Dear Vigilant Watchman: Greetings. I don't know if I mentioned it, but I have raw sweet potatoes sitting in water near windows. I used to put thick wooden skewers in them on four sides and suspend them in the glass or jar, but I'm not doing that now. They grow roots on them and what are called "slips". When the slips are about 7 inches long, they are cut of from the potato (no potato piece is needed or even desired) and planted in the ground. They will grow like weeds and are very pretty. The leaves are edible which is pretty incredible. They **LOVE** heat and hate cold. My sweet potato slips are only now just beginning which is fine because I do not plan to put them or my other heat loving plants (tomato, beans, corn, amaranth) out until May or early June. You may have some room in your cultivated beds at that time. Sweet potatoes need a depth of cultivated soil because they grow downward, and as far as I can see, vertically underground. I had put them in a mound of dirt on uncultivated ground. They grew downward, got to hard clay and started growing sidewards. Imagine a 13" sweet potato with maybe a two inch diameter. You can easily get a big harvest of sweet potatoes. They are a staple food too extremely high in vitamin A--far more than in a carrot. According to GWC (George Washington Carver) they can keep for up to a year. I still have seed potatoes. When storing these, like other plants, you have to let them cure (dry out) in the sun. It is moisture where the beasties live. You do not wash the plants off. Harvest on a sunny, dry day and lay them out them move them to a sheltered location to finish curing. I put them in cardboard boxes). Carla Emery in Encyclopedia of Country living has good information about the sweet potato, including the fact that unlike most root vegetables, they like to be somewhat moist (as with a damp towel) when they cure. I've never done as she said but want to try it because some of my small sweet potatoes shrivel up. Maybe her technique will give a better quality to my stored sweet potatoes. If the ground is too chunky (material is not broken down), GWC (George Washington Carver) said they can turn a funny looking black but are still edible. I just got a two different organic sweet potatoes from the market, one is a new Asian one I am trying. I want to see which grows the best in my conditions. We most often cook sweet potatoes in the oven in glass container--we wash them off, put a little water in the bottom, put the top on. We bake them for about an hour. With the water and the lid on it makes their skin tender. We cut it butter and put a little salt on it. Delightful. Sometimes we add raisins and a little cinnamon. Fantastic. I mean fantastic. We've also made french fries out of them. GWC on the sweet potato-- http://biblicalscholarship.net/carver38.htm GWC, "There are but few if any of our staple farm crops receiving more attention than the sweet potato, and indeed rightfully so -- the splendid service it rendered during the great World War in the saving of wheat flour, will not soon be forgotten." We need crops that will do service in dearth. Notice it was used in place of wheat flour. Navy beans are called "Navy" because they were a staple to the U.S. Navy. I believe that speaks volumes for its nutritional value. Also, do not forget CRACKNEL, an ancient military food. They don't call it that today, it is in the Authorized Bible. "Cracker" may come from cracknel. Today they would call it Soldier's biscuit, hardtack or some other name. It is just flour, water, and some salt. That is it. You bake it until it is hard and dry. It can almost get like a brick. Soldiers would soak it in their drink or soup, etc. It will keep unless it gets wet or insects get to it (even then the soldiers fished out the worms and ate it). Drying is a key preservation technique. I want to make some cracknel without salt. My daughter made some and threw in, as they say, "Everything but the kitchen sink" including some peanuts. It was not delicious, but it was dry and edible. She would soak it in her tea, as I recall. It would be good to try making cracknel with green flour, acorn flour, whole wheat with herbs, etc. ****Nuts for Fat and Protein***** Notwithstanding the warnings against fat, we need it. Women started having reproductive problems without it. A nut tree would be good for this. I do plan to collect a number of them this fall and would love to have another type of nut tree, we'll see. Those cracked up acorn nuts on our Weed Walk are not what I'll be looking for. ****Compost Bin**** I made a wire compost bin yesterday and found a good place for it away from my garden so it will not attract the wrong critters to it and the worms, slugs, and fly maggots can eat it down in peace. I think I told you about the bin. Supplies: (1) wire fencing, (2) needle-nosed pliers to undo the wire clasps (3) a wire cutter (4) two huge stake-like nails that were laying around--about 10" long 1/2" diameter (wire coat hangers could work in place of these) I purchased the 48" tall wire fencing but maybe would have like the 36" better (they say a compost pile should be at least three feet for the heat--this is the first time mine will be three feet). The Redbrand wire fencing was of an excellent quality-- http://www.lowes.com/pd_153521-307-70947_0_?productId=1018665&Ntt=wire%20fencing&Ntk=i_products&pl=1¤tURL=/pl__0__s?Ntt=wire%20fencing$Va=39 Anyway, I measured out a length of it. The initial end has the long wires protruding like this capital E (see the long ends?). When I cut it, I cut close to the vertical bar so that that end would be straight (imagine the E with a | on the end). I shaped the wire into a round circle with a diameter of 2 feet (others would probably say it needs to be at least 3 feet for heat). I took the long-wires-end and with the needle-nosed pliers twisted them back on the straight no-wires end in a way that locked them in place. I only did this at the top and bottom of the tube. I'll probably go back and do the rest. At the very bottom of the tube, I cut one wire running parallel to the ground. I took my needle-nosed pliers and made a circle just big enough for my nail stake. I did the same thing on the other side of it. I took my new bin out back to a high spot where the nutrients would not be washed into the storm drain and it nailed down into the ground using a rubber mallet with the nail stakes at an angle. It is very sturdy. The next step is to fill it up. I made it because I have a compost pile to move away from my garden area. The other wire bin I have out out back is practically invisible to the eye and just looks like part of a woodland scene (it is full of leaves). Another piece of wire fencing can be fitted for a top to the bin. I would just use twist ties (like what comes with plastic freezer bags) or extra wire that I have (it comes in a roll). How wire coat hangers could be used instead of nail stakes... Use the wire cutters to cut a U out of a coat hanger. The sides of U would be about 12 inches long. Stick one of the sides in the hole at the bottom of the bin and the other outside. Hammer into the ground at an angle. We made our Green Drink with chickweed and a little purple dead nettle last night. I found a lush stash of it last night as we ended our work outside. Your experiments with wild greens in the Green Drink made me know that I could do the same thing. It was slightly weedy but very pleasant. We all enjoyed it, even my husband. Last night's recipe, two bananas, one apple, a lot of chickweed, a cup of prune juice, a little water, and plenty of ice. Greens in the health food store are very expensive and there are plenty of greens outdoors especially beginning in spring. After a long winter without many greens, colonists made their "spring tonics". I'd like to experiment with making the Green Drink with rehydrated greens. They will have lost about 1/2 their nutritional value, but they will have value in the winter months. ****Iodine**** Onions are a good source of iodine--deficiency in woman with child can cause the child to be born deaf. Deficiency can also cause gout. Whole communities have been affected by this--this happens when soil quality is poor. The soil quality must be kept up--tilling, crop rotation, feeding/fertilizing the soil, weeding, maybe mulching for water retention (I have not been faithful to this) Garlic is antibiotic. ****Rocks**** I put jagged rock in the mushy clay pathways around my beds to discourage slugs. Now it is time to begin the slug hunt for those that are in the beds. I went to bed around 9 pm and popped up at about 1 am. This happened yesterday too, but I don't know if I'm going to stay up. Maybe after this week, I'll get in the bed and stay there for a little while longer... I hope that you are enjoying this time period of your life. Even with all of my problems and issues with mySELF, I sure do enjoy the work and the results of finished projects. Work occupies the mind with something outside of itself while at the same time being needful. These idle children in America are looking for something to do and can't find it. so they end up doing outrageous things. Work is a doctrine in the Bible and without it, life is really meaningless. To sit and play all the time is not a life. It is idleness of time and fullness of bread. Even in the garden before man sinned, he was a husbandman. God put Adam in the garden to dress it and to keep it. What a delightful occupation. It was so delightful, I perceive, that it only enhanced added to the experience in living in such a beautiful place. The people of this world are being born into Void and don't know it and the Bible is hidden from them. People need our prayers and our words. The night before last I was at the health food store and the cashier was talking to the woman bagging the groceries. He apparently asked her about religious questions but I don't know what. He told her he had to turn in a paper about atheism and agnositism. He asked if she believed in God and mumbled something about the Bible being written by men. He also said there was no proof. I did not involve myself because he did not ask me, nor did I know where to get in--BUT OH HOW MY HEART SMOTE ME WHEN I LEFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH HOW IT SMOTE ME! I could have said, "I believe in God". But I did not know to say it at the moment! I did not have to search through all the annals of what I know--sometimes I have a hard time knowing where to begin. It is that "denial" that awoke me the night before last. Yesterday, I began to understand one reason why Peter's denial is in the Bible. It is there so that you do not just give up and say, "I'm hopeless and it is over". If the young man had asked me, I would have told him in straight order, "Yes, I believe in God", but he didn't and I have by and large taken a non-interventionist approach in life. There have been a number of times that I have intervened when I was not led. It did not work out and I looked like a fool because even God wasn't on my side to help me witness. I don't want to force things, but why could I not feel as I stood in that line to buy fruit and milk? My premises are often wrong even though my actions do not appear to be sin to others. I know that I am a wretch. Nobody has to tell me that. I know it better than anybody on this earth does. I wasn't prayerful on my way to the store nor was I praying as I was standing in the line. I wasn't in contact with and consulting God. I was too interested in getting milk. The devil got to say his message while I kept silent. Mephibosheth ********** Greetings. I responded to your email below, but when I sent it, there was an error message (on my end, I think.). I can't remember everything I said but I will answer again later. You can look at Overview of the Bible at your convenience. I can hardly get myself to work on the computer, I've done almost none of my wrapping up. I'll check in over the next week. M > Dear Mephibosheth: > > Greetings. I set up my compost pile today as per your email, which was > very helpful. I read it, and went outside to scout out a good spot to > place my eventual pile. As I was looking, I saw metal wiring resting on a > fence right by my head that was perfect, just like you described, with the > hooks and metal prongs at the bottom already cut and bent. > > My compost pile is about 4 feet in diameter, and 2-3 feet tall from > material I had been collecting. It blends right in with the surrounding > landscaping like you mentioned. I soaked it in water and put soil on top. > I read that you can put nettle or thistle leaves in water and let it > ferment and then pour it on your pile to add extra organisms to the mix. I > am going to try this. > >> I had a mind to go back and look at it for edits, rewording, revisions, >> omissions, etc. but in the flurry it just has not happened. Will you >> look at it for me with your editor's eyes and do for me what I have not >> done? > > I would be glad to. Would you like it back by tomorrow? > >> **I plan to make my first homemade cheese--yogurt and salt. I'll spice >> it after it is done after dripping through cheesecloth for 24 hours. > > I want to try this! Let me know how it goes. Do you use homogenized milk? > I have heard that the homogenization process makes the fat molecules so > small that they pass right through your blood vessel walls and damage > tissue. I have been less enthusiastic about drinking my store-bought, > organic milk since remembering this. > > Today I made my weed drink with chickweed and purple dead nettle, lots of > frozen fruits, fruit juice, milk, ice, and a little water. I put whipped > cream on top. It tasted very delicious, but as I started drinking it, I > got the impression that eating more fruit and fats than wholesome grains > and beans and meat is a diet more suited for women than a man. I got this > impression very strongly, almost as though a voice said it to me. > > It made me think of Daniel's pulse and water again. I should be going in > this direction-- more of a focus on wholesome, protein-filled, staples > that will build the body up. I have not heard much about the difference in > diets for a man or a woman. Does this mean anything to you? It seemed to > me almost as if the foods men eat now are for suited for women than men. > > A few notes about fire ants: > > I was bit a half dozen times or so today by fire ants around my garden > bed. Fire ants have no natural predator here and eat almost anything, > including earthworms, garden plants, and the gardner if they can. I > discovered that putting in citrus peels and urine on one mound caused the > colony to leave by next morning. > > Also, I discovered they do not like cinnamon, ginger, and especially > garlic powder. I sprinkled these on and around the garden and placed > citrus peels around it to see if it will cause all the ants to find > somewhere else to go. It is difficult to dig up new beds for peanuts and > potatoes because the ants are in the soil, but many times you don't see > them until they are biting you. > > This has been a hearty, productive day. The backyard looks like someone > lives there now-- organized piles and projects and plants. Vigilant Watchman ************ Dear Vigilant Watchman This is the email I'm re-responding to. Compost pile. I hadn't thought about putting Weed Tea on the pile though I have used it and manure tea for a liquid boost to the plants. Online the other day I came across a woman who kept two bins--one for finished compost that she uses during the season and one for unfinished compost. She adds to the unfinished compost until September and then lets it sit until the next season so that it can rot down. I'm going to try that. Some people have three bins. After I made that second bin, I lined the bottom with some leaves and layered wet stuff and dry stuff though I think I should have fluffed out my matted leaves some so they could break down faster. >> I would be glad to. I appreciate this. >>> **I plan to make my first homemade cheese--yogurt and salt. I'll spice >>> it after it is done after dripping through cheesecloth for 24 hours. >> >> I want to try this! Let me know how it goes. It was terrific, slight tang from the yogurt. It is like cream cheese. We added onion powder, tasty. I also tried it with mashed banana, delicious. Do you use homogenized >> milk? >> I have heard that the homogenization process makes the fat molecules so >> small that they pass right through your blood vessel walls and damage >> tissue. I have been less enthusiastic about drinking my stroe-bought, >> organic milk since remembering this. We had been using non-homogenized milk (had a plug of butter on top) until I purchased a string of three containers that had gone bad. We went back to what we could find, including grass fed homogenized. I didn't know about the health risks of the blasted molecules. The yogurt we used for cheese was whole and had the cream on top. That means that it was not homogenized. Given your comments we plan to go back to the bottled non- homogenized. >> >> Today I made my weed drink with chickweed and purple dead nettle, lots >> of >> frozen fruits, fruit juice, milk, ice, and a little water. I put whipped >> cream on top. It tasted very delicious, It sounds good. I've found that in pursuing whole things, it has made me a better, more creative cook. but as I started drinking it, I >> got the impression that eating more fruit and fats than wholesome grains >> and beans and meat is a diet more suited for women than a man. I got >> this >> impression very strongly, almost as though a voice said it to me. >> It made me think of Daniel's pulse and water again. I should be going >> in >> this direction-- more of a focus on wholesome, protein-filled, staples >> that will build the body up. I have not heard much about the difference >> in >> diets for a man or a woman. Does this mean anything to you? It seemed to >> me almost as if the foods men eat now are for suited for women than men. This is where I wish I had my original email to you. At the exhibit farm down the road I was told that they feed the animals "maintenance rations". The animals don't do any work so they do not feed them high protein diets. Americans are on "less than maintenance rations". All the artificial sweetner, fast food, diet food, refined foods, stripped white flour, fruits, salads, rich sumptuous foods, and salad dressings are main fare for delicates, not for working people that need strength and power. That is a weak diet and I that is how I interpret your feeling that a fatty fruity diet is womanish. Women are weak. That diet that focuses on dainties is weak AND DANGEROUS physically and spiritually. A diet that focuses on delicious delicacies moves the heart away from God. Proverbs says, "Feed me with food convenient for me lest I be full and deny thee or lest I steal and take the name of the Lord in vain." One time I was in the kitchen and thought of this verse and ate some bread and a piece of meat with no mayonnaise, etc. It was my response to convenient food at that time. I don't recall men and women having different diets in the Bible, but I do know women did work. Women with child and young children have high protein requirements. Bread and meat and grains were basic food. There were also fruits and vegetables, but those carbohydrates were at the front. "Man shall not live by bread alone," the Saviour said magnifying bread as basic food. It is said, "Grains feed the world." Grains and other carbohydrates provide that generalized slow release energy that a WORKING person needs. >> A few notes about fire ants: >> >> I was bit a half dozen times or so today by fire ants around my garden >> bed. Fire ants have no natural predator here and eat almost anything, >> including earthworms, garden plants, and the gardner if they can. I >> discovered that putting in citrus peels and urine on one mound caused >> the >> colony to leave by next morning. That's good. I find that one I get rid of a weed or pest early in the season I usually have no more, or minimal, problems with them for the rest of the season. I stay after them for a few days in a row and they are kept under check. If I weed one good time, the weeds stay in check. Those initial efforts are very important to effective management. >> Also, I discovered they do not like cinnamon, ginger, and especially >> garlic powder. I sprinkled these on and around the garden and placed >> citrus peels around it to see if it will cause all the ants to find >> somewhere else to go. It is difficult to dig up new beds for peanuts and >> potatoes because the ants are in the soil, but many times you don't see >> them until they are biting you. Perhaps before starting a new bed, take several days to inundate the area with things that the ants do not like. "Pesticides" I've used successfully **Dish soap and water put directly on insects--it suffocates them. Gallon of water and 3-4 T soap **Tobacco and hot pepper and water simmered--will kill plants if not adequately diluted. I even purchased some tobacco seeds so I could grow it for pesticide. **I've kept a wild vine that Japanese beetles like to detour them away from my grape vine and other cultivars that they like. >> This has been a hearty, productive day. > The backyard looks like someone >> lives there now-- organized piles and projects and plants. My skin and my flesh look clearer and younger after I've been outside working. My blood is flowing and my mind is outside of myself and the walls of the house. God has greatly used husbandry for my mental health and relief. With all the stresses of knowing, being outside is so refreshing. I love it. We go outside and night falls before we know it. Mephibosheth