So, I love being a part-time granola. I am really getting in to it. I get all of the benefits of being a full time granola; great food, better for me stuff, increasing self-reliance, etc. and none of the hard things that come from being a full-time granola (ie bearing children with no medication, making my own clothing, etc).
If you haven't checked it out already you really need to join www.backyardfarming.blogspot.com , they recently had an article talking about replacing one item that you normally buy with something homemade every week. I've been participating and it is very fun, and very fulfilling. I am now a whiz at making my own bread (pictures to come soon!), and I am getting the hang of making my own baby food, and I am scouring around looking for ideas of what to take over for next week. I've also recently realized how easy it is to make things like spaghetti sauce and enchilada sauce and taco seasoning from stuff I have on hand; whereas before I would have avoided making enchiladas, simply because I did not have enchilada sauce; or avoided making salad because we had no dressing. My own sauces and dressings are so much better than what can be purchased in a store, I LOVE IT!
Today the post on backyardfarming was about CSA (community supported agriculture). I went to the site www.localharvest.org and read all about it, I am in love with the idea. Seriously. The whole concept is that you can buy a share in a farm and reap a weekly harvest from the farm. You support local farmers and get the benefit of fresh, organic, delicious, home grown produce weekly. The coolest thing ever is that some farms near me have work-shares available, where instead of buying a share you can work off a share. So if I commit to going in every Saturday for four hours, I get a share of the crop. I LOVE IT! I could learn so much. I really want to get in and "get my hands dirty", and see if I can learn a thing or two about farming while I am at it.
I did the calculations and if I am able to get a work-share on the farm it would be the equivalent of making $10/hour. That is an excellent deal! You may not know this about me, but I used to be a professional cucumber and squash picker and for that I only made about $2.35 an hour. So $10 an hour, plus time away from the kids, plus fresh produce, is like mind boggling. I am very excited about this!
So, I encourage you to taking your own little steps to becoming a part time granola. Let me know how I can help, it's really made life more fun! It would be more fun, however, if Blaine would concede to let me get a backyard flock of chickens.
P.S. Minnesota friends, I checked and you have so many good options for a CSA. You lucky little devils. Oh, Utah friends, not looking so good for you. Texas is okay. And Oregonians, it makes me sick how many options you guys have.
9 comments:
Kristi,
Thanks so much for the blog link. I am really, really interested in this idea, and I'd love to talk to about it some more and share any recipes with more natural ingredients. I hate buying the pre-packaged stuff, but like you, kind of thought, well, how am I gonna make tacos without taco seasoning packets? Also, a work share sounds awesome to me.
That's so awesome! Good for you! I'm kind of part time granola too, but you're better at it than me.
umm... yeah, we need recipes!!!
definitely want the recipe for enchilada sauce. It's a staple around here.
I love that you are at least a part time granola. I'm working on the full time myself although I don't make my own clothes yet (I think it's cheaper to buy if you find a good enough deal) I have learned how to make my own soap and lotion and lip balm though. And I'm hoping to become a master gardener one of these days. By the way, I love the backyard farming blog. I go there all the time and I too and wanting chickens real bad. For now I'll just bum eggs from my sister since she has them. Anyway, this comment could get lengthy if I let it. Here's to granola-ism.
I love that you are a part-time granola. Because I fancy myself one too (you'd better believe I'll be getting mighty doses of medication when I have a kid).
Way to go fids! I think I might be a part time granola. I love making everything from scratch being 45 minutes from a store will do that to you:) Why don't you try making your own noodles this week? tHe kids love them and they are super easy! I also would like your enchilada sauce recipe.
Way to go Kristi. I think I would call what you are doing just a great example of Provident Living! I'm so glad you married my son and are raising my grandchildren!! Good luck!
And I keep meaning to ask, is that homegrown tomato ripe yet? Have you had any more?
I thought it was a great idea...to go work at a CSA. I had never heard about it. I figured there would be LOTS of them around Dallas, but nope...one...which is already filled up and has a waiting list. I thought it would be a great way to learn more about my own backyard garden. Oh well, thanks for the idea...I'll keep checking into it. Loves, Aunt Jann
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