In my last post I spoke of captives, people chained in caves, people shunned and stalkers in dark alleys.  Missed it?  Read it here, as this post builds heavily upon it.

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As we are all well aware, there are many raging debates in the agricultural world today.  Debates ranging in subject from ethics, to sustainability, to overhead costs and profits, regulations versus liberties…on and on, you get the idea. 

Yet, while overall public awareness is increasing, it is still only those involved in agriculture that can see the true forms.  The public consumer is akin to the prisoner chained in the cave.  They see the food in grocery stores and restaurants – the finished product.  And, as we know, the finished visible food product is only the shadow of the process – only a shadow of the people, animals, work and sweat it takes to get our food from farm to table.  Yet, just as the people chained in the cave were truly convinced that the shadows they saw was reality to its fullest degree, so people who go to the store and purchase food believe that they know the full truth.  However, as you know, the real form of our nation’s food supply involves so much more. 

  

So, if the public consumer is like the prisoner chained in a cave seeing and hearing only shadows and echoes (finished food products), those of us in the agricultural world become like the freed prisoner who is able to see the whole picture instead of only the shadows.  We know the whole picture because we see and experience all that goes into working for, caring for and providing for animals and crops. 

But, remember what happened to that freed prisoner once he returned to his fellow inmates and tried to share truth with them and free them from ignorance?  Criticism.  Disbelief.  Condemnation.

 

Which brings us back to the previously mentioned raging debates in the world of agriculture.

We who see the forms – the behind the scenes work of farm life, crop and livestock production – have a right (and some may say; responsibility) to educate consumers about we do.  Consumers deserve to know where their food comes from and what it takes to get it to them.  But the more we argue amongst ourselves concerning sustainability versus production, the longer it takes to gain the public strides which are needed.

I’m not simply suggesting that we all just get along and agree to disagree.  I realize that some of us hold ideals that are directly opposed to another’s – which makes agreeing to disagree morally impossible.  However, I also realize that there is always room to gain knowledge and all of us hold beliefs that are possibly rooted in ignorance.  

 

We need to continuously educate ourselves, shed light upon the truth in order to cast out the false shadows and echoes. For, being objectively educated is the best way that we can then serve as educators to the consumers. It’s only when both consumer and producer understand what goes into agricultural production that we can then determine the future of agriculture. 

Therefore, in order to accomplish true progress, it is time to turn the debates into conversations.

 
 

For each generation, there are some defining moments in history that will never be forgotten.

My children will always have the sad events of September 11, 2001, etched in their memories. My peers and I remember where we were on November 22, 1963, when we heard the announcement that President Kennedy had been assassinated.

For my parents, a lasting memory was the declaration of World War II; my grandparents were deeply affected by the Wall Street crash that preceded the Great Depression.

But hopefully we all have memories of lighter, more uplifting days as well.   

I remember the fervor and enthusiasm surrounding the first recognized Earth Day. It was April 22, 1970 — just as my adult life was beginning and my ideals were taking shape. 

 

The 60s had been eye-opening in regard to the state of our planet. I believe the word “ecology” became widely used during that time. It was the birth phase of a movement that has continued to today.

And once again, it’s time to recognize Earth Day.

 

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Here’s a brief bio of Earth Day from History.com:

Founded in 1970 as a day of education about environmental issues, Earth Day is now a globally celebrated holiday that is sometimes extended into Earth Week, a full seven days of events focused on green awareness.

 

The brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson and inspired by the antiwar protests of the late 1960s, Earth Day was originally aimed at creating a mass environmental movement. It began as a "national teach-in on the environment" and was held on April 22 to maximize the number of students that could be reached on university campuses.

By raising public awareness of air and water pollution, Nelson hoped to bring environmental causes into the national spotlight.

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The idea seems to have worked: environmental causes have been valued and supported for the past three decades. Whether we call it ecology, green living, or sustainability, it’s a way of life that’s important to many of us. 

 

I was fortunate to grow up in a family that valued the earth and the outdoors. My earliest memories include camping and learning about nature. There were vegetables, berries, and fruit trees growing in our backyard. We recycled before I knew there was a word for it.

I was kind of primed for ecology and green living.

In 1970, I wasn’t a true hippie, but I was “hip” to green trends and swept up by the emphasis on preserving our planet. Though I didn’t partake in demonstrations, I tried to keep ecology in mind. My boyfriend, Jim, shared my interests, and we tried to do our part to “save the earth.”

By Earth Day 1974, Jim and I were young marrieds tearing up the backyard of our rented home (with the permission of the landlord, of course). The reason? To plant our first garden. I can’t put my hands on a photo right now, but I remember the tall cornstalks and the lush bushes of peas and beans. Were we ever proud! 

 

Since then we’ve had lots of gardens, of lots of kinds and sizes, in lots of places and a few different climate zones. In 1986, we got our start raising livestock with three Black Angus beef cows. Growing food, cooking from scratch, and preserving summer produce became our favored way of living. Composting, recycling, reusing, and repurposing are natural companions.

We’ve had some detours, including years in a foreign culture where we were unable to do as much “green living” as we’d have liked. But now we’re back on track, trying to decrease the footprints we leave on this earth. As we use natural resources, we try to replace and replenish in return. We’ve encouraged our kids - and are now teaching our grandchildren - to treat the earth with respect.

We think it’s more important now than ever. And I know many of you agree. 

That's why our lives celebrate Earth Day every day. Trying to stay close to nature, making wise decisions, living sustainably. It's better for us - and better for the earth we live on. 

During my “granola years” as a young mom and even recently as a farming grandma, I’ve been called Earth Mother more than a few times.

But you know what? I don’t mind at all! And I bet you wouldn't mind either. Unless, of course, Earth Father would be more appropriate!

Marie and her husband, Jim, are developing a farm in the Pacific Northwest with their adult children and grandchildren. At The Homesteader Kitchen Marie and her daughter review kitchen equipment and talk about preparing and preserving delicious food. Along with other family members, Marie shares glimpses of country life at Rural Living Today and teaches practical skills at The Homesteader School.  

When I moved to Kansas almost 2 years ago, my love for our beautiful rural area encouraged me to think of ways to live more gently on the land and to leave less of a footprint, especially where chemicals are concerned.

I must admit I find myself on a roller coaster where being environmentally “green” is concerned ... one day I want to be more economical and more environmentally conscious, and other days I feel like it’s too much effort. So I won’t lie, it can be a struggle at times. Sometimes it’s easier to revert to what appears to be easier. Honestly, if you really think about it, using prepackaged detergents and cleaners is not EASIER (and it’s definitely NOT cheaper!), it is simply that we have become accustomed to buying many of our home cleaners “off the shelf,” for the sake of perceived convenience. I believe that if we can adjust our habits, then those new habits will eventually become the “new” easy. And we’ll feel really good about it too. A big bonus.

There is no shortage of recipes for all types of home cleaners on the internet. But let’s start with something simple. I feel that this particular challenge is possibly one of the easiest first transitions to make.

I am going to give you a recipe to make your very own homemade laundry detergent. And if you are saying “I don’t think I’m inclined to make my own laundry detergent,” well, then, I’ll give you some tips later to save with what you ARE using.

First, the recipe:

• 4 cups of water
• 1/3 bar of cheap soap (Fels Naptha), grated
• 1/2 cup washing soda (not baking soda)
• 1/2 cup of Borax (20 Mule Team)
• 5-gallon bucket for mixing
• 3 gallons of water

Tips:  You can use Fels Naptha or any regular bar soap for the cheap soap. Washing soda and Borax can both be found in the laundry aisle at your grocery store. (Usually.) Except at Walmart in Kansas. What the heck??!

First, mix the grated soap (I’ll be using Lever, since we have a bunch of it) in a saucepan with 4 cups of water, and heat on low until the soap is completely dissolved. Add hot water/soap mixture to 3 gallons of water in the 5-gallon bucket, stir in the washing soda and Borax, and continue stirring until thickened. Let the mix sit for 24 hours, and voila! homemade laundry detergent.

Yep. That’s it.  Simple, huh?

Or, if you prefer powder detergent, it’s even easier:

• 1 cup grated Fels Naptha soap
• 1/2 cup washing soda
• 1/2 cup Borax

For light loads, use 1 tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled loads, use 2 tablespoons.

The savings?? You can save 90% of the cost of store-bought by making it yourself. Total cost per load? In the neighborhood of 2 cents. Store-bought detergent, depending on what you buy and where you buy it, can cost about 20 cents per load – 10 times more.

(I’m buying the washing soda and Borax as soon as I can find it somewhere here in the land of Oz, so I will let y’all know what I think of homemade detergent once I’ve had the opportunity to mix my own and try it out.)

Now, here’s another novel idea that’s been hashed out in the public biosphere:

Is detergent even necessary?

Seventh Generation’s co-founder, Jeffrey Hollender, wonders why more people haven’t stumbled upon laundry’s big, dirty secret: “You don’t even need soap to wash most loads,” he says. “The agitation of washing machines often does the job on its own.”

Wow!  Really, Jeffrey, he-who-heads-up-a-household-cleaner-company?  Are you totally serious??  I applaud you for even uttering this statement, when you obviously stand to profit from selling as much laundry detergent as you can!

As it turns out, something that may be even more effective than soap is agitation. Ancient people used rocks and rivers, but your modern washing machine can clean lightly soiled clothes by just pushing them around in water.

So when you think about the way our forefathers did laundry, it does make you wonder: Is the laundry detergent industry a huge sham, just a way for others to profit from our ignorance?? One thing I can assure you: The powers-that-be are surely not unhappy when you use TOO much of your fancy-schmancy concentrated detergent.  Read this recent eye-opening article from the Wall Street Journal to learn more about “The Great American Soap Overdose.”

The blog Funny About Money decided to conduct experiments using only water in their washing machine. Their final analysis? “By and large, all of the freshly washed clothing came out with an odor: It smelled of clean water!”

If washing your clothes in plain ole water just doesn’t float your scuzzy boat, nor do you really want to make your own detergent, here are some other good alternatives:

• Use half the amount of detergent you normally use.  By and large, you will not see any difference at all – your clothes will be just as clean as when you use tons of detergent.
• Try one of the new eco-friendly detergents on the market – you’ll use less, and be gentle on our environment at the same time.
• I highly recommend Method – only 4 squirts from the bottle for most normal loads! And it’s high-powered, plant-based formula is made using 95 percent natural and renewable ingredients. It’s readily biodegradable and non-toxic in use, for skin-friendly clean clothes. I got my 10 oz. bottle of Fresh Air scent (smells extra good!!) at Lowe’s for $7.99 – you can get a $2 off coupon at the Method website.
• Other eco-friendly detergents to try: Seventh Generation, greenworks by Clorox.

Costs for the above alternative detergents:

• Method, 25 load size, $7.99/btl, 0.3196 cents per load
• Seventh Generation, 99 load size, $19.99/btl, 0.2019 cents per load
• greenworks* by Clorox, 60 load size, $7.97/btl, 0.1328 cents per load

*I think the greenworks was on sale at Lowe’s, about $2.00 off.  I think ... can’t remember? Regardless, it’s still the cheapest of the bunch overall.

Ok, y’all, that’s my two cents worth on laundry detergents. There's tons more information out there on the big ole internet, if you need or want it.

I’m really getting into this self-sustainability gig, and it sure makes me feel good to reduce my reliance on Walmart and other big industrial giants.

If you’ve made your own detergent, or dishwashing detergent, or mayonnaise (yes, you can make your own mayo too!), then do tell me about it. I’d love to hear your story!

My neighbor and I had been talking about getting chickens. Although we live right in the city of Detroit, there is an abundance of space, and urban agriculture has caught on here like wildfire. Communities of would-be farmers have crystallized around movements like the Garden Resource Program, which sponsors plant distributions, farmers market participation, gardening classes, bee-keeping groups and more. Over the last several years, Phil and I have (re)established home gardens and worked to keep them active around the year. We have had plentiful yields, even selling occasional overflows of organic produce to local shops and at market. Expanding into poultry would be an exciting move towards self-sufficiency. We were acquainted with an underground network of chicken keepers (poultry are illegal within the city limits) who were eager to share extra chicks as well as wisdom. Once we vocalized our interest in a flock, the pressure was on to get started. A friend had a new batch of baby chicks and was ready to send some our way.

Although I am a powerful magnet for wayward animals and would normally have jumped at the chance to house a group of fine, feathery ladies, an upcoming commitment required me to avoid any dependents upon which a landlord might look askance. Phil, on the other hand, was ready to commit. The flock would therefore be located at his home, situated on a lush city property of very generous proportions. These would be happy chickens, and I would be able to assist with their care. We agreed to take some of our friend's chicks knowing that they would not be moved for several more weeks. This left plenty of time to design and build the chicken coop, a step which turned out to be deceptively simple.

One dark and rainy Wednesday we set out to measure the far corner of his yard. It is bounded by two 10 foot high walls of cement block that have foundations approximately four feet in depth. The area is graded with course stones. An avid salvager, Phil had already located fence pieces that might be incorporated into a pen. He mocked up a rectangular enclosure of about 14 by 18 feet and proposed a coop tucked into the corner of the cement walls, covered by a roof that sloped down towards the gently shaded outdoor run.

Upon saturation from the pouring rain, we retreated to the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee and transfer our soggy measurements onto something more substantial. He stood at the window as we drew, checking to see that the pen was positioned for optimal visibility from the kitchen table. Those in a rural setting may find it odd, but in this urban context, the visual accessibility of the chickens was almost a quality of life concern. By looking past the pond full of golden fish, past the leafy garden plot, and into a picturesque yard of chickens about their business, one might occasionally forget that he or she is surrounded by a troubled city. For Phil, a homicide detective that works nights for the Detroit PD, this was an unspoken but understandable priority.

While we had both the knowledge and the materials to start construction on the coop immediately, it didn't happen. The plan became more and more elaborate (although charming and nearly maintenance-free, at least in theory), and our time to build was constrained by other projects. The keeper of the chicks reminded us once or twice that they were getting big enough to move to their new home, but still we took our time with plans for the coop and avoided a committed date to pick up the chickens. Avoidance does not work well in this city; suffice it to say, we all frequent the same restaurants. Sure enough, sooner rather than later, we had to take the plunge. On May 21st at 10:30pm, as our friend was cheerfully departing town for a holiday weekend in Nashville, I found myself standing outside her house with a pet carrier full of little chickens.

Today is May 22nd, and as I am typing this, I can hear them chirping in my bathroom. The cats and the dog, normally adversarial, have taken a united interest in getting inside the room. They have been camped outside the door since the chickens arrived. Each time I pass through the hallway, I receive very earnest looks regarding their need for thumbed assistance in the turning of the knob. This weekend, the chicken coop will rise to the top of the Projects list.