The Land Stewardship Center

Exit Gate East

2009-08-24T14:09:00.001-07:00

Well, this is the end of my 3 months at the Land Stewardship Center. Star says I should keep on blogging even after I depart, but I think it's better to just end right here. Along with this photo of the LSC Japanese torii gate, I'll close with a very old saying from the Land of the Rising Sun: "May countless ruby-throated forest songbirds greet you joyously from the entrance gate to Nirvana as you depart from this life of trial and tribulation and enter into the great kingdom of the Magnificent Buddha." Actually, I just made that up... and will close instead with one concise and elegant Japanese word: Sayonara.

Parting Shots

2009-08-24T13:47:00.000-07:00

Permaculture Accident

2009-08-24T13:43:00.000-07:00

Here's a little permaculture setup that came about purely by accident. The hostas were recently planted in front of the compost bin, and every so often compost is leaked from between the wooden slats, providing the plants with dark, rich nutrients.

Lapeer Days

2009-08-24T13:40:00.001-07:00

The other day I biked into Lapeer for the Lapeer Days street festival. Not a whole lot of vegan food options to choose from, though there were quite a few interesting characters in attendance.

Plentitude

2009-08-19T12:25:00.001-07:00

Joann left for Kansas City yesterday so for the time being Clark and I are the only ones at the LSC. The garden is producing well now, and though we are both vegans we definitely have more than the two of us can eat.

Special Request

2009-08-19T12:11:00.000-07:00

I'd already posted the photo for the permaculture workshop (see tents below), but had a special request so here's a second photo. This was taken the other day when the participants were digging a swale on LSC property.

Mama Qanina Blog Coming Soon!

2009-08-14T13:44:00.001-07:00

On the radio earlier today I heard a program about mommy blogs. Supposedly, moms are making hundreds of dollars a week or more by blogging about their ongoing parental experiences. By slipping in little promos for various companies, the blogger moms receive $$ and gifts.

I'm not making any money on this LSC blog so I think I'll change gears by starting a new one: Mama Qanina. I doubt that anyone's going to mind very much if I stop blogging about geese and gardens and all that other nature stuff and begin touting Nestle's powdered milk and Pampers.

Perma Peeps

2009-08-14T13:42:00.001-07:00

What with 27 permaculture-workshop students around for 8 days, the dynamics of the LSC have certainly changed. Tomorrow it's back to just 3 of us -- Clark, Joann, and me.

Left to Stew

2009-08-14T13:39:00.000-07:00

To continue with the aviary observations (see "Goose Whisperer" post below), this goose, with a seriously injured wing, has for some reason been abandoned by its partner (and the swans have left as well).

An End to Solitude

2009-08-06T08:26:00.000-07:00

These past few weeks have been very peaceful and quiet around here as there have just been two of us living on the property. That will all end shortly as more than thirty people visit here in order to take part in a weeklong permaculture workshop.

The Goose Whisperer

2009-08-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

Lately I've noticed that two of the geese have been hanging out with the swans. They go out onto the lake with the swans, come back on shore with the swans, and even try to eat with the swans. These past two months here at the LSC I've made many keen aviary observations like this one, and it's possible that someday I'll even be inspired to write a book on the topic. I already have an excellent title in mind: The Goose Whisperer.

Glorious Tradition

2009-08-05T09:04:00.001-07:00

I don't know how long the morning-glory teepee has been a sort of tradition here at the Land Stewardship Center, but it's been at least 8 years and probably many more than that. The flowers are climbing quite well this year despite the lack of rainfall as I water them every couple of days.

A Dry Season

2009-08-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

Joann has been a big help with all the watering. Though it was the coldest July on record, we didn't have a really good rain that entire month. (Chet & Alison are loitering around because it's their breakfast time and they've yet to be fed.)

Half Full

2009-07-31T09:46:00.001-07:00

The sunflowers I planted are growing rapidly on the one side of the garden near the pavilion.

Half Empty

2009-07-31T09:41:00.000-07:00

On the other hand, for some reason the sunflowers on the opposite side of that garden are not doing well at all. So is the garden half full, or half empty?

Torii

2009-07-30T10:02:00.000-07:00

This morning I finished getting the torii gate back in place on the island. This is an enjoyable project which I've done once before here, 8 summers ago.

The gates of torii, meaning

"where the birds reside," are numerous in Japan, most often found at the entranceways to the countless Shinto shrines in that country. Normally they are painted red, but the one here at the LSC is left unpainted.

http://www.jref.com/glossary/torii.shtml

Visitors

2009-07-30T09:51:00.000-07:00

A couple of visitors stopped by the LSC yesterday. My father and step-mom, Judy, came for a cookout before continuing on home to Florida.

Simple, Efficient, Cheap

2009-07-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

This morning while watering sunflowers and tomato plants I was thinking what an efficient and attractive graywater system is in place here. It's a very simple setup -- an old barrel with a sealed top. There is a hole cut in the top for the spouting end, and a spigot at the bottom of the barrel. Also, a short hose is attached in order to easily water the strawberry plants nearby.

That Luscious Red Fruit

2009-07-28T16:43:00.000-07:00

During my early-morning walk around the grounds today, I spotted the first ripe tomatoes. Soon there will be plenty more, which will make a nice addition to the already available red potatoes, zucchini, chard, kale, lettuce, spinach, collards, and garlic.

By the way, it has been found that eating tomatoes with olive oil will enhance the fruit's nutritional value by increasing antioxidant activity: http://www.eat-online.net/english/education/olive_oil/health_benefits.htm

Odd Jobs

2009-07-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

As a summer caretaker here, duties include the usual weeding, watering, mowing, weedwacking, etc. But along with those, there are a few duties that stand out as maybe not so usual:

1. Feed the swans each morning and evening.

2. Occasionally put on my goggles and swim underwater in the lake's 20-foot "channel" (that runs between the dock and the raft) to make sure that it is kept free of seaweed.

3. Keep the lake's raft clean (a major drop-off point for geese).

4. Regularly vacuum up termites which live in the adobe walls of the basement, where the solar greenhouse and solar shower are located.

e gustibus non est disputandum

2009-07-26T09:27:00.000-07:00

Looking closely at the photo, dozens of small pine trees along the banks of the lake can be seen. When these pines are full-grown, they will significantly shorten the southeasterly view. This is a part of the long-term plan here at the LSC. Personally, I'd keep the long view, but, as the ancient Latin saying goes, "There's no arguing tastes."

New Foods

2009-07-25T09:00:00.001-07:00

Yesterday morning I dug up the first of the red potatoes, which went well at dinner with chard and garlic sauteed in olive oil.

This morning the first of the zucchini were cut. I like the small young ones a lot better than the older ones, which can grow to the size of a large club.

A Change in Dynamics

2009-07-25T08:57:00.000-07:00

Joann, the new volunteer, is just getting settled in here at the LSC, while Clark left early this morning for a 2-week trip to San Francisco and Alaska.

The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in ...

2009-07-24T04:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Clark, Joann, and I spent the afternoon clearing out seaweed between the boat dock and the raft. I have done laps along this channel from time to time, but thus far the summer has been a cool one, with the temperatures at night sometimes dropping below 50F.

30 Days

2009-07-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

Clark, the LSC head honcho, has just returned after having been gone for one month. I was thinking about some of the things that I did (and didn't do) during that time period as a caretaker here at the Land Stewardship Center, and here's what I came up with (*note -- times are approximate):

working the land -- 120 hours

working on this blog -- 30 hours

doing yoga (kundalini/power/hatha) -- 30 hours

yoga dance -- 10 hours

eating vegan -- about 90 meals

eating meat -- 1 sandwich (turkey)

eating dairy -- negligible

drinking green tea (Japanese mecha buds, or sencha) -- 100 cups

ill -- 0 hours

studying Arabic -- 45 hours

studying French -- 10 hours

listening to NPR news -- 40 hours

wandering around the LSC or town -- 30 hours

playing the recorder -- 15 hours

surfing the Internet -- 30 hours

reading novels -- 40 hours

watching TV -- 0 hours

listening to music -- 40 hours

A Leg to Stand On

2009-07-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

Why do waterfowl like flamingos and swans tend to stand around on one leg? I checked on the Internet and as it turns out people have various ideas on this. Many say it's a way for the birds to keep warm, and also to warm and dry the one (raised) foot. Others say it's a tactic for hunting prey -- i.e., by standing on one foot the predator looks less like a bird and more like a tree.

Feeding the Sisters

2009-07-21T10:34:00.001-07:00

The 3 Sisters are coming along nicely (sweet corn, pole beans, winter squash). Because I planted them in clover patches, however, I've been having to remove the cages and weed around them every couple of days. Thus I've recently hauled out of the lake 2 large wheelbarrowfuls of seaweed and mulched around the plants. This will likely reduce the need for weeding in upcoming weeks, and will also provide a source of nourishment for the plants.

Morning Visitors

2009-07-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

At about 8 am this morning I was wading around in the lake collecting seaweed for mulch when I sensed movement behind me on shore. When I turned around, Chet and Alison were about six feet away, watching me work. After a couple days' absence, it appears they've come back to see what odd activities the humans are up to -- and also to indulge in a free breakfast handout.

Roquette, Rugula, Rucola, Arugula, Rocket ...

2009-07-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

The arugula that I recently planted in the garden is growing quickly. This plant brings back memories of living in the Middle East because it is quite popular there. For example, I remember eating at a very cheap little Somalian restaurant in Abu Dhabi that would serve a heaping plate of arugula as a side to the bean dish. Also, it is often served as the salad at Lebanese restaurants, along with black and green olives, onions, tomato, green pepper, lemon wedges, carrot sticks, etc.

Arugula has a surprising bite, or hotness, to it. I always thought this is why it's also called "rocket leaf," or, in French, "roquette." Here's a site if you want to know more about this wonderful green: http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/arugula.htm

Out of the Lake, Onto the Plants

2009-07-19T09:15:00.000-07:00

The sunflowers really seem to have perked up since I mulched them with seaweed the other day. I've found a quick-mulch method -- I go into the lake with a 5-gallon bucket, fill it with a seaweed-lakemuck mix, then dump that wet, green, muddy mixture directly around the base of the plants.

Seaweed Cover-Up Scheme

2009-07-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

The seaweed does work great as a mulch, but I've noticed at least one problem with it. As it begins to dry, birds remove portions of it from the base of the plants, and I often find it strewn along the garden paths.

Worse, though the photo does not clearly show it, as the birds are scratching around the seaweed mulch looking for insects, they end up burying some of the young plants with the mulch (in this case, recently planted kale).

Flew the Coop

2009-07-18T08:53:00.000-07:00

Surprisingly, Chet and Alison weren't waiting at their usual lakeside spot for breakfast this morning. Either they're out near the island, or have returned to the privacy of the wetlands, just to the east of here.

A Game of Solitaire

2009-07-18T08:39:00.000-07:00

Star left a few hours ago, so I'll be alone at the LSC for about four or five days. I have a fairly high tolerance for solitude, which has led to a number of interesting jobs over the years (including this present position as a LSC caretaker). I used to work as a backcountry winter caretaker in the Adirondack Mountains, where sometimes I would go for days on end without seeing another person. In 2005, during my second stint as a Peace Corps volunteer, I was assigned to what was probably at that time the most remote Peace Corps site in Madagascar.

Feasts & Flowers

2009-07-18T08:33:00.001-07:00

This morning I was clearing some pathways in the garden and thus took some of the garden flowers I cut and put them in a vase in the cabin. Seeing them there on the table, I was reminded of the summer of 2001 when my wife and I lived here together. Sometimes while one of us was out working on the land, the other would prepare a vegan feast, including wild edibles found nearby. Inevitably, to add a little color and beauty to the occasion, there would be a vase of freshly cut flowers.

Too Much of a Good Thing

2009-07-18T08:25:00.001-07:00

Lately I've had some digestion problems and I believe the cause of this is from eating too much garlic. Since harvesting it a week ago, I have been eating fairly large amounts, sometimes raw. Internet sites confirm that although garlic is generally good for the health, too much of it can cause various problems, including stomach disturbances:
http://www.garlic-central.com/garlic-health.html

LSC Personnel Changes

2009-07-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

More changes in staff are soon to take place here at the LSC. Star is heading out tomorrow and will be gone until around mid August. Clark and Joann (a short-term volunteer) will arrive next week. Clark will leave for Alaska soon after that, returning for the permaculture workshop that will take place here in August. Following is a site for that 8-day workshop:
http://transitionmichigan.ning.com/events/8day-michigan-permaculture

Hey! Time for Our Breakfast

2009-07-15T09:17:00.000-07:00

At about 7 this morning I was surprised to see that Chet and Alison had come over to the cabin to let me know they were ready for their breakfast.

By the way, if you're interested, here's a site to read a little more about these gorgeous creatures:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Trumpeter_Swan/lifehistory
This site mentions that the trumpeter swan is the largest North American waterfowl, and can live to be over 30 years old. They were often hunted because their feathers made excellent quill pens, and they generally mate for life (sometimes when the male loses his mate he remains solitary for the remainder of his life). And if you've ever heard the beautiful, haunting call of these swans, you'll know why they're called trumpeters. I've named the two here Chet and Alison. It was easy to think of many famous male trumpet players (e.g., Chet Baker), but Alison Balsom was the most famous female trumpeter that I could come up with.

The Before Shot

2009-07-15T09:12:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when working on a garden project every day, it's difficult to notice the changes that are taking place. (This photo was taken about one month ago.)

The After Shot

2009-07-15T09:10:00.000-07:00

Here is what that same part of the garden looked like as of this morning.

That was Then, This is Now

2009-07-14T09:08:00.001-07:00

This morning while working out in the garden, I began to think about changes, good and bad, that have taken place here at the Land Stewardship Center since I lived here during the summer of 2001:

--There is a new well-constructed composting toilet.
--There's now a solar shower and a solar greenhouse.
--The boat dock has recently been revamped.
--A canoe has replaced the old flat-bottomed boat.
--Two swans now live on the grounds.

--The windmill doesn't work and needs repaired.
--Volunteers must now sign a liability-waiver form.
--The cabin's futon has developed a slight sag.
--My wife isn't here (her loss and mine).

The Privileges of Beauty

2009-07-14T09:03:00.001-07:00

The swans are the only animals fed here, an example of how beings lucky enough to be considered beautiful gain privileges not accorded to those considered less attractive. Often a muskrat scrambles up on shore to try to indulge in some of the swans' food, but surely a creature resembling an oversized half-drowned rat will be proffered no free lunch.

Feeding Time

2009-07-14T09:00:00.001-07:00

Lately when I head out to work in the garden around 7:30 am Alison & Chet are waiting for their morning food.

The Solar Greenhouse

2009-07-14T08:48:00.001-07:00

Since early June I've been eating plenty of salads and other greens thanks to the solar greenhouse here. The front basement room is well insulated and has five 50-gallon barrels painted black and filled with water. These barrels sit near large, south-facing, glass panels. The walls under the panels are constructed of used tires packed with dirt and covered in adobe.

Warm Abode

2009-07-14T08:45:00.001-07:00

One problem with the solar greenhouse is the combination of adobe and warm sunlight has attracted numerous insects that have moved into this welcoming new home.

Old Fashioned Weedwacker

2009-07-13T10:13:00.001-07:00

And with a dozen well-placed swings of the machete, the entire guild was suddenly clear of weeds.

Riders on the Storm

2009-07-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

I offered to do the job with the weedwacker, but Star's plan was to open up the island guild enough to do some run-through's with the Snapper.

Overcoming the Sisyphus Mentality

2009-07-13T10:01:00.000-07:00

Finally did some work on the island guild project this morning. Star has done almost all of the work, but I pitched in today with a little weedwack finesse.

Ye Old Barrow

2009-07-13T09:46:00.000-07:00

Was surprised this morning to find this old wheelbarrow out on the island. Tangled in vines, it looked like the last time it was used was 8 years ago when I worked out on the island.

An Ideal Schedule

2009-07-12T17:04:00.000-07:00

I've been living here for about 6 weeks now, and during that time have created a schedule that works very well for me. Up at about 6:30, it's still surprisingly cold (actually it's about 50F, but I'm sensitive to cooler weather since living in the Middle East), so I rush through breakfast then get outside to warm up by doing gardening work for about three hours. I have a quick swim in the lake and an early lunch, study Arabic for a couple of hours, then head back outside in the afternoon to work some more. After that, another swim in the lake, followed by a yoga set in the cabin, dinner, and evening relaxation.

The Sisyphus Mindset

2009-07-12T11:59:00.000-07:00

Eight years ago my wife and I worked on the island "guild" project here at the LSC. This involved days of heavy weeding, then planting mint, garlic, lavender, etc. I was a little surprised to see how wild and neglected this part of the LSC has become since that time. It's a project waiting to be redone, but I find a lack of motivation to do the same project over again (perhaps this could be called the Sisyphus Mindset). I'm reminded of a story I heard in Madagascar a few years ago. I was visiting a large nature preserve there and the place had a wonderful little nature museum set up in the building that led to the the entrance of the preserve. A Peace Corps trainer I was with told me that there was a woman who travelled around to various countries setting up these fine museum displays. Supposedly she stopped returning to visit them because she was often disappointed to see how shabby they'd become due to a lack of proper care and maintenance.

So Very Very Stubborn

2009-07-12T11:42:00.000-07:00

Tacticts to keep the geese off the lawn and out of the garden include lobbing water balloons in their direction, and hanging the hawk kite to try and intimidate them. Neither of these measures really work, and it's beginning to appear the geese have a mule-like mentality.

The Love Birds

2009-07-12T11:40:00.000-07:00

Supposedly one good way to keep the geese at bay is to have swans around. I've been told they intimidate the geese, but early this morning it seemed to be one big happy aviary family on the lawn.

Sunflower & Mulberries

2009-07-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

Now, in mid July, the sunflowers are beginning to blossom and the mulberries are ripe for picking. I don't make it to the grocery store very often so these berries are a good source of fresh fruit.

Rainy Saturday

2009-07-11T05:45:00.000-07:00

It began raining at about 7 this morning. This limits what work can be done around here, but I was at least able to finish the job of cleaning and hanging all of the garlic.

Finish Garlic, Start Greens

2009-07-10T08:27:00.000-07:00

Finished harvesting the garlic this morning. Had some ruby chard and collard seed left over so decided to plant that in the space where the garlic had been.

Swan Lake

2009-07-10T08:24:00.000-07:00

I was surprised to see that the swans have returned to the lake by the house. They have been living over in the wetlands area for the past month, then today they suddenly appeared back on the lake.

Garlic Harvester

2009-07-07T08:44:00.001-07:00

From time to

time people stop by the LSC and volunteer their time. A couple of Star's relatives stopped by for a visit, and while I was outside harvesting garlic this morning her niece, Sarah, volunteered to help out.

4th Of July

2009-07-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

A sunny 4th of July celebration at Otter Lake, a small town about 5 miles from Columbiaville. There's a small beach there, and two stages were set up for local bands.

No beef, thank you -- but Where's the chips?

2009-07-04T08:44:00.001-07:00

Still waiting for wood chips. We use them for the garden paths, but sometimes they just aren't available from the local township. Because of the recent rains and lack of chips, some of the paths in the garden are starting to become muddy. This morning I tried cutting cattails and laying them down lengthwise on the paths in place of chips, a method that seems pretty effective thus far. I've also lived places that chop up the cattails and use them for mulching the garden.

Getting Around

2009-07-04T08:33:00.000-07:00

This Trek bike is my main transportation at the LSC. I shipped it here, along with some clothes, via UPS, and then I took the train from Pittsburgh, PA, to Lapeer, MI, with an enjoyable 6-hour layover in downtown Chicago. I just heard on the radio that because Michigan is low on funds, some of those Amtrak routes might soon be cut. That would mean I'd have to use Greyhound instead, which isn't nearly as pleasurable as taking the train -- especially if you upgrade and get a sleeper

The Garden Raiders

2009-07-02T15:53:00.001-07:00

There they are in the yard again. Earlier today in the garden I saw they ate up more of the comfrey plants, chewed at about a quarter of the young pumpkin vines, and also have the annoying habit of nibbling at the many young sunflowers that are trying to come up. We try low wires around the garden's perimeters (don't really seem to work that well at keeping them out). Star thinks that maybe lobbing water ballons near them will scare them away. I was thinking of buying a compressed-air horn. In town today both stores were sold out of balloons. While in town I was talking with one man in the dollar store about the geese in the garden, and his suggestion was a shotgun.

The Swans

2009-07-02T15:45:00.001-07:00

When the two swans that live here are on the lake behind the house the geese keep away, and thus stay out of the garden. Unfortunately, reticent creatures that they are, the swans prefer to remain more hidden, and thus generally reside in the nearby wetlands area instead.

Arabian Nights

2009-07-02T04:53:00.000-07:00

The deal here at the LSC is I'm to work in the mornings out on the grounds. This leaves me quite a bit of time to myself after lunch. During the afternoons I like to make a pot of sencha or mecha tea (ie get the mind lubricated with caffeine) and settle in for a couple hours of Arabic studies. I live in Abu Dhabi during the winter but that Gulf city is 95% foreigners so the common language is English, not Arabic. But when I can scrape the money together I go off to nearby countries like Oman and Yemen where I can get a lot of practice speaking Arabic. In October, after I leave the US, I plan to visit Alexandria, Egypt. Every part of the Arab world I've traveled to has used a different dialect of Arabic, so it makes it a difficult language to study.

First of July

2009-07-01T17:13:00.000-07:00

It's July 1 today. I just checked the weather in Abu Dhabi where my wife is living and today it was 109F (a low of 84F). Here at the Land Stewardship Center in Michigan it's cool and rainy, and I'll be once again using the down comforter in the cabin tonight.

The 3 Sisters

2009-06-30T08:28:00.000-07:00

Along the right side of the photo you can see wire cages. These are for the 3 Sisters. People familar with gardening know that the 3 sisters are the complimenatry beans, corn, and squash. You plant the corn first, and after it's about 4 inches tall, you plant the beans nearby and the squash just along the outer rim of the cage (plantings I did yesterday morning). The beans provide nitrogen for the soil. The corn act as stalks for the beans to climb, and the squash provide ground shade to preserve moisture in the soil and to inhibit weed growth. Here's a very well-done website on the 3 sisters: http://www.carnegiemnh.org/exhibits/north-south-east-west/Iroquois/three_sisters.html

The Hawk

2009-06-28T13:55:00.000-07:00

After about two weeks, the hawk kite no longer has any efffect on keeping the geese away from the yard and garden. Thus it has been relegated to the cabin as merely a decorative ornament.

Mulberry Trumps Grape Leaves

2009-06-28T13:51:00.000-07:00

The photo shows grape vines growing over a metal trellis. As you can see, the mulberry tree is overshadowing them, but Clark likes the mulberries, so the branches will be spared cutting at the expense of the grape vines.

A Vanished Solitude

2009-06-28T13:36:00.001-07:00

The thing about taking care of other people's land is you're often not sure who's going to be around. Sometimes you're alone for days on end, and other times there are numerous visitors. I'd been alone here at the LSC for three full days when, on Saturday evening as I was sitting out on the cabin's front porch, two cars pulled up. The next thing I knew Star and her relatives were starting a fire out by the lake and settling in for a family vacation in the country.

Muskrat Mishap

2009-06-28T13:31:00.001-07:00

I was just writing about muskrats (see photo below) on the blog, then went outside to do some mowing near the lake with the tractor. As I was cutting grass along the lake's edge, a muskrat came running from the other side of the tractor toward the lake. He ran around the mower toward the safety of the lake, paused, and then, as if ducking for cover, darted under the mower. Big mistake.

Water Rats

2009-06-26T12:38:00.001-07:00

There's no shortage of creatures living in and around the lakes here. The muskrat are plentiful, and often come out of the water to forage in the yard near the cabin I live in. I see how they got their name, as they clearly resemble large wet rats.

Swimming the LSC Channel

2009-06-26T12:30:00.000-07:00

One reason I was looking forward to living at the Land Stewardship Center again was because I planned to swim in the lake during the dog days of summer. As it turns out, the seaweed is thick enough in the lake to prohibit doing laps. A morning spent collecting the seaweed provided a decent supply of garden mulch, and also opened up a channel starting at the dock. Thus I can now swim laps in the channel, which is sort of like following a road, with thick tangles of seaweed bordering both sides of it.

Seamulch

2009-06-26T12:22:00.000-07:00

The yearly harvest of seaweed from the lake makes a rich mulch for the garden plants.

My Favorite Things

2009-06-24T13:48:00.001-07:00

The local library doesn't look like much, and it's only open three days out of the week, but from there I can access MelCat. This means not only can I borrow books from numerous Michigan libraries, but also a wide assortment of CDs.

Gathering Seaweed

2009-06-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

At least once a year at the Land Stewardship Center seaweed is gathered from the lake. This not only clears the lake for swimming, but also is a great mulch for the garden plants.

Sandal Diving

2009-06-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

My deluxe plastic beach sandals accidentally got kicked into the lake and, surprisingly, they sunk straight to the bottom. With the help of my swim goggles I was able to fish them out of the lake.

Woodland Creatures

2009-06-21T13:26:00.000-07:00

As I only recently moved out here to the woods from Abu Dhabi, I'm still sometimes slightly taken aback when I suddenly encounter the raccoons, possum, squirrel, deer, and other animals. In Abu Dhabi I generally only come across people (thousands every day), stray cats that loiter around the dumpsters, cockroaches, and the occasional dead alley rat (killed, I believe, by paid city workers who scatter poison around the city's nooks and crannies).

Going to Town

2009-06-21T13:21:00.000-07:00

I don't have a car so mostly I stay put at the LSC. Thus when someone is driving into Lapeer, the nearest big town, I try to jump on that bandwagon in order to pick up some supplies. When you go into town only once every two or three weeks it's generally a pretty big deal, even if it's to someplace like Lapeer, a town most would agree isn't that exciting.

Lapeer Shopping

2009-06-21T13:02:00.001-07:00

I'm getting a lot of greens (kale, spinach, chard) and lettuce from the garden, but am still waiting for other vegetables that can be harvested later in the summer. In the meantime, I still buy some fruit and other food items at the grocery store (including special treats like almond butter, hummous, and rice milk).

Solar Shower Project

2009-06-21T13:02:00.000-07:00

There will be a permaculture workshop here in August, and some of the participants will be camping on the grounds, so a recent project is a solar-heated basement shower for them. Here's the design: a large tank in an insulated box with a glass cover sits on top of three black 50-gallon drums filled with water (in the basement behind very large glass panels facing south). The idea is the sun heats the barrels and the tank that sits on top of them. As water runs through the tank it is solar heated for the shower.

Preparations for the Storm

2009-06-20T10:45:00.000-07:00

More storms were supposed to move in last night, so I took the precaution of snapping on the vinyl screen covers before going to sleep. Clark told me that the couple who lived in the cabin last summer used to leave the covers on much of the time because they liked to sleep in.

Geese B-Gone

2009-06-19T12:54:00.000-07:00

The hawk kite worked well at first keeping the geese at bay (and out of the garden). They seem to have gotten used to it, however, and are right back up in the yard once again.

Star Abode

2009-06-19T12:43:00.001-07:00

There's Star's home, nestled away in the willow trees. Eight years ago, John, an LSC intern, also lived here in a camper. His was hidden away back in the woods behind the main house, however.

Storm Alarm Clock

2009-06-19T12:43:00.000-07:00

I went out in the canoe the other day and took a few photos from that perspective. There's a view of the cabin as seen from the lake. This morning at about 5 am the wind was howling and rain was blowing into the cabin from the direction of the lake. I reluctantly got out of bed, put on my headlamp, and went outside and fumbled with the vinyl snap-on covers that go over the screens. Needless to say, it's better to do this before you go to sleep rather than wait until the storm hits.

2009-06-17T12:49:00.000-07:00

One thing that has changed from 8 years ago when I lived here is Clark now tries harder to keep the geese away from the garden area. There's good reason for this, as once they eat their way through the garden's comfrey border they could well start on the chard and other succulent plants within the garden.

2009-06-17T12:41:00.000-07:00

This hawk kite that Clark put up in the lakeside pavilion the other day actually seems like it keeps the geese away. Maybe it was just a coincidence, but since the kite has been up the geese have been staying on the far side of the lake.

Permaculture in Madagascar

2009-06-17T09:38:00.001-07:00

The Land Stewardship Center is all about permaculture. Here's one definition of that concept:

"The word "permaculture" was coined in 1978 by Bill Mollison, an Australian ecologist, and one of his students, David Holmgren. It is a contraction of "permanent agriculture" or "permanent culture." Permaculture is about designing ecological human habitats and food production systems. It is a land use and community building movement which strives for the harmonious integration of human dwellings, microclimate, annual and perennial plants, animals, soils, and water into stable, productive communities."

After I'd lived and worked here at the LSC twice before, I applied some of what I learned to a permaculture project in a remote part of western Madagascar. Here's the blog for that Peace Corps project if you want to learn more about the concept of permaculture as applied to a less-developed region:

http://www.qani.blogspot.com/

A Squatter's View

2009-06-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

As long as I have known him, Clark (the owner of the LSC) has always had a great sense of aesthetics. Even the small details, for example the view from the cabin's outhouse, are taken into consideration.

The New LSC Composting Toilet

2009-06-17T09:15:00.000-07:00

On rainy days like today I really appreciate the new composting toilet at the LSC. It has a roof of clear plexiglass, which provides ample natural light. The outhouse is clean and spacious, and Star did a fine job with the decorative paintings. Also, there several large screened windows with brown wicker coverings. These screens provide good air circulation, while the wicker gives one a sense of privacy.

Squatter

2009-06-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

Eight years ago when I lived at the LSC this is the composting toilet I used. It works fine, and the view is great, but on rainy days I had to wear a rain jacket, or fumble with an umbrella.

LSC Cabin

2009-06-17T09:07:00.001-07:00

Here's a pretty good photo of the LSC cabin . Dawn (my wife) and I lived in it about 8 years ago, but this time I'm solo. Ironically, she's the one who first wanted to come visit this part of Michigan, now I'm back here alone as she opted to spend the summer in Abu Dhabi.

Inside the Cabin ...

2009-06-17T08:42:00.000-07:00

Here's a view of the inside of the cabin. On warm sunny days it's great. There are numerous large screened windows, and views out to the lake and to the woods. I use a 2-burner propane stove for cooking. Since I don't have a car, I order most of my bulk foods on the Internet, and UPS then delivers them. These foods include organic brown and wild rice, oats, raisins, cashews, walnuts, falafel mix, etc. Here's the site I use to order my foods. Many of these online health food stores are in California, but I found this one, Organic Provisions, in Pennsylvania: http://www.orgfood.com/

Rainy Wednesday Morning ...

2009-06-17T08:37:00.000-07:00

This shot was taken from inside my cabin early this morning. You can't really tell from the picture, but it's pouring outside. These are the hardest days for me as the cabin is only screened so it becomes damp and cold inside. When it's not raining, I spend my mornings out working in the large garden, then in the afternoons I'm free to do as I please.

A Little about the LSC

2009-06-16T11:58:00.000-07:00

There's a shot from my cabin I took early yesterday morning before the mist had lifted. If you'd like to know more about the Land Stewardship Center, here's their website: http://www.tibbitsstewardshipcenter.com/index.html

As stated in that website, the LSC is "a place where the interests of all creation are given equal consideration, and humans can learn to live more in harmony with the rest of nature."
This is my third time living here so obviously I like it or I wouldn't keep coming back. There's a large wetland area, the lake, island, dock & pavilion, a gorgeous country house, cedar cabin, geese, deer, and, a recent addition, two swans (who currently prefer the privacy of the wetland area to the lake). I really like living in Abu Dhabi, while at the same time I feel very fortunate to be able to spend my summer living here in the LSC lakeside cabin and working in the large organic garden each morning,.

View from our Abu Dhabi Apartment

2009-06-16T11:51:00.000-07:00

Many people living out in the country seem to have a deep-seated hatred for cities. I'm not one of those. Actually, I like both rural and urban areas and find it works out well to try to divide my time between the two. There are times, however, when the city seems overbearing, and I must admit I then feel a craving for the peace of rural life.

LSC Dock

2009-06-16T11:43:00.000-07:00

Conversely, I love the tranquility of living in the country, but there are days I crave the vibrant buzz of the city.

2009-06-16T11:37:00.000-07:00

That's Clark and Star in the Land Stewardship garden. Today I have the place to myself as he's working in Flint and she's visiting family in Detroit. That teepee in the background is for the climbing morning glory, which Clark planted the other day.

Cedar Cabin

2009-06-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

That's the cedar cabin (my current residence) in the background. I lived here 8 years ago and it's pretty much the same, though the chiminea is a new addition. I really like the raised deck as I get wonderful views of the lake from there. The cabin has no inside heat source and is just screened, no glass. Thus it's wonderful on a sunny, breezy, 70F day, but not so great on a cold rainy day. Also, the windmill is currently not working. In the past when Dawn (my wife) and I lived here we'd rush to fill our buckets on windy days when the windmill was spiining like crazy and pumping water to the cabin.

2009-06-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

That's a photo of Star. During the winters (in the US) she lives in New Zealand. Just the opposite of me, she's spending the summer at the Land Stewardship Center to escape the cold. That makes 3 of us here, and come to think of it, we all migrate during the winters -- me to the United Arab Emirates, Star to New Zealand, and Clark to North Carolina and Costa Rica (though this year he's considering Florida instead).

2009-06-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

I've been living here for almost exactly 2 weeks now. The deal is I get to live in the lakeside cabin in exchange for working each morning. That leaves afternoons free to blog, study French and Arabic, do yoga, wander around the property, bicycle into town, etc. Here's a photo of me from yesterday. If you look closely you can see "Abu Dhabi" on my t-shirt (or maybe not), along with yellow camels. Behind me are pepper plants with plastic coverings. It's been a cold spring here so Clark (the manager/owner) asked me to cut the bottoms out of empty water containers and then use the containers to warm up the pepper plants. Evenings I put the caps on the containers, and each morning I take them off so the plants don't get too hot during the day. This has become a sort of daily ritual for me.

2009-06-15T14:12:00.001-07:00

Abu Dhabi is a great city to live in from about late October through April. After that it really starts to heat up (sometimes above 125F). For the past 5 years, I've lived elsewhere during that hot period. This year I've been fortunate to have gotten an offer to live in a lakeside cabin at the Land Stewardhsip Center, north of Flint Michigan. Here's a photo of the view I have when I'm not staring at the computer screen while working on this blog.