Little Cabin in the Woods

Jason's gone back to Las Vegas to gather his stuff in the wake of his layoff. He should be back to blogging by Thursday, when he's due to arrive here at the homestead. More bad news on the family financial front: we got word this morning that Jason's brother has also been laid off, following his promotion about six months ago. This must be sort-of like what times were like for our grandparents during the Great Depression...brings to mind the movies like "Cinderella Man"--soup kitchens, counting pennies for milk, and taking any job that will hire you. I have to say, I've never been so glad to live in the country.

When we lived in Las Vegas, we always used to joke that if ever a disaster happened, we'd make a beeline for our place in Texas, because I grew up here and knew I could feed us from what we could grow and gather around here. Times might get tight but we wouldn't starve. How surreal that we're quasi-dependent on this summer's gardening efforts. Also surreal is the fact that we are so enjoying getting back to a simpler life, but now we're forced to do so!

I can remember my grandmother telling Depression stories, about how the farm families did so much better than the city folks, because at least they had the land to feed them. They bartered food for stuff they couldn't grow. I don't think it'll come down to that, but if I can pack the freezer and pantry with stuff that we planted, maybe feeding our family of four won't be so stressful. I guess we'll be getting that pig after all!

That's been a subject of great debate at Casa Chambers...I don't know if I'd be able to send Pet Porky to the butcher after feeding it all spring and summer. The LAST thing we need is a 400 pound pet eating us out of house and home, and I personally can recollect wondering where Fonzie was when my grandfather was feeding us ham for Sunday lunch. I think the kids might be scarred for life. Though it is true that my older daughter is affectionately known around here as the "pork product kid" for her love of all things bacon. I guess we'll be putting that on our list of things to do. I've already steeled myself in preparation for this year's meat chicken endeavor, which will start this spring.

It should be warm enough soon to order the chicks from McMurray's Hatchery. Might also get a few turkey poults and ducklings and see how they fare...I definitely see a war with the coyotes coming on. The hardest thing to remember is to do one thing at a time--first plant the garden, then build the chick tractors, then order the chicks, and so on. It's VERY difficult to want the results immediately, before you are ready for the next step. We'll keep you posted.

feeling fenced in

I gave my soil another tilling today, and even using my Troy-bilt Pony (which rocks) I am sore. I can't imagine doing the whole thing with a pick-axe and a shovel. I finished putting a small fence around the garden, but it's kinda messed up and I'm not sure it will keep out much. In the back corner I see rabbits every night if I go out with a flashlight. They may have to die. I found out at the feed store today that I put my T-posts backwards for the little clips that hold an electric fence--what do I know about putting in an electric fence?! Oh, and by the way, if you don't know where the feed store is, you don't live in the country.

The garden is about 30' by 50', so it's not tiny but certainly not huge. I don't know squat about growing anything and if it wasn't for the legality, the only thing I would grow would be a big patch of weed. The sad thing is that a patch of weed that size would provide quite a nice lifestyle. Tomatoes, peppers, and other such vegetables will have to do.

My wife and I planted two fig trees today about ten feet from the garden. Besides that, I just ripped out all the other crap that was growing around and taking over a small peach tree. Off to the left of that is a large pear tree half-destroyed during Hurricane Rita, but always covered in fruit. So far we have eaten very little of that fruit. Squirrels and birds must be eating it before it ripens. I need to cut down a bunch of growth from around it so that they can't get to it.

When we first moved here we planted eight blueberry bushes. They seem to be doing alright but haven't produced berries yet. The woman who runs the pick-your-own blueberry place says they need lots more water and fertilizer. Over the last few days I went around and cleaned out all the grass growing around them. My wife, Luci, found a place we can get free mulch to put around them. I can't believe it, but I am pretty happy about that.

In the Beginning

I have achieved victory over my tiller. It hadn't been used in three years, and then only briefly, before being retired to the carport where it sat, full of gas, rusting in the southeast Texas humidity. I was just about to pour the new gas I bought on top of it and light the whole thing on fire when it started. I had to pull out the carburetor and clean it, but paid off, and after a ton a messing with it I have (at last) begun to till the garden.

Having recently joined the ranks of un-bailed-out masses, I am out of work, freaked out and happy to be home all at the same time. For the last three years I have been going to work in Las Vegas, building stupid shit for rich people, but the party is over. I am looking at our garden and blog the same way: as a learning experience. Maybe I will get lucky and someone reading this will have some good advice for me on this country living thing.