Candace's Backyard

Suburban homesteading in a neighborhood near you...

Category: Reconnecting

Moving Forward in the Backyard and Beyond…

June 28, 2019 / / 0 Comments

Swiss chard growing in the garden.

It’s been an enlightening journey.

Initially, when I signed up for the ENG 304 class, I thought that I was going to blog about historical research.  As I considered it though, I realized that my family was actually doing something that a majority of other residents in Saco are not.  Perhaps it was worth blogging about!  I also had numerous pictures and topics that I could share with readers. 

I’ve learned numerous things.

While blogging and linking, I have read countless blogs to learn what others have to say about my topics.  I have had to investigate a little deeper into subject matter and gain an improved understanding in order to clearly communicate issues to readers.

Red mulch sheeting for the tomatoes.

My enthusiasm for the backyard is re-energized.

I’m in the amazing city of Montreal, and all I want to do is be home with my family, working in the garden.  I know the carrots and beets need thinning.  I want to eat our fresh produce, feed our egg-layers, and see how much the broilers have grown. 

By the time I get back, we’ll be placing red plastic mulch down on certain areas of the garden; especially for our tomatoes and peppers.  The mulch absorbs sunlight and warms the soil and prevents weeds. 

Since my last blog on compost, Joe has gotten inspired and we have purchased a compost rotator to improve the process.  We are hoping that this tool will help us process the compost more evenly, quickly, and in larger quantities.

Thanks for sharing my journey.

We’ve discussed health benefits of a garden, how to regain an awareness or connection with our food, and soil testing.  I’ve shared my burger recipe-I hope you will try it sometime!  I’ve shown you that the backyard is an ongoing process of experimentation as we explore improved methods with our chickens, compost, and garden.

Now go interact with nature and grow something!

As Alena Hall states in her Huffington Post article, you really need to put down your cell phone now and walk outside.  Step into an urban garden, plant some flowers in front of your house, or start some seedlings.   Don’t forget to re-connect with nature!  Mark Sisson, primal enthusiast, reminds us to get back to nature and Grok on!

 

 

 

 

 

Regain a Connection with Food

June 16, 2019 / / 0 Comments

Out of bananas for breakfast? Make a quick stop at the store.

It’s Wednesday and you realize you need to stop by the grocery store to pick up a few things.   As soon as you walk through the automatic sliding doors you behold a wide expanse of a clean, modern store that boasts an abundance of ripe produce.  Ok, well maybe the avocados or bananas are the exception; they’re usually green.

You may want to consider what you’re buying.

Have you ever wondered the process that the broccoli went through to be in the vegetable case?  I know what you’re going to say…everyone knows there are huge industrialized farms in the U.S.  that raise mass amount of vegetables or livestock.  You’ve seen the videos:  produce is picked by migrant workers, the livestock is confined, the fields are sprayed with pesticides.  At some point, we have all been exposed to the truth regarding these horrible acts.  Yet Americans still willingly visit the grocery store weekly.  Why are we so quick to forget about how their food is sourced?

Maybe we just don’t want to think about it.

Ignorance is bliss.  It’s tough to face the facts and realize that due to industrialized agriculture’s practices, we are poisoning ourselves, torturing animals and exploiting other human beings.  How can consumers fight back against a toxic food industry that has been established for over 50 years?

We have to snap out of our oblivion and regain a connection with our food.

Cara eating okra from the garden.

There are many ways that we can start.

  • Visit your local farmer’s market– It’s the best way to witness farmers in your community growing their own food.  I have asked many of them questions about their organic farming practices.  All of the vendors I have encountered are passionate about their work, are open about their techniques, and want to educate others.
  • Support local farmers whenever possible–  The more people purchase locally, the less the huge food retailers earn.  It’s their massive gross income that creates a “monopsony”, where they can dictate the price they want to pay farmers.  This stretches the farmers’ resources and reduces pay to laborers.
  • Grow your own food-I know we live in New England.  There’s not a great growing season, but anything that we can produce that we don’t have to buy at the store counts.
  • Become more aware-  There are amazing documentaries out there.  Besides Food Inc, Unacceptable Levels, Food Chains, and Sustainable are eye-openers.

Here are some other great resources for you to check out:

Do you typically do most of your shopping at the grocery store?

How and where do you purchase your food?  What are your reasons?  I’d love to have you join the discussion!

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