Clarksburg, WV

Our future home. Of course, we'll be out in the country, but this is the area that we want to base ourselves. It's in the western part of West Virginia, still mountainy and beautiful but a little more affordable than the East. The town is relatively small (17K) but it looks like it has a good economy and it's affordable. Plus, it has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.

It just clicked with both of us right away, and when that happens we know we have our answer. We had peace about it after talking. It feels really really good to have direction and something tangible to work towards. As soon as we're able, we're outta here . . .

Dream House, Dream Farm

Dreamed about our log house last night, so woke up this morning thinking about it. I know how I want to do my office now. :) To start with, we're going to have the upstairs be our "private loft" and master bedroom. Well, on the other side of the loft living area (opposite the bedroom) I want my little bitty office. I want one whole wall to be windows with a sliding door to a small deck. On the side of the room opposite the door I want an aviary that takes up the whole wall will a portion that can be opened up to an outside aviary on the deck during nice weather. And a few plants in the corner and a nice bookshelf, and I'll be happy. Of course I'll only be in there when it's not nice enough to be outside, but I still need to feel the outdoors while I'm in.

I've also been thinking today about our farm. Neither of us want to make it a big financial operation (at one time we were contemplating that, but our hearts have other things they want to do too); however, I think I want to grow enough produce to just give some away. Like to a soup kitchen or shelter or something like that. That way I'll feel like we're contributing something to the world and community, no matter how small, but we'll still have the freedom to not be tied down to it. Plus it would be a good thing for the kids to be part of.

First Real Step Towards Dream

I have been working on my own little "business baby" for the past few months now. In short, a women's health products blog devoted to reviews and trials of various all-natural products specifically for women (and sometimes kids -- how can I leave that out?).

Today I posted a mission statement and some ideas that I have, and I would love if you all could take a look at it and throw in your two cents as well. I know it has a long way to go -- it's only in its infancy -- but I really enjoy and have good feelings about the future with it.

Check it out: Women's Health Products

Life And All That It Entails

I haven't kept up on this blog very well since I've been working on a few other projects. More on that in a bit -- here's what's new:

We're thinking about West Virginia. I know, I know, even I have that "uh . . . why?" kind of feeling, but all prejudices aside it is a beautiful state and close to everything I love: DC, southern PA, family in Ohio (not so much the Illinois family, but unfortunately if we want mountains that can't be helped), the South, the East coast, and New England. We have to be in the mountains and WV is pretty much a point from which we'll easily be able to travel to a lot of different places. Plus, there's not a lot of development going on there which is very important to us. We've started looking at real estate prices and school districts . . . you know, all the important stuff.

Writing is going well. Because I've always struggled with having a career or having a family, I've taken the past month and a half or so to really sort myself out. Although I've felt some guilt over not having a job, I've made good use of the time and figured a lot out. I'm going to do both (career and family, that is). My mind is firmly set and for once, I have the focus and determination. Previously I've been known to get gung-ho on a project and burn out too quickly to see it finished, but I've been working on pacing myself. At any rate, I've decided that by the time we move next fall, my income will be enough for us to live on. We're both so passionate about raising our family together and not going through what we've seen so many people go through with jobs that now I actually have a reason to succeed. All my earlier attempts were for my own desires, but having a family changes that.

The baby's coming soon and I'm getting a little nervous. There's still so much to do to get ready, and we don't really have that much stuff for her (clothes . . . diapers . . . blankets -- you know, the essentials). I know it will come in time but I still stress a little.

All things aside, we're doing really well. We feel like we finally have our dreams figured out (for the most part anyway) and a goal and plan to reach them. Part of me is dreading moving again so soon, but I just want to feel settled. I'm tired of being in-between like I've been for the past five years. It's time to go home, and if home is where the heart is ours has always been in the mountains, in the South.

Why I Feed the Birds

Because I need to be reminded of life. Birds, by their very nature, are life itself: graceful and delicate.

Because I need to be reminded of happiness. The music of hundreds of birds is joyful, not tainted by fear or pain.

Because I like to take care of them. What better joy is there than to provide a basic need for something so uncomplaining? It fulfills some intrinsic craving I have to make everything ok for everyone.

On the Road Again . . .

In October, that is. Being unemployed and all, we've been doing a lot of talking lately about the direction we want our lives to go.

We realized that we don't want to be stuck in Illinois, that we're ready to truly feel settled. Being here kind of feels like being on a bus stop, just another pause on the journey.

So, we're going to head south. We're planning a road trip for sometime this spring to scout out the potential areas, and by next fall we'll be packing up. We have a lot to do before then, bills to pay off and a savings account to build up; however, it feels good to at least have a direction. God willing, that will be the resting place for our hearts . . . May my restless spirit find some peace . . .

I've been putting quite a bit of time into building up a passive income for us. Slow going, but I've got determination. It's all part of the dream, baby.

Part of our Dream Home

We found a plan/pictures of a guesthouse that we both just love. By the way, one of our dreams is to design our own log cabin in a beautiful area of the country . . . possibly Tennessee. Anyway it's so cute! We want to get some property that has a trailer or something on it while we're building the guesthouse, then live in the guesthouse while we're building the main cabin. Then our families will have a place to stay of their own when they come to visit! Now I have to find barn plans that I like . . .

Seriously, at least look at the picture: Tiny Log Cabin

What do ya'll think?

FDA, Monsanto, and Why We're Raising Our Kids on a Farm

According to Natural News the FDA is set to approve genetically engineered animals. You know what pisses me off about this article? The fact that a German court apparently ordered Monsanto (the biggest seed distributor in the country, genetically modified seeds that is. Prior to becoming a seed company they were a chemical producer -- Round Up, anyone? Don't get me started on them) to release a 90 study on rats that showed that the rats feed genetically engineered corn (what most of us buy in the store in cereals and flours) developed allergies, infections, and cancer. Excuse me?!?! Not only that, but people have reported to the FDA allergies that they developed in relation to eating cereal with GE corn.



Does anybody question this?? Does anybody care??



It's a sad day when we can't really trust the food we buy in stores. Yet one more reason we're going to grow our own. If ya'll want we can grow some for you too.

Nuts as Value-Add

Apparently chestnuts are growing in popularity and make a good addition to a small farm. I didn't know this, but we're one of the few countries that doesn't consume chestnuts as a main staple in their diet. Other places eat them the way we do potatoes, even going so far as to make flour with them (I did know that).

It's interesting to me that there are sooo many crops farmers can add, with just a little imagination.

The article that I found that info on was on Hobby Farm.

City Farming

Read an interesting article in Grit called Farming in the City about a guy, Ken Dunn who founded the Resource Center which operates a mini "farm" in an urban Chicago lot. Amazingly, City Farm grows over 80 varieties of produce on 1 acre and employs 4 full time people -- not to mention selling to numerous area restaurants and operating an on-site produce stand!

His vision is to turn more (if not all) of Chicago's vacant lots into farms. This is very very cool to me -- for not only is it employing low-income people who might otherwise not have a job at all, but also helping to provide one of the country's hugest urban areas with some of the freshest food available. That's what I call progress!

City Farm even takes some of the local restaurants kitchen "wastes" for their compost pile.

They provide education on food production to visiting schools, too.

I'm impressed.

The Front Yard

We had a visitor when we were exploring the farm property the other day -- just walked right up to us! It was so cool, and the first deer I've seen since being back in the Midwest. I really love this place . . . so much that we're both considering staying in the area for 5-10 years. Shocking!

Found a Farm, But . . .

We looked at the farm today and loved it. It was literally perfect for what we want to start doing: 8 acres, enough buildings to work with, room for grazing and gardening, and close (ish) to a thriving farmers market. We want to jump right on it but the owner seems unsure so we're in a waiting place again. It's hard when you want to do something so bad it hurts, and to be so close . . .

Guess if it's meant to be it will happen, but that isn't making the wait any easier. It needed a lot of work but that's exactly what we've been looking for and even wanting. We want to put our sweat and tears into a place and watch it become productive. Damn our blasted credit that prevents us from buying something right now.

It's all part of the dream, though. Working, waiting, for that land that we will someday call ours.

My Little Funk

I've been in a rut lately. My job at the farm is over and I'm restless.

My dream/goal, or what I've been working on: freelance writing. I'm taking a creative writing course to "unblock" and it actually is helping, but I have such a difficult time motivating myself to work when I doubt that I will make any money. I know in my head that I can, but I don't trust myself. Call me self-destructive . . . I prefer artistic.

Anyway, it's also been really hard for me to not be outside as much. I'm such a free spirit that being stuck living in town is killing me when all I'm craving is the wide open spaces and room to stretch. I know it's coming but I can't bring myself to focus on the present.

We are going to look at a farm this weekend though. It's about an hour north and the owner is just looking for people to bring it back to a sustainable working farm. He's willing to make a deal on the rent depending on how much work we do on the place. It has a little over 8 acres and a ton of outbuildings so I'd like to see it. Who knows, it might be a good possibility. I just don't want to get stuck in this area though so I don't know how long we would be there, maybe a year or two.

I'm rambling. I get lonely here sometimes.

Genetic Engineering to the Extreme

We're all familiar with genetically modified corn and soybeans. Well, how do you feel about a genetically engineered steak? Yep, the USDA is considering allowing genetic experiments on animals (they are taking public comment, by the way. More info here). Apparently it's their attempt to reduce diseases and increase nutrients (which is already the case with grass-fed animals, but whatever). Funny, nobody thinks about changing the production standards . . .

Anyway, it's not just for the food supply. They also want to use them for cancer research, organ transplants, and production of insulin for humans.

I thought the USDA was bass-ackwards before, but wow.

Oh yeah, and they won't require anything on the label stating that it's a genetically-modified cow, so you won't even know. Don't you feel better?

My thing is, nature is already "perfect" the way it is. We are the ones that interfere, screw it up, and then try to fix it so that we can feel superior. Why can't we just leave well enough alone sometimes?

Good Blog

Found an interesting blog about raw milk/the sustainable food movement. This guy is a journalist who writes in a well-informed and thought provoking manner, and the number of comments on his posts allows for good discussion. The Complete Patient

Why I am Against the NAIS

A few years ago the National Institute of Animal Agriculture initiated a draft plan to put a tracking device into every livestock animal in the country in order to, as they said, monitor and trace disease outbreaks. This is called the National Animal Identification System and has produced a storm of opposition from farmers and ranchers that feel their freedom and ability to operate their businesses would be infringed upon with the implementation of this system.

While I do stand with the small farmers on this, I have many other reasons as well for not approving of this idea. The main reason is this: it won't work. If their stated goal is to trace disease outbreaks, it will actually do very little to stop them. Sure, we'll know where our infected beef is coming from, but it's still infected. It does nothing to force producers to change their methods and grow a healthier product, it merely "finds" the disease. That makes me feel sooo much better. Not only that, but it won't operate fast enough to catch many of the diseases, so what's the point?

Perhaps they will punish the offending farm or ranch in some way, but I doubt it. I don't believe that will be the case because the initiators of the system has a membership list that includes several of the mega farms and ranches . . . and also two companies that manufacture livestock tracking devices. Interesting.

This system also punishes the small farmers practice organic or sustainable methods and produce the healthiest food for us. Not only will it be expensive for them to implement, but most of their animals spend their time outside, not in huge confinement settings where it will be easy to mark them all at once.

This first draft of the plan called for every animal to be registered, even a family horse. Worse, when the animals are transported (trail rides??) the movement must be recorded beforehand.

Granted, due to all the opposition the founders of this movement decided that it won't be mandatory at the federal level, techinically. But instead of trying to "catch" diseases, why can't we just begin enforcing more humane growing methods to prevent an outbreak from the start? Oh yeah, because that's not profitable. It's sad when our health is a secondary thought to the all-consuming pull of money.

Good article on it: The Truth About the Animal ID Plan

Changing Seasons, Growing Dreams

Fall is definitely here now, and I'm so excited about it. I missed the colors and crispness in the air during the years I spent in California. And I love the changes that it brings to farming too . . . the days get shorter, the work (very gradually) a little easier. I've learned a lot the past four months -- not just about farming, but about myself.

I feel like I am really becoming who I've wanted to be. I've found my heart and my passions and the balance that I had always wondered about the existence of. Life at home is great, to be sure, but inside I have peace. It brings a sense of self to truly know what your loves are and to be actually doing something about them.

My loves: farming and writing. Interests: making money through business and real estate. What I want to do with my life: Invest, raise our kids on a small farm, and write.

As far as to what we are doing about them, we are working with my parents and some realtors right now about getting started in some rental properties in this area. For the time being we will be partnering with my parents until we all get pretty well set up; it's their retirement and our future, so it works well for everyone involved.

For farming, I have realized that I don't want a full-time operation dedicated to supporting us financially (that's what the investing will be for). What I want is a place for us to do what we want with the land, produce our own food, and teach our kids about the importance of work. A small customer base to offset some of the costs is fine, but I want to be able to provide some of our family members and close friends with good, homegrown food. Right now I can only imagine how satisfying that will be, but I'm looking forward to it in the not so distant future.

And writing, well, I've actually been starting on some freelancing. Slow going of course, especially until I get myself used to it again, but I consider it another way to explore myself and hopefully still contribute to our income when the baby gets here. Kenny has been so encouraging and I love him more all the time, because he knows who I am before I do and helps me to realize it. I'm also going to be taking a writing class either this month or next, so that will help me out too.

The baby, yes, the baby. I'm starting to get really excited about February. I'll admit my trepidition and fear for the first few months, but just having her (?) part of me and feeling her develop has . . . changed me inside. I don't know how you can love someone you haven't met yet, but it's amazing. I feel older, like I'm learning about some secret to life that really isn't a secret at all but requires the experience . . . I don't know if that makes sense at all but I feel more complete.

Honestly, we are just really blessed right now.

Finding That Dream Property

A little "toy" of mine that I play with when I get into my "I want to move now" mode, Land and Farm is a great way to find just about any rural property you want. The advanced search allows you to narrow your search as much as the type of property; ie, organic farm, vegetable farm, horse farm, etc. You can look by proximity to zip code or leave it open to the whole country -- either way, there are thousands of properties on there. They even have auctions posted if you're interested.

And yes, I found my dream place . . .

The Chloe Plant

Now that's good gardening! I grew a Jack Russell!

Optimisitic View of Agriculture's Future

According to the FFA (Future Farmers of America) website, membership is the highest it's been in over thirty years. Interestingly enough, the decreasing number of people living on farms during the 80s and 90s hasn't affected the rise in students that see a future in agriculture; 77% of them don't even live on farms.


Surprising to a lot of city folk: agriculture makes up 17% of the nation's jobs. One of FFA's goals is to have 10,000 agricultural education programs in place nationwide by the year 2015.

It's not just the FFA, either. An article in World Magazine comments on increasing interest in "locavores" (people committed to eating locally). The number of farmer's markets around the country is growing, as well as food co-ops and CSAs.

There's also a large trend towards young people starting farms, most of them with little or no agricultural background. Perhaps we as a country are finding a better way to provide, a way that sustains the earth and provides us with a liveable income.