Time goes by fast. We made this recording in 2011.
Aki and Scott
Knife makers, Aki and Scott, post about the bush and survival, living off the grid, bush craft growing food and living with the sun's energy.
We live in the bush and have created a garden that was unheard of in
these parts. In fact, the old timers thought we were crazy (26 years ago). Cultivating
wild flowers, greens and vegetables along with domestic greens and
vegetables. Enriching the soil with what is around us, starting apple trees, doing it all by
hand with the help from tools we've made. Simply. Leaving a light
footprint.
We live in the "working forest". Logging, ranching and mining. Consuming.
We call it bushcraft gardening. I suppose you could call it survival gardening because that is how we survive.
Our tree limb greenhouse. 150lbs of tomatoes |
Since we've been here the winter temperatures have gradually risen. We don't see a week or two of -30 or -40 anymore. When the cold began to move into our cabin anything on the floor froze.
It might get down there for a few nights now. We might get a week or two between -20...-28 with a -18 in there. Still cold but it's an easier way. How fragile we are.
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We're more relaxed now. We still live in our 800 sq foot cabin. We would not live anywhere else.
Fruit trees have been difficult but now we have a small orchard. Between
moose, deer, bears, voles and mice it has been a challenge.
Honey bees have been emotionally draining because they die from causes we can't control. We don't raise them now. Instead we've been cultivating our relationship with wild bees. Every year there are fewer. This year we had bumble bees. The 5 or 6 species of wild bees usually pollinating our plants were missing.. We've been using a feather trying to pollinate.
He's a young adult now.
After a judo tournament he skyped us,
" My body is aching, my fingers and toes skinned
My face hurts to touch and I can't make fists due to ligament injuries
My spirit is unwavering
Looking forward to getting my Nidan and making knives".
This gardening method is sustainable, organic and has very little impact except birds, bugs, mice, snakes and worms have never had it better.
Rocks picked for a garden wall |
The fence is to keep out free range cows. For 26 years the free range livestock has been the greatest threat to our garden.
Rotten wood has got to be the supreme bush fertilizer adding organic material and fluffing up heavy soil.There are droppings from animals like deer, moose and rabbit which are good "on the spot" fertilizers.
Harvesting what you need with care and never taking more than 1/3 of anything.
Fireweed shoots--Excellent greens
Cultivate dandelions, wild onions, wild parsnip, lambs quarters,
We've been fertilizing by mulching with green grass (before it goes to seed) covered with an inch of sand then covered with rotten wood. We have some chicken manure that we fertilize beans and greens with. After the crop is harvested plant rye grass or Chinese vegetables. When the thick head is 6 to 8 inches high we turn it over.
a young adult now learning about the city and people. The old timers are dead. It will be our 27th winter. Not much has changed here. We're older and still thriving in the bush. We wonder and ask ourselves.
We
have lived off grid in central British Columbia for 26 years. Growing
our food, living and using the sun's energy to survive.
Fresh clean air, water, food....and a safe environment.
If you want to know what Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stands for watch and listen to this recording of him speaking at the Seventh annual Rhoda Goldman Distinguished Lecture in Public Health Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, 15 years ago. It was a tribute to him.
Environmental Health and Demnocracy with RFK Jr.
If you want to find out more about the man today watch Math Hoffa's podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0XFMqHu2Ok .
In search for truth.
Regards,
Aki and Scott
www.caribooblades.com