Deb Ward, GWS, OWS, PWS, WSI - WATERCOLOR/WATER MEDIA - My passion is teaching adult “beginners”. Weekly classes in my home; workshops; classes for Cincinnati Recreation Commission. My work is nationally recognized and published - see “Featured” on my sidebar. I’m a Signature Member of Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana state Watercolor Societies, Cincinnati Art Club, past-President of Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society. Contact info below under “Class Information”

Thursday, July 28, 2011

OH $#!+

I hope this post will not offend anyone, but after seeing what my son brought home, I couldn’t resist!
So many quotes to incorporate into this post!
Here are a few that come to mind:
What a load of $#!+
What the $#!+ is that??
Full of $#!+
Holy $#!+!

Yes, folks, what you are looking at is a very big pile of $#!+ on the right.  My husband is standing there so that you can have a reference for the size of the pile. The small pile back on the left is wood chippings from tree trimming.

My husband is composting and has found two horse farms close by who are only too happy to have him come to truck away their horse $#!+

So a couple of times a year he and my son become long haul truckers of $#!+

Composting THIS large pile of $#!+ is going to be different than the way my husband has done it for the past couple of years. Then it was placed in “wind rows” – long skinny ropes of $#!+ that were turned periodically. But because that had to be done on flat ground (of which we have very little!) apparently that took up too much of the pasture area. This large pile is a different technique. So we shall see what works the best. The pile will be turned periodically and will gradually break down and shrink; when it becomes black and crumbly it will be spread on the pastures.

This is a truly amazing thing – to be making earth! When the process is complete you can pick up the compost and it will be soft and moist and have a lovely earthy scent! It’s good for the soil and good for the environment – no chemicals.

Not to sound too preachy, but there is a movement across America to get back to the basics of agriculture. The new words are “permaculture” and “sustainability” but I call it getting back to the basics, just like our grand- and great-grandparents did it. Of course, my husband is using tractors instead of horses, but you get the idea! In the few years he has been working at it, his pastures are becoming lush!

Next step will be to start slaughtering and eating our very own grass fed beef – sometime in the distant future, I believe!!!

I’ll keep you posted! (but not com-posted!)
I promise that my next post will be about art!

7 comments:

Christiane Kingsley said...

Not composted? Much appreciated:-)
I had not heard the term "permaculture" before: I always learn something from reading your blog.
As for the picture, it is indeed hard to describe it without using the S word:-)

RH Carpenter said...

Well, it does make me think of that old saying,
She was only a rancher's daughter
but all the horsemen knew her!

debwardart said...

Glad I didn't offend either of you (my loyal supporters!)
Christiane - always trying to educate!
Rhonda - you always have a funny quote!

Vicki Greene said...

LOL, you blog is about ........ One of my favorite birthday presents years ago was a truck load of cow manure and DH even thought to put a big bow across it. I guess it doesn't take a lot to make me happy.

Kim Vanlandingham said...

LOL! My grandpa always had his big pile on the back side of one of the barns. As a kid, I would go dig out earthworms to fish with. They always grew bigger there!

Unknown said...

I totally get it- Part of my family raise bison for the meat in Central Oregon. I am also involved in getting hay cut for the winter feed. So much work.... and just a few hours before sundown take out the easel and paints. Priceless!

debwardart said...

Vicki - we must be married to the same guy - one year I got snow tires for Xmas! No bow on them, tho! Lucky for our husbands - we are both very low maintenance women!!
Kimberly - bet you have some fun memories of your childhood summers!
Carrie - I refuse to get involved with the cattle (too big and too much electricity in that fence!) My husband can always find something to do out in the fields! In my defense, I did chickens some years ago, tho! Around these parts I'm known as "Da Chikin Lady"!!