What is the legacy you want to leave behind?
This year, I turned 55. TS tried to organize a party for me but many people either didn’t respond or had other commitments. It stung a bit back in April. We can try again when I turn 60. Why am I telling you this — I meditate on what I’m going to leave behind when I die. I want my estate to be easy to deal with for my executors (message to the living: make all your POA, LOD, wills clear/concise/coherent [and for fuck’s sakes, don’t assign joint-executors who live in different towns or countries]). Give my co-executors the ability to make decisions without having 100% lock-step-agreement between them.
Our property is being developed using permaculture philosophies, and with low-impact mechanization. That means we practice soil conservation and erosion control. More challenging, we are making the site less susceptible to catastrophic wildfires. We build habitat for reptiles, pollinators (not just honeybees), arachnids, amphibians, and… yes… hummingbirds. That’s my contribution to my non-human neighbours’ well-being.
I probably won’t return to the classroom as a supply teacher. I did enough social engineering in the YRDSB. I’m pursuing some alternative education-training sessions with local parent-groups. I used to be critical of parents who home-school their kids. I was a pro-union, pro-public-education, school-board dude. I’m changing my mind about it. If parents are willing to put in the time and effort into socializing and civilizing their children… I can accept it. I’m particularly impressed with parents who do it in a secular setting (no religious dogma). Besides, I can do without the bureaucracy and institutional nature of public education.
Heat wave, june 26 rock farm report.
Want to place dog biscuit order? Firewood? Have some cutlery that needs sharpening? Text us at 226-923-2968 (voicemail is ONLINE, but checked 2-3 times/week; updated June 24/25).
Our heatwave broke this morning in spectacular fashion. It’s gently raining and we are feeling cool cross-breezes finally flowing through the farmhouse. TS will be going to work at the Electric Woodpecker while I wait for my let’s-work-outside window. We have most of the surplus straw from last year’s construction moved to the garden. Did you know damp straw is fantastic habitat for reptiles? That’s good. And carnivorous deer-flies? That’s bad.
Here’s some (gardening, storm-clouds, DIY) images from around the farm:
I’m proud to announce that I did my first proper maintenance on our ATV. At summer’s end, I will replace the engine coolant. Front differential (its own weirdo oil), transmission (smurf blue), crankcase (hoity toity synthetic oil), some of the grease zerks got lubed. I somehow broke my grease gun and wasted 2 tubes of grease! Sheesh. For posterity, here’s some images from that ordeal:
On the home business front: TS and I are limping through an underwhelming month of sales. We have to conserve fuel and have 1 roadworthy vehicle (in the Fall, we’ll take the 20-year-old Toyota Echo into Wiarton to determine its fate). July and August = we’re hoping the tourists come on up. With their companions animals.
We finally set up our business telephone number: 1-226-923-2968.
- Dog biscuits?
- Be As Happy As Your Dog (book & workbook)?
- Knit dog (or cat?!) sweaters?
- Knit dog- or cat-themed hats?
- Firewood?
- Dull cutlery that needs sharpening?
- Non-emergency, pick-up and drop off from the LINDSAY ROAD 40, DYER’S BAY or CRANE LAKE ROAD Bruce Trail? See Map 40 (31st edition [LINK TO BTC]). Fair rates.
…call us. Send a text. I’ll do my best to monitor its voice-mail (our farm remains underserved by Rogers and Bell).
That’s 226-923-2968.
BCB&B, neemtree, bdb, and blog 