Merry Christmas!!

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which translated means, "God with us."
Matthew 1:23


But the angel said to them.  "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2: 10-11

Beekeeping

This last spring my brother-in-law took up beekeeping, and it has been very interesting to learn the process. Typically Jennie uses quite a bit of honey in her baking as it is a more natural sweetner. Even at Costco it is pretty spendy. So, when I suggested that we look into it Jennie was all for it. Our property also borders a large berry field so I figured it might pretty easy to get it going. And also the honey bee was the one bee I was not allergic too when tested in high school, so it must have been meant to bee. My brother-in-law always does his research when taking on a new hobby, and he said the best book by far was the Beekeeping for Dummies. So, as you may have guessed I have checked it out from the library and am starting to familirize myself with those busy little bees. As I have previously mentioned I am slow reader, so could take me some time :-)
I am hoping to get everything ready for next spring.

Joel Salatin - Family Friendly Farming

Good Evening!
I (Dave) have finally finished reading Joel Salatin's Family Friendly Farming.  Yes, I did start it quite a while ago, lets face it, I am not a fast reader.  Not to mention I lost it for a couple of weeks since I could not renew it and had to get it back from the library to finish it.  Overall I thought it was an AWESOME read.  We are by no means anywhere near the point of dumping my city job and just diving into full time farming, but this book has lots of good ideas on making your farm friendly to family, primarily it is referring to kids.  Although I will admit sometimes I fall asleep dreaming of full-time farming where my boys can help me with the chores in the morning before starting their homeschooling and then being able to come in and have lunch with my family.
In the book Joel talks about the 10 Commandments for Making the Kids Love the Farm:

• Integration into Every Aspect
• Love to Work
• Give Freedom
• Create Investment Opportunities
• Encourage Separate Child Business
• Maintain Humor
• Pay the Children
• Praise, Praise, Praise
• Enjoy your Vocation
• Back Off from Personal Domains

I have started to try and implement some of these concepts.  For instance when the boys have helped me out in the yard over and above their standard chores, I have started paying them.  Joel's comment on allowances is "No person should receive pay just for breathing." and he goes on from there with a very good argument against allowances.  

In Chapter 23 he goes on to talk about Greenhouse Kids.  This is the metaphor that Joel uses in reference to homeschooling.  He goes on to say "The whole goal of keeping kids home and protecting them from the world early on is to give them strength and stability, to establish their stem and their viability early so they can take the elements and thrive later on."  Just as with a greenhouse we need to start our children off in a protected environment where they can grow and thrive.  

I really don't have time to go through everything that I loved about this book, but overall I really found Joel's insight helpful and encouraging.  Since finishing this book I have listened to a couple of lectures;/podcasts by Joel and enjoy his humor and matter-of-factness.  Separate from his views on a family friendly farming I also like how he raises his cattle and poultry naturally, purely grass fed.