Author: Linda Borghi

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100 Day Challenge- Look What This Dad of 4 Did!

In May, 2016, Justin Rhodes, Dad to 4 youngsters and a North Carolina homesteader and vlogger,  created a 100 day challenge to grow all the food his family would eat.

“I wanted to do this for myself, but also to inspire and encourage other people, and show them that [living off the land is] easier than you think,” says Rhodes in a phone interview with Modern Farmer. “It’s just about getting up and doing this. Look what you can do in just 100 days. It doesn’t have to be this unattainable thing.”

The family has been homesteading on eight acres in Fletcher, North Carolina. He decided to spend only 10 hours a week producing the food because he wanted to prove that it’s doable to live off the land while also working a full-time job as well. (Rhodes also writes and produces videos for a living.) He clarified that he spent a little more time in the beginning preparing, and then less when seeds were in the ground and the chickens had grown.

They did this challenge on less than a half an acre. They planted tomatoes, potatoes, corn, squashes, and greens to name a few.  They had ordered 75 broiler chicks.  About 50 days into the challenge, the chicks were ready to process and some of the veggies were ready to enjoy.  By August 13, Rhodes estimated that 75% of the food they ate was what Justin grew or raised.

Even though the kids didn’t like everything “on the menu”, they were more inclined to enjoy eating the veggies when they had helped to grow and harvest them.

There were some challenges, of course, but Justin has the same philosophy that I do.  “Do what you can”.

When we were young raising our family, we didn’t have a lot of money, but we were really resourceful and I am so grateful for the experience.  I was just learning the “back to the land” skills and I  incorporated what I could in my urban setting as I went along. I always had plenty of seasonal produce canned for winter. The skills have served me well and I continue to learn more everyday.  I really enjoy being an urban micro farmer.

Though I never had a half acre “farm”, I lived the “from scratch” life in the city on a very small scale.

Justin’s 100 days investment in the garden really set them up for good eating for months after the challenge.

Are you ready to make an investment? Create your own challenge and post it below.

More about the 100 Day Challenge http://modernfarmer.com/2016/09/justin-rhodes-100-day-challenge/

For videos from the entire 100-day challenge, check out Rhodes’ YouTube channel.

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How To Re-Design Our Local Food System- Re-Skill Ourselves

We are learning that in America over the last few generations we have become very removed from real food and where our food comes from. Along with that, we have lost diversity, nutrition and valuable food traditions.

There is a movement in this country to re-skill ourselves.  The younger generation is eager to learn the lost skills around the most important matter for our existence…Food.

There is an undeniable connection between the health crisis in this county and the way we grow, prepare and consume food.

The solution is to bring back diversity, healthy soils, clean air and water and re-skill ourselves in how to grow, prepare and consume real food..

I decided to do something about our broken food system and so I became a farmer! You can do the same…start with your own yard.

To get good at anything, you just have to practice, practice, practice! I have gotten really good that this because I never stop practicing!  Pick a “from scratch” project and map out the steps.  Farm-A-Yard is here to help you do that!  Learn from our videos and podcasts about the food movement and how you can take steps that work for you, no matter where you are in the process.

“Re-designing” our food system starts with a vision.  Now close your eyes….can you visualize your yard or someone else’s yard full of beautiful veggies?  Imagine yourself digging in the dirt and getting your hands dirty, observing the change in the neighborhood as more neighbors start growing some food.

That’s how it starts!  Now imagine yourself taking small action steps (that you can learn here), to grow some of your favorite foods. Visualize planting it, watching it ripen, picking it and then taking your first bite!  (Now your hooked for life!!)

We all can have a part in building a new local food web.

The Farm-A-Yard team and I have lots a instruction to get you going and to connect you to the Farm-A-Yard Movement with others who see the vision and are manifesting it around the country!

Get on our mailing list so that you can receive updates, webinar info, my podcasts and videos to inspire and equip you so that we can grow this movement together!

Maybe you can’t grow anything right now, but you share the vision and want to be counted. We need you! Check out how you can be a cheerleader in the Farm-A-Yard movement on our Patreon site.  Lots of cool options there!!

 

 

 

 

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Getting Your Chickens to Work for You! Brilliant!

Chickens are designed to do much more than just lay eggs. They are the cheapest hired help you could ask for.  They scratch, eat bugs, which keeps the pests under control and fertilize at a amazing rate if given the opportunity.  This activity also helps to keep your birds healthy.  Check out how this gardener utilizes their talent!  You won’t have to do the tilling in your garden after seeing this!

http://realfarmacy.com/raise-chickens-garden/

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A Kids Life Beyond the iPad

I picked up an old Mother Earth News Magazine and opened to a lovely picture of a 13 year old girl on a horse.  The article was called “MY INTRODUCTION TO SELF-RELIANCE”.  I had to read on….

I was immediately impressed with Treska’s communication and writing abilities.  Move over Barbara Kingslover! 🙂

Having been a homeschooling mom myself, I remember how great it was to witness the impact of nature on my children and so grateful to be able to give them that connection even though we were urban dwellers. Allowing “nature to take it’s course” does wonders for children & young people (and adults for that matter!)

How do we get our kids beyond the iPad?

We all feel it…there is a desperate need to have a routine plan to unplug from technology.  I believe it’s critical to find ways to give our kids space for discovery, experimentation and to practice and build creative thinking, problem solving skills beyond the iPad.  No doubt kids are in training to do amazing things with technology, but what critical life skills are they missing?… not to mention the real world experiences & relationships that could be passing them by.

We all need to get a little dirt on our hands…or maybe better yet, a lot of dirt on our hands!

Mud run anyone?  Lessons Learned

My kids were outside digging in the dirt a lot and digging in the snow in the winter.  The best times, were when I went out with them to dig, which I regret, was not more often.  I remember the lessons and conversations that were generated just by taking that time.  Lessons in cooperation & compassion and often with out words. Seeing and valuing so many facets of life. Lessons not only for them but for me. Lessons that might have been missed otherwise.

Equipping our young ones in self reliant skills will go along way in the development and molding of tomorrow’s confident, well rounded leaders.

Now you know another reason why I am passionate about Farm-A-Yard.

What was particularly striking to me is that Treska writes,”After I became inspired by the idea of having a seedling business, I read anything I could get my hands on about seeds….I am looking forward to my learning experience….to me there is no such thing as an “expert farmer. But what any skilled farmer needs is a set of eyes, a pair of hands and a willingness to learn.”

Let’s raise a generation of  kids who know how to have a life beyond the iPad. Let’s get outdoors with them and hey, maybe even farm your yard! 🙂

I guarantee that you will be warmed and inspired by Treska’s article.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/self-reliant-zmaz09aszraw

 

 

 

 

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Healthcare? Best Plan Checklist:

The spring is a great time to invest in wellness through preventative actions!

How are you investing wellness actions into your daily routine?

__Sunshine

__Deep breathing

__Exercise

__Grow a garden, share a garden

__Nutrient dense food

__Clean water

__Mindful eating

__Rest & relaxation

__Laughter & Play

__Friends

__Volunteer

__Be your own best friend

Add your own self care maintenance practices that work for you! 🙂

One last thing….We want to send you a little sunshine and make sure you know that “You Got a Friend” in Farm-A-Yard 🙂

I love this video and it’s message is our message.  We are all here together building this team of growers and eaters who are localizing our food system using our own yards as well as public and other private spaces!  

It’s a movement, and we can’t do it without each other!  So, check out the words in this song that we are sending to let you know that we are with you every step of the way!

https://www.facebook.com/letsfarmyouryard/photos/pb.1142003965862197.-2207520000.1488211063./1396339697095288/?type=3

Thank you for helping to grow and heal your communities with fresh, nutrient dense food!

Spread the Sunshine!…Forward to your friends…

 

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Why Do We Need Weeds?

Purslane, Plantain, Dandelions…Oh My!

Besides all the important restorative work that “weeds” do for the soil, this is just a reminder that spring is the very best time to enjoy eating fresh, tender “weeds”.  Fresh in salad, or sauteed in grassfed butter, added to eggs,soup or stir fried dishes, these greens are packed with nutrients that you need.  These greens know how to “mine”deep into the soil to bring up important minerals & nutrients and make them available to the plant and to YOU!

Did you know that plantain is found worldwide (there is probably some in your yard right now!) and is a popular wound healer, body purifier, congestion aid.and neutralizer of poison and toxic elements?

It contains all 18 amino acids, is anti-inflammatory and a lymph tonic. For an insect bite or bee sting, take a plantain leaf, chew it in your mouth, then apply the green mush to the sting for relief.  It helps to neutralize the toxin and draw it out. Pick the young, fresh leaves to eat fresh add to dishes or dry the leaves  and powder them for use later and store in a mason jar to add to soups, eggs and stir fry  (I store everything in mason jars! 🙂 .

And Don’t forget our favorite dandelions 🙂

Did you know that all the parts of the dandelion are edible?. The root roasted is a coffee substitute.  It is used often in Eastern Medicine, as “bitter” herbs are very helpful for digestion and so many other things.  It is a powerful cleanser, high in potassium, a great source for Vitamin A, E, B complex, C, D, calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium…  Strengthens kidneys, is a strong diuretic without depleting potassium.  Even the roots are a good source of probiotics (beneficial gut bacteria).  Dandelions are “miners”.  Their tap root goes deep to bring up beneficial elements to the roots of other plants. If you have a lot of them, they are a sign of that your soil is needy of things and they are working to help bring balance back.   

So, I hope that you have a greater appreciation for the dandelion and that you take advantage of their gifts. I am an urban forager and love going on a treasure hunt to find the seasons gifts tuck away in plain sight just for the picking! Dandelions actually are sold in many grocery stores now! $4-5 a bunch! (Remember to only collect these greens from soil that is not contaminated by chemicals or not growing by the side of the road.)