MARCIA
POWELL -- Blog article (#18) – October 16, 2015 –
“Growing
Season #2 on Lockie Farm”
My
last blog was April 12th—the beginning of spring. For
those of you who remember reading about last year's battle with the
superweeds, I am happy to inform you that my plan worked, i.e.
cutting them at ground level if I couldn't pull them out by the roots
and then dumping 3-4” of wood chips on the stumps. That did kill
most of them. The ones I had to pull up this year were in the areas
where some flooding had occurred, and some patches out in the
adjoining alfalfa.
In
May I purchased two beehives and packages of bees. Had to shout out
a HELP! To the Central Illinois Beekeeper Club page on Facebook,
resulting in an amazing beekeeper named Mike coming to my rescue.
The bees are for the plants and the environment, so I'm happy for him
to do the work and sell the honey for his exchange. He gives me my
percentage of yummy honey for my personal use.
As
food for the bees, in late March I scattered Dutch white clover seeds
all over my yard and some into the WPP (Woody Perennial Polyculture)
rows, praying they would make their way through the mulch, take root,
and grow. Some made it; some didn't. But, as you can see from the
photo, the green clover beautifies my front yard. (Remember, I chose
not to have a grass lawn.) I've earmarked a section of my property
to plant native/pollinator plants next spring. Doing my bit for the
bees! :-)
The
son of an L.A. friend, who visited me for 9 days in May, helped me
plant strawberries on the septic lines, but they all died. :-( We
also took down the four [ugly] raised beds, and use the dirt for some
vegetable garden rows. Then we created a little patio of bricks on
the west side of the house. Bought an antique red pump from my
bro-in-law as a decoration, and added an arbor vitae tree and some
shrubs as the “necklace” for that side of the house.
June
was unusually wet. One day/night we got 6”! The irrigation ditch
rose so high it reached the bridge I-beam, which stopped the corn
husks, beer cans, whiskey bottles, styrofoam, and other junk. To
prevent this stuff from ending up in the Gulf of Mexico dead zone, I
recruited my friend Tracy and we pulled some up with rakes; then I
braved the wicked current, waded in and got more. Felt so righteous!
But the bad news was that the 6” rain took out the seeds I had
just planted into my new square foot garden. :-(
Another
downside of all the June rain was that my farmer was not able to do
the first cutting of the alfalfa/grass. It grew so tall it both
shaded the WPP and pulled nutrients away. Once he did cut it, I had
to go out with my newly purchased weedwacker (you should/ve seen lil
ol me trying handle that baby!) and take down the “fringe.”
Met
a fellow, Brent, in August who was good enough to come out many
evenings and lend a hand in exchange for some home-cooked organic
dinners—plus my delicious blackberries. Together we rescued the
poor struggling hazelnuts from the tall alfalfa/grass all around the
property. Brent also dug up a lot of grass clumps which were close to
the WPP plants, which we put over in the rows of poplar trees as some
extra mulch. Plus we together managed to get the dried up paint (and
big spiders!) out of the (ugly) 300-gallon bin in front of the
garage; put it in the pickle buckets I've been getting for free from
Burger King and used them to create a border on the SW side of my
yard. We used lead pipes to roll the still heavy bin over to where
the others are along the road. What a win to then be able to put a
beautiful big pot of geraniums where the bin had been. It's been
interesting to find out just how important aesthetics are to me.
In
September I hosted my first Savanna Institute Field Day. Was
misty-moisty, so glad that all 20 attendees were able to fit into
chairs in my garage. Told them what all I was doing, especially
about the Woody Perennial Polyculture and restoration agriculture,
and then did a quick tour, followed by refreshments.
The
Field Day motivated me (well, Pete Havranek) to create a website for
the farm: http://www.LockieFarm.com
As
I think you know, I have long been concerned that GMO food causes
adverse health effects. There is a new book entitled “Altered
Genes Twisted Truth” by Steven M. Druker that is probably the
definitive work on the issue.
While
we're on the subject of health, I have just watched the first four
episodes (of 9) of “The Truth About Cancer: A Global Quest”
created by Ty Bollinger. I highly highly recommend watching the
series. A couple of years ago I made the decision to NOT do
chemo/radiation were I to be diagnosed with cancer. This data
corroborates this decision.
Drove
to the Outer Banks in North Carolina at the end of June to spend a
week with family at a lovely beach house. Ashley and Ethan flew out
from Portland. Ashley's leg was in a cast from an accident she had
(walking down stone stairs in the dark!)--broke the tibia, fibula,
and ankle—not good, especially since she is a massage therapist!
She is finally now out of the boot and able to walk with a cane—and
drive. Yea!
Sister
Jane and I continue our lifetime Scrabble tournament (she's ahead),
and we can play a ton of piano duets from half a dozen different
books. Also enjoyed some family get-togethers at the pond.
Attended
the Illinois Libertarian Convention in August—always informative
and enjoyable. Had a booth at a couple of local festivals and
garnered 50 new names. More and more people these days are turning
to the Libertarian party.
Am
still on a quest for a “mate.” There was a fellow in Lincoln,
Nebraska... we needed to meet, so each drove halfway and had a long
lunch in Williamsburg, Iowa. Not a match, but a new friend made.
And,
of course, people continue to match up through the Affinity Exchange.
See success stories on home page: www.affinity-exchange.com.
Please refer your friends!
Hope
you all are flourishing and prospering (thriving)!
Please
write and give me an update on your adventures.
Love
to all, Marcia (217) 582-2112 home (818) 552-2211
cell
Marcia@affinity-exchange.com
or marpo3344@gmail.com
http://messagesfrommarcia.blogspot.com/
and
http://www.LockieFarm.com
