tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post8756402334224471895..comments2024-03-23T05:42:07.516-04:00Comments on The Deliberate Agrarian: The Deliberate Agrarian BlogazineNovember 2011Herrick Kimballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-39624880403599985582012-01-24T13:02:08.145-05:002012-01-24T13:02:08.145-05:00Herrick,
Just wanted you to know that I purchased...Herrick,<br /><br />Just wanted you to know that I purchased the Kefir Cheese Sampler Pack from Mrs. Belefonti to support her for taking a stand!<br /><br />I encourage others to do the same!Diane in TXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-47710565846203093042011-12-26T18:30:38.278-05:002011-12-26T18:30:38.278-05:00bob,
That's a good observation about Northern...bob,<br /><br />That's a good observation about Northern Maine farming and the Amish. They are less interested in, and not as dependent on, making a lot of money. The main objective is to preserve their way of life and pass it on to the next generation. That can be done on a smaller scale and I'm glad to see them doing it. BTW, My grandfather's farm in Northern Maine— Fort Fairfield— Maine was bought a few years ago by an Amish family.Herrick Kimballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-45102925929721350642011-12-22T12:40:57.517-05:002011-12-22T12:40:57.517-05:00hi:
you are totally correct about needing to have ...hi:<br />you are totally correct about needing to have one foot in the current economic world while placing the other on the homestead. transitions take TIME, and current structures require a gradual migration to the different way of living. <br /><br />****<br />my wife has relatives in northern maine, so we go there occasionally. (yes the growing season is short!) historically it has been an agricultural area for growing potatoes, broccoli, and soybeans. the farmers there, tethered to the industrial farming model, are slowly disappearing. That model is too capital-intensive, their places are not large enough, and the climate too cool to compete with agribusiness. elsewhere.<br /><br />What is interesting though is that Amish folk from elsewhere are starting to move in. they see that the land is good, they have the right scale of operation and approach. They are getting good results. maybe a lesson in that for us all.<br /><br />bobAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-30657902222753859862011-12-18T02:22:42.205-05:002011-12-18T02:22:42.205-05:00As someone who was at the UC Berkeley beatings and...As someone who was at the UC Berkeley beatings and general strike in Oakland when we shut down the port, I feel the need to provide an accurate (read: not what you're getting from the mass media) picture of what Occupy (it's not just Wall Street anymore) is all about.<br /><br />The way I see Occupy (only from my own observations) is that the movement has two main goals. <br /><br />First, I think that Occupy is actually proposing specific policy changes (campaign finance reform, a more progressive tax policy, accountability in the banking sector, etc.). <br /><br />Second, the reason it's sometimes hard to hear those proposals is because of the movement's second "goal" - decentralized and inclusive organization. The general assemblies are really interesting power structures. They often reach conclusions I wouldn't (i.e. failure to decry violence at Occupy Oakland), but they are part of the movement nonetheless. <br /><br />I think Occupy is, in part, a practical reaction to discouragement over a society that's been disengaged largely due to lack of access (at least not the level of access that the wealthy have). Their reaction has been to include anyone who wants to be included, but not to elevate anyone above the group. I think it's a noble aim and it might just be the right track. <br /><br />Again, I may not agree with some specific conclusions the process has reached, but I sure do respect the process.<br /><br />I have two specific contentions with your post.<br /><br />First, you simply can't expect people to discover the wisdom of agrarianism and drop out of the corporate economy. The vast majority of urbanites don't have the awareness, expertise, or ability to do anything like that. That sort of shift can only come from governmental action (as much as you may hate it) or apocalypse (meaning millions if not billions of deaths).<br /><br />Second, I don't know what you mean by corporate capitalism dying (and I certainly don't know where you're going with socialism being a failed economic system), but neither system is going to "fail" in a way that strikes most participants as "failure." <br /><br />You and I may agree that capitalism is dying (I'm not going along on socialism), but you write as if its failure is self-evident. It's not.<br /><br />Also, I dig your blog.Codyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11446501095831085195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-58968888714070343612011-12-17T18:09:04.401-05:002011-12-17T18:09:04.401-05:00Herrick was so glad to hear that you and Marlene f...Herrick was so glad to hear that you and Marlene finally got your property and all in God's timing,he his never late. Looking forward to watch you use the land and all to God's glory. Keep up the good work.<br /><br />Pat TolbertAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-6854102242119381802011-12-15T21:39:15.662-05:002011-12-15T21:39:15.662-05:00Yes, but blogs just don't do it for hands-on p...Yes, but blogs just don't do it for hands-on people. I need hard copy to haul around the house, leave half read articles on the toilet tank, and stack in large unkept piles for future reference. Blogs just can't compete and never will. I know you're familiar with the publishing industry. Why not give a magazine a shot? You've got great content for many issues and you'd have yet another source of income!<br />Either way, keep up your great work - HowardAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-20431132232250240622011-12-12T04:41:28.421-05:002011-12-12T04:41:28.421-05:00Herrick, Congratulations on the land, I hope it co...Herrick, Congratulations on the land, I hope it comes through. I hope you can indeed convert that useless money in the bank into a real and tangible wealth- good land and the will to use it. I firmly believe that money sitting in the bank only serves to make bankers wealthy.Ulfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17241103919964852296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-18827290394267840642011-12-05T21:07:36.163-05:002011-12-05T21:07:36.163-05:00Herrick- I hope it works out for you, it certainl...Herrick- I hope it works out for you, it certainly seems provident, adjoining your current property, and within your price range. It is encouraging to hear of something good happening to someone who so rightly has worked towards it.<br /><br />I recently received a cookbook you would like, and maybe you know it. It is the "Victory binding of the American Women's Cookbook" edited by Ruth Berolzheimer. It has an addition at the end, of wartime recipes to deal with rationing, including substitions for ingredients in short supply, etc. <br /><br />In any case, I wish you well, hope you enjoy some time with Marlene and your boys during the holidays. Merry Christmas!James Christiansennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-87231725974691744172011-12-05T12:32:12.625-05:002011-12-05T12:32:12.625-05:00I'm so happy for you in your new elbow room. I...I'm so happy for you in your new elbow room. It looks pleasant and full of potential. May God bless you and your tribe richly as you steward these acres.Mark Browninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02486738410556247758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-52153637941912264122011-12-04T21:38:18.318-05:002011-12-04T21:38:18.318-05:00Herrick, I listen to the "occupy" group,...Herrick, I listen to the "occupy" group, protest the greed of the corporations and rich and it doesn't make sense to me. Most of the people I know that have money are like you, they worked hard and sacrificed for it. The protesters are coming across as greedy by demanding that they be given money without making the sacrifices. My Dad used to say,"if you do the hard things in life then life is easy, If you are only willing to do the easy things in life then life is hard." As our government has gone around trying to make life easy for everyone, it has actually made life hard for all of us. <br /> I read an article on business once that said every business has a beginning and an end but that family farms were the best at being multigenerational. Best of luck on your purchase of more land. Steve WesthoffAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-45245776476490938612011-12-02T21:50:26.330-05:002011-12-02T21:50:26.330-05:00To the people who read my comment I clearly stated...To the people who read my comment I clearly stated that I Did not live in usa nor hold american values ( ihad to laugh at the response so american you guys need to look at the way other cultures respond we don't tell everyone how great we are we just quietly get on with it). Our ocuppy sites have been closed down but they contained alot of very thoughtful people and we don't have the religious right like you do so dialogue between groups is easier. My main point was not to judge people stuck in the system (which I'm not) because it is normally alot more complicated than you seem to make out I work in pastoral ministry and there are no simple answers (remember jesus said we would always have the poor) the main issue for westerns in this area is the HUGE numbers of drug damaged-mentally ill that strain the resources of all groups trying to help them and I'm sure some of them were at the oocupy sites. I'm also asking you to have compassion for people who are simple and brought the dream, your education system taught them not to think and they faithfully did want was expected of them -for what, and people who can't think get angry when threatened- no suprises here. America is in trouble and 2 cron 7:14 is your ONLY answer And there is nothing we who watch (and pray) from a distance want to see more than your land (and people ) healed. God Bless <br />And I love this and Herricks other blog I read it because it inspires me and contains thoughtful imformation and links to essays and other things of intrest (we bought victoria farm from the bbc thanks to this blog!) I intend to try sweet potatoes (one of my fav foods) next growing season and as herrick would understand am thrilled to think that they might grow here wow one can only try and that is what herrick is a 'can do' person who helps others have a go as well so thanks but pray and fast for your nationAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-65928768529667122692011-12-02T19:28:58.762-05:002011-12-02T19:28:58.762-05:00Thats great. The Lord is AMAZING ,not only did he ...Thats great. The Lord is AMAZING ,not only did he make land available to you but right where you were at . Our God is an Awesome God. Congratulations, we are so exited for you and your wifeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-87540958671569974932011-12-02T15:33:08.475-05:002011-12-02T15:33:08.475-05:00Yes Ray, let me know as well. I live in McMinnvill...Yes Ray, let me know as well. I live in McMinnville, TN. About 40 miles east of you. I would enjoy reading a blog about homesteading/gardening/etc from a fellow TN blogger!<br /><br />-MattMatt Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02495128171377309246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-31270535270317480382011-12-02T06:14:12.373-05:002011-12-02T06:14:12.373-05:00TimfromOhio, David, Huskerbabe, IggyRules, & R...TimfromOhio, David, Huskerbabe, IggyRules, & Ray in Tennessee—<br /><br />Thanks so much for your comments here.<br /><br />IggyRules—<br />My boys are neither voracious readers nor interested in writing, as I was at their age. Your comment about starting a magazine reminds me that, believe it or not, when I was a teenager I had a dream (another dream!) to publish a Mother Earth News kind of magazine and, in a very real sense, that is what I do with this blogazine. I wrote about it back in 2008 at this link:<br /><br /><a href="http://thedeliberateagrarian.blogspot.com/2008/05/young-mans-wild-dream-actually-happens.html" rel="nofollow">A Young Man's Wild Dream Actually Happens</a><br /><br />=====<br /><br />And for those who don't know, I also have a spin-off "magazine" at this link:<br /><br /><a href="http://agrariannation.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Agrarian nation</a><br /><br />=====<br /><br />Let me know when you get your blog going, Ray.Herrick Kimballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-21547466660611753552011-12-02T00:22:34.406-05:002011-12-02T00:22:34.406-05:00Herrick & Marlene,
Congratulations! I will p...Herrick & Marlene, <br />Congratulations! I will pray that the land acqusition is completed soon. I am so happy for you. God provided us with 8 acres here in Middle Tennessee 2 years ago...what a blessing. Herrick, you are my favorite blogger and you have inspired me to start a blog...hopefully this winter.<br />Ray in Christiana, TNRay in Tennesseenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-75447822345879680142011-12-01T20:25:54.425-05:002011-12-01T20:25:54.425-05:00Herrick,
You are a gifted writer and entrepreneur...Herrick, <br />You are a gifted writer and entrepreneur. Give prayerful thought to starting a magazine. You'd pull a lot of subscribers away from MEN, Back woods Home, etc...<br />Can your boys write?<br />Great news regarding your Land!<br />Kind Regards,<br />HowardAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-57282613038769040192011-12-01T16:07:44.900-05:002011-12-01T16:07:44.900-05:00I've been reading your blog for some time and ...I've been reading your blog for some time and I'm thrilled to hear of the impending land purchas. I pray it goes through without a hitch. Amazing how God had something right around the corner. :)Huskerbabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01169124897295455177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-72740451141607343912011-12-01T15:20:26.582-05:002011-12-01T15:20:26.582-05:00I'll read the rest when I have the time, but u...I'll read the rest when I have the time, but until then, I'm sending prayers heaven-ward for y'all on this land deal, brother.<br /><br />Prayers and blessings,<br />David Smith<br />TennesseeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-64045028262807328232011-12-01T09:59:44.345-05:002011-12-01T09:59:44.345-05:00PS to anonymous - I didn't see what overly sim...PS to anonymous - I didn't see what overly simplistic statements were made regarding the Occupy folks. I agree with everything you state regarding multi-national corporations, slavery, and the lack of Christians doing anything about problems associated with these evils. However, I'd point out that even when normalized to GDP or population, America leads the globe in charitable giving. Further, it arguably appears that were it not for the Federal Reserve printing and subsequently giving away lots of dollars (which must be reckoned for at some point), the entire worldwide financial engine might have collapsed - this buys us Americans a bit of deserved self-focus. Regarding the occupy protesters themselves, video I've seen in which they are asked why they are there and what their objectives are indicates that they themselves collectively don't know the answers to these questions. The only unifed answer they seem to be able to provide is one of general anger and frustration. Probing deeper, it seems that their anger is largly due to self-pity from the situations they are in which are largely ones of their own creation - at least in the case of many of protesters who are ticked that the $50k in student loans they have for a degree in French literature doesn't result in a vast array of employment opportunities - yet, apparently they are somehow able to support themselves for weeks on end protest evil corporations all while wearing the latest styles, playing with idoo-dads, and organizing the payment of meals with donations made to accounts in the same evil banks they are protesting? I really don't think their motives are quite as altruistic as you portray.TimfromOhionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-24884619598280191242011-12-01T07:55:23.602-05:002011-12-01T07:55:23.602-05:00Mr. Kimball,
Sincere congratulations on the impen...Mr. Kimball,<br /><br />Sincere congratulations on the impending land deal! I'm so happy to hear that your patience on the Lord has been well rewarded. I can't wait to hear more details about how you plan on making use of the acreage.<br /><br />TimfromOhiotimfromohionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-74683600576404601472011-12-01T07:33:40.003-05:002011-12-01T07:33:40.003-05:00Anonymous—
I try to think very carefully about all...Anonymous—<br />I try to think very carefully about all the statements I make here. <br /><br />You are correct that many Americans are entirely parochial in their thinking. Such thinking is rooted in pride and arrogance. But I would be remiss if I did not point out that we are also a country that has a history of doing great things throughout history to help less fortunate people in other nations. <br /><br />The giant multinational corporations are wicked (especially the ag corporations) and I have made that clear in my writings many times. Here are just a few examples:<br /><br /><a href="http://thedeliberateagrarian.blogspot.com/2008/06/bigagbigprofitsbigproblems.html" rel="nofollow">Big Ag...Big Profits...Big problems</a><br /><a href="http://thedeliberateagrarian.blogspot.com/2008/05/roots-of-current-world-food-crisis.html" rel="nofollow">Roots of the Current World Food Crisis</a><br /><a href="http://thedeliberateagrarian.blogspot.com/2008/05/big-ag-usury-kills-indian-farmers.html" rel="nofollow">Big Ag & Usury Kills Indian Farmers</a><br /><a href="http://thedeliberateagrarian.blogspot.com/2008/01/industrial-providers-understanding.html" rel="nofollow">Industrial Providers: Understanding the Oligopoly</a><br /><br />And while I'm at it... check out: <a href="http://thedeliberateagrarian.blogspot.com/2010/05/dirty-little-secret-of-how-corporations.html" rel="nofollow">The Dirty Little Secret of How Corporations Became "Persons"</a><br /><br />As for modern-day slavery and the oppression of poor people in other nations, I alluded to it in this month's essay when I said that the economic boom we have experienced in the past 30 years was predicated in part on the <b>"exploitation of natural resources (including human natural resources) in undeveloped countries."</b><br /><br />I agree with you that the Church and Christians should acknowledge the wickedness of the mega-corporations in their continual quest for more money and more power. But it isn't just the corporations, it's the entire industrialized system we live in. And I, as a Christian, have been pointing this out here in the many years that I've been blogging.<br /><br />If you feel led to be part of Occupy Wall Street because of your indignation with the injustice of corporate oppression and exploitation, and you feel this as a Christian, then that is what you should do, and I have no problem with that.<br /><br />But, to the degree that I've looked at it, I do not see what you have described in the movement as a whole. I see a lot of confusion. I see people who are clearly not Christians doing things that do not bring glory to God in their actions.<br /><br />I admire your conviction and appreciate your comments here. I suspect that you and I actually agree on a great many points. But it is not clear to me what the Occupy Wall Street movement wants to achieve. If it is, ultimately, the downfall of corporate-government fascism (as I'm led to believe), what alternative system do you have in mind? <br /><br />I happen to think the industrial system is going to collapse of its own, and the most positive thing I can do is encourage others to see and prepare for life in the new world that we will face. My solution is positively agrarian and positively Christian. <br /><br />Sincere best wishes.Herrick Kimballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-19737726809416760312011-12-01T07:32:53.600-05:002011-12-01T07:32:53.600-05:00Hi Brenda,
I like Maine and that's a good gue...Hi Brenda,<br /><br />I like Maine and that's a good guess on your part. Marlene isn't keen on living there. We seriously considered going to a more southern state, but not too southern. We actually like a winter season. Our boys seem connected to this place and I suppose we are too. God bless your vision to have more land.<br /><br />Karen-<br />Thanks for the comment.<br /><br />Jeff-<br />I like your plan.<br /><br />Graham—<br />It's good to hear from you. Using and caring for the land in such a way as to glorify God is a difficult concept for many people to understand but therein is the challenge and the responsibility of Christians. I'll tell you how many meals are in an 81-pound sweet potato after I grow one. :-)Herrick Kimballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-2969169681765879232011-12-01T06:13:36.837-05:002011-12-01T06:13:36.837-05:00I was blessed to hear of your impending land ho ho...I was blessed to hear of your impending land ho hope it all goes well. I would like you to think carefully about some of the statements you make. the protesters are here in my country too and maybe we have a more thoughtful worldview our people are talking about oppressed peoples across the nations not just themselves (americans are renowned for thinking they are the only ones on the planet) but it is alot more complex than you make it. I suggest you read up on modern day slavery and you will start to understand how evil these multinational giants are and because we the church are not speaking up and refusing to profit from their actions and the oppression of people all over the world. The counter culture people are and they are winning the westerners who have been displaced by the financial crisis. It is horrific in asia and parts of southern america people can't just get out they need us to speak up and even shout, remember Jesus turned over the tables when people were misusing the temple how much more should we speak when people are misusing His temples to make them rich. Remember it has been the christian church that stopped so many evil things (like wife burning, child labour, canniblism) it is not a time to be silent remember Esther; ask the Lord what you can do in this area and please don't make thoughtless simplistic comments. All the best, love your blog grace.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-47494203184920055422011-11-30T12:06:15.238-05:002011-11-30T12:06:15.238-05:00Congratulations on the land! I pray that the Lord ...Congratulations on the land! I pray that the Lord will continue to bless you as I know you will use it for His glory. <br /><br />I wonder how many meals you could get out of an 82 pound sweet potato...<br /><br />Grahamthedonahues7@verizon.nethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04786119673237308904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-47360288292068719732011-11-30T08:51:57.288-05:002011-11-30T08:51:57.288-05:00Boy oh boy...a lot of meat in this month's iss...Boy oh boy...a lot of meat in this month's issue as usual. I also know a farmer who is being harassed...simply because he sells his organic foods directly to the consumer, and the local grocery store-chain (Which seems to have a lot of political connections) is going after him. I'm not industrial per-se, (I can't imagine life without air-conditioning!) but I do agree with your views on the need for a much more decentralized economic system, as well as a radical re-definition of what "economic success" really means. I must also credit you with helping my wife and I get motivated enough to start a plan for our exodus from big city life, and move to a small town. We plan to buy a few acres and produce as much as our own food as possible. We hope to subdivide the lot in later years so that our kids can build debt free homes in the future, if they so desire. Viva la family compound!Jeff Consigliohttp://biblicalhealthprinciples.com/noreply@blogger.com