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A Little Backstory — and A Glimpse of What’s Ahead…
It’s important, I think, to give you an idea about how and why I’ve come to this point.
Clearwater Acres (AKA the Clearwater farm) is a small, natural, (presently) subsistence, teaching farm. I’m only using two acres for production, including animal housing and our residence. (Though my cows and chickens have the rest of the land to graze.) Back in the 70’s it would have been called a micro farm. There are no tractors; though I’ve always envisioned a team of horses, the closest thing I’ve come to that thus far is my Troy Built Horse Rototiller which longs to dislocate my shoulder. Most everything is accomplished with small equipment, or by hand.
I planned it that way based on my skill set, and the desire not to be encumbered by tools which could, and likely would, fail me from time to time. (When I’m relying on something and it gives out, it leaves me dead in the water. I hate when that happens.) Costly equipment breakdowns can stop you in your tracks.
I’ve developed what I do over time, with the goal of creating a replicate-able living way. This could to be put to use by anyone, with any budget. It’s for those who have access to 1-5 acres. (It’s also possible with even much less than I acre, for city dwellers, with tweaking, and for those with more land, it’s entirely expandable.) It doesn’t matter your level of education, your level of acumen, you race, creed or sexuality. It’s possible for everyone to do this. (Not that everyone would want to, mind you.)
I’ve designed the farm, “the way”, to provide for what I felt was important. So “the way” had to provide for the following:
- A Clean Way of Life – (By that I mean a life sans pollution and toxins as much as possible. (Farming is and of itself a far cry from clean in the ordinary sense. You’d better make friends with dirt if you’re going to live this lifestyle.)
Why?
I watched everyone as I grew up, going through their work-a-day worlds. What I recognized was more often than not, their jobs and lifestyles were taking a toll on them. Killing them slowly, actually.
Most people sit for hours at a time, or stand in one position for long stretches of time as they work. They are under fluorescent lights, breathing re-circulated (toxic) air , with scarcely a view out to the natural world. The stress levels are off-the-charts-awful, they eat notoriously unhealthy food, and they work with people with whom they lack a positive association at a personal level.
I knew I didn’t want any part of that. I wanted a way which would provide for exercise, fresh air, sunlight, the natural world around me and the ability to raise a family .
- A Way to Be Fit
Why?
When I was young, my family was not a fit family. We were pretty much the poster children for “how to develop adult onset diabetes, obesity, stroke, emphysema, and high blood pressure without even trying.” Literally. It’s not that we didn’t eat well (we’ll get to that below,) it was that we ate entirely too much (and even too much of a good thing is still too much!) and were a sedentary bunch. As family care giver I had lots of time to realize if I didn’t make big changes, I’d wind up just the same way.
- The Ability to Eat the Healthy Delicious Food I Grew Up With
Why?
My grandfather was an Italian immigrant. As you’ll come to know, his influence in my life was great. He grew up on a farm, and when he was able to get a piece of land to call his own, he planted nearly every inch. (Where he didn’t plant, he raised animals. Lots of them. All this on what I’d call a postage stamp sized corner property off the Van Wyke expressway in Queens!)
We ate great food every day. My grandfather grew the food and my grandmother presented the most delicious dishes to us in return. Everything was prepared fresh. Everything.
- A Way to Work From Home
Why?
This has always been a no brainer for me. I love being a woman. I’ve always aspired to be the keeper of the hearth. Family is perhaps the most precious gift I have been given. I’ve not been driven to find a profession, though I would like to learn many things. I wanted to be a mom. For me and my new (at the time) family, that meant staying home. (It was only much later in my life that I had to become the income producer, and this new responsibility was daunting.) Ultimately when I plugged all of these parameters in, there were a couple of options open to me based on my life- learned skill set.
Fortunately for me they all revolve around the farm.
I was waiting for the model to be perfect before I put it out there for all to see. Then I recognized that evolution never stops (thankfully) so it’ll never be finished. And Time, I realized too, waits for no man. Or woman.
So you get to come with me as I journey to getting it “Just right”. As you’ll discover, there will be many areas I hope to cover. I’m just going to bring you along organically, as it happens. We’ll ultimately have info about food, (natural) nutrition, cooking, animal husbandry, permaculture, family, sustainability… you probably get the idea.
I’m looking to develop an interesting and dynamic site, where we can share ideas to help each other. I’m also interested in knowing what you want to know. What’s missing in your life? How can I help you?
I love this wonderful life. We live in exciting times and I’m so grateful for the possibilities. And I look forward to sharing them with you.
