Links to traditional foods diet, part 4

[Jessica]

Sarah, unfortunately I have heard other people get criticized for having a healthy living lifestyle.  It really is sad.  I am very new to this, Sarah, but have been my own granola bars for a while.  James' sister thinks I'm crazy.  I also learn just not to tell people some things but it isn't right.  I'm glad that you are able to talk with us and be comfortable. I have learned a lot from you.  Thank you!

[barleychown]

Granola bars is a great place to start.

Part of this that I do is about health, part is saving money, part is for my sanity. It all goes hand in hand. To me, there is no more soothing noise than the sounds a happy hen makes.

[Jessica]

I have wanted chickens for 2 years.  James says no.   Maybe I will convince him one of these days.

Sarah, homemade granola bars are better for you and taste so much better.  I will not buy store bought anymore.

I am proud of James.  He called me to tell me that a guy that was on the job site today told him about this grocery store having this deal.  James went to check it out.  If you buy a freezer for $150 they give you $160 in food coupons.  It is all free food.  No buy one get one or anything like that.  Sounded like an okay deal.  He said...but it's all pizzas and stuff like that I figured it was stuff that wasn't really good for us so I left.  He is learning!!!

[barleychown]

And you are right...it's sad. And by and large, I don't tell anyone local anything...if they ask, I will answer. Cuts down on the crap.


Jessica, that's awesome!!!  Mike is mostly on board with me, he just shakes his head. I do have to talk him into each new idea, but if I approach him with facts and PICTURES, he's far more likely to agree. Why doesn't James want chickens?

[Tina]

I do understand, Sarah. You want to quietly live your life, not spend time debating about it. I have looked at and studied healthy stuff for many years. My own grown kids admire me and think I'm a nut at the same time. (They like to eat sometimes though).
I originally got a computer to have all of that info at my fingertips. Instead of trips to the library. I have forgotten to flex those fingers and the mind sometimes though. You have led me down a pleasant garden path. Now it is fun to see what I can work into my lifestyle.

[barleychown]

I am so glad you are enjoying yourself. I like learning, too. 

[Triss]

Dan gets excited when I talk about what I want to do... not sure how on board he is but he likes that it makes me happy so goes along.

[Jessica]

I'm not really sure why he doesn't want chickens.  One thing is that we don't have a place for them.  We would have to build something.  I guess he thinks they are messy.

[barleychown]

Do you have a veggie garden?

[Jessica]

Right now I don't.  I have said the last 2 years that I am planting one.  We just haven't found the right spot.  I just need to do it I guess.

[barleychown]

Dive in...you can always move it later if needed.

If I were planning one, I would do either a chicken moat or a rotation with chickens. Super simple bug control.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/1988-05-01/Garden-Pest-Control.aspx

[Jessica]

Thanks for the info!  I need to get a veggie garden going and them convince James that we need chickens.

[barleychown]

The girls really are not messy, or smelly. Well cared for hens are better than a dog anyday...what other pet produces something useful? 

Growing your own veggies saves a bunch of money, AND encourages you to use more veggies every day.  I've even heard that if a kid helps grow them, they are more likely to at least try them.

[Jessica]

I really have wanted to but I need to stop using excuses and just do it.

[barleychown]

The first year is the hardest...it gets better after that.

[bestofour]

I never gardened until I got married the first time.  My ex's parents lived in the country and gardened so the first year we helped them.  The 2nd year Ronnie turned over 2 acres at our house and we had our own garden.  I canned all summer long.   I froze some veges but always liked the canned ones better.  When we moved to the last house we lived in together we never did another garden for some reason.  I would buy stuff from a local grower and can but never planted anything of my own except flowers.

Several  years ago Johnny and I decided to plant a garden.  He goes along with whatever I say. 

I'd like to have chickens too but I'm worried they'll get run over on the highway or murdered by the dogs or cat.

[Jessica]

Sheri, our issue would be the chickens being murdered by coyotes.  I would have to have something that they couldn't into.  2 acres is a big garden.  You must have spent all your free time out in the garden.

[Tina]

Our local news did a story on agave nectar last night on the 11 o'clock news. I couldn't stay up for it so I looked it up today. Figured I would share a little
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/food_coach&id=7332412
I bought some agave last week. I like it for a little something different. It is sweeter than an equal amount of liquid sweetener like syrups and things. Thinner too. So less is more.

[Penny]

I think its great that more and more people are going back to the basics, especially with gardening.

While i dont Can on the level that you do Sarah, i still have people ask me, "why dont you just buy it instead, less hassle".....i love having my very own garden , its nice and relaxing to be able to work out there, and not to mention that you reap the rewards too.

My motto in life is, Do what makes you Happy ......and if what you do makes you happy Sarah, then do it, and if some people think you are wierd or strange for doing what you do.....then its their loss of a good friend and arent worth the time .

Start out small Jess, and put some pots on a deck or steps, lots of things can be grown in pots, see what works and what you like, and expand from there for next year.

[barleychown]

I'd like to have chickens too but I'm worried they'll get run over on the highway or murdered by the dogs or cat.

Chickens are smarter than you think. They don't play in the road...there's no food there. I have yet to meet a cat that wants to tangle with a chicken...they co-exsist. Dogs, however, are a huge problem.


I have both raccoons and opossums that frequent the back yard. The raccoons are VERY persistant, but my coop is strong, and they cannot get to them, hard as they may try.


My hens take all of about 10 minutes a day to deal with...I unlock the coop in the morning and feed them, then at night I go out and count heads in the coop before locking them up. I wouldn't trade them for the world.

If you want something enough, you will find a way to make it work. 

If having your own seems like too much trouble, find a local person selling eggs. I often have a few extra dozens that I share. Surely someone near you will, too.

[Jessica]

A friend of mine has chickens and gives me eggs sometimes but it is not on a regular basis.  I have to find another source. Or get chickens.

[barleychown]

I'll be adding at least 3 hens this year to make up for ones I've lost over the last few years. I'm thinking a blue jersey giant, blue orpington, and a salmon faverolles. 

[barleychown]

Any new questions? Thoughts? Try anything new today?

[bayou girl]

actually, i did try something new for me.  i tried the steel cut oats.  for breakfast.  added pecans, cinnamon, and brown sugar.  was very good BUT as they started to cool (before i could finish eating them) they got SLIMY.  blech.  i couldn't finish them. even though, the oats part was still firm, not mush.  and the pecans were good.  but i can't get past the slime.  that is why i don't like rolled oats.  HELP!

[barleychown]

Perhaps you would like a different grain cereal better? Oats are notorius for the slime...but what about wheat berries? triticale?