I was watching an excellent episode from Anne of All Trades and the Homestead RD this morning as they talked about growing a years worth of food in 90 days in a 1300 sq ft garden. Anne asked Katie if she’d ever had any “extreme failures” in her garden ? (Love that question!) It’s so easy to look at someone who seems to have it all together then compare and feel conflicted. 🙂 Ever done that? Anyway, that got me to thinking about this year at our place.
If Anne had asked me this morning about “extreme failures” I would tell her, my biggest screw up this year was I stopped spraying fungicide too early in the orchard, and most of the trees came down with a severe case of “scab.” That resulted in the trees losing their leaves a couple of months early, and significant loss in total apple crop. My intentions were good, but I didn’t factor in just how aggressive scab would be in mid July. I thought it was more of a spring time issue.
The second extreme failure of 2026 was ignoring the raccoon that decided to raise a litter in the attic above my shop. Initially I thought no big deal, I thought it was it was kind of “neat” to hear the baby raccoon chattering above my head, with only a 1/2 inch of drywall separating them from me.
What’s the harm in giving her a place out of the elements to raise her young? That was all fine and good until it wasn’t. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed the ceiling had started to develop lots of new water stains (urine????!!!!!!!!!!!!). Looked like it wouldn’t be too long until that ceiling gave way…
So we figured out how the raccoon was getting into the attic and boarded everything up except one spot. We set the live trap, and before I was finished, I’d caught (9) raccoons and (2) small ground hogs.
Raccoon # 8
How about you? Care to share any epic failures, gardening or otherwise? 🙂
Earlier this year, I’d written a blog post about someone we knew (Irene or Iryna. ) whom we had met in the early 2000’s from Ukraine. (If you haven’t already read it, it is a great back story to the following….
Got an e-mail from her yesterday.
Thank you, dear D. and M, I received your transfer yesterday, it’s a great help for me! I paid rent, but also had to return debt to Ukrainian friend, who recently came back from Dnipro city. She, her daughter and grandson spend two months in endless air raids and explosions. Their train hardly reached the Western border because of attacks, few times they left it and waited on the field in darkness and rain when the air raid stop and the passengers could continue the journey. The train was late for 7-8 hours, but another train across the border was waiting for Ukrainian passengers.
I also was going to visit Kiev, but maybe you heard about unprecedented terror of our capital. They have several attacks every day and night, transport can hardly go through the city, today the building of one university in the centre was harmed, when students had lectures, hospital and other buildings have destruction. Yesterday big train depot was ruined, 36 workers were killed. Awful news, and they are going to equate Kiev region to front line, because the situation sometimes is worse than on battle field in the East of Ukraine. Praying for everyone who have to bear that burden and for people who fight for victory! Thanks for asking, my relatives are fine, although couple nephews are in the army.
I’m very grateful for your support, now I have some problems with joints and knees, but due to your help I have food in fridge, so don’t need to go far and carry heavy bags. Now trying to use some medical lotion on the legs, hope it works.
My best wishes to you, and to all your family and friends on coming Labor day and long weekend! Have a nice celebration, and good rest, you deserve it, you work so hard! Hope your mother is doing well, may God protect her health! Praying for all of you, you are real blessing for me, can’t express all my gratitude for your kindness, help and compassion!
God bless you richly!
Irene.
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Going to throw this idea out there…what happens after that, is up to you. Imagine being in your 50’s or 60’s…single. Having to live in a foreign country. Language barriers. You have chronic health issues. Your family is still living in a country that is at war with Russia. There are just a handful of people that you know. Your living in a 350 sq ft studio apartment, on a stipend. Can’t find work for multiple reasons ( health, language, your age) all by yourself. Barely enough money to pay the rent, or food. Your behind on your utility bills.. You get the idea. Imagine how hard it would be to maintain a positive attitude….then you get a letter in the mail, or someone wires you a little money. Those little acts of kindness would be huge. If you have any interest in being a part of coming alongside Irene (whether in writing, financially, etc. let me know. leave me a comment, or shoot me an e-mail. Thank you. DM
If there is one thing most people take for granted, it is food. U.S, supermarkets are always well stocked, and we don’t thing much about how all that food gets there. When pushed to consider it, I wager most of us assume there are huge warehouses somewhere filled with enough food to feed the nation for some unknown period of time.
The truth is, as a nation, we have little to no warehousing backup for the event of a supply shortage. Our concentrate supermarket supply system uses a technology known as JIT (just-in-time), a method made possible by computers and the internet.
Here’s how JIT works: Instead of every supermarket needing a warehouse to store large quantities of food to be sold locally, computers keep track of inventory, placing relatively small orders daily. This precludes the need for massive warehousing. Retailers know their orders will arrive “just in time” to keep the shelves filled.
But who cares about all of this, really? And why should we, as consumers, concern ourselves? The system, even with its occasional glitch and hiccup, seems to be working well, so why the fuss?
Most people buy food for one week, give or take. Of course there are exceptions. For example, I have friends who shop once a month and then force themselves to make it last, while another family we know shops daily for just the next three meals- a very expensive food habit that makes me want to chew my hair, as you can well imagine. My point is that multiple trips to the market based n individual choice allow us to enjoy fresh food without the hassles of having to manage reserves. The integrity of the food supply system never crosses our minds. We take so much for granted.
Not long ago, I had a conversation with an executive of Costco. I asked him how long a Costco warehouse club’s inventor of food would last if suddenly there were no more shipments arriving. He hypothesized that the shelves would be empty within three to five days. At the same time, the manage of my local Vons supermarket confirmed with a similar “less than a week” response.
Now imagine that something happens to make the typical American household want a food reserve. This could happen if the current inflation were to morph suddenly into hyperinflation. Seeing the food prices escalating beyond reach, people would rush to buy and hoard reserve food while it is still within their price range. Imagine what would happen:
The demand for food would quintuple or more within a short time. Shoppers would see empty shelves in the market, further stimulating panic buying, just as in a hurricane or blizzard.
The best thing we can do to protect ourselves and our families is to prepare. The more food you have in storage, the less dependent you are on a system that some theorize has only a three day supply in its distribution chain. I tell you this not to cause you to panic but to move you toward action.
Start small. Buy a few more of the items on your regular shopping trip. If you would normally pick up four cans of green beans, get six. Instead of one bottle of honey, get two. but if it’s on sale, get four.
For a normal short- to mid-term storage inventory, you should stock up on the foods that you are used to eating. If your family cannot tolerate red beans, don’t waste your time and money on a 25 pound bag because, for some reason, that seems like a good idea. Instead invest in your favorite canned white albacore, for example.
Taking control of your family’s food resources is empowering and satisfying. the more you grow your food supply, the less dependence you’ll feel on others. The more nonperishable food you have in reserve, the better you will sleep at night.
Mary Hunt is the founder of Everydaycheapskate.com a frugal living blog and the author of the book, “Debt-Proof Living” she invites you to visit her at her website where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services.
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DM here. This article was in a recent Epoch Times my wife read to me this morning over coffee. Nothing I hadn’t already heard, or thought about, but thought it was worth passing along to any new readers.
Secondly , Mary’s book Debt Proof Living, changed my life about 12 years ago. Went from tens of thousands of dollars in debt to completely out of dept. No additional source of income, just an attitude shift. Can’t begin to tell you the difference that has made in my mental health. Especially, as a self employed carpenter whose income can fluctuate a lot from year to year. If there is financial pressure in your life, you owe it to yourself to get a copy, even if it means going to the library. Just saying.
Last week we had a family reunion. On Saturday when some of the grandkids wanted to see the chickens, Noah (age 5?) charged into the hen house ahead of me. No sooner than he walked through the door, than the rooster charged. Wrapped his wings around his legs (he was wearing shorts) and tried to spur him with his spurs. Most people (adults included) would have lost it. Noah, having grown up around chickens just laughed and popped him on the head a couple of times. I loved seeing Noah’s reaction! I proceeded to snag Mr Rooster by the feet and brought him outside for a talking too.
Even though a chickens brain is probably smaller than a peanut, they are not dumb. They can read you like a book. If they sense fear, they will respond accordingly. Even though Mr Rooster is only doing what he is designed to do (protect the flock) he stepped over the line when he took after Noah. If any of you ever come to visit, one of the things I would like to do is introduce you to my fowl friends. If you’re game, I’ll even teach you how to properly hold an aggressive rooster and show him whose boss.
We are in the midst of a family reunion this week.
I told someone on Wednesday, that when the kids were still in the home, it felt like I was flying by the seat of my pants 95% of the time.
Mentally exhausted .. Dealing with one thing after the other, many times, issues nobody had ever talked to me about….
It felt like I was trying to lead our little troop through the Amazon Jungle….
Couldn’t see 5 feet ahead of myself.
Until one day…
Suddenly we stepped into a clearing and realized I’d made it.
I was still standing.
That’s what it felt like when the last one left the nest, and I was no longer responsible for them like I’d been when they were living under my roof.
Those of you with older kids may relate…
Once they move out and start building a life of their own, the times everybody is together @ the same time is precious. Especially when some of them live out of state.
Well, this week, all four my little cubs were home @ the same time.
My heart is full.
Christmas 1989
Siblings
Almost the whole clan
(One grand daughter couldn’t make it. She moved to Montana and started a new job a week ago)
Those of you that took the time to suggest names for the one baby chick that survived the raccoon carnage, thank you! I’ve settled on “Lucky.”
I also changed my mind and bought another 15 baby chicks to keep her company. They arrived early yesterday morning.
What was fascinating about Lucky to me was how quickly she bonded with me and how much she craved my attention.
As soon as I picked her up, she got quiet and pensive. Wanted to climb up my shirt and stand on my shoulder. (That’s not the only thing she did on my shoulder, if you get my drift).
Normally, I keep the chickens I have here on the farm for a couple of years then send them packing. I’ve decided in Lucky’s case, she won the golden ticket. I’m going to let her live here as long as she wants.
Here’s a picture of Lucky and I from just a couple of days ago :
Mystery solved this morning on what got into my chicken coup. (see last post)
For 3 nights in a row, whatever it was kept coming back eating all of the bait, tripping the live trap and getting away..
Yesterday a friend of mine, loaned me two smaller live traps (thinking if it was a weasel, they might work better) so I had 3 live traps all baited with marshmallows last night when I went to bed…
Went out this morning..marshmallows all gone, two traps were tripped…and there it was.
A small raccoon.
Lesson learned. A small raccoon can squeeze it’s body through a horizontal hole that’s less than 3 inches high. Rather than put a bullet in it’s head, I took him on a 5 mile road trip. He’ll have to swim across a river to get back to my place.
The one remaining chick, seems to be imprinting on me as it’s parent. It wanted to perch on my shoulder this morning when I went out to do chores. Still too early to tell if it’s a hen or a rooster. I think I’m going to keep it long term.
Throwing this out there..any suggestions on a name? DM
I bought 17 baby chicks two weeks ago…next seasons laying hens…put them in a larger area yesterday (boy were they excited) well, when I opened the door to the room this morning, discovered something (weasel?) had gotten in and killed all but two. 10 of them were nowhere to be found, and had to put down one of the remaining living chicks.
I’m still numb.
Question…Have you ever had to put an animal down because it was suffering?
This past Friday, M asked if I wouldn’t mind going with her to an Amish Fundraising dinner. We live about 20 minutes from an Amish community. May through November, the first Friday of the month, they host a community wide meal. 50% of the people there are Amish and 50% are not.
As we were sitting in our car, waiting for M’s brother to join us, we watched three Amish children (guessing ages 4 to 7) walking back and forth, barefooted through some rain water puddles. The boys were dressed in their dark blue pants, and suspenders, the Amish girl (bonnet and dress) was no older than 6. Back and forth, not a care in the world. Then they started chasing a frog.
What a hoot.
Felt like I was watching a mini Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher.
I’ve been buying more and more of my supplies @ the Amish Lumberyard. Yep, there is such a place. They carry the same supplies as the other lumberyards in our area, only their stuff costs about 20% less. Joseph, manager of the lumberyard spotted us, and sat down at our table. I’m guessing he’s in his 30’s.
A few weeks ago, I subcontracted out a metal roof on our project to an Amish carpenter named Elmer. I didn’t have the manpower, plus it was hot, the metal was black and it was a 5 on 12 roof pitch. Win/ win. (He wanted the work and I didn’t) I figured he’d bring a large crew and bang it out in a few hours. Nope. Just him, his 14 yr old son, and his non-Amish driver, Don. The thing that struck me most, was the work ethic of the boy. Worked right along side his dad and Don. This is just a generalization, but young people today are capable of so much more than we expect of them. I’ve installed dozens of metal roofs myself, so I know what it takes to do that type of work.
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Our computer was in the shop recently, for close to a week. (I don’t use a smart phone, just a flip phone, so no e-mail, blogging, FB, or on line movies) Went through a little bit of withdrawal. There was a definite change of pace and “vibe” in both of our lives. (a positive sort of quietness) so when the next weekend came around, we intentionally decided to “unplug” for the weekend. Did it again this weekend. (I just got on line 30 minutes ago after a 48 hour break).
Between my interactions with the Amish community, and these intentional, and unintentional interruptions with modern technology, I feel more and more out of step with the rat race of American culture, and I’m OK with that.
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One last thing…Potato related. We used up our last home grown potato yesterday (4th of July).
It was still firm…Then on a lark I went out to the garden and dug up a hill of new potatoes. Yep, they are starting to form. What a great feeling. My long term acreage goal continues to be to grow and raise more and more of our own food. The root cellar we built last fall is a game changer. Was able to store our potato and apple crop in temperatures just above freezing. When normally, our potatoes would be done by mid march, we extended their viability another 3.5 months.
PS We got the gopher that had raised havoc in my potato patch last year. Ended up hiring “Critter Gitter” .
Worth every cent. One of (if not the largest) gopher he had ever seen.
