Ohiofarmgirl'sAdventuresinTheGoodLand-where ya been? whatcha been doin

[bibliophile birds]

each of us has a calling or right livelihood that enables us to serve the common good, and in finding this calling, we will be most happy. Few, if any spiritual teachings call us to seek the accumulation of money, stuff, power, or other purely selfish interests. Further, in a life-serving economy, we individually accept responsibility for creating our own joys and pleasures. We do not rely upon corporate America to sell us these things. We take personal and collective responsibility for supplying many of our needs. In taking these steps, we discover that true economic assets, unlike money, are intangible.

look OFG, i think she's hinting about chickens being the new gold!

 

[Javamama]

Wow, I run off to go to an ungodly number of retail stores *shudder* - I had to buy funeral clothes for all of us due to a death in the family - and this conversation explodes. I love it. The conversation, not the funeral stuff

 

[freemotion]

Years ago some mean family member told my dh that I married him because I can control him. HAH! I married him because he is not a wimp yet is very kind and considerate.

We are more traditional, too, but we both work part time and both spend time at home. I really don't get the mentality that raising children and working around the homestead is demeaning, but working to make someone else rich is fulfilling. What's up with THAT?

Someone told me today the price of wheat and pork is going to skyrocket. I thought...hmmm, interesting. I'm all set. I have enough wheat for the next 3-4 years and two growing pigs that I'll fatten on free acorns. And I'm the dumb one? Really?

 

[FarmerDenise]

We get a lot of crap from FIL and other members of SO's family, because we don't "work". They also keep dropping by expecting free stuff from us and to borrow tools for free. They expect us to do stuff for them when they want something done like concrete work or pruning shrubs or whatever. They offer to pay us, but it's usually a ridiculously low amount. Then they get offended when we turn them down.
They bring us crappy outdated processed food and expect us to be greatfull. Or clothing that doesn't fit, is awfull colors that they got from the casinos. We can tell because of the logos on them. The t-shirts do make good animal blankets though and they've come in handy for making little coats for Susie, my naked chicken

We have to best food and even if it takes a bit of work to bring it to the table, I'd rather do this kind of work, than sit in a cubicle, breathing nasty fumes from the furniture and being around sick people, who insist on coming to work, and doing someone else's bidding. NO THANKS!
Gimme fresh air, sunshine, rain, cold, having to go out in all the weather to take care of my critters and having the oportunity to go and say, oh, I need an onion and going out to the garden and pulling one out of the dirt. How can you possibly beat that!

I wouldn't mind, being able to go on a real vacation some times, but not if it means having to work in an office. I'll stay out of one of those for as long as I can wrangle it. I'll rather be broke.

 

[Farmfresh]

the pig guts on the other hand....

Even the guts can be used as sausage casings! Yup you all are on a roll!

 

[FarmerDenise]

By the way - it's not just you girls who get to give the finger to the 'establishment' and opt out. I stay home with the kids - homeschool them, take care of the farm and house while my wife works 50 hours a week (from her home office thankfully!) and is finishing lawschool.

oh course not! this is an equal opportunity agrarian uprising!

Hear! Hear!
SO is after all also out there, growing the crops, caring for the critters and peeling the peaches for canning. He has his son cleaning the kitchen right now, so he can make dinner, while I am getting motivated to dry some plums
Men are just under represented on this forum, but you are not counted out.
A family farm needs all members of the family to work on it together. Each doing what they are capable of. That's the way we did it when I was growing up and it's what I keep trying to do now.

 

[Farmfresh]

I agree. I could not do NEARLY what I do without my hubby's support and sometimes help. Tonight for example. He hoisted the turkeys up into the killing cone and then beheaded them with the lopers while I stretched out their necks and stabilized them. Unless you have tried to kill a big old turkey alone you have no idea how much work that is.

After I had them cleaned up, he ran them to the basement refrigerator and helped with the clean up. I mainly run this "farm" day to day, but when I need him he is always there to help.

 

[Blackbird]

Glad to hear that! Traditional gender roles don't mean squat to me. If I've learned anything, it's that good help is hard to come by, so there is no need to nitpick about gender.

 

[Bourbon Red]

I pull up a chair and a bowl of peaches and start peeling OFG please share some more wisdom can we have some cream from the goats to go with the pie PLEASE

Get yourself a friend with a couple of Jerseys and a wife who is addicted to chevre - you'll be able to work out an arrangement...

 

[Farmfresh]

Glad to hear that! Traditional gender roles don't mean squat to me. If I've learned anything, it's that good help is hard to come by, so there is no need to nitpick about gender.

Amen brother!