51 Tons

We ordered 1 inch Gravel for our drive. It took 2 Truckloads, each load weighing 51,000 pounds. That means we got 102, 000 pounds of Gravel or 51 tons. Yikes. I suppose you could call that the price of a long drive.

The real price is borne by the Great Mother Earth. The Gravel is mined about 15 miles east of here, just southwest of Edina. I checked the site out on Google Earth. That's a huge scar and it was caused by our Footprint on the Land.

We did order the Gravel during a time of the Waning Moon. Supposedly, that means it will last longer. I suppose you could call it the best that we could do.

How does one say "Thanks"?

Biocentric

Sometimes we Humans cling to outmoded ideas. Clinging to those ideas can get us into trouble. Big trouble.

I come from a culture that is "Anthropocentric". What that means is that my culture views Humans as Center. With this view, all that is non-Human drops away, becomes invisible, is viewed as of little consequence. It is as if the Human is the beginning and the end.

All decisions and actions are made to benefit the Human. And of course those decisions leave out a wide range of Humans too: those unlike self, the poor, those disenfranchised by power, those unborn, to name only a few.

An Anthropocentric view puts Earth living systems in jeopardy. Those with this view see no relationship between the natural world and themselves. In fact they do not see themselves as part of natural world. It is merely there for their use. I remember those maps we saw when I was in elementary school, where places of great beauty and objects of Creation were carved up into something called "resources". I remember crying out as in pain.

Another approach is the "Biocentric" view which considers the interconnectedness of all of Life. In this view, Humans do not see themselves as separate to any of this. Instead, we are interwoven into the thread of life. To honor and protect life is to seek to live for the long haul rather than the shortterm.

We 3 C's seek to live in a way which is Biocentric. We seek to honor that Gift of Life, that Gift of Creation of which we are only a very small part. It isn't easy. To complicate matters, we often find ourselves swimming upstream. But for us, putting Life at Center feels right and good.

Quote

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Happiness is a butterfly

which, when pursued,

is always beyond our grasp,

but, if you will sit down quietly,

may alight upon you.

~~~~

Nathaniel Hawthorne

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Play

This morning, Richard observed that the "Twins" (Fawns from last year) ran out of the woods almost to the Drive. He was concerned something might be after them. And just about then, the School Bus did go by.

But the Twins did not stop. They actually seemed to be playing with each other. And it was a fine day for play. They ran from the Woods to the Drive and back again a total of 4 times. Richard was pretty eager to report of their adventures to Melanie and me. I hope they do this again because I surely don't want to miss it.

We have watched those Twins grow this last year. We first saw them early in the Summer. They are a delight. (I wonder what they might say of us?)

Later in the day, we had a lot of rain. Usually the Chickens head for cover in the Rain. But not today. They were out running and eating throughout the downpour. They were pretty soaked, but seemed quite happy and content.

The Critters on this day seem to be reminding us: "Don't forget to play." I usually try to look for lessons in Nature. Yes, Play is important.

Walkabout

On this beautiful day, we headed for a walk into the Garden. At 1st glance, the place looked pretty brown and dead. Looking more closely, we discovered much magic with plants emerging in many places.

In the Herb Garden, I put my Cup of Tea down for a closer view. Yep, that's Garlic poking its heads up. Vernell's Garlic plants are obviously pretty eager for the Spring. Vernell and her family were neighbors of Richard's family when the boys were growing up. She gave me a start of her Garlic years ago when we were just beginning Gardening up North. When we moved 4 years ago, I was very careful to bring a start with us. So, there it is, all healthy and robust. I think Vernell would be pretty pleased about that. I know that I am.

Looking through the litter of the dead vegetation, I note with glee that Pansies are ready for the new season. As is typical, plants are staying very close to the soil line. Winter has not yet let go of her Grip. Staying hunkered down in the Soil seems like a wise idea.Catnip is up. Melanie found Parsley. Chamomile is up and ready to go. That plants is abundant. I found Cilantro in the Herb Garden. It is big enough to actually make a Mexican supper soon. We smiled.

We found Leeks. This will be their 2nd year, which means they will be making Seeds. I am pretty tickled about that. Melanie found Radicchio. Oregano and Thyme were pretty excited about growing. Mums are sprouting at the base of the plants. The Prairie Smoke is looking robust; it is among the earliest of the Prairie Plants in our Prairie Garden. Richard planted Wheat in the Cane Field as a green manure crop. Garlic is up.Chickens were enjoying their little junkets into the parts of the Garden which were not fenced off. They scratch, leave wonderful poop, and eat bugs and grubs. As always, they were curious about what we were up to, following us on our adventures.Throughout the day and into the mid afternoon, the Chickens were enjoying the dry Soil on the south of the Shed. Dirt Baths were in order. That surely must be a luxury.

Leaf Day

February 25:

These days we are keeping a watchful eye on the Biodynamic Calendar for optimal planting times for Root, Leaf, Flower, Fruit. Yesterday was "Leaf Day". So I planted Cabbage Seeds in my Flat which Richard made for me. The varieties were: Henderson's Charleston Wakefield (good for the South), Danish Ballhead (good for Kraut), Copenhagen Market, Early Jersey Wakefield. My reading suggests that these are varieties do well in the early season. I have another stash held together with a rubber band: "Plantings for Fall Cabbages".

I have to admit: My Cabbage seeds were packed for 2008, 2009, and 2011. I did plant them in abundance. We shall see how things go. We 3 C's specialize in what we grow. Cabbages are my thing. Having never grown them before we moved here, I have a lot to learn. Continuously growing the same crop permits one to focus more on the details emerging over time.

I am by no means an expert. I have hardly dipped my foot into the water. The Cabbages would nod their heads knowingly in agreement. My Cabbages have shown themselves to be patient teachers. I wonder what lessons they have in store for me this year. I shall wait and see.

You will also note that I am potting Coleuses which I had taken as cuttings. Two varieties come from that last year Mother had a garden at her house. They are very special to me.

The 3 C's are not going into this growing season with full energy reserves. Yes, we have planted fewer Seeds and yes, we sometimes are a little slower in getting them started. We are trying to be respectful of the energy reserves that we have. So we are cutting back, which is a good thing. I couldn't give up my Cabbages or my Coleuses.

Motion, Motion, Motion

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Motion,

Motion,

Motion.

Everything is in Motion.

~~~~

The Sun rises

and sets
in what seems like a race
toward its Northern Reach.

The Sun is stronger.

In early evening,

Orion is descending

into the southwestern sky.

Blues and Snow Geese fly overhead

in undulating waves.

Canada Geese are pairing up.

Their lovely calls

reverberate across the land.

Woodcocks arrived yesterday.

This evening

they were "peenting"

in their enchanting aerial display.

Likely, they are the same Birds

we had at the Farm last year.

They may be speaking among themselves:

likely those are the same Humans

who were here before.

We look to the Sky,

welcoming them.

They look back at us,

their companions.

The Humans are in motion too.

Seeds break through Soil;

Seedlings emerge.

Ginger, the youngest of Hens,

proudly offers up her little Pullet Egg.

Hennies are offering up more Eggs:

16 is not uncommon.

Red Winged Blackbirds are back.

Bluebirds are on Territory,

Cardinals too.

The Carolina Wren is singing.

Red Tailed Hawks are migrating.

Snow is melting.

Water is making its way downstream.

Soil is moving.

Touches of Green emerge

tentatively from the Soil.

~~~~

Everything is in Motion.

Motion,

Motion,

Motion.

~~~~

Glinda Crawford, 2011

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