tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post578604192372354166..comments2024-03-26T10:01:18.135-04:00Comments on Living the Frugal Life: First Volunteers of the Year and Other NewsKatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-88362072244349732662011-02-28T07:46:06.165-05:002011-02-28T07:46:06.165-05:00Karen, that's been our experience with most of...Karen, that's been our experience with most of our volunteers too. We just haven't hosted any so early in the year before now. Thanks for the good wishes.<br /><br />Ken, yes, we've found the volunteers to be mostly quite interested as well. I suppose I've never had much hesitation about telling people things I know that interest me. Add to that impulse a good measure of responsibility to dig deep before spouting off, and you've got teaching material. I don't think you need be an expert to teach. Telling people honestly about your mistakes counts as teaching too.<br /><br />Tamar, thanks. I've been collecting the eggs more often too, and I tried the golf ball trick. It didn't stop the problem though. I wish it had. A farmer I know told me he's never been able to stop the habit once it's established. But he probably doesn't have time to check for eggs frequently.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-22284413960015340062011-02-27T12:29:26.872-05:002011-02-27T12:29:26.872-05:00Kate -- If I were WWOOFing, I would be thrilled to...Kate -- If I were WWOOFing, I would be thrilled to land at your house. So many things going on, so much to learn, and good food to boot. <br /><br />When we had an egg-eating problem, we tried collecting eggs several times a day (so they wouldn't sit around to be eaten) and putting golf balls in the nests. I can't say for sure that it was the golf balls that did it, but the egg eating stopped. Maybe a few pecks at a hard ball (or one of those decorative marble eggs) and egg eating seemed less fun.Tamar@StarvingofftheLandhttp://www.starvingofftheland.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-34836796067612476692011-02-27T07:07:05.132-05:002011-02-27T07:07:05.132-05:00Kate,
WWOOFers are great! We hosted our first tr...Kate,<br /><br />WWOOFers are great! We hosted our first trio last fall, and new interns will be starting this week on our farm. We will have a revolving door of interns through WWOOF and growfood.org through October. It's amazing how much interest there is from the volunteers. We've had to turn people away. <br /><br />I was hesitant to be the teacher at first. I certainly make my share of mistakes and wondered what I could share. But now that I've gotten used to the concept, it's kind of fun. We're looking forward to meeting and working with our interns this year. Good luck.Ken Toneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03125500192498692012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-23180878878208773212011-02-27T02:23:13.317-05:002011-02-27T02:23:13.317-05:00My CSA farmers just hosted their first wwoofer thi...My CSA farmers just hosted their first wwoofer this February, I met him at the farmer's market where I sell breads (the baker's a dude) and fed him (and my farmer) well. I got a distinct impression that he was pleased to be taking part in something of value and saving the money he would otherwise spend so any experience would be a good one, as far as he seemed concerned ...<br /><br />I love the concept, and know that my farmers were very, very pleased with their first visitor. Enjoy yours, may they be game for anything and easygoing too.karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15428202747324083680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-30205803160957494922011-02-26T08:50:02.850-05:002011-02-26T08:50:02.850-05:00Wendy, thanks. I guess I'm not usually apologe...Wendy, thanks. I guess I'm not usually apologetic; I just feel that way right now because the homestead is pretty sorry looking this time of year, and there's not much going on. I do very much feel that what we have is teach is important, and I host volunteers as much for that reason as for the help they contribute.<br /><br />Marion, you'd be welcome to come. I'm not sure yet which day we'll work on bacon. Probably a day with weather too crummy to work outdoors. I haven't yet taken delivery of the bellies. I'll drop you an email and let you know when they're here. But I warn you, there's not much to assembling a curing mix and rubbing down the belly. That's all that will get done in the coming week.<br /><br />Jennie, I'll try to do a post about the bacon. In the meantime you can look for my working recipe for guanciale. The process is basically the same; just slightly different seasonings.<br /><br />Laurie, thanks.<br /><br />Paula, I don't think of baking and canning as sissy either. But one never knows what attitudes young men will have been raised with. Still, it's all part of homesteading, and that's what I can teach. As for the video of the slaughter....um...I don't know if I can do that or not. I have no idea whether we've got a device capable of that. My digital camera might be able to take a short clip. I'll have to see. If I can figure it out, at least I'll have extra pairs of hands to hold the camera. Can't promise anything though. Sorry.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-16116296778785121012011-02-25T15:06:09.384-05:002011-02-25T15:06:09.384-05:00Hey. My husband bakes our bread. Nothing sissy abo...Hey. My husband bakes our bread. Nothing sissy about it. He's in charge of stuff that ferments, like bread and beer; he helped me with the pickles and sauerkraut last year, too. If anything, having those skills under their belts will make them that much more valuable to potential mates. Sounds like a win all 'round.<br /><br />Can you please film (video) and post the chicken slaughtering? My chickens will be for the same purposes as yours- not pets (although according to the city's ordinance, they're supposed to be pets, but what they don't know won't hurt them).Paulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16171802310115844104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-30566964979762403942011-02-25T13:19:53.116-05:002011-02-25T13:19:53.116-05:00What a wonderful way to share what you know! No ap...What a wonderful way to share what you know! No apologies necessary.Lauriehttp://lgraves@agoodeater.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-58689914009992319522011-02-25T10:47:53.405-05:002011-02-25T10:47:53.405-05:00Ooooh, inquiring minds would be interested in read...Ooooh, inquiring minds would be interested in reading a blog post about the process from pork belly to bacon. :-)<br />I have absolutely no place to do such a thing, but would be interested nonetheless. :-)<br /><br />And I'll second the above comments, don't sell yourself short, we need a LOT more small farms in this country, not more giant ones. And WOOFers are looking for a whole range of experiences. <br /><br />It's exciting to hear you have so much interest. It gives me hope.Jenniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03994844081172979101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-60159343976239428392011-02-25T09:08:49.857-05:002011-02-25T09:08:49.857-05:00Good Morning Kate: I agree with Wendy's comme...Good Morning Kate: I agree with Wendy's comments. I'm fortunate that two of our sons and their wives live nearby and offer their help if we need it. Can I come and peek over your shoulder when you make bacon? I just added 3 dozen pint jars to my stash thanks to a large donation at the Mennonite thrift shop. At $.30/each and in perfect shape it was a good buy. Marion in G'villeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-76000031443262480422011-02-25T08:27:19.803-05:002011-02-25T08:27:19.803-05:00I don't think you should be apologetic at all ...I don't think you should be apologetic at all about what your homestead has to offer the WWOOF volunteers. In fact, because of the size of your homestead, I think you actually have a lot more to offer than a larger farm. Given that 50% of the US population lives in free-standing houses on small pieces of land, our future is dependent on people who are willing to cultivate that land - AND then, share, freely and openly what they are doing. <br /><br />So, Kudos to you for opening up your home and your life to educate our future urban homesteaders.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04642417312794814066noreply@blogger.com