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Polyxena of the Pink Poppy's avatar

You’re likely familiar with this poem but I’ll post it here anyway because it gives me such strength. Every time I get to read it it makes me weep a bit.

“Love the quick profit, the annual raise,

vacation with pay. Want more

of everything ready-made. Be afraid

to know your neighbors and to die.

And you will have a window in your head.

Not even your future will be a mystery

any more. Your mind will be punched in a card

and shut away in a little drawer.

When they want you to buy something

they will call you. When they want you

to die for profit they will let you know.

So, friends, every day do something

that won’t compute. Love the Lord.

Love the world. Work for nothing.

Take all that you have and be poor.

Love someone who does not deserve it.

Denounce the government and embrace

the flag. Hope to live in that free

republic for which it stands.

Give your approval to all you cannot

understand. Praise ignorance, for what man

has not encountered he has not destroyed.

Ask the questions that have no answers.

Invest in the millenium. Plant sequoias.

Say that your main crop is the forest

that you did not plant,

that you will not live to harvest.

Say that the leaves are harvested

when they have rotted into the mold.

Call that profit. Prophesy such returns.

Put your faith in the two inches of humus

that will build under the trees

every thousand years.

Listen to carrion – put your ear

close, and hear the faint chattering

of the songs that are to come.

Expect the end of the world. Laugh.

Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful

though you have considered all the facts.

So long as women do not go cheap

for power, please women more than men.

Ask yourself: Will this satisfy

a woman satisfied to bear a child?

Will this disturb the sleep

of a woman near to giving birth?

Go with your love to the fields.

Lie down in the shade. Rest your head

in her lap. Swear allegiance

to what is nighest your thoughts.

As soon as the generals and the politicos

can predict the motions of your mind,

lose it. Leave it as a sign

to mark the false trail, the way

you didn’t go. Be like the fox

who makes more tracks than necessary,

some in the wrong direction.

Practice resurrection.”

~Wendell Berry, Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front

Ps- those Census assholes came around last summer...our household had been “randomly chosen” for the highly illegal off year census they run and the questions were soooo ridiculously invasive. I told them to f*** right off, to their faces (I used kinder language) and told them why I wouldn’t be participating. They eventually left us alone. The gloves are off man, I’m so done with these hives droids.

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Tara's avatar

OH indeed I am familiar but I'm so glad you put that here for all to see. There was a time when I tried to mesmerize that off by heart. I think I should return to that goal. Wendell Berry was a jewel. Still is.

Good for you for refusing to reply. What used to be a friendly request has turned into a threatening, coercive, harassing demand here. The first I hear of it, I got a letter and by the next day, I got the first message and now, every day since, I have received daily phone messages.

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Alexandra Bogusat's avatar

Thank you for this!

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Quarrelsome Life's avatar

"Plant things even if you will never taste their sweetness." I love this. Thank you 🙏

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Tara's avatar

Thank you. :)

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Quarrelsome Life's avatar

Your sentiment here reminded me of one of the richest lines I have ever encountered: "A man at least starts to approach the meaning of life when he plants shades trees under which he knows full well he will never sit." - Elton Trueblood)

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Julieanne's avatar

Loved this too

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Connor Charchuk's avatar

Sure, we can't get raw milk here, but they're decriminalizing crystal meth. This country has gone mad.

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Tara's avatar

It's madness and destruction of commonly held values and beliefs. Whatever is up is down. Whatever is right is wrong.

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Amanda's avatar

I do raw milk shares here in alaska and I’m glad we at least have that option. However it still feels really stupid and controlling to not be able to just sell milk to a consumer who is assuming their own risk. I did it without contracts for a long time and just recently developed a contract and decided I should probably do it by the book so “they” have nothing over us. My husband is very outspoken about the tyrannies of government over-reach and he wants to break some stupid food laws and stir the pot a bit to get more people riled up. Every time I see him in a group of men he’s on a soap box about people breaking off from the system, getting kids out of school, starting gardens etc. he is not opposed to being an example but it freaks me out a bit having kids.

The other thing that is disappointing is that when I started my shares I asked people to bring feed for their share or asked if people would trade labor for milk because I’m swamped with homestead responsibilities and little children. So many people said “no thanks”. No one wants to actually help. And I have never once had anyone volunteer on our farm. So now I am asking and very few are open to it. People would rather just throw money at you than actually do any work. It’s been disheartening and if I am not going to burn out and continue offering this to our community, I need support from time to time.

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Tara's avatar

I think I'd get along with you guys :)

Have you considered making some work contribution a requirement of the milk share? I've seen that done on CSAs. If people value what you offer, they will pony up to the tasks. If not, well.. are you getting enough out of it with just having the money thrown at? If not, stop. I'm so glad you're offering nourishing food to your community, but they need to be invested, grateful, and participants in the process too. Just my 2 cents for what it's worth.

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Amanda's avatar

Haha oh yes.. I’ve been forwarding your essays to my husband. Especially this one! We would totally get along. Ashton (husband) wants to name our homestead “Emerald Ridge” as a pun on “ruby ridge”. He’s very much of the “come and take it” attitude. He also just had a no trespassing sign made specifically directed towards the tax collectors who feel the laws don’t apply to them and come snooping around to see how much more money they can squeeze out of you for being a productive contributor to society and the economy.

Yes I just put out there that I was looking for a legitimate co-op and exchange of feed or dropping off 1 round bale (if they have a truck) and all the people who were so ready to come pick up milk slowly disappeared. So I had to revert back to cash because I am getting too much milk and I only have so much time in a week to make cheese. I am milking 2 cows because there was such a demand. So next season I may not milk two if I don’t have a good group of participants.

Did you fill out that census and tell them all those details?

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Izzy's avatar

That is so sad, but your right people would rather just throw money at something instead of work for it. I don't know squat about cattle farming but I would happily volunteer my time if my milk farm asked me too.

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Amanda's avatar

That’s wonderful! You can always offer! There is always much to do on a farm and it speaks volumes to me when my milk customers acknowledge the amount of work that goes into it. Even a half hour! It’s more about the appreciation and support to me than the amount of time put in!

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Tara's avatar

I used to go to one of my milk farmers once a week, in the mornings when our youngest was in play school. I'd show up and she'd give me whatever task was needed to be done. Sometimes I'd just wash milk and yoghurt bottles. Sometimes I'd make the yoghurt. Sometimes I'd clean out the shit from the stalls. Sometimes I'd feed the calves. There are a million things that always need to be done on a farm. Amanda's right, just ask your farmer and endear yourself. Good people to warm up to :)

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Janene's avatar

"Throwing money at things" is such a good insight. Giving time is almost unheard of anymore. It truly is breaking the system to offer something from yourself. And beautiful too. I wish you luck. If I could come from Idaho to Alaska I'd come weed your garden or something for you.

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Amanda's avatar

Yes exactly! So sad. I grew up in north Idaho! From 8-18. After high school I returned to alaska! I am actually looking for someone to trade work for room and board currently. So hopefully that pans out! Thank you for the kind words and support. Sometimes just a little of that pushes you through another day of “why am I doing all this” 😂

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Valeria Roca's avatar

Hi Amanda, where in Alaska are you located? I’m in the Mat-Su valley 5 mins from Hatcher Pass.

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Aja Linder's avatar

I love all these pictures you’re sharing! So inspiring to see all that old fashioned abundance!

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Janene's avatar

I agree. More agrarian cow pics please!!

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Tara's avatar

Thanks, Aja. I am a lover of old art showing these types of beautiful images of life. I'm glad you are too. :)

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Abbey's avatar

Me at a kiddos bday party... hey have you heard of our local bulk produce order??? Interested in a local milk pick up? Did i mention im trying to raise my own meat?

Lol, i usually start with apologies for my spastic and silght conspiracy theory ways. I do try to share the good, but often get discouraged.

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Tara's avatar

Abbey, I was always the drummer trying to get everyone in a crowd excited to join in, too. Keep doing it. The right people are going to find you and you, them. :)

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Abbey's avatar

Thank you! 💕

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Aja Linder's avatar

Love this and can totally relate!

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CLINTON CHERRINGTON's avatar

I had to read that last paragraph twice. "The point is never the outcome." Absolutely phenomenal.

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Tara's avatar

Thank you. Not a common sentiment in our goal/outcome driven society. I think that's part of the problem.

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Laura's avatar

We just uprooted our lives in Vermont (where much public shame comes to you and your children if you aren’t v & 😷) next door to NH (whose state motto is “Live free or die”) and I just signed up for my first “sheep camp” given by a local farm on how to raise sheep for milk (bc I’m still too intimidated by caring for cows and can source raw A2 cow’s milk and ice cream 😬) Your rally cry has not fallen on deaf ears 🙏🏼

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Tara's avatar

Oh, how wonderful, Laura!! I am so happy for you and your family!

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Kaitlyn's avatar

Same here, Laura! We left Vermont last year. Hope you're enjoying NH : )

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PAULA TROXELL's avatar

You are right on. The time for civil disobedience is upon us and pressing on our shoulders. I feel it.

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Julieanne's avatar

Same here. Thank you for this encouragement, wisdom, and push to take steps.

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Unpalatable by Tanja Rohn's avatar

When I piggybacked on a friends chick order I didn’t know I was skirting some sort of registration. I was hyper aware that my backyard feathered worker friends were against bylaw but thought it was worth the risk. Every single one of my neighbours was supportive of my birds but every time they announced an egg I’d worry that ten houses down someone would report me. They didn’t thank goodness but the anxiety was constant. I worked diligently to create relationships in my neighbourhood to make it work. I brought urban birds forward in collaborative government meetings to no avail.

I did find a local feed store that didn’t require my postal code to purchase. Once while out of town I picked up some feed on the way home. At the cash while I was paying my hubby took the feed to the car before the transaction was complete. I really didn’t know the postal code was a mandatory piece of the transaction and refused to give it to them and walked out. They really didn’t like that.

My niaveté got me through my urban chicken years. Thank you for spelling this out all in one place. All the little bits that don’t sit right with me all in one reading. Keep up the good work.

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Tara's avatar

It's simply absurd. Imagine being worried about someone calling on you because of a hen laying an egg. What an upside down world. We should never, ever think any of this is normal.

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Janene's avatar

Oh, I can feel the dreaded anxiety here. I am so furious at the neighbors who reported Tara's friend in the pig episode above. You know, when they opened the East German records they found that it was mostly close neighbors and family who had turned people in for "violations". When the truth came out it was shocking. I have no idea what people were thinking but it is horrifying how willing some are to sacrifice their neighbor to be "the good child" or to get a few extra crumbs. I hope I am never that person.

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Tara's avatar

I hope I am never that person either. This reminds me, have you ever watched the documentary, "Final Account"? They interview the remaining people that were actually part of the Nazi regime. It's such a fascinating, and disturbing, insight into human beings and what we are capable of when we delude ourselves into thinking such evil is good. https://www.focusfeatures.com/final-account/

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Guy's avatar

I too was reminded of the East German Stazi while reading today’s post. It’s just so unbelievable that it’s happening to us - the people living in “free” countries.

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PAULA TROXELL's avatar

I know about the constant anxiety that a neighbor will turn you in. For two years I raised meat rabbits in my backyard in town. Rabbits are considered pets in my city. You can only own 2. I had a few more than that. There was never a complaint or problem, but I was always worried.

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Tara's avatar

But cheers to you for doing it anyway, Paula. We need more of that.

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PAULA TROXELL's avatar

Thanks Tara. I love growing my own meat! I am thinking about getting a couple of lambs now. I've heard they are quiet, as long as I get at least two. :)

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Barbara Barnes's avatar

What excellent timing. I am currently in a conversation with representatives here in Wisconsin about getting mandatory livestock registration rescinded. I realize this will not happen while we have our socialist governor but I’m hoping for the future. I’ve contacted legislatures and talked to small farmers. I’m new to this game but I can’t believe I have to register if I have three beef cow and a couple of pigs. I don’t even want to say how many poultry I have. Goodness…. I’ve even been sharing with folks that help butcher meat birds. I will not comply. I hope I’m as brave when they inquire. We’ll see.

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Pam Voss's avatar

Way to go Barbara!! Where are you in WI? I’m in Door County and hearing rumblings of all this. Our governor is a socialist joke. Keep up the good work!!

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Barbara Barnes's avatar

I’m in Adams County. I love Door county though and we’ve visited there many times. We considered relocating there but it was too expensive for us.

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Tara's avatar

How does it work where you are, Barbara? What happens if you don't register? Here, where we live, if your land isn't registered as a farm or a wood lot, you pay the whole value of property taxes based on acreage. If it's a farm, you pay 25% of the land tax rate. It's why many people here get someone to cut the hay off their land, even though they don't farm at all, and then benefit from the reduced taxes.

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Barbara Barnes's avatar

Our property is taxed as a farm except for 3 acres around the home. We have 30 acres. That allows us to have reduce taxes. As for the mandated reporting, I don’t know what will happen as I don’t know anyone who complies. But I heard of of people who have gotten in trouble and had long protracted legal problems with the state.

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Tara's avatar

They certainly seem to like to make examples of people.

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Izzy's avatar

Raw milk is illegal here in New Jersey, but I drive (or get deliveries) from a lovely small farm about 2 hours away in Pennsylvania. It's worth it but it's beyond frustrating. I have been doing this on & off for many years, thinking there was no other way, but I hear you & will start researching what I can do to join the fight here.

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Tara's avatar

That's wonderful, Izzy. I had to drive a couple hours to get milk when we lived out west. It's worth it if that's the only possibility, but it's great to get things going locally, too whenever possible.

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Louisa Enright's avatar

Late Capitalism. What you describe is how markets work to drive out competition—aided and abetted by layers of bureaucrats and politicians that are—at some level or another—being paid off to do the bidding of industry. It’s now a failed system—as you describe—as it has gone too far, is producing crap food, etc. I so agree that when these systems are burning down now—but maybe not before they do much more damage. And it will be small farmers like YOU who will provide a new beginning. And I also agree that it is time for consumers to take on more of the burden of saying “no,” and we want good food. Thanks so much for this description today.

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Tara's avatar

I think the system is on life support, but like you, I think it probably will have to do a lot more damage before people are forced to look elsewhere. It's sad, but true, that humans will stick with what they know over starting fresh with something unknown. Unless they're forced, of course. I think the force is coming.

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Janene's avatar

I wish I had more faith that people will "get it". Right now I have a son and daughter in law who cowboy in Montana (by Yellowstone National Park). There is huge flooding there right now. They stationed my son on the south ranch to watch the horses if the bridges went out. They did go out. His wife had every jar full of water full before the power failed and they are stuck, but totally fine. Unfortunately there were "city kids" stuck in the cabin across the highway. My son took them food, got the generator going and (most important for them) got them wifi. The next morning the wifi was out. They literally melted. They had to be evacuated. They left dished, dirty clothes, food, a complete mess - like magic people just come to clean up after them. So, of course, my son and his wife cleaned it all up and then headed back to their headquarters. The big boss asked if my son was ok. He said, "sure, there's elk everywhere. If I get hungry, I'll shoot one and we'll have steak." The city kids were horrified, but hello, can anyone do an emergency any more?? I have my doubts. I think they will all melt into the ground. These real life skills can make you look like a hero in today's environment.

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Tara's avatar

Incredible! Some common sense and life skills seem almost heroic in this world now. Isn't that something. I'm embarrassed for the youth of today. They have no idea how dependant they are and they give no thought to any of this possibly not being here.

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Guy's avatar

Bless your son! This is a great example of how helpless the population has become. When things really hit the fan these helpless humans will be the most desperate and dangerous.

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Tara's avatar

That's so true.

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Yellow Birch Hobby Farm (Erin)'s avatar

On planting for the future, I always say "The time will pass anyway". The only difference is, if you plant, you could eventually have fruit in your hands. If you don't, you won't. But in both instances, the time will pass regardless. This goes for many things that we look at and only see how long it might be to attain something. The time passes, whether we do that thing or not.

Thank-you so much, Tara, for your work. It brings a steady calm to my day, and quiets down the chaos around us that tries so hard to get in.

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Tara's avatar

That's a beautiful perspective, Erin. It will pass. It is passing. I think one of our culture's greatest maladies is our short sighted vision of our world. It seems that's been a more recent development over the last few decades, but it's not serving life on this planet.

Thank you for your lovely compliment, too. :)

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Teresa Maupin's avatar

"I did my shady milk deals in church parking lots." If this isn't representative of the lunacy we face, I don't know what is! Also, you're right about the authorities taking advantage of citizens because we naturally want to be nice and compliant, a good neighbor so to speak. Enough!! The beautiful art and photos throughout your piece are so illustrative of what we need to do -- support each other and the mission of freedom.

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Tara's avatar

Thank you, Teresa. I couldn't agree more. I think we all need to start having these conversations with our real life people and start putting ourselves forward in walking the walk.

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Bonnie's avatar

I was so taken aback by the outrageous requirements of your government. These are indeed war time policies that were enacted during WW2 in certain European countries to insure that they could feed their soldiers. My mother-in-law, that lived in Bavaria, recounts the many times her mother would hide her daughters under the floor when soldiers would come to the village farms. They took the chickens and vegetables and anything else they wanted. The farmers would pool their supplies to feed each other with what they left behind.

We can't play by the rules anymore. I know everyone hopes that civil disobedience will be enough to bring about change. But it has not and will not be.

May we all build strong tribes of like minded people.

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Tara's avatar

Imagine hiding your children under floorboards?! And yet this is only a generation or two away from us, but we all live as if this is something that happened in a movie once. My grandparents came to Canada from Slovakia with similar stories of food being absconded for governmental causes.

A few years ago we went to Cuba and I was so surprised to see all the cattle tied to ropes along the roadways to graze. Our driver told us that these cattle went to the government officials. The peasants ate the vile, overly processed, imported slop in the grocery stores , but even that was limited. We went to one "market" thinking it would be an actual market, but when we got there, a bunch of Cubans were standing in a line while bags of some generic frozen meat was offloaded from a truck. Milk was all powdered. Fats were rows upon rows of corn and soy oil. The whole thing was so depressing. How far away are we from that?

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Bonnie's avatar

What we have learned over the past couple of years is how easy it is to implement laws that restrict our freedom to care for ourselves. It is not hard to believe those tools will be used again. Sad.

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