Daily Blog to a Self-Sustaining Existence!
November 2009
Follow the adventures of a family-man determined to
get his family to self sufficient while entering the Mayas - New Golden Age
of December 21, 2012. See what it takes to transform a home, yard as
well as the mind, body and spirit by becoming involved in such things.
This website is a journal, as well as a guide, to new way of living!
Nov 26, 2009 FIRST ENTREE!
Today is my birthday!
Today I
turned 42 years old. I don't feel old... but I guess age is
relative to each and everyone of us..
My wife and kids went all out this year for my birthday and
purchased me a very nice reclining chair. My wife says that I
deserve it because I worked so hard and get so much. What she
doesn't realize is that it is a joy to do it for the family I
love so much. But I'll take the chair anyway!
This is also the day that I'm beginning
this new website: New Golden Age (ca). My whole life I feel I
wanted to be some sort of farmer, 'tree hugger' as well as a
spiritual person. Now that I have a home of my own I feel I can
do this. My family and I moved into our new house on November 1.
One of the first things my wife said to me was, 'the yards are
yours and whatever you can do to lower our cost of utilities,
Godspeed'... I believe a tear rolled down my cheek that day
because I was so happy that finally I have a chance to do all of
the ideas that I have had in my head were so many years
regarding renewable energy, growing my own food as well as
giving back to nature and to myself spiritually.
Also, I now have the
means of creating an online journal of my endeavour for all to
see and, if you wish, copy for your self. Anytime you wish to
comment just shoot me an email:Michael@NewGoldenAge.ca
Love & Light! Mike
November 27, 2009
Today I went out
to my compost heap and found mushrooms
growing on top! So I did a small
video:
I create mushroom growing kits,
sell mushroom growing supplies as well as
anything else that has to do with
growing gourmet mushrooms. I should be
able to utilize my mushroom growing
skills into my edible landscape. How
cool is that!?!?!?
Mike
November 28, 2009
During that time that I moved
into the house, November 1,
2009, until now, I did do a few
things to the yard.
Unfortunately the first week of
November my beloved dog died -
which slowed me down quite a
bit. Murphy got into the
paint and passed away a few days
later. That was really hard for
me. When I was young I was able
to brush off pets dying with no
problem at all. But as I get
older I become much more
attached and realize that they
are part of my family.
We took him to the vet and
explained what had happened.
After checking the ingredients
of the paint we realized that
the company put antifreeze in it
so it does not freeze during the
winter. We decided to take him
home for one last night with us
and the kids. He slept with my
wife all night long, which he
did so often before, as
she stroked him on his head and
reminded him how much she, and
all of us, loved him.
Cyndi and I took him to the vet
that afternoon after our kids
had one last opportunity to say
goodbye. My wife and I made sure
that Murphy was looking into our
eyes when the vet injected him.
We wanted him to see us as he
left this earth.
He was only two years old and
such a good, good dog & friend.
Murphy 2007 - 2009
In honor of Murphy we planted a
tree just behind where we laid
his body to rest in the corner
of our yard. I chose a
self-pollinating black cherry
semi dwarf tree. Murphy was
almost completely black in color
thus the black cherry.
During then until now I have
planted five more semi-dwarf
fruit trees in a location that
gets plenty of sun all year
long: 2 Apples, 2 Pears
and a self pollinating Plum
tree.
In the spring I will be planting
semi dwarf peach and nectarines
to finish out the beginning
stages of my Permaculture food
forest.
Last week I built my 1 of 8
raised bed Garden frame.
This is Pine wood that I treated
with a sealant in hopes that it
will last for many, many years.
I was trying to have some garden
soil delivered so I could use it
as a miniature 'greenhouse' but
unfortunately I was too late
because most places have put
away all of their equipment.
I guess there is no reason why I
can't still use it as a
greenhouse... it just won't have
any dirt inside of it.
Love & Light
Mike
November 29, 2009
Well, today I have a lot of work
to do for my business. I own a
small company called: Mushroom
Patch,
http://MushroomPatch.com.
I mostly create mushroom spawn,
growing kits and mushroom plugs.
But I also sell almost
everything to do with growing
mushrooms such as books, DVDs
and CD-ROMs as well as the
growing equipment.
However, I did find time to
begin building a miniature
greenhouse utilizing my first of
eight raised bed gardens. I
purchased a 10' x 1 inch PVC
tubing which I used as anchors
for my half-inch ( 10 feet long)
PVC tubing frame. I cut the 1
inch tubing to approximately 12
inch lengths and pound them into
the ground until I had
approximately 6 inches sticking
up. I did this at the front and
the back of the bed first.
then three more, every 2 feet,
until I had them evenly
distributed. At this point I
just stuck the 10 foot long,
half-inch PVC tubing into the
anchors.
Later today I'll purchased the
remaining PVC tubing to finish the
last anchors.
I am
currently waiting to pick up my
seeds which I purchased at
Heirloom Organics (http://www.non-hybrid-seeds.com).
I purchased the Seed Vault $99
package. I'm going to
begin
the spinach and lettuce right
away. I'm hoping that the
miniature greenhouse will be
warm enough to grow the lettuce
& spanish.
I'm getting a lot of seeds so a
small amount that may be wasted
should not harm me too much for
the spring.
I'm sure I'll have more than
what I'll need so I may be able
to sell some of the seeds
in the spring or, create seeds
next fall to sell. Remember that this site,
and my goal, is to create an
edible landscape that will help support my family
physically as well as
financially.
Every little bit helps!
Love & Light
Mike
November 30, 2009
Today I finished up the
framework for my raised
bed/greenhouse garden.
I also took off the lid
from my compost heap,
the one that is growing
mushrooms, and replaced
it with a clear plastic
tarp. I did this
to allow more light to
enter and help with the
growth of the mushrooms.
But we had a very cold
night, even formed ice,
so I'm not sure what
will happen. But
fortunately this
particular mushroom,
white oyster, is very
good in cold weather.
the spinach and lettuce right
away. I'm hoping that the
miniature greenhouse will be
warm enough to grow the lettuce
& spanish.
I'm getting a lot of seeds so a
small amount that may be wasted
should not harm me too much for
the spring.
