Independence Days Challenge: Week 5

Last updated on: June 8, 2009 at 7:08 am by Melissa Hill

Independence Days Challenge: Week 5 2009-06-08T07:08:00-04:00 Melissa Hill

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I’m continuing onward in my challenge to live a life that is more independent of the huge food infrastructure in our country. This is one of the ways that I’m trying to think globally and act locally. The Independence Days Challenge was made by Sharon over at Causobon’s Book

1. Plant something – I planted more radishes, Hopi gourds, Aztec corn, bachelors buttons, and a Midwest flower mix all together as a polyculture. I was particularly happy with the mulch I made of chopped up grass and Jerusalem artichoke. It’s really helping the seeds to stay moist.
2. Harvest something – Lettuce, radishes and chives, and I saw tiny pea pods on the pea plants, so soon we’ll have fresh peas!
3. Preserve something – Oregano. We have a huge oregano patch. We should be able to dry enough that we never have to buy oregano again.
4. Reduce waste I have decided not to buy twist ties anymore. I’ve been saving all the rubber bands, twist ties, and other holders that I get from the store for a while, and I sorted them all out and put them in one place.
5. Preparation and Storage – I’ve added something to my wish list, I want to build a rocket stove. I found a video here that shows how to make one, I’ve always pondered what I would do with all the beans and grains I’ve stored up if we lost gas to our stove, but this is a great answer. The rocket stove only uses twigs for fuel, something we have a big supply of around here and I already have the tools to make it. Best of all I think it would make an awesome alternative to a propane burner when camping!
I also scored a box full of classic kids games like Chinese checkers and Sorry! from a friend of mine when her son went through his old stuff. I think games are a great form of entertainment, they work without electricity, make you think, interact with other people, and for the price of one evening out, you have entertainment for years.
6. Build Community Food Systems – I talked to another friend about his ideas for setting up an organic apiary to supply honey for his homemade mead. I would love to help, I’ve always wanted to learn how to take care of bees.
7. Eat the Food – We had a big salad, and I put chives on everything since the kids love them. I’ve continued exploring raw food ideas, and while a lot of it is really unsustainable for anyone not living in the tropics, some things translate really well. I’ve been using flaxseed a lot more recently. I grind it up in my coffee mill and top popcorn with it, make crackers and cookies out of it, add it to all kinds of things. It’s got a nice nutty flavor and is really high in omega oils so for those of us who don’t live near a salmon run it’s a potential local source of those oils. I’m thinking that next year I’d like to plant a patch of flax seeds to see how hard they are to grow.

Here’s a pic of flax in flower. Who knew it would be so pretty too!

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