Niki and Caleb have visited a few times, so you may recall, but I used to work with her mama in Tokyo when at the I.M.F. Niki is super awesome, smart, and forward-thinking. Dav and I have lots to learn from her; she's educated and been involved in farming and sustainable living. She and Caleb just moved up north, and I'm excited to have her blog to follow so Dav and I can vicariously live a life we don't quite yet have the guts or knowledge to pull off.
I love her intro bio:
"In 2004 I declared that I would try to grow all my own food. I'm still working on that one. I concede it may be impossible as I love both coffee and chocolate. But still, I strive for a self-sufficient way of life, one satisfactory to mind, body and soul. I want to be a farmer.I am currently residing in an old farmhouse in Arcata, CA with one awesome partner, one dog, one cat, two beehives, six laying hens, and a one eyed cock. "
I know what this is! It is a cross between a chicken and a sheep (called a chieep), that, after growing strange white lumps, tragically expired and is now hanging from the ceiling to turn into chieep jerky.
Just kidding -- I have huge respect for family farming, actually, and I have no idea what this thing is. Family farming is a TON of work, and if you have livestock then of course there's no vacation time. Some young people in Austria do it, and I have a ton of respect for them. They get up at 5am to feed the pigs and chicken and milk the cows, and it's dirty work and really tough, and bitter cold in the winter in Austria to be out on the field all day.
Posted by: E Jetmar | 05/25/2009 at 04:15 AM