Exit Gate East

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

Permaculture Accident

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.)