Rocks

We plan to order some Gravel to rock our Drive. Earlier in October, I phoned our Neighbor to ask about the best time "in the Sign". In that tradition which we respect, the best time is in the Light of the Moon (when the Moon is waxing). That's the 1st 2 weeks up until and including "Full Moon". This time is optimal for "above ground". To put down Rock in the Dark of the Moon basically just gives the Rock back to the Earth and it sinks in.

The County gravelled our Road today. They customarily do this every 2 years as a part of our Taxes. On this day, the Moon began the "Dark of the Moon" time.

Recipe: Bean Soup

(Serves 6-8)

Assortment of 2-3 Cups of Dry Edible Beans (I used 8 different Heirloom Varieties: Cherokee Trail of Tears, Cherokee Wax, Hidatsa Shield Figure, Vermont Cranberry, Yin and Yang, Horticulture, Missouri Wonder Pole, and Arikara Yellow.)*
4 to 6 Cups Filtered Water
1/4 Cup Cooking Oil (we use Olive or Grape Seed)
2 Quarts Canned Tomatoes*
1 Medium Onion, Chopped*
2 Cloves Garlic, Minced*
1 Pint Carrots (I used Yellow Carrots)*
1 1/2 Cups Celery (Chopped)*
1 Green Pepper (Chopped)*
2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley*

(1) Ideally I start the Beans the night before, or early the morning I plan to serve the Soup. This little step actually reduces the time the Soup takes to cook. Rinse Dry Edible Beans. Place in Pan. Add filtered Water about double the volume of Beans. Add 2 Tablespoons Oil. (The Oil will reduce the likelihood that the Beans will boil over.) Cover, but with lid somewhat ajar. (Again, this decreases likelihood that Beans will boil over.) Bring to Boil. Boil over medium heat about 10 minutes. Turn off Burner and let Beans sit overnight. (This allows the Beans to partially cook prior to making the Soup.)
(2) Drain liquid.
(3) Add all remaining ingredients (including remaining 2 Tablespoons of Oil). Bring to boil. Allow to cook at a slow gentle Boil (just above a Simmer) until Beans are soft but not smush. I cooked this batch of Bean Soup about 1 1/2 hours.
(4) Serve with Cornbread or other Homemade Bread.
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"*" refers to ingredients that we grew. On this day, that Green Pepper was our last of the Season from the Garden. All ingredients are chemical free.

Nature's Subtlety

November 1:

The Osage Orange Hedge on the Eastern Boundary of the Farm has now dropped most of its Leaves. A Few Leaves are still held on the Branches as if the Tree is tenderly Holding a now distant Memory of the Growing Seasons which were only a short time before.

I love the Color of the Sky at this Season. I cannot describe it, but it is a Blue which is found at no other time. At this Season, a Pinkish Color seems to rise up along the Edges of the Wood in the Early Morning. The Pink is warm although the Season of Warmth has now past.

When we walk about the Land, I love to note the distinct differences between the Habits and Colors of the Plants. The Mulberry Trees now are decorated with Glowing Yellow Leaves. We weren't sure what they were. Now that we know, we had not known that we had so many Mulberries on this Little Farm. We will have to watch them closely this next year.

I love to watch Nature and her subtlety. If someone were to present me with a series of Slides and Sensations of the Seasons, I would surely want to know exactly the Season on the Face of this Farm. It really isn't a lot different from that yearning one has in getting to know a Cherished Friend.

Places We Will Go

As we have been sinking our Roots into this Little Farm these past 3 years, each of us seems to be drawn to different things. What Richard or Melanie might be drawn to, I wouldn't have given a thought. Yet once the idea is out, we think: "Wow. That's neat. I am not sure how s/he got there, but it feels right." We are each taking Root and sending out Seeds into different places.

In reflecting on these things, I often consider the Lessons of our Great Teacher: Nature. It's no secret that Nature likes diversity. I hope Nature likes what we are doing. I imagine that She has been nudging us all along. I just hope we develop keener senses of listening. Who knows the places we will go.

In the last 2 weeks, Melanie felt drawn to offer 3 Seed Varieties from our Collection to Seed Savers Member Exchange. She thought it would be good to get involved as saving Seeds and maintaining Seed Diversity are very important issues for us. Melanie notes that she made the decision to become involved late, so she did not save Seeds for that purpose. We have plenty of Seeds for the 3 she selected. This will be something that we each will be thinking more about over the coming Seasons.

Seed Savers Exchange 2009 Yearbook contains 13,263 unique varieties (and 20,733 total listings). Catalogs come to Members in February; this is the 1st time Seed Savers Exchange is offering their Catalog online. Melanie smiles and notes: "It's just a big Seed Swap with your closest Friends throughout the World."

http://www.seedsavers.org/Content.aspx?src=membership.htm

Tender Times

These are Tender Times of transition for our Human Community. Everything seems to have changed or is on the point of Changing. That is not necessarily bad. Hopefully we are coming into the Light.

In the midst of it all, a lot of Systems are just not working. Even the simplest of Tasks and Expectations seem to be mired in complications. On our Life's Paths, many People are facing small and large Challenges at every turn. A lot of Folks are plain stretched to the limit and beyond.

I think we will each find our way through this. I am comforted by knowing that Everything has a Purpose. I just need to yield to that Purpose and Higher Good. Self Care is important. We need to find our Individual Places to negotiate this Sacred Time so that we may each come into fullness of our Being. It is why we came.

What a Ride.

Between Harvest and Winter

October 31:

After drying, Seeds are beginning to present themselves in tidy little Envelopes. Yes, they are "half Envelopes" recycled from that vast array that comes through the Mail. Soon, even the Seeds will be put away.

As I watch the growing stack of Seeds tucked in their Little Envelopes, I am thinking ahead and scratching my head: What is the best organizational system to integrate Seeds of the Current Garden Year, Previous Garden Years, our Seeds and Commercially Acquired Seeds? I have a basic system in place for the Current Garden Year, which is superb. But the Overall Workable System is going to need some thought. I shall give that a bit of time to cook. My stretched Brain Cells need some time to rest and refresh.

As the Seed Collection for the Current Year is complete, we are beginning to think ahead beyond Harvest. Will we start to finish the Painting soon? That will feel good.

In between times, we are beginning to sneak in some much needed Rest and even some Free Time to do other things. After a very intensive 3 1/2 months, I must admit that most of me is hardwired into operating in overdrive. Is this Rest and Free Time real? We shall have to take some time to relax and truly sink into that space.

Nature Notes

While they have been our companions over the last few months, Turkey Vultures are now gone. They have moved on South to their Wintering Grounds. Richard thinks they would likely still be in North America.

He says that terrestrial Soaring Birds with long broad Wings (such as Hawks and Pelicans) rarely travel over long expanses of Water. Oceans and Seas have no thermals (or updrafts) created. Birds must use a totally different approach to flying and migrating. They either have to be adapted to flying over water or constantly "wing flap".

We Humans look at those small Skulls and nod our large Craniums with some kind of a self assessed Superior Knowing: "Small Brains." However, what those Birds know is amazing. I guess they know their limits. Knowing limits is good. Being Humble is good too.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Turkey_Vulture/id