Slowing Down

Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet."

-Thich Nhat Hanh

How did life become so overwhelmingly busy?  With the start of the school year, time seems to have sped up and now, moving through October, it feels as if I am caught in an unseen whirlwind that has no allowance for a moments rest.  I think everyone is feeling it.  So many people are under pressure, the same rush and push. However resistance is not futile, and I refuse to succumb to the grind.  Life is too beautiful and in slowing down, even just for a moment, we can see and appreciate the Gift of it all.  

Autumn is here, my favorite month, time to begin turning inward for reflection.  It is in the small things (like preserving a basket of apples from our tree) that I am forced to inhale, exhale, ponder, give thanks. Here and there in between the hustle bustle, we are like little squirrels, adding to our winter stores, one jar at a time.  
  

After a summer of canning, I have rediscovered the dehydrator with all of its ease and now we are drying fruit and vegis in small batches when we have time, or when we think of it.  (There is one munchkin in the house who is devouring apple chips before they make it off the sheet.)

And in the spirit of not wasting, we started some vinegar today.  Good old apple peels and cores, filtered water, a few spoons of organic sugar, and a spoonful of yeast.  Well wait a month or two and see what it becomes.  

My words to myself this week are to "reclaim my life".  It goes by too fast to not enjoy every precious minute.  Many blessings.-

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Year Two Putting Our Roots Down

"Gratitude necessitates blessing."

July 1st marks the second anniversary of Soul Flower Farm.  For two years now we have been stewards of this small piece of land on a hilly slope, nestled in the east bay area.  How our lives have changed as we have settled in and grown a deeper relationship to the soil, our animals, and each other, is difficult to describe in words.  

In the last year, while our days have been filled with the tasks of starting seeds, caring for chickens and goats, and tending the garden, we have also been watching with awe, our boys grow into men.  And when we look back at this second year here we can remember some extraordinary experiences; learning to build with cob, discovering a wonderful community, catching slippery kids as they dove their way -nose first- into the world, bringing home our first jersey cow and then breeding her.  There have still been countless cups of tea, back breaking work, blood, sweat, tears, swarms, and so much laughter.

With the invaluable experience of neighbors, trial and error, a fearless curiosity, and of course a bit of risk taking, our knowledge is increasing, as is our confidence.  Having the opportunity to tap into the rhythms of nature in our daily lives will never be a blessing we take for granted.  

getting dirty at sustainable building workshop

finished cob oven and bench

fresh goats milk cheese

aerial view after community work party April 2012

2011 kitchen overflowing with harvest

natural beekeeping

first born set of kids

Oberhasli/Sable Saanen cross

feral chickens we adopted

We pray our adventures will continue.  And what is in the plan for year three?...aquaponics, a super adobe in-law unit,  more classes, community outreach, perhaps a CSA box, fresh raw cows milk that can only come with a little calf, and a family vacation!


Top Photo by 
Lori Eanes

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