Design for Climate Change - Covered Raised Beds - 410

Interesting... how this developed.  i am a scrapper out of necessity lately but i have to admit that i have always squirreled some odd things away.  You just never know when you might need something, like that piece of rope off of a hay bale.  So one of the latest things i have been collecting are shipping crates.  There is a local company that throws some of them out and after receiving permission i acquired a few.  My initial intention was for firewood or to build some rustic planter boxes but when the recent winter storm kicked up i had to prepare something to protect the plants i still had in the ground.  The temperatures here in MS have roller coastered from the 50's to the 20's and back again so some plants were just getting established in the boxed beds. 

Since some of the boxes came with tops, i used them to cover what i had planted in some boxes and grabbed a few pieces of scrap plywood to cover the cold frame.  Pretty cool idea YAH!  Other benefits of the 18" boxed beds will come to light after i install corner braces (seats) to reinforce them this spring.  It is much easier to work the beds from the siting position rather than bending over and the boxes will definitely lead into some interesting garden layouts.

On another note:  The main website is up for DNS renewal and i have not been able to update that just yet due to limited funds.  i will retain the domain http://www.antbrotherfarms.com/ but it will be offline until i can make some money.  i just started back at the factory and a month without any income has stressed the support, pantry and rent needs.  i think you can still view the site through search engine cached pages but that is limited.  i have been updating some content in a bigger way, yet to be posted, and since my time is limited, i am only able to update that main site once every few weeks or so.  That site is where i started this walk and is a good resource with a broad array of areas of interest.  So if it's down, remember it is not out and will stand again soon.  The DNS update is due tomorrow - 01/11/2011 - so anticipate the return.

God Bless and Love in Yeshua,

~ antbrother

The Pause "Selah" - 346

 There was a definite pause that began last week and will be lasting through the next few days.  Can you feel it... What do i mean by a pause?  In the Psalms there was often a pause or "selah", which was a note to stop and listen.  (Those with eyes and ears) For us it was a pause in work and an effort to organize and set a new course of direction.  Where i thought the tempo would pick back up was a bit off the mark from where God stood.  i have appreciated the Way He leads.

 Since placing an ad in the local paper, an interest has been cultivating in creating a community garden program.  There are many local small farmers and backyard horticulturalists in the area that we are hoping will be involved and are we are seeking some support from the local extension service through Mississippi State University - Plant and Soil Sciences.

 We've set some basic goals for the program:
  ~ Establish local organic vegetable and flower gardens
  ~ Educate the community on the health benefits of organic food
  ~ Establish a local farmers market outlet w/ Co-Op
  ~ Teach a cooking class using the produce grown

 Part of the process of developing a program is looking to other local and national efforts to learn what works.  The next week will be an effort to organize some simple handouts and focus on locating a property or properties as candidate sites.  We've gone through several site selections this year with no success yet.  One of the best options is anyone open to using their backyard.  That's where most of the victory gardens of the past were planted. 

i really shouldn't drink coffee this late... lol..  Gute Nacht

God Bless and GoOD Shoveling,
~ antbrother
ameiseBruder