Soil and Health Library.

I ran across this free resource The Online Soil and Health Library. . A good reference to have listed in your bookmarks. Happy Earth Day...Save our soil.

A Place in the Sun.

I have been thinking a lot about the challenging times we live in, and Mahatma Gandhi's concept of Swadeshi, or “localized economics,” keeps coming into my thoughts.

I had heard that in Russia, over 90 percent of vegetables are grown locally on allotments or Dachas . It seems that in certain parts of Russia, a family is awarded a small parcel of land outside of the city in which to grow food. The family will leave the City on weekends and go out to the county side and work in their gardens. They often will build some sort of shelter or camp on it. Families who were unable to gain access to a parcel will often join families who do have a parcel and work together in a communal effort.

I am saddened when I see just how far the United States has demonized community efforts and security in the name of Objectivism or Selfishness. It seems the more you oppress people the great a person you are. It use to be and should be the other way around.

When the United States was first occupied by the English, land was set aside for the common use. We still hear this custom in the use of village commons or greens in place names. The Native Americans had a custom of holding all land in common for the use of the Tribe. It was not until the 1950s suburbia automobile society did we disconnect with the custom of providing a place for people to grow food. aka: Community Gardens or Victory Gardens.

As with Gandhi we are starting to reach a point where we have to start re-localizing our world. It is going to be the only way we can guarantee our survival as the global economy leaves more of us behind.

The story of neighbors working together.

Here is the story of The birth of Owen Park's community garden . Interesting to find out the "behind the scene" workings that causes events to unfold.

Requiem for Detroit

I watched this BBC documentary last night. Very good insight into the rise and fall of American's fourth largest city, and the collapse of the industrial world as well. It ends with the Urban homesteaders raising food on empty lots. I loved the guy talking about he makes $500.00 a week growing food in Detroit, and the other guy exclaiming "That is about the same that I make working at Chrysler. You can watch it online. If you have a slow Internet connection, press play, let it connect and buffer, then hit pause till it downloads.

I am so happy that the USDA is starting to get it!!!!

Know your Farmer. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

"They finally get it -- why buying from a local, family-scale farm is important,"

I think it might be the fact that I grew up on a farm that I am so connected to the seasons. I think I am the only one in my neighborhood that actually cans Tomatoes, Jams, and Jellies during the season. There are several things I will not buy out of season because they are very expensive and taste like crap. Reuters has a good article about community supported agriculture and people getting reconnected to the seasons.

a city-backed, many-tentacled urban agriculture network

I love that description. Here's the story.

People rediscovering their rooftops.

Fascinating article about garden entrepreneurs. I love stories about people making money off their dreams. I never thought about the effects of storm water runoff on the environment.

Anyone feeling philanthropic?

It would be great of someone would consider starting a chapter here in Tulsa. I know several community gardens who would appreciate the help. Plus 1.7 million into the local economy is nothing to sneeze at.

I think it might just be plain old human nature.

I don't know about the rest of you, but sometimes I just don't seem to realize what I have. I know this is a theme played out in popular culture as in "There is no place like home". Humans seem to long for something they already have. Like when a child wants more toys when they already have a toy box full of toys. This is why this article caught my attention. In the book The rise of the Creative Class. Rich Florida talks about chasing after economic development when tax dollars are better spent supporting and nurturing the small enterprises already in the community. But then the grass is always greener over the septic tank.

Saturday Garden Blogging and DailyKos.

Saturday Morning Garden Blog at DailyKos. Read, post and rec.

Note from Crosbie Heights Community Farm

"We here at the Crosbie Heights Community Farm have a few new things going on that I would like everyone to know about.
First off we are starting an educational garden/farm/agriculture workshop every 3rd Thursday of each month. August will be the first month and the workshop will be on saving seeds. 6:30 pm at the garden or the Blue Jackalope. Nothing too fancy, just some basic seed saving tips and demos. Free.
Also, we are having a garden fundraiser/ potluck/ block party on Sunday the 23rd of August. We are having some bands play outside, as well as art installations in the garden and of course free food! Activities will start around 6:30."

Not sure who this is from, or who you would contact for more information.

Young Farmers

Yesterday David and I were out in the weeds - used to be called blackberries and will be blackberries again soon but the weeds surround them. Berries are just turning red so pickers will be coming out about Father's Day and for 3 weeks I will be up at 6 am for 7 am pickers. We failed to give them the care they needed - so this is the year we have to get our act together.

A car turned up the drive - young man and kid - I said lightly, if your here for berries - your too early and he just as lightly asked if he could park in the shade as the little one was sleeping. Sure - and I waddled up the drive to where he parked - dogs barked, kid woke up - mayhem for about 3 minutes and then the dogs settled down. Bill Edgar introduced himself, from Pryor but his mom-in-law was in Mounds and he had tried me before but we were gone that day. Could he ask questions??

Two hours later we parted friends. I think he said 32 when I asked him his age regarding his fear of snakes and I said he had plenty of time to outgrow that cuz I did. Agricultural Biologist in training, sustainable farmer, Edgar Springs Farm in Pryor.

First question was about a weed - lamb's quarter - what is it, how does it grow and he was pleased he could eat it - he's on a diet - a 50 mile radius diet and he is doing without flour products. Said he is eating a lot of goat's milk and goat's cheese and there's 1/2 a beef in the freezer and my Lemon Boy tomato I sliced in the house was the fourth tomato he had this summer after a Sun Gold, Juliet and a Tomatoberry cherry for a bit of a taste test. He liked the Sun Gold. So did Sophi his kiddo - oh she's just the prettiest 4 yr old and she wanted to touch and hug the dogs, cat, fish. How she missed the bunny - well, next time.

Before the taste test we wondered the yard, discussed college, the environment, our thoughts on sustainability and I pointed out weeds that stop blood flow or take out the sting of the nettles, things you could eat and things to stay away from. He had a small handful of medicinal weeds and my small flyer because he decided that CSA's were too hard on the guilt button to try again and we both were afraid of taking money and not having produce to give back to which I have never leaned toward or tried but he had. My flyer says this isn't a CSA here at the farm - sure hope tomatoes start to really produce soon. I end up tilling under things that don't get eaten because there's other things that take priority. He needed a mint, for hot tea that would be taking the place of his out of radius coffee. Said he had sipped hot water with honey in it since the diet began - just for a filler - the peppermint will be better.

Sophi fed fish, ate tomatoes, loved on Porter (the cat), got licked by Gabby and had a couple of lavender blooms to smell. I found her a feather from Moe's tail in the house and let her take that home - it was sticking out of her skirt pocket at an odd right angle when they left.

Oh, David was still in the weeds - his only day off cuz the union dudes with more seniority bumped him for a month so they could stretch the 4th of July weekend. Wink - I got out of some of the work - Wink.

Bill's a young farmer - he's going to come by again - I told him I'd hand him a tool while we talked the next time - maybe because I felt a little guilty for getting out of the work.