tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22638135552491107332024-03-06T03:31:45.417-05:00Life, AbundantlyDale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comBlogger158125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-29749176469351851292015-10-17T19:06:00.001-04:002015-10-17T19:07:58.945-04:00Hormesis<a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/hormesis">Merriam-Webster</a> defines it as:<br />
<blockquote>
a theoretical phenomenon of dose-response relationships in which something (as a heavy metal or ionizing radiation) that produces harmful biological effects at moderate to high doses may produce beneficial effects at low doses</blockquote>
As a <i>general</i> theory, it might be lacking and can be especially dangerous if you're stupid about it. Even known-good hormetic phenomenon have significant caveats. I'll describe my protocols and if you decide they may apply to you, be smart, read up, consult a doctor, and most importantly, listen to your body. <i>Don't overdo it</i>. In addition, these protocols are significant stressors and performing more than one at a time might violate the "don't overdo it" principle.<br />
<br />
The known types of hormetic stressors are: toxic chemicals, radiation exposure, physical stress, caloric restriction, hyperthermic exposure, and hypothermic exposure. I avoid toxic chemicals and radiation exposure since research has not provided enough dosage nor beneficial effects information.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Physical Stress</h3>
The simplest to understand and best understood hormetic phenomenon is physical stress -- or as we all know it, exercise! One <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568163707000384">paper</a> has this to say:<br />
<blockquote>
Physical inactivity leads to increased incidence of a variety of diseases and it can be regarded as one of the end points of the exercise-associated hormesis curve. On the other hand, regular exercise, with moderate intensity and duration, has a wide range of beneficial effects on the body including the fact that it improves cardio-vascular function, partly by a nitric oxide-mediated adaptation, and may reduce the incidence of Alzheimer's disease by enhanced concentration of neurotrophins and by the modulation of redox homeostasis. Mechanical damage-mediated adaptation results in increased muscle mass and increased resistance to stressors. Physical inactivity or strenuous exercise bouts increase the risk of infection, while moderate exercise up-regulates the immune system. Single bouts of exercise increases, and regular exercise decreases the oxidative challenge to the body, whereas excessive exercise and overtraining lead to damaging oxidative stress and thus are an indication of the other end point of the hormetic response. Based upon the genetic setup, regular moderate physical exercise/activity provides systemic beneficial effects, including improved physiological function, decreased incidence of disease and a higher quality of life.</blockquote>
My personal protocol consists of regularly spaced extended medium intensity effort (endurance) and short bursts of high intensity effort (HIIT). I won't say much about how regular moderate intensity physical activity reduces the risk of developing
many diseases as the subject is well-researched and accepted as common knowledge. Deeper investigation is left as an exercise for the reader. Wikipedia has this to say about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_interval_training">HIIT</a>:
<br />
<blockquote>
High-intensity interval training (HIIT), also called high-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE) or sprint interval training (SIT), is an enhanced form of interval training, an exercise strategy alternating short periods of intense anaerobic exercise with less-intense recovery periods. HIIT is a form of cardiovascular exercise. Usual HIIT sessions may vary from 4–30 minutes. These short, intense workouts provide improved athletic capacity and condition, improved glucose metabolism, and improved fat burning.[1][2][3] Compared with other regimens, HIIT may not be as effective for treating hyperlipidemia and obesity, or improving muscle and bone mass.[4] Researchers also note that HIIT requires "an extremely high level of subject motivation," and question whether the general population could safely or practically tolerate the extreme nature of the exercise regimen.[5]</blockquote>
In addition to endurance exercise and HIIT, I also perform regular (low-intensity) strength training, for, well, strength, as there is very little additional hormetic benefit to it. My strength training consists of weight lifting, core exercises and yoga.<br />
<br />
Be careful, be informed, see a doctor before starting your own protocol.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Caloric restriction</h3>
The research on caloric restriction is also surprisingly detailed with many possible protocols that can be followed. I've <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6YFswYcdoX2dzA5eDhEcXNBNUk/view?usp=sharing">already pulled together several points on this form of hormesis</a> which you can read on Google Drive. The presentation is fairly easy reading so I won't rehash the points here. My personal protocol is a 3-day fast beginning after breakfast on the first Friday of each month.<br />
<br />
Be careful, be informed, see a doctor before starting your own protocol.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Hyperthermic conditioning</h3>
Northern Europeans have known hyperthermic conditioning for centuries simply as "spending time in the sauna". My friend Dr. Rhonda Patrick (Ph.D. in molecular biology, not M.D.) has put together a fantastic <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWKBsh7YTXQ">video overview</a> of the overwhelming health benefits of sauna use. For more details, including specific protocols and molecular basis of operation, please download her in-depth <a href="http://www.foundmyfitness.com/reports/sauna-report.pdf">sauna report</a>. I also won't rehash her points here. My personal protocol is a single 35 minute session four-times weekly in a sauna maintained at about 170-190 degrees F.<br />
<br />
Be careful, be informed, see a doctor before starting your own protocol.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Hypothermic conditioning</h3>
I think it's safe to say that <i>everyone</i> hates the cold. That's too bad... it can provide many, many healthy benefits. The most well known is reduced pain and accelerated healing by simply applying a cold pack to sore/sprained muscles. Hypothermic hormesis has also been shown to improve <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17999770">immune response by reducing the number and size of tumors in mice</a>. It also has been shown to improve <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3883460">general physical conditioning</a>. <a href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=brown+fat+cold+weight+loss&btnG=&hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C15&as_vis=1">Weight-loss and the reduction of metabolic syndrome</a> can also be induced through prolonged, regular exposure to cold. My personal protocol is alternate 10 minutes in the hot tub with 10 minutes in the 60 degree F swimming pool at my gym.<br />
<br />
Be careful, be informed, see a doctor before starting your own protocol.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Concluding comments</h3>
The research is in and putting our bodies regularly through certain types of stress can be very beneficial to us. No one likes the temporary discomfort that the physical effort, calorie restriction, hyperthermic exposure, and hypothermic exposure induces, but they each have different mechanisms by which they improve our bodies and we should include them as an integrated part of our overall physical conditioning regimens. And as I've said several times already: be smart, read up, consult a doctor, and listen to your body before starting your own protocol.Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-22193237188310353342012-04-21T21:51:00.004-04:002012-04-21T21:51:50.491-04:00Busy Work Day<ul>
<li>Pulled up sod for new flower/herb bed</li>
<li>Worked in some beautiful black compost</li>
<li>Covered the bed with mulch</li>
</ul>
3 hours (really sucks to break up hardpan clay)<div>
<ul>
<li>Dug holes and moved clay and grass to compost pile</li>
<li>Planted bushes that have been in planters for 3 years</li>
<li>mixed straw, clay and sod in compost pile</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
2 hours</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>added compost to raised beds</li>
<li>mixed compost, soil, and last year's mulch for a very tilthy soil</li>
<li>planted lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and onions in beds that had tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers last year</li>
<li>covered plant beds with wood chips</li>
<li>(found unharvested potatoes starting to sprout!)</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
2 hours</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>watered all the mulched beds</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
30 mins</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Work left:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>At least a dozen potted bushes</li>
<li>40 strawberry roots ($8 at Walmart!)</li>
<li>most of the straw, clay, grass to compost</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
10 hours? 20 hours?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm too tired and too sore for doing this again tomorrow!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
...crap, wanted to get a half flat of marigolds to put in the raised beds to confuse pests and to provide nectar and pollen for the new bees. Ugh at least another hour of digging and watering.</div>Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-28590267622099347202012-04-19T21:33:00.000-04:002012-04-19T21:33:30.556-04:00Langstroth to Warré conversion<span style="font-family: inherit;">The recommended solution is to acclimate the bees to the new hive by putting a 'converter' between the Langstroth nuc and the top of the Warré hive. In 10 days, create a bee 'funnel' and shake the bees out of the Langstroth nuc into the </span>Warré<span style="font-family: inherit;"> hive and then take the Langstroth frames, cut them in half and attach them to the </span>Warré top bars. Easy peasy... except I'm wondering if I shake the bees, will they get pissed off?Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-77233305917517352052012-04-19T14:17:00.004-04:002012-04-19T14:17:45.405-04:00Got Bees - Starter Frames Bigger Than Hive!So... the 3 pounds of bees on starter frames/comb are bigger than the frames of my hive! This is not good. I've posted a question on how I should proceed on a message board. Waiting for feedback from the experts... will post their recommendations later.Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-77997163600881110082012-04-18T10:14:00.000-04:002012-04-18T10:14:36.016-04:00New Home for New Critters at Asberry Acres<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A6c2OpkI-lM/T47E52_1XMI/AAAAAAAAAYE/fZ_TLliEOcY/s1600/2012-04-18_09-40-30_182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A6c2OpkI-lM/T47E52_1XMI/AAAAAAAAAYE/fZ_TLliEOcY/s640/2012-04-18_09-40-30_182.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Warré Hive</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is going to be the home of the newest animals we're adding to our farm: bees! Warré beekeeping is a minimally invasive (only get into hive a couple times a year: Spring to add two supers to the bottom, pulling the top super after the first flow, and Fall to harvest the top two supers), top bar (no frames, the bees build all of the honeycomb) style of beekeeping focused on the healthiness of the bees rather than the harvesting of bee products. This type of hive is typically put directly on the ground, however, I'm concerned about flooding so I'll put it up a few inches on blocks. Now that I have the home, I'm looking forward to receiving the family that's going to be moving in!<br />
<br />
To learn more about Warré beekeeping, go to warre.biobees.com and download <a href="http://warre.biobees.com/bfa.htm">Beekeeping For All</a>!Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-46231409389224421672011-10-31T07:42:00.003-04:002011-12-13T08:58:07.310-05:00The Rooster CrowsBeen a while since I've posted anything. Haven't been in a writing mood.<br />
<br />
But, I did want to pass on a chuckle: our rooster started crowing this morning. And it was pitiful... "oh oh ohhohhhhhh". Poor boy sounded like he was in pain! He'll probably have it down good in a few weeks, but it woke me up laughing this morning :-DDale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-19842304140181745752011-09-09T13:41:00.001-04:002011-09-09T13:41:29.888-04:00Tomato hornwormsOver the last few weeks, I've been finding tomato plants stripped bare of leaves and half eaten green tomatoes. The other day I discovered the culprit!<br />
<br />
(Insert picture here, oh wait camera only taking blank pictures.)<br />
<br />
The culprits were pretty easy to identify... and pick off of the plants. Of course, they are a delicacy to the chickens who fight greedily over these juicy treats. The destruction they've been doing to the tomatoes will now pay off nicely as a protein source in our chicken eggs!<br />
<br />
(Insert another picture, this one a glass mixing bowl full of tomato hornworms)<br />
<br />
Other good news is that almost half of the hornworms were carrying predatory wasp eggs!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-074jVxQQSeA/TmpHySVw0xI/AAAAAAAAAVA/oZFJ1rTUJIQ/s1600/1315588016036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-074jVxQQSeA/TmpHySVw0xI/AAAAAAAAAVA/oZFJ1rTUJIQ/s640/1315588016036.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />That picture is as gross as it seems, but, those wasps will take care of all manner of pesky pests!<br />
<br />
What else is going on? Picked two quarts of tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and tomatilloes. Most of the bounty were tomatoes that I blanched and put in a freezer bag for making future goodies. And finally, I've started my next batch of black garlic. It should be ready October 17th.Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-12335331039416558852011-08-29T19:48:00.002-04:002011-08-29T19:48:25.695-04:00First Egg!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xtlb97xFmgQ/Tlwhcnn97mI/AAAAAAAAAU0/XT6600vbdgU/s1600/IMG_20110829_192727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xtlb97xFmgQ/Tlwhcnn97mI/AAAAAAAAAU0/XT6600vbdgU/s640/IMG_20110829_192727.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smallish, but, here it is!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Think it's Snowball's since she's older and was broodier with it.Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-3997460899437795172011-08-19T10:37:00.003-04:002011-08-19T11:21:40.497-04:00How to Make Black Garlic - Asberry Acres Permaculture Forest Farm<span style="font-size: large;">The Process</span> <br />
The process is <i>very</i> simple, but does require diligence in keeping the temperature in the proper range (and patience waiting to get at those tasty treats!)<br />
<ol>
<li>Find a cooker that can cook at the (low) temperatures of between 130°-150° F. Make sure that it doesn't have an automatic shut-off timer. This was actually the most difficult step in the process... most cookers, even on the 'low' setting are at 180°-200° F. I found a small fryer that had a low temp of 180° F but had a bit of dial play between 'on' and 180°.</li>
<li>Buy enough garlic that will just fit the container you put in the cooker. Make sure there is a bit of room between the container and the cooker.</li>
<li>Do <i>not</i> remove the 'skin'.</li>
<li>Put the garlic and an oven thermometer in the container and wrap the container in aluminum foil. Make sure the thermometer head is visible. My cooker had a glass lid which made it very easy read the temperature without letting any heat out since I didn't have to take the lid off.</li>
<li>Put the container in the cooker and turn the cooker on! Estimate where 130° F is on the cooker.</li>
<li>Wait 40 days. </li>
</ol>
<span style="font-size: large;">Lessons Learned</span> <br />
Since the temperature changes slowly (Newton's Law of Heating), keep a close eye on the temperature the first day or two. Be careful not to let it get too hot. If it gets too hot or cold, adjust the cooker in very small increments and remember that it takes several hours for the adjustment to be reflected in the temperature. When it got too hot for me, I took the container out of the cooker to let it cool for a couple minutes which helped the temperature adjust much more quickly - about an hour or so.<br />
<br />
I would also recommend that the fermenting be done outside of the house. I put the cooker in the mud/laundry room. The garlic smell the first week or two can be <b>intense</b>. Needless to say, the vampires stayed at least a mile away from our house!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Improvements</span><br />
The cooker had absolutely no insulation. The next batch I think I'll put the cooker(s) in a box which I'll heavily insulate.<br />
<br />
I'll also run electricity out to the shed and build a shelf for the new setup. Makes room and eliminates the smell from the house.<br />
<br />
P.S. Here's <a href="http://life-abundantly.blogspot.com/2011/08/black-garlic-is-done-and.html">how my first batch turned out</a>! Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-82317459974618763242011-08-19T09:43:00.000-04:002011-08-19T09:43:50.383-04:00Today's Workout - InterestingOn my non-weights workout days I will typically do 30-45 minutes on the elliptical machine. Today I had time for a 30 minute workout so I climbed on and got started. I normally take 5 to 10 minutes to warm-up before I increase the intensity to a heart rate between 132-140 bpm but today, it actually felt good and I kicked it all the way up to 132 bpm. About 15 minutes in, the muscle soreness wore off and I continued to increase my heart rate to 145 bpm. With 5 minutes left, I was feeling awesome so I took my heart rate all the way up to 166 bpm -- the point just below where I could feel it over-stressing my heart. Normally after a workout like that it takes a good nights sleep to recover. At this point (2 hours later), I feel excellent!<br />
<br />
What I'm wondering is... did I get this burst of energy by eating 1/3 of a bulb of <a href="http://life-abundantly.blogspot.com/2011/08/black-garlic-is-done-and.html">black garlic</a> last night??Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-54424303258582655442011-08-18T19:53:00.001-04:002011-08-18T19:53:26.598-04:00The Black Garlic is Done and...Here's a picture of my first bulb out of the pot:<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5H9NgfXDhgk/Tk2jVMyqP9I/AAAAAAAAAUw/V1lAjjmmVhQ/s1600/IMG_20110818_194019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5H9NgfXDhgk/Tk2jVMyqP9I/AAAAAAAAAUw/V1lAjjmmVhQ/s640/IMG_20110818_194019.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And, oh my, is it delicious! It has a fig-like texture, is molasses-sweet, and has an Asian food smell with just a tiny hint of garlic.<br />
<br />
Definitely making more of this!!!Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-37129591059713720132011-07-29T22:44:00.002-04:002011-07-29T22:44:27.596-04:002011-07-29 Harvest - Asberry Acres Permaculture Forest Farm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HMqCsaUhaXo/TjNME-S2tzI/AAAAAAAAAUo/UWFJ7M8J6KQ/s1600/20110729-200634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HMqCsaUhaXo/TjNME-S2tzI/AAAAAAAAAUo/UWFJ7M8J6KQ/s400/20110729-200634.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Several tomatoes, purple potatoes, and a small chocolate sweet pepper.Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-53812172669101405042011-07-27T20:23:00.000-04:002011-07-27T20:23:56.200-04:00You and I are Silly Monkey People with Delusions of Grandeur Being Played Like Pawns in a Game of ChessIn a discussion at my friend CNu's blog, <a href="http://subrealism.blogspot.com/2011/07/counter-jihad.html">Subrealism</a>, a regular commenter, nanakwame, posted a quote in a comment:<br />
<blockquote>
Human nature is not rational; there is intelligence only in what encompasses him. <br />
- Heraclitus</blockquote>
Of course, I constantly laugh at the name we have given our species - Homo sapiens, or Wise Man. Especially given that supposed 'wisdom' of ours is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cognitive_biases">full of egregious, gaping holes</a>. In fact, these holes are so huge I would say that we are anything but wise or rational and that we are also likely barely 'conscious' too.<br />
<br />
<br />
Here are a couple of my favorite <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119654/">Men in Black</a> quotes:<br />
<blockquote>
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000352/">Edgar/Bug</a>:
Y'know, I've noticed an infestation here. Everywhere I look, in fact.
Nothing but undeveloped, unevolved, barely conscious pond scum, totally
convinced of their own superiority as they scurry about their short,
pointless lives. <br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0861269/">Zap-Em Man</a>: Well, yeah. Uh... don't you want to get rid of 'em? <br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000352/">Edgar/Bug</a>: Ah... in the worst way.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000226/">Edwards</a>:
Why the big secret? People are smart. They can handle it.
<br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000169/">Kay</a>:
A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you
know it. Fifteen hundred years ago everybody knew the Earth was the
center of the universe. Five hundred years ago, everybody knew the Earth
was flat, and fifteen minutes ago, you knew that humans were alone on
this planet. Imagine what you'll know tomorrow. <br />
<br /></blockquote>
Anyway, CNu responded with:<br />
<blockquote>
lol, not only is human nature not rational, <b>sophisticated governance
ruthlessly exploits vulnerabilities in the configuration of human
psychology and culture to maximize control exerted through and by what
must now be considered (in the modern context) cognitive defects;</b> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/supernormal-stimuli-deirdre-barrett/1015937722?ean=9780393077339&itm=1&usri=supernormal%2bstimuli%2bhow%2bprimal%2burges%2boverran%2btheir%2bevolutionary%2bpurpose">Supernormal Stimuli: How Primal Urges Overran Their Evolutionary Purpose</a></blockquote>
Now, how exactly would an SMP aspiring to be rational start looking to find which governance systems might be in place controlling their lives? These control systems --<br />
<ul>
<li>encourage emotionality over rationality</li>
<li>value beliefs and feelings over facts</li>
<li>'feed'/encourage cognitive biases</li>
<li>stimulate the brain's dopaminergic systems</li>
<li>interfere with the brain's sertoninergic systems</li>
<li>organize hierarchically</li>
<li>isolate individuals</li>
<li>encourage SMPs to proselytize the system</li>
</ul>
Eliminate or reduce your exposure to these systems and constantly question what you think you 'know' to break free and learn to think for yourself.<br />
<ul>
</ul>
Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-3124449833262839622011-07-22T10:23:00.002-04:002011-07-22T10:23:49.748-04:00Video Update at Asberry Acres Permaculture Forest FarmMy brother-in-law requested a picture of the chicken tractor, so while I was out moving it, I decided to take some videos of the farm with my phone. <br />
<br />
The chickent tractor:<br />
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<br />
The burn pile with some very vigorous Chenopodium album:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ICv5Ch5CoR0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
A look out over the Zone 2 Area:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/kFWJwOE4ScI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
The Zone 1, Kitchen Garden:<br />
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Snowball (who was pure white when we bought her), the alpha hen, out exploring:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1rHbsvP-04ijB8kPFNf-dI8ahJuEPVwBKn4Z-qjZodNxF5vspL9EkyqCxEEs-krtH69BoeZ0rwo2al428we_ur2QV0ZPVcgM6mIdct5pvFEvIMZbrWPPKU_HjPlMPG674u8Cq8JPQAY/s1600/snowball+the+explorer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1rHbsvP-04ijB8kPFNf-dI8ahJuEPVwBKn4Z-qjZodNxF5vspL9EkyqCxEEs-krtH69BoeZ0rwo2al428we_ur2QV0ZPVcgM6mIdct5pvFEvIMZbrWPPKU_HjPlMPG674u8Cq8JPQAY/s320/snowball+the+explorer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-37207955594701304082011-07-20T10:45:00.001-04:002011-07-20T10:45:58.731-04:00Asberry Acres Permaculture Forest Farm - How-To: Organic Shiitake Mushrooms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbj76dtDw22x5qYuZy00oYhBw_1XpIds5RTBZrO3ssN90v05wc9RoFyXUt-Bx47xzqTfMm8WhkwnFqeD8GbhipSpvGqcJ_Uj_4nGlpat1YEWjdaZstTYCAweY4f3ybelLtoScwxtc-GBY/s1600/shiitake+how-to.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbj76dtDw22x5qYuZy00oYhBw_1XpIds5RTBZrO3ssN90v05wc9RoFyXUt-Bx47xzqTfMm8WhkwnFqeD8GbhipSpvGqcJ_Uj_4nGlpat1YEWjdaZstTYCAweY4f3ybelLtoScwxtc-GBY/s320/shiitake+how-to.PNG" width="296" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://milkwood.net/">Milkwood Permaculture Farming and Living</a> has a great little how-to on <a href="http://milkwood.net/2011/07/20/making-a-shiitake-mushroom-log/">making your own shiitake mushroom log</a>.<br />
<br />
About two years ago I tried my hand at mushrooms after reading (and getting totally stoked over) Paul Stamets' <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580085792/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&tag=milkwoopermac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217153&creative=399349&creativeASIN=1580085792">Mycelium Running</a>. I then got a copy of his heftier tome, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Gourmet-Medicinal-Mushrooms-Stamets/dp/1580081754/ref=pd_sim_b_1">Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms</a> and attempted to spawn some oyster mushrooms. I procured some spores and substrate (spent coffee grounds) and followed the instructions. Within days, I could see the mushrooms building mycelia. Unfortunately, the moment they started to sprout fruiting bodies, some sort of mildew decimated the growing medium. I have to admit that it discouraged me a bit and haven't put much effort toward mushroom cultivation since. <br />
<br />
But... with all my recent successes in the garden and with the chickens, I might be ready to give mycofarming (of the edible variety, those of you thinking of being snarky ;-) another try. Until the trees start to grow and fill in shaded areas, I'm going to need to create a shelter in the Zone 1 area so that I can keep an eye on the logs and have easy access for watering them. I think getting some spores to inoculate my hardwood mulch (since the soil out here is almost totally dead) is an excellent idea and is a great example of stacking functions by using mushrooms both for eating and as a keystone for building healthy soil.Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-23062172539386162172011-07-19T12:00:00.001-04:002011-07-19T15:08:25.223-04:00How-To: Newspaper Origami - Seed Starter PotsFound this useful and simple how-to video:<br />
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People at work recycle their newspapers, so I've been grabbing a few out of the bin to use both as a weed barrier for my lasagna mulching and now for seed starter pots!<br />
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Unfortunately, their claim for 'organic' is specious unless they use organically sourced paper and inks in the newspaper.Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-51516134665485427672011-07-12T11:48:00.001-04:002011-07-12T11:48:26.206-04:00Permaculture Video: Martin Gardner's A Forest Garden YearExcellent video of Martin Gardner going through all four seasons in an permaculture forest garden. The focus is on permaculture gardening techniques and less on permaculture design principles. This makes the video a prime example of what to do and less so of why to do it.<br /><br />
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Definitely a video I plan on revisiting!Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-83975685811906112752011-07-12T10:50:00.001-04:002011-07-12T11:13:42.863-04:00Experiment Continuing: Black GarlicThe first couple of days had some intense garlic odors wafting through the house and around the yard. The smell is definitely getting milder now. The temperature has been tough to regulate with the cooker I chose with it getting a little too hot during the heat of the afternoon and a little too cool in the early morning. Hopefully the temps aren't going outside the prescribed range too long.Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-83081141615498244832011-07-07T20:42:00.002-04:002012-12-26T15:48:48.021-05:00Asberry Acres Permaculture Forest Farm - Experiment: Black GarlicWhile browsing the web, found <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_garlic_%28food%29">something</a> that sounded interesting:<br />
<blockquote>
Black garlic is a type of fermented garlic used as a food ingredient in Asian cuisine. It is made by fermenting whole bulbs of garlic at high temperature, a process that results in black cloves. The taste is sweet and syrupy with hints of balsamic vinegar or even tamarind.</blockquote>
Since I love garlic, I'm going to be growing a lot of garlic here. Although the garlic is hardly ready for harvesting, I still wanted to experiment to see if I could make it. So, made a quick trip to the closest Big-Box store where I found a cooker that heated at low enough temps to encourage fermenting without actually cooking the garlic. I also got about 3 pounds of garlic.<br />
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I excitedly prepared the cooker and the garlic as my <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_5902625_make-black-garlic.html">recipe</a> indicated and started on my 40 day journey! When I left for work, everything looked fine at 140°. Later in the day discovered that the kitchen had an intense garlic smell so moved it out to the mud/utility room. After work, I went out to check on it and was greeted with the most intense garlic smell I've ever known. Wunderbar!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With 39 days left, it's a little warm at 150°</td></tr>
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<br />Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-64101199022073834372011-07-07T10:01:00.000-04:002012-12-26T15:59:16.755-05:00My Most Recent Metabolic Screening ResultsOver the last 6 months - a year, I've been changing my habits.<br />
<br />
The changes:<br />
<ul>
<li>To the 3 days of weight lifting, I've added 2 days of cardio</li>
<li>I consume 1 tablespoon of Omega 3 fatty acids daily.</li>
<li>I consume 4000 I.U. of Vitamin D during the winter and slowly adjust with my exposure to the sun</li>
<li>I consume 1200 mg of Calcium</li>
<li>I have a standing desk at work</li>
<li>I've significantly reduced my gluten intake</li>
<li>I've replaced my consumption of diet cola for tea sweetened with stevia</li>
</ul>
The qualitative results:<br />
<ul>
<li>I've gotten sick only once, wherein I recovered fully in 3 days, and happened after a two week lapse in taking my Omega 3 fatty acids, Vitamin D, and Calcium supplements.</li>
<li>I've been snoring less, and not at all the last week.</li>
<li>I feel really good, aware, and much better rested.</li>
</ul>
The quantitative results:<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Test</b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2010 Results</b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2011 Results</b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2010 Category</b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2011 Category</b></div>
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Total Cholesterol</div>
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175</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
149</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.2pt;" valign="top" width="124"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Desirable</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.8pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Desirable</div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 126.9pt;" valign="top" width="169"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
HDL</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
23</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
70</div>
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High Risk</div>
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Desirable</div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 126.9pt;" valign="top" width="169"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Total/HDL ratio</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
7.5</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
2.1</div>
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Undesirable</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.8pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Desirable</div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 126.9pt;" valign="top" width="169"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Systolic blood pressure</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
132</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
123</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.2pt;" valign="top" width="124"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pre-hypertensive, almost Stage 1 Hypertension</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.8pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pre-hypertensive, just above Normal</div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 126.9pt;" valign="top" width="169"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Diastolic blood pressure</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
72</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
61</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.2pt;" valign="top" width="124"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Normal</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.8pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Normal</div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 126.9pt;" valign="top" width="169"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
BMI</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
34</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
32</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.2pt;" valign="top" width="124"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Obese, had a strong pear-shaped figure</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.8pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Obese, however, I'm very muscular and only appear Overweight</div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 126.9pt;" valign="top" width="169"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Waist Circumference</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
42</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
40</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.2pt;" valign="top" width="124"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
High Risk</div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.8pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Moderate Risk</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I've clearly had significant improvements both with cholesterol and blood pressure. My continued cardio program along with my standing desk should continue lowering my blood pressure.<br />
<br />
As for my weight/BMI... the progress has been very slow. Some recent studies have linked potato, processed foods, and alcohol as the biggest culprits in American diets to cause weight gain. The processed foods are being eliminated as I have taken to cooking dinner from scratch. The potato I'm just now starting to eliminate as best I can. Not sure about wanting to eliminate alcohol - I do really enjoy a beer (or maybe two) a few evenings after work a week. On the positive side, eating an extra serving of fresh fruit lead to weight loss. In addition to making dinner, I've also been buying and eating more fresh fruit. Hope it helps!Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-78313832745123287612011-06-28T15:01:00.002-04:002011-06-29T14:01:06.222-04:00"it’s quite bizarre we’ve based almost our whole agriculture on annual plants"<h3><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://transitionculture.org/2011/06/27/cereals-agroforestry-and-droughts-an-interview-with-martin-crawford/">Transition Culture</a> | Cereals, agroforestry and droughts: an interview with Martin Crawford</span></h3>Last week I cycled round to Martin Crawford’s house to interview him. Martin runs the <a href="http://www.agroforestry.co.uk/">Agroforestry Research Trust</a>, is one of the world’s authorities on the subject, and recently published ‘<a href="http://greenbooks.co.uk/store/creating-forest-garden-p-329.html">Creating a Forest Garden</a>‘. I had wanted to ask him about the drought in the southeast and the implications for the future of farming. On the day I visited Martin though it was pouring with rain, but as you’ll see, that made little difference to his thoughts on the matter. I have included a couple of films about his work as well, mixed in with the interview.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>So Martin, the thing that inspired me to think I wanted to come around and talk to you was the drought situation in East Anglia and the southeast, which has been very much in the news in the last few weeks – although it does seem to be slightly superseded by events, as we sit here with the rain pouring down outside! But I wondered firstly what your thoughts are on that and also what that tells us about farming as it’s currently practiced in that part of the country.</b><br />
<br />
Yeah, it’s very easy to look outside and see it’s pouring with rain and think, “Oh, it’s actually fine now”. And it’s even pouring with rain in the east of the country sometimes too now. But it’s not all fine – the damage has been done. Yields from arable crops in the East of the country, (which is where the main arable crops like wheat are grown in this country), are going to be down by at least 25% and maybe more, because the damage has been done. It can’t be recovered – it’s too late for that now. It’s not all fine now and it really shows that a spring like this, which seems to be becoming the norm…..for the last four years we’ve had pretty dry springs – not as dry as this one but it seems to be becoming a pattern. Whether that continues or not, it’s impossible to say.<br />
<br />
In such a dry spring, the value and resilience of perennial plants is very obvious, so in my forest garden for example where everything is perennial it has been looking lush this spring and not drought affected at all. I haven’t watered anything in there and it’s been absolutely fine. So I haven’t been one of the people complaining about lack of rain all the time – it’s people who are wanting to grow lots of annual vegetables or farmers growing annual plants that have been screaming about the weather because if you’re sowing annual plants in spring, you’ve got to have water – they’re not going to grow without it, and put their roots down and so on.<br />
<br />
In terms of looking at the future – if we’re going to grow more of our own food as a country and as a region, this is going to have a significant impact. And on a larger, world-wide scale, it’s actually quite bizarre in some ways. If you look at it in an ecological way, it’s quite bizarre we’ve based almost our whole agriculture on annual plants because if you look in nature, annual plants are rare. You only get them if there’s been a soil disturbance, and then for a short time because they’ve been taken over by perennials. So in a sense our whole agriculture is quite unnatural, based on annual plants, and very prone to any kind of climate extremes – whether it’s drought or water-logging from extreme events or whatever.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, because of climate change, those extreme events are going to get more and more frequent – all extreme events, not just droughts. Annual crops are going to get more and more susceptible to crop failures as time goes on, certainly in the next few decades. And that could have quite serious effects. In terms of grain stores in the world – grain stores are lower than they’ve ever been because there are increasing failures of harvest in some of the big grain producing countries.<br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=2263813555249110733&postID=7831383274512328761&from=pencil"> </a><a href="http://transitionculture.org/2011/06/27/cereals-agroforestry-and-droughts-an-interview-with-martin-crawford/">Read the whole article.</a>Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-50716998909730555492011-06-21T09:54:00.002-04:002011-06-21T09:57:59.534-04:00Asberry Acres Permaculture Forest Farm - Unexpected Finds In The GardenQuick update this morning with some tasty treats growing in the garden.<br />
<br />
First, I found this 2' patch of Chenopodium album growing out in the polyculture area of the garden:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFJlF5NgcsKLpVCJPiQjFRb9Kq5NfEk8V1HLTG0jxjxvUO8qxLw7fOglEfUPc9SA9xaocbwRLMCnJ8RVpVN_FMcgaNwZdyWuZXkuV65nm0QCFkn64usKHdVq4alIWHsuQCmeaZrvN8po/s1600/Chenopodium+album+patch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFJlF5NgcsKLpVCJPiQjFRb9Kq5NfEk8V1HLTG0jxjxvUO8qxLw7fOglEfUPc9SA9xaocbwRLMCnJ8RVpVN_FMcgaNwZdyWuZXkuV65nm0QCFkn64usKHdVq4alIWHsuQCmeaZrvN8po/s640/Chenopodium+album+patch.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big patch of Goosefoot/Lamb's Quarters - sauteed in garlic and butter, yum!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I think the fern-like plants growing with them are a member of the Daucus family since they have a very carrot-y smell when I pull them up.The roots aren't very extensive though. When they flower, if they're umbels, that should better verify my guess.<br />
<br />
On the way back through the raised beds, I found these:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDiel_rNFfZufyTRI3NHagtxZXI0O5xvCoyNY_kCWKGQe9B7MGmHRTIeqX_NAy8qo__NpZGQFBdlBzhnj8re7O3kYgM65tYWAroV2HnVDyv3SNacgRs1iPAFC3tFMG5bZ4cfU7fnKgxs/s1600/baby+peppers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDiel_rNFfZufyTRI3NHagtxZXI0O5xvCoyNY_kCWKGQe9B7MGmHRTIeqX_NAy8qo__NpZGQFBdlBzhnj8re7O3kYgM65tYWAroV2HnVDyv3SNacgRs1iPAFC3tFMG5bZ4cfU7fnKgxs/s640/baby+peppers.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby green peppers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The tomatillos also look like they're close to fruiting. And finally, my first planted purple potatoes are starting to die back. Blue mashed potatoes may be on my dinner plate soon!Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-25046431018396954262011-06-19T10:39:00.000-04:002011-06-19T10:39:17.076-04:00Asberry Acres Permaculture Forest Farm - Chicken Tractor Is Done!Admittedly, it took a while building it part time and <i>still</i> having to deal with rain. The work was easy but it was time consuming and tedious, especially tying down the wire chicken netting to the cattle panels. But the chickens are definitely happy in their much more spacious new home -- they're running and even flying around a bit!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMIcm_fCWfmHztHfzKv2uov0uSD9rl2_wqZhFEmCvoYuv0ksBuUeMZflH2WibuMndS3TwbKnCfYSBalN1X9gpJwgicyFwJNPriTDSvZZPgaQqbs4_Dt9rO0YyY8lwKjxtxVW2002T_Ic/s1600/chicken+tractor+ready+to+move+in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMIcm_fCWfmHztHfzKv2uov0uSD9rl2_wqZhFEmCvoYuv0ksBuUeMZflH2WibuMndS3TwbKnCfYSBalN1X9gpJwgicyFwJNPriTDSvZZPgaQqbs4_Dt9rO0YyY8lwKjxtxVW2002T_Ic/s640/chicken+tractor+ready+to+move+in.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In their new home. You'd think they'd want some space!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgmXF1CDapt_3X0IjTnj2fxcNQ8aNcJplTwjfbZCfG2RByz8D3Aw3tOe7r5A_aEtskGhytsl182fLaTCz0THPe2omjNbwqGWlNv2ouJzdk_SqyMR34oybZIyKFitjSaCeWwFvaIHVKUk/s1600/tractor+with+tarp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgmXF1CDapt_3X0IjTnj2fxcNQ8aNcJplTwjfbZCfG2RByz8D3Aw3tOe7r5A_aEtskGhytsl182fLaTCz0THPe2omjNbwqGWlNv2ouJzdk_SqyMR34oybZIyKFitjSaCeWwFvaIHVKUk/s640/tractor+with+tarp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oops, forgot the tarp earlier</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wWNmgByvna-gjQ0FUbfepbUNQuCW3j9P5c4aD57KrDMpxE6Ee_XjBr7oadI5fzPxY91nzzXx05SaVQeu9yGCHFO7gxACY1T6hKxtSsd9iFJ-poTy03TJLWCll92g_OEYntShHC9ZRZU/s1600/volunteer+chenopodium+album.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wWNmgByvna-gjQ0FUbfepbUNQuCW3j9P5c4aD57KrDMpxE6Ee_XjBr7oadI5fzPxY91nzzXx05SaVQeu9yGCHFO7gxACY1T6hKxtSsd9iFJ-poTy03TJLWCll92g_OEYntShHC9ZRZU/s320/volunteer+chenopodium+album.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chenopodium album volunteer in my garden bed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>And a quick note: while weeding my beds I found some Chenopodium album growing. Lamb's Quarters is a very nutritious "weed". Letting it grow out and may make something tasty with it!Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-10194083742230222202011-06-11T21:41:00.000-04:002011-06-11T21:41:09.632-04:00Asberry Acres Permaculture Forest Farm - Chicken Tractor In ProgressHad a busy Saturday putting together our new chicken tractor. The chicks are just a few weeks from being full grown and the dog kennel is getting a bit cramped. They've been pecking each other more than I'd like, so the chicken tractor should give them much more room. Here are the pics:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZ-7cVkn24RTUZusMuoSaZL0ZeOWKQyGhe-CytPioVNhpMS1-_djNyGTi0l5pAek1QG85lVp2SgW40BU85PfksC_s2cZz3tKTIf91COtKyeEDWfz845cNQw4iKu9x6rVqzxEWSSrDcis/s1600/chicken+tractor+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZ-7cVkn24RTUZusMuoSaZL0ZeOWKQyGhe-CytPioVNhpMS1-_djNyGTi0l5pAek1QG85lVp2SgW40BU85PfksC_s2cZz3tKTIf91COtKyeEDWfz845cNQw4iKu9x6rVqzxEWSSrDcis/s640/chicken+tractor+1.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raised beds and the house</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmppgLBMD_mjj0kKh1O0O8NAPgOEbe7vVpJjnuxm_r1BPAoTsxZo2GrZ58LewbOh7OCmUT7ULw3hadBfgX3WOtZ2GsYJUZF2F4aCnvh2YBULuxXK8l6nC08C6AjIiGvF7SJl_FY3uzQlo/s1600/chicken+tractor+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmppgLBMD_mjj0kKh1O0O8NAPgOEbe7vVpJjnuxm_r1BPAoTsxZo2GrZ58LewbOh7OCmUT7ULw3hadBfgX3WOtZ2GsYJUZF2F4aCnvh2YBULuxXK8l6nC08C6AjIiGvF7SJl_FY3uzQlo/s640/chicken+tractor+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8Nn6JChiMUHQF15CyeifS67CaRItOtob9jGdm68sRfU155psISS509McCs6T9JqNQmk6hu5TrkG17XVzyLQmB9PN8pnKRS0rtmB3IohZkzUH65tqqn1H3HzvbyuocfT1KDsUkAjfVZ0/s1600/chicken+tractor+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8Nn6JChiMUHQF15CyeifS67CaRItOtob9jGdm68sRfU155psISS509McCs6T9JqNQmk6hu5TrkG17XVzyLQmB9PN8pnKRS0rtmB3IohZkzUH65tqqn1H3HzvbyuocfT1KDsUkAjfVZ0/s640/chicken+tractor+3.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dog kennel in the background</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2263813555249110733.post-49450167837774133582011-06-03T09:43:00.000-04:002011-06-03T09:43:06.769-04:00Asberry Acres Permaculture Forest Farm - Baby Bunny Pics!Here they are as promised:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYVd17xcjCh-GUeEOESTl24Q3oYC2GvFpox9PbJvv_nabtcCTgzu119WfCsAIctewQMr95hGkDA4WHR8Emtz4vWhxFkS3KMkb6CkMj2b8EzVCcbEljGftor5CR_9uou8lYDINLdy-HJg/s1600/2011-06-02+14.23.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYVd17xcjCh-GUeEOESTl24Q3oYC2GvFpox9PbJvv_nabtcCTgzu119WfCsAIctewQMr95hGkDA4WHR8Emtz4vWhxFkS3KMkb6CkMj2b8EzVCcbEljGftor5CR_9uou8lYDINLdy-HJg/s640/2011-06-02+14.23.32.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5KaINMwR4IWwlJ5X17gFWpAjILYNvQjDdFDUyFA7Sn61wM45UOKAQrV_sX26oalcK3vTQtcLHPTO3-O3ch_RAuJ78GPuUit4b7qF3nj77V57Bm-9jH9jHPnxwGWypwBd2QKpS07c3oc/s1600/2011-06-02+14.23.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5KaINMwR4IWwlJ5X17gFWpAjILYNvQjDdFDUyFA7Sn61wM45UOKAQrV_sX26oalcK3vTQtcLHPTO3-O3ch_RAuJ78GPuUit4b7qF3nj77V57Bm-9jH9jHPnxwGWypwBd2QKpS07c3oc/s640/2011-06-02+14.23.23.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The bunnies are doing just fine eating the formula and a couple of them have even pooped and peed.Dale Asberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144102722000937328noreply@blogger.com