Sunday, March 29, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Bryan Arrives in Iowa
March 21st
Bryan arrives at the Hershire farm. Massive windstorms, rainy and overcast. Leanne remains in Florida teaching at the University of Flordia.
The strawberries are just peaking out of the ground.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Farm Manifesto
During the next two years we will concentrate on creating a sustainable lifestyle while farming in the midsts of industrialized farmland in Iowa. We will attempt to be entirely self sufficient in our consumption of food. All food will be organic and ethically raised or hunted in the surrounding areas.
Our lifestyle will focus on the notion of Slow Food and Slow Living. Cultivating a life that is not obsessed with speed and instant gratification. Everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and gardening will be conducted in a artful and mindful way. Allowing us to value the process over the product. While certain modern conveniences may still be used, such as electricity and modern transport, all these conveniences will be cataloged and weighed in relationship to our project.
All products which are not produced on the property will be purchased from local sustainable farms. Items that can not be purchased locally will be purchased only from sustainable businesses with ethical labor practices.
As we live on a functioning industrial farm, we will try to work with local farmers and not against them in our practices. Trying to look for ways in which we can be mutually beneficial.
We will extend an open invitation to the art community to join us on the farm, and will attempt to feed and house that community whenever possible.
The rules:
1. All products should be purchased from local stores/producers.
2. Before making a purchase a producer/store should be researched and measured on terms of sustainability, where the products were produced, and the labor practices that were used to produce that product.
3. No products shall be bought from Chain Stores. (chains local to Iowa may be utilized after they have been researched)
4. Products will not be purchased if they are packaged in unethical packaging. (soda pop, styrofoam, excess packaging)
5. No Fast Food shall be eaten.
6. No invitations to Big Box Restaurants will be accepted unless for an immediate family member's celebration. And then only a minor amount of unethical products should be consumed.
7. Items that are being thrown away may be rescued from Big Box Stores even if made out of questionable materials.
8. All waste containers (buckets, cups, etc.) must be saved, used or recycled.
9. All household cleaners, paint, and repairs should be made from green products.
10. Car trips should be limited, and recorded. Our bikes and our scooter should be a main transport when possible. (biofuel is a possibility)
11. Anything purchased that falls outside of these rules should be documented.
Our lifestyle will focus on the notion of Slow Food and Slow Living. Cultivating a life that is not obsessed with speed and instant gratification. Everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and gardening will be conducted in a artful and mindful way. Allowing us to value the process over the product. While certain modern conveniences may still be used, such as electricity and modern transport, all these conveniences will be cataloged and weighed in relationship to our project.
All products which are not produced on the property will be purchased from local sustainable farms. Items that can not be purchased locally will be purchased only from sustainable businesses with ethical labor practices.
As we live on a functioning industrial farm, we will try to work with local farmers and not against them in our practices. Trying to look for ways in which we can be mutually beneficial.
We will extend an open invitation to the art community to join us on the farm, and will attempt to feed and house that community whenever possible.
The rules:
1. All products should be purchased from local stores/producers.
2. Before making a purchase a producer/store should be researched and measured on terms of sustainability, where the products were produced, and the labor practices that were used to produce that product.
3. No products shall be bought from Chain Stores. (chains local to Iowa may be utilized after they have been researched)
4. Products will not be purchased if they are packaged in unethical packaging. (soda pop, styrofoam, excess packaging)
5. No Fast Food shall be eaten.
6. No invitations to Big Box Restaurants will be accepted unless for an immediate family member's celebration. And then only a minor amount of unethical products should be consumed.
7. Items that are being thrown away may be rescued from Big Box Stores even if made out of questionable materials.
8. All waste containers (buckets, cups, etc.) must be saved, used or recycled.
9. All household cleaners, paint, and repairs should be made from green products.
10. Car trips should be limited, and recorded. Our bikes and our scooter should be a main transport when possible. (biofuel is a possibility)
11. Anything purchased that falls outside of these rules should be documented.
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