My copy of Mother Earth News arrive a couple of days ago, but I didn’t have time to sit down with it until last night at bedtime. Perusing the magazine in bed, I suddenly sat up with an Oh My Gosh!…waking DH. He didn’t know what had hit him. After apologizing for my over-zealous exclamation, I shared my excitement about seeing an article by Jules Dervaes in Mother.
It seems that I am a late comer in this knowledge. I vaguely remember something being written at Little Homestead in the City, but with all the sickness at my house I had made a mental note to return to the post later when I could concentrate. I had no idea it was being published in Mother Earth News!
WooHoo to the Dervaes Family! See the article at An Amazing and Productive Urban Homestead. Afterwards you might run over and check out their newest project–Freedom Seeds, “the revolutionary new seed sovereignty movement spearheaded by the non profit Dervaes Institute.”
This is part one of the new video over at Path to Freedom Urban Homesteaders. It gives a QUICK look at garden before an interview with Farmer D.
I have more to say, but we are running out the door to catch a movie with DD as a belated birthday celebration. Oh, and I want to say that My Hero came home with a small cake to celebrate last night.
Where to begin. I am proud to say that we have reduced our individual bottles of water purchases by approximately 80%, even with our travel. We have enjoyed using our two aluminum waters bottles purchased from The Peddler’s Wagon. Made from a 304 grade aluminum, our 20 oz. green jewel toned bottle is perfect for DD, and a bargain at only $11.00. DH and I share a larger, 1 ltr. Steel Water Bottle, which has a opening large enough to add ice.
To up the ante, we have decided to stop purchasing bottled pop, as well. The decision is based somewhat on the plastic bottle pollution issue, partly on my readings of The Omnivore’s Dilema and In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan, and lastly, and probably most important, is our ever growing waistline. When we were in Kansas City this weekend, I am very happy to report that DH, nor I, purchased a pop, or a plastic bottle of anything the entire day. A couple of times, I thought we might falter, but I am very proud of us both. To some of you, this may seem as such a simple task, but I assure you it took great fortitude to spend 13 plus hours on the road without a bottle of Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, or Coca-Cola.
Do you ever feel that way? Today I am there…I QUIT!
I have yet another failed attempt at solar cooking. The beans were hard! I guess, unless it is just to heat up something that is already cooked, I am not going to waste another bit of food. DH has a problem with food cooked at low temps and it just goes to waste.
On top of it all, I just received notice that my solar cooker from Path to Freedom is on back-order. Well, actually I knew that part already , but NOT UNTIL MID JULY! The air conditioners are going in tonight. I have puttered around with NOT cooking inside the house for long enough. Peanut butter sandwiches are getting extremely old, as are salads.
So please excuse me while I have a temper tantrum sitting here melting away in the heat. I think I will go take a nap!
The Dervaes Family will be on tonight on ABC at 11:35 PM EDT. This story was filmed last week at the Dervaes Institute and Path to Freedom. The Dervaes are role models to many on the build to a more sustainable life. Living on a city lot in Pasasdena, California, they raise most of their own food, as well as enough vegetables/fruits to run a thriving fresh market delivery business on 1/10 of an acre. Their accomplishnments are amazing!
Edit: Well, it was definitely worth the wait! Makes me want to go out and rip up my yard :).
Second Edit: For those that missed it, Path to Freedom states that it will be on youtube soon. See below….
