Repotting House Plants

In the next few days, I need to re-pot some house plants.  When I lived in the City, I usually bought "potting soil" from some company that I thought knew far more than me.  They still probably do.  Or maybe not.  They were easy and I was short on time.  (I am still short on time, but this issue is rising to the top.)

Over time, I became less satisfied with commercial sources. These were some of the reasons why:

• I had read earlier that vermiculite mined in Montana (which was one of the few sources) is found with asbestos. That's not the sort of companion I sought for beauty in my Garden. When I 1st read about this a decade ago I was incensed that Gardeners (who typically are trying to be friendly toward the Earth) would unknowingly purchase a product that brought some unwanted companions. It seemed a breach of confidence of a corporation who on the surface seemed to desire to "serve".
• I was deeply concerned about mineral extraction and the damage to the Earth and all who might live in the area.  Around the world, our track record is not good.  Yet.
• For years, we have used Peat Moss and still do.  When we lived up North, we also had the privilege of visiting Peat Bogs in northern Minnesota.  Now why on Earth would anyone even consider mining Peat Bogs?  They are living communities and they are increasingly rare.
• I was concerned what companies might put into potting soil.  Need I explain?
• Those bags of potting soil were expensive.  They included waste (plastic bags, likely made from petroleum) and they left a trail of Carbon Dioxide from the places where they had been shipped. Enough of that. 
• I wanted to use local resources.  I wanted to use some of the same practices of the Grandmothers before me.  If it worked for them, surely it would work for me. 
• I wanted to learn about this for myself.  I wanted to break my dependence on someone else (a corporation) formulating such products for me. I wanted to take my power back.

I kept nosing around for information.  Among other things, I contacted a friend who is an organic grower. I just recently found an article in Mother Earth News which looks quite helpful.  It will take a while to work out the kinks here, but this is a direction I want to take.  It's just one more step on the learning curve, among many we've found here in our lives on this little Farm.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/How-To-Make-Your-Own-Potting-Soil.aspx

Those Old Photos

If you are are richly blessed to go through and make decisions about old family photos, please remember those unnamed ones in pics may be ancestors of your friends and kin, who have nothing quite like those photos.  It's pretty simple:  before you trash them, just pass them on to someone who would care. 

Somehow, I see this "holding of photos" as a sacred trust.  It is very important to do the right thing. In families there are people who emerge as story tellers or the keepers of the stories.  These are great folks with whom to discuss distribution of photos and with whom to share these lovely leaves of the past.

This is a fast paced, throw away society.  Some things just do not fit that mold.

GMO's

I just came across this video  on GMO's (Genetically Modified Organisms) from the Organic Consumers Association, of which I am a member.  The video is dark (which is not my style) and just a bit dated (only by months).  It provides excellent information. 

I find it amazing that while Consumers would like to know GMO presence in the foods they eat, there has been little organized public outcry to get foods labelled.  In a twist of an old saying:  "What you don't know, can hurt you."  So why take the chance? 

We 3 C's are very careful not to buy GMO's in the Foods that we eat and to buy GMO free Seeds for Seeds that we plant.  Increasingly Seeds of certain Plant species are contaminated with GMO strains.  We 3 C's believe that we should not be "messin' with Seeds".  Seeds are the stuff of Life.  There is no way that we can completely know the consequences of such actions.

If you are on Facebook, the Organic Consumers Association provides some excellent news which is not commonly reported in mainstream corporate dominated press.  You may want to check it out.  In the meantime, the link for the video is below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQIw5qkq2QY&feature=share

Art Show: 2 More Chances

The Class of '66 Art Show at the Kirksville Arts Center is winding down.  The Show closes Monday so that means there are 2 more days to see it.  Times are:  Saturday, 1-5pm, and Monday, 9am-noon.  This has been a great experience.  Our gratitude to everyone who helped make it a success...

Popped Sorghum Grain

We had an unexpected treat at the last Molasses Making a week and a half ago.  I don't know who started this.  Was it Richard?  All of a sudden a few folks were roasting Sorghum Grain Seedheads over the fire.  Those little grains were pop, pop, popping, just like popcorn.

Both Richard and Hollis talked about memories of Popped Sorghum Grain from childhood.  We didn't talk to Gerald who also was there.  I wonder what memories he has of it.  Apparently, a person could pop this in a skillet too.

As an aside, at this Molasses Making, Folks from the Possibility Alliance brought Cooked Sorghum Grain.  They had stomped it in a bag to remove the husks around the seeds.  I am going to have to get the details on this.  It was really good. 

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Photos:  Felicia Scott  (Thanks, Sis!)

Who Was...?

Recently, we have reconnected with one of Richard's 1st cousins on his Mother's side.  I went to a 50th anniversary event for Richard's cousin Betty and her husband Bradley Chrisman.  That just started it.  Those special events often yield unexpected treasures. Maybe it is a nudge of the ancestors. 

Anyway, Richard's cousin is wanting to know more about Edna Bell Collier Kirkpatrick, who would have been their Grandmother.  Wouldn't it be neat to have a little gathering focusing on "Who was ...?"  People could bring pictures, stories, hand work, who knows what to make meaning of someone who came before.  I'd like that.

Just who was Edna Bell Collier Kirkpatrick?  The following picture shows her with her husband Isaac William Kirkpatrick.  This picture is assumed to have been taken in the late 1960s.  She passed in 1970 and he passed in 1972. Not much is known about them.  I wonder what stories they would have to tell...   http://www.adairchs.org/cemeteries/HighlandPark.PDF

Stuffed Peppers

Among today's projects will be the making of Stuffed Peppers. Six pounds of Ground Beef, numerous lovely Green Peppers, ripening Tomatoes from that last picking, among other farm produce are all waiting in cue.  While we will surely have Stuffed Peppers for Dinner, we will be making numerous Meals to freeze.  Yum. I suppose you could call that Crawford Fast Food.

Stuffed Peppers were a tradition from my Grandma Dora Budiselich Bloskovich, who was a Croatian immigrant to these parts around 1910.  My Father loved them.  He would often make them during the winter months when he was laid off work.  Later in the day, their aroma throughout the house will be tenderly drawing us in.