Nebraska State Of Mind (re-deux)

Just because I grew up in Nebraska, doesn't mean I'm some sort of, cowboy.  Although I like the idea.  My grandfather, my mothers dad, was the closest thing to a cowboy I'm sure i'll ever know.  If I was any kind of smart, I would have modeled my life after his.  Of course I'm not very smart.  Not in the life choice department anyway. 

A lot of the time I wish, or dream, that I hadn't been raised in Nebraska.  Telling people you're from New York would be awesome and probably  appear mysterious.  Maybe that's because I'm not, from New York.  Maybe its because I think New Yorkers are mysterious.  Or what about European?   Even with the debt crisis, and the many language barriers,  I'd get a far better reaction than, Nebraska.  Where?  Oh you know, right above Kansas.  No?  Not sure where that is either?  How about west of Iowa.  No, no. No where near California.  I give up.

Some days, as of late, I do dream of simpler living.  On a farm.  Out near, well, nothing.  No concrete.  No, bus noises or sirens.  No waiting in line at the Starbucks drive thru.  Yes, we do have Starbucks in Nebraska.  Shush.  Don't tell anyone.  It might ruin our cowfolk credibility.   But seriously, did my fore fathers (and mother's) have it right?  Was industrialization really that great of an idea?  I'm not so sure anymore.  If you've never heard about 100 acres and a mule, Google it.  That mess will blow your mind.  Of course, there's a chance it won't.  That's ok too.  No one is saying you need a mule.  Or chickens. 
 
As I've gotten older I've slowly come to terms with where I'm from.  A lot of really important stuff happened here.  That whole railroad thing for starters. Not to mention Nebraska was part of one of the largest land purchases in history.  Ok, two names, Lewis and Clark.  Anyone?  No?  Oh!  Does the Oregon Trail ring any bells?!  Sure the east coast has the history, but we have the guts.  We have the nasty bits no one wants to touch. We have the ambition and the know how.  We are also really, really nice people.  Most of us anyway.  Don't take what I'm saying the wrong way.  If you've never seen fog hang, literally stick, over the Platte River at sunrise in the fall, you my friend, most likely can't relate to anything I'm saying.

So no, I'm no cowboy.  In retrospect I haven't had it that hard.  I am however insanely greatful to the legions of midwesterners that have come before me.  The families and individuals that have made it possible to live in and enjoy this quieter, less annoying part of the country.  I've been a lot of places, and I'd like to see more, but I will never trade Nebraska for anywhere else. 

One more thing.  Not Nebraska related.

I've been listening to a lot of Marian Call.  She's a singer from Alaska.  She just did  Kickstarter for her tour in Europe.  If anything you should watch the video here.  It's amazing!

Duckling Days/The Kids Are Alright

My wife says our backyard smells like a farm.  This made me smile and say “Isn’t it cool!”  It is cool.  I love every funky, nose turning smell back there.  Of course, we try very hard to reduce and even stop all the weird smells.  Sometimes the stank just gets the best of you. 

I don’t know if it’s the heat, or the fact that they’re still babies, but ducklings drink so much freaking water.  I count at least two gallons a day.  Like I said it could just be the heat.  It has been insanely hot here.  That comes as no surprise to anyone.  

So we have six grey runner ducklings.  They are about two months old and growing fast.  Almost all of them have started to get their feathers.  Watching them get bigger reminds me of when our chicks, not so many months ago, were going through their growing pains.  Small pieces of baby down were slowly being replaced with small tough feathers.  Tiny chirps were morphing into deeper clucks.  In the ducklings’ case, sharp quacks. 

I never though when I was younger that I would ever want to raise and keep any form of farm animal.  Growing up in the city, livestock wasn’t a word that even crossed over our tongues, let alone sprouted up in our brains.  Now, still living in that same city, on the same side of town, I am the proud father of four chickens and six ducklings.  Let’s not forget the two dogs and two cats.  If I get my way, we might have a goat next year!  Well, I can dream can’t I?

A huge plus to owning, and raising backyard poultry is that it’s teaching my kids valuable life lessons.  They are learning at a very early age how to care for another living being.  They are learning how important water and food is.  Knowing that if it came down to it, they could, with minimal effort, grow or raise their own food.  They are learning basic sustainability and survival methods.  My children have been right next to me every step of this adventure.  I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

The images at the top of the page are two books that I cannot live without.  Do your self a favor, and buy them, read them and learn from them.  No matter how much I know they will always be on my go-to shelf.

Real quick!  Check out this awesome blog on keeping backyard chickens!

The Boise Backyard Chicken Egg-sperience!

So.  Good.  

Mid Summer Heat Stroke Blues

I have always been interested in keeping a garden.  My mother did.  My grandmother still does.  I'm pretty sure my great-grandmother did.  They were all farmers.  Or married to farmers.  Or daughters of farmers.  Either way they all kept a garden.

Which brings me to the fact that I have two, green thumbs.  That being true, every year brings it's own challenges.  This year, it's the heat.  Nebraska is a desert.  Truthfully, it is.  This year is terrible.  So I have resorted to watering at night, with a soaker hose.  That way the ground can drink as much as it wants while the tempurature is in a happier place.  Regardless of my guerilla watering efforts, some plants just want to die.  Basil for instance.  Dead.

Greens.  Dead.
Pumpkins?  ALIVE!

Yes, I have found that pumpkins will thrive in the heat!  I cannot wait until October!  Carrots need more space.  They are still hanging on.  Tomatoes.  Whew......tomatoes are the diva of the garden.  They demand so much.  Water, heat, support, love, songs, bedtime stories and an allowance.  If you grow tomatoes, and grow them well, you know what I'm talking about.  Growing tomatoes is like having kids.  If you already have kids, you have more kids with tomatoes.  If they weren't rooted in the earth, I'm sure I would have to drive them to soccer practice, or dance class or something.

Moving on.  Amaranth.  Amaranth will not quit.  Seriously, my wife tried killing it.  On accident of course.  No matter, now it's huge!  Peas are easy but hate the heat.  They just gave up.  Oh well, I'll try again in the fall.  Radishes are picky about their soil, but go ca-razy when they like where they"re at.  Especially French Breakfast.  Wow.

Beets are stubborn.  Green beans are easy.  Next year I will plant 10 times as many beans.  I will also plant sweet corn and wheat.

Onions I still do not understand.  I don't know that I ever will.  So.  If anyone can help.......

It's all a work in progress.  I imagine I will never stop learning and always keep trying and always keep growing.