Strawberries are starting to come in. As usual, the girls are very eager to harvest them at this time. After a few weeks, not so eager anymore, even though they still need to be harvested...
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Sisters
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
A message from Sena (time sensitive)
This is a message from Sena, 12-year-old Shundahai daughter:
I am writing to you to ask you to go to Real Art Ways in Hartford to see
this movie that I found so inspiring. It will be playing at 6:00pm today and tomorrow. You can find more information at http://www.realartways.org/
I hope you can make it, and please let me know what you think.
Sena
Yesterday my parents and I went to the Real Art Ways theater in
Hartford to watch the movie Sonic Sea. This movie is a little
depressing, but more than anything else it made me want to do something
to help.
The movie is about what the sound of cargo ships, navy sonar, and off
shore drilling in the ocean is doing to the whales. Whales are beaching
themselves to get away from the sound.Sunday, May 22, 2016
Farm newsletter and Sena special guest at movie
We just published our latest Farm Newsletter with lots of details of what's been going on at the farm.
On the topic of whales: on Tuesday, we are headed to Hartford to see Sonic Sea, a movie about sonic disturbance in the ocean and its impact on whales and dolphins. CSI (Cetacean Society International) invited Sena to attend the movie as a special guest. Sena is super excited, as she will be meeting people that are involved with helping the whales on different levels: educators, scientists, and activists. The movie will play at Real Art Ways Monday through Thursday and is open to the public. We'd love to see you there!
Here is CSI's latest newsletter, which Sena was invited to write for. Her article is on page 11.
I already know I'm going to cry at the movie. The trailer is disturbing enough, so I'm bracing myself. The harder part is how is Sena going to deal with it? She really cares, and so is deeply affected by what she sees. But hopefully, meeting people that are actually doing something to help the whales and the oceans will compensate, give her hope, and inspire her to keep on with her work.
Peace
On the topic of whales: on Tuesday, we are headed to Hartford to see Sonic Sea, a movie about sonic disturbance in the ocean and its impact on whales and dolphins. CSI (Cetacean Society International) invited Sena to attend the movie as a special guest. Sena is super excited, as she will be meeting people that are involved with helping the whales on different levels: educators, scientists, and activists. The movie will play at Real Art Ways Monday through Thursday and is open to the public. We'd love to see you there!
Here is CSI's latest newsletter, which Sena was invited to write for. Her article is on page 11.
I already know I'm going to cry at the movie. The trailer is disturbing enough, so I'm bracing myself. The harder part is how is Sena going to deal with it? She really cares, and so is deeply affected by what she sees. But hopefully, meeting people that are actually doing something to help the whales and the oceans will compensate, give her hope, and inspire her to keep on with her work.
Peace
Friday, May 20, 2016
Sunny days, and everything is the brightest shade of green
Tomatoes are in the ground
Cilantro bunched for Fiddleheads food coop in New London and Oyster Club in Mystic
And the vegetables
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Bo Staff on the farm
I have an old crappy camera, so the quality of the videos is poor, but if you don't enlarge them you can see decent.
Sena
Aiyana (with rooster crowing in the background)
Peace
Sena
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Incredible speech from a 12 year old addressing the UN
It made me cry. Check out this video. What do you say to this girl?
She's right, as a parent, can I honestly tell my kids that everything's going to be allright, knowing what I know, seeing what I see? The best hope I can give them and myself is that some of us, maybe enough of us, will wake up and care enough to act.
Peace
She's right, as a parent, can I honestly tell my kids that everything's going to be allright, knowing what I know, seeing what I see? The best hope I can give them and myself is that some of us, maybe enough of us, will wake up and care enough to act.
Peace
Monday, May 16, 2016
Do what you can. YOU have the power.
One simple, powerful way to help ourselves and our world:
https://www.facebook.com/AwarenessAct/videos/1302962993051568/
https://www.facebook.com/AwarenessAct/videos/1302962993051568/
-1:51
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Spring rains, wild mushrooms
Jaron, who's been farming with us this year, is a mushroom forager, and knows quite a bit on the subject. This is great because I do want to learn more about mushrooms myself. He collected these King Stropharia, or wine cap mushrooms, on our property.
One of my conchs.
Oshi
Jetty with his mama Jasmine. They're still together a lot, but mama will have another calf in June and we'll see how that changes things.
Jetty
Mushroom growing in woodchip mulch in the orchard
Dandelion in the orchard (cows love them)
A beautiful mushroom passed its prime
Peace
Monday, May 09, 2016
Leave them alone
A good friend brought over this recent article from the NYT "A conversation with whales", for Sena to read. I ended up reading it today during my lunch break. It's an article about scientists using a daring method (free diving) to conduct research on whale communication. I am torn: one part of me is fascinated, and loves reading this interesting information about these amazing creatures. Another part of me, however, cringes, and all I can think is "Leave them alone".
Call me jaded, but I fear that the research we are doing on whales is going to cause them more harm than good. It will open our awareness about them, yes, and that can be good because it may make more of us care about them. But it will also allow us to invade their space, interfere with their lives, and most likely someone will figure out a way to profit from this research, and that cannot be good for the whales. Just leave them alone.
Why can't we just be OK knowing that there are things out there that we don't know, that we should not know? Why can't we just appreciate the mystery of life, but always try to control it and interfere? We've caused too much suffering already with our scientific research. There are so many examples of research being used to make a profit, causing terrible suffering for animals: just look at the meat industry; or animal testing.
But going back to the whale article: if, as is suggested in the article, someday we find a way of communicating with whales, what do you think they would tell us? Do you think it's anything we don't know already? Anything we can't figure out by having an honest look at the world and inside ourselves?
Peace
Call me jaded, but I fear that the research we are doing on whales is going to cause them more harm than good. It will open our awareness about them, yes, and that can be good because it may make more of us care about them. But it will also allow us to invade their space, interfere with their lives, and most likely someone will figure out a way to profit from this research, and that cannot be good for the whales. Just leave them alone.
Why can't we just be OK knowing that there are things out there that we don't know, that we should not know? Why can't we just appreciate the mystery of life, but always try to control it and interfere? We've caused too much suffering already with our scientific research. There are so many examples of research being used to make a profit, causing terrible suffering for animals: just look at the meat industry; or animal testing.
But going back to the whale article: if, as is suggested in the article, someday we find a way of communicating with whales, what do you think they would tell us? Do you think it's anything we don't know already? Anything we can't figure out by having an honest look at the world and inside ourselves?
Peace
Thursday, May 05, 2016
Working with the girls
It's spring and everything is growing
The cows are happy eating grass
And there is plenty of work to do.
The girls and I transplanted hundreds of tomatoes and peppers yesterday. It took us a few hours, but we took a break halfway. Aiyana made her special strawberry lemonade, with strawberries from last year's crop. It was delicious.
Sena's got farmer hands, and is proud of them (although she says she does not want to be a farmer when she grows up).
LT the cat loves to be around us when we work. She comes to say hello first, then curls up in a warm spot nearby and dozes.
The girls and I transplanted hundreds of tomatoes and peppers yesterday. It took us a few hours, but we took a break halfway. Aiyana made her special strawberry lemonade, with strawberries from last year's crop. It was delicious.
Sunday, May 01, 2016
We had our GMO event yesterday
Yesterday at our farm, Tara Cook Littman from GMO Free CT came to speak, and about 18 people came to hear her. I must admit that after sending out an email announcing the event to over 450 people, having posted it on Facebook, my blog, and at the Willimantic Food Coop, I was pretty disappointed when only 12 people responded and said they would be coming. But after thinking about it, I realized that even if this event reaches only a handful of people, that's to be grateful for. And in the end more than 12 came.
We had a beautiful day, and held the talk out in our orchard, on green grass studded with bright yellow dandelions, among fruit trees coming into bloom. Tara, the speaker, was great. She spoke spontaneously, and easily, sharing her personal story, how she came to create and devote her time and energy to GMO Free CT from formerly being a prosecutor in NYC. Having been a prosecutor, her public speech skills are outstanding, and it's really inspiring to hear her talk. Besides telling us how she got to where she is now, and sharing anecdotes from her meetings with high profile political figures at the state and federal levels, she spoke about Genetically Engineered Organisms, or GMOs, what they are, where they're found, and why GMO Free CT is fighting to get GMOs labeled on all of our food products (like they are in Europe and many other countries around the globe, including China and Japan). She talked about the current status of GMO labeling legislation in CT (which is that mandatory labeling is currently on hold until a trigger clause is met), in other states, and at the national level. VT is the first state that will start labeling GMOs as of this coming July. I love VT; setting a great precedent.
For me personally, one thing that Tara said that moved me the most, is that when you're trying to tackle on an issue like labeling GM food, or anything else that you want to change, it's not a one time effort. You don't just send a petition and be done with it. She said that it's a continuous effort, over and over, and sometimes you just have to be a pain in the ass to your representatives, the people that are supposed to work for us in government, and let them know what issues are important to you and how you want to be represented by them. On the topic of GM food in particular, Tara said that poll after poll shows that the vast majority of Americans want to know what's in their food, they want GMOs labeled, yet industry interests have so far swayed the decisions of most (not all) of those in power, to make labeling laws.
If you'd like to know more about GM labeling, which by the way, is also an issue in Canada, check out GMO Free CT.
I am happy that we were able to bring Tara to our farm, so she could speak to members of our community who want to know more about the issues she is working on. As I said at the beginning of yesterday's event, our farm grows food, but as Sena put it when she was 8, maybe as important or more importantly, "The purpose of our farm is to teach people about the Earth so that they can help the Earth". Having Tara here was a small step towards Sena's goal, and I hope there will be many more.
Peace
We had a beautiful day, and held the talk out in our orchard, on green grass studded with bright yellow dandelions, among fruit trees coming into bloom. Tara, the speaker, was great. She spoke spontaneously, and easily, sharing her personal story, how she came to create and devote her time and energy to GMO Free CT from formerly being a prosecutor in NYC. Having been a prosecutor, her public speech skills are outstanding, and it's really inspiring to hear her talk. Besides telling us how she got to where she is now, and sharing anecdotes from her meetings with high profile political figures at the state and federal levels, she spoke about Genetically Engineered Organisms, or GMOs, what they are, where they're found, and why GMO Free CT is fighting to get GMOs labeled on all of our food products (like they are in Europe and many other countries around the globe, including China and Japan). She talked about the current status of GMO labeling legislation in CT (which is that mandatory labeling is currently on hold until a trigger clause is met), in other states, and at the national level. VT is the first state that will start labeling GMOs as of this coming July. I love VT; setting a great precedent.
For me personally, one thing that Tara said that moved me the most, is that when you're trying to tackle on an issue like labeling GM food, or anything else that you want to change, it's not a one time effort. You don't just send a petition and be done with it. She said that it's a continuous effort, over and over, and sometimes you just have to be a pain in the ass to your representatives, the people that are supposed to work for us in government, and let them know what issues are important to you and how you want to be represented by them. On the topic of GM food in particular, Tara said that poll after poll shows that the vast majority of Americans want to know what's in their food, they want GMOs labeled, yet industry interests have so far swayed the decisions of most (not all) of those in power, to make labeling laws.
If you'd like to know more about GM labeling, which by the way, is also an issue in Canada, check out GMO Free CT.
I am happy that we were able to bring Tara to our farm, so she could speak to members of our community who want to know more about the issues she is working on. As I said at the beginning of yesterday's event, our farm grows food, but as Sena put it when she was 8, maybe as important or more importantly, "The purpose of our farm is to teach people about the Earth so that they can help the Earth". Having Tara here was a small step towards Sena's goal, and I hope there will be many more.
Peace
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Earth Day
Yesterday was Earth Day, but truly, every day is Earth Day, because the Earth gives us everything we need every day: food, water, shelter, clothing, everything. The Earth gives us beauty to keep our souls alive and joyful, and everything it gives is free. And so we should remember and acknowledge this every day, and walk the Earth in gratitude and respect.
Yesterday, Sena and Aiyana and I were driving to Yale for a doctor appointment for Aiyana's Hashimoto's. We came up with three things or challenges to ask people, and ourselves, to do in honor of Earth Day:
1) Reduce our consumption; in particular, the challenge would be to try to cut our garbage output in half from where we are now. This includes all garbage we generate: the garbage under the kitchen sink; the old furniture and TVs and other big stuff we put on the side of the road to have picked up; the garbage we generate when we get take out foods in throw away cups and containers, etc. Recycling is not enough! Recycling requires energy. What we're talking about is reducing consumption, and reusing the stuff we already have. Personally, I don't like to think of myself as a consumer and trash generator. I'd rather be a reuser, one who leaves the Earth beautiful. Here is an inspiring video from Patagonia that my sister shared with me years ago. It's about people and the stories of their well used, well loved stuff.
2) Go without factory raised meat for two weeks. Try it, and then go further. Factory raised meat is polluting and cruel to the Earth and animals that have to endure it. Switching to humanely raised, grass fed meat is one alternative, although it may take a little work to figure out where to get it, depending on where you live, and it may take more money too. But to me, if I had to chose between money and clean water, clean air, and a safe environment for my kids, I'd go with the latter. I know it seems simplistic, but at some level, what you spend your money on is a reflection of your values and what you're choosing to support.
3) Inspire others to do their part. No matter how small. Simple, every day changes that we can permanently incorporate in our lives are what makes a difference. You don't have to quit your job and join an NGO to feed the hungry. That's not nearly as effective. Do something that you can do, that fits in your life as it is right now, and that you can stick with. And inspire others to do the same. Look in your heart and be honest with yourself about what you can and cannot do; and then out of that honesty, take action.
I fear that this may come across as preachy or judgemental. That is not my intention. I wanted to put something out without spending hours to revise it because I feel that I must do something, whatever is in my power, even if it will earn me negative judgement.
Last night we had a beautiful thunderstorm, and this morning new leaves unfurled on trees by our house. When I see all that beauty, I feel so grateful and I have this strong sensation that I must do something to keep it beautiful and to allow others in the future to experience it too.
Out of this
comes this. Amazing, no?
Peace
Yesterday, Sena and Aiyana and I were driving to Yale for a doctor appointment for Aiyana's Hashimoto's. We came up with three things or challenges to ask people, and ourselves, to do in honor of Earth Day:
1) Reduce our consumption; in particular, the challenge would be to try to cut our garbage output in half from where we are now. This includes all garbage we generate: the garbage under the kitchen sink; the old furniture and TVs and other big stuff we put on the side of the road to have picked up; the garbage we generate when we get take out foods in throw away cups and containers, etc. Recycling is not enough! Recycling requires energy. What we're talking about is reducing consumption, and reusing the stuff we already have. Personally, I don't like to think of myself as a consumer and trash generator. I'd rather be a reuser, one who leaves the Earth beautiful. Here is an inspiring video from Patagonia that my sister shared with me years ago. It's about people and the stories of their well used, well loved stuff.
2) Go without factory raised meat for two weeks. Try it, and then go further. Factory raised meat is polluting and cruel to the Earth and animals that have to endure it. Switching to humanely raised, grass fed meat is one alternative, although it may take a little work to figure out where to get it, depending on where you live, and it may take more money too. But to me, if I had to chose between money and clean water, clean air, and a safe environment for my kids, I'd go with the latter. I know it seems simplistic, but at some level, what you spend your money on is a reflection of your values and what you're choosing to support.
3) Inspire others to do their part. No matter how small. Simple, every day changes that we can permanently incorporate in our lives are what makes a difference. You don't have to quit your job and join an NGO to feed the hungry. That's not nearly as effective. Do something that you can do, that fits in your life as it is right now, and that you can stick with. And inspire others to do the same. Look in your heart and be honest with yourself about what you can and cannot do; and then out of that honesty, take action.
I fear that this may come across as preachy or judgemental. That is not my intention. I wanted to put something out without spending hours to revise it because I feel that I must do something, whatever is in my power, even if it will earn me negative judgement.
Last night we had a beautiful thunderstorm, and this morning new leaves unfurled on trees by our house. When I see all that beauty, I feel so grateful and I have this strong sensation that I must do something to keep it beautiful and to allow others in the future to experience it too.
Out of this
Thursday, April 21, 2016
So Happy!
We let the cows out on pasture today. After eating hay since December, today, they are so happy to have lush green grass again.
And, in case you have not noticed, we created a Facebook page for Shundahai, so you can check that out if you want. Like it, pass it around, do whatever you want. Earlier today I updated pictures of veggies from our morning harvest.
Oshi enjoying grass and dandelion leaves
Olive is approving of the rye
Mama Opal in a very undignified pose, but loving the grass too.
Peace
And, in case you have not noticed, we created a Facebook page for Shundahai, so you can check that out if you want. Like it, pass it around, do whatever you want. Earlier today I updated pictures of veggies from our morning harvest.
Oshi enjoying grass and dandelion leaves
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Beautiful days are upon us
Everything is greening up and growing. The sky is clear, the temperature is pleasant, and there is no humidity. Bumblebees are out foraging, buzzing loudly as they go from flower to flower. Dandelions are in bloom. Peepers are peeping in the evening, and birds are chirping morning and night. It is such a beautiful time of year!
Most trees have not leafed out yet, but one of these days we will wake up and all will be green.
We got new baby chicks last week. They've grown a lot already.
The cats have been watching, will less than honorable intentions, I am sure...
Peace
Peace
Monday, April 18, 2016
Alpine pastures, here we come!
Finally, this year we will be taking the trip to Romania that we've been promising the kids since 2010. It's always felt impossible to get away from the farm for more than 3 days at a time, but this year we've planned things out so our workers will be here while we go to Europe. I reserved plane tickets last week. We'll be going for 3 weeks at the beginning of October. We'll be flying to Milan, Italy, and from there driving to Bucharest, Romania, through the Alps!!! I am super excited about this. I've always dreamed of seeing Heidi country (Switzerland), always had this image of her granfather's hut on top of the montain, with the hayloft where Heidi slept and the fresh milk they shared. And now, we'll be driving through the Austrian alps (which to me is close enough to the Swiss Alps), and the Italian Dolomites, and I am so excited. The kids want to visit lots of castles, which should be easy. I want to see cows on alpine meadows and Ed, I think he mostly wants to stay away from crowded places and see how Europeans practice small scale agriculture, which I do too.
Peace
Monday, April 11, 2016
Thank you to my dad, for sharing this with me
Instead of being critical, search inside yourself and be honest about what is true. Then, out of that honesty and understanding, do what you can.
https://youtu.be/ipe6CMvW0Dg
Peace
Peace
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Invitation to Shundahai event on GMO foods
A few weeks ago, Ed's mom, the girls and I went to the Capitol in Hartford for a GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) labeling meeting. I was very impressed by Tara, the speaker and creator of GMO Free CT, how eloquently she presented to our political representatives the case of why GMO foods should be labeled.
As I said before, I want our farm to be a vehicle of positive change, not just grow food, and I think that the GMO issue is one that everyone needs to know about for their own best interest, and that of the environment. So, after that Capitol meeting, I invited Tara to come to our farm and give a talk on GMOs. To my great excitement, she accepted.
Now I want to get the word out to as many people as possible about this upcoming FREE event. Here is the flyer I put together for the event, and I ask that you pass it along and spread the word if you feel so inclined.
Peace
As I said before, I want our farm to be a vehicle of positive change, not just grow food, and I think that the GMO issue is one that everyone needs to know about for their own best interest, and that of the environment. So, after that Capitol meeting, I invited Tara to come to our farm and give a talk on GMOs. To my great excitement, she accepted.
Now I want to get the word out to as many people as possible about this upcoming FREE event. Here is the flyer I put together for the event, and I ask that you pass it along and spread the word if you feel so inclined.
Peace
Wednesday, April 06, 2016
Sena's challenge
For a few months now, Sena has been involved with a youth organization from Ellington, CT, called "Decide to be kind". The mission of this organization is to build a kinder, more compassionate community. One of the ways they hope to achieve this is by challenging people with different goals, such as donating to the food bank, being kind to each other, being grateful, and so on.
Today, Sena filmed her challenge, titled "Be Kind to the Environment".
Here is her video:
The calves were licking Sena's boots almost the entire time she spoke, that's why she was looking down at them at the end, thinking "what are you guys doing?"
Peace
Today, Sena filmed her challenge, titled "Be Kind to the Environment".
Here is her video:
Peace
Saturday, April 02, 2016
Grape Hyacinths on a misty morning - I wanted to post these especially for my mom, because I know she loves flowers
Garlic visibly getting greener and taller every day
In the greenhouse, claytonia, one of our favorite salad greens
And mixed asian greens, also amazing in salad at this time of year
Sena was asked recently to write an article in the Cetacean Society International newsletter about her latest work with helping the whales. I will post it when it is published.
Peace
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