We have been enjoying some really gorgeous days here this fall, with a little frost some nights and t-shirt weather most afternoons, but that is set to change. They say we have a serious cold front coming through early next week. We will certainly see if they know what they are talking about this time.
With these things in mind, I should have spent the whole day yesterday preparing for the coming cold. What I actually did was run some errands early, then went to cut and haul some wood. NO, NOT FIREWOOD, that would have been immediately practical. The wood I cut and hauled was for turning in my lathe. It then had to be sealed and today will be stored, to dry for a year or two. That is preparation, right? Of course it is, just not preparation for next week.
While I was getting the turning wood, I made arrangements to trade firewood for goat hay. That too is preparation, but for a couple of weeks later. At least it is for this winter instead of two years down the road.
Of course, while I was running errands, I did get a sack of rye seed to plant in the garden as a cover crop. It is later than I like to sow rye, but hopefully it will be alright. It really needs to be planted this year, since the potato crop had nematode damage and rye helps with the nematodes. Wish me luck. Once again, preparation but for springtime, not next week.
In fact, the only thing I prepared for the short term was a walking cane. Yes, a walking cane. It is made from a beautiful piece of black locust root and may very well be needed if the weather coming in makes my knees much more stiff and painful. Besides, I had to do something while the potatoes cooked over my little cook fire last night. And with that bright moon and the firelight, there was plenty of light to work.
Bottom line (yes, there is always a bottom line), is that I seem to always be preparing for a distant future, at the expense of the more immediate. I will have to work on that. After all, springtime and years away are good to prepare for, but it does no good if you don't make it through next week.
Wish me luck and any suggestions are more than welcome.
Moving toward an Earth based, self-sufficient, homesteading lifestyle, through gardening, raising small livestock and canning, preserving and storing the food produced, while shifting toward off-grid living using people powered tools and greater simplicity. This lifestyle is being enhanced by the use of old fashioned skills such as blacksmithing and wood working, while incorporating modern techniques and alternative building materials. Welcome to the journey.
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