I apologize for the lack of new content. Work has been more than steady and we are still adjusting to some of our life changes.
If we haven't mentioned it yet, we are now down to two chickens. One is Baldy and the other is a Red Star. They seem to be getting along like the best of buds. Both are molting though so we currently have no egg supply. Unfortunately the three other chickens we had with Baldy got picked off one by one by a hawk so we had to find some company for her quickly. Livestock tends to not do well when isolated. Due to the threat of the hawk we kept Baldy in the coop 24/7. She wasn't used to this and it's actually still the case till we can come up with a solution that works for us.
I'd really like to elaborate about what's going on in my woodworking world but really don't feel like I can do it justice till I am home all the time. My tool collection is steadily increasing as is my library. What is deeply lacking is me getting the experience I need and that will only come with me leaving truck driving permanently.
Today I was able to visit a Woodcraft store. I was pleased to see how inexpensive some lumber is, though I still think that I would feel compelled to order what I wanted instead of purchasing what's in-stock. I looked around at the tools they had for sale and it really made me comfortable with the selection I have.
My next two greatest priorities with woodworking involve a new bench and a milling machine. More will be sure to come after that like a table saw and perhaps a band saw. My choices will really be determined by how much work I have of what types.
Once my bench has been made or ordered my next focus will shift to making a Trying plane. Once I have made it I will have all the planes I need to thickness stock. My focus will then promptly shift to a need for a moving fillister. I'll need it for when I make boxes. It helps in making a rabbet around the bottom to raise the interior into the box. It all helps with the gluing surface as well. Depending on how lids are made a moving fillister can help with them as well. Usually the moving fillister will remove the bulk of the material and a rabbet or shoulder plane will come in and more accurately remove the rest. These tools are a real treasure to use.
I've got alot of experience that I need. I have to keep reminding myself that I'm only 29, so many times I think I'm 59 and the clock is ticking. Truth is I'm fine and have plenty of time ahead of me. Of course at this point having sufficient time to read the quantity of material I would like, would also help alot in advancing my "career". I'm not sure what my future holds, only what I would like to do.
Lord bless you in your path
Michael
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Beekeeping - Part II
Your First Year with Bees
“My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste.” – Proverbs 24:13
In order to get ready for your bees, you must first plan your apiary site. Things to consider are dependable nectar sources (bees travel approximately 12 square miles), fresh water sources, and avoiding areas that flood. When you place your hives, you should situate them so they face the morning sun. This wakes the bees up earlier in the morning and can deter hive beetles who like the darkness. You should also consider how easy it is for you to access your site and how the location might affect your neighbors.
Purchasing your bees will require research. There are many different varieties of bees (Russian, Italian, Hybrids, etc.). Each variety has its own temperaments and pros/cons. Usually, bees are purchased as a 3 lb. package with a queen. Surprisingly, the reason why the queen is shipped in its own little box is because it is not related to the other bees. She comes with several attendant bees who feed on the queen candy and produce royal jelly for her to eat. This tiny box has an entrance/exit hole plugged with a cork and queen candy. This is sometimes fondant or another hard, sugary substance. Be sure to hang this between two frames with the hole facing skyward so the queen will be able to exit the box even if her attendant bees should die. This separation period allows her pheromones to permeate throughout the hive and for the others to have time to accept her.
Bees can be purchased in a nuc (a mini-hive with only 3-5 frames) with a queen or in a package that you end up shaking over a regular hive. There are usually 10-12,000 bees in this small package. Queens can also be sold separately. Be sure to order your bees early because they start shipping out in mid-April here in zone 6.
Shipment Package for Bees
Courtesy of PlanterTomato.com
After setting up the hive and installing your bees, you will need to set up a feeder until they find sources of food on their own. This can be as simple as an inverted mason jar filled with syrup (one part table sugar to one part water). Poke a few tiny holes in the lid so the syrup can dribble out. Be sure to check on this often as they can drain a quart a day sometimes. You will know when you can stop feeding because they will quit draining the jar.
Homemade bee feeder
Courtesy of GardenPlotter.com
A healthy queen will start laying within 24 hours. After 10 days, you should start to see capped brood cells. By 3 weeks time, you will see developed worker bees emerging from the brood frames. When examining your frames, remove the second frame from the outside and work in. This keeps you from smashing your bees that are hanging on the outside frame. Be sure to put them back in the same order and the same orientation.
Monday, November 19, 2012
First Real Woodworking Post, Insufficient…
I've felt conflicted this month. I've wanted to post some more about how complacent Christians are with witchcraft and magic, but have been to distracted lately with some life-changes that are happening with Elizabeth and me. So the only other thing that enters my mind at these times-other than prayer-is woodworking.
I'm not an expert or even an amateur by any measure but I know its in my blood and I can't ignore it regardless of how much I try. My greatest obstacle to becoming a better and to be honest "marginally relevant" woodworker is truck driving. When I'm done driving I will live in my shop 24/7. As things are now I've currently cached a workable staff of various tools and sharpening equipment.
On most weekends I am now either forced to skip a trip to my shop or if I am fortunate I am able to weasel in three or four quick passing hours. It goes too quickly. Most times it's doing small stuff like making a sidebead moulding on some poor piece of "furniture grade" oak that wouldn't pass even the most desperate furniture makers test or I could be doing something as simple as I did last weekend. I sharpened a chisel.
I'll say it again. All I did was sharpen a chisel. But as any beginning woodworker will proudly tell you, this is a very transformative time. When a man can go from simply using an edge tool to also being able to maintain and sharpen it-it is an enormous rush of potential. Anyone that has attempted to sharpen in the past may have experienced what I call the "false sharp". This is when you believe that you have sharpened your tool and begin to use it and the edge life only lasts a matter of short minutes if even that long. When you graduate from that to being able to use your freshly sharpened tool for over twenty minutes that is an ego boost like non-other. It's almost as exciting as the first time you thicknessed a board solely with hand tools. It's a talent and a skill that is an honor to own and maintain.
You may be wondering why I'm not spending my time with my pals in Eureka learning to make handplanes. Well the simple answer is that they really have taught me what they can without me really getting experience on my own. I've seen and learned alot from them. Now it's time for me to sink or swim. Albeit I have to wait till I am done driving truck. It's a tough situation to be in. But I know with certainty that the clock is ticking.
I'll try my best to take some photos of my limited tool collection. I'm sure you guys would like that. It might answer some questions or perhaps create more.
I really appreciate my teachers. I owe them alot. I wouldn't be where I am now or have had the experiences I've had, had it not been for them.
With regards to sharpening, I will concede that I do still have alot to learn about various stones and which orders to best use them in. Convex and concave edges also present a new trick when solely using stones and not electric systems.
To make it simple on yourself just use a medium or corse India stone, and a fine Arkansas with a DMT diamond stone to flatten with. Initially it may seem expensive but you will have these pieces in your sharpening arsenal for ages.
At this point I have two things going against my sharpening escapades, #1 inadequate lighting in my shop and #2 I'd like some sticks that have a 25 degree bevel on one end and 5 degrees more on the other. This is fine and typical for most irons and chisels. But feel free to experiment once you have experience. FYI I'm not there yet- Yet. The only caveat to offer really is that the steeper either of the angles or both angles are, the shorter the edge-life.
I wish you well with your sharpening escapades, Lord Bless You
I'm not an expert or even an amateur by any measure but I know its in my blood and I can't ignore it regardless of how much I try. My greatest obstacle to becoming a better and to be honest "marginally relevant" woodworker is truck driving. When I'm done driving I will live in my shop 24/7. As things are now I've currently cached a workable staff of various tools and sharpening equipment.
On most weekends I am now either forced to skip a trip to my shop or if I am fortunate I am able to weasel in three or four quick passing hours. It goes too quickly. Most times it's doing small stuff like making a sidebead moulding on some poor piece of "furniture grade" oak that wouldn't pass even the most desperate furniture makers test or I could be doing something as simple as I did last weekend. I sharpened a chisel.
I'll say it again. All I did was sharpen a chisel. But as any beginning woodworker will proudly tell you, this is a very transformative time. When a man can go from simply using an edge tool to also being able to maintain and sharpen it-it is an enormous rush of potential. Anyone that has attempted to sharpen in the past may have experienced what I call the "false sharp". This is when you believe that you have sharpened your tool and begin to use it and the edge life only lasts a matter of short minutes if even that long. When you graduate from that to being able to use your freshly sharpened tool for over twenty minutes that is an ego boost like non-other. It's almost as exciting as the first time you thicknessed a board solely with hand tools. It's a talent and a skill that is an honor to own and maintain.
You may be wondering why I'm not spending my time with my pals in Eureka learning to make handplanes. Well the simple answer is that they really have taught me what they can without me really getting experience on my own. I've seen and learned alot from them. Now it's time for me to sink or swim. Albeit I have to wait till I am done driving truck. It's a tough situation to be in. But I know with certainty that the clock is ticking.
I'll try my best to take some photos of my limited tool collection. I'm sure you guys would like that. It might answer some questions or perhaps create more.
I really appreciate my teachers. I owe them alot. I wouldn't be where I am now or have had the experiences I've had, had it not been for them.
With regards to sharpening, I will concede that I do still have alot to learn about various stones and which orders to best use them in. Convex and concave edges also present a new trick when solely using stones and not electric systems.
To make it simple on yourself just use a medium or corse India stone, and a fine Arkansas with a DMT diamond stone to flatten with. Initially it may seem expensive but you will have these pieces in your sharpening arsenal for ages.
At this point I have two things going against my sharpening escapades, #1 inadequate lighting in my shop and #2 I'd like some sticks that have a 25 degree bevel on one end and 5 degrees more on the other. This is fine and typical for most irons and chisels. But feel free to experiment once you have experience. FYI I'm not there yet- Yet. The only caveat to offer really is that the steeper either of the angles or both angles are, the shorter the edge-life.
I wish you well with your sharpening escapades, Lord Bless You
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Christians and Halloween
It's difficult for me to write about this, just because I shouldn't have to. Christians celebrating Halloween at churches is the deepest evidence we have that the supposed saints of today, are not reading their Bible. There is nothing holy about Halloween. The Bible is clear when it talks about necromancy and witches and also wizards. We are to avoid them as best we can and are not to associate with them under any conditions unless they reject their unholy past and repent.
Lets look at some verses.
Lets look at some verses.
Leviticus 20:26-27
King James Version (KJV)
26 And ye shall be holy unto me: for I theLord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.
27 A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.
Choose whom you shall serve.
Also:
Isaiah 2:6 (NIV) You have abandoned your people, the house of Jacob. They are full ofsuperstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and clasp hands with pagans.
Revelation 21:8 (NIV) But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.
Here is a quote from A.W. Tozer:
"Christianity is so entangled with the world that millions never guess how radically they have missed the New Testament pattern. Compromise is everywhere. The world is whitewashed just enough to pass inspection by blind men posing as believers..."
27 A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.
Choose whom you shall serve.
Also:
Exodus 22:18
King James Version (KJV)
18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
Halloween has no holy or righteous association. No one thinks of our Lords gift of salvation. A child or adult that celebrates Halloween by dressing up or even giving out candy is still associating with the observance of the day. It is certainly by no means an opportunity to witness except by nonobservance. How are we to be an example if we set No example?
What finally set me over the edge with this was actually seeing a church with a sign in front of it that literally had the word Halloween on it. Unholy and unacceptable. They were advertising for a Halloween party they were going to have. If I have an opportunity I will try to get a picture of it.
I know that as Christians we are all coming to it from different directions but there are something's that just don't change, namely The Word Of God!
More Verses:
Deuteronomy 18:10-11 (NIV) Let no one be found among you... who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or cast spells, or who is a medium or spiritist.
Revelation 21:8 (NIV) But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.
Here is a quote from A.W. Tozer:
"Christianity is so entangled with the world that millions never guess how radically they have missed the New Testament pattern. Compromise is everywhere. The world is whitewashed just enough to pass inspection by blind men posing as believers..."
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Fundamentalist Christian Homesteaders
Elizabeth and I both know that the world sees us as "fundamentalists" and living as a couple that homesteads is just who we are. We don't liv our daily life trying to fit into a box or stereotype. We try to liv as separated from the world as we can but on the occasions where we can't help but hear worldly music like at a gas station for example, we don't hold it against ourselves. I know that technically we are fundamentalist Christian homesteaders. For us, we are just Bible reading Christians that prefer to depend on themselves and liv off the land. We arnt the crazy conspiracy, gun toting, camouflage wearing militia that the media portrays us as. I honestly don't even own any camouflage nor does Elizabeth, and the only rifle I own at this point is a .243 hardly an assault rifle.
I don't object to being called a fundamentalist Christian, but what bothers me is when people think they know what my theology and convictions are just because of the title that society gives us. Neither Elizabeth or I were indoctrinated with this lifestyle. We both chose it on our own terms.
There is an unworthy stigma with the word "fundamentalist". The only implication that the word "fundamentalist" is supposed to give, is that we are Christians that liv our life by the word of God. We are not just Christians on Sundays. We are Christians 365 days a year and we do our best to liv a proactive life to give glory to God.
For us being a Christian and a homesteader are two very separate things. We do not believe that we are saved through legalism, we are only saved through grace. You do not need to homestead to be a saint. There is no justification for that ideology. I do however think that the Old Testament makes it clear that to liv in the country creates a safer life for holiness verses living in the city.
I don't think anyone will argue that.
Being a conservative Christian is not something you set out to do, you either are or arnt. There is no middle ground. It is believing that everything is black and white that cultivates an eye for what is holy in one's life and what is not. It is for this reason that saints avoid television and movies. Citing Psalm 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes;
There are two types of Christians, those that read the Bible and say,"Well that wasn't meant for us today, we're different now", and those that say "What does the Word really say and am I holding my self to that standard? If I'm not, then I need to start."
We are conservative Christians first and homesteaders second.
I pray Yeshua blesses you abundantly
I don't object to being called a fundamentalist Christian, but what bothers me is when people think they know what my theology and convictions are just because of the title that society gives us. Neither Elizabeth or I were indoctrinated with this lifestyle. We both chose it on our own terms.
There is an unworthy stigma with the word "fundamentalist". The only implication that the word "fundamentalist" is supposed to give, is that we are Christians that liv our life by the word of God. We are not just Christians on Sundays. We are Christians 365 days a year and we do our best to liv a proactive life to give glory to God.
For us being a Christian and a homesteader are two very separate things. We do not believe that we are saved through legalism, we are only saved through grace. You do not need to homestead to be a saint. There is no justification for that ideology. I do however think that the Old Testament makes it clear that to liv in the country creates a safer life for holiness verses living in the city.
I don't think anyone will argue that.
Being a conservative Christian is not something you set out to do, you either are or arnt. There is no middle ground. It is believing that everything is black and white that cultivates an eye for what is holy in one's life and what is not. It is for this reason that saints avoid television and movies. Citing Psalm 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes;
There are two types of Christians, those that read the Bible and say,"Well that wasn't meant for us today, we're different now", and those that say "What does the Word really say and am I holding my self to that standard? If I'm not, then I need to start."
We are conservative Christians first and homesteaders second.
I pray Yeshua blesses you abundantly
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Prayer Closet Two
In the earlier posting about prayer closets I discussed the importance and utility of a prayer closet, but there are some points I think I need to touch on for people that may not be familiar.
Wether your Christian group has a church building or meets in a families house, every group has a need for prayer closets. Some groups of Pentecostals maintain a tradition of praying together in a room prior to meeting in a sanctuary. This sets an amazing tone for the hour or two that the saints are joined together. There is a chance that if everything is set in motion spiritually that there may not even be an opportunity for preaching. I've seen it happen before where a group of saints came out of their prayer closet and a flood of holiness flooded the room and there was no holding the blessing back. That is as true a spiritual communion with the Holy Ghost as one can get. When a blessing falls like that, there is absolutely nothing ostentatious about it. And it is also certainly orderly when considering that the time allotted for meeting has gone from being utilized for preaching, to being utilized for worshipping. There is never anything unholy in glorifying the Lord. There is a great chance as well that many will receive the Holy Ghost in these conditions, albeit with no coercion from other saints of God. In an atmosphere like that, everyone is in communion with God and only aware of their own person.
Now I say all that to clarify with this.
A prayer closet is intended for private or group prayer outside of a worship service.
It is absolutely expected that when Christians meet to worship, that they will pray together and out loud. The Lord gave what is known as The Lord's Prayer, with the expectation that the saints would pray this prayer together, both men and women in unison.
Prayer closets are intended for intimate moments with God, those moments should not be had in an environment that can make a person seem ostentatious or distracting to other saints, or at worst bewilders first time visitors.
The word of God encourages us to be civil and orderly in times of worship. Lets honor this.
1st Corinthians 14:39-40
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
Let all things be done decently and in order.
I personally encourage you to read all of chapter 14. I don't feel that I am out of place.
Worse Than An Infidel
1 Timothy 5:8
King James Version (KJV)
8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
I would hate to think that one day after feeling that I had pursued the Lord with all my heart, that a simple and fairly unmentioned verse like this could be used as a reason for my rejection when I try to enter heaven. For me, being a husband and a father is a very serious responsibility. I do all I can in my ability to make sure my wife is happy and provided for. I will, as my biblical responsibility, do the same when I become a father. I am currently 29 years old, I've desired to be a father for 10 years now, so when that time comes I will be very thankful and will do all in my power to make sure that my sons and daughters feel that they are fully and fairly provided for.
I discussed with Elizabeth the idea of providing for our children so that they are financially stable when they leave our home. I told her that I desired to put away 100$ per month/per child till they reached the age of twenty or they got married, whichever came first.
She agreed that it was a good and feasible idea. Our desire is that if saints join us, that they would likewise honor this tradition. And for those that already have children it is not too late to start. Children should appreciate any thoughtful consideration put their way.
Fully the idea is that if two Porter youth intend to marry, they will jointly have roughly 45-50,000$ to spend on their home to establish them with as little debt as possible. Materially that is the greatest blessing a father can give his child, whether it be the father of the son or of the daughter, both are called to provide for his respective child.
With the said son having been taught a trade and also having been helped financially in this matter, he should be readily able to succeed in any venture he undertakes to provide for his wife and future children.
It should go without saying that the money provided for the children does not necessarily need to be spent on the house alone. It can/ could also be spent on tools/livestock/kitchen equipment and so on. The ideal is what is important, not so much how the money is utilized.
I would hate to think that one day after feeling that I had pursued the Lord with all my heart, that a simple and fairly unmentioned verse like this could be used as a reason for my rejection when I try to enter heaven. For me, being a husband and a father is a very serious responsibility. I do all I can in my ability to make sure my wife is happy and provided for. I will, as my biblical responsibility, do the same when I become a father. I am currently 29 years old, I've desired to be a father for 10 years now, so when that time comes I will be very thankful and will do all in my power to make sure that my sons and daughters feel that they are fully and fairly provided for.
I discussed with Elizabeth the idea of providing for our children so that they are financially stable when they leave our home. I told her that I desired to put away 100$ per month/per child till they reached the age of twenty or they got married, whichever came first.
She agreed that it was a good and feasible idea. Our desire is that if saints join us, that they would likewise honor this tradition. And for those that already have children it is not too late to start. Children should appreciate any thoughtful consideration put their way.
Fully the idea is that if two Porter youth intend to marry, they will jointly have roughly 45-50,000$ to spend on their home to establish them with as little debt as possible. Materially that is the greatest blessing a father can give his child, whether it be the father of the son or of the daughter, both are called to provide for his respective child.
With the said son having been taught a trade and also having been helped financially in this matter, he should be readily able to succeed in any venture he undertakes to provide for his wife and future children.
It should go without saying that the money provided for the children does not necessarily need to be spent on the house alone. It can/ could also be spent on tools/livestock/kitchen equipment and so on. The ideal is what is important, not so much how the money is utilized.
Prayer Closet Importance
Matthew 6:5-6
King James Version (KJV)
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
When I quote this scripture, I take it seriously. I do not judge anyone for worshiping, praying, or practicing different traditions than my own. As Christians, everyone of us follows the Lord in the way in which we feel convicted to do so. I will be honest though and say that this is a topic that we disagree upon with the UPCI. We aren't contentious about it. We just feel differently about it. As plain Chriatians we try not to be ostentatious. When we are at a worship meeting we seek to have a personal communion with God. We personally feel the best way to go about achieving this is to pray in private in a prayer closet.
You may be wondering what a prayer closet is. For us, it is simply a room with no windows that is dedicated to praying. A room with no distractions.
We are pentecostals, we feel that the best way to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost is by individual prayer. We are not apposed to two or more people praying together, there is scriptural justification for it's relevance. However we do feel that it is up to the said individual to decide if that is what they want. It is up to them to ask, we will not press ourselves on an individual that is seeking that blessing.
This is a topic that we feel strongly about. Inside of this topic we also feel that women are to pray with women, and men are to pray with men where group prayer is concerned.
The furnishings of the room are irrelevant as they are not strictly specified in the word of God.
It is appropriate to expect young girls that intend to use a prayer closet to be wearing a prayer covering. Likewise with boys, it is expected that their hair is short in accordance with 1st Corinthians 11. Even in ones home, modesty would be expected in a prayer closet, it is what is righteous.
There is no abuse in using the room to study the Bible or to sing unto the Lord or to worship him in other ways, including dancing. The room is intended to be dedicated as a sanctuary in the house. There is freedom in the Lord and this room is intended to remind the said saints of that.
This room can be any size, whether it be repurposed from a room used for clothing, storage, or even a garage. The intention is what matters. A garage, though seeming crude, would offer plenty of room for a piano and dancing. It would be glory to the Lord.
To truly feel liberated in prayer with the Lord, I would suggest not keeping a clock or watch in the room. Even five minutes of prayer can seem like three hours, and sometimes three hours feels like five minutes. This is a blessing from the Lord.
The current generation of Christians has it as it's responsibility to pray for today's lost generation of unbelievers. We must disassociate with routines and a lukewarm relationship with God. We are called to be the light and the salt of the earth. In order for that to take place we must be proactive as Christians, as the saints of God that we proclaim we are. Let us not falsely claim a name on the coat tails of our forefathers. We are the saints of today, and as saints At All, it is our responsibility to liv and act as such, even if the actions are a private communion with God that only we personally will know about.
To God be the Glory, I pray he blesses you abundantly.
In the name of Yeshua, Amen
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
When I quote this scripture, I take it seriously. I do not judge anyone for worshiping, praying, or practicing different traditions than my own. As Christians, everyone of us follows the Lord in the way in which we feel convicted to do so. I will be honest though and say that this is a topic that we disagree upon with the UPCI. We aren't contentious about it. We just feel differently about it. As plain Chriatians we try not to be ostentatious. When we are at a worship meeting we seek to have a personal communion with God. We personally feel the best way to go about achieving this is to pray in private in a prayer closet.
You may be wondering what a prayer closet is. For us, it is simply a room with no windows that is dedicated to praying. A room with no distractions.
We are pentecostals, we feel that the best way to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost is by individual prayer. We are not apposed to two or more people praying together, there is scriptural justification for it's relevance. However we do feel that it is up to the said individual to decide if that is what they want. It is up to them to ask, we will not press ourselves on an individual that is seeking that blessing.
This is a topic that we feel strongly about. Inside of this topic we also feel that women are to pray with women, and men are to pray with men where group prayer is concerned.
The furnishings of the room are irrelevant as they are not strictly specified in the word of God.
It is appropriate to expect young girls that intend to use a prayer closet to be wearing a prayer covering. Likewise with boys, it is expected that their hair is short in accordance with 1st Corinthians 11. Even in ones home, modesty would be expected in a prayer closet, it is what is righteous.
There is no abuse in using the room to study the Bible or to sing unto the Lord or to worship him in other ways, including dancing. The room is intended to be dedicated as a sanctuary in the house. There is freedom in the Lord and this room is intended to remind the said saints of that.
This room can be any size, whether it be repurposed from a room used for clothing, storage, or even a garage. The intention is what matters. A garage, though seeming crude, would offer plenty of room for a piano and dancing. It would be glory to the Lord.
To truly feel liberated in prayer with the Lord, I would suggest not keeping a clock or watch in the room. Even five minutes of prayer can seem like three hours, and sometimes three hours feels like five minutes. This is a blessing from the Lord.
The current generation of Christians has it as it's responsibility to pray for today's lost generation of unbelievers. We must disassociate with routines and a lukewarm relationship with God. We are called to be the light and the salt of the earth. In order for that to take place we must be proactive as Christians, as the saints of God that we proclaim we are. Let us not falsely claim a name on the coat tails of our forefathers. We are the saints of today, and as saints At All, it is our responsibility to liv and act as such, even if the actions are a private communion with God that only we personally will know about.
To God be the Glory, I pray he blesses you abundantly.
In the name of Yeshua, Amen
Friday, October 12, 2012
Book Learning and Life Living
Elizabeth and I have always maintained a focus on learning skills that will help us on our farm. For example while she was in college she learned both how to make pottery and also how to weave. She has a loom and I look forward to the day she makes her first bed-rug. A bed rug is a woven heavy blanket. A 9'x9' blanket will weigh 25#'s they are intended for houses without electricity. Elizabeth worked on a farm in Indiana, she knows and teaches me alot. She is also very familiar with firearms. She cleaned my rifle! She's also working on a quilt. Her experience with sewing in 4-H helps I'm sure. Of course sewing her own dresses and my shirts goes a long way as well. She and my mother can produce annually now. There is alot to do and know on a farm, this only touches the surface.
You have to know what grasses and minerals will kill what livestock and under what conditions, Johnson grass comes to mind quickly with regards to that. You have to be able to determine what animal has killed your livestock and what course to take to eradicate the threat. Most satisfying of all, you have to provide your food at the end of the day. Whether it be cheese, sausage, steak, spaghetti, bread, milk. It's a lifestyle and a commitment, not a hobby.
I've been doing what I can to learn. We've had chickens for over a year, they still teach us plenty. I've grown up around horses the second half of my life. I don't expect that truck driving will help in any regard. I do however have a small foundation in woodworking. And wooden handplane making. There are many avenues I would like to take prior to us arriving at our farm, the future will determine if they happen. I've got a multitude of ideas and only one lifetime to see them through to completetion. Hopefully if I'm not able to fulfill them, then my children will be able to.
Whether it be animal breeding (I have two breeds of cattle I am wanting to cross), or whether it be the construction of the round barn I've designed with surrounding divided acreages, I have alot of passion in my heart that is matched by Elizabeth Ann. With her, I have faith that we will raise a wonderful family.
The core of our family's values will be our faith in our savior and to always encourage one another to learn as much as possible to make life easier on the farm. All the while, doing all we can to laugh and enjoy our life. A life without enjoyment is no life at all.
Our library comprises of at least three fullsize bookshelfs. All of our books pertain either to the Bible or to homesteading. Once we get to our farm, we will not have access to the Internet. All of our information will either need to be written down, or learned from experience. I encourage you to buy all the books you need too. I hope to get that part of the site started soon. A great majority of the books associated with homesteading can be had for very cheap from various sites if you don't mind buying used.
But the best teacher is experience, and sometimes that requires a good mentor. Many people are eager and willing to teach what they know to those curious to learn. Seek them out. Till next time this is Michael and Elizabeth praying The Lord bless you abundantly as you seek him and serve him.
You have to know what grasses and minerals will kill what livestock and under what conditions, Johnson grass comes to mind quickly with regards to that. You have to be able to determine what animal has killed your livestock and what course to take to eradicate the threat. Most satisfying of all, you have to provide your food at the end of the day. Whether it be cheese, sausage, steak, spaghetti, bread, milk. It's a lifestyle and a commitment, not a hobby.
I've been doing what I can to learn. We've had chickens for over a year, they still teach us plenty. I've grown up around horses the second half of my life. I don't expect that truck driving will help in any regard. I do however have a small foundation in woodworking. And wooden handplane making. There are many avenues I would like to take prior to us arriving at our farm, the future will determine if they happen. I've got a multitude of ideas and only one lifetime to see them through to completetion. Hopefully if I'm not able to fulfill them, then my children will be able to.
Whether it be animal breeding (I have two breeds of cattle I am wanting to cross), or whether it be the construction of the round barn I've designed with surrounding divided acreages, I have alot of passion in my heart that is matched by Elizabeth Ann. With her, I have faith that we will raise a wonderful family.
The core of our family's values will be our faith in our savior and to always encourage one another to learn as much as possible to make life easier on the farm. All the while, doing all we can to laugh and enjoy our life. A life without enjoyment is no life at all.
Our library comprises of at least three fullsize bookshelfs. All of our books pertain either to the Bible or to homesteading. Once we get to our farm, we will not have access to the Internet. All of our information will either need to be written down, or learned from experience. I encourage you to buy all the books you need too. I hope to get that part of the site started soon. A great majority of the books associated with homesteading can be had for very cheap from various sites if you don't mind buying used.
But the best teacher is experience, and sometimes that requires a good mentor. Many people are eager and willing to teach what they know to those curious to learn. Seek them out. Till next time this is Michael and Elizabeth praying The Lord bless you abundantly as you seek him and serve him.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Colonial Williamsburg And The Shaker Village
Last month Elizabeth and I took our first vacation in our married life. It took more than five years to make it happen but it was very worth it. We decided to focus our ten days off on several things. The first was an annual flea market. It had about six or seven thousand people in attendance but the lack of quality made it almost not worth mentioning let alone saying its name or location.
The second and greatest focus of our trip was going to Colonial Williamsburg located in the state of Virginia.
For any person interested in living off the land as a homesteader and living without electricity, visiting this place is a necessity if you can arrange it. For me it really put everything into focus with regards to intracommunity dependence when living this lifestyle. We as guys and women may like to think that we can do everything on our own but the truth is that we can't. We really do need to be a part of a community. It's also important that we bring a unique skill to the community for two reasons, the first is that we all need money to survive, the second is that for the next generation to learn the skills they need, they must have a teacher of the trade they want to follow. Whether the trade is weaving, shoemaking, tinsmithing, cabinetry, etc, etc. There is a multitude of possible trades out there but experienced craftsmen and women are rare in today's world.
The premis of Colonial Williamsburg is that it is supposed to be as identical as is practical to visiting Williamsburg in the years around 1750-1780. They have a multitude of craftsmen and great period correct architecture.
We spent three days there, we completely exploited it for all that we could get out of it and we were satisfied with that many days. However, to get the most out of your trip you will absolutely have to plan everything, with regards to days that the craftsmen are operating and also proximity to each other. We also suggest that if it's your first trip there that you first ride the bus they have around the perimeter of the campus, it will save you some sore legs.
I could go on and on about specific trades and what we saw, but nothing can do justice. We will be posting pictures in the coming weeks.
The third place we visited was The Shaker Village south of Louisville Kentucky. Once again absolutely stunning. Fortunately this is a place you can get all you need of in one day. The architecture will wow you. It really makes you wonder why more structures arnt made from stone today. I could go on and on about the productivity and genious of the Shakers but in order to really understand you really do need to visit their former community. It is no longer active as a community however it is a history preservation.
We took plenty of photos of all our vacation, we'll try our best to do it justice. If you have any questions just ask!
The second and greatest focus of our trip was going to Colonial Williamsburg located in the state of Virginia.
For any person interested in living off the land as a homesteader and living without electricity, visiting this place is a necessity if you can arrange it. For me it really put everything into focus with regards to intracommunity dependence when living this lifestyle. We as guys and women may like to think that we can do everything on our own but the truth is that we can't. We really do need to be a part of a community. It's also important that we bring a unique skill to the community for two reasons, the first is that we all need money to survive, the second is that for the next generation to learn the skills they need, they must have a teacher of the trade they want to follow. Whether the trade is weaving, shoemaking, tinsmithing, cabinetry, etc, etc. There is a multitude of possible trades out there but experienced craftsmen and women are rare in today's world.
The premis of Colonial Williamsburg is that it is supposed to be as identical as is practical to visiting Williamsburg in the years around 1750-1780. They have a multitude of craftsmen and great period correct architecture.
We spent three days there, we completely exploited it for all that we could get out of it and we were satisfied with that many days. However, to get the most out of your trip you will absolutely have to plan everything, with regards to days that the craftsmen are operating and also proximity to each other. We also suggest that if it's your first trip there that you first ride the bus they have around the perimeter of the campus, it will save you some sore legs.
I could go on and on about specific trades and what we saw, but nothing can do justice. We will be posting pictures in the coming weeks.
The third place we visited was The Shaker Village south of Louisville Kentucky. Once again absolutely stunning. Fortunately this is a place you can get all you need of in one day. The architecture will wow you. It really makes you wonder why more structures arnt made from stone today. I could go on and on about the productivity and genious of the Shakers but in order to really understand you really do need to visit their former community. It is no longer active as a community however it is a history preservation.
We took plenty of photos of all our vacation, we'll try our best to do it justice. If you have any questions just ask!
Sunday, October 7, 2012
The Sabath
Elizabeth and I have not been influenced by the 7th Day Adventist, nor do we know anyone that encourages or perpetuates worship on Saturdays. Independently but coincidentally during the same week, we both came to the same conclusion, the seventh day of the week is Saturday. If we are going to be honest to ourselves and the Bible, we have to also be honest to the fact that the seventh day of the week is Saturday. There is no debate about that, it's indisputable. The only area that is arguable is how important it is to observe the seventh day's importance. When addressing this it helps to know the history and what caused all of Christendom to change from Saturday to Sunday.
Remember the importance of this to us is that we are trying to be as honest as possible to the Word of God without any outside interference.
The following is an email I received, I apologize to anyone that may claim authorship but it puts everything into perspective perfectly from a historical point. I emphasize that the personal decision to worship on Saturday vs Sunday is a very personal one and should be taken seriously. Many people object to Saturday worship. Be prepared.
Remember the importance of this to us is that we are trying to be as honest as possible to the Word of God without any outside interference.
The following is an email I received, I apologize to anyone that may claim authorship but it puts everything into perspective perfectly from a historical point. I emphasize that the personal decision to worship on Saturday vs Sunday is a very personal one and should be taken seriously. Many people object to Saturday worship. Be prepared.
The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine
By Rev. Peter Geiermann, C. SS. R.B.
Herder Book Co.
Saint Louis, Mo. 1946
48
3. THE THIRD COMMANDMENT.
Q. What is the Third Commandment?
A. The Third Commandment is: Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.
A. The Third Commandment is: Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.
Q. Which is the Sabbath day?A. Saturday is the Sabbath day.
Q. Why do we observe Sunday instead ofSaturday?A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.
Q. Why do we observe Sunday instead ofSaturday?A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.
Q. Why did the Catholic Church substitute Sunday for Saturday?
A. The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday, because Christ rose from the dead on a Sunday and the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles on a Sunday.
Q. By what authority did the church substitute Sunday for Saturday?
A. The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday by the plenitude of that divine power which Jesus Christ bestowed upon her.
A. The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday by the plenitude of that divine power which Jesus Christ bestowed upon her.
I am not a Catholic, I am a Porter. The seventh day of the week is Saturday. We read from left to right. If we were to have seven blocks in front of us and we were told to pick up the seventh block, how many of us would pick up the first block? That's right, none of us. That's the core of my argument. It becomes a decision between tradition and fundamentalism. The latter term has a negative connotation because standing for ones personal principles ruffles feathers.
My opinion is that I am living my life and no one else's, and in five years I will still only be living my life. I have to liv my life being honest to myself. Saturday is the seventh day.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
We've Noticed!
Elizabeth and I have noticed all of the traffic we are getting on this blog from all over the globe!
We are asking that you take the time to comment on the posts that you like. We've had visitors from the Ukraine, Australia, and even Latvia! We'd love to hear from you and learn what brought you to our site. If you have any questions we would be happy to answer them! Sorry for the absence of pictures, a lot of the posts I do are done while I am on the road with my cell phone, the mobile system makes it difficult to add photos. I'll be trying to do that in short time. Please check back monthly, and let us know when you are here!! We'd love to know more about you as well!!
We are asking that you take the time to comment on the posts that you like. We've had visitors from the Ukraine, Australia, and even Latvia! We'd love to hear from you and learn what brought you to our site. If you have any questions we would be happy to answer them! Sorry for the absence of pictures, a lot of the posts I do are done while I am on the road with my cell phone, the mobile system makes it difficult to add photos. I'll be trying to do that in short time. Please check back monthly, and let us know when you are here!! We'd love to know more about you as well!!
Monday, August 27, 2012
Being Porter
What does being Porter mean to me?
For me the essence of being a Porter comes down to the Bible and homesteading.
Firstly, the idea is to throw out all preconceptions of what a church is supposed to be; whether that mean the governing, the doctrine, or any other aspect all of which regard the theology in the opinion of a Porter.
The Bible is the only authority, it decides everything.
To make this as clear as it can be made, the point is this. If a society was to be formed and the only source it had to base it's existence around was the Bible-It most certainly would never in a million years resemble the Catholic Church. The Bible is the final authority, not any decree made by man.
The idea is to remain as simple and elemental as possible. It is simple for people to complicate what God has given us in his word, but if we always utilize his word the way he intended for us to, we'll always be where we need to be.
And in cases where people disagree, it is better for the individuals to fellowship separately than to create a restless congregation.
There are some terms though that can not be disagreed upon by Porters.
1. There is one God
2.Jesus died for our sins on the cross
3.We do not forbid speaking in tongues(in an orderly Biblical fashion).
4. We do liv off the land
5. The Word of God is the greatest authority.
If any of these terms are disagreed upon, that person and his family are not Porters, but are free as individuals to begin their own community.
The idea of being a Porter is that, with or without electricity, we shouldn't have to change the way we liv to exist in this world.
The needs of people have been the same for thousands of years. Food, water, shelter, clothing, transportation. If a tradesman appeals to these needs, his living can be made.
Are we currently Porters living with electricity, yes and it is against our will. The day will come when we are free of it. We pray that families will join us when that day comes.
So although we say that Porters don't use electricity, I guess you could correctly say that we are still in our conversion.
Family is the central focus of the Porter's life.
The meaning of life is to raise a better generation, the purpose of life is to become the person it takes to raise that better generation.
Being Porter is not a simple thing. For men it involves having a trade or farm. If you pursue a trade, it is one that you can do from home. I'm expecting that mine will be plane making.
Your mode of transportation is anything that is not fueled by a motor/engine. There is no ordnung so you are free to choose.
If you are a woman, then you have the honor or maintaining the domestic responsibilities. Just as you depend on your husband for financial health, he depends on you for food and clothing and to be the care taker of his children. Life is simple as a Porter but it is also alot of work.
The best comparison for Porters would be Pentecostal Amish that do not have an ordnung.
We see ourselves as plain Pentecostal homesteaders that do not use electricity or fossil fuel.
For long distance travel bus or train is fine.
Simple points that must be redundant.
For me the essence of being a Porter comes down to the Bible and homesteading.
Firstly, the idea is to throw out all preconceptions of what a church is supposed to be; whether that mean the governing, the doctrine, or any other aspect all of which regard the theology in the opinion of a Porter.
The Bible is the only authority, it decides everything.
To make this as clear as it can be made, the point is this. If a society was to be formed and the only source it had to base it's existence around was the Bible-It most certainly would never in a million years resemble the Catholic Church. The Bible is the final authority, not any decree made by man.
The idea is to remain as simple and elemental as possible. It is simple for people to complicate what God has given us in his word, but if we always utilize his word the way he intended for us to, we'll always be where we need to be.
And in cases where people disagree, it is better for the individuals to fellowship separately than to create a restless congregation.
There are some terms though that can not be disagreed upon by Porters.
1. There is one God
2.Jesus died for our sins on the cross
3.We do not forbid speaking in tongues(in an orderly Biblical fashion).
4. We do liv off the land
5. The Word of God is the greatest authority.
If any of these terms are disagreed upon, that person and his family are not Porters, but are free as individuals to begin their own community.
The idea of being a Porter is that, with or without electricity, we shouldn't have to change the way we liv to exist in this world.
The needs of people have been the same for thousands of years. Food, water, shelter, clothing, transportation. If a tradesman appeals to these needs, his living can be made.
Are we currently Porters living with electricity, yes and it is against our will. The day will come when we are free of it. We pray that families will join us when that day comes.
So although we say that Porters don't use electricity, I guess you could correctly say that we are still in our conversion.
Family is the central focus of the Porter's life.
The meaning of life is to raise a better generation, the purpose of life is to become the person it takes to raise that better generation.
Being Porter is not a simple thing. For men it involves having a trade or farm. If you pursue a trade, it is one that you can do from home. I'm expecting that mine will be plane making.
Your mode of transportation is anything that is not fueled by a motor/engine. There is no ordnung so you are free to choose.
If you are a woman, then you have the honor or maintaining the domestic responsibilities. Just as you depend on your husband for financial health, he depends on you for food and clothing and to be the care taker of his children. Life is simple as a Porter but it is also alot of work.
The best comparison for Porters would be Pentecostal Amish that do not have an ordnung.
We see ourselves as plain Pentecostal homesteaders that do not use electricity or fossil fuel.
For long distance travel bus or train is fine.
Simple points that must be redundant.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Pentecostal Male
I thought it would be appropriate and perhaps appreciated by other Pentecostal males that might relate if I spoke about the difficulty of "coming out" from the world but still "blending in".
If you are a woman and attend a United Pentecostal Church International service, it's very easy to tell who is and is not a member of the church. You simply look for the tell tale signs: uncut hair, floor length skirts/dresses, unpeirced ears, no tattoos, skin covered.
But if you are a male, you are kind of stuck. Regardless of how dedicated you are to the Lord and your congregation you are virtually incapable of separating yourself from the heathens of the world. Sure you can make yourself look "clean cut", but so can any other man, not to mention So What? If being "clean cut" is the measure of a separated and saintly man, then there is a multitude of heathens that are passing themselves off as saints and are completely unaware of their false impression.
Here is where it may get a little breathy. When Elizabeth and I lived in North Manchester Indiana we attended two meeting houses there. Both were part of the Old German Baptist Brethren assembly. This is where both she and I were influenced by the plain lifestyle. Even though she grew up around the Amish and Mennonite, they were not an influence on her. Though I hope that someday she will post on why she felt convicted to cover.
Because I had been raised in a non plain family I struggled with both wanting to appease the UPCI and also obey my convictions and also my understanding of what the Bible refers to as a "peculiar people".
Eventually I stubbornly held by my convictions that Christians should not be camouflaged as heathens, but rather that they should stand out and be peculiar-even if we are plain and unassuming at the same time.
I'll describe myself. I have short brown hair, a beard that is about 20"s long. I wear button-up long-sleeve shirts.
My favorite is one that Elizabeth made for me. Another post I'd like to see her do, I've never worn a better shirt. It was her first one too.
I wear broadfall pants. If any of you guys have questions about them feel free to ask. I'll never go back to zippers and belts.
I also wear a typical straw hat like you would see on an Amish man. I wear one pair of boots that are leather pull-on. I feel strongly that men should only wear boots as they are the one type of footwear that conveys a man is always ready for work whenever and wherever it may need to be done.
I feel no shame in admitting that when I buy boots, that they usually cost about 120$. That may seem expensive but when considering that they will last me easily three and maybe as much as five years that is a good use of money. That comes down to 3 dollars and thirty three cense a month. That is being a proper steward of your money. And when you consider that my latest pair can be resoled, that's an even greater increase on the savings.
In a day when cheap boots may only last a year or less and still cost 40-60$, it is much wiser to forgo the cheap boots and to purchase the expensive quality boots. Call it a guilty pleasure as we "stewards of our money" are prone to say at such an extravagance, but the savings are real and cannot be denied.
Now back to the real point. The Bible tells us that we are a peculiar people 1st Peter 2:9. The real meaning of that word "peculiar" in the Greek is that we are a possession of God's.
I always drew issue with men that felt they had to make up for their inability to be as distinguished as their female counterparts. These were the men that would wear clothes that said "Jesus" or a Bible verse on it. It just seems desperate and tacky to me. Our sainthood should stand on it's own.
I've never had to resort to that, yet people still always know that I am a Christian. Some people ask me if I am Brethren, others ask me if I am Amish, others ask me if i am Mennonite, others even ask if I'm Mormon. I always tell them no-I am a plain Pentecostal, also known as a Porter.
Elizabeth and I were rejected by the UPCI, at least locally, for holding to our convictions. The UPCI has a strict "no beard" policy. I've yet to find the scripture to justify their stance, so instead of debating-I simply and passively walk away. Both parties feeling as though they have lost nothing.
The mentioned church feels that it is ridden of a problem and I leave feeling I am free to be genuine to my convictions and am not bound to appeasing them anymore.
The modern UPCI church has a problem with retaining male membership. One of the foremost reasons for this is that they undermine the masculinity of men that desire to join or have joined. The picture of an ideal Pentecostal male is a clean-cut suit wearing pencil-pushing accountant type.
I'll never look like that.
The female youth of the church are taught to pursue men that look like the aforementioned, when they are unable to find him they begin to feel dejected and gradually fade out of the church. It's a sad cycle that no one seems to be trying to do anything about.
I may have left the UPCI, but I in no way have left my walk with God.
The shame is, that aside from a few of the UPCI's standards being wrong-overall they have all of the doctrine right. Though I would prefer they use prayer rooms instead of being so ostentatious.
If you are a woman and attend a United Pentecostal Church International service, it's very easy to tell who is and is not a member of the church. You simply look for the tell tale signs: uncut hair, floor length skirts/dresses, unpeirced ears, no tattoos, skin covered.
But if you are a male, you are kind of stuck. Regardless of how dedicated you are to the Lord and your congregation you are virtually incapable of separating yourself from the heathens of the world. Sure you can make yourself look "clean cut", but so can any other man, not to mention So What? If being "clean cut" is the measure of a separated and saintly man, then there is a multitude of heathens that are passing themselves off as saints and are completely unaware of their false impression.
Here is where it may get a little breathy. When Elizabeth and I lived in North Manchester Indiana we attended two meeting houses there. Both were part of the Old German Baptist Brethren assembly. This is where both she and I were influenced by the plain lifestyle. Even though she grew up around the Amish and Mennonite, they were not an influence on her. Though I hope that someday she will post on why she felt convicted to cover.
Because I had been raised in a non plain family I struggled with both wanting to appease the UPCI and also obey my convictions and also my understanding of what the Bible refers to as a "peculiar people".
Eventually I stubbornly held by my convictions that Christians should not be camouflaged as heathens, but rather that they should stand out and be peculiar-even if we are plain and unassuming at the same time.
I'll describe myself. I have short brown hair, a beard that is about 20"s long. I wear button-up long-sleeve shirts.
My favorite is one that Elizabeth made for me. Another post I'd like to see her do, I've never worn a better shirt. It was her first one too.
I wear broadfall pants. If any of you guys have questions about them feel free to ask. I'll never go back to zippers and belts.
I also wear a typical straw hat like you would see on an Amish man. I wear one pair of boots that are leather pull-on. I feel strongly that men should only wear boots as they are the one type of footwear that conveys a man is always ready for work whenever and wherever it may need to be done.
I feel no shame in admitting that when I buy boots, that they usually cost about 120$. That may seem expensive but when considering that they will last me easily three and maybe as much as five years that is a good use of money. That comes down to 3 dollars and thirty three cense a month. That is being a proper steward of your money. And when you consider that my latest pair can be resoled, that's an even greater increase on the savings.
In a day when cheap boots may only last a year or less and still cost 40-60$, it is much wiser to forgo the cheap boots and to purchase the expensive quality boots. Call it a guilty pleasure as we "stewards of our money" are prone to say at such an extravagance, but the savings are real and cannot be denied.
Now back to the real point. The Bible tells us that we are a peculiar people 1st Peter 2:9. The real meaning of that word "peculiar" in the Greek is that we are a possession of God's.
I always drew issue with men that felt they had to make up for their inability to be as distinguished as their female counterparts. These were the men that would wear clothes that said "Jesus" or a Bible verse on it. It just seems desperate and tacky to me. Our sainthood should stand on it's own.
I've never had to resort to that, yet people still always know that I am a Christian. Some people ask me if I am Brethren, others ask me if I am Amish, others ask me if i am Mennonite, others even ask if I'm Mormon. I always tell them no-I am a plain Pentecostal, also known as a Porter.
Elizabeth and I were rejected by the UPCI, at least locally, for holding to our convictions. The UPCI has a strict "no beard" policy. I've yet to find the scripture to justify their stance, so instead of debating-I simply and passively walk away. Both parties feeling as though they have lost nothing.
The mentioned church feels that it is ridden of a problem and I leave feeling I am free to be genuine to my convictions and am not bound to appeasing them anymore.
The modern UPCI church has a problem with retaining male membership. One of the foremost reasons for this is that they undermine the masculinity of men that desire to join or have joined. The picture of an ideal Pentecostal male is a clean-cut suit wearing pencil-pushing accountant type.
I'll never look like that.
The female youth of the church are taught to pursue men that look like the aforementioned, when they are unable to find him they begin to feel dejected and gradually fade out of the church. It's a sad cycle that no one seems to be trying to do anything about.
I may have left the UPCI, but I in no way have left my walk with God.
The shame is, that aside from a few of the UPCI's standards being wrong-overall they have all of the doctrine right. Though I would prefer they use prayer rooms instead of being so ostentatious.
Our Children's Education
Our children will be either educated in a schoolhouse of children that are like-believers, or they will be home-schooled.
Either way, daughters will be expected to help at home and sons will be expected to pursue trades.
Recent history has shown many people that pursuing college comes at a cost that pays off in no way. Life does not need to be complicated by false promises from "for profit" educational institutions.
Student debt causes a type of slavery that only aids the school attended and indentures the former student for many decades of their life.
Our children will be expected to speak fine English and be knowledgeable in a multitude of topics. We do believe in education, but we feel strongly that it should come from the home.
When a child is raised away from a tv and computer, that child finds a large amount of time that they are able to dedicate to reading and studying various topics. Learning should be and is a pleasurable pursuit.
And for the child that doesn't enjoy learning, they will always have their trade/hobby to fill their time.
Learning and work is not all there is to youth, but this and the previous posting cover those sections of a child's life.
Either way, daughters will be expected to help at home and sons will be expected to pursue trades.
Recent history has shown many people that pursuing college comes at a cost that pays off in no way. Life does not need to be complicated by false promises from "for profit" educational institutions.
Student debt causes a type of slavery that only aids the school attended and indentures the former student for many decades of their life.
Our children will be expected to speak fine English and be knowledgeable in a multitude of topics. We do believe in education, but we feel strongly that it should come from the home.
When a child is raised away from a tv and computer, that child finds a large amount of time that they are able to dedicate to reading and studying various topics. Learning should be and is a pleasurable pursuit.
And for the child that doesn't enjoy learning, they will always have their trade/hobby to fill their time.
Learning and work is not all there is to youth, but this and the previous posting cover those sections of a child's life.
The Trades Of Our Sons
Daily as a Porter Elizabeth and I are thinking about the trades in which our sons will be brought up. From the ages of five up till their tenth birthday our sons will know to study and familiarize themselves with various trades. The day of their tenth birthday they will be expected to dedicate themselves to a trade. If they decide to change trades that will be fine. They will always have an occupation to fall back on. Their practicing of their trade will be financed by us, their parents. They will be expected to be expert and professional in their trade by the time they leave the house.
The only qualifications their trade must follow is that:
1. It must not utilize electricity
2. It must be able to be done on the property
3. Classes away from the farm are acceptable
4. In some cases it may be necessary to have a teacher come to the farm
Elizabeth and I are learned in various crafts, however we are professional in none of them. Had we been raised the way our children will be, I think that would be different. The time from ten years of age up to the age of leaving the home-whether that be 18 or even 25, is more than sufficient to be expert in a craft whether that be shoe-making or blacksmithing or wheelwrighting or even plane making.
Our sons will be provided with all the source material they could possibly need. They will also be provided with all the finest tools they should need. If ever they decide to change trades, the tools and materials will be kept and used with a different child that chooses that specific trade. If no other child pursues that trade, then the materials will be saved for grandchildren or sold to a family that needs it for their child. Resources and materials are too precious to be sold out of the community.
We are ever expanding our library to suit our life. We don't believe in public education but we do believe in home education. I'll expound on that in another post.
To bless our children with a trade and occupation is in our opinion the greatest gift of all. Much more valuable than a student loan or diploma. No job application required and they can work from home as their own boss. The way life was before the industrial revolution.
The only qualifications their trade must follow is that:
1. It must not utilize electricity
2. It must be able to be done on the property
3. Classes away from the farm are acceptable
4. In some cases it may be necessary to have a teacher come to the farm
Elizabeth and I are learned in various crafts, however we are professional in none of them. Had we been raised the way our children will be, I think that would be different. The time from ten years of age up to the age of leaving the home-whether that be 18 or even 25, is more than sufficient to be expert in a craft whether that be shoe-making or blacksmithing or wheelwrighting or even plane making.
Our sons will be provided with all the source material they could possibly need. They will also be provided with all the finest tools they should need. If ever they decide to change trades, the tools and materials will be kept and used with a different child that chooses that specific trade. If no other child pursues that trade, then the materials will be saved for grandchildren or sold to a family that needs it for their child. Resources and materials are too precious to be sold out of the community.
We are ever expanding our library to suit our life. We don't believe in public education but we do believe in home education. I'll expound on that in another post.
To bless our children with a trade and occupation is in our opinion the greatest gift of all. Much more valuable than a student loan or diploma. No job application required and they can work from home as their own boss. The way life was before the industrial revolution.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Our Lives
I'd just like to say this blog is still active. We've gone through some changes and adjustments over the last half year.
Elizabeth Ann is focusing on her Masters while I am on the road Monday through Friday. This week has been nice, I've only spent one night away from home.
Elizabeth has been taking a quilting class once a month that seems to be teaching her plenty. I thought she knew all there was to know about sewing so this is a great thing for our family.
Until recently I had been going out to Eureka Springs to learn the art of wooden handplane making. I've been amassing my collection of tools so that when the time comes, I can walk away from trucking and pursue tool making.
My teachers have taught me enough to get me going on my own. It's now time for me to sink or swim in my own "shop". With my current schedule I only have Saturdays available on a consistent basis. This will still be enough time for me to really dive deep and rely on the knowledge and experience that I have. I've got plenty of notes and books and if I find myself stumped I am sure that my teachers will help me out.
Getting started isn't easy. There is alot to know with regards to tools and techniques both of the instruments utilized to create the planes and also of the planes themselves. So many subtle details go into the creation of a single plane that even a craftsmen himself can and will still be learning about his creation 15 years down the road.
I don't expect to be rich making planes for a living, but it will able me to be home, and that is what is most important to me.
Elizabeth and my mother have been working feverishly caning fruit from the orchard and produce from the farmers market. Amongst all the jam there are now also 11 qts and 3 pints of tomato sauce. That is alot for anyone familiar with caning.
Our chickens are still doing fine. Big Bird decided to become broody for a while so to amuse her we gave her to false eggs. They were ceramic. She was so proud of them, but after three weeks of not getting off the nest for any real amount of time, we decided it would be best to take them away. That was our lesson on why a broody hen is a bad thing.
We also decided it would be best to build a chicken run and to put the chicken tractor inside of it. They've got less space than I'd prefer but they seem to be happy.
Building the run was quick and simple and has worked very well to date. We simply put some T-posts in the ground along the perimeter we decided and connected some wire fence using zip-ties. Their run meets against a horse paddock that has a wooden fence. We put two nails in a post to work as a "fence-catch", and it's worked very well as a gate. The only trouble we've had with the run is that sometimes the nails will come loose and also the chickens like to dig at the gate-bottom. We've taken care of that by laying some fence posts and a hay bale over their hole. I suspect they use that hole to get away from the sun.
They really appreciated all the caning scraps we gave them. For people that haven't had chickens before, if they are happy-they will let you know it! Our chickens sometimes sound like they are purring!
I am sure there is plenty more for us to tell you about. But for a quick update this should do alot.
Michael and Elizabeth McCartan
The Porters
Elizabeth Ann is focusing on her Masters while I am on the road Monday through Friday. This week has been nice, I've only spent one night away from home.
Elizabeth has been taking a quilting class once a month that seems to be teaching her plenty. I thought she knew all there was to know about sewing so this is a great thing for our family.
Until recently I had been going out to Eureka Springs to learn the art of wooden handplane making. I've been amassing my collection of tools so that when the time comes, I can walk away from trucking and pursue tool making.
My teachers have taught me enough to get me going on my own. It's now time for me to sink or swim in my own "shop". With my current schedule I only have Saturdays available on a consistent basis. This will still be enough time for me to really dive deep and rely on the knowledge and experience that I have. I've got plenty of notes and books and if I find myself stumped I am sure that my teachers will help me out.
Getting started isn't easy. There is alot to know with regards to tools and techniques both of the instruments utilized to create the planes and also of the planes themselves. So many subtle details go into the creation of a single plane that even a craftsmen himself can and will still be learning about his creation 15 years down the road.
I don't expect to be rich making planes for a living, but it will able me to be home, and that is what is most important to me.
Elizabeth and my mother have been working feverishly caning fruit from the orchard and produce from the farmers market. Amongst all the jam there are now also 11 qts and 3 pints of tomato sauce. That is alot for anyone familiar with caning.
Our chickens are still doing fine. Big Bird decided to become broody for a while so to amuse her we gave her to false eggs. They were ceramic. She was so proud of them, but after three weeks of not getting off the nest for any real amount of time, we decided it would be best to take them away. That was our lesson on why a broody hen is a bad thing.
We also decided it would be best to build a chicken run and to put the chicken tractor inside of it. They've got less space than I'd prefer but they seem to be happy.
Building the run was quick and simple and has worked very well to date. We simply put some T-posts in the ground along the perimeter we decided and connected some wire fence using zip-ties. Their run meets against a horse paddock that has a wooden fence. We put two nails in a post to work as a "fence-catch", and it's worked very well as a gate. The only trouble we've had with the run is that sometimes the nails will come loose and also the chickens like to dig at the gate-bottom. We've taken care of that by laying some fence posts and a hay bale over their hole. I suspect they use that hole to get away from the sun.
They really appreciated all the caning scraps we gave them. For people that haven't had chickens before, if they are happy-they will let you know it! Our chickens sometimes sound like they are purring!
I am sure there is plenty more for us to tell you about. But for a quick update this should do alot.
Michael and Elizabeth McCartan
The Porters
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Tonight
This posting is about how our "witness" is not about us, but rather about others.
I'm not sure where to start with this but it seems that in most cases that if I ramble that I somehow say every thing the right way the first time.
I'm finishing my second to last week of truckdriving, I'll be home probably by the time this is published. Tonight I am in Chetopa Kansas, a town not too far from the Missouri/Oklahoma state lines. I have a delivery here in-town that I was hoping to make tonight. The way that the facility is that I'm delivering to, you have to take a two-lane road and hope that the gate is open further down the road. If the facility is closed and therefor also the gate, you have no choice but to drive the full-length of 14 miles before you can turn around again. This being my first (and probably last) time here to this facility, wasn't aware of this. I called the plant ahead of my arrival, but being as it was closed, it was of no help. You can count all of this as a preface to the story.
I took the turn onto the highway that has the gate to the facility. Seeing that I had no choice but to continue on down the road, I kept going and going, all fourteen miles of it. I reached a small intersection and was able to maneuver myself into a U-turn, not always an easy thing to do in a semi.
I started my way back to Chetopa, thinking about all of the events through the day that had raised my stress and made me wonder what my purpose was. I thought about the gusts of forty mile an hour wind; the beating sun on my truck, it may be 60 degrees outside but the sun can make a driver feel like meat in a microwave; the frustration of potholes and cracks in pavement; the loneliness of the open road. I don't write all of this to induce sympathy, but just to show a relation that everyone feels. Whether you are a secretary for a company or a driver of a truck, we all wonder if we are here on this earth for a productive reason.
I finally came past the plant and sure enough I could tell for certain this time, I'd have to wait till the morning. So after my thirty minute detour, I decided to go a little further into town to a place where I saw a restaurant and some truck parking. I learned later the the restaurant is named "The Hornet's Nest".
I parked my truck in the mostly empty lot and waited to see if there was any movement in the building. I didn't see any signs of life, but once I saw an SUV park in their parking lot I figured I couldn't lose much.
I met the tail end of the trio that came out of the SUV at the entrance of the establishment. Two women and a boy of about six years of age. He reminded me alot of myself. Wide-eyed and full of optimism. The two women had ordered and the boy(Matthias) interjected that he wanted a rootbeer. I thought that a good idea and asked for the same to compliment a BLT that I had ordered. The trio had sat down. The waitress handed me my drink and as the order would take some time I looked for places to sit. I chose a booth that was next to theirs.
I liked Matthias and wanted to enjoy more of his happy personality.
I had only just asked if it was alright if I could sit there when the boys mother apologized for her dishevelment. I told her that I understood and thought nothing of it.
A conversation quickly began that spanned her lifetime in only a matter of minutes. A quick summation. I asked her what her church history was, she let me know that she has been raised Pentecostal and had married a young Pentecostal man in her youth. She let me know that she had two other children with him, both in their mid teens.
She continued to confide in me about her life and how it had become something outside of her control, that she felt abased and contrite but yet still felt that there was great distance between her and a relationship with God.
This was not a private conversation. There were several people that were able to hear this conversation, but were not a part of it.
I don't relay this story with the intent of glorifying myself, or exploiting this woman's situation. The intent of this story is to show that even I as an insignificant truck driver with limited social contact still have a place in God's plan and design.
I know that I seek the Lord, that he leads me and uses me in his own surprising way. I don't count myself as a prideful man, but after seeing the genuine love and humility in this woman's eyes for God, I truly feel deeply lacking in facets of my faith that I had no idea were there and void. I have few words that can describe the depth of this woman's faith. I genuinely seek to recreate it in my life. I have not seen it but a few times in all of the places that I have travelled to.
Our conversation lasted probably 25-35 minutes, it was deep and healthy. Two Pentecostals talking about their faith. As the conversation came to it's end, she related her fear of sinning and was uncertain of what the future held for her. I told her to repeat back to me something I have come to understand. "The life of a saint is lonely". I could write an entire post on that alone. I told her that when she felt weak to remember our conversation. I still don't know her name, but I'm sure the tears she cried at the table tonight are in a vial in heaven. Psalm 56:8.
I probably could have written this better or may have said too little/too much, but the point is once again, she was very thankful for me to be there and listen to her and to giver her advice. If I had changed any aspect of my day or even if I lacked the faith that God would use me as he saw fit, I could have very-well lost that opportunity to bring someone struggling in their life back to God. If I had not been inconvenienced by my half-hour detour, I would have completely missed her.
When you are upset about traffic or being late to work, or feeling uneasy about an appointment you have, remember this-The Lord Is Using You For His Kingdom. Even in discomfort and displeasure we are witnesses for His sake.
Tonight has much to teach me about a genuine relationship with God.
Elizabeth and I are the only "Porters" that we really know, but the heart of this woman is what every Porter everywhere should strive for.
I gave her the link for this blog, I pray that we hear from her. I know that the Lord is using her and has plans for her in His design. She'll be a reliable example for her son.
-Michael McCartan
I'm not sure where to start with this but it seems that in most cases that if I ramble that I somehow say every thing the right way the first time.
I'm finishing my second to last week of truckdriving, I'll be home probably by the time this is published. Tonight I am in Chetopa Kansas, a town not too far from the Missouri/Oklahoma state lines. I have a delivery here in-town that I was hoping to make tonight. The way that the facility is that I'm delivering to, you have to take a two-lane road and hope that the gate is open further down the road. If the facility is closed and therefor also the gate, you have no choice but to drive the full-length of 14 miles before you can turn around again. This being my first (and probably last) time here to this facility, wasn't aware of this. I called the plant ahead of my arrival, but being as it was closed, it was of no help. You can count all of this as a preface to the story.
I took the turn onto the highway that has the gate to the facility. Seeing that I had no choice but to continue on down the road, I kept going and going, all fourteen miles of it. I reached a small intersection and was able to maneuver myself into a U-turn, not always an easy thing to do in a semi.
I started my way back to Chetopa, thinking about all of the events through the day that had raised my stress and made me wonder what my purpose was. I thought about the gusts of forty mile an hour wind; the beating sun on my truck, it may be 60 degrees outside but the sun can make a driver feel like meat in a microwave; the frustration of potholes and cracks in pavement; the loneliness of the open road. I don't write all of this to induce sympathy, but just to show a relation that everyone feels. Whether you are a secretary for a company or a driver of a truck, we all wonder if we are here on this earth for a productive reason.
I finally came past the plant and sure enough I could tell for certain this time, I'd have to wait till the morning. So after my thirty minute detour, I decided to go a little further into town to a place where I saw a restaurant and some truck parking. I learned later the the restaurant is named "The Hornet's Nest".
I parked my truck in the mostly empty lot and waited to see if there was any movement in the building. I didn't see any signs of life, but once I saw an SUV park in their parking lot I figured I couldn't lose much.
I met the tail end of the trio that came out of the SUV at the entrance of the establishment. Two women and a boy of about six years of age. He reminded me alot of myself. Wide-eyed and full of optimism. The two women had ordered and the boy(Matthias) interjected that he wanted a rootbeer. I thought that a good idea and asked for the same to compliment a BLT that I had ordered. The trio had sat down. The waitress handed me my drink and as the order would take some time I looked for places to sit. I chose a booth that was next to theirs.
I liked Matthias and wanted to enjoy more of his happy personality.
I had only just asked if it was alright if I could sit there when the boys mother apologized for her dishevelment. I told her that I understood and thought nothing of it.
A conversation quickly began that spanned her lifetime in only a matter of minutes. A quick summation. I asked her what her church history was, she let me know that she has been raised Pentecostal and had married a young Pentecostal man in her youth. She let me know that she had two other children with him, both in their mid teens.
She continued to confide in me about her life and how it had become something outside of her control, that she felt abased and contrite but yet still felt that there was great distance between her and a relationship with God.
This was not a private conversation. There were several people that were able to hear this conversation, but were not a part of it.
I don't relay this story with the intent of glorifying myself, or exploiting this woman's situation. The intent of this story is to show that even I as an insignificant truck driver with limited social contact still have a place in God's plan and design.
I know that I seek the Lord, that he leads me and uses me in his own surprising way. I don't count myself as a prideful man, but after seeing the genuine love and humility in this woman's eyes for God, I truly feel deeply lacking in facets of my faith that I had no idea were there and void. I have few words that can describe the depth of this woman's faith. I genuinely seek to recreate it in my life. I have not seen it but a few times in all of the places that I have travelled to.
Our conversation lasted probably 25-35 minutes, it was deep and healthy. Two Pentecostals talking about their faith. As the conversation came to it's end, she related her fear of sinning and was uncertain of what the future held for her. I told her to repeat back to me something I have come to understand. "The life of a saint is lonely". I could write an entire post on that alone. I told her that when she felt weak to remember our conversation. I still don't know her name, but I'm sure the tears she cried at the table tonight are in a vial in heaven. Psalm 56:8.
I probably could have written this better or may have said too little/too much, but the point is once again, she was very thankful for me to be there and listen to her and to giver her advice. If I had changed any aspect of my day or even if I lacked the faith that God would use me as he saw fit, I could have very-well lost that opportunity to bring someone struggling in their life back to God. If I had not been inconvenienced by my half-hour detour, I would have completely missed her.
When you are upset about traffic or being late to work, or feeling uneasy about an appointment you have, remember this-The Lord Is Using You For His Kingdom. Even in discomfort and displeasure we are witnesses for His sake.
Tonight has much to teach me about a genuine relationship with God.
Elizabeth and I are the only "Porters" that we really know, but the heart of this woman is what every Porter everywhere should strive for.
I gave her the link for this blog, I pray that we hear from her. I know that the Lord is using her and has plans for her in His design. She'll be a reliable example for her son.
-Michael McCartan
Friday, February 10, 2012
A little bit more about us...
To understand the purpose of this blog it helps to understand whom Elizabeth and I are; where we are coming from and to where we are going.
We are both simple people, we know where we stand on faith issues and our greatest pleasures come from the simplicities of living a natural life.
We've been married for five years as of May 25th 2012. Two things brought our marriage together: faith and homesteading. When Elizabeth and I met we were both on the same page in terms of our theology and our desire to homestead, for us the two are almost inseparable. I'm trying to make this as simple as possible, but with all things in our life, it is all intricate.
Elizabeth and I were what the world calls "fundamentalist Christians", we now look back and think that is a joke compared to where we are now. After we were married it seemed that we only became more and more conservative as the months went by. We struggled deeply with our desire to blend into a crowd, but our overwhelming convictions had greater control over our decisions. Elizabeth and I both come from families that can easily blend into any American scene, Elizabeth and I however are anything but that. In a day and age when most Christians look no different than heathens, Elizabeth and I stand out as the exception. We don't accept the idea that as Christians we are to be "separated" but yet still be identical to "the world".
To make this easier for everyone to understand in the most simple of comparisons I will explain like this; we have the theology of the UPCI, the wisdom and preaching of the Old German Baptist Brethren, and the lifestyle of the Amish. Now to get quicker to the point I will explain this, we currently are not living off the land as we desire yet, nor are we horse and buggy yet. Being as we come from non-plain families, our conversion to the simple life that we desire is taking longer than we'd both prefer. That being said, we have both committed to making the big jump in what is now approximately 4 years and 10 months.
To make a full conversion and to learn all that we will need to know, it is best to make the process as long as is tolerable. There are so many topics to study and so much experience that is needed to be garnered.
To be clear on all topics; we will not have electricity.
We still discuss where we stand on plumbing. We both know ourselves well enough to know that if we declared now that we will have plumbing in the future, that we could end up changing our minds and appearing as liars. One of our greatest precepts that determine our methods is, Work with nature-Not against it. God designed this world to function a specific way and it is up to us to obey his design.
In this blog Elizabeth and I will do our best to keep everyone up-to-date on where we stand with our "conversion". Every week we are learning lessons that we can take to our farm, we'll relay those lessons and information to you.
Here are some basics on the two of us. We are both college graduates, Elizabeth is currently studying to get her masters in business. She works in an office for a large company. I on the other-hand drive a semi for a relatively small trucking company. On Saturday's I am learning the art of "wooden hand plane making" in the town of Eureka Springs, AR. The two of us have many story's that will be finding their way onto this blog in just a matter of time, check back often!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Beekeeping - Part I
And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and HONEY; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee. - Deuteronomy 27:3
Although bees are not native to North America and technically therefore an invasive species, many people enjoy raising them. What other livestock can you raise 100,000 head in such a small space? Tinier than any other animal on the farm, but they are much smarter than any chicken or sheep. They exemplify teamwork, steadfastness, and personal sacrifice for the common good.
I have been attending beekeeping classes at the local university; three hours per session and a three part series. I would like to start keeping bees this year but need to watch my schedule. Beekeeping, much like chicken rearing, is a process of learning that should not be taken lightly. I learned much about my chickens just by sitting outside and watching them for hours at a time. The more time you spend with your animals, the easier it is to recognize sickness, the foods they desire, and pecking orders. I have come to recognize vitamin deficiencies by watching them eat certain plants and what I deem inedibles. Bees are no different.
When I start beekeeping, I want to sit outside and study them for hours. One of the things that amazed me during class was the rainbow colors of pollen. Bees will only gather from one species of plant every trip and pack that into its own waxy cell.
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| Different colors of pollen - Courtesy of The Vintage Bee Company |
As to what kind of beehive, Robo at Bushkill Farms has a wonderful analysis on his youtube channel and his blog. You can find him at http://robo.bushkillfarms.com. Although, I am drawn to the top bar hive due to its cheap status and hippy-ish design (it was created for the people of Africa to house bees who have no access to traditional lumber as we know it); I am also interested in the Langstroth hive for its traditionalism and ability to stack supers on top of one another. Once I get started on this project, I may just have to try both! One of the great things about the Langstroth hive is the ability to integrate a Freeman Beetle Trap which is becoming a rather big problem here in the South.
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| Langstroth Hive - Courtesy of NC State University |
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| Top Bar Hive - Courtesy of The Garden Hive |
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| Freeman Beetle Trap in Action |
A super is a box where surplus honey is stored by the hive. Boxes are added as needed and removed during the honey harvest. For those that are small-framed women, the Langstroth honey supers can prove too heavy to safely lift but there are options. Supers come in three sizes: shallow (approx. 35 lbs. full), medium or Illinois super (50 lbs.) and the traditional deep (90 lbs.). I will mostly be sticking to the shallows and mediums. It will probably not occur your first year, but during the second, you may be stacking your supers way over your head. Balancing heavy boxes full of bees and honey on a ladder may not be the best situation.
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| Courtesy of the University of Missouri |
Beekeeping links:
http://www.freemanbeetletrap.com/
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Raising Chickens
When our four ladies first made it to the farm last summer, I spent hours sitting in the sun watching them. Now that the temperature has dropped and the spring rains of Arkansas have started, I do not spend so much time with them.
Our coop is a simple A-frame with no artificial lighting. Although we may be losing out on egg production, we feel that all creatures deserve a rest and if God intended them to stop laying when the number of sunny hours decreases then so be it. Interesting enough, egg production ceased only for about two weeks in mid-December.
Now that January is almost over, I am back up to four eggs a day. I am already back into baking/hard boiling mode and desperately giving them away. Even with the temperature dropping below the freezing mark, our girls stayed nice and warm bundled up in their straw. They did lose some weight, but they are looking better than ever with their feathers coming in. When Michael brought them home for me, their backs were bald from an over-zealous rooster. The worst of the bunch was our Barred Rock, “Baldy.” She feathered out quicker than the others and now we have a hard time telling the two apart!
Chicken projects for this summer include attaching wheels to the coop and constructing a type of detachable outdoor pen. The first, will make it much easier to move. The second will give the chickens more room to dig and graze. Unfortunately, with all the wandering neighborhood dogs, we cannot let our chickens out during the day unattended.
Now that January is almost over, I am back up to four eggs a day. I am already back into baking/hard boiling mode and desperately giving them away. Even with the temperature dropping below the freezing mark, our girls stayed nice and warm bundled up in their straw. They did lose some weight, but they are looking better than ever with their feathers coming in. When Michael brought them home for me, their backs were bald from an over-zealous rooster. The worst of the bunch was our Barred Rock, “Baldy.” She feathered out quicker than the others and now we have a hard time telling the two apart!
Baldy
Chicken projects for this summer include attaching wheels to the coop and constructing a type of detachable outdoor pen. The first, will make it much easier to move. The second will give the chickens more room to dig and graze. Unfortunately, with all the wandering neighborhood dogs, we cannot let our chickens out during the day unattended.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
What this blog is about....
This blog will be a place for us to post information about homesteading, sewing for plain men and women, non-electric woodworking and biblical studies.
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