Environment – The Cedar Journal

Hummm…A Farming July

The Cedar Journal July 29, 2022

As my regular followers know the Hummm file never knows what the universe will throw our way, this month was full of such surprises.

Let’s start with this…

Was at the grocery and found this new toilet paper. Wonder what they are making the comparison. Is it less crappy than other TP? Or is this the option to use when you have choices to make and just wish for a less crappy one? Congratulations you sold me! I laughed out loud and placed several packages in my basket.

Not much Hummm…in this photo, just Namekagon on the water for a paddle. But getting to the lake and back takes us through the Green Heart Land (farming country) of The Netherlands where we noticed the following.

Hummm…What a cool celebration, is it like a National holiday? Nope the Dutch flag is upside down… this is farm country and the upside down flag is the protest symbol of the farmers.

We then had our own farming moments of the summer as we finally were called and offered a garden plot close where we live. Late in the summer to start a garden but we got to work and within a week we have cleaned out the weeds, hauled in 26 bales of straw, built a processing table, and started amending the nearly dead soil.

That has gotten some raised eyes from neighboring plots but hopefully by next Spring we will have things going towards raising all our own veggies. Since I don’t like to weed and have a bad back the straw bale garden method should be a win/win for adding nutrients to the very poor soil and not having to bend or be on my knees pulling weeds.

Hummm… if you are wondering what this entire straw bale thing is… it comes from my home state of Minnesota. You can listen to a podcast all about it here …

148-Gardening in Straw Bales: An Easy & Inexpensive Solution to Make Growing Food More Accessible for All

Then it was hot! So hot here we broke records.

Hummm…the heat didn’t stop these people from having a great BBQ at Adult Care Facility. Just look at those 80 somethings go with the dance line!!!

Hummm… what can I buy on ESTY, how about cotton from the USA! No way! Yes! A 1/4 lb of handpicked cotton from North Carolina arrived in the mail. With the seed. Could our readers see a future Hummm of a cotton farmer in The Netherlands? Let’s see if Fox News could get that as wrong as how they explained the farmer protests. 😳🙄👩‍🌾👩‍🌾👩‍🌾

The truth is out there and people should not get on the conspiracy bandwagon without all the right information!!! The environmental laws were placed into law here in The Netherlands years ago to help control the CO2 emissions.

Some of the smaller farmers who didn’t and still don’t have the capital to make the upgrades could be forced out of business.

That sucks if you are a farmer or a consumer of farm products (like that is anyone who likes to eat!).

The fact is the climate is changing, and all people on this planet have to make changes to help everyone, not just one nation or one culture or be fearful of what others have or don’t have!

I do feel that the farming community here in The Netherlands was unfairly targeted when the laws were made. There are many large corporations and businesses that place toxic chemicals into the air here and around the world each and everyday and are not held to the same standards. I do not think the way of protest should ever be the destruction of property (that goes for anyone! Even the farmers). Peaceful protests with constructive helpful diplomacy will make for a better future.

Hummm… what is the

way forward?

Wordless Wednesday

The Cedar Journal July 26, 2022

Wordless Wednesday-Netherlands

The Cedar Journal November 3, 2021

A Slug/Snail Art Day…

The Cedar Journal May 23, 2021

Many of my regulars to my blog know that I have been volunteering at a local community garden since COVID made me stay closer to home.

As with any garden or garden season there are challenges with the balance of nature. Nature knows what is needed and what is not needed to maintain a balance. We humans think we are so smart so most of us try to “fix” what we perceive as “problems” in our personal or community gardens.

I usually don’t get too wrapped up in “fixing” what nature is throwing my way. Although frustrating to see my Dahlias being munched to nothing overnight can be a bit overwhelming.

Or all the sweet little pumpkins that I raised all Spring with love and care to become a wonderful salad for the snails and slugs at the community garden once they were planted.

My sweet little pumpkins heading out into the big bad world full of unknown threats!

Then, I had an idea… what if we give these creatures some job appreciation! Everyone is trying to kill them, or relocate them.

I am going to try snail/slug art appreciation to see if I can encourage them to relocate out of my garden and into the art scene. Once they become famous they can buy small greens and will leave my pumpkin plants, dahlias, and broccoli alone.

Here is the first of the Snail/Slug art exhibition…

U-turn: A portrait in travel by Sam Snail

In Search of Peace: A one slug journey on plastic. By Sidney Slug

Just Hanging: Art on irises, Modern. By Sir Herman Slug Black

Early to Rise: On Onions, Modern. Sir Herman Slug Black

Death of Friends: The Real Tragic End from Alcoholism. By Unknown

Whatever your challenges in life, more will always follow…

Flowers

The Cedar Journal November 19, 2020

I wrote last week that it was difficult to believe that it was November with flowers still blooming. A week later and I still feel the same as last week as I captured these images this morning.