Experimental Crop: Job's Tears

With my history of corn and soy allergies, and our desire to raise our own chickens, my husband and I have been toying with the idea of growing our own non-corn, non-soy (and non-GMO) custom chicken feed.

We can grow some sort of beans for part of the protein need, but have been looking here and there and reading a bit on what to fill that other side of the equation with to get a higher-protein feed, without using corn and using something a little easier to harvest than wheat. (we don't have modern harvesting equipment at this time).  (The sunflowers were gorgeous that we grew a few years ago for added protein; however the flocks of yellow finches thought so too and took care of the entire crop in a matter of days!)

In our research, we came across an old plant called Job's Tears (species Coix lacryma-jobi).
Here are a few interesting tidbits I learned about it and found noteworthy:

• ancient relative of corn
• Gluten-free
• High protein-even higher than Quinoa, which is often touted for high protein content
• An Anti-Cancer food...the bran contains compounds that inhibit human cancer cells
• Used medicinally in the Far East for many ailments, and also a food in the Far East, used much like barley
• Only the dark-colored ones are good for food--lighter ones are bitter and will ruin the whole pot if cooked with the darker ones

Randy's grandmother had given me some old seed  years ago, possibly even before we got married, but I am not sure where I put it(or even if it would grow at this stage in the game!).

So we began looking online for a source of seed and kept coming up dry.  Of the few seed companies we found that carry it, all are sold out already, and jewelry sources often have the seeds reamed out already, ready for threading.

And then we came across crafter Jenny Hoople  (dh found her just googling Job's Tears, and I found her Etsy listing, AuthenticSeeds<<---take a look at her cool jewelry!).  She grows Job's Tears herself for beading and has made the seeds available for others to grow. (Thanks, Jenny, for making these available!)

I have to say that when I received my seeds in the mail, the packaging and presentation of the seeds was a ray of sunshine to my day. Might not matter to folks just wanting seed to grow, but I thought it was a nice touch. :)

Cute bunny drawn on the envelope.

  

A gift, unwrapped...

 

 And my seeds, complete with an informative card.

 Thanks again, Jenny! :)

We plan to grow these this year and see how well they do in our climate/soil and how much care they require, and if we get enough to play with at the end of the season we will see how well they might work to 1)incorporate into chicken feed (possibly using a corn grinder...), 2)cook and eat ourselves and see how we like them (probably in soup?), 3)make some cool jewelry w/the kids, and of course 4)save some seed for next year!

Update: Charlie's Soap Day 377 and counting...

Over a year ago, I had posted about the wonderful Charlie's Soap purchase I made on Amazon. The price has gone up nearly $6, but I'd say it's still a great price and  heartily recommend it.  There may be better deals out there. :)

I had expected the Charlie's Soap to last me a year, and it was worth it to me at that price.

But guess what? I have only used about half of it and expect the remainder to last me another year!

I worried about it hardening into one large clump with our humid summers. I put a couple of those nitrogen packs in the big bucket as I found them throughout the year(pill bottles, shoe boxes, etc) and haven't had any problem with clumping/hardening.

I have not purchased any other laundry detergent in the last year. I do sometimes use a separate stain remover (one kid in particular is good at getting clothes good and dirty...), or a squirt of Dawn if there are exceptionally greasy stains.

I do not use commercial fabric softener due to allergies. I use vinegar in the rinse(when I remember) and this seems to help my towels be softer and to cut down on static a bit. And I use dryer balls...or I did for most of the last year, but they died so lately I've not been using them.

So....
~Rockin' good price
~No fragrances to cause allergic reactions in myself or my kids
~Cleans well
~Lasts forever


What's not to love?

All in all, I'd say this purchase is well worth the initial cost!

Pear Tree is in Full Bloom

I went out this morning after the kids and hubby were sent off to school and work...

 ...and found the Pear tree in full bloom.

I had to take a pic of the beds of clover.

 

And a pic of my trusty companion.

Yesterday, as I was working in my herb garden, I found a young grasshopper---in March! Aah! I wonder if this means the bugs will be extra bad this year since the winter was warmer and they are getting a head start....or if they are going to go through their life cycles and die "early" and give us a break. Time will tell...

Here's the wee grasshopper. Sorry for the blurry pic, but I'm limited in what I can do/see with my point and click digital camera outside!
(and if I'm going to be working in the dirt with my bare hands...there's really not any point in a manicure, is there? ;) )

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More Blooms at Augsburger Farm

There are a lot of old trees on our farm, left over from years ago when there was an official Orchard. Some of the trees are left from the orchard. Some of them are "planted" by birds in old fence rows.  Most are neglected, but they do add color to the farm in spring!

Yesterday, the Plum trees began blooming.

 

And this morning, the Cherry trees are in bloom as well.

Our pear tree is about halfway to full bloom.

 Closeup of the pear blossoms:

I am working in the herb garden today, trying to limit the effects of Lemon Balm and Peppermint that I planted  about 8 years ago...and find my Yarrow and Lovage that have been overtaken.

Allergy Update: March 21, 2012

It's been awhile since I've been in for an allergy appointment. I have been having little stuff flare up off and on, carrots being a constant(even organic), so I went in for allergy stuff and a chiro adjustment.

I brought in a bag of things to muscle test with, to help save time in finding vials, and I wanted to be sure on the exact foods I was eating.

First off, my Polarity was blocked (again!). We have no explanation as to why this happens to me so often. If anyone has any idea, please let me know! Had to work on getting it back working again before any muscle testing. I think it might  have to do with stress, and possibly with the change in seasons, but have no idea why...


Things of note that I brought in:

A Ziplocked board with what I was told was black mold on it (surprisingly tested ok with this!)

X A commercially grown potato (DID NOT test ok with this)
An organic potato (tested OK--so I think w/the commercial potato it might be a pesticide/herbicide issue)

X Carrot (tested ok w/the piece I brought in...but at insistence that these have persistently been causing lip burning and throat itching we pursued it further with the computer, breaking it down to plant phenolics and muscle testing, and Caffeic Acid is what DID NOT test out ok with me---on the Caffeic Acid list, other sources include corn pollen, apples, beans, cauliflower and lettuce, all of which I have issues with at times...)

X Local Eggs (may be an issue of something the chickens ate...might pursue and try to figure it out.)

X Turkey Pepperoni (muscle testing through the ingredients showed sodium nitrite to be the culprit...something I know isn't good for us anyway...)


I ended up having Caffeic Acid treated with the BioAllergenix system and need to avoid it until tomorrow morning.
Sources of Caffeic Acid include: Apple, Artichoke, These Beans (Lima, Navy, Pinto, Red, String), Carrot, Cauliflower, Olives(green and ripe), Corn Pollen, Grapes, Lettuce, Meadow Fescue Pollen,  and a bunch of grass pollens.