Organic Lard is Health Food!

Another guest post from the ever-generous Paul Wheaton and Team Permies...

By PAUL WHEATON

I remember …. because of the cookies ….

In the 80′s a Missoula bakery generated cookies that I had a hard time resisting. The secret ingredient? Lard. I still struggle with the idea... It was lard that made the cookies delicious?

In the cold case of Albertson’s, I remember buying lard and using it for all sorts of things. And then we were told that lard was bad, but Crisco was good! (Did you know that originally, Crisco was designed for candle wax? Just as they come out with their superior candle goo, people turn keen on the electric light bulb.) Then the lard disappeared. Now we are told that Crisco is bad.

A recent article in Acres USA shares how good lard is — some of the best food you can eat. Especially

Trying something new

The thing I keep finding about acceptance and forgiveness is the wonderful release and relief it is, to finally let that shit go and leave it behind.

I now see shortcomings as also being something that is between me and my peace of mind, my happiness, my success at life. Thought, word, deed or feeling -- "character defects" is a kinda kludgey way of saying something's not working for you.


I've recognized another dud, and taken action to turn away from it, toward a different outcome. To try something new - just to know that there's a choice, even for me, gives me goosebumps.

It's scary, trying something new, but exhilarating too... a little like flying, right after you make the jump. Except if I crash, I just get up and try something else. "Well, THAT didn't work. I don't have to keep doing THAT."

I keep feeling better and happier, more worthy and able to love and share. I know it's there for all of us.

Blessed Be All

See, what we're witnessing now...

... is the revolution in the streets to create the space,
the tension and the clarity,
to allow
Our Higher Natures
to emerge.

2012 is not the end of THE world,
just of THIS one.

An evolutionary change in human consciousness
is upon us.
One could call it a quantum leap -- or a miracle...
It proceeds even now.    and now.                          and now.

There's only Us
Humans on a living planet --!
All that lives here,
down as deep and far and back and wide
as the very first living cell on this planet
all interconnected to all that lives Now.
You. Me. Us. Them.
plants  animals      worms'n'germs...

All of it
all born of the first

*spark*




+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This planet is alive
and we are either
its higher nervous system
gaining self-awareness
or a virus. or a cancer.

Our choice and intention
creates the world we live in.
Focus your attention wisely.
Banish fear. Forget guilt.
Those voices are lying to you.

You are so much more
than you think you are.

Start making the change we need now... Spend less time resisting...

Start making the change we need now... Spend less time resisting...

Guest Post: Paul Wheaton, Permie Supreme

This one article will give you enough great permaculture ideas to keep your brain racing for at least a week... FeatherJack

BIO: Paul Wheaton is is the tyrannical ruler of two on-line communities. One is about permaculture and one is about software engineering. There is even one for Missoula. Paul has written several permacutlure articles starting with one on lawn care that he presented at the MUD Project 17 years ago, including articles on raising chickens, cast iron and diatomaceous earth. Paul also regularly uploads permaculture videos and permaculture podcasts. In his spare time, Paul has plans for world domination and is currently shopping for a hollowed out volcano in the Missoula area, with good submarine access.



Keep those branches, twigs, rotten logs and Christmas trees!

That stuff is gardener's gold! Organic matter!

Winter is the season for pruning trees. Sometimes taking out dangerous trees. I am mystified when people haul the wood away and in the sping they spend money for mulch. And equally mystified by people that rent an obnoxious, loud, smelly chipper.

here is a quick list of a dozen things that can be done with that wood, keeping it on your property and not having to fool with a chipper.

1. Make your own mulch: A huge branch can be reduced to flat mulch in about two minutes with a pruner. I usually clip at the bends in the tigs and branches. A huge pile of branches and twigs will become about 30 times smaller in 15 minutes.



2. Cover it in soil to make hugelkultur. This is best with the logs (green logs work too) and thick branches. This makes for a richer soil that needs less watering. Some people have built tall raised garden beds with this technique and they have a normal garden that doesn't need water all summer. This is an excellent use for a