An Unexpected Passenger

I had 4 errands to run today. Four.

I carefully plan my driving so I'm not caught up in school zones, traffic, etc. And of course, after setting out to diligently execute my carefully planned day of errands, I discovered that I managed to leave my wallet at home - AFTER I had traveled all 9 1/2 miles to Garland and got to the check out.

Fortunately, the very nice lady took pity on me and said she'd hold my purchase for me, and I promised to return in about an hour, giving myself a little cushion. 

On the way home, to pick up my wallet, there's a kid on a bike in the middle of the road about a block(ish) (country blocks ya know) north of my house - with an injured owl sitting on the ground. Sigh.

Now if you know me, I admire owls at my farm - from a distance - whilst hoping they stay east of the pond and feast on bunny rabbits, rats, field mice and the like - NOT on my chickens. But there was no way I could leave this dazed and confused, injured, majestic, federally protected, might I add, bird of prey sitting in the grocery store parking lot where I saw it when I was on my back up to the store. 

The kid on the bike was nowhere to be seen. I thought, I'll bring it to animal services because surely they have some kind of setup with the bird sanctuary rescue folks 2 towns over.  

My bad. Not only do we not have any kind of agreement with them, apparently, it is up to the citizen to figure out what to do with wildlife it finds. Now, I would not expect our small department to take in and try to doctor it. But, since the first suggestion was to reach out to the State's wildlife office in Mesquite, which would be on my way - but does no more than issue fishing and boating licenses and the like, I asked if they could at least just hold the bird for me in a crate safe and sound, let me go north to run my errands - which included picking up an RX, some seeds, and a part for my farm's irrigation, and I'd be happy to then run it down to Hutchins - 6 miles in the opposite direction when I came back through. 

But apparently there's no procedure for that - or there is one forbidding the acceptance of wildlife. IDK, I was getting low on my blood sugar by now, it was nearly time for lunch and we've all gotten hangry before, and I was already running behind on my errands, so I didn't have time to sit and try to analyze why what seemed like a simple ask, was being denied. The poor thing was injured and flopping around in the back of my pick up camper and I didn't think it would appreciate a nearly 20 mile ride.

But that's what it got. They refused to take it in to hold it till I could get back. That cashier at the store in Garland was kind enough to hold back my purchase so I didn't have to go through finding it again, I wasn't going to stand her up. I did reach out afterward and apologize to the chief marshal for being a bit short with him. It had been a long, frustrating afternoon, and I was hungry and running behind. But I still think there ought to be some kind of procedure in place for situations like this. He appreciated the photo of the magnificent bird, and I hope I'm forgiven. I know they have policies in place for reasons, even if they don't make sense in the moment. 

Fortunately, I had just filled up my truck's gas tank. A 1986 Ford F150 does not get the greatest gas mileage, but I generally don't travel on the freeway, so it's a bit better. But still, I managed to blow through a quarter of a tank today. Good thing I stay close to home most of the time. Maybe by the next time I need to refill, gas prices won't be an arm and a leg. 

At any rate, I decided to forgo my other errands, even tho they were on the way back. It was getting warm out, and I sure didn't want my patient to get too hot or dehydrated. I got down to the good people at @Roger's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and the nice lady came out to greet me and have me fill out an intake form while she went in to get a falconry glove. 

She retrieved the majestic creature from its hiding place in the corner of my truck's camper, and I snapped a photo and gave it a few gentle strokes on its head before she took it inside. Such a beautiful work of life. 

When she returned, she reported that it'd likely need its inured eye removed. She said it had "blown it", probably by running into something. And that it may have a head injury, but she expected with the bit of fight it put up, that it would recover fully and be able to be returned.  Returned? - Not to my address, please. I already have owls and hawks - and chickens and guineas - that I try to keep from turning into meals. She nodded and typed in a note as I gave her the precise location where I'd recovered the injured animal and I added that there was a creek and a wooded area along a park from where it may have originated. Not far from where I'd found it.

I got back in my truck and headed back home. I am not equipped to be on long drives anymore. My bladder was calling. Errands would have to wait till tomorrow. A life was saved, and that was worth the extra time and gas. But I was starving by now, and not in any mood to fight traffic or school zones.  

So, I do truly hope it will make a full recovery - and even be returned to its home base. They are wonderful hunters, and she said, even with one eye, they can learn to hunt again.  

If you should feel so inclined, the good folks down at Rogers do so much good work, and gladly take donations.  You can let them know it is in the name of the soon-to-be-one-eyed owl from Balch Springs. I'm sure they'd appreciate the help. 

 So that was my day, how was yours? 

  

Marie 

Eat Your Food - Naturally!

When it rains it pours....

 

 

 

It's been a heavy week at the farm. My goodness, ever since the hail storm it seems like it's just been one thing after another. It wasn't bad enough that the hail storm all but ended our summer harvest. Tomato plants were basically just cut down, squash was blown over and ripped up, eggplants busted, the melons survived, but for some reason they're not fruiting right now. (the ones that did, were all bruised up from the hail.) 

Had 2 trees fall down, from the roots, after excessive rains. One is cut down, the other waits for the generosity of my local tree guys. 

Tractor is acting up, which makes my job harder, and my mechanic is way behind because he's down a man. 

And the latest was that once again, vagrants found their way back to my yurt and invited themselves to stay - and this time, somehow, it burned down. They'd been arrested and all of their stuff was there, so I doubt they did it on purpose, but the net effect is the same. My sweet, beautiful, quiet place was not only taken over by trespassers - again - but now it's gone altogether. Burnt nearly to the ground. 

 

We used to go back there every Sunday for awhile and have yoga class. We used it for seed swap and garden classes. Field trips ended there with a class on honeybees. I used to like to walk back there on a cool day and read, or just listen to the sounds of the birds and other critters. I even had a few interns who would crash back there sometimes. 

Now, it's gone. And I've got to hire someone to clean up the mess. 

Why can't people respect other people's fences/gates property?  

 

And then this morning when I went to walk my fence line so I could turn out horses, one of my neighbor's horses lay there, legs up. 

It's been a heavy week or two at the farm.  

 

 Eat Your Food - Naturally!

Marie  

Paying it Forward

I never thought it would be so hard to pay it forward.

I’ve benefited from the help of many others over the years. Their kindness, wisdom, generosity, leadership and examples have helped me get to where I am today. In the next chapter of my life, if I’m so lucky as to receive it, I had hoped to be able to spread some good out to others. But an old saying that I absolutely despise, seems to really be rearing its ugly head.

 

No good deed goes unpunished.

 

I’ve always hated that saying because it seems to try to deter people from doing nice things for others. Most of the people I know don’t do good deeds with any hope of repayment or benefit. They do good things for others because they can, because they want to see another person succeed, or get relief, or smile or somehow just have an improved situation from that in which they were in.

 

But when you can’t do the good you want to, due to circumstances beyond your control, it’s a real frustration. It’s like watching that movie where you yell at the screen for the character to do something or not go in there – knowing full well, nothing you have said will make a difference.

I had hoped, and still do hope, that I can pass my farm along to someone who will continue its mission to feed people. With it being zoned commercial, it also means that it has real value to create various businesses that will generate monies way beyond just selling carrots. It’s what we had planned to do with Pioneer Grove before the Council decided to be a bunch of petty, power hungry, lying….

well, I will just leave it at that.

But it also means that the value keeps it out of reach for just a regular farmer. This old house’s bones and history are great and deserves to be restored. But it’s got to be someone who has access to deep pockets and the ability to develop. Trust me, it’s not my idea of a good time to live in a 100 year old farm house that lacks HVAC, needs upgrades and could certainly use new windows and insulation. It’s certainly not how I hoped to spend my “golden years”.

 

My development team is on standby for the right group that comes along and wants to do something that honors the land and the house. But this is my retirement account, and I can’t just let it go or I’ll be living in the camper of my truck. That is not the next chapter I’m planning for myself, either. 

 

Pioneer Grove was to be my pay forward. 38-40 first time home buyer sized homes in a safe, gated, walkable neighborhood connected to the land via the farm and artisanal businesses at the front.

We had it all planned out. Everyone won.

Now, no one is winning. The city still sits with a piece of land that is being farmed and not developed at all, 40 families have missed out on a cool opportunity as have numerous small businesses that could have sprung up. Not to mention, I am still here instead of retired and nearer family.

 

So, I keep searching for the right buyers. Fiscally sound. Environmentally minded. Generous hearts. Mission oriented.

 

In the meantime, I’m hoping to start sharing my experiences with new growers looking for space to learn the trade and give me a hand in the CSA gardens. I can do this a lot longer that way.

So, if you know of anyone serious about learning to grow, in a tunnel, out in the field, starting seeds en masse, understanding the soil and gaining experience on the ground – send them my way.

My knowledge, experience and any wisdom I may be able to share, can be a way I can pay something forward.

Helping prepare the next generation of growers, to feed me when I can’t grow myself anymore one day, will help the circle of life.

Just like a momma hen, teaches her chicks how to drink, hunt and peck for food, and take cover when a shadow covers the sun, I can help teach someone the skills I honed over the past 30+ years.

 

Today, 2 teachers picked up the bags of wool sheared fromthe rescue sheep I take care of here at Eden’s. I’ve looked for years for someone local to work the wool, make it into yarn hopefully. One of my newer CSA members happens to be a teacher at a local school that wants to teach some of the children there how to process the fiber. I’m beyond excited. Because it in its own way is a good deed I was able to do. The teachers will be doing the heavy lifting, sharing an age old skill to a new generation. But I smile with a grateful heart at the small part I’ve played in it.

Let’s knock that darn saying out.  Let’s not stop with the good deeds, no matter how hard others work against us trying to do them. Let’s just keep finding ways to pay things forward to one another.

Eat Your Food - Naturally!

 

Marie