Son of a Farmer

As hungry/thirsty birds have migrated into my garden, they have been helping themselves to my tomatoes a day or two before they were ripe. So, like most gardeners, I simply began picking the tomatoes before they got to the tempting stage for the birds to peck.

Many gardeners will put fruits or vegetables inside a kitchen window, where they get a few hours of sunlight to help ripen them before eating or storing in the refrigerator. A friend of mine sent me an email a week or two ago about lengthening  the storage of tomatoes outside the refrigerator. By placing the tomatoes with the stem-side downward, tomatoes stay fresh longer. Sure enough, it worked. Not sure if other fruits work the same way, but do your own experiments and find out.

Remember as a child watching episodes of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, The Jetsons, or Star Trek? Many of us thought, “Man, the future is going to be so easy with all those robots, fancy gadgets, and easy-to-open doors.”

A full decade into the 21st century, our future may not be so bright…or easy. Even with solar, wind, and other renewable energies finally receiving the proper attention these days, those products and other clever inventions require what is called “rare earth elements” to make them function properly.

Problem is, China owns that entire industry. One hundred percent of rare earth metals and 94% of rare earth oxides come from China. (Read entire article.)

For example, all magnetic motors in computers, defense weapons, energy,  and hybrid vehicles require neodymium. Almost all the neodymium on the planet is manufactured in China. How did this happen? China began investing in the rare earths as early as the 1970s, while the United States and other countries have yet to invest sufficiently in this market even to this day.

So, as we continue to enjoy the lap of luxury with all these clever inventions of modern technology, we must keep in mind there is a shelf life of such things as we continue to live on a finite planet with ever decreasing finite resources. Particularly when a country thousands of miles away owns all the proper ingredients to make these items we’ve grown so attached to.

Despite the recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which prevented selling of genetically-modified alfalfa in the country, GMOs continue to dominate American commodity crops, particularly canola, cotton, corn, and soybeans.

GMO Crops Planted in the United States

Soybeans – 91%

Corn – 85%

Cotton – 88%

Canola – 80-85%

A recent article in the New York Times highlighted how GE (genetically-engineered) canola is spreading wild across the landscape in ditches, yards, etc. How will this impact the rest of Nature? Good question. We’re still Monsanto’s experimental greenhouse.

I continue to get frustrated with my fellow farmers. A recent conversation confirmed this with farmers from two different generations. They tell me they don’t have a choice but to grow Monsanto’s GMOs because of weed issues in fields.

The longer we rely on chemicals, the more difficult it will prove to be to survive in the near future. As we continue to destroy soil quality in exchange for cheap crops and products, we’ll find the true value of our future sooner than later.

An environmental group in France invaded a vineyard that had been conducting experiments with GE or GMO (genetically-modified organisms) grapes. Dozens of French protesters destroyed two vineyards, uprooting all 70 plants. I would like to personally congratulate these people on a job well done.

As if dominating commercial agriculture with four major commodity crops isn’t enough, these genetic corporations such as Monsanto, DuPont, Bayer Crop Science, Syngenta, and others continue to seek higher profits and further domination of our world’s food supply. As long as they exist, no crop is safe these days. We must continue to safeguard our food and seed supply not just in America but in each nation. As farmers, gardeners, and naturalists we must join forces to ensure these companies do not take over yet another aspect of life as we sit idly by. Stand up, speak up, and refuse to do business with such corporations.

Here we are four months after the original explosion and leak of BP’s Deepwater Horizon well in the Gulf of Mexico, and no end is in sight. As BP, our own Federal Government, and others continue lying to us, we’re suppose to accept what they say as sincere. We’re suppose to take their ‘damage control’ commercials extorting common people stating “we’re doing everything we can” and feel like everything is okay.

Talking heads on television were at first comparing this as Obama’s “Hurricane Katrina” in terms of relating it to President George W. Bush’s failing of acting presidential in catastrophic times. I believe it to be Obama’s 9/11. As our government continues to cover-up the real story of what happened and what is continuing to happen in and along the ocean. Dedicated workers (fisherman, etc.) trying to help contain the spill are forced to sign a contract forbidding them from speaking of the truths with the media.

More reports are coming out of a second well that is leaking six to seven miles away. Matthew Simmons, former energy advisor to W. Bush and Peak Oil expert, was sounding this horn months ago. Simmons, author of Twilight in the Desert, died suddenly of a heart attack this past week.

The real horror in this is that yet again we’re being lied to, mind-controlled by yet another corporation more concerned with profit margins and stock holders than our beloved ocean and environment.They wanted to control the leak with chemical dispersents (more toxic than the oil itself), pushing it under the water and out of site, causing more long-term damage to ocean life and humanity.

It is difficult to trust anything our government and especially BP is or is not saying about this catastrophe. For those who live in or near the Gulf, I encourage you to speak up and relay the truth to the rest of us.

Latest interview on Be the Change Radio in New York. A big thanks to Amy for a nice conversation. Bulk of it entails what we’re putting into our bodies, and its effects on our energy level and overall health.

As we experienced yet another crazy summer in West Texas, Mother Nature was a little neurotic. Early July gave birth to widespread rainfall and flooding across the South Plains. This was followed by two weeks of cloudy weather and little-to-no sunshine. This was followed by mild temperatures with highs in the low 90s. August has been unmerciful with highs near 100 everyday. Rainclouds rolled through on August 9th, blessing thirsting crops.

No matter who I talk to, plants are maturing late this summer. From the tomato plants of gardeners to cotton crops, blooms and fruit are setting late. With the rainfall, it is easy to expect more than what is there, but it appears the flooding rains and two weeks of minimal (and vital) sunshine set the maturity of all plants back a tad.

One friend who is a beekeeper, said his hives produced no honey this past month. Scratching his head, he figures with the crazy weather, they must have eaten their own honey in order to survive the cloudy spell and few blooms.

Quite bizarre. Interested to hear other weather stories elsewhere. Reports worldwide of “hottest summer ever” but that hasn’t been the case here.

I’ll be speaking at the 10th Annual Renewable Energy Roundup and Green Living Fair in Fredericksburg, Texas, this fall. It has grown into the largest extravaganza on sustainable living in the entire south.  There will be about 50 different speakers covering informative and interesting topics, as well as countless businesses and individuals marketing clever products, inventions, etc.

I’ll be speaking on Saturday, September 25th, concerning global food and fiber crop productions. The topic will address how everyone will be effected by Peak Oil, genetically-modified food/crops, and continuing droughts and flooding, which is making crop harvests more unpredictable to feed 7 billion people on our out-dated production system.

Saw Dirt! The Movie (narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis) last night. Very inspiring and informative documentary concerning our world’s precious topsoil. It reveals in alarming fashion how the Earth’s flesh is being ripped apart simply for financial gain to get to precious metals, minerals, and fossil fuels. We are ignoring our main source of food and living to make money. Also includes vital work initiated by brave leaders across the globe. I highly recommend everyone watching this documentary.

A big thanks to Mike with Blue Planet Almanac radio show in Los Angeles and Amy with Be The Change radio in New York. I really enjoyed being on their shows this week. Give a listen if you get a chance.
Farm life is busy as insects, foliar feeding, plowing weeds, etc. are in high gear. Hopefully rain is on its way for everyone. blue planet almanacbe the change

Gentle rains continue to fall in West Texas, as well as massive flooding in areas.
Communities from Tahoka to Brownfield received up to 15 inches last weekend, flooding crops and shutting down Highway 87 for several days. Never knew it could rain that much at one time here on this desert prairie. Most playas and ponds are spilling over as cloudy, cool weather dominates the days.
We’ve received around 5.5 inches on our farms since June 30th. In total since Thanksgiving we’ve had over 20 inches of rain. Incredible, considering we averaged 10 inches in 2008 and 2009.