| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| dreamingofafarm |
Posted - Jul 18 2010 : 12:59:39 PM
Hello Everyone,
I am so excited we are starting off on a new book together. For Chapter 1 discussion, I thought we would do a little comparing and contrasting. When we read BK's Animal Vegetable Miracle, she had a definite voice and sustainability position throughout the book. JDG in This Organic Life also sets a specific tone and sustainability point of view right from the start of her book. Share your opinions on how the writing voice and point of view offered by JDG and BK compare and contrast.
Looking forward to everyone's comments!
All the best,
Tina
Farmgirl Sisterhood #1355
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones afterall." - Laura Ingalls Wilder
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort" - Jane Austen |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| patchworkpeace |
Posted - Oct 30 2010 : 09:11:46 AM
Thank you, too, Dianne, its been fun conversing with you and Tina. I've learned much from both of you! Judy
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
| textilelover |
Posted - Oct 23 2010 : 04:54:52 AM
Tina and Judy, Just wanted to say thank you for sticking with this reading group. I know from experience how hard it is to find time to read and post and I wanted to thank Tina for thinking of questions and Judy for responding with us. Dianne in the Hudson Valley
Sister #749
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." --Leondardo da Vinci |
| patchworkpeace |
Posted - Oct 10 2010 : 07:45:37 AM
Dianne,
Let us know how it works for you and I'll do the same. :-)
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
| textilelover |
Posted - Oct 09 2010 : 04:20:35 AM
What an easy and great idea! I'm going to try it next year on my heirloom tomato plants to keep my chickens from nibbling! Dianne
Sister #749
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." --Leondardo da Vinci |
| patchworkpeace |
Posted - Oct 05 2010 : 11:33:20 PM
The million dollar question,...
Know what you mean about becoming less compassionate, Diane. I used to think we had beautiful woodchucks! LOL!
Last year we put up a temporary deer fence, but it isn't attractive, it ruins the view of an otherwise nice backyard. This year we were hoping the neighbors dogs would keep away the deer, woodchucks and rabbits, unfortunately that didn't happen and we had quite a bit of damage. However, I was talking to my brother who says he puts red Christmas tree ornaments on his tomato plants before they produce. He says its training the wildlife to not eat his tomatoes, when the real tomatoes come on they remember the bad experience and don't bother them. He did individually wrap each tomato with plastic the first year for a week or so just in case a critter decided to try eating them again. Now he just puts the Christmas balls on until blooms start forming. We're going to try this next year. Judy
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
| textilelover |
Posted - Oct 01 2010 : 05:00:51 AM
Well, I must admit I used to be more compassionate about deer, rabbits, woodchucks, etc. in the garden before I moved here 20 years ago. But after witnessing the destruction they do year after year, and trying everything under the sun, I have lost much of my compassion. I wouldn't kill an animal, but I would send my labs after it (they'd never catch anything--just scare it away). It seems the best defense is a good offense. We installed an invisible fence ourselves around our property and now the dogs roam the perimeter and we don't seem to have a problem with pests. The down side is that the dogs poop on the grass instead of in the woods, but I'd rather scoop poop than come out in the morning and find everything decimated. Dianne
Sister #749
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." --Leondardo da Vinci |
| dreamingofafarm |
Posted - Sep 30 2010 : 2:15:42 PM
Hello Everyone,
I was out of town through today without Internet so I could post the question for this week. I am sorry for the delay. For the "Varmit" chapter, please share how you humanely keep animals out of your garden (JDG's animal "management" stories kind of bothered me!!). Wishing everyone all the best!
-Tina
Farmgirl Sisterhood #1355
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones afterall." - Laura Ingalls Wilder
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort" - Jane Austen |
| textilelover |
Posted - Sep 24 2010 : 04:16:49 AM
I'm so sorry I have not responded until now. Things at home are crazy! Tina, that is a beautiful story about your grandmother. I used to visit my aunts in the Bronx (outside of NYC) and garden with my Aunt Eva. Each of my Aunts was special to me--one encouraged us to stay for a day or two (we lived in the suburbs), another took us to our first Broadway musical (Evita) and Aunt Eva gardened with me. I will always remember that. Dianne
Sister #749
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." --Leondardo da Vinci |
| dreamingofafarm |
Posted - Sep 19 2010 : 08:35:21 AM
I hope everyone is having a blessed Sunday. For Chapter 10, I was touched by how JDG handled Alan's ashes in relation to the garden and river. Instead of a question this week, I thought we could all share stories of a loved one we lost who loved to garden and passed that on to us.
For me, it was my grandmother who although she was no expert gardener, spent every summer planting mexican roses in a raised bed in her backyard. She lived in an urban environment in the suburbs of Baltimore, and the bed was the former location of her above ground swimming pool in the fifties. She would fill it with dozens of mexicans roses in all colors in June and every summer morning she would take me outside with her for an hour of so of deadheading, followed by a glass of Country Time Lemonade. She watched me every summer from when I was little through my teen years, while my parents were at work. I didn't fully appreciate then that time with her (I wanted desperately to be playing with my friends instead), but what I wouldn't give now for another morning in the sun and heat of summer deadheading mexican roses with my grandmother.
I can't wait to hear your stories. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead.
All the best,
Tina
Farmgirl Sisterhood #1355
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones afterall." - Laura Ingalls Wilder
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort" - Jane Austen |
| textilelover |
Posted - Sep 18 2010 : 03:50:58 AM
I have never participated in a community garden, but I love the idea. My beekeeping club may do something like a community garden except with beehives. I enjoy reading about them as well. Dianne
Sister #749
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." --Leondardo da Vinci |
| Celticheart |
Posted - Sep 17 2010 : 08:40:37 AM
This was the first year for our community garden. We started small with 5 and a half raised beds and then added some regular beds for pumpkins and potatoes. The majority of the food from ours goes to the local food bank and the senior round table lunch program in our community, for this year anyway. This fall we'll be opening it up to interested people from the community for next year. It's been a great success but we could always use more volunteers.
"Let us never forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of man. When tillage begins, other art follows. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of civilization."
Daniel Webster
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| dreamingofafarm |
Posted - Sep 17 2010 : 07:13:43 AM
Hello Everyone,
Here is the question for Chapter 9:
JDG describes setting up a community garden. Have you participated in a community garden in your area? If so, how did it go?
Hope everyone has a wonderful day!
All the best,
Tina
Farmgirl Sisterhood #1355
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones afterall." - Laura Ingalls Wilder
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort" - Jane Austen |
| patchworkpeace |
Posted - Sep 13 2010 : 06:05:32 AM
Tina,
You are in my prayers and hope things are looking up for you and your family.
We grew strawberries for the first time this year. Our neighbor gave us some of his. However, the fawns have eaten almost all of them! We haven't transplanted anything else although we do have a couple of apple trees and an old pear tree, but the fruit is always wormy. We haven't found a good organic solution yet. We've tried a couple of different things but to no avail. Oh, we also have concord grapes, but the same thing - worms. We've tried organic sprays, but they don't seem to do much. Open to any suggestions, if anyone has had success with anything.
As far as Alan goes, I admit I had tears running down my face when he died. He seemed like the friendlier, more "human" of the two Gussows. I wished he would have written the book!
Judy
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
| textilelover |
Posted - Sep 12 2010 : 04:47:31 AM
I have transplanted all types of plants. We always have better results with smaller rather than larger plants. We have blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb and apple and pear trees. When the birds, deer, chipmunks and chickens do not get to the fruit first, we have a small amount to harvest. It's always a treat to eat straight from the garden. I, too, found JDG's description of the fig tree unwrapping and her husband's death very insightful. It is often after a tragedy and the passing of time that one can verbalize with real insight and emotion what has happened. Dianne
Sister #749
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." --Leondardo da Vinci |
| dreamingofafarm |
Posted - Sep 11 2010 : 06:05:57 AM
Hi Dianne,
I would love a little extra help through prayer right now. Thank you so much!
I have gotten to Chapter 8 and have several questions for our group discussion:
1) JDG starts the Chapter talking about transplanting her fruit plants. Have you ever transplanted a plant and if so what kind and to what end result?
2) JDG spends much of the chapter on her fruit growing activities. Have you ever grown fruit? What kind and what is your growing area like?
3) Lastly, I found it very poignant how JDG tied Alan's passing to the unwrapping of the fig trees. I am just opening this up for general discussion. JDG presented this subject with such a delicate touch - one I found unique given her more take charge, push through tone in other areas of the book. I think it gives a lot of insight into her personality.
I will give us a few days to answer these questions and post the Chapter 9 question on Wednesday. Then by next Sunday we will be back to our usual routine reading one chapter a week. Thank you to each of you for your patience with me this week. I wish everyone well and look forward to chatting with you.
All the best,
Tina
Farmgirl Sisterhood #1355
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones afterall." - Laura Ingalls Wilder
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort" - Jane Austen |
| textilelover |
Posted - Sep 09 2010 : 2:19:12 PM
Tina, I just saw this. Please, do not worry about US! Take care of you. We'll still be here. Is a prayer needed? Dianne in the Hudson Valley
Sister #749
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." --Leondardo da Vinci |
| dreamingofafarm |
Posted - Sep 06 2010 : 06:34:18 AM
Hello Ladies,
I haven't forgot about you, but I am in the midst of a bit of a difficult time and haven't had a chance to read the next chapter. I hope to get to the next chapter and post the question in the next few days. Thanks so much for understanding. Have a wonderful and blessed Labor Day.
All the best,
Tina
Farmgirl Sisterhood #1355
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones afterall." - Laura Ingalls Wilder
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort" - Jane Austen |
| patchworkpeace |
Posted - Sep 04 2010 : 10:33:42 AM
Glad to know it isn't just us that have trouble overwintering food. It sounds so easy in magazine articles, books, etc. Judy
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
| Celticheart |
Posted - Sep 03 2010 : 11:29:22 AM
I've never had much success storing potatoes or onions either. Still working on it. I did have some red onions that I braided together and hung. They kept really well for the winter. I think alot of that depends on the variety. Some just are not meant to be kept over the winter. Like 'sweets' for instance. We live where we grow Walla Walla Sweets and they don't keep at all. We always dry those.
"Let us never forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of man. When tillage begins, other art follows. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of civilization."
Daniel Webster
|
| patchworkpeace |
Posted - Aug 31 2010 : 06:53:57 AM
We keep our potatoes in our cellar through the winter. We haven't gotten it perfected yet because they start growing eyes before we are ready to plant them. However, after reading the book Little Heathens (about living through the Depression), I found out that it is okay to pick off the eyes. Silly me! I didn't know they would grow new ones and was afraid that we wouldn't be able to plant them in the Spring. We just got a book about root cellaring, so am hoping to find out the secrets to being able to keep root vegetable farther into the winter. I don't think our cellar stays quite cool enough which is kind of funny since we live in Michigan with plenty of below zero days in the winter.
Judy
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
| dreamingofafarm |
Posted - Aug 30 2010 : 07:46:18 AM
Hello Everyone,
Well the first day of school got me off schedule so I am posting this week's question a day late. I am so sorry I didn't get to do it yesterday. For Chapter 7:
JDG talks about potato and onion gardening, as well as preserving the potato and onion harvests in a cool cellar. I have tried to keep potatoes and onions in my basement, my attic, even one of those potato/onion boxes and have never succeeded in having them last more than a few weeks. Do any of you put up your potato and onion surplus in this way and if so how do you do it? If you have never stored potatoes and onions like this, how do you store them?
Have a wonderful week everyone!
All the best,
Tina
Farmgirl Sisterhood #1355
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones afterall." - Laura Ingalls Wilder
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort" - Jane Austen |
| textilelover |
Posted - Aug 23 2010 : 3:41:38 PM
I've mentioned before that I relate more to BK than JDG, and I think it has more to do with their personalities and writing styles than their actions. I did notice the difference in their philosophies, and I must say that I'd rather be BK's neighbor and friend than Joan's! I tend to pull away from people who charge straight at me with their "my way or the highway" attitude, while I am open to those who are gentle and humble. Dianne
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." --Leondardo da Vinci |
| patchworkpeace |
Posted - Aug 23 2010 : 09:13:37 AM
I can't say I relate entirely to either. I wish Allen was a choice. LOL! I relate to JDG best with the way she perseveres in the face of challenges by looking for creative solutions to problems that spring up. I sort of bond with her through those trials. It seems we face crises each year in our garden and have to come up with inexpensive, creative solutions, too. With BK, I loved the way she made living off the land a family and even a community event. JDG earns my respect, BK might be the sit-on-the-porch-and-chat-with kind of friend though. Anyhow, that's how they impress me. Judy
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
| dreamingofafarm |
Posted - Aug 23 2010 : 06:18:23 AM
Hello Everyone,
Hope all is well. In Chapter 6 JDG really gets into her thoughts on going local in her eating. I have to say, this was my favorite chapter so far - I haven't been enjoying this book as much as AVM, but really took interest in what JDG wrote in Chapter 6. So, for discussion:
How do you think JDG's viewpoints on eating local compare with BK's in AVM. Since we are about half way through This Organic Life, do you relate more to BK or JDG at this point in your reading?
Have a wonderful day!
Wishing everyone all the best,
Tina
Farmgirl Sisterhood #1355
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones afterall." - Laura Ingalls Wilder
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort" - Jane Austen |
| textilelover |
Posted - Aug 19 2010 : 3:31:32 PM
Wow, Great catch, Tina! In answer to the question, I begin most every spring and summer day watering my potted plants and garden. Then I pick whatever is ripe. I find it very relaxing. Of course, then the kids, husband, dog, chickens, and cats get up and I have to go off to work...oh well! Dianne
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." --Leondardo da Vinci |
