Food, Part 4
The shepherd is a weaver. She keeps six sheep on her small property and plants enough potato and root vegetables for her survival. She also has a cherry, a mountain ash and an apple. Her sheep provide wool or weaving, meat and skins to sell. Her one goat gives her milk, butter, cheese and yogourt. She dyes the wool from natural products and weaves beautiful blankets. The yearly lammps are slaughtered for meat and the skins are used for furnishings and clothing. There is trade in propogating the livestock. The goatherd and the shepherd keep bucks for breading. The hortaculturalist brings her ewes for fertiliztion. The lactating ewe provides milk and the offspring are butchered for meat and skins.
The poultry farmer has a dozen chickens and a rooster. She has a dozen eggs to sell every day or raises chickens for meat. She plants sunflowers to supplement their diet and her own. She plants corn for flour, currants, potato and spice. Her trade is obvious, a dozen eggs for milk, but eventually, she buys her own goat. It’s easier that way.
There are other homesteaders, each doing a variety of this kind of production on their own properties.
The plantings are easy, two fruit bearing trees per corner and perhaps another along the hedgerow. The hedgerow is a row of fruit bearing shrubs, berries and currants and the entire property is fenced this way. Under the shrubs are spices and strawberries.
The property is divided in half, 50’x100′ for the animals and 50’x100′ for the house and gardens. The garden consists of rhubarb, corn, potato and whatever other vegetables they desire. Sunflowers and other flowers add to their yield.
These are examples of cottage industry homesteaders. There are other wonderful uses for property that add to the benefit of the people in this community. There is other small cottage industry that the property provides for. A florist, soap production, perfume ( essential oil). These people can be self-sufficient without very much land, even in cooler climates.
The homesteaders need to be careful in choosing the location for planting the trees, because of how much shade is cast and the spread of the canopy. In order to maximize the light, the trees need to be planted so that the shadow isn’t too dark. If the shadow is too dark, the other plants will struggle to survive. Paying attention to the light and dark, as the sun travels throughout the day, will help to indicate the correct area for the trees.
Your call to action, share this post. Please comment on the post, if you would like to.
In most locations, people can do some of the production that is indicated by these posts. You might not be able to have livestock, but you can have trees and a vegetable garden. If you live in an apartment, inquire as to the availability of garden plots in your community, or you can grow some vegetables in a sunny window in your home and on the balcony.
The garden catalogues are now out. One is http://www.offers@springgarden.ca
written by: Dr. Louise Hayes
April 10, 2013
Health Benefits of Kiwis: •Increased Immune Function •Reduced Cancer Risk •Reduced Risk of Colon Cancer •Protection Against Heart Disease •Protection Against Dementia •Alleviation of Cardiovascular Disease •Alleviation of Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) •Promoted Eye Health •Alzheimer’s Protection •Osteoporosis Protection •Alleviation of Inflammation Kiwi fruit contains nutrients and antioxidants believed to help protect DNA from damage, it can also be used as a blood thinner. Kiwi fruit has a protein dissolving enzyme called actinidin, thus it can be used as a meat tenderizer, like papaya. *Some of these health benefits are due to the nutrients highly concentrated in Kiwis, and may not necessarily be related to Kiwis. Natural vitmains, minerals, and nutrients found in Kiwis: Vitamin C | Vitamin K | Vitamin E | Calcium | Dietary Fiber | Copper
Read more at http://www.healthaliciousness.com/fruits/kiwi.php#fUWXlkRBkCyEMRtC.99
Health Benefits of Strawberries: •Increased Immune Function •Protection Against Heart Disease •Slowing Aging •DNA Repair and Protection •Alzheimer’s Protection •Osteoporosis Protection •Antioxidant Protection •Prevention of Epileptic Seizures •Prevention of Alopecia (Spot Baldness)
Read more at http://www.healthaliciousness.com/fruits/strawberry.php#BxMBLAq2GvfuJvPK.99
Health Benefits of Watermelon: •Increased Protection from Bacterial and Viral Infections •Increased Immune Function •Reduced Cancer Risk •Protection Against Heart Disease Watermelon is high in the carotenoid lycopene which is thought to be beneficial for preventing cancer. *Some of these health benefits are due to the nutrients highly concentrated in Watermelon, and may not necessarily be related to Watermelon. Natural vitmains, minerals, and nutrients found in Watermelon: Carbohydrates | Vitamin A | Lycopene | Vitamin C |
Read more at http://www.healthaliciousness.com/fruits/watermelon.php#OUeue4CBhqPYxvdV.99 Health Benefits of Rhubarb: •Increased Immune Function •Reduced Risk of Colon Cancer •Protection Against Heart Disease •Alleviation of Cardiovascular Disease •Alleviation of Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) •Alzheimer’s Protection •Osteoporosis Protection •Stroke Prevention •Antioxidant Protection •Prevention of Epileptic Seizures •Prevention of Alopecia (Spot Baldness) The anthocyanins that give rhubarb their characteristic red color may help to fight and prevent a host of diseases including cancer, diabetes, and aging. *Some of these health benefits are due to the nutrients highly concentrated in Rhubarb, and may not necessarily be related to Rhubarb. Natural vitmains, minerals, and nutrients found in Rhubarb: Vitamin C | Vitamin K | Calcium | Dietary Fiber | Manganese | Potassium |
Read more at http://www.healthaliciousness.com/fruits/rhubarb.php#Gh3qvffJPvaUroSh.99