If You Want Something Done Right . . .

You have to do it yourself!  We've all heard this, our entire lives and there is certainly an element of truth in it.  The fact remains, however; that even the most talented and gifted of humans can't do everything.  Cooperatives and grass roots movements are born of people, each doing what they can do best, and sharing that with others.

We've begun an experiment here at the Goshen Gazette and we're hoping to start a "grocery roots" movement.  Genetic modification and engineering in a laboratory isn't the only opportunity to experiment with a food supply!  I've done a bit of checking through these past few years and the idea of founding a food co-op is overwhelming to me, so that's not my gift.  Jumping in with an idea and creative improvisation is more along the lines of my gifting.  In speaking with the executive administrator earlier this week, I shared with her my idea of the ideal fellowship.

Well, ideally we'd all be in the same geographical locale, but here's the gist of our conversation.  If everyone involved made the simple statement.  "I can't do everything, I can't be in charge, but YHWH gifted me to do this __________, and I can help in another area."

With that, YHWH has been leading each of us to "bloom where we're planted."  As Americans, as believers, we talk way too much about what "hinders" us.  I've heard people complain about the genetic engineering, but then proceed to explain why they are victims of it and can't avoid it.  I realize homesteading isn't for everyone, right now, but I also know apartment dwellers can have house plants, so here's where we are.  The DEA believes there are closet pot farmers all over the US and have been allocated a budget of $2B to bust them, based upon that belief.  My thought is, if the DEA is willing to make fools of themselves, and the federal government is willing to borrow money to finance the DEA, small time gardening of legal plants is definitely possible!

While I'm experimenting and offering ideas for homesteading and business, Terrie will be sharing with us, her amazing talent of interior landscaping, in her endeavor toward healthier eating.  We hope you'll join us in trying something, even if it's just one thing; toward establishing sustainable healthy food.  We need to implement ideas before the only choice is to "shut up and eat our frankenfood!"

All ideas and photos are welcome as we endeavor to "Bloom where we're planted!"

Perhaps it's Time for a Basic Ag Class

I've mentioned the big raid and bust on the Garden of Eden, in another article, but it inspired the foundation for this article.  As our nation moves away from being an agrarian society, people are not going to be able to recognize the various plants.  We have a clear case of grown men not knowing the difference between tomato plants and marijuana.  Do we really want this to be the direction of our society?

Whether it's city ordinances or abusive authority and SWAT teams, do we want to be so ignorant as to not recognize plants?  How is that even considered progress?  What society takes pride in not knowing the difference of the indigenous vegetation, much less the foliage of the vegetables we eat?  How did this ignorance become respectable?

I saw a photo of a friend's arm after coming into contact with poison ivy.  If the powers that be want to really do something to make our lives better, out law poison ivy and send in the SWAT team!  Seriously, we cannot continue to allow our population to be so far removed from nature that those in authority do not recognize where vegetables come from.  We need to teach some Basic Ag to everyone.  The headlines indicate, it isn't just farmers who need to know what will grow.  As you can plainly see from the photos, these plants should be readily recognizable, even when standing behind a badge.


                                                       
         MINT                                                         BEETS

                                                                                                                                  KALE
               
    SQUASH
 

All delicious and all perfectly legal . . .

  

Edible House Plants

It's time to start thinking about a fall garden or even raising something indoors.  I'm delighted to announce, I have actually harvested a pattipan squash having raised the vine from seeds in a flower pot.  It's beautiful, no blemishes, full size and the plant is covered in blooms.  Only one problem with raising vining produce in a pot, and I've now resolved it, I think.

The produce is heavy and will break the vine if it doesn't have a good strong place to settle.  It will settle back into the pot fine, or as I've now discovered, just make sure the vine is headed for the floor or patio and as it grows, it is already beyond the pot and on the same structure that is supporting the pot it's growing in.

 Commercial hanging planters are great for light fruit and veggies like strawberries or cherry tomatoes.  For those with cats and have avoided potted plants, a small piece of fence over the top when first planting prevents kitty from digging in the soil and the plant will grow right up through the webbing of the fence.   Anyone who enjoys house plants or eating, should consider raising edible house plants.  I've got eggplant in pots, peppers in pots, and potatoes in buckets, not to mention a plethora of fresh herbs in small planters and pots.

Indoor gardening and a patio harvest are both possible.  I've included a link for non genetically mutilated seeds for your autumn growing needs!

http://www.naturalcuresnotmedicine.com/2013/06/the-monsanto-free-seed-company-list.html

Inalienable Rights

I'm kind of on a Rights Rant this week and I've already mourned the loss of the real meaning of the Bill of Rights, but I'm going to address . . . again, that our rights are not from our government, but our Creator, for Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Seems practically a no brainer, that poison is bad for life, so the fact that I choose to not poison my food should fall under that inalienable right.  The fact that I should be able to do that freely, without fear of Big Brother or Big Corporation or USDA, FDA, should fall under some sort of protection of liberty here in the land of the free and the home of the brave!

The pursuit to keep these values and rights alive for the next generation brings me happiness.  Shouldn't I be able to pursuit something so simple as to enjoy the following:  Fresh eggs from free range hens, beef from home grown fatted calf, fresh greens and freshly pulled radishes.

Shouldn't everyone have the choice to be able to harvest and celebrate before our Creator, the First produce of this season?  HalleluYah!

Pests and Parasites

I'm going to share two very reliable pesticides, that as far as I can tell do not harm the pollinators, but care must be taken.  First, I use Diatomaceous Earth as a natural pesticide against the hard shelled insects.  I do take care, not to dust the blooms, though.  I've searched and read both warning and safety comments regarding honey bees and DE, so I avoid dusting the blooms.

The other pesticide I use, first came about by accident.  I had planned to make my own Tabasco sauce last year, but wasn't real sure about it, so I just bought a couple of bedding plants at a local nursery.  As it turns out, they were mislabeled.  I thought the peppers seemed an odd shape compared to the pictures on Tabasco sauce bottles, but I figured, "What did I know?"  So, I put a few of those almost round, with a point, red peppers in the blender with some water.  When I removed the blender lid, my eyes began to water.  I knew this was not Tabasco sauce in the making.

I had thought they looked like habaneros, and sure enough, a quick Google search showed images of habaneros that looked exactly like the hundreds of peppers that were growing in my garden.  Well now, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with these peppers, but I knew I had no intention of eating them.  Last year was a particularly difficult year due to drought.  It seems the only thing really thriving were the grasshoppers, and they were making short work of my garden, when I noticed something.  The habanero plants were beautiful!  There were no leaves missing, no hoppers jumping!

That's when it occurred to me, to at least try it.  So, the concoction in the blender went into a spray bottle and out to the garden.  It didn't take long for the grasshoppers to move on.  Now, I make a point of raising one habanero plant on my deck.  It keeps the pests from the other plants and produces enough peppers to make my pesticide!

Jerusalem Artichokes

This site definitely promotes the concept of purposefully providing food for ourselves and our families, but we also want to take the time to point out and remind our readers that YHWH may already have some pretty amazing things already planted in your neck o' the woods.

I'm including a couple of photos of Jerusalem artichokes.  The edible part is the root, but they are just beginning to bloom in the Ozarks, which means everyone north of the seventh growing zone probably still has time to be watching for these lovely bunches of yellow flowers.  The blossom itself, to me, resembles a daisy in size, but much larger and all yellow, not just the center.  Some have compared their appearance to miniature sunflowers, as they do often stand quite tall.


The appearance of the root is something of a small potato in color, and very tuberous looking.  The texture is similar to that of water chestnuts, with a mildly nutty flavor.

I'd urge you to do a bit of research, then be watching.  We just never know what special treat our Creator has placed in our path.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy	304 kJ (73 kcal)
Carbohydrates	17.44 g
- Sugars	9.6 g
- Dietary fiber	1.6 g
Fat	0.01 g
Protein	2 g
Thiamine (vit. B1)	0.2 mg (17%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2)	0.06 mg (5%)
Niacin (vit. B3)	1.3 mg (9%)
Pantothenic acid (B5)	0.397 mg (8%)
Vitamin B6	0.077 mg (6%)
Folate (vit. B9)	13 μg (3%)
Vitamin C	4 mg (5%)
Calcium	14 mg (1%)
Iron	3.4 mg (26%)
Magnesium	17 mg (5%)
Phosphorus	78 mg (11%)
Potassium	429 mg (9%)
Link to USDA Database entry Percentages are roughly approximated from US recommendations for adults

Getting it Together

If we could just get the folks in the second link connected with the entrepreneur in the first link, we'd be accomplishing something!  "Nuff said!"

http://www.growingpower.org/  This site has some fascinating information!

NO GMO