Population Explosions and How God Is Using A Power Pole

Have you ever felt like the world was spinning or time was moving faster than you could keep up? Well, that is how I am feeling right now. It seems like I will write a blog, publish it, and then five minutes later so much has happened that it is now out of date. It hasn’t even been three weeks since I last published a blog and yet so much has happened I have barely had time to breathe, let alone write. So I thought I would take some time this cold icy winter morning to share some, not all, but some of what is happening here at the Hyatt House.

First, the goat herd has grown to twelve. The last time I wrote nine goats lived on the property, three having just been born. I had no intentions of getting any more goats and then I received an unexpected email on February 2 offering me three Nubian doelings for only $200. Usually a good quality dairy goat sells for around $150 and up depending on the age and genetic history of the doe. The person selling the does is a friend and I know about her situation so I understand why she has decided to get out of the goat business and is selling so cheaply. At the time Rick was out of town and so I had no way on my own of picking up these goats. I phoned a ranching friend who said he would take me and so last Tuesday afternoon that friend, our pastor, and I made the 90 mile (145 km) each way to get the goats. They may be young (a tad under a year) and little, but one day they should make great milkers.

(From left to right: Daisy, Jasmine, and Tinker Bell)

 



Second, our chicken flock has increased. This was not a surprise. The chickens we were given last summer just have never produced. A few occasionally lay eggs, but for the most part they are simply enjoying all the food I provide them without giving anything back in return. We do have plans on culling them from the flock since they are not pets, but livestock. The 13 Rhode Island Reds chicks that were purchased last May have grown up and laying lots of eggs, but not enough to have plenty to sell. So I have spent the winter researching and thinking about buying more chicks. I put in the order a month ago and yesterday they arrived. I purchased Araucana’s, Black Australorp’s, White Orpington’s, and Buff Orpington’s. The United States Post Office does allow baby chicks to be shipped because the last bit of food available to the chick before they hatch out of the egg will sustain them for about 3 days. That allows the mother hen to continue sitting on the nest until all of the chicks hatch out of their eggs. The only other issue that is of concern is keeping the birds warm. That is achieved by shipping them in a container so that their bodies can keep each other warm. Therefore, there is always a minimum number that must be shipped. Since it is winter and therefore colder outside right now then it will be later in the year, I was required to purchase 25 chicks. After April the number drops to 16. It takes about 6 months for a chick to grow big enough to start laying eggs, so I wanted to get these chicks sooner rather than later. So I purchased 25 chicks. Most of these hatcheries will throw in a free exotic chick, often a rooster, and my box contained two extra chicks. Figuring out what breed the exotic chicks are is a task I will tackle later on.

Third, if you have been following this blog then you know there are lots of babies running around. We have Great Pyrenees puppies, who are not so little anymore, and goat kids. Last Thursday Abraham was taken to the vet to be fixed. He is healing nicely. Both Abraham and Sara are growing a lot and are already pretty big. The goat kids are already eating grain and hay, along with nursing on their momma. Even though Bella is feeding triplets, I am getting a couple cups of milk out of her daily, which tells me in a few months when the kids are weaned, I should be getting plenty of milk so I can start practicing cheese making, soap making, etc.

(Cocoa, Coal, & Pepper)

 

 (The other pup is inside the dog house)

 

On a different subject, you may or may not be a fan of Facebook. There are a lot of negative things about the social media, but when used properly Facebook can be a blessing. I have joined a lot of groups that have provided me with some helpful advice and taught me a lot. No matter what your interest is, there is most likely a group (or many groups) available on the subject. I am now a member of groups that focus on cheese making, soap making, homesteading, gardening, goats, rabbits, chickens, livestock guardian dogs, etc. I love the online garage sale group5s. All the little towns around here have their own town online garage sale group page and I have found some good deals through them. The way these garage sale groups work is if you have something to sell you post a picture of the item and a description and/or price. So far I have found a standup freezer for $350, cement cinder blocks for a fraction of what new costs, windows, a workbench, and a free old washing machine which will be converted into a chicken plucker. I have also sold several items, both personal and for a neighbor.

 



(picture taken Feb. 2011)





Two weeks ago an ad showed up from someone needing a power pole. Since purchasing this property there has been a power pole lying in front of the house. I have no idea why it was there or how it got there as the power company brings their own poles and doesn’t leave them lying around. I know because I asked. Well, when I read the ad, I posted a response that I had a power pole. After some facebook communication I learned this person had just gotten out of the hospital and is now on oxygen. She is no longer able to work to support herself. A friend is allowing her to live on his land but they needed a power pole to hook up electricity to a camper. I am always thrilled to help out a disabled person so I let them have the pole for free. Two Saturday’s ago the woman and her friend came out to pick up the 24 foot power pole. While Rick helped the friend place the pole on his trailer, they spent some time talking. Rick has been in jail ministry for years and has pastured a church. The chronically ill woman’s friend is the manager at a restaurant in Camp Wood (a nearby small town). The restaurant owner, the manager, and several others have wanted to start a church for unchurched people in the area for some time now. They have a heart to reach the type of folks who will not set foot in a traditional church. The restaurant manager and owner were very excited to learn about Rick’s ministry history and asked him to come preach at the restaurant, which he did this past Sunday morning. Only a small crowd showed up, mainly people who want to get something going, but it was a good start and allowed for Rick to share with them some of his testimony and to preach on God’s view of love. After the service broke up and we had eaten lunch, Rick had a chance to minister to a man who came into the restaurant slightly drunk. The opportunity to reach out to those in need is great as this restaurant is a frequent hangout for bikers and others who would never step into a church.

  

We don’t know the future but it is clear God is at work and both Rick and I have a heart to follow where God leads. So we will once again be driving to Camp Wood next week to have church in a restaurant.

And finally, we have had multiple visits by this guy or his relatives (not sure).  At least we keep seeing Road Runners around the place.



Home Videos (Kids, Chickens, and Puppies)

Everyone likes to share home videos and I am no exception.   So here are some of my recent home videos.

At least once a day eggs must be collected from the chicken's nesting boxes.  For some reason the chickens love my shoes.  I think they think my shoe laces are worms to eat. 
 
http://youtu.be/4PZQ6uWw0hU

  
Sometimes I wear muck shoes instead. 

http://youtu.be/_A9XFiV7B-E

    

100%  

On January 3, 2014 Bella had triplets.  The first few days Bella was very protective of her babies and would refuse to leave the shelter area where she had the babies.  We had some cold nights so we kept them locked in the shelter with alfalfa and a bucket of water for protection against the cold and protection against the other goats who would want to steal the alfalfa.  After a few days it warmed up and was no longer necessary to lock Bella and the kids up at night. Goats are a prey animal and so it is important for kids to grow fast and be able to run away from danger. 

 

The triplets are only 12 days old in this video.  The does have white ears and the buck has black ears.  Brown doe is named Cocoa.  Black doe (white ears) is named Pepper.  Black buck (black ears) is named Coal.

  

http://youtu.be/2lDLlcph7aM
       

100%

We are in the process of building raised garden beds using the abundant supply of rocks on the property.  On Jan. 19 we brought Bella and her kids into the garden to eat.  Nubians need a lot of extra nutrition that alfalfa provides so they can produce lots of milk.  Our other goats really don't have need of that extra nutrition right now so we have been separating Bella from the rest of the herd to eat.  Of course she wants her kids with her, so we brought all four into the garden while we were working.  The kids mostly played while Bella ate.

 

http://youtu.be/zNqXIZhB8rc
       

100% In this video the kids are 'helping' Rick build the rock wall.

       

http://youtu.be/6gP__6aKOis
10

   

A quick  video of our Great Pyrenees pups at about 20 weeks old.  They are growing fast.

 

http://youtu.be/0QGCsyIWNk8

  

 

 

Bella Had Triplets

Most evenings I go to bed early and wake up early.  This time of year the sun surfaces around 7am.  No matter what time of year it is and what time the sun comes up, my day officially begins before the sun even rises.  Then when it does rise, the chickens need to be fed and let out of the coop, the cats need to be fed, in addition to a number of other morning ranch jobs.  When the sun rises, it doesn’t matter if it is below freezing outside or a warm beautiful sunny summer day, there are animals to be tended too.
   

Yesterday was no different.  After getting up and working for a few hours, I decided to return to bed before the sun rose.  The sun had already made its appearance when Rick opened my bedroom door and yelled, “GET UP, WE HAVE BABIES!!!”  I was instantly fully awake and out of bed.  Rick was correct.  He had looked out the living room window and spotted babies. By the time I was dressed he had already put on his jacket, gone out to check on the new arrivals, let the rest of the herd out to graze so they would leave Bella and her Babies alone, and returned to the house to report she had triplets.  I grabbed the camera, the bowl of chicken food which I handed to Rick who let the chickens out of the coop, and then I too headed to the goat shelter to view the newest members of the herd.

 

 

Bella (proud momma) with her son, Coal.

   

The girls

 



 

Cocoa (doe)

 

Pepper (doe)

 

Coal (buck)

Happy New Year

Happy New Year
  

It is hard to believe but 2013 is now history and 2014 has arrived.  This past year has been one of much activity.  Rick spent most of the year on construction.  A few of his larger projects included a 2^nd goat shelter, and a chicken coop.  A few of the smaller projects included a milking stall and milking stand, retrofitting a dog kennel into a baby chick home, and many household repairs.  I spent the year gardening and learning how to preserve the bounty by drying and canning, and milking a goat and learning how to make cheese and other items with the milk. We also spent several months caring for children whose parents weren’t able too, helping folks in town with home repairs, donating food to a few families in need, and driving elderly friends and neighbors to doctor appointments and the auto body shop to have deer damaged vehicles repaired, etc..

  

Both Rick and I wish we had accomplished a lot more than we did.  Our To Do List seems to grow faster then we can cross off each item as completed.  We accomplished a lot in 2013 but there is a lot more that needs to be done.  We have all of 2014 to continue working on that list.

    

On January 1, 2013 six goats and two cats called this place home.  One fact of ranch life, even if all we are talking about is a small hobby farm, is if you breed animals then you either have to harvest them for food or sell them.  No matter how much one may love the animals that are born, there is a limit to how many can be kept. That fact is even truer when it comes to boys.  We started off the year with one buck and three wethers (castrated bucks).  Then in March Lawn Mower gave birth to twin bucks.  By the end of July all but one wether had been sold.  Sport, our special needs Boer wether, has a home here for life as he is truly a pet.  But the rest of the boys had to go.  Bambi kidded a doe, who we named Susanna. 

   

In 2012 our herd was formed by ranchers giving us abandoned kids.  This is meat goat country and so most of the kids we were given were Boer and/or Spanish goats.  Bambi was the exception.  A friend had found her in the middle of the road and eventually she was given to us.  Bambi is a mixture of diary breeds and a small breed (possibly pygmy or Nigerian Dwarf).  I learned to milk a goat on Bambi.  The problem with meat goats is their main purpose in life is food, which of course ends their life.  Bottle feeding a kid creates a love affair with cuteness which makes it really tough later on when a decision has to be made.  Keep the kid as a pet which costs money in feeding and caring for it, sell the kid, or butcher the kid and eat it. It is very tough to kill, butcher, and eat someone you have fallen in love with.  As we were pondering this dilemma, I started learning how to make cheese and other dairy products.  There is a market for such products and a decision was made that we would be better off with dairy goats.  There are already large ranches of meat goats all around us so competing with them is not a sound financial decision and having to butcher the goats ourselves is not something we are ready to do emotionally.  But dairy goats are different.  At least the females have a purpose in life other then winding up on a dinner plate.  So once we sold off all the goats we needed to sell, we went dairy goat shopping.  It didn’t take long to find two Nubian does to bring home.

    

Goats have not been our only focus this year.  Last May a box of baby chicks arrived in the mail.  When I look at that tiny box now, it amazes me that 14 chicks could even fit in there.  Within a few weeks they were too big to fit in that box and today they are grown up and laying eggs.  A few weeks after the chicks arrived, a friend in town gave us her entire flock of mature chickens.  Most were hens but two roosters were included in the batch. 

   

In April we were given a dog that had been dumped out here but sadly we realized that she is not a country dog.  We named her Sweet Pea and though we really tried hard to find a way for her to fit in here, we finally had to face facts; Sweet Pea was a liability. Since she loves to chase goats and chewed through everything and figured out how to get under fences, we had no choice but to keep her chained 24/7. Keeping her just wasn’t fair to her.  She is now living in a loving home in San Antonio.  But we still wanted a dog. Not a pet, but a livestock guardian dog.  After a lot of searching we located a breeder of Great Pyrenees puppies and brought two cute fluff balls home.  A couple weeks ago we took them to the vet for their (16 weeks old) checkup and rabies shot and each pup weighed around 45 pounds.  We named them Abraham and Sara.  As livestock guardian dogs, they live outside with the goats and chickens.

   

We may have started out the year with six goats (only three lived here a year ago) and two cats, but we ended the year with six goats, two cats, two puppies, 22 hens, and two roosters. 

   

It is now 2014 and as everyone knows time does not stand still. Bella will be kidding sometime during the next few days.  She has a history of having twins, so that is what we are expecting.  Two of our goats (Lawn Mower and Belle) are spending a few weeks hanging out with Fred on a friend’s ranch.  So we hope to have more kids this summer.  Both Bella and Belle are Nubians, a dairy breed, so we will have milk for our own use and plan on working towards creating a product we can sell.  We also plan on ordering more chicks.  We are gathering enough eggs now for us and several families but with more chickens we hope to start selling eggs to bring in a little cash.

    

Since this is a non-profit ministry, we are dependent on tax donations.  Realistically, chronically ill people simply do not have the financial means to contribute towards this work. Sadly though we are always trying to share with others the work that is being done out here, often healthy folks simply forget or do not understand and therefore rarely donate.  A few have sent in donations, but not many.  Some folks have supported this ministry by installing the Good Search toolbar onto their computer and regularly use it, and though that yearly check is extremely helpful and valued, it simply is not enough to cover all of our expenses.  So some of what is produced on the ranch must be used to generate an income so that we can continue with the mission of helping the homeless chronically ill. 

  

In closing, goodbye 2013 and hello 2014.  I pray that when we look back at 2014 we can say it was a great year.

 

 

Bella was with several bucks last summer but clearly she waited tell the very last day to become pregnant. We are expecting babies any day now.

 

Fall and Winter Brings New Life Too

The calendar says it is fall but it has been feeling a lot more like winter lately. We even had freezing rain in November, a very rare occurrence for fall.  Both fall and winter are associated with death.  The garden slowed down and finally I flung the doors open to allow the goats to finish it all off before everything died, along with any nutrients beneficial to the goats and chickens.  The days have been growing shorter.  A few months ago we had to wait tell after 8pm before the chickens would return to the coop for bed, but now it is dark by 6pm.  The shorter days and colder temps have killed off all the grass, caused the leaves on deciduous trees to change colors and drop their leaves, and just makes the world appear to be dying or going to sleep for a season.

Here at the ranch though, fall and winter is not a time when everything is dying or sleeping.  Believe me, we are not resting.  Yes, on days when the temperature is below freezing we are less motivated to go outside and work, but we are not taking a break.  There is always something inside or outside that needs to be done.

Nature also is not taking a break.  It may have slowed down a little, but a lot is still happening.  For instance, there are a lot of plants, like garlic, which are planted in the fall and apparently need the colder winter weather in order to grow properly.  I did not plant any garlic in the garden but it is something I am considering doing in the future.  Some animals go into heat during the fall months in order to have their babies in the spring.  So while it may appear that nature is taking a break during the winter, the exact opposite is actually taking place.

So, what is happening here?  First, a little over a month ago we brought home two livestock guardian dogs (LGD), Great Pyrenees (GP).  They are in the process of learning their jobs, which is to protect the goats, chickens, and other future animals, from predators.  There are a lot of predators around here who find baby goat and chicken very delicious.  This year coyotes have been a real problem for other ranchers, but cougars have also been seen.  Raccoons can easily kill a kid too.  But wild animals are not our only concern, which is why we decided we needed LGD’s on the property.  We named them Abraham and Sara.

 (The puppies checking out their new home the day after we bought them.)

Last summer we purchased several Nubian does.  Nubians are dairy goats and are known for producing wonderful rich milk.  Both does were supposed to have been bred but only Bella clearly is pregnant.  Both does spent several months with a buck and it is unknown when Bella actually got pregnant and therefore it is a guessing game when she will kid.  So every day when we go outside to let the chickens out and tend to our other morning tasks, we look to see what condition Bella is in.  We are guessing that some time in the next week, or two at most, we will be seeing little baby goats running around. 

The timing of Bella kidding could not be better.  During the past month Bambi, the only doe we have been milking, has been drying up.  I have literally been milking Bambi right into a dog bowl and feeding it to the puppies.  Bambi just isn’t giving us enough milk to make it worth the effort to keep it.  So we are in desperate need of a fresh doe to milk.  Once Bella kids, we will once again have an excellent source of yummy milk for drinking  and cooking with.

(Bella)

As for Belle, if our suspicions turn out to be true, we can take her back to the breeder to be bred again.  Since selling us the two does she has found a new buck that is a lot more eager than her previous buck was.

And lastly, last May we purchased 13 Rhode Island Red chicks that have now grown up and have started laying eggs.  Yesterday I collected 10 eggs, the record so far.  I have been able to share our egg bounty with several families. 

 

(The Rhode Island Reds lay the smaller brown eggs.  Donated chickens lay the Jumbo size eggs.)

The calendar may say it is fall and winter may just be around the corner, but there is a lot of activity happening here.

 

(Puppies today--they sure are growing fast.  Bambi looking away.)

 

The First Freeze Arrived

This fall we have had a few cold fronts pass by us, but last Tuesday was the first cold front to bring freezing temps.  Wednesday morning it was a brisk 28f (-2c) when I went out to milk Bambi.  The milking stall is made out of pallets and is basically outdoors, so we did not waste any time getting that job done and returning to the warm comforts of the house. 

The cold front actually arrived Tuesday morning.  The day started out pleasant enough in the mid 50’s.  But as the weather folks predicted by the time we finished the morning farm chores we could literally see the front coming.   I looked out the back door window to see what looked like a roll of atmosphere heading straight down upon us.  I did not think to grab the camera but we both knew the front was here.  The wind immediately picked up and with each passing hour the temperature dropped throughout the day.  It was definitely a day one wants to stay inside, but we had a job to do.  Rick has been dealing with some health issues and had not yet winterized the chicken coop.  Even though he was not fully recovered yet, there was no choice.  We went out together and spent most of the day putting up siding around the chicken coop bottom to keep the cold wind from blowing into and through the coop’s floor, which is made out of one inch square welded wire.  We used plastic to cover the windows that line three sides of the coop.  These windows are covered in chicken wire, no glass, so it is imperative they are covered to keep the wind out.  It took most of the day but we got the job done and now the chickens have a decent place to be when the weather is not fit to be out in.

 

The first freeze always means the end to the summer garden.  I have been preparing for this day for the past month.  The day before our first cold front of the year we went out to the garden and picked all the green tomatoes off the branches.  I spent the next few days trying new green tomato recipes and canning the results.  One recipe, Green Tomato Chutney¹, has proved very delicious. We opened one jar and devoured the contents within a few days.  Once everything that doesn’t do well in chilly weather had been picked, I started pulling up plants and feeding them to the animals.  Plants belonging to the nightshade family (tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, etc.) are poisonous to goats. On the other hand, except for potato leaves, chickens can eat them. So day after day I pulled up a few tomato vines and tossed them into the chicken’s yard, much to their delight.  While the chickens enjoyed tomato vines, the goats enjoyed melon vines and other goodies.  I also spent time removing anything from the garden that might be dangerous to the goats or items they will destroy it if they have the chance.  So on Tuesday, with the temperature dropping by the hour, I removed the last item from the garden and then flung the connecting gate wide open.  The three goats that lived here last winter immediately headed for the garden and started gorging themselves.  The others needed a little coaxing, as they seemed unsure if they were allowed in there or not. Once inside the garden, with freedom to return to the goat enclosure whenever they desired too, the garden cleanup begun. By the end of the day there was hardly a green thing left.  It would take another day or two to finish the unripe melons and squashes, but soon even that was gone.  But there is still much to eat as the weeds took over the place this summer.  I will leave the gate open as long as my environmentally friendly cleanup crew is hard at work.

 

We are now prepared for the colder months ahead, but the animals need special attention until spring arrives.  With the onset of colder temps comes a lack of green plants for the goats and chickens to eat.  I have been experimenting with sprouting grain (fodder) for the goats and soaking grains in water to ferment them for the chickens.  The chickens go absolutely crazy for the treat and I am told fermented grain² is extremely nutritious for them.  I just started fermenting the grain this week so I am still experimenting with how much to give them and what else they need to be healthy.  But it is clearly a popular food.  I also know they like whey (what is left after making cheese) and just today I made them some yogurt as this was suggested to me too.  As for the goats, I have been busy growing the fodder in plastic trays but am not too worried about them this week since they are still busily cleaning out the garden.  Once that job is done though, I will have to be more diligent in making sure they have plenty of fresh food to eat.

But in the mean time, this is Texas and the cold weather has gone away for a few days.  As I write this it is 69f (21c) outside and no coat is needed today.

_______

1.      Recipe can be found in the Complete Book of Home Preserving.  I have been unable to locate this recipe online.  If you wish to have the recipe please email me.

2.      To learn more about fermenting grain to feed chickens:  http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com.au/p/fermented-feed.html

Preparing Vs. Prepping

Almost as soon as I posted last time I started thinking that post sounds a bit like I could be mistaken for a prepper.  In case you have not run across the many online prepper groups or the TV program Doomsday Preppers, let me explain. Extreme Prepping is the act of preparing for some doomsday or catastrophic event.  While most preppers fear an economic collapse of the U.S. government, which anyone who is paying attention to what is happening around the world, knows is inevitable, there are many other fears preppers prepare for.  I am not an avid fan of the TV program Doomsday Preppers but I have watched a few episodes.  A few of the natural disasters people featured on the show are prepping for include, solar flares destroying the electrical grid, meteorites hitting the planet, a polar shift, mega-earthquakes, etc.  The individuals preparing for these disasters all fear that when these disasters occur, there will be riots and looting as hungry city people look for food wherever they can find it.   So prepping involves much more than just making sure you have enough food to last a few weeks in case of a natural disaster.  Extreme preppers literally prepare not only to be able to survive for a year or more, but also to defend what is theirs, with deadly force if necessary.  The goal of an extreme prepper is to stockpile one or more year’s worth of food and water, and stockpile weapons and other items for protection.  Often extreme preppers will talk about ‘bugging out’ or having a ‘bug out place’ which simply refers to a place hidden away where they can escape to and hide protected from the disaster and riotous mobs they believe will soon follow.  Bug out locations could be a bunker buried in their own back yard or a private hideaway nestled in the country where they believe they will be safe.  Extreme preppers often spend $50,000 or more stockpiling food and other supplies so when that disaster occurs (natural or manmade), they will be able to survive.
 

Let me make myself very clear.  I am not a prepper.  Personally, I do not believe prepping and Christianity are even compatible.  Prepping is about fear.  Preppers say I must prepare for the disaster, I must take care of myself and family, everything is up to Me.  If preppers even believe there is a God, their behavior communicates that God is not in control so they must take whatever action needed to be in control of their own life. 

  

Christianity on the other hand is about faith and putting ones trust in God.  1 Timothy 1:7 says fear comes from demons.  Jesus also told us not be anxious about tomorrow, but to trust God instead (Matthew 6:25-34). So clearly faith and fear are incompatible.   

  

That does not mean we can be lackadaisical about our future.  Trusting God does not imply that we do not have to prepare for tomorrow (Proverbs 6:6-8), just that it should not dominate our lives.  Instead common sense should prevail.  A common sense our forefathers practiced when they canned their summer harvest and prepared for the harsh winter ahead.  Sadly with the easy accessibility to grocery stores filled with what appears to be an abundant supply of food; people, including Christians, have gotten lazy about being prepared. 

    

The U.S. Government recommends that every one of us keep a three day supply of food and water in our home in case of an emergency, which I find a joke.  The truth is to be properly prepared for a natural disaster; a two week to one month supply is more realistic.  (Just ask a friend of mine who was without any electricity for 3 weeks after a hurricane hit her area a few years ago.)  Yet very few people even comply with the three day recommendation.  It seems every year we hear about an approaching storm and long lines at the grocery store as people rush to buy food and other supplies.  The day before a blizzard is due is not the time to go generator shopping, yet folks wait tell then to look for such items.  Grocery stores, even supersize stores, only carry about a 3 day supply of food.  So when there is a run at the grocery store, they run out very fast and have no way to resupply their shelves quickly.  The time to prepare for any future natural disasters is today.

  

As stated earlier, I am not a prepper and never will be.  I am a Christian who believes in living a healthy lifestyle.  I am a Christian whose goal is to live as sustainably as possible.  The food available in today’s grocery stores is grown all over the planet.  It is flown or trucked in from far off locations, which is not sustainable.  The soil the food is grown in is often depilated of nutrients.   The food is picked way too early and so lacks the taste and nutrition of what is grown in my own garden.  More and more food is grown from genetically modified seeds which have never been tested for safety in the environment or as a food source.  No one really knows the long term dangers of what we are doing to the food supply, because no real scientific testing has occurred, but there is growing evidence that those changes are harming human beings.

  

Even if God were to tell me personally; that an economic collapse of the US. economy will never occur and I will never again experience a natural disaster, I would still choose to live a more healthy and sustainable lifestyle. 

  

Finally, do not forget this property was purchased in order to provide a safe place for chronically ill homeless people to come live.  God healed me of a chronic illness and I know He is still healing others.  But the chronically ill will not hear that God heals if they are homeless, hungry, and no one will help them.  Neither I, nor AOCCCI have an unlimited amount of financial resources to feed and house everyone who will one day come for help. But by growing our own food, canning the surplus in preparation for winter, learning to make cheese and other products from our own goats, etc. we will be able to help those who truly need help.