Fall, a time of surrender and farewells, a time of endings and long rests; it comes on quiet rustles, painting the landscape with golden hues. The harvests must be gathered and processed and preparations made for the icy winter ahead. No time is enough, for the blast of frosty breath comes all too soon, kissing the vines with instant death. Those that are strong attempt to stand steadfast under the onslaught of the cold, but they too, struggle with their last moments to survive. Yet, there is still much to accomplish. 
The garden was generous in some respects, however; with this short growing season, unless the more tender plants are started in kinder housing, no fruits are forthcoming. The short season squash, like the spaghetti and zucchini, did produce well enough, but the 100 plus day winter squash and pumpkins needed more time. Still, there was a small harvest. The skins were not ready for long term storage though and the fruits must be used very soon. The tomatoes are ripening inside, already picked weeks before the imminent first frost. As they ripen, they are frozen whole for soups and stews in the long winter. The carrots did poorly this year, though the fault was my own, having planted them in too little full sun. I am grateful for the stubby, little ones that are available and must be gathered very soon. 
Some folks adore the autumn. I am not one of them. It seems like an incredible rush against time here. There are still carrots and potatoes to gather, and garlic to plant, yet today, snow came just miles south of us. It will not stay, but it won't be long until it does. 
The summer coops were moved the other day, not too far, or the chickens would not be able to find them. Again, they will be moved into place for the winter, just a bit at a time. Insulation  and tarps need to be readjusted or redone. I cleaned the main chicken coop and put in new straw for the floor and nesting boxes. The Muscovy ducks do not enjoy the cold, likely due to their South American origins. They prefer to sleep in the main insulated coop with the chickens and I have devised a way for them to cohabit without being smacked with droppings. There is a tarp under the chicken roosts to direct the droppings to the floor and keep them off the ducks. 
There are about 20 new chicks, some more mature than others and still two hens attempting to hatch young ones. They will be fine with their little ones because the hens stop to warm the peeping babies more so than the ducks do. 4 Muscovy ducklings were hatched just days ago. They will have a more tying time to make it until they can regulate their own body temperatures. 
Several trees were downed in the windstorms at the beginning of summer and were cut for winter firewood. I have started to gather the wood to near the little farmhouse for use in the tiny wood stove. I hope there is time to pick up the rest of it and stack it. A load of gravel was delivered for the new shop erected this summer, but has not been distributed and it is was dumped in the way of the winter route. It is not a priority and falls after the wood and final resting places and tarps on the shelters for the winter. 
I have yet to locate any straw that is from clean grain. No one around here seems to grow without the use of chemical sprays and since the manure is used in my garden, I certainly do not want to introduce that here. Plus the animals sleep on the straw and should not be subjected to the chemicals for their bedding either. I will have to resort to using hay at twice the cost if I cannot find any clean straw. It is one of the major drawbacks of being here in this area. 
And so, the rush is on. Fall has come, not on soft feet treading lightly, but with a roar and a harsh drop on the temperature, a final onslaught to the beauty of summer. A few petunias, close to the little farmhouse, are struggling to stay abloom. One or two Marigolds still want to flower, even though their foliage has turned black from the frost. But, I have to work now too, and my time is more limited, with 8 hours being dedicated to substitute teaching. Time is of the essence. 
The rustling leaves are saying goodbye to their mothers, carpeting the forest floor with their warmth, sheltering the small creatures and tender new growth. Winter is coming! Winter is coming! 
​Stay warm, dear friends. 

I just watched a video this morning on how to fix our health problem. In North America, currently, 1 out of every 2 people will die from their ailments, including children. This generation of children will not outlive their parents. We have really screwed things up, but there is hope. The solution will not correct itself easily, however; it can be done. 
I came to the land 6 years ago. My search was for a farm that had not been conventionally farmed EVER. What that means, is that it had not been plowed, doused with Roundup (glyphosate) and nitrogen based fertilizers made from petroleum. The land was to be as it always had been, untouched by man, except in a light footprint manner of natural farming long years before. Why? 
Well, the soil is the answer to that. The video I watched this morning confirmed my feelings. In North America, the root of our illnesses, be they mental or physical, begins with the destruction of the bacteria in the soil, which began with the introduction of petroleum based fertilizers in the early part of the century and then with the application of glyphosate on most crops, especially grains, which further destroys all life in the dirt, and subsequently in those who eat from the dirt, aka, us. Many of our pseudo foods, such as tomatoes, never see dirt actually, and are greenhouse grown hydroponically in water with artificial nutrients. The result of that is the tomatoes we eat look pristine, perfect and beautiful, but they are devoid of any nutrition which would have been derived from living outside in natural soil teeming with bacteria. As it turns out, the bacteria are the key to our ecosystems, both internally and externally. I mean, they are the key to life on Earth. 
With over 80% of the world's population living in urban centres and eating foods that are not in any way exposed to these crucial bacteria found in the soil, our guts no longer have the ability to create strong defenses against chronic inflammation in our bodies. This inflammation, chronic as opposed to acute (which happens when we get a sudden injury), is the key to our many illnesses from schizophrenia to Alzheimer's or diabetes. There is a scientific mechanism to explain it in detail, and if you are so inclined please go ahead and do some research yourself on the bacteria, gut and brain connection. 
But here is the dirt on the dirt. This land, this farm in northeastern Alberta, has soil bacteria, though not as much as if it were in an area where the water and air pollution did not bring in fertilizers and Roundup run off and precipitation born particulate. Yet, it is better than any other place where the dirt has been ruined by years of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides and GMO crops.
We need the soil bacteria to populate our intestines so they mitochondria (little cells) can ward off inflammation, which is the key to our mass illnesses and untimely deaths due to such. The pain and suffering in North America is normal. Everyone is taking medication for something. Depression affects 1 in 2 people, children included. Diabetes is almost at that rate too and other chronic illnesses are climbing, including cancers of all sorts. 
Can you fix yourself? Sort of. 
First you need to eat only what your body can readily digest. That means NO dairy (except organic milk made into home made yogurt of kefir), no sweeteners (not even honey or steevia), no grains or pseudo grains (starches such as arrowroot or tapioca or rice flour used to substitute for grain flours) and no nuts or seeds. Eat only vegetables grown organically, not hydroponically organic either, and grass fed pastured meats, nothing processed or out of a package. Start slowly, because it is likely the only foods your guts CAN digest are processed carbohydrates. The rest may cause gas and bloating and other nasty side effects, UNTIL you can tolerate them. Some vegetables are good starters, such as pumpkin or squash. And you need to add some probiotics, like a little juice from home made organic sauerkraut, not the kraut itself initially. Kefir is good too, made from organic milk. By the way, coffee is made from seeds, sorry. Most alcohols are too, drat. 
This is not meant to recommend health treatments. The purpose of the blog is to encourage you to take your health matters into your own hands and learn more. There is a lot of information out there now. Most health practitioners are NOT on board yet and are still pushing medications as stop gap cures without addressing the symptoms at all. 
Do make friends with your local farmers who grow organically in the dirt. Buy all you can from them and eat liberally of the bounty. 
I am considering doing month long retreats at the bed and breakfast accommodation to kick start health. The other components of the retreat would be healing by being in nature and touching the Earth, music, spirituality, relaxation techniques and meal preparation. In one month, I am confident living at the farm will change people for the better. What do you think? 
Anyhow, the old adage, we are what we eat, is never truer than now. Only no one knows how long the soil needs to return to a healthy biome. There is an invasive weed that Mother Earth has sent to help, called Kudza, which will grow in nutritionally empty soil and begin the replenishment of the soil bacteria and nutrients. It is not killed by Roundup, but will destroy Roundup ready GMO crops entirely. I see it as a Godsend, but those making money from the plight of North America are trying their best to eradicate it, of course. If Kudza was permitted to do its work for a few years, it is a highly nutritious forage crop for animals and mediates the chemicals in the soil as well. Instead of growing corn and grain to feed the cows, the cows could be turned out to pasture and eat the Kudza. It would be a win win start to growing healthy soil again, and in turn, helping North Americans heal. 
I am more grateful than ever for my land. At first, it was difficult for me to understand why I was led here, but as the entire story unfolds, I am getting the picture. I feel now, in some way, I need to share this and help others on their healing journeys as well, but the 'how' has not been crystallized in my vision yet. I am sure, without a doubt, that when I am ready, the way will be shown. 
Namaste. May the light and love in you be the light and love in me and mine yours.