Keys to small farm breakthrough

The thriving small farm swims against as great a current nowadays, as it ever has. (Which is odd considering the humble aims involved, and the persistency of our attraction to them.)

Here's a sampler of some things that might reverse that tide and make them a stable, multi-generation way of life again:



"The aim is Joy"; Family;  Soil; "Permanence";

Soil cement; Sea minerals; Ramial chipped wood; Sprouted seed; Chickens and livestock belong; Permanent pasture and perrenials; Earthworms and bugs belong;

Scripture, sketchup, and "study" (draft)

 1'st century Jerusalem from southeast toward the Via Dolorosa
(unfinished sketchup model)

My conception of events in the bible often stays at the it-happened-in a vague-dusty-brownish-sort-of-place-and-time stage.
 

Trouble is, because we're such visual/experiential creatures the unconscious consequence of this is that they get mentally "filed" there too.

Seed Ideas

for those times when you know you're on to something but don't have time to read/write

• Capture ideas fast
• Share ideas first
• Organic development later

(An Etherchapel inspired musing on the stewardship of big ideas that don't belong exclusively to you, and effective, organic, and courteous communication)

We're better than this..

For two thousand years The church has stewarded Divine revelation, in Image, Word, and Liturgical form.

Where does it show?

(An Etherchapel provoked musing on the stewardship of ideas and their incarnation in culture)

Offertory gardens

These words are part of every Mass.  Perhaps they're important:

".. fruit of the vine and work of human hands.."

What if we put more into this "work of human hands" stuff than a bi-monthly order from the cheapest liturgical supply company?

What if each parish had sacred places devoted to the cultivation of heaven on earth?

What if your home did?

I'm back (have been for some time)

Just a quick note to say I won’t be writing for awhile. God Bless.

Just a quick note to say I won't be writing for awhile.
God Bless.

Advent ideas III (mixing bowls and taste tests)

Hopefully you've skipped ahead,  finished something savory, and are already drawing life from it..

..but if you find yourself stumped you can help me make a mess with:

• Daily routines
• Advent calendars
• Scriptural meditation time
• Journey to Bethlehem
• Maps
• and ultimately Spiritual self-Gift(s)

Advent is an immensely rich time of year.  Previous articles in this series were geared towards helping you reconceive elements of this richness as ingredients of a genuine "soul-food", and prepare to "cook" something with it all. 
..  But Sometimes all the possibilities are more daunting than anything else.  This article may help you get some test batches put together where you can sample and home in on the best.

Advent ideas II (kitchen countertop)

Hopefully the preceeding article got you going with some ideas.  Ideally you've skipped ahead and are working on something of your own.  If not feel free to "cook" with me for a bit over the next few days and weeks.  It may turn out to be a disapointing flop (atleast as a first version), but maybe it'll get the ball rolling, your creative juices going, and your sacramental mouth watering..

Advent ideas I (Sacramental grocery store)

Stock up on a few ideas and cook up something eternally new.


(Pt I of a series of unabashedly over-metaphorical posts)