A group of world renowned doctors and medical experts provide a different perspective on the global pandemic response, the current state of knowledge of early and hospital treatment, vaccine efficacy and safety, what went right, what went wrong, what should be done now, and what needs to be addressed long term. Dr. Peter McCullough, Dr. Robert Malone, Dr. Pierre Kory, Dr. Ryan Cole, etc….
40 minute clip: (highlights only–This was a 5-hour discussion in the Senate)
Of course, this has nothing to do with farming or vegetables! But it has all to do with HEALTH, LIFE and LOVE. This LOVE includes love of our CSA Members, love of our Fellow Citizens, love of our Nation, love of our World, and love of Planet Earth. This is my platform for sharing information which I feel is important. And second opinions are almost always relevant–no matter the subject.
— Lyrics by: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Music Produced by: Dicky Barrett Performed by: Grant Ellman, Prezence Music
Video Produced by: Children’s Health Defense, Brian Burrowes, Dicky Barrett, Aimee Villella Footage Courtesy of: Oracle Films, Matt Veligdan, Souls of a Movement
Sunday, January 23, 2022 Mandate Protest at Washington, DC
11:30am Meet at the Washington Monument. Walk in unity and peace to the Lincoln Memorial. The march will be folllowed by the “Defeat the Mandates American Homecoming” rally from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
WASHINGTON — Dozens of activists are expected to rally this weekend at the Lincoln Memorial in protest of COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions put in place across the nation, according to an event permit submitted by Children’s Health Defense.
Organizers of the event said the demonstration is to show unity in opposition to vaccine mandates.
“No to Vaccine Mandates. No to Vaccine Passports. No to Forcing Covid-19 Vaccinations on Children. No to Coerced Vaccinations Without Accepting Risk. No to Censorship. No to Limits on Reasonable Debate. Yes, We Believe in the Power of Natural Immunity. Yes, We Insist on Informed Consent. Yes to Doctors and Patients Making Decisions Without Interference,” the group posted on its site.
The plan is for rally-goers to gather at the west side of the Washington Monument Grounds and march about a mile to the Lincoln Memorial for the rally. There will be speeches by Children’s Health Defense’s Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Steve Kirsch, Ava Morse and musical performances by Five Time August and Hi-Rez.
The Children’s Defense Fund, a non-profit child advocacy organization, is planning this rally alongside the FLCCC Alliance and International Alliance of Physicians and Medical Scientists in unity with the millions of citizens around the world who are actively protesting the mandates.
Today everything is covered in a blanket of snow. One snow storm a year is okay to my way of thinking, but one is enough as I am not a big fan of either snow or cold weather. I long for our rye cover crops to again provide glimpses of green to remind us of the warm spring days to come! The rye is more than a “mental lift” for your CSA Farmers. It is also a habitat for beneficial insects and can out-compete at least some of the ever present germinating weed seeds! If you have studied our website, you know we are not fans of chemicals–whether herbicides or pesticides. We prefer our food to be organic in nature which is why we garden in the first place. And Robert and I consume what we produce!
Many people live in a state of unacknowledged existential fear because they produce nothing they consume. Most people are utterly dependent upon distant, anonymous sources for everything. If nothing else, the pandemic made apparent the problems of factory food production. Robert and I have been growing food for our local community for over twenty years. If you are ready to make a change and follow a new vision, join our CSA and engage in localism. And if not with us, Cane Creek Asparagus & Company CSA, then with another local farm or farmer’s market. WNC is full of opportunities to nurture your local community and build relationships. All food in the entire world should be local food!
I snapped a photo inside our greenhouse on Sunday. The snow covered glass roof provides an eerie Calm Before The Storm that belies the “flurry” of activities which will occur there beginning in late February!
Soon I will be emailing all of our CSA Members from last season and asking for a firm commitment for the 2022 Harvest Season. There may be a blanket of snow on our gardens, but now is the time for prudent gardeners and farmers to be planning how much they will plant in the early spring!
I have been looking back at records and receipts. Several of our farm inputs have increased over 20% in recent years. And our two special potato seeds have gone up 240%—YES—I said 240%. As a small family farm we are always adapting, reorganizing and readjusting to real life. You might guess where this is going . . .
We have not increased the price of our every-other-week CSA Veggie Boxes since 2017. Therefore, the 2022 Harvest Season will have a 20% price increase to $60 per box. We trust our CSA Members understand the need for this price increase if we are to remain an economically sustainable family farm business.
We realize that time and place are important for integrating wholesome, local vegetables into our CSA Members diets and lifestyles. We will continue to harvest and prepare boxes daily in order to provide the freshest and most nutritious veggies possible to each and every member. We will follow our CSA ONLY marketing model—meaning we do not go to tailgate markets or have a roadside stand.
I will notify directly each 2021 CSA Member of this increase as I realize not everyone reads the Blog! Then as I have done in past years, I will email each member to get a firm commitment for the 2022 Harvest Season.
Robert and I are grateful for everyone who has ever purchased a farm share from us! You understand the importance of keeping green spaces in Buncombe County with agriculture and food production thriving in our shared community.
Happy New Year! Here’s to Health and a bountiful local food system in 2022!!
A doe and her babies frolicking in the summer field.
The call came two days ago. “Glenda, there is a dead doe in your field near the road. It has been hit by a car.” Not good news. Robert knows all of the area deer. He has not named them per se, but he knows all of them from watching them and them watching him in the gardens day after day, month after month, year after year. He knows the old ones and middle-aged ones and the young ones! He is the first person to see the new fauns when they are just getting “their legs.” These animals are his friends in the fields! Robert was away, but I notified him and asked him to investigate. There are some activities I am happy to delegate.
A couple of hours later when he returned home, Robert reported, “That young doe was not struck by a vehicle! I am sad she died, but this was an act of Nature. It appears the coyotes got her in the night. This is a much better way for her to go as they attack at the throat and she would have never known what happened.” Oh!!! Robert went on to describe in great detail exactly why he was able to make this determination. Suffice it to say, he was certain and he knows wildlife and the ways of Nature. I passed on a personal viewing as I had an accurate description and I have a vivid imagination.
The next morning I left early for an appointment. Sure enough, the remaining carcass was in the field near the road. I returned home about three hours later to find six buzzards in the field. Let’s just call them part of the cleanup crew.
When we drove past the site on the third day, there was no visible sign of the earlier carnage. Robert was with me. I asked, “Did you bury her?” He replied, “No. Look. There are buzzards in the middle of the field.” “How did she get there?” I asked. His reply was perhaps a bear or maybe the coyotes came back last night. He reasoned the middle of the field would be preferable for any animal over being nearer to the road for finishing their meal.
Thirty-six hours later, little remains to tell the story of her tragic death except for the skull, rib cage and bit a fur—all of which will be relocated before the first mowing of the field next spring. I am sorry. I realize this is not the type of story I typically relate; however, this is reality for Wildlife. And Natural Order is very purposeful and efficient in dealing with death. I promise my next entry will be Merry and Bright!
For Robert and I eating out in a restaurant has lost all its panache. We just want to be in our own kitchen cooking nutritious, hearty meals with local food –food of which we know the history! For example, those Fairview turkeys which grazed the area pastures now grace our Thanksgiving table. Buying local means we know the heritage—sustaining our bodies while sustaining the local economy!
There are plenty of reasons to know your farmers. Without getting too political, here is an interesting and relevant topic for discussion around the table this Holiday Season. According to a September 16, 2021 press release, researchers at the University of California Riverside were awarded a $500,000 grant by the National Science Foundation to be used for developing technology that infuses experimental mRNA Covid-19 vaccines into spinach, lettuce, and other edible plants. Coming soon to your favorite veggies! If you want to get into ”the weeds” on this topic, I have provided two links below. Please share.
I shall be emailing all 2021 CSA Members in February 2022 inquiring of your intentions for the 2022 Harvest Season. We have new members signing up for the 2022 Harvest; but we always reserve the first shares and/or right of refusal for our previous CSA Members.
Sometimes the Elements thwart our gardening efforts. Hurricane Fred was an unfortunate example of that! Failures aside, Robert and I are grateful that we are physically able to grow fresh, nutritious vegetables for our local community on our small, family farm.
We are grateful for the ability to laugh and be joyful in spite of personal hardships.
We are grateful for the thousands of people fighting in a multitude of ways to protect and preserve our country, its Constitution, and our Bill of Rights. Everyone can do some small part each day.
We are grateful for the small business owners who are still holding on to their dreams of independence.
We are grateful that you are a part of our CSA Family. We know you are dedicated to supporting local farmers, to healthy eating, to the local economy, and to keeping green spaces in Buncombe County.
This is the “off season” for me as a CSA Farmer. I will continue to accept Submissions from families who want to join our CSA for 2022 Harvest Season and several new ones have already arrived in our Inbox. But since our veggies are done for the season, I now have the time to really get into “deep dives” which is a sort of hobby for me. I will not bore you with all of the topics I am currently attempting to absorb, however, the following discussion is important to us as farmers and as humans on Planet Earth!
This may seem an odd question to ask but how many of you remember fireflies lighting up the meadows just after dusk? Flower gardens buzzing with bees? Flocks of migrating birds? The annoying bug splattered windshield of your vehicle after driving along a country road? And landline telephones–actually connected to the wall receptacle?
“Something Is in the Air” is a short, fact-based, science-filled film on radio frequency radiation (RF). It contains interviews with some of the best scientists, including Martin Pall and Dariusz Leszczynski. All fruit and vegetable pollination is dependent on electromagnetic communication — between bees and flowers. It is not hyperbole to say that without the bees, we have no food! It is not just the bees. Electricity is the foundation of all life! All living beings are electrochemical systems that use low frequency EMFs (electromagnetic frequencies) in everything from protein folding through cellular communication to nervous system function. And imposing even a very weak EMF signal on a living being has the possibility of interfering with normal function.
If you want to go deeper into the “loss of bees” aka the “ disappearing disease” and “colony collapse disorder” and various influenza epidemics and pandemics, there are many other sources which go into the history of radio frequency radiation. The bees first began disappearing at the dawn of the radio age in 1901. Yes! 1901. On the small island lying off England’s southern coast, where Marconi sent the world’s first long-distance radio transmission, the honey bees began to vanish. By 1906, the island, then host to the greatest density of radio transmissions in the world, was almost empty of bees.
As in many instances, the problem for the telecommunications industry is liability. This problem is based on the fact that the selling of cellular phones is, and always has been, based on lies and deception. This concept of consumer products which are not “safe” is a lot to get one’s mind around; but we are not talking about just cell phone technology, rather also the WiFi, the baby monitor, the Bluetooth, and the microwave oven. Did you know some forward thinking countries have halted all 5G rollout and all new technology (think “the internet of things”)? For the complete story read The Invisible Rainbow: A History of Electricity and Lifeby Arthur Firstenberg. For an abbreviated version, check out the site https://www.cellphonetaskforce.org/newsletters/ where you will find: The Most Dangerous Technology Ever Invented, Parts I, II, and III provided in five (5) languages as this is a world wide event! Also, the most recent Appeal filed in the U. S. Supreme Court on October 26, 2021.
My friend and neighbor, Mary Anne Tierney, filmed (in our living room!) a live segment of the streaming TV show for the Children’s Health Defense, The Empower Hour with Zen Honeycutt. This is on the November 5, 2021 program. Children’s Health Defense (CHD) is a non-profit organization founded by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.. Zen Honeycutt is the founder of Mom’s Across America. Mary Ann founded the non-profit organization SafeTech Kids NC which is attempting to bring awareness to and remove Wi-Fi from NC schools and instead have the schools hard-wired due to the EMFs affecting children’s still growing brains and health. Her business is Blue Ridge EMF Solutions. A great amount of information on this complex issue is freely available on the internet from various sources.
I realize this topic may not be pleasant to consider. We like our technology! The speed of 5G, the allure of smart phones, tablets, the “internet of things,” gaming, and the possibility “augmented reality” are appealing to many in our society. I have always been an early adapter of technology; but after spending time in the garden, I found myself making changes to live more in harmony with Nature. I strongly feel that as responsible Citizens, we need to pay attention to the issues which have a real impact on our lives. It is very easy to become distracted in today’s world with ‘red herrings’ provided by intellectuals and policy wonks. Study the bees and their intricate dances. Consider the importance of the work these tiny insects provide for humans when the foundation of life is not unnecessarily impeded. Once you understand the delicate balance, you cannot UN-KNOW this information.
Robert and I farm in a manner so as to keep our land as wild as possible. We do not use pesticides or herbicides. We are keeping green space in Buncombe County and Western North Carolina. Robert and I want to continue growing fresh, nutritious, local food for our community with the help of the bees and insects. Please help by sharing this information to bring a new level of awareness.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I want to say thank everyone for all of the kind words and comforting prayers that were relayed when my Daddy passed in mid-September. The loss of someone so deeply loved is never easy even when that loved one lived a long life.
As I indicated to all CSA Members, my father liked to conserve farmland by stopping erosion and turning the land under his control into fertile, tillable farmland. While he was on this Earth, he maintained a vision of improving and leaving the lands he managed better than he found them–for the next generation. Think: Conservation Family of the Year in his state!
Meanwhile in our gardens, that cover crop of 500 pounds of winter rye which Robert planted is coming up nicely. The rain has been sparse as of recent, but it loves these warm temperatures. I understand the rain is on its way along with some cold temps which slow the growing down. The idea is to till it into the soil next spring for added nutrients.
Robert and I keep our land as wild and biodiverse as possible. We consider our small farm a Wildlife Sanctuary. We do not use pesticides or herbicides. We are keeping green space in Western North Carolina. We want to continue growing fresh, nutritious local vegetables for our community–with the help of the bees and insects. All fruit and vegetable pollination is dependent on electromagnetic communication — between bees and flowers. Albert Einstein went so far as to say, “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would have only four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.”
According to the U.S. National Agriculture Statistics there has been a decline from about 6 million bee-hives in 1947 to 2.4 million in 2008, representing a reduction by 60%. Over the past decade, beekeepers in both the U.S. and Europe have reported additional hive losses. Fully one-third of all food crops rely on bees for pollination. This exquisite act of Nature is dependent upon electromagnetic communication — between bees and flowers. Electricity is the foundation of life! All living beings are electrochemical systems that use low frequency EMFs in everything from protein folding through cellular communication to nervous system function.
The disappearance of bees is not a pleasant thought to contemplate; however, it is a reality. Thus, my next post will be lengthy with several links which I trust you will find worthy of sharing so that perhaps together we can help to save the bees on planet Earth!
Our bird feeder is an exciting place. The first visitor this morning was our Little Bear who carefully tips it up to pour a few seeds into his mouth. He releases the seed cage and lets it swing on the rebar stand. Little Bear is a happy, gentle creature. I enjoy watching Little Bear. Next to arrive are the birds. Today there are two different flocks. I can identify the yellow Gold Finches as one group. I am not sure about the second group; however, they are not getting along! There is much chasing and darting and flying about. Oh, they each fed at the trough, but after a bite, they proceed to attack the other group in an attempt to gain control. This activity goes on for hours! The last visitor today is Big Bear. Big Bear seems to be aggressive, angry, and hungry! He grabs the metal stand on which the bird feeder swings and forcefully pulls it down to the ground where he lies on his back tipping the seed cage to take all of the birdseed into his massive jaws. Frustrated once it empties, he smashes the bird feeder into bits of plastic, grunts, and lumbers away. I can only assume he is off to create havoc and destruction at another location. It looks as if we need to buy yet another bird feeder. How soon until bears go into hibernation?
In the box this week you can expect our Russet potatoes along with sweet corn, beets, and Vidalia onions. I love the sweetness of roasted Vidalia onions! And although we do not seem able to grow sweet corn ourselves, there are some suggestions for cooking it under “Recipes C – E” about halfway down the page.
Please remember that beet juice will stain anything it touches! To remove the pinkish stain from your fingers, try rubbing with salt or lemon juice. Also, ingesting beets will stain bodily fluids of people sometimes. This is called beeturia. The discoloration is due to betalain, a natural pigment found in beets. Not all people experience beeturia. Just don’t be alarmed if you do!
Surreal is good word to use in describing the days since August 17. The most interesting thing to me was the next day when I went to check our blueberry bushes. Hours before, they had been nearly waist deep in water, but were still covered with berries at the time. Imagine my surprise to find the bushes alive with insects (both beneficial and pest varieties) and all of the remaining blueberries hanging limply by the stems. I know that too much rain can cause blueberries to get too plump and split. However, I think when the flash flood arrived, the insects simply headed for the tops of the blueberry bushes and began stress eating!
The first step once the flood waters recede is to clean debris from the creek because we want the water to continue to flow and debris causes dams and blockage. All of our “creek neighbors” were out doing the same type of work. The flood waters take and the flood waters give. In the process, Robert found heavy, square, red, picnic table on our property. Once we determined who the rightful owners were, Robert used leverage to maneuver it onto the back of the farm truck. I wish I had snapped a photo as it filled the entire bed side to side and front to back! We made the return delivery one evening and enjoyed speaking with the owner who has lived in the area longer than our 28 years. He said he has never seen Cane Creek so high! It reached his back steps, but did not seep into his home which is a Blessing. We knew it was high because for the first time in 28 years, it came OVER the berm around the field in which we garden. The berm was built in the 1960’s by the Army Corp of Engineers. They also straightened the creek at the time to allow better flow, I suppose. The picture of a winding meandering creek bed is romantic until it is flooding ones crops and livelihood!
Robert began our flood cleanup process as soon as the ground was dry enough; and then is rained some more simply postponing the work which lies ahead. Usually the fall cleanup starts a couple of months later in the year, but it is always just the reverse of the spring set up. Old plants must be pulled out or mowed down, binding ties must be cut and collected, fencing and fence posts removed, the holding staples, drip tape and irrigation mainlines must be collected, then the fabric staples pulled, and finally the fabric folded up and set aside for another season. Fortunately, we still have our drip mainlines and fabric to give the extra clean up attention to this year!
I do not know if this was a 50-year or 60-year flood event. I do know it was much worse in some parts of WNC than it was here in eastern Buncombe County. The fact that the ground was already saturated when Hurricane Fred made his way into the area was certainly part of the problem. I was reading online about the WNC July 1916 flood which was horrific. I can only assume this was not a 100-year flood.
I have been asked if this loss is covered by crop insurance. The answer is no. If we grew only a single crop such as just tomatoes or just potatoes, then such coverage would be available. However, it is not for offered for our direct-to-consumer CSA business model. This explains why most CSA’s request advance payment for the entire harvest season from their customers early in the year! A CSA Farmer’s risk is covered by his CSA farm shareholders!!
We still have some cabbages, carrots, and peppers from our gardens to cover the next two pickup days. Then going forward, we will supplement our many, many pounds of previously dug potatoes with some produce from the WNC Farmers Market. I like to eat organically, so I will look for produce which has ample, layered covering (sweet corn) and hard shells (winter squash) or will be peeled (possibly beets). We do not grow sweet corn and we lost our winter squash and beets!
I have spoken directly to most all of our CSA Members. Robert and I appreciate your acknowledgement of our financial and emotional loss due to this unexpected weather event. We also are grateful that most of our CSA Members have indicated their continued commitment to our farm though the month of October! We have always had farm income through October—sometimes through November and one time through December! But with your continued commitments through October, we shall be able to afford to continue farming again next harvest season! Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottoms of our hearts!!!
Cane Creek Asparagus & Company CSA 