Comments on: Welcome!

By: della

della — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:48:37 +0000

how about some lessons in what to do with all that milk from the family milk cow?

By: Kazoo

Kazoo — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 17:59:39 +0000

I planted your kale, marigold, and calendula seeds in greensboro, nc and they have taken off! looking really good. thank you! kazoo

By: dandy lion

dandy lion — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 23:11:43 +0000

There is a sort of bond, a connection that we have lost in our modern, consumerist society – one between human and product. Whether it is fresh produce, clothing, furniture, food, etc. the joy and appreciation of the product is often lost. Yet, when we put effort into tending a garden, sewing something of our own design, building or repairing furniture, or baking our own bread there is a satisfaction that makes the product much more valuable and precious than it’s material worth. More than material worth there is time, effort, work, and care put into the product.
How can we try to change our consumerist habits without having an understanding of the whole value of the products we have become so obsessed with?
My little rant. Thank you for changing the world.

By: riverdog

riverdog — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:48:47 +0000

I am in total agreement with Denny Blacksmith that the base of most ALL of our problems such as resources shortages, pollution, even garbage disposal, etc. etc. is because of overpopulation. WHY is this such a taboo, touchy subject? The fact that there are TOO many of us on this earth should be addressed first and foremost. All the other would fall into place thereafter. Somehow (no apologies) religious folk seem to think it’s their right to have 4, 5, 6 kids and somehow “someone” will take care of it. Well, that’s just irresponsible. Churches need to educate their followers about overpopulation, and how that is a major contributor to resource shortages, pollution, global warming, etc. In the “old days” when half of a couple’s children were not expected to make it to adulthood, having that many children to help work the family farm or business was logical. Now, with modern technology, longer lifespans and good medical care? It’s a liability for the earth and the rest of us. Join the 21st century people…

By: Harmonia

Harmonia — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:09:52 +0000

Denny,
I don’t think it’s blasphemy–I think you’re absolutely right. Though this may be off-topic, it is related to living more sensibly and practically, which is what homesteading is partly about.

There are many reasons why the problem of overpopulation is ignored or swept under the rug–just one reason is that more people=more consumers, and that is what big corporations want. The biblical mandate to “multiply” is long since inappropriate, but religion doesn’t seem to have caught up to reality. But we will eventually have to face up to this; if we don’t reduce population, nature will do it for us. The earth cannot really support even the number of people there are now.

By: Webster

Webster — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 07:20:15 +0000

I was looking for website products and found your site. I was totally captivated by your videos. This is an excellent place for people to learn how to preserve things. I have to honestly say that I have never heard of humanure before.

It looks like you have found a great niche and combined a simpler world with the high paced Internet world in an excellent way.

By: koffeewitch

koffeewitch — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:08:12 +0000

I think you’re on to something wonderful here. Hope to come back in a few months and learn how to make soy milk and spin yarn on a drop spindle. Lots of love to you all; thanks for your hard work and spirit.

By: Denny Blacksmith

Denny Blacksmith — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:20:20 +0000

I grew up on 5 acres in what “was” rural Minnesota. We had little money but we did have 5 gardens, (one was totally potatoes), and fruit trees. We bought a little meat and canned and preserved “everything” and even made out own Ketchup and Sourkrout. I am not a young person. I read the Briarpatch Books, Mother Earth News, Coevelolution Quarterly, and all of the rest. I know this will be blastpheme but…. wouldn’t the problems this earth is facing all be totally negated or at least hugely reduced if there were a huge reduction in human population as that is the cornerstone of the problems?? There are about 77 Million “more” people on the earth every 12 months, and the people killed by the Indonesion Tsunami were all replaced in just a bit over “24 Hours”. (i.e. One Day). How come no clergy, politition or scientist mentions this as a problem ??? The need for energy, food, potable water, treating pollution, etc, etc, cannot be filled of there is always more demand on a finite planet.

By: nance

nance — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:57:02 +0000

just received a packet of your marigold seeds. indeed they are marigolds, but the latin name you have designated them by is wrong.

Tagetes is the genus for marigold.
Calendula officianlis is calendula!

By: Charles Higgins

Charles Higgins — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:01:35 +0000

this website is a joyful contribution; of course there are ways to make it better, easier, more clear, whatever; life is a lot of work and it will never be perfect. the fact that it is up and people care enough to make comments is great. I loved this sentence from Jeff’s review in March: “It’s cute as shit, but both videos border on self-congratulatory masturbation.” Could be worse! Oh, as for berries, it really is a local thing, but in San Francisco, try the Presidio – especially the field at Fort Scott; in Marin, they are all over from Sausalito to Kentfield to Bolinas and Point Reyes. Be in touch with the seasons of where you live and you will find the food that grows wild. Myself, I’m astounded by the folks in the East Bay who are finding chanterelle mushrooms so easily… Carry on… C