Blog

Self Reliance

We live by the principle of self-reliance at Five Feline Farm. Whenever practical, we do for ourselves. It is both a matter of saving money and the satisfaction of being able to do things for ourselves. Mostly the satisfaction. There is not much that stops us from trying to figure things out.

Of course, some tasks we hire out. Usually because it is something we don’t want to do or don’t have the tools to do correctly. Occasionally it is because we would rather spend our time doing something other than that particular task. We also dream up with projects where it is more expensive to buy the tools than to pay for someone else to do it. 

But when we can do for ourselves, we do.

For example, when we needed a new greenhouse, we decided to build from a kit.

Shopping around and exploring all of the options, we found a Palram model we like. It is small but expandable in 4 foot sections if we choose. This particular model has an integrated covered guttering system with small downspouts.

What are downspouts without a rain barrel?

A quick order on Amazon and a rain barrel was delivered to the front door. Now to make the gutters useful, we needed some type of hose to direct the rain water to the barrel. 

Wandering the aisles of our local home improvement warehouse, we found something that would work. One and quarter inch discharge hose. Easy to cut to length, hose clamp to the downspout and screwed to the top of the rain barrel. One good rain and the barrel is full. It is easy now to run a garden hose into the greenhouse to water as needed.

It is common for us to use parts for other than their intended purpose. We browse the home improvement store, with a project in mind, looking for anything that will suit. Our theory is: if it works, it works.

A Challenge

What can you do to be more self-reliant? Think about a small task you need to accomplish. Is it something you can do for yourself? Can you repurpose some random part you have lying around the house?

We challenge you to do one thing today to be more self-reliant. Let us know in the comments or on any of our social media channels. (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)

Five Feline Farm is a modern homestead where two women and their cats seek to make their corner of the world full of creativity and fresh food. Sign up for our email list and get a free ebook “Wisdom of the Bees”.

Why is the World Dog-Centric?

Today’s post is a guest post by Five Feline Farm’s very own Sassy. She has a lot of opinions and isn’t afraid to let you know.

I’m writing (actually dictating to one of my humans since it’s hard to type with paws) from the comfort of one of the greenhouses here at the Farm. It is a cool day but toasty warm in here. I have my own cushion to lie on.

Lying here in the sunshine I have time to think about important things. Like why is the world dog-centric?

Cats Rule!

Just take a look around your nearest pet supply store. One entire side, aisle after aisle of dog products. Food, beds, toys, leashes, collars, grooming products.

Granted, cats require far fewer grooming products, being the self groomers we are. And those leashes! No self-respecting cat would be caught in public at the end of a leash. How humiliating.

But cats have to share their side of the store with fish, rats, mice, birds, reptiles. Where is the toy selection? We want more food choices.

I’m going to write to my congresscat and start a petition. Dogs should be required to share equally with cats.

Except beagles. They are calico after all.

If you would like to hear more from Sassy or the other residents of Five Feline Farm, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and here on our blog. There are exciting things coming and you won’t want to miss it.

Bought the Farm, Now What?

Have you ever had a vision so big, you didn’t know what to think?

Have you ever had a dream so big it was nearly impossible to conceive? Something that you really wanted but others looked at you funny when you talked about it?

This is where we found ourselves in 2002. Looking for a piece of land we could call our own. A place to do as we wished, no covenants to drive the structure of our dwelling, no close neighbors watching every move.

Finally we found it. A neglected five acre and a half acre rectangle. The house had burned years before leaving a weed filled pit. The old garage housed ragged appliances, broken glass, mice and who knows what else. The land came complete with a leaning two seater outhouse.

But the barn sang a different song. Hand hewn beams pegged together. Leaning a bit and in poor repair, it held promise. Could this be rehabilitated? Converted into a home? We dreamed large. Until we found the dry-rot and termites. The barn salvage is a story for another time.

So there we stood. Looking at this wild property wondering with excitement what possessed us to have this vision. The first step was obvious. Get rid of the junk. So we cleaned and mowed and hauled and picked up trash.

In 2008, the time was right to begin building. A two story yellow farmhouse sprang up and we moved in. Now we had more time to devote to gardens and landscaping and food. The land has transformed under our stewardship.

Our vision has grown and evolved since those early days. We find ourselves part of the growing movement to know the provenance of our food. Expanding the gardens to produce not only food for ourselves but enough to start a business.

Now our goal is to keep improving, expanding and moving toward the vision of being as self-sufficient as possible. Our focus is on food. Wholesome natural food that doesn’t come with a long list of chemical ingredients.

The plan also includes honeybees. As the honeybee population has been threatened, we have joined the preservation effort. These valuable insects pollinate many garden plants thereby increasing yields. We harvest honey and use the wax by-product to create skin creams and lip balms. It is a symbiotic relationship that benefits both us and the bees.

Here on our blog and throughout the Five Feline Farm business, you will find us promoting good food and fine products. We share tips, pointers, recipes, ideas and the occasional fail. We also hope to encourage you, our followers and fans, to reach for your own vision whether it be food, honeybees or something entirely different.

 
You can find Five Feline Farm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you haven’t picked up your copy of Wisdom of the Bees, you can get that free when you sign up for our email list.

Healthy Food Choices

Everyone wants to be healthy these days. But with all the hype, it’s hard to know what to do.

The labels abound: Non GMO, Organic, Naturally Grown, Clean Eating. What do these mean? How can you make an informed choice? What are we thinking at Five Feline Farm?

Let’s take the labels one at a time as we see it.

Non GMO (Genetically Modified Organism)

Scientists have genetically modified some of our food crops to enhance production.  Corn and soybeans are primary cash crops in the Midwest. These have been modified to make them “Roundup Ready”.

What does that mean?

It means the plant is modified at the gene level in such a way that it can be sprayed with the herbicide Roundup and not be affected. Otherwise Roundup kills any plant matter it touches.

Brown. Dead.

Not these corn and beans. These can survive being sprayed with this lethal poison.

Of course, Monsanto, the maker of Roundup would have us believe that the modifications and subsequent spraying are safe for human consumption.

It doesn’t stop with corn and soybeans. Many of our food crops also contain GMO’s.

Organic

Organic food has a special designation and oversight. There are strict standards that must be adhered to if one is going to label a food organic. This also comes at a cost. Organic food producers must meet these regulations and pay fees to label their food organic.

Organic simply means nothing artificial has been done to the seed, plant, soil, water, or fertilizer.

Naturally Grown

This is what we do at Five Feline Farm. We use non GMO seed. There are only natural (read compost) amendments to the soil. Any pesticides are house-made from natural ingredients.

We’re ok with misshapen fruits and vegetables.

Although not organic, we think it’s pretty close.

Clean Eating

This seems to be a relatively new term. The most basic definition is to consume only whole foods that would have been recognized by the generation before World War II. Foods that are not processed from an unrelated substance. Ingredients that can be read and pronounced by a middle schooler.

Prior to WW II and the dawn of the information age, life moved at a slower pace. Families took time to come together over a meal and share their day. People in rural areas grew a lot of their own food, “putting it up” or “putting it by” to get through the cold winter months. City folks shopped at local grocers. Large multi-line stores were non-existent.

People ate local food in that era. Perishable foods would not make the long journey across country or continents. Anything that was shipped a distance was cost prohibitive for the average consumer.

Our Plan

We are into modern retro-food.

Yes, it’s a new term we just made up. Taking advantage of new cooking techniques and the occasional long distance food, most of what we eat is local. Whole foods that Grandma would know. Nothing we can’t pronounce.

We grow and preserve as much as possible here on the Farm. What we do buy gets a thorough label examination. Looking for ingredients we can pronounce or resembles a food more than a lab ingredient. The fewer ingredients the better.

We aren’t perfect in this effort. But each meal and each purchase is an opportunity to make a good decision. In the end we feel better, physically and emotionally. 

Your Turn

Join us in this effort to make better food decisions. Take one meal, one food, one day. Whatever works for you.

Eat a whole food. Read labels.

Make one food choice that is closer to the way Grandma used to eat.

Shop local.

Send us a message through email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and let us know what good food decision you made today.