Developing Industry

One of the jobs on my list is to restore two de-hullers for a customer.

A de-huller may come in a variety of forms for a various grains, nuts, or seeds.

It seems that due to centralization and large scale processing operations,

the small versions of these machines have vanished.

Now that growing grain is returning to small operations,

the need for on-site processing equipment is increasing.

The nearest mill may be too far to efficiently transport grain to,

or there may also be no facility available to process organically grown product

independently of chemically supported crops.

It wasn't long ago that western culture was providing technical aid to developing nations.

Arguably, many of the contributions caused negative implications; dooming inhabitants to cash cropping and burdening them with developed world woes.

However, some solutions actually helped, and in turn,

those same solutions may be exactly what we need to solve our excessively industrialized food production system.

Most grain types require some element of processing to make them suitable for consumption, whether it is for palatability, marketability, or to retain nutrition.

Often, it is removing the outermost portion of the grain called the hull or pericarp.

There are traditional methods that include using a large mortar and pestle which release the grain from the hull, but can be wasteful, and may reduce storage times if performed to a moistened grain.

A mechanical solution intended for developing nations was created in the seventies using basic fabrication materials and can be scaled down or up to suit capacity.

This is just what is needed to suit the current need for small scale producers who wish to process their own grain.

It's not as if my project board is empty, but I am intrigued by the challenge.

The goal is to keep the costs down as much as possible, yet build a machine that is efficient as it is practical.

Produced by industry, these units could be very affordable.

The problem is, like with many other low demand items, there is simply not enough profit to entice big business to produce machinery like this.

Though I expect that Chinese industry makes lots of machines like this;

they're just not imported here.

The point is that we cannot always expect our domestic industry to produce the equipment that is needed by small scale producers.

And processing grain requires quite an array of labour saving devices to make it worthwhile.

In an effort to squeeze competition and increase margins, industry has grown out of proportion and contributes to high volume production at the expense of quality.

If we can return to providing local technical solutions, then we will not need to rely so heavily on large industrial companies to fill the needs of small communities.

Many of the answers lay close at hand in the devices sent to work in developing nations.

I expect that many people felt that the designs were minimalist only to suit fledging nations.

It looks as if the large and complex designs come with their own set of hindrances.

Another lesson that shows that bigger is not necessarily better.

 

 

 

 

 

An Easy Choice

Corporate business culture has always given me cause for disdain.
The drive for wealth precludes acts of generosity, empathy, community building, and integrity.
There is only one goal; to acquire as much money as possible.
I understand that many businesses participate in charities and community sponsorships, but the underlying reason is not altruistic;
it is only to help develop a positive corporate image.


I now find myself among the wolves; starting our own enterprise.
Not surprisingly, the reality of the business world truly does function with blinders on.
It is a tunnel vision approach to commerce which disregards collateral consequence.


As more responsible social practices and opinions gain popularity, the business world races anxiously to meet the consumer with products that meet the new demand.
Unfortunately, 'green washing' marketing tactics mislead the trusting public so that the company makes it's profit without yielding any positive results for the environment and human health.
There is nothing more vile than convincing the consumer to support a product based on the assumption that the product constitutes a wise choice, when in reality, the claims are misleading or outright lies.
Such is the root of all evil; greed.


Now more than ever, the problems facing the world could be solved were it not for greed.
Now more than ever, corporate culture has permeated government and perfected insidious marketing manipulation.
As the last of the integrity ebbs from corporate decision making, the influence that business has over public policy and societal mores is rapidly destroying our children's future.


Our own business is intended to generate revenue; that is the truth.
We need money for our family.
Our family, however, only needs a certain amount of financial income.
The plan is to garner what we need and any profit in excess will be re-invested so that we may expand our capacity, and then one day be able to offer our services for free.
Try explaining that to the bank or potential investors.
The money people want to see a solid bottom line that goes well beyond the break even point.


The question is, how will we fit in?
How will we survive in that kind of environment?
How do we conduct a profitable business while maintaining our integrity?
Even at the outset it looks as though there will be some unpleasant choices to be made.


Yet I believe that the current global economic woes are a direct result of unfettered greed.
The current business model will not sustain itself; the evidence for that is growing daily.
So we will conduct ourselves according to our best ethics.
Even though our goals are altruistic, it doesn't mean that the end justifies the means.


It is all about the future.
The focus should be our children's security,
and not financial security.
Having financial wealth does not imply also having the capacity for survival.
Certainly taking more than our fair share does nothing but decay the delicate social fabric.


So we will conduct our business our way.
I am not afraid of financial failure.
And I will not abandon my integrity to secure something as fundamentally worthless as money.

Trade Skills

The blue collar trades can be intimidating for many people.
Tools and techniques for the uninitiated appear mysterious.
And though I advocate for supporting your local economy and the skilled tradespeople who are your neighbours,
it really helps the family budget if you can handle minor repairs without calling in the professionals.


If you have no knowledge or confidence when it comes to trades work, it is important to understand the connections that each discipline shares.
Once you begin to learn and challenge yourself, the experience gained grows exponentially because the skills are largely transferrable between trades.


An example is cutting and measuring.
It seems simple enough, but any errors can cause major headaches.
Good measuring and accurate cutting skills are critical in all of the trades.
But once you are able to measure and cut wood, moving to steel, or ductwork, or plumbing, is simply a matters of using appropriate tools.
In fact, trade skills differ much less from each other than the specialized tools that specific tasks require.

A neighbour once told me that for an average family, it's necessary to be able to fix either your car or your home. Otherwise it's an expensive prospect when there's a household infrastructure failure.
Certainly if you are plotting a goal of self-sufficiency, being able to repair your home and equipment are integral to that kind freedom.
If you count yourself out before you even try, then expect to be at the mercy of the world.
It's said that God helps those who help themselves.
And while Karma is understood as a 'what goes around, comes around' idea,
Karma is also about how you apply will and determination to your environment.


Expanding your skill set and knowledge can only improve the steadiness of your gait as you make your way through life.
Taking small steps towards learning the trade skills are very empowering and will most certainly lead you forward.
And if you are thinking about homesteading,
these skills are your ticket in.


 

Lost Inheritance

I haven't been very forthcoming about the business we are building here.
All of you blog readers really should be the first to know, since you are the people who are genuinely interested in our daily life.
But I am not going to let the whole cat out...
...not just yet.
I'll make it up to you though.


For now, I will say that the focus will be on education.
Originally, we planned to offer primarily outdoor experiences that helped people understand the natural ecology and our role among it.
And though we will still be offering experiences with nature, I am finding that there is just as much interest in the forgotten art of skills.
Yes, that's a pretty broad art, but indeed, skill is something that is degrading in a society that encourages specialization.

It happens so quietly.
From one generation to the next.
We are supposed to be passing down our acquired skill and knowledge to our children.
The accumulation of which improves the capacity for adaptation and survival.
Instead, we have been experiencing the opposite.


A money economy permits us the luxury of transferring one skill into paper money.
I make bricks. I sell bricks for money. I use the money to buy bread.
I don't need to know how to bake.
Therefore, my children will not be taught how to bake bread.
This is a coarse example, but exemplifies the disconnection of skill.


And so individuals concentrate on a narrow band of ability.
Disparity between wages allows disproportionate exchange of work for money.
A higher income means that money will replace skill to a greater degree.
For those of us living in the affluent west, that means we are most vulnerable to a multi-generational loss of skill.
The wealthiest of our culture, the most vulnerable of all.
The irony is obvious.
It seems that even a man-made trade economy embodies elements of natural selection.


This fact has not gone unnoticed.
Especially as houshold finances tighten up.
It's often easier to find relief by providing for yourself than trying to earn the money.
As so it should be.
Anecdotally, I am constantly hearing from people about their frustration at not having skills that were once taken for granted.
In the age of industrialized food, even the ability to prepare and cook food is in doubt.

I met a woman this morning who had been taught how to weld at the age of twelve.
A little unusual, but it shouldn't be.
Her father recognized the importance of skills and passed them to her.
Not only does a skill such as welding give you the ability to repair metal items,
it also empowers you.
It means that the confidence to perform jobs beyond specialization may transfer to other skills.


We are often led to believe that each of us has unique talents.
And while that is true, it doesn't preclude a diverse skill set.
Crammed into pigeon holes does nothing to benefit individuals, culture,
or, despite many opinions, the economy.
Each passing generation is losing the resilience necessary to cope with an abrupt change in our way of life.
Certainly you can't expect everything to carry on as it is forever?


As for Sue, who learned to weld when she was twelve.
Her opinion is resolved.
In twenty or thirty years, it will be the people who have the trades and skills who dominate our culture.
I tend to agree with her.

 

When water is a treasure.

It was early in the growing season last year that I had started putting the irrigation plan together.
The weather was hot and dry.
The gardens were just getting underway when it looked as though
there would be no rain.
One hot afternoon, I frantically cobbled together what I had on hand in order to pump water from the pond up to where the gardens are.
And then it rained.
The rest of the season was wet, and so I neglected to finish putting the pump system together.

In all fairness, it's a pretty challenging job.
It was simple enough to get the pump and pressure tank out of storage, and build a platform for them near the pond.
But to get everything going, there needed to be a trench dug to the house for the hundred feet of pipe and the wire to provide electricity to the pump.
Hoses needed to be joined, and the wire run into the house and hooked to the panel.
I had also built the water pick up last year, but it had failed to work properly even before the system was put together.
I remember now. That's when I gave up.

This time, I waited until the last minute.
There would be no produce at all if I didn't get some water to the gardens.
Sure, there is the well, but even that is getting low and would likely run dry if we were to put as much moisture to the plants as we wanted to.
Besides, the pond is the logical choice for water supply because the water is warmer and contains additional nutrients that the well water lacks.
Despite being the lowest that we have ever seen it, the pond still holds enough water to liberally soak the gardens and fruit.

So now, the pump is hooked up and running.
The gardens have been given lots water.
And it's raining.
Yes. Merciful rain.
And though it is late, the rain is still welcome.
The irrigation system is still a necessary part of the farm, however.
Regardless of whether or not we continue to use an electric pump,
the pipe from the pond up to the gardens will continue to be needed.
The goal is to have water run to every corner so that we don't need to drag
two-hundred feet of garden hose all over the place.
There is also the option of setting up self-watering stations for the animals,
thus eliminating one of the daily chores.

This all depends on there being enough water in the pond.
If it gets that bad, we'll be going to plan F, if you get what I mean.
In truth, there are options beyond the abundant water that we have become accustomed to.
Alternative moisture harvesting and conservation techniques are used throughout the world where water is a treasure.
We would simply modify our current irrigation system as necessary.
Interestingly, I am already working on a plan to maintain a consistent pond level, as well as make the pond suitable for swimming.
This would involve some of the same practices needed to cope
in a semi-arid climate.

Even now, as I write, it rains.
Today is the first substantial rainfall we've had for a very long time.
It's enough to make me forget that there has even been a drought.
But by not finishing the water project last year,
I put us at risk when the rain did not fall this season.
It's a lesson, to be sure.
I mustn't take our water for granted,
for it may not always be there when we need it.
And so the job isn't done until we're better prepared.
This drought may have been mild compared to what is to come.

Gardening Fish

In my search for new and better ways to do things,
I often find that complexity is favoured over simplicity.
Every so often though, I find something inspiring.


Aquaponics is quite a bit more than simply inspiring.
It is smart, simple, effective, and efficient.
Now, I haven't started into this method yet, but having mulled it over for a few years now,
I am ready to believe in it.

Aquaponics is a marriage of aquaculture and hydroponics.
Both aquaculture and hydroponics consume a great deal of water which ends up being toxic waste when it leaves the operations.
Combining the two farming methods creates a complimentary cycle that negates the production of harmful waste while also reducing water consumption

Simply put, you can grow fruit and vegetables using the advantages of hydroponic growing,
while at the same time, raise fish in an unbelievably efficient manner.
I am not sure why this idea has not taken off,
but I suspect that the initial set-up is daunting and may require someone with experience to start the system up properly.

The predominent fish grown this way is Tilapia.
They lend themselves very well to domestic production,
and can be fed with food grown within the aquaponic garden itself.
Otherwise, any fish will do; each having specific requirements.

The reason I am bringing this up, is because I have started to think about it again.
Ours gardens are doing very well, but there is always time to look into improvement.
Aquaponic gardens, once running properly, are easy to maintain and offer
high production rates.
There are none of the concerns associated with providing the right soil and keeping the soil healthy.
Weeding is virtually unnecessary, and pests are deterred from the unusual environment.
Of course, the aesthetic has great potential.

My big plan is to build a year-round aquaponic facility.
That's pretty far off at the moment, but it is time to start putting the pieces together so that we are ready when the time is right.
I feel strongly that this growing method will be more attractive if there are beautiful examples for people to see first-hand.
The 'look' of aquaponic gardens should be as compelling as their practical value.

A Matter of Vision

Now, more than ever before, when I see an old farm, I see a blank slate.
Farms, left unused for their original purpose, sit sadly by, while decades pass, fields grow in, fences crumble, and buildings decay.
At some point, someone gave up; whether by choice or not.
At some point, these places were industrious hubs of activity, and there were promises of future prosperity.
I am always astounded when I gaze over vast fields, and envision a barn building bee.
The toil spent on these projects is incalculable.
Of course, the driving need for food and shelter would be incentive enough.

There are many more of these unkept farmsteads north of the Canadian shield edge.
Southern Ontario has bountiful soil.
Shield country is unforgiving, and doesn't encourage farming.
In the settling days, you took what you could get, and sometimes you got land, but poor land at best.
The evidence is all around cottage country, where the tourism economy outsells farming by a long shot.

In recent years, old farms have been bought as retreats and country estates.
There is an antique charm that is irresistible.
The heart and soul of the loving craftsmanship is certainly a contrast to how most homes are built now.
In an age where hearty farm cooking is a special treat to most,
the old farmstead rekindles that connection with our food and family that has been largely lost.

I feel that there is a responsibility that goes along with owning a farm.
The effort to build them should not have been in vain, for while the barn still stands and the fields remain clear, the silence should be broken by the same familiar sounds that rang through the countryside so long ago.
And if not for their intended purpose, they should at least be for the cultivation of family and community.

My mind goes wild with plans and ideas when I walk through the splendour of a finished farm.
Contemplation of the past ultimately leads to the consideration of the future.
But these are not my farms.
Our course is to be the builders.
I hope that one day, someone will walk through our grounds, and think about the work we have done,
and dream about what they might do here.



 

Staring over the precipice.

Much like when the power goes out,
the only time I really try to think of solutions is when the trouble is underway.
Planning to use less electricity and creating alternatives seems more imperative when the lights are off and the water pump is useless.
And with the current heat wave, my mind wanders into plans for mitigating the effects of heat and drought for the future.

I dislike bringing up the climate change issue, but it doesn't seem to be getting any colder or wetter.
The statistics are certainly pointing to the warmer end of thermometer.
For those people who work in air-conditioned environments, it would be hard to focus on the heat all day.
But when you work outside, it's hard to get that oppressive feeling off your shoulders.

I do my best to plan work around the weather.
Rain hasn't been much of a problem lately, except for the fact that there's not enough.
When it's hot, the afternoon should be spent in the shade;
it's an opportunity for me to catch up on my computer tasks.
In the future, however, there may need to be a greater shift of the typical daily regime.

I used to worry about the well and the pond levels.
I guess I still do.
But there is little I can do to add water to the system.
Our pond reflects both watershed flow, and groundwater levels.
There is some flow; but not much.

The pond and some of the swamps, I have always been considered as water reserves.
The fact is, that when the heat is on and there is no rain, the reserves suffer equally.
Out back where our big pigs are, there is a swamp next to their compound.
It was my source of water for them, but now it is only a wallow.
I could dig for water, and I probably will at some point.
We are surely better off than many places,
but I can see the edge of drought.
There wouldn't need to be much of a change to shift the balance.
And especially after a long, hot day,
it feels as though we won't be able to adapt.



 
 
 

Tangible Evidence

I truly believe that we will not be aware of our imminent demise.
Though media portrays the end of the world as catastrophic,
it is likely to be much more mundane an end.

It is the subtle indicators that will evade us.
 
 

 
This is our first time being able to hang-out comfortably outside at this time of year.
That would be good news for most.
Our property is the perfect natural habitat for biting flies.
And so is the surrounding land.
This year is an exception.
There are few biting insects at all.

You likely know, but in the past, Canaries were used in mines to detect dangerous gas levels before humans would start dying.
It was an obvious signal to get out.

For me, the absence of biting flies is that same indicator.

And though the blood sucking insects may seem to be a scourge, their role is critical.
First, it is important to know that these insects only draw blood for reproduction.
Food and energy come from nectar.
Of course, that means that biting flies are pollinators.

As subtle as their absence may be, the implications are far reaching.

 
One of the great barriers to settling the land around here is the heavy presence of biting flies.
A reduction in their numbers means that more people may be enticed to farm in this part of the world.
So, having their numbers decimated appears to open that option; but not without costs.

Now it seems that some creature must replace the Blackflies as early season pollinators.
There will be less biomass in the air and all creatures will suffer from the loss.

And while we bask in the ability to play freely outdoors,
the resulting loss will affect countless sub-systems,
and inevitably, our chances of survival.

Here on the ground, the only real difference we can make is allowing ourselves to be bitten for the sake of propagating threatened insect species.
There are so many factors out of our hands.
How are we to stop the degradation of the natural environment;
especially if we innocently support the decline.

 
 
 
 
 

Merrylynd Organic Farms

Buying feed for our animals is one of the larger expenses each month.
The land that the big pigs are on right now will be one of five plots intended for growing crops, among which will be our own source of feed.
Producing our own feed will reduce our costs, but in the meantime, there will need to be an outside source.

The business that we have been buying from has treated us well.
Unfortunately, they do not mix organic feed;
they must buy it in from another source.
It also means that the minimum orders are quite large.
Requesting custom mixes or raw ingredients is also out of the question.
As nice as they have been to us, they are better suited to typical farms.

On a recommendation, we sought out a relationship with Merrylynd Farms, located just south of Lakefield, Ontario.
The farm grows grains and beans, and produces meat and maple syrup.
Their mill mixes livestock feeds and custom ground flours and grains for human consumption.
They are a fully organic and GMO free operation.
Not only is the feed very fresh and wholesome, there is also the option to buy raw product if we choose to mix our own feeds in the future.
 
 
 

Being able to buy flour is an added bonus; not because of the price, but it is great to be able to buy locally farmed grains.

Of course the prices are excellent.
Buying directly from the farm means there is less cost impact from shipping and handling.


Merrylynd Farms is not a subsidiary of a corporate company, and sells their product to small farmers such as ourselves.
It is not a cash cropping business and operates on principles of high farming where the land is a partner and not a slave.


There are over 2000 acres of land available to Merrylynd for farming.
The opportunity for producing excess financial wealth for the owners
is substantial.
Instead, the land is farmed according to sustainable and organic methods, and prices are set to suit the small holder.
Having been in the family for nearly two-hundred years, I expect they have learned that the land provides what you need, and asking for more, results in failures.

As a strong supporter of organic farming, occasionally I am taken to task on the true benefits of following organic methods.
Most often, it is argued that there can be no truly organic food because of the high saturation of chemical toxins in our environment.
Contaminants come in rain and snow, in groundwater, in dust, and even in the air.
Our environment everywhere is most definitely toxic to varying degrees.
But that is really not the point.
Certainly it is beneficial to reduce the levels of poisonous compounds pervasive throughout the food chain.
And less pesticide on your fruit is better than more of it.

Organic farming is not simply producing food without the use of harmful chemicals.
With livestock farming, there are matters of ethics; the treatment of animals.
Organic farming is sustainable farming and respects the future of our children.
More importantly, by farming or buying organically, you promote the methods.
Supporting the organic farm creates the potential for a future that is free of unnecessary toxins.
A future where the air, water, and ground are clean, and the soil rich and fertile from years of careful agriculture.
 
 

A future where control of the food supply has been

taken away from those who wish to control us with it.

Buying organic food is less about eating wholesome food and more about making sure there is wholesome food for future generations.

Larry at the mill was great to talk to when we picked our order up.

He had spent his early years working on farms but moved on to telecommunications sales for most of his working life. Now he works on the farm again and makes far less money but is far more content.

We are in debt to those people who have stuck it out despite criticism from the mainstream.

I told Larry that seeing such a large and experienced organic operation gives us hope that the momentum will change directions one day.

I often feel dismayed that no matter how hard we try, the opposition will always be overwhelming.

Larry told me to never give up, no matter what people say.

Coming from someone who has the benefit of years,

that means a lot to me.

 
 
 
 

Growing More than Plants

It's the time of year to buy young plants if you haven't started yours.
Kira has many of her own, but not everything that we want in the gardens;
tomatoes and peppers in particular.


While most people head to the store, we visited our friend Dave instead.
We no longer consider whether or not to buy from the local community.
It's more a matter of who has what.
You can be certain that within each community, everyone has their own skills.
And if we were better connected with each other, there would be more opportunity to keep local economies more robust.
 
 

Like most people in rural areas, Dave has a variety of skills and experiences that allow him to make a living.
One of those is propagating plants.
Using available rooms at his home, there is an assortment of plants ready for sale and trade.


Kira was armed with a tray of Tomatillos that needed extra care and attention.
Our home is not great for starting plants and so Kira felt the plants would thrive better in Dave's care.

 

In light of the issues that we have been addressing, there was the opportunity to talk about maintaining a seed exchange.


Cultivar diversity has suffered greatly at the hands of commercialization, and the responsibility to preserve seed stock often falls to the passionate.


Creating an area wide exchange base of plants and trees, both seed and propagation materials, strengthens the overall vigor of local food production.
Not only is stock exchanged, but knowledge too.
Cultivars that best suit local conditions may be exemplified, and specific details on care may be shared.


A local exchange may not incorporate a large enough inventory to preserve the greater portion of threatened cultivars, but if all communities did this, the combined effort could be considerable.
This may be especially valuable if climate change shifts locals choices out of favour.
Communities could reach out to each other in order to find alternatives suitable to the changes taking place.
 
 

Supporting your neighbor helps keep their passions funded and is the only way that individuals will be able to keep skills and abilities honed.


Of course, the benefits of barter trading go a long way to strengthening community ties and financial independence.


Consider your own strengths and interests, and how to incorporate them into your local economy.
 

Dave has expansion in mind, but much of his time is devoted to the business of making ends meet.
As a carpenter and arborist, work is a matter of feast or famine in cottage country.
When work is plentiful, time favours earning money.
When work is scarce, capital for projects can be difficult to separate from the houshold budget.
Gaps in between seasons make balancing a tough act.


There are greenhouse plans with many of the materials already on hand.
The current demand for plants provides a strong incentive for growing more.
But Dave's love for growing plants isn't driven by market economics.


Passion alone is enough.