Still many more not ready to pick yet.
Except the okra and green beans, the summer garden is gone, replaced by the fall garden of lettuce, cabbage, kale, spinach, broccoli, carrots, radishes, and turnips (so far.)
It has been a great garden year.
Oremus pro invicem!
In April my friends Jason Craig and Tommy Van Horn had their book Liturgy of the Land published (TAN books). The book explains the reason and history of the 'back to the land' movement - many of these reasons are why Lori and I moved to our homestead over 20 years ago.
It is worth the read, detailing how our country has purposely and actively removed support from those who want to be a center of production as a family. We should all be consumers and not producers.
But a few of us have tried to at least partially bucked this trend for both practical and spiritual reasons and become homesteaders in one form or another.
Part of the book details the different levels of homesteading. Not all of us can homestead full-time (if any of us can.) From backyard urban gardener to rural full time homesteader, and every step in-between, the book discusses what is possible with entry level information.
As I said, worth reading, even if you are not thinking of making a move.
In December, TAN books is hosting the Liturgy of the Land Conference at the Catholic Conference center in Hickory, NC. You can meet the authors and learn from some real experts in the rural life and homesteading.
See you there!
Oremus pro invicem!
We are going to have lots of pumpkins this year. This not so good (flip phone) picture shows the 4 varieties we planted: one "jack-o-lantern type (big orange) which has not so much meat and therefore not so great for cooking. The other varieties are meaty and all good for cooking (and for feeding to pigs.) Mrs. Curley will put some up so we can have pies and breads and soups throughout the year; the rest will feed the pigs.
So far 110 spaghetti squash picked and counting!!! (Also good pig feed - we are running out of freezer space.)
Today is the feast of the be-heading of John the Baptist, AND it is Mrs. Curley and my wedding anniversary!
Here are a couple pictures - one about a week or two before our wedding, and the 2nd one of the (many) happy times here in Bethune. I think you will be able to tell which is which.
Oremus pro invicem!
I think I have written about EB White before in this space. Today I read in a Pillar column:
EB White wrote once that all that he hoped to say in books, all that he ever hoped to say, is that he loved the world — emphasis his own.
This reminds me of Pieper's writing on feasts and festivals that they (festivals) are at heart a celebration recognizing that all of creation is good.
Looking back at my reading of EB White's "One Man's Meat" I find the following quote which is very appropriate and I find to be very true.
I don't know whether I came to the country to live the simple life; but I am now engaged in a life vastly more complex than anything the city has to offer. -E.B. White
Oremus pro invicem!
We eat a lot of green beans throughout the year and usually grow quite a few of them. This year the crop wasn't coming. So I went to a new source for seeds and planted a late crop where I had just harvested the corn. We started harvesting beans today. These are young and tender, high quality. Hopefully with a lot more to come.
We have finished with the Patty Pan squash - but we have quite a bit to still put up as you can see. Mrs. Curley has been using it to make breads; delicious.
Still getting quite a bit of good Okra now. AND we started picking the spaghetti squash. As you can see, we have a wheel barrow full with a lot more to come.
God is both good and great!
Oremus pro invicem!
We are growing lots of pumpkins in every open space this year. The pigs will love them (I love pumpkin pie) and they came from seeds saved from last year of several varieties.
The structure in the background on the right is our chicken coop. It is getting hard to get in there and collect eggs!
Oremus pro invicem!
by Dr. Benjamin Wiker of Steubenville (2017).
The premise is that both the Left and the Right only get it 1/2 right (and 1/2 wrong) on the environment and morality - and that they are intimately linked; not just that it is a sin to pollute - but that sins against (for example) temperance cause lapses in morality in more than one realm, which thus connects them. The left denies morality (God, sin, etc.). The Right denies the damage to the environment is real. Neither sees there is a connection between the reality and their denials.
For example, lack of temperance leads to gluttony. Gluttony leads to eating things that are bad for you, especially junk food. Food scientists make hyperpalatable food to feed the gluttony. The increase in bad food eating increases the consumption of junk food and drive thru food. This in turn increases the garbage in landfills and on the streets. Everyone loses but big business.
I am probably poorly stating his thesis, but it is well worth the read. It is also easy to read. 90 pages in and that just being in a waiting room a couple times.
Oremus pro invicem!
Also... 3 days of rain with at least one more to come. All this rain destroyed the tomatoes but is great for the okra. My little pigs don't get sold in the pouring rain. We've been busy trying to keep them fairly dry.
Our society is more polarized then every before with no
seemingly way out. At the risk of stating the obvious, I believe one major
contribution to the polarization is the politicization of sporting events.
It is not to say that sporting events have much importance
in the grand scheme of life and salvation, but the most redeeming value was
that it brought people together of different persuasions to stand together for
at least a short period of time. If people can come together for one reason,
they can talk reasonably about the things they disagree in other venues.
There was a time where local people of all religions and
political persuasions would come and root for the “home team”. The differences
weren’t discussed, the commonality was the team.
The Olympics brought together athletes from all nations, even
enemy nations for a respite. (Of course there have been exceptions to this –
recall the Olympic boycotts of recent memory.)
Now we have sport teams getting involved in pride days; we
have Olympic opening ceremonies showcasing mockery of Christian beliefs.
It is hard to unify for anything if the mechanisms for
unification are being used for division.
Oremus pro invicem!
I like taking down trees and splitting wood with an axe. It is just one of my favorite things to do. I just can't explain it.
Being behind in putting together the wood we need for next winter, we have been taking trees down, couple a week, for a couple weeks now. Usually it is just Greg and I; recently Lori has been out there helping too. (It lets me show off for my love.) This morning I didn't hit the fall mark for the tree, but it was not a problem.
Lori took some pictures; in the first (on the left), you can tell it is falling if you look at the notch, as the notch has closed.
These trees are long overdue to come down as they are choking the Cedar trees which line the property. But it is convenient now as we can do our lumberjacking close to home.
I think we now have enough wood for the winter stacked up, but we not done clearing the edge of the property of unwanted trees and shrubs. I have a month left before I head back to school, so we trying to make the most of it.
We have been now getting a sort of regular rain/thunderstorms, so the garden is continuing to produce. This is probably the best crop of Roma tomatoes we have ever had. The green beans have been a disappointment, but I planted some in the best ground we have after we harvested the sweet corn out of it, so we still have a chance.
Oremus pro invicem!
I have read Democrat leaning commentators try to blame Trump and followers for the attack ("They promote violence"). I have read Republican leaners blame liberals, (They have portrayed Trump as evil to be destroyed.)
At this point I don't believe we know whether the attacker was politically motivated or mentally unbalanced (or both). I think the commentary is jumping the gun - but in any event, we do live in a violent and polarized society. I have heard Republican types refer to Biden, Pelosi, etc as evil. Are they promoting assassination attempts or is it political rhetoric?
Come on!
However, I did read one comment today I would like to address from Crisis Magazine
The attack on President Trump was an attack against those who believe in the sanctity of life, the gift of liberty, and the divinity of love. Leftwing politics and its votaries are taking up the final form of their mounting hatred: murder. And Catholics have a duty to seize this moment in solidarity against the influences and forces that would tear down—now, gun down—their political opponents.
Did I miss something? Hasn't President Trump been campaigning to make abortion legal and the law of the land for the first 16 weeks of pregnancy? Hasn't President Trump forced the marriage between one man and one woman plank out of the Republican party platform? I don't think his economic policies promote family and productivity in the home. (Biden is the same or worse on these issues.)
It seems ironic that we have to find new ways to justify supporting President Trump as he abandons conservative and Catholic values.
Oremus pro invicem!
I looked at the forecast and the radar map and there was nothing for us. But even so, it has been raining for the last 50 minutes. Boy do we need it.
The garden is exploding, but it needs the rain to sustain it at this pace.
I think it is too late for the corn. We have picked and put up all there is. But I will check again to make sure we didn't miss anything.
On another note, we had 2 litters this week; Little Red and Root. God is good to us.
Oremus pro invicem!
I went up to NH this weekend for my Godson's high school graduation. It was a long drive, but a great time. Unfortunately my Mom (almost 92) broke her hip this weekend. She is doing well, but this is particularly unfortunate for me. You see ....
A few years ago she was diagnosed with diabetes. A year later I was diagnosed with diabetes. Then she went and had a by-pass surgery. Wouldn't you know that a few years later I had Quad-4 bypass. Now she breaks her hip ... I guess I better prepare myself. This morning I fell coming out of the feed house, and while going down, I was just picturing my hip fracturing.
It's all about me!!! Really though Mom looks like she is doing fine. I was able to visit with her in the hospital before heading back South.
And while I was gone....
Lori wrestled the sow!!! The sow caught its teeth in the fence being inpatient for food. The way I hear it, Mrs. Curley had to pry open its jaw to free it.
But the garden did explode in the 4 days I was gone. Cukes, squash, beans, tomatoes, peppers of various kinds, sweet corn. I think we will be picking the first okra tomorrow.
Oremus pro invicem!
These seem to be keeping the vultures (black vultures and not turkey vultures as I wrote earlier) at bay for the moment.
Oremus pro invicem!
My son Thomas, home after college graduation (Wyoming Catholic College) for a short time before heading off for a new adventure, asked the rhetorical question yesterday of me concerning my appetite of hunting rabbits who invade my garden:
"I can't figure out if you are more like Mr. MacGregor or Elmer Fudd!"
We have been picking patty pan squash for several days now. Last broccoli was picked tonight. Our first cherry tomatoes, banana pepper, and green beans were picked today. We also picked our first blueberries today. God is good!
We moved Eddie back with the sows and one unbred sow yesterday. Still a few weeks before we wean Red's pigs.
Big trouble: Turkey vultures have killed at least 3 of Red's pigs. Usually this wouldn't happen at their age. We had strung up old CD's to no avail. Today we erected a Scarecrow. We will see.
Oremus pro invicem!
but, I am seeing more and more limitations. I had major surgery 18 months ago, and I have nerve damage in my left hand which will never recover.
This limitation (besides creaking joints and lower back pain) is being made clear to me around the homestead. Gardening seems to be unaffected, but as Thomas and I and slaughtered a hog this morning, we both realized that you don't want to be around a man with a knife who can't feel half his fingers!
A few years ago I had to kill and process a hog by myself (as opposed to with others). I know now that won't ever happen again. I will always need help now, which is how it should be anyway. Hog-killing is a community activity.
Oremus pro invicem!
Picking zucchini now. Been picking broccoli. Lots of tomatoes on the vine, but nothing ready yet.
Looks like the sweet corn recovered from the thunder storms. Garden is starting to look very good. Keep up the rain! We picked our first zucchini today. We finished staking the tomato plants (late) today.
Oremus pro invicem!
