Off-Grid Living for Agrarians, Part 11
Although there are mentions of rotational kind of "seasonal" or annual crop farming in the scriptures (crops such as wheat, corn, and barley - used to make bread and other staples), by far, when speaking of food products, or God's providence, or blessed wealth, the Bible talks about perennial crops or perennial food items. A blessed land is said to run with "milk and honey". We read about olive trees, almond trees, pistachio trees, milk, honey, dates, sycamore figs, apples, grapes, and pomegranates, as well as many root crops including garlic, onion, and leeks which in many cases could be left or stored in the ground for a good part of the year. I think we can all agree that the original garden planted by God for man was made up of fruit and nut orchards and perennial crops. I don't think that annual crops were instituted until after the fall, but of course that is mainly speculation. But I do believe that many crops which are considered annual seed crops now were actually perennial plants in the original garden. For example, Tomatoes which are an annual plant in most of the world, are actually perennials in the Tropics and all the modern species of tomato are derived from perennial fruit.
As we mentioned in some previous parts to this series, quite a bit of food was stored "on the hoof", which is actually one of the Biblical means of storing wealth and being prepared for hard times. Biblical herdsman concentrated their efforts on animals that were fairly easy to keep, reproduced well or copiously, could be pastured on free or relatively free lands, and that did not require expensive care or feeds. In short, it seems that a man's wealth was determined by that which was renewable, sustainable, and somewhat perennial. A wealthy man would have had a land running with milk and honey; he would have had orchards, and vineyards, and cattle, and root crops that come up and produce all year or every year. Those who depended inordinately on annual crops were subject to drought, disease, and famine. We ought to think about that when we get started in our own homesteads. Our family has made a practice of planting trees every year, and the majority of those trees are chosen for some type of food production. I think setting a goal to plant 5-15 fruit or nut producing trees a year... EVERY YEAR... ought to be in every homesteading plan, no matter how much land is available. If a small acreage gets too crowded with trees (is that even possible?), then the oldest trees can be harvested for the wood. Pecan, Cherry, Walnut, and Apple wood is great wood for woodworking, building, and for firewood. We also plan on planting fruiting bushes and vines every year as well. You also ought not worry about producing too much fruit or nuts. Remember that you will always be buying food for your animals until you can produce enough on your own to stop buying feed. Feed a portion of your crop to your animals, because fruits and nuts are a great addition to a balanced animal diet, and rotted fruit is great for a compost pile. Fruit and nuts can be dried, powdered, canned, etc. pretty easily. It is a truism that in this current environment our diets are greatly lacking in fruit and nuts, so changing our diet to represent those items which are more permanent and perennial is just a good idea.
Permaculture
One of the topics I talk a lot about around here, and one that you will hear me speak quite a bit about in the future, is permaculture. The word "Permaculture" is a combination of the terms Permanent and Agriculture. Permaculture is a philosophy and design theory that revolves around the idea of inter-dependent planting and design. The overall idea is one of sustainability, but it goes beyond that. A permaculture plan is one that incorporates all the sustainable ideas in a way where each area benefits and serves another area - in a type of symbiosis that is hard to explain, but easy to understand once it is grasped. For example, a permaculture idea of raising chickens might be a chicken coop and pen system where fruit and nut trees and bushes are planted so that they drop their fruit or nuts into the chicken pens. The coop might be designed so that the chickens (which produce heat, fertilizer, and carbon dioxide - all of which is necessary for plants) have a portion of their "run" in a greenhouse. By going about their normal duties, they produce a large portion of the heat and CO2 that is necessary for the plants to survive. The plants produce oxygen and food for the animals, and the fertilizer can be used to boost the productivity of the plants. This is mainly just an idea to get you started on the overall philosophy, but modern pastured poultry and pasture rotation/animal rotation schemes are all based on some permaculture philosophies.
Proper, sustainable, permaculture design of the homestead can greatly reduce the overall workload, and can reduce or eliminate many of the costs related to running the homestead. A few hours of planning and design can eliminate untold amounts of cost, work on the homestead. Some permaculture ideas, though they will not eliminate labor completely, will certainly eliminate costs. Using chickens in insect and pest control; using properly planned and designed orchards to produce food for our animals, and using animals to work and improve the fields and gardens, are all a part of permaculture design.
In coming to a right mindset on these issues, it is necessary that everything we think be put on the table and debated. Our diets ought to change to better represent our location and our geographical reality. We ought to eat those things that grow well locally, and as much as possible it should reflect those things that can be grown perennially or that increases the sustainability of our homestead. From the species of trees we plant, to the types of crops we grow, we need to keep in mind how that choice is going to effect us and continue to effect us in the long run. If we get into the mindset that we are always going to be able to put in a nice annual garden, or some annual seed crops, and that somehow that that idea is sustainable, then we are likely to fail if things do not forever continue as they are now. From the day we start our homestead we ought to be thinking of some type of perennial or continuous food production. It is hard in this world of immediate gratification and a "get it now" mentality, to plan for a crop that will not mature for many years, but we ought to always remember that this is exactly the way that God works, and our patience will be rewarded in due time. One of my greatest anticipations is to see the trees we planted in our first year here on the ranch, produce fruit. Not only is this a great example of God's mighty works in and through us, but it is a profound picture of His providence and grace towards us, that He provides sweet and free fruit from the ground abundantly to all of His children who will reach out and take it.
Your servant in Christ Jesus,
Michael Bunker
As we mentioned in some previous parts to this series, quite a bit of food was stored "on the hoof", which is actually one of the Biblical means of storing wealth and being prepared for hard times. Biblical herdsman concentrated their efforts on animals that were fairly easy to keep, reproduced well or copiously, could be pastured on free or relatively free lands, and that did not require expensive care or feeds. In short, it seems that a man's wealth was determined by that which was renewable, sustainable, and somewhat perennial. A wealthy man would have had a land running with milk and honey; he would have had orchards, and vineyards, and cattle, and root crops that come up and produce all year or every year. Those who depended inordinately on annual crops were subject to drought, disease, and famine. We ought to think about that when we get started in our own homesteads. Our family has made a practice of planting trees every year, and the majority of those trees are chosen for some type of food production. I think setting a goal to plant 5-15 fruit or nut producing trees a year... EVERY YEAR... ought to be in every homesteading plan, no matter how much land is available. If a small acreage gets too crowded with trees (is that even possible?), then the oldest trees can be harvested for the wood. Pecan, Cherry, Walnut, and Apple wood is great wood for woodworking, building, and for firewood. We also plan on planting fruiting bushes and vines every year as well. You also ought not worry about producing too much fruit or nuts. Remember that you will always be buying food for your animals until you can produce enough on your own to stop buying feed. Feed a portion of your crop to your animals, because fruits and nuts are a great addition to a balanced animal diet, and rotted fruit is great for a compost pile. Fruit and nuts can be dried, powdered, canned, etc. pretty easily. It is a truism that in this current environment our diets are greatly lacking in fruit and nuts, so changing our diet to represent those items which are more permanent and perennial is just a good idea.
Permaculture
One of the topics I talk a lot about around here, and one that you will hear me speak quite a bit about in the future, is permaculture. The word "Permaculture" is a combination of the terms Permanent and Agriculture. Permaculture is a philosophy and design theory that revolves around the idea of inter-dependent planting and design. The overall idea is one of sustainability, but it goes beyond that. A permaculture plan is one that incorporates all the sustainable ideas in a way where each area benefits and serves another area - in a type of symbiosis that is hard to explain, but easy to understand once it is grasped. For example, a permaculture idea of raising chickens might be a chicken coop and pen system where fruit and nut trees and bushes are planted so that they drop their fruit or nuts into the chicken pens. The coop might be designed so that the chickens (which produce heat, fertilizer, and carbon dioxide - all of which is necessary for plants) have a portion of their "run" in a greenhouse. By going about their normal duties, they produce a large portion of the heat and CO2 that is necessary for the plants to survive. The plants produce oxygen and food for the animals, and the fertilizer can be used to boost the productivity of the plants. This is mainly just an idea to get you started on the overall philosophy, but modern pastured poultry and pasture rotation/animal rotation schemes are all based on some permaculture philosophies.
Proper, sustainable, permaculture design of the homestead can greatly reduce the overall workload, and can reduce or eliminate many of the costs related to running the homestead. A few hours of planning and design can eliminate untold amounts of cost, work on the homestead. Some permaculture ideas, though they will not eliminate labor completely, will certainly eliminate costs. Using chickens in insect and pest control; using properly planned and designed orchards to produce food for our animals, and using animals to work and improve the fields and gardens, are all a part of permaculture design.
In coming to a right mindset on these issues, it is necessary that everything we think be put on the table and debated. Our diets ought to change to better represent our location and our geographical reality. We ought to eat those things that grow well locally, and as much as possible it should reflect those things that can be grown perennially or that increases the sustainability of our homestead. From the species of trees we plant, to the types of crops we grow, we need to keep in mind how that choice is going to effect us and continue to effect us in the long run. If we get into the mindset that we are always going to be able to put in a nice annual garden, or some annual seed crops, and that somehow that that idea is sustainable, then we are likely to fail if things do not forever continue as they are now. From the day we start our homestead we ought to be thinking of some type of perennial or continuous food production. It is hard in this world of immediate gratification and a "get it now" mentality, to plan for a crop that will not mature for many years, but we ought to always remember that this is exactly the way that God works, and our patience will be rewarded in due time. One of my greatest anticipations is to see the trees we planted in our first year here on the ranch, produce fruit. Not only is this a great example of God's mighty works in and through us, but it is a profound picture of His providence and grace towards us, that He provides sweet and free fruit from the ground abundantly to all of His children who will reach out and take it.
Your servant in Christ Jesus,
Michael Bunker
posted by Michael Bunker at 3/11/2008 06:10:00 AM
1 Comments:
Michael, we have this whole series, so far, printed out, and I've been soaking it in. Just now have gotten to Part 11, and I LOVE the idea of the constant yearly planting of food bearing trees!
Man, that gets me pumped up!Perennial food sources will be a huge spoke in the wheel of sustainability.
Anyway, THANK YOU again for doing this series. I will be reading it again and again for the renewing of my mind in this whole area, and of course for all the great first hand info/tips that will help us prepare for, AND DO, the move.
Bill
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