Category Archives: food and adventure

I’m so excited I can barely contain myself! I am almost finished completely revamping the garden! All of a sudden my friends, family and neighbors are asking if I would like to “farm” their yards. Of course I would!

One problem is that the soil around here is very alkaline. It would require a lot of amendments to remedy it. Raised beds would be very conducive with short season crops such as lettuce, radishes and bunching onions. Another problem is that the cost of living is rising quickly.

Things like soil amendments and lumber are getting very expensive. Luckily, there is a solution! I can usually find free pallets almost anywhere. They are relatively easy to disassemble and reassemble into raised beds or garden boxes. They will also reduce the amount of amendments needed. Problems solved!

My dog is going to be so excited about fresh carrots!

The gut is where health starts. When you have problems in your gut, your body starts to shut down. Literally everything that ails people is somehow connected to gut health.

80% of the immune system is located in the digestive system. If this system is hindered or failing, it directly affects how all of the body’s other systems react. It’s a domino effect.

Some of the ailments linked to digestive issues include thyroid problems, skin problems, sinus issues, joint pain and even mental disorders! The list goes on with diabetes, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and even Lupus and Multiple Sclerosis. This is serious stuff!

With the current health crisis, it is even more important to keep your immune system strong and functioning correctly. Luckily, there are many ways to do this! As a start, chew more, eat less. Breathe intentionally and deeply. Drink more water. Get off your butt and get moving!

First things first. You must change the way you think about food. How often do you eat out? Do you prepare meals at home? Or do you get the majority of your meals from the drive-thru? When you buy groceries, how much of what you buy comes from the produce section? How much of it comes in a box?

If you get your meals from a drive-thru more than once a month, stop. Even once per month is too much. The so-called “food” at fast food restaurants will do nothing but increase your problems.

This is where some people will argue that “healthy food is too expensive” or that they “don’t have the time to cook”. These ideas are both false. Eating healthy foods, prepared at home is less expensive than going out. Eating a diet of mainly vegetables which are raw or minimally cooked is the healthiest.

Americans have grown accustomed to eating a protein, a starch and (maybe) a vegetable with virtually every meal. Unfortunately, our digestive system does not handle this well. I have found that limiting the intake of carbs and sugars makes me feel less sluggish and tired and more focused.

Carbs and sugars are similar and many things fall into this category. Just as an example, carbs and sugars include bread, pasta, potatoes, sweets, soda etc. I’ll write more about this in another post…..

If you prioritize your time, you’ll find that there is plenty of time to prepare healthy meals at home. The harsh reality is that if you don’t pay for it now, you will pay for it later. Nothing is more important than your health!

Sunsets grab me by the heartstrings, every single time. I crave watching the landscape as it changes colors. The cliffs and plateaus go from red to purple to velvet blue. The sky changes from pink to lavender in the east. Magenta to fluorescent orange and then copper and red in the west. No two are ever the same…

The antelope come out to graze, leery of the predators who are coming out now too. The full moon rises over the mountains, big and bright. A coyote howls in the distance. A hoot owl soars overhead looking for dinner. I take a deep breath. I take it all in. I don’t want to go but it’s time to head home. I leave the dirt road and turn onto the pavement towards the last light and oncoming traffic. The moon is behind me. Just another memory. It’s someone else’s moment now….

After my first year as a farmer, I now have a deeper respect for winter. Spring is exhilarating! The prospects and potential of what will come out of the soil. The anticipations of those first signs of life. The tender seedlings and the first blooms. With summer comes maturity and first harvests. The constant battle to maintain proper moisture and nutrition, protect from harmful pests and keep the weeds at bay. Then comes autumn with the cool nights and crisp mornings. The glut of the harvest and the labor to collect it, to sell it and to preserve it before it spoils. From green to gold! It’s exhausting but rewarding. I brought forth a plentiful bounty from the soil beneath my feet. I fed my family and my community. It was a success, but I am ready for rest. Bring on winter! When the land gets a break and the over population of pests is put in check. The weeds return the favor to the soil and become compost. The worms sleep and the animals pick over what’s left.