawls around in dirty pants from sitting in the greenhouse. My one pair of cut off shorts that I run to the grocery store in has permanent dirt stains on them and make me feel like I stick out like a sore thumb.

Our budget is ZERO. If it isn't free; we can't get it. It is like eating a piece of humble pie to compare my farm with the lovely backyards out of magazines or HGTV. I live in the city so I want my barn or chicken coop but I want it to look like a garden cottage. I will tell you a confession of the heart right now... I want pretty things. Yes, I want a farm. Yes, I want to raise my own food. No, I don't want it to look junkie, smell funny, or appear run down. So when you are faced with the reality of buying a run down, falling apart house, with a yard that hasn't been mowed regularly in years and having a ZERO budget things don't always look like you want and it can be discouraging. What can you do but keep on trucking?

I trust the vision in my head and hope that some day it will look that lovely in reality. Until then? Who says you can't have a pretty farm?

Decorating the Farm

To read the whole New York Times article entitled The Decorator Shed. It certainly isn't much of a working farm but I can relate to the feelings behind giving up on the working farm life and giving into the pretty... OK just a bit.

Pressing on my Heart

I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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How could you argue with the words and logic of Martin Luther King, Jr.? You can't. He gave his life for what he believed... I have debated if I should say something or not regarding the death of Osama Bin Laden. A former professor posted the above quote on his Facebook wall. That is exactly how I feel. I am not anti-American. I am not forgetting what was lost. I remember quite vividly the chaos, pain, heartache, heroism and patriotism around the tragic events of September 11, 2001. However, God will not allow my heart to cheer over the death of that sad, angry, lost man. No. Without Jesus as His Savior, Osama Bin Laden is forever separated from God. How much more sad can that be? What he orchestrated was disgusting and evil but I will not raise my glass to his death any more than I would to a person's death on death row. It seems unchristian.

"Revenge is mine declares the Lord"... no matter how just it might be.

Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. - Romans 12:19

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Please forgive me if I offended you. It would never be my intent. God Bless

If You Love Me...

This sweatshirt was a thrift store find. I'm pretty sure it was around when I was a kid. All of my little ones have spent a good amount of time in this particular shirt. Maybe, just maybe, it's because I love the message...

If You Love Me...

Read Me A Story

If you ask me, all kids should have this shirt.

Attention Tea Drinkers ...

Disclaimer: I am full of useless information. This is stuff I have read somewhere and retain in my head for some reason. Use this only to impress your tea drinking friends and not for actual research purposes.

White, green, and black tea. An educated tea drinker knows that all tea comes from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, therefore tea is categorized by the age that the leaf is plucked and the method of controlled chemical reactions (oxidation) that occurs after harvesting. Oxidation is the natural chemical process that occurs if the leaf is not immediately heated to 170*F after picking. It basically means the tea is left to darken and wither. Allowing the leaf to wilt creates a darker cup of tea with higher levels of caffeine (okay, maybe even an educated tea drinker doesn't know all of that). So without getting into too much detail and bringing in a bunch of tea names the general public is not aware of and to keep this from being a boring long post, I'm dividing popular teas into three categories: white, green and black.

White tea is the newest tea on the Western market and is getting some exciting news. It differs from other tea because it is made from the unopened buds of the tea plant. When it is harvested the bud is covered with a fine white fuzz which is why it is known as white tea. The buds are not left to wilt and oxidize but instead are immediately steam dried giving a wonderfully light flavor and richly healthy cup of tea. This variety has very low caffeine (5-10% of coffee) and contains the most anti-oxidents of all teas. It is properly prepared and enjoyed using water just short of boiling.

Green tea is processed identically to the white tea with the age of the tea leaf being the difference. It is dried soon after harvesting. Receiving very little processing creates its characteristic raw and grassy flavor. The caffeine level about 15-20% of coffee. This tea should be made with water that is just short of boiling, as using hotter water will produce a bitter cup of tea.

Black tea is leaves allowed to whither for five hours before being steamed giving you a fully oxidized, dark and bitter cup of tea. It contains about 45% of caffeine as coffee. Black tea should be made with water near the boiling point.

Like I mentioned before, I would be silly to try to categorize all tea into only three categories. There are lesser known varieties such as oolong and pu-erh, medicinal herbal infusions, teas whose flavor vary from the regions that they are produced, and tons more.

I must say that I drink lots of white tea, organic of course, about three cups a day. No sugar, no milk, just hot tea. I love it.

Although while writing this I am drinking a coffee. Ironic?

Barter: Trade instead of Pay

Lets be honest. Money is tight. It's not just you but your neighbor and your boss and even his boss. But we still want and need things. Stuff to get projects done or prepare for the future. Things to help us get where we are going and to become who we are to be. Some of the things we want we really can't go without. I say we bring back bartering. After all, we each have something to offer to get that something we want.

source

Trading is far from a new idea. From pre-currency societies to the elementary school cafeteria, we have relied on it to use what we have to get what we want. And its not only juice boxes for twinkies, but paper clips for houses! Its a super way to save cash, get to know neighbors and go green!

Bartering is saving money. By definition, it requires no money whatsoever. You are not spending needlessly to acquire items that are single use or project specific. The parties involved are the ones determining an equal exchange, eliminating the middle man (and tax). And the best part is you can exchange something you already have for something you want or need for no cash. Always think about what you don't need before you get something new!

Bartering is local. Neighbors exchanging with neighbors builds community.

Bartering is green. Recycling at its most basic. Its giving a second life to items or personal expertise.

What more motivation do you need to get rid of that pile in your basement and trade it for something you can really use! Truth is bartering is well on its way for a comeback. There are plenty of sites that facilitate swapping. Have you been to...?

BarterQuest is site where you can both list and search for bartered items. Did you know you can exchange cookies for a laptop?

Listing 10 books is all that is required to get you in at paperback swap. As your books are requested you pay to mail them out and earn credits. Then use your credits to request other listed books for free! This site is a personal favorite of mine!

Is your daughter finally over her Hannah Montana phase? Your teen not playing that video game as much as you had hoped? At swap.com you can trade books, movies, music and video games. They recently began hosting swapaholics events where women gather to trade high end clothing and accessories in giant pop-up boutiques. Swap.com also encourages you to get involved and host your own local swaps. Sweet!

craigslist

And if you have been living under a rock, you have not yet discovered the wonder of craigslist. Not the prettiest site but it gets the job done. I purchased my sons bike and sold my extra bamboo flooring. Love the free stuff and check it often!

Really the possibilities are endless. Trade webdesign for childcare, cooking for car maintenance, patio furniture for photography, lawn care for power tools...

Hope for a Family

One of our advent activities this year is to sponsor a child.

• To impact circumstances in someone else's life.
• To show God's love and acceptance.
• To be an active example of compassion to my children and others.

In some cases the decision to sponsor is the easy part. The number of child sponsorship charities out there is bewildering. Its tough to know which to choose. While doing my personal research I found an amazing site that ranks charities. I know that sounds a bit weird to rank charities but seriously, we need to know where our money is going.

After some clicking and reading, I think we are going to be sponsoring through the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging.

94% of the money donated goes directly to your child, not a general fund, but the exact child you sponsor.You will recieve at least 2 letter a year as well as an updated picture. CFCA suggests you also write to encourage your friend. Even trips are arranged for you to meet your child. Like other sponsor sites, it allows you to search by birth date or gender. Unlike so many others it also offers you the option to sponsor the aging or even the possibility of your donation benefiting an entire family!

How To: Cloth Diapers

OK. This isn't Christmas or Christmas related but I want to keep good on a promise to a friend and explain how I use cloth diapers. Now Jackie is the real "Pro" at cloth diapers. She has been diapering for 10 years and for 5 children. I have only been using cloth diapers for a couple of months for my first child, but it is easy and definitely saves money.

Wade was small for a long time and we received lots of Huggies Pure and Natural disposable diapers, so until 3 and 1/2 months Wade wore disposables. He still wears disposables at night time (a generic brand) because he is such a heavy wetter, but I hope to be transferring him soon into cloth at night as well. When you look at the price of a case of disposable diapers not to mention the large amount of trash they create you can see why cloth diapers can be appealing.

Now my grandmothers and my mother used cloth diapers but their options weren't as numerous as today's. You used a cloth diaper, a safety pin, and a plastic pull up cover. Done. Honestly, as confused as I was looking at all the options out there when it comes down to it, cloth diapers is the same then as now. The covers are just fancier and sometimes the cover and the diaper are one and sometimes the cover and the diaper is separate.

I was blessed to inherit some covers and so influencing the system I used. I received 6 medium sized covers and liners of the gDiaper brand. Now gDiapers could be one of the more expensive cloth diapering systems if you buy their gCloth and gRefills. Don't worry about any of that. Here is how I diaper:

Infant size Chinese Prefold cloth diaper, gDiaper liner, gDiaper cover

1. Rather than spend the money on the gDiaper brand items (other than the covers and liners) I used eBay and purchased 24 Chinese Prefold Diapers. Total cost was $30.00 (shipping was free). I do think that I will purchase 24 more around Christmas/New Years, but I have already seen my return on investment.
2. I received as a hand-me-down (I LOVE hand-me-downs) 6 medium covers & some well worn liners which saw me through until Wade turned 5 months old (he got big quick!). I purchased a bundle from gDiapers of 6 large covers and 6 liners for a total of around $80.00 including shipping.
3. I then purchase 6 addition liners on sale at a price of $14.99 for a total of $20.00 with shipping. That gave me 12 new liners and 6 old ones, several of which I ended up throwing out because they were so worn they had holes.

Once you are get comfortable at diapering you will need more cloth diapers and liners than covers. But getting used to diapering I needed to wash my covers more. I really don't go through covers very quickly at this point at all and liners don't need to be changed at every diaper change unless they are soiled or stinky.

Chinese Prefold folded into "thirds" and cover with liner snapped in.

Wash your prefolds a bunch before using because they shrink and make sure you buy infant size! The prefolds are still large for the liners but it ends up working out well for "padding up front" where Wade needs it.

Side view of how I fold over the extra diaper in the front

Diaper ready to put on baby

Last but not least what to do with dirty diapers...

I use a simple bag system but will probably be moving them to a trash can with lid in the future. The wet diapers simply get put into the bag. The soiled diapers are rinsed off in the toilet and then put in the bag. When I am running low on diapers I dump all the dirty diapers in my washer. Add some organic laundry soap and turn on the hot water wash cycle. I do add an extra rinse but to this type of laundry ONLY. This is also the only laundry I wash with hot or even warm water. Then line dry the liners and covers and if you have time the cloth diapers.

You have a happy baby and clean diapers ready to go again!

Heifer International : Give a Goat..or a chicken...

Eden going to collect eggs this past summer

Being a farmer (I use that term loosely) raising animals are part of our daily family chores. My kids know where our hamburgers and eggs come from on a first hand basis. I realize that in the United State our way of life seems uncommon but in most parts of the world its the way to ensure provisions for your family. This is why I love the giving through Heifer International. The whole idea behind Heifer is similar to the biblical story of how it is better to teach a man to fish so he can feed himself for a lifetime rather than just giving him a fish that will provide him with a single meal. Heifer International gives families a source food, such as livestock or seeds, rather than short-term relief. Families are educated on the care of their animals or seeds and then encouraged to pay it forward to another family when their animals or seeds reproduce. In this way, a single donation to a family can drastically effect an entire community. Wow! Shopping is fun at Heifer International, with so many options and levels of giving. You can "buy" a goat ($120) or a share of a goat ($10). A flock of ducks is only $20! I could easily see a business forgoing exchanging gifts in the workplace and instead buying the gift of an ark (15 pairs of animals sent all over the world to change lives!)

After all, sometimes all a child needs to be healthy and happy.... is a goat!

And its not just a Christmas thing either. You can volunteer, visit, learn, and even do fundraising though Heifer International!