Sunday, December 29, 2013

Planning



The new houses have been forged for the coming year(s).  We met recently to begin planning for the Ant Farm Collective 2014 growing season.  Intentions were revealed, crop planning was discussed, lasagna and toddies nourished the decisions.  Stay tuned to watch the new site grow into it's own, and for information on Crop Shares.

Food Not Lawns 12th Annual Seed Swap



  During this time of cold and dark the thing that brings the most excitement is planning for the the next growing season to come.  And what better way to fuel the excitement than swapping a bunch of seeds with fellow gardening enthusiasts in the area.  Seed saving holds it's place as one of the most resilient acts of food production, and consequently of communal sovereignty.  Growing our own food allows us to to not only lead much healthier and observant lives, it enables us to be honorably interdependent upon our local community and not subject to the whims of the conventional food system.  And where do all of our delicious annual veggies spring from?  Seeds naturally.   Seed saving is the basis of food production.  A small scale swap such as the Food Not Lawns event promotes the exchange of open pollinated varieties from plants that have been deemed particularly effective within the local climate by the grower, further promoting the health and vitality of the local food system.  Several righteous seed saving pioneers attended the swap, including the incredibly talented Adaptive Seeds folks, exchanging free seeds amongst area gardeners.  We brought a tables worth (literally) of seed from our household, but made off with some particularly exciting goodies that we cannot wait to get in the ground next year.  

A few notables:

-Oregon Giant Pole Beans from Open Oak Farm
-Golden Days Garbanzo Beans from Harry McCormack
-historic family heirloom Whipple Beans 
-Marfax Cow Peas from Dan Armstrong
-Johnny Gunter potatoes (ooooh)







Lauren Bilbao - An Urban Gardener

Just found this gem.  Love you Lauren, your words express the thoughts we all share.


Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Farm Chores (The Photo Series)

A random pictorial representation of our lives.

Surfin' USA

Homegrown breakfast
Yum

Pizza Night at the Rednecks

Awesome person(s)/group/department saving a wild hive at the UO Campus

Spinning some wool - thanks to you Linda!

Crazy bounty every week, it all seems to revolve around food doesn't it

Ashley scheming a massive feast

Hot and tired kitties 
Hummer

Rambles and compost

Mimosa Tree

Pink Oysters, yum - Thanks Mushroomery

Green Lily tea - Yarrow Ale (Lilyarrow Ale),  dry hopped with hops from Ray, thank you!

Friday, June 21, 2013

Farm Chores (The Photo Series)

A random pictorial representation of our lives.

We're getting two quarts of Goat Milk every day

Garlic Scapes

Teddy Bear

Now it's time to set the fruit

Voluptuous Cabbage

Our everyday surroundings

Satin/California crosses

Jesse's Bonsai Japanese Maple


Front Door Guardian 

Cat Food

Hungry Cat
Neil Young
Herb bed:  Yarrow beer recipes on the mind

Marveling at the Urban Farm

Remnants of Beltane

Dehydrating Teas, Fruit, Soup Mix, Veggie Chips.  So much more preservation to come

Monday, June 3, 2013

Farm Chores (The Photo Series)

A random pictorial representation of our lives.

Newest addition

Sometimes strange groups come together 
yum

Morning entertainer

1st ever, Lavender Vida Hazelnut Goat Chevre

Shallots

Drying Lavender

Focus

Roasted Artichoke Hearts 

Bees

...buzzing

working

Gold

New Kits