(Is the grass greener on our side)

 I have spoken to some folk from around the area and theyseem to say that this is not a normal occurence. I had thought since this is our first year here over this time period~ perhaps it is normal for these winged friends to be visiting.
Seems not, it is an amazing thing to behold. The tree's you would expect to be totally bare and yet as many as there are, eating and being merry~there is yet lush bush. Thye do return to the earth in !believe it or not! ground covoer of droppings ! Organic fertilizer...
As bizarre as it all seems, the colours of these bright green friends are something to behold~ you wont believe that as little as 10km's away there dont seem to be any...they appear to dwell in only our little valley...the valley of LOVE~

*The year of the Locust?*

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~Home on the Range~

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`A sad Day in Utopia`

Well as heartbreaking as it was for us~all the hours, the aching backs and blistered fingers...all the hopes~the bales house was not to be. To have worked months towards the goal and get to that point, where the decision is detrimental....was shattering! We packed up that weekend and headed back to Jhb...clueless and hopeless. Seriously! What to do with 300 bales~ heres is w few reasons we believe it failed:
1)Transportation process. In the States there seems to be quite a support for this type of building. Here is SA, there is a starting interest in Cape Town but not JHB or North West. From the Supplier to the farm, the bales were carelessly tossed to and fro. By the time we got the bales, so many were coming apart.
2) It is more helpful to be able to build the walls, and then use the roof to "push" down and give weight on the bales.
3) It would have worked better to build "frames" and section off pieces of the walls.

The main reason we packed up this idea was that the "walls" were just to unstable. Once the mesh and plaster would have been packed, it may have been stronger but we were just not comfortable believing that was going to be enough.

Overall, we may have chosen this path as it seems cheaper. There was even a write up in one of the farming mags...seemed like this was the plan! We obviously did a whole lot more wrong since it actually is more expensive than using bricks. Costs to consider once you have found a bale Supplier:
~Transportation of bales and costs of bales
~Cost to build the frames for the doors and windows
~Chicken Mesh
~Steel Rods
~Insecticide to sprinkle on bales to deter rats/ termites etc
~Plastering Mix
~If you have a crowd of friends willing to spend a day baling then Labour costs are nothing~get a few braai's going and make a day of it!

Yes, in the end we chose the brick! Sadly it would have been awesome to have the bale house! The insulation is amazing...but the chickens enjoyed pulling some apart. We gave some to a farmer to use for mulch on his fields and keep the moisture. We spread some on our bottom fields...gave some to the neighbours horse, who eventually became our horse LOL BUT still we have some bales....To bale or not bale...that is the question and for us the answer is not to bale!

To Bale or Not to Bale?

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=Good food to the body- is like good friend's to the soul=

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We had the suit, we had the smoker! Good gloves, enthusiasm and a team of good help...what more could we need? We had tons of advice from the internet, the suit Supplier and even some close family. Yet "Operation 1" failed...these lads came at us faster and more furious than any nitro engine! What a holla as we ran and hid in the car from these little warriors~ So the part everyone!!! failed to mention...DO NOT HARM THE BEE'S, not even a half a one, dont even graze the little guys! You see, since the hive was unusual...when the bee's started coming out and forming the "plate" it seemed time to do the "scoop". In this time, there was obviously a casualty...suddenly evacuating from the threat mode is forgotten and we all stand together kicks in! Admirable little guys, really sorry! Well, will let you know how the next round goes. So far two Hives in place...without any tenants...

^Dont Harm the Bee's^

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# Lessons from the Spade #

So we definitely had some challenges. We planted a whole whack of fruit tree's and WOW, they just continue growing and really flourishing. We planted some melon seed's and watched the little green lives burst forth from the earth. Excited, and really motivated...our bubbles burst, when they just died.
THIS IS WHAT WE LEARNT:
1)Apart from the fact that due to the heat, watering is vital and even more so in the "setting" stages of anything planted. Obviously the more fragile, the more water.
2)Without fertilizer, nothing will grow here. Whether you use organic (as we prefer), or whatever you choose, these little guys need food.
3)Remember crop rotation, good to google. Helps to know what potatoes for eg. are using so when you plant the next crop, you need to choose wisely for the ground to "rebuild" those minerals.
4)To live off nature...you contend against nature! Yes, sad as it may be, I love nature but when you are trying to grow your own crops...lets see? Monkeys, rabbits, birds...and if you happen to have chickens. Well! lets say snakes and monitors are quite intimidating when you lean over to collect the eggs. NB! Always look before putting hands into laying area's...you really cant be sure who has come to visit!

~Did you know? Gardening~

Something you may or may not be aware of in this technology driven world, where the faster the pace and the larger the score, sets the standard for everything. Something that really befuzzled me, the first time I was made aware of it...is that when you go to your local Nursery or Seed Provider, you are very likely purchasing seeds that have been doctored to be sterile. In other words, you may grow a feastly and most gorgeous harvest ...(drum roll) BUT! the seeds of those fruit and veg will be of no use in the next planting. They are chemically modifed to ensure you are a constant customer of the seed merchant. SIGH!
There is hope, always my friends there is hope! Below is a Supplier of seeds, from which the generations to come will still produce for your family~

http://www.livingseeds.com/

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To Self Sustain or not?

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~A whole new world~

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