Henry David Thoreau on Facebook

The excerpt is from a post on the blog http://www.bedlamfarm.com/2012/04/07/henry-david-thoreau-on-facebook/ I've only posted the first couple of paragraphs. To read this rest go to their blog.

Thoreau finished his dinner soon after moving to his cabin on Walden Pond – fried rat, wild cat, roots, berries, raw fish, mushrooms – and he sat down to record the meal. He wanted to share the experience of living alone at Walden Pond, to demonstrate to himself and the world that he could live near nature, make his own decisions, shed some of the fears and restrictions of society, live a life of self-determination. He saw his page as a living “Walden.” When he finished eating, he clicked on the “Publish to Facebook” button and went outside to gaze at the stars, stretch and relieve himself in the woods.
Thoreau, committed to a life of simplicity and very little use of technology, was at first reluctant to bring a computer into his tiny cabin, or to get a Facebook Page. He didn’t like the Internet, and had refused to do his banking online. Of course, he had no money, so that wasn’t a huge sacrifice. But he really disliked social media, the idea of all these strangers coming into his life. Writers should work alone, be mysterious, he complained. He didn’t want to meet his friends from childhood, and he hated the idea of e-mail. His publisher persuaded him that waldenpond.com would help him market “Walden Pond,” and sell more copies of this dubious project to people who did not want to live on a pond in the dark and hunt and cook for themselves. You know, his editor said, brand yourself.
When Thoreau came inside after swimming naked in the pond, and capturing a frog for dinner, he was surprised to see more than 100 comments on his Facebook posting. “Fried rat!,” said one comment, “you better get yourself to a doctor now. You will have parasites and worms in the morning.” There were more than 20 comments from animal lovers horrified that he had eaten a cat, and there were warnings about berries, queries about the mushrooms, and questions from environmentalists about whether he had eliminated in the woods, properly disposed of the carcass. He was cautioned about drinking water that wasn’t boiled, and told that he might freeze if he didn’t dress more warmly in the winter.

Taught by Goats

Taught by Goats

What do goats teach?

You must slow down and be deliberate.

If you are in a hurry the goats rebel.

Don’t rush, latch the gate otherwise everyone will raid the barn, bounce onto the milking stand, stuff their faces deep into the grain bucket, and ransack the hay bales.

Slow down.

One step at a time.

Nature has her own rhythm; the light of day slowly fades to night until it is almost completely dark. I don’t even notice the darkness as it falls gradually while securing the goats in their cozy stalls and locking the chickens away from the foxes. I know the foxes stock the chickens at night, they leave their footprints in the newly fallen snow.

What do goats teach?

They play ring around the house instead of going inside to eat. What’s the problem? Are there ghosts inside? Oh, now I remember, it must either be a new moon or a full moon. Maybe it is the total darkness the new moon brings, but it is connected to a goat rule. If it is dark and Lori hasn’t yet closed us up for the night, it isn’t safe to go inside – RUN!

Always be watchful.

Goats’ heads all turned one direction. Motionless. Not a muscle twitches. Could be the Border Collie from next door. Or an elk. Or maybe a fox. Roosters shriek a warning if a fox is near.

Always be watchful. Always be aware.

Pay attention. Or the goat will step in the bucket full of creamy milk.

Pay attention. Or the chickens will dash into the pasture.

Pay attention. Or you might get sprayed by the skunk eating the cat food in the barn.

Pay attention. Or you will hurt your body.

Pay attention. Don’t lean over the back of a goat with horns.

Pay attention to the wind. It brings the scent of spring or a wildfire.

Pay attention to the clouds pouring over the mountain to the west. Will the thunderstorm catch you outside?

Pay attention to the sunrise. It is red, it will be storming later.

Pay attention to the rhythm of the earth rolling beneath your feet.

Pay attention to learn what is enough.

Pay attention to learn how to live!

Snow Dance

Arlo got everyone to do the snow dance. We had 5 inches of the nice wet stuff on Tuesday.

Gardens and such

Started working on the garden yesterday. It was nearly 80 degrees, today it is supposed to snow. It is really too early to plant much, but we tilled in the manure and planned it all out. I did plant the asparagus roots - they take a couple years to establish before you can harvest them. Don't know why I didn't plant them 8 years ago .......We also planted some kale and have plastic jugs over the seeds to protect them. Will be starting cucumbers, califlower, cabbage and peppers inside soon.