I once spent a period of my life as a vegan. I was not a terribly healthy vegan because I had never learned how to eat vegetables or whole grain or nuts or seeds. I like fruit and I made lots of homemade whole wheat bread. Eventually I conceived a second child and found a severe need for protein and fat in my diet. But I've always looked back and wondered if there was some way to be both vegan and healthy and pregnant. It seems that a lot of my "beliefs" about food, the things that really ring true for me, are either PALEO or VEGAN. How they can all exist and be true at the same time is the paradox which haunts me. But I have learned not to completely buy into one philosophy or the other, and also not to throw either of them out. So I continue on my journey.
This year we are developing our land to join the local food scene. We will be deer fencing it. You can't grow anything out here- not trees or flowers, or vegetables without deer destroying it. They're very pretty while they destroy our food sources and potential livlihood. But I still want to shoot them. Sort of. However, it's a moot point, because we are not ALLOWED to shoot the deer, so the local Department of Wildlife agrees to give us the deer fence supplies as long as we can show them we have a commercial interest that needs protection. Sounds like a deal to me! We also are digging a pond and installing an extensive irrigation system, which should give me pasture. Maybe we will still manage to put a steer on it. We have a place to keep pigs and chickens so we'll at least start in on those.
Considering my internal conflicts over killing to live, I am happy to report that our business will consist of growing vegetables to feed the local food scene on. We will be focusing on Hydroponics with fish (Aquaponics) and greenhousing salad veggies in the dead of winter. The local places ship it in from California, but I am convinced that we can offer a superior product, locally grown and for an equal or better price. We may also add some fruit trees and grapes this year. I hope to offer CSA memberships next year. Imagine a CSA membership that includes not only veggies, but fruit and grapes and blueberries! We will be starting with aquaponic blueberries. Blueberries will not grow in the soil here in the west because of alklinity issues. I also plan to sell eggs with our veggies. Thank you to the recently passed Cottage Industry Food Act, which makes this all possible.
We will not be selling meat. We will just be raising if for our own use. And hopefully, as we have more abundant veggies to eat onsite, our perceived need for such quantities of meat will be reduced.
I can hope, right?
This year we are developing our land to join the local food scene. We will be deer fencing it. You can't grow anything out here- not trees or flowers, or vegetables without deer destroying it. They're very pretty while they destroy our food sources and potential livlihood. But I still want to shoot them. Sort of. However, it's a moot point, because we are not ALLOWED to shoot the deer, so the local Department of Wildlife agrees to give us the deer fence supplies as long as we can show them we have a commercial interest that needs protection. Sounds like a deal to me! We also are digging a pond and installing an extensive irrigation system, which should give me pasture. Maybe we will still manage to put a steer on it. We have a place to keep pigs and chickens so we'll at least start in on those.
Considering my internal conflicts over killing to live, I am happy to report that our business will consist of growing vegetables to feed the local food scene on. We will be focusing on Hydroponics with fish (Aquaponics) and greenhousing salad veggies in the dead of winter. The local places ship it in from California, but I am convinced that we can offer a superior product, locally grown and for an equal or better price. We may also add some fruit trees and grapes this year. I hope to offer CSA memberships next year. Imagine a CSA membership that includes not only veggies, but fruit and grapes and blueberries! We will be starting with aquaponic blueberries. Blueberries will not grow in the soil here in the west because of alklinity issues. I also plan to sell eggs with our veggies. Thank you to the recently passed Cottage Industry Food Act, which makes this all possible.
We will not be selling meat. We will just be raising if for our own use. And hopefully, as we have more abundant veggies to eat onsite, our perceived need for such quantities of meat will be reduced.
I can hope, right?
