7.03.2008
Agrarian/farming blogs
I am starting to look at some blogs again for the first time in a long while and can't remember who all I used to read. Here are a few I looked at today, of which I recognized a couple:
Dry Creek Chronicles - of course
Tabletop Homestead
Sugar Mountain Farm
Homesteader Life
Trying to regain some of the head knowledge I had accumulated and I think it will come back slowly. Picked up 5 Acres and Independence last night to get me started.
Dry Creek Chronicles - of course
Tabletop Homestead
Sugar Mountain Farm
Homesteader Life
Trying to regain some of the head knowledge I had accumulated and I think it will come back slowly. Picked up 5 Acres and Independence last night to get me started.
6.30.2008
10.24.2006
Hello...Just a quick update to let you know that we are expecting bambino #4 in March...daughter #2!
5.25.2006
Conferences
By Faith, Not By Sight
Last Friday my church hosted Dr. Richard B. Gaffin of Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia) for a conference entitled "By Faith, Not By Sight: the order of salvation in Paul." It was only a one-day conference and Dr. Gaffin did not get to cover all that he had planned, but it was a very profitable and enjoyable time. I found Dr. Gaffin to be very charitable in his discussion regarding the New Perspective on Paul and the Federal Vision, which seems to be rare for most of the parties involved. I had typed up my noted from his lectures, if anyone is interested. I am not sure how much sense they will make, but nonetheless here they are (PDF).
Chalmers Conference
If you recall, I was hoping to go up to TN for a conference on Thomas Chalmers back in February. I ended up not being able to go and had been waiting anxiously for the conference tapes, which I received two weeks ago for my birthday. I finished listening to them yesterday and I have to say, with respect and hesitation, that I'm glad I didn't make the trip. While I'm sure everyone who was there had a great time and was able to profit from the teaching and atmosphere, the lectures did not measure up to my hopes nor my expectations.
The first lecture was Dr. Grant's typical Chalmers as superhero, which is always enjoyable, but he has done this lecture several other times. The next two CDs (I'm doing this without them in front of me) were slightly more detailed versions of his life and what he accomplished. The fourth CD contained testimonial/lectures by former Bannockburn (which is the college/internship/fellowship thingy associated with Grant) students. The fifth CD was a panel discussion involving the students, and the sixth was more Grant and some Q&A.
Besides the first three CD's the conference really could have been entitled something like "the role of 'covenantal education' in the community of the church" or "how to teach others through relationships." I was hoping the conference would cover some practical aspects of implementing a parish, but it seemed to be mostly high-flown, abstract talk. This is a major generalization (for which I am liable to be shot in some places), but it seems the effect of a classical education is to puff one up so high that they have trouble keeping their feet on the ground. OK, so that's a little unfair and dramatic, so I retract (although not really, because there it is, still on the page). But I do have a problem with reformed Christians who seem to think that you can slap the 'covenantal' label on something and that'll do. Covenantal this, and covenantal this, as if everything is real mysterious and hush-hush (I am guilty of this as well). Dr. Grant did attempt to bring things down to reality on one occasion, but not to much avail.
I wasn't planning on sounding so negative, so sorry. I don't regret getting the CDs, I did profit from them, and I'm sure it was a great conference, but if you are looking for more info on Chalmers and the parish system, Dr. Grant's four-lecture series is a much better choice (can't remember if it is the ones I have linked here or the ones titled 'The revelance of Thomas Chalmers' - get them all I guess).
Last Friday my church hosted Dr. Richard B. Gaffin of Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia) for a conference entitled "By Faith, Not By Sight: the order of salvation in Paul." It was only a one-day conference and Dr. Gaffin did not get to cover all that he had planned, but it was a very profitable and enjoyable time. I found Dr. Gaffin to be very charitable in his discussion regarding the New Perspective on Paul and the Federal Vision, which seems to be rare for most of the parties involved. I had typed up my noted from his lectures, if anyone is interested. I am not sure how much sense they will make, but nonetheless here they are (PDF).
Chalmers Conference
If you recall, I was hoping to go up to TN for a conference on Thomas Chalmers back in February. I ended up not being able to go and had been waiting anxiously for the conference tapes, which I received two weeks ago for my birthday. I finished listening to them yesterday and I have to say, with respect and hesitation, that I'm glad I didn't make the trip. While I'm sure everyone who was there had a great time and was able to profit from the teaching and atmosphere, the lectures did not measure up to my hopes nor my expectations.
The first lecture was Dr. Grant's typical Chalmers as superhero, which is always enjoyable, but he has done this lecture several other times. The next two CDs (I'm doing this without them in front of me) were slightly more detailed versions of his life and what he accomplished. The fourth CD contained testimonial/lectures by former Bannockburn (which is the college/internship/fellowship thingy associated with Grant) students. The fifth CD was a panel discussion involving the students, and the sixth was more Grant and some Q&A.
Besides the first three CD's the conference really could have been entitled something like "the role of 'covenantal education' in the community of the church" or "how to teach others through relationships." I was hoping the conference would cover some practical aspects of implementing a parish, but it seemed to be mostly high-flown, abstract talk. This is a major generalization (for which I am liable to be shot in some places), but it seems the effect of a classical education is to puff one up so high that they have trouble keeping their feet on the ground. OK, so that's a little unfair and dramatic, so I retract (although not really, because there it is, still on the page). But I do have a problem with reformed Christians who seem to think that you can slap the 'covenantal' label on something and that'll do. Covenantal this, and covenantal this, as if everything is real mysterious and hush-hush (I am guilty of this as well). Dr. Grant did attempt to bring things down to reality on one occasion, but not to much avail.
I wasn't planning on sounding so negative, so sorry. I don't regret getting the CDs, I did profit from them, and I'm sure it was a great conference, but if you are looking for more info on Chalmers and the parish system, Dr. Grant's four-lecture series is a much better choice (can't remember if it is the ones I have linked here or the ones titled 'The revelance of Thomas Chalmers' - get them all I guess).
5.15.2006
OK, not that you have noticed, but yes, I am reading a bunch of books that I already read not even a year ago. I have my reasons...
5.03.2006
I took a break from my slow laboring through Milton Terry's Biblical Hermeneutics to read/skim through M.G. Kain's Five Acres and Independence again. This has good to be one of the best books that I own. It is very informative and helpful, and should be a must have for any first time homesteader or farmer. There is information ranging from how to choose the right land, to how to lay out a drain field, to how to keep bees. This book and Gene Logsdon's Practical Skills are probably two of the most fasdinating books to me. I love learning about things that are simple, but forgotten. I also love all the old graphics and diagrams.
I also pulled out Gene Logsdon's At Nature's Pace last night and started working through that again. I guess I'm on a farming kick right now, I must have gotten burned out with all the theological study.
I also pulled out Gene Logsdon's At Nature's Pace last night and started working through that again. I guess I'm on a farming kick right now, I must have gotten burned out with all the theological study.
4.26.2006
New Urbanism and the Agrarian Ideal
I have been in a dialoguewith Trevor from "Of Kirk and Ale" regarding some land/tax/economic issues. Trevor has some interesting ideas, although I can't say that I would agree with all of them. Of Kirk and Ale was where I first heard of New Urbanism. From Wikipedia:
This concept is very appealing to me, in a reserved way. I think New Urbanism and Agrarianism could easily go hand-in-hand. The fact is that the country needs the city and the city needs the country. Besides, you can be an Urban Agrarian. The ways in which these two systems could compliment themselves, and I will leave it to you to discover the possibilities. I think the ideal agrarian/urban relationship is one in which the city is dependent on the immediate surrounding land to provide the food for its urban residents. This means that the farmers always have a hungry market, and everything is local (yay!)
I am especially interested in the way the parish system could work in New Urbanism. It seems particularly well-suited for implementing a parish system and I would be tempted to see if it would work.
I have been in a dialoguewith Trevor from "Of Kirk and Ale" regarding some land/tax/economic issues. Trevor has some interesting ideas, although I can't say that I would agree with all of them. Of Kirk and Ale was where I first heard of New Urbanism. From Wikipedia:
New urbanist neighborhoods are walkable, and are designed to contain a diverse range of housing and jobs. New urbanists support regional planning for open space, appropriate architecture and planning, and the balanced development of jobs and housing. They believe these strategies are the best way to reduce the time people spend in traffic, to increase the supply of affordable housing, and to rein in urban sprawl. Many other issues, such as historic preservation, safe streets, green building, and the renovation of brownfield land are also covered in the Charter of the New Urbanism, the movement's seminal document. Because new urbanist designs include many of the features (like mixed use and emphasis on walkability) which characterized urban areas in the pre-automobile age, the movement is sometimes known as Traditional neighborhood design.
and
1. The neighborhood has a discernible center. This is often a square or a green and sometimes a busy or memorable street corner. A transit stop would be located at this center.
2. Most of the dwellings are within a five-minute walk of the center, an average of roughly 2,000 feet.
3. There are a variety of dwelling types-usually houses, rowhouses and apartments-so that younger and older people, singles and families, the poor and the wealthy may find places to live.
4. At the edge of the neighborhood, there are shops and offices of sufficiently varied types to supply the weekly needs of a household.
5. A small ancillary building or garage apartment is permitted within the backyard of each house. It may be used as a rental unit or place to work (for example, office or craft workshop).
6. An elementary school is close enough so that most children can walk from their home.
7. There are small playgrounds accessible to every dwelling-not more than a tenth of a mile away.
8. Streets within the neighborhood form a connected network, which disperses traffic by providing a variety of pedestrian and vehicular routes to any destination.
9. The streets are relatively narrow and shaded by rows of trees. This slows traffic, creating an environment suitable for pedestrians and bicycles.
10. Buildings in the neighborhood center are placed close to the street, creating a well-defined outdoor room.
11. Parking lots and garage doors rarely front the street. Parking is relegated to the rear of buildings, usually accessed by alleys.
12. Certain prominent sites at the termination of street vistas or in the neighborhood center are reserved for civic buildings. These provide sites for community meetings, education, and religious or cultural activities.
13. The neighborhood is organized to be self-governing. A formal association debates and decides matters of maintenance, security, and physical change. Taxation is the responsibility of the larger community.
(can you quote that much from Wikipedia?)
This concept is very appealing to me, in a reserved way. I think New Urbanism and Agrarianism could easily go hand-in-hand. The fact is that the country needs the city and the city needs the country. Besides, you can be an Urban Agrarian. The ways in which these two systems could compliment themselves, and I will leave it to you to discover the possibilities. I think the ideal agrarian/urban relationship is one in which the city is dependent on the immediate surrounding land to provide the food for its urban residents. This means that the farmers always have a hungry market, and everything is local (yay!)
I am especially interested in the way the parish system could work in New Urbanism. It seems particularly well-suited for implementing a parish system and I would be tempted to see if it would work.
4.13.2006
The Slow Burn
On another website that I run, I describe myself ideologically as a 'slow-burner.' I think this is term that describes much about who I am, who I want to be, and how I view life in general. I think it is a term that could be used of most agrarians as well, and all those who wish to savor the good life.
The term slow-burn, for me, I think comes from my distant remembrance of listening to Glenn Kaiser. I know he has a record called "Slow Burn" and in my mind somewhere there is a song that made a deep impression on me. The lyrics praised the believer whose flame was steady and slow, not bright and erratic. I have writen briefly on this topic before, and I also found an entry in an old journal, written at a campsite on my honeymoon:
"There are fires that leave charred logs after they are through, and fires that leave only ash that is swept away by the wind. If we do not let the work of our souls completely consume, then there are smoldering remnants of waste and fuel."
I want my life to be a constant heat that thoroughly consumes every aspect of my life. I want to guard against sudden burst of emotionalism and superficial passion.
Slow-burning is very similar to the Slow Food movement, a rejection against the trite and hurried life, and an appreciation of beauty and good taste (literally). Slow-burners enjoy the world as God has created it, and are not impressed by efficiency. We realize that for everything there is a season, and rest is a blessing. Slow-burners pace themselves. We have ambitions and dreams, but we know that there is still a lifetime to fill. We are trees that are content to be saplings and yet still yearn to be mighty oaks. The slow-burner realizes that we are only responsible to finish our house by the appointed time, and we are called to built it from the foundation upward. We don't start in the attic, or by putting on the finishing touches. We must work our way there, slowly.
I am impatient and ambitious by nature. I want to be the finished product yesterday. But I am learning to rejoice in mistakes and mis-steps. And that is an important aspect of being a slow-burner...learning. What is God teaching me? That is what the slow-burner asks himself as he pauses and rests. Where am I heading, who is God forming me to be?
I want so much to one day be a righteous man, to someday be a wise grandfather, I want to bless people around me, but I can only be and do these things by following Christ and taking up my cross day by day.
The term slow-burn, for me, I think comes from my distant remembrance of listening to Glenn Kaiser. I know he has a record called "Slow Burn" and in my mind somewhere there is a song that made a deep impression on me. The lyrics praised the believer whose flame was steady and slow, not bright and erratic. I have writen briefly on this topic before, and I also found an entry in an old journal, written at a campsite on my honeymoon:
"There are fires that leave charred logs after they are through, and fires that leave only ash that is swept away by the wind. If we do not let the work of our souls completely consume, then there are smoldering remnants of waste and fuel."
I want my life to be a constant heat that thoroughly consumes every aspect of my life. I want to guard against sudden burst of emotionalism and superficial passion.
Slow-burning is very similar to the Slow Food movement, a rejection against the trite and hurried life, and an appreciation of beauty and good taste (literally). Slow-burners enjoy the world as God has created it, and are not impressed by efficiency. We realize that for everything there is a season, and rest is a blessing. Slow-burners pace themselves. We have ambitions and dreams, but we know that there is still a lifetime to fill. We are trees that are content to be saplings and yet still yearn to be mighty oaks. The slow-burner realizes that we are only responsible to finish our house by the appointed time, and we are called to built it from the foundation upward. We don't start in the attic, or by putting on the finishing touches. We must work our way there, slowly.
I am impatient and ambitious by nature. I want to be the finished product yesterday. But I am learning to rejoice in mistakes and mis-steps. And that is an important aspect of being a slow-burner...learning. What is God teaching me? That is what the slow-burner asks himself as he pauses and rests. Where am I heading, who is God forming me to be?
I want so much to one day be a righteous man, to someday be a wise grandfather, I want to bless people around me, but I can only be and do these things by following Christ and taking up my cross day by day.
4.10.2006
Crunchy Cons
I first heard of this book about a month ago on Buried Treasure Books, and so I put a hold on it at my library. I started reading the book this weekend and have thoroughly enjoyed what I have read so far. This is an almost must-read for all the "conservative" agrarians out there. It'll make you think.
You can find some quotes over at The Deliberate Agrarian, or do a blogsearch to see all the discussion regarding this book.
While doing the blogsearch I saw a blog titled "Opposing Homeschooling" and it triggered my memory regarding something I meant to write about a couple of weeks ago about the PCA rag "By Faith." This magazine is the PCA's (my denomination) monthly discussion of all things spiritual. I have seen other bloggers question the editorial content of this magazine before, and after picking up a copy the other day I know why.
EDIT: I have removed a paragraph regarding the schooling article, because I have not thoroughly read the article for myself yet and should not have commented on it.
If you have read the article, I would like to hear your comments.
I first heard of this book about a month ago on Buried Treasure Books, and so I put a hold on it at my library. I started reading the book this weekend and have thoroughly enjoyed what I have read so far. This is an almost must-read for all the "conservative" agrarians out there. It'll make you think.
You can find some quotes over at The Deliberate Agrarian, or do a blogsearch to see all the discussion regarding this book.
While doing the blogsearch I saw a blog titled "Opposing Homeschooling" and it triggered my memory regarding something I meant to write about a couple of weeks ago about the PCA rag "By Faith." This magazine is the PCA's (my denomination) monthly discussion of all things spiritual. I have seen other bloggers question the editorial content of this magazine before, and after picking up a copy the other day I know why.
EDIT: I have removed a paragraph regarding the schooling article, because I have not thoroughly read the article for myself yet and should not have commented on it.
If you have read the article, I would like to hear your comments.
3.27.2006
Back
Please forgive me...again.
I have not been in the office for the last two weeks, because of a job going on out "in the field." We were pulling some underground storage tanks and I so I wasn't sitting in front of a computer all day like I normally am. It was a nice break, something to look forward to I guess.
The gardens are coming along. Just to give you an idea what I mean by "backyard garden" here are a few photos from a couple of weeks ago. One is actually the backyard, the other is on the side of the house.
Here's a picture of my rain collector as well, with my pump almost hooked up (it's done now). Now all we need is some rain.
I finished "Family Farming: a New Economic Vision" by Marty Strange and would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in the struggle against industrial farming. It has some great statistics and info regarding the farm crisis of the 1980's.
We signed up for LibraryThing and have started entering our books in. It's actually a lot of fun and quite addictive.
Hopefully I'll have something interesting to share here shortly.
I have not been in the office for the last two weeks, because of a job going on out "in the field." We were pulling some underground storage tanks and I so I wasn't sitting in front of a computer all day like I normally am. It was a nice break, something to look forward to I guess.
The gardens are coming along. Just to give you an idea what I mean by "backyard garden" here are a few photos from a couple of weeks ago. One is actually the backyard, the other is on the side of the house.
Here's a picture of my rain collector as well, with my pump almost hooked up (it's done now). Now all we need is some rain.
I finished "Family Farming: a New Economic Vision" by Marty Strange and would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in the struggle against industrial farming. It has some great statistics and info regarding the farm crisis of the 1980's.
We signed up for LibraryThing and have started entering our books in. It's actually a lot of fun and quite addictive.
Hopefully I'll have something interesting to share here shortly.
3.02.2006
More reading and sleep talk
It's nice to see that I'm not the only one balancing sleep and reading time. My body wants to do the balancing for me, hence the sleeping propped up with a book resting on my tummy. Cindy has discovered that "smart people just drink a lot of coffee," if only...Although I drink plenty of coffee in the morning, I discovered in college that coffee just doesn't perform late at night for me.
I have finally settled into a nice reading routine (with much thanks to my wife). After I read to the children and put them to bed, I settle down in our old (antique I mean) pink wing chair that I recently inherited from my parents. You have to see this thing, I'll try and post a picture. On second thought, my wife might feel disgraced if I show the world that this thing is actually placed prominently in our living room. So I get comfy in my pink manly chair and have an hour or two to myself to spend reading and sipping tea. I usually feel the urge to close the eyes after a half hour or so, but if I can make it past 9:30 or 10:00 I get a second wind and can make it till about midnight. But then I am faced with a dilemma of self-discipline, you know, with much power comes much responsibility. Just because I can stay awake until midnight doesn't mean I should. But I'd rather face that dilemma than fall asleep.
I have finally settled into a nice reading routine (with much thanks to my wife). After I read to the children and put them to bed, I settle down in our old (antique I mean) pink wing chair that I recently inherited from my parents. You have to see this thing, I'll try and post a picture. On second thought, my wife might feel disgraced if I show the world that this thing is actually placed prominently in our living room. So I get comfy in my pink manly chair and have an hour or two to myself to spend reading and sipping tea. I usually feel the urge to close the eyes after a half hour or so, but if I can make it past 9:30 or 10:00 I get a second wind and can make it till about midnight. But then I am faced with a dilemma of self-discipline, you know, with much power comes much responsibility. Just because I can stay awake until midnight doesn't mean I should. But I'd rather face that dilemma than fall asleep.
2.27.2006
In which I provide another update
I finished "Death of a Nation" the other night. It was a very good book on the Battle of Gettysburg, written as an apologetic for Robert E. Lee. I enjoyed it.
Then I read A Place on Earth, a novel by Wendell Berry. You know, I don't know why I keep reading fiction. I thoroughly enjoy reading them and love getting to know the characters, but I am never happy with the ending. It is always a let down. Is that a sign of good fiction?
I didn't make it to the Thomas Chalmers conference, but I'm hoping to get the tapes when the are out.
We stayed over at my parents place for two weeks while they were visiting my sister in China. The kids were sick for something like 10 out of 14 days, so that was fun.
I have almost all of my garden planted and have enjoyed spending the time working in it. We already have our beans and lettuce sprouting and I'm hoping for a good harvest. I am longing to be outside.
I am now reading "Family Farming: a New Economic Vision" by Marty Strange of the Center for Rural Affairs. I'll let you know what I think.
I have a few books that I am rebinding for some people. These will be the first ones that I am actually paid for!
So there it is. Sorry for the lack of substance, it shall come again, in time.
Then I read A Place on Earth, a novel by Wendell Berry. You know, I don't know why I keep reading fiction. I thoroughly enjoy reading them and love getting to know the characters, but I am never happy with the ending. It is always a let down. Is that a sign of good fiction?
I didn't make it to the Thomas Chalmers conference, but I'm hoping to get the tapes when the are out.
We stayed over at my parents place for two weeks while they were visiting my sister in China. The kids were sick for something like 10 out of 14 days, so that was fun.
I have almost all of my garden planted and have enjoyed spending the time working in it. We already have our beans and lettuce sprouting and I'm hoping for a good harvest. I am longing to be outside.
I am now reading "Family Farming: a New Economic Vision" by Marty Strange of the Center for Rural Affairs. I'll let you know what I think.
I have a few books that I am rebinding for some people. These will be the first ones that I am actually paid for!
So there it is. Sorry for the lack of substance, it shall come again, in time.
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