Censorship vs Protection

This topic has become an international hot topic in the recent days. I am not surprised. I am also encouraged to see the out pouring of support from people around the world, every age demographic, business (large and small) and individuals stepping up and saying NO!
The websites for the California senators and congresspeople actually crashed last night by the heavy load. Awesome!
I want to share the discussion I had with several friends last night on this topic. Last fall several of us in the historical re-enactment community were severely plagiarized by an editor of a food magazine/blog. When it was discovered that this editor had plagiarized us it went viral. By the end of the week it was discovered that she had plagiarized Paula Deen, NPR, and the Food Network. My own book that she plagiarized from took me five years to write. You can say I was pissed off. The other SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) blogger uses her historical food blog as a teaching tool and is passion. She was beyond angry. The Offending Editor didn't even apologize and her attitude was since our information was on the World Wide Web it was public and free to take. Um No!
While I agree the laws for copywrite and piracy laws need to be strengthen to protect sites like ours and others similar this shouldn't be example or excuse for censorship. Let me say this again..... NO TO CENSORSHIP!!!

It becomes a very slippery slope.

"Remember when firemen just put out fires?"

Bless Bless

To melt a hard drive on a computer: 2500 Fahrenheit.

Winter Projects

I learned to crochet a couple of months ago. I warned my WISC instructor that this was a bag of worms that should stay tightly shut. I am fiber-holic. Any excuse to play with fiber and I am there. One of the blessings of the Waldorf schools and related communities is the incorporation of "handwork" in the curriculum. As the public schools continue to lose funding for the arts, play, physical education, music et al, the Waldorf schools continue to emphasize handwork, art and music. I am so in love! What a gift to be able to merge two of my passions: Fiber arts and education.
At the Summer Past Farms Antique and Craft Fair in December I met a woman who had the same love for fibers as I did. She was selling the most adorable children hats. I was inspired to make hats for family members for Christmas. Last count: 4 Elmos, 3 Abby Cadaby, 3 Cookie Monsters, 2 Oscar the Grouches and 3 Fairy Flower hats.
I found a Mommy Blog called Girl in Air. The Mommy in this blog is a stay at home Mom who used to be an airline stewardess. I am sure she has some wonderful stories to share. She is a crafter up my alley.
She created these Sesame Street hats for children and family. Elmo, Cookie Monster and Abby Cadaby were created from her patterns. Oscar the Grouch isn't featured, sorry. He went to my Dad.

The Abby Cadaby hat is my design based on the Girl in the Air patterns. Her site is here.


A peek at Wild Rose and Friends. They were debuted at Summer Past Farms Antique and Craft Fair in December.
This was my other winter project. Making Waldorf inspired fairy and wee folks. They were positively received and many went home to new families. More to follow.......

Simplicity Parenting- A Possible Answer to the Maddness

I was once asked by a public school teacher if I ever considered placing my children in private schools even though my job is a public school teacher. I had to think about that answer before I blurted my first thought. I think I am in an unique situation where I get to see "the back stage workings" of public education. It frightens me, especially now since I am a parent. I have been in those staff meetings listening to the representing from the state and federal government dictating what standardized testing *must* be used and what score the school is expected to achieve. I have also been in the teacher's position in where I have had to explain to a parent, "I am sorry but due to budget cuts there is only 1 art class available and it is full." It sucks and it is unfair.

Videos and movies like Race to No Where and Waiting for Superman and other similar media have painted a very vivid and clear message that the system is broken. But, what is the solution?

One possible solution is private schools. Sadly not many families, like ourselves, are not in the financial position to put our kids in a private school. Yes, if I could afford private school the Kiddos would be there in a heart beat.

In the mean time what do we do?

Several years ago I picked up a book called Last Child in the Woods Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv. It was a powerful and eye opening. It also started my path towards holistic education. Based on his research and observations about having too much technology in the classroom and at home I started to limit technology in my classroom. For every computer there was a plant in place that students took care of. For every video or movie we did an outdoor activity that involved painting or movement. I saw a huge difference with many of my students in their social and emotional behaviors.

My journey in holistic education led me to Waldorf education. Many parents are led to Waldorf Schools looking for the same answers I am looking for. They too have watched Race to Know Where and Waiting for Superman and they too are struggling with keeping their children healthy.
A book that has been introduced into the Waldorf School community is called Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne. This book has the answers to Richard Louv's Last Child in the Woods.

What I admire about Kim's writings is his real life and practical approach to raising children in an healthy environment. He's a practicing therapist who has been working with children. Some of the children he's been working with have been dealing with severe trauma of being refugees of war torn coountries.

Here is an audio expert of Chapter 1 of his book Simplicity Parenting. http://simplicityparenting.com/audios/The%20Family%20Stream%20edit%20and%20music.mp3

You may be asking, "Why Simplify?"
Here is Kim's reason: http://www.simplicityparenting.com/2011/10/book-study-part-1-why-simplify/

I really like Waldorf Schools and I feel like we have found a nitch for our family. But, like many they have been good at pointing out the problems of our society but haven't given any solid solutions.
Finally, Kim John Payne and his Simplicity Parenting and Richard Louv's follow up book The Nature Principle give at least some directions.

Bless Bless

Halloween: Imganitive Costumes in the 21st Century

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Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. It is the beginning of the New Year or the beginning of the end.

I was asked the other day by some Waldorf parents how I encouraged my Viking Kiddos to use their imaginations when creating their costumes and not tempted by the materialism of the modern 21^st century.

1. We really limit what they watch on television. What shows we allow the Viking Kiddos to watch reflect our values and beliefs as a family. I wrote about finding the “Soul in Educational Television” in a previous post. I think this value has allowed our Kiddos to create an extensive imagination.

2. We have been reading to the Kiddos since they were inutero. Like television we also pick books and literature that have souls, morality and clear pictures of right and wrong/evil and good. I want our Viking Kiddos to see and read about heroes that over come obstacles and limitations. Viking Dad and I want them to have a strong ethical and moral code based on a strong foundation. The one way we have been able to establish this is through literature, the Sagas, fairy tales and legends.

Viking Dad and I are self proclaimed comic book geeks and we are having a great time introducing Teen Titans, the Justice League, the X-men and Avengers to the Viking Kiddos. One of the powerful elements that make comic books so appealing is being able to tie the story lines to classical literature. It was one of these comic book heroes that our Son picked to be this Halloween. Our daughter is still living in Fairytale land which is just fine with me and Viking Dad. She still loves all things Princess and animals. So, this year she is a Princess Kitty.

Costumes created from imagination are not easily found in the stores during the Halloween seasons. So, Viking Dad and I have become creative and excellent costume designers. This year, I lucked out when my favorite knitting site, Raverly.com, had kitty paws and ears to knit. It is designed by Lions Brand Yarn. Add princess accessories and poof! A Princess Kitty. Check out the pattern here.

Our Son’s choice for his costume is rather interesting. He has grown up listening to the stories and legends of Viking sagas, myths. legends, and history. He loves watching and reading about the Teen Titans and Justice League. So, when he asked to be Captain America and I had a surge of pride but was curious why this particular character. He hasn’t read the comics or seen the movie. When asked why he explained that, “Captain America is cool and he’s a pilot.” Our Son is obsessive with planes and pilots so to us this seemed a reasonable answer. The costume is very basic and will be used afterwards in different portions. We found a T-shirt with the Captain America iconic design and we will match them with blue pants. He has the gloves, the shield and mask already and now he’s ready to go. Captain America is your typical hero. He is motivated by his ethical and moral beliefs and he overcame many obstacles to become the Man and the Hero he is today. I know that Captain America is a fictional character the elements that Stan Lee used to create this character are elements I would gladly use as a model for my Son. Plus, put Captain America in Viking/Anglo-Saxon clothing and he could be Beowulf, Leif Erikson, Prince Ottarr, etc. etc.

This is how we have developed the imagination in our Viking Kiddos. Each family needs to examine their own values and goals to determine if this is the path for them. There is plenty of time for reality. Lets let out children be children for a while longer.

Gwyl Mair

Time to Stop Laughing and Prepare

I started this post shortly after the San Diego/ So Cal Blackout last week. It was a warning for all of us. . When the power went out the entire Counties of San Diego, Riverside, Orange, Imperial Valley and the Yuma, Arizona and Mexico went dark. This means all internet and power went down. Land-lines (olde phones) were jammed. In many places cell reception was gone or barely working. I heard the next day that many people living in gated communities couldn’t get home because the electric gates and doors into their communities didn’t work or open. I also heard that many didn’t have anything to eat since they had become reliant on the microwave or the local restaurant for their meals. Luckily, the blackout was only 12 hours long.

Over the years, Viking Dad and I have been gently, and sometimes not so gently, teased by friends, family and neighbors for our sustainable homestead and our “eccentric” ideas. The most recent jibe was over the 55 gallon water tanks we have on the property to collect rain. Last week our neighbors stopped laughing. We were the only ones with light, food, water and relative comfort on our street. While many of our neighbors pulled out their generators to keep their RVs A/C running we noticed that many had to siphon fuel from other vehicles to keep them going. One word---solar!

Running a farm is not easy. It is not for everyone. The sweet smells of chicken poo and goat aren’t for everyone. But, everyone should be prepared with the basic. The Viking Homestead is situated in what our insurance company loves to call “Wildland Fire Country.” Our family is also on extremely strict diets due to diabetes and celiac disease. Food at any shelter could be problematic in future evacuations. This is what motivated us originally to be prepared for the inevitable emergency. Let me share what we use in the case of an emergency or evacuation.

A Basic Emergency Check List

All of these items can be stored in a Rubber Maid container.

· Prescription medications and glasses

· Infant formula and diapers (keep some for sharing if you don’t need them)

· Pet food and extra water for your pet (Don’t forget a can opener.)

· Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container

· Cash and traveler’s checks and change. Don’t rely on ATM’s working.

· Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov

· Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.

· Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.

· Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.

· Fire Extinguisher (or two)

· Matches in a waterproof container

· Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items

o Don’t forget the toothbrushes and toothpaste.

o Toilet Paper if you have the room (great for trading too)

· Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels (A good camping set is ideal.)

· Paper and pencil Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children.

Additional Items

· Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation

· Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food

o FoodInsurance.com

o Don’t rely on the shelters for food. Especially, if you are on a restricted diet.

· Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both

o Radio Shack

· Flashlight and extra batteries

· Several good solid pillar candles with matches

· First aid kit

o Check on specialized medication and make and make sure they are current.

· Whistle to signal for help

· Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place

· Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

· Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

· Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)

· Local maps

· Cell phone and chargers. Also, buy and keep safe the “Old School” plug in phones. These are the ones that plug directly into the phone jack. Cell phones may be unusable if towers are damaged.

Now, here is a tough one, especially if you are in a place prone to sudden evacuation. Walk through your home and pick 5 things that are important to you and irreplaceable that are not on the list above In many occasions you will have less then 30 minutes to evacuate.

Now, list those five things so when the time comes you know where they are in the house.

1..

2.

3.

4.

5.

All these items fit in a Rubber Maid sealable container and backpacks. They can be easily thrown into the truck of a car.

Weapons??? That is a personal decision for each and individual family.

Now, to be honest I really don’t know if it necessary to stock up on gold and silver like some economic doomsayers claim is necessary. But, toilet paper, water and anti biotic creams can and are more immediately useable commodities to trade and barter. First aide items are also tradable items. .

Food Insurance

We all have auto, house and medical insurance. But, do you have food insurance? If you think about it, food and water are vital to our survival. A human being can only live for a few weeks without food and only a few days without water. In light of the tragic events in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, the power outage in Southern California that brought the southern part of the state to a standstill, and the constant threat of fires, earthquakes, tornadoes and other natural disasters across the country, it is important to make sure we always have the basic necessities of life with enough home food storage for your family to survive for at least two weeks.

Preparing for food storage can be done in several ways.

1. In the past food was preserved through canning, dehydration and pickling. This takes some time and creativity but it is easy and fun to do. The added bonus- You know what goes into the food and it will be food you and your family will enjoy.

2... Stock piling- This is possible if you have the space. Keep in mind you want food that can last several years and can be easily cooked. Beans, rice, noodles, canned meat, fruit and vegetables.

3. Food Insurance aka freeze dried food. There are several companies that now supply freeze dried food that tastes a whole lot better then the military Meals Ready to Eat aka MRE. www.FoodInsurance.com is one company that provides affordable freeze dried food for emergencies or for stock piling.

Are you prepared? Are you prepared for the next emergency? Who knows what lurks around the next corner? Check out what could happen in your neck of the woods at

Emergency Preparedness

Canning Time!

Apricot Preserves and Italian Tomato Sauce

It is August! I used to hate August. August meant that summer was about to end and I would have to return to school soon. Now, I view August differently. This is Canning Time! This is the time where the fruits (and vegetables) of our labor are starting to ripen and are ready to be harvested. Last year was our first attempt to can tomatoes for our spaghetti and pizza sauces and it was a huge success. Now, I have to give credit where credit is due. Last summer I was recovering from a broken leg and surgery, so Viking Dad actually did the canning. He did an amazing job!

I was eager to get into the canning this year.

Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving

I actually learned to can from my Mom and Grandma. I was fortunate enough to acquire my Grandma’s huge canning pot with accessories when she passed away. I think she would be proud. I also learned that the best instructional manual available is from Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving. They have been successfully instructing homesteaders for the last 100 years with time honored recipes, knowledge and tid-bits and hints. In Ball Blue Book there is now a section on freezing foods. I don’t think this would have been an option 100 years ago, but it is nice to see a modern update. Did you know you can make “freezer jam?” I haven’t tried it yet. It’s on my list to try.

I use Ball glass jars and lids for all my canning. I have found my jars and lids in the most unlikely places. Ace Hardware store has the best selection so far. There are other brands, I am sure, but I am bit old fashion. Ball has been around for over 100 years. Part of the procedure of canning is to boil the jars in hot water for processing; the last thing I want is broken glass.

Don’t you find it funny that it is called canning but glass jars are used instead?

As of right now, I have canned 10- 8 oz jars of apricot preservers. and 4 -16oz of Italian tomato sauce. There is more planned like more tomato sauces, salsa, jams, preserves, corn, beans, peas and anything else I can harvest or trade for with our eggs. August has only begun.

Okay, ready….. ready for it …. Chicken Butt!! I haven’t said it for awhile.

Our chicken flock has grown from 11 to 14 with one rooster. One of our Mama’s has successfully raised three new hatchlings that are now almost full grown. We usually get between 6-8 eggs a day. I have been using the eggs to trade for produce, especially fruit that we don’t grow on the Homestead. I have even found a place where I can sell them so the chickens can pay their rent.. I have my Ma Ingles moments. It has been amazing and fun.

1 week of eggs.

The adventures continues......

Bless Bless

Concerned About GMO?!

Yes, it is I. The anti-GMO Hippy Mommy!

GMO- Genetically modified organism

One of my bits of frustration when shopping for non-GMO foods is trying to translate the ingredients lists or finding information on the company to determine how GMO free the product is.
Now, let me take a step back and explain the deference between GMO and cross pollinated plants.
Yes, many of the plants we eat like tomatoes and corn have been cross pollinated over the years to be more palatable for human consumption. Carrots were not originally long and orange. Man had a hand in changing these using cross pollination. The difference with GMO is companies like Monsanto actually changed the plants, like corn, at the genetic level. In Monsanto's case they have actually inserted toxins into corn varieties to kill insects that pray on corn. Ummm ewwww! On another soap box day I will explain why these plants won't grow past one season.

Now, recently Monsanto has been reporting that their genetically modified Bt corn, that is present in virtually all non organic corn, is safe for humans because the toxin used to kill the insects can not survive in the human digestive system. However, in a Canadian study published in Reproductive Toxicology, in blood samples of 39 pregnant women who ate conventional diets, 93% of the women and 80% of their fetuses (aka babies) had the toxin in their systems. Pretty sobering statistics for a "safe" food source.

Recently I found the "Non GMO Project"
www.nongmoproject.org

Non GMO Project is a non profit third party that uses a strict verification process to determine what is GMO safe to help consumers empower themselves and make informed choices. For more information, including a complete listing of 1,000 of participating products check out their site.

Bless Bless