As we continue with the Spirit of Action/ Medicine/ Sustainability

As we continue with the Spirit of Action/ Medicine/ Sustainability, it is very important to realize that without REAL steps, REAL actions, we can never manifest that which we say we strive for. The foundation of an Individual, Family and a Community is the foundation of Sustainability that they stand upon. If that foundation is only composed of fantasy, or of total involvement in an "economic system" that is designed and implemented to give a foundation only to a relatively small percentage of the population, and to leave the remaining people to be the servants, (slaves), servers, employees, to the ones that benefit, then that foundation will crumble and its casualties will always be the people.  It is a system that for all practical purposes keeps the exploited totally reliant on the corporate system, it systematically has taken the Ancient Strains of Seeds from the People and replaced these with hybrid (infertile- meaning will not produce seeds that can generate a future crop), or even worse genetically altered seeds or even terminator seeds. Even a fool can see that in spite of their best efforts this system is cracking, but again the cracking is occuring at the expense of the People.

Not only do we have to be concerned with pesticides, herbicides and "ready-roundup" being sprayed on the crops and poured into the waters, but we also need to be concerned with the TOXIC sludge which has skillfully been used to place toxic waste from many factories onto AGRICULTURAL FIELDS... and now of course cloned animals are on the brink of hitting the supermarket racks. Recall after recall, salmonella scare after salmonella scare come our way, bird flu, swine flu, all generated from downright bad agricultural and slaughter practices.

All this and the food doesn't even taste good and the prices continue to rise... Bread that is flavorless, juice that is so old all that remains of even 100% fruit juice is sugar, lettuces that are tasteless and overpriced, not to even mention the fact that even in season crops are coming from as close by as CA or further. There is only one word for all this and that is SCAM!

All this, and now let's take it to the Heart and Soul of our Identity as Indigenous People, LOVE AND RESPECT FOR OUR EARTH MOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! None of the practices involved in getting the food that we buy from the supermarket is Earth Friendly, that is the bottom line. Even the supermarket "organic" brands are dubious at best, an overpriced choice for those who are attempting to eat healthy. Even those "organic" brands are still benefiting factory farmed agribusiness profits. Even they have their salmonella scares! Being angry and / or frustrated is not enough, complaining about the availablity or price is not enough, feeling helpless and limited is not enough, because remember we say that "WE LOVE AND RESPECT MOTHER EARTH!" We talk about how our Taino Ancestors were wonderful agriculturalists with their conucos, how they fished, how they cared for the Earth and each other... Yet, today we care only enough to hand someone a soda, a twinkie, a battery raised chicken, worm infested pork chops, and then throw the numerous layers of packaging and promotional material concerning these things in the trash. What Hypocrisy!

It is great to educate, it is great to share articles from the internet, it is so wonderful to recommend books regarding Taino to eachother, it is great to have presentations (AS LONG AS THEY ARE GROUNDED IN THE TRUTH and ARE NOT THE EXPRESSION OF A PERSONAL FANTASY or a Personal Psychological Breakdown).

It is also wonderful to "CUT AND PASTE" as so many of us like to do, sometimes not even crediting the original author (which is not so wonderful and can bring the accusation of plagerism to us). But if CUT AND PASTE is all you do, and you are calling that "Being Taino" then you are very, very LOST AND CONFUSED and/or MISGUIDED, or you are simply only interested in whatever agenda of egomania, need for recognition, inferiority complex, that you hold!

We are so far from a utopia at this time, we are so far from the "PARADISE" that Jan Carew describes in "RAPE OF PARADISE" or from the obvious agricultural and botanical genuis of our Ancestors as described by Charles C. Mann in "1491" that it would be laughable or cryable to even attempt to compare! However we have the innate Power of our Spirit and our Ancestral Tree that we can manifest and express to the best of our ability in the here and now. With that thought and with the strong Vision for "how it could and should be" in terms of Love and Respect for the Earth who can provide everything ALL of us need if we apply our Love, Intelligence and Hard Work, we, in our humble and miniscule way continue to empower and expand our Actions towards Sustainability, understanding that LOVE is an ACTION and that RESPECT is an ACTION, not two words to be used to manipulate other people.

Every year, we find ways to take more steps towards sustainability, towards empowering the Family and Community, towards the healing of the small area of Land that we are the Caretakers of! As we take these steps we are simultaneously taking steps away from the abusive relationship of supermarket- consummer, overpriced tasteless unhealthy food, and the resulting frustration and stress that comes from those relationships. We also continue to take steps away from dependence on the so called "medical experts" who are in fact (most, not all) barbaric prostitutes for the pharmacutical industry, and many of whom are greedy and arrogant towards the people they allegedly serve, that they apparently took an oath to serve, that oath having come from Imhotep, African multigenius, inspiring Ancestor! May the Spirit of Imhotep and his Ancestral Tree combined with the Spirits and Ancestral Trees of All Indigenous Medicine People of Integrity hold those barbarians accountable to the OATH that they took in the form that IMHOTEP originally wrote it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The photos below are some of the steps that we have taken this Spring, in the Spirit of ACTION/ MEDICINE/ SUSTAINABILITY! We offer these things in the Spirit of Education, Generosity and Empowerment, that we may all benefit from these Actions in that it may empower others to take ACTIONS in a like Spirit!

These seed boxes are a step up from last years (poor quality, one use only) plastic seed boxes. These boxes are made from old shipping pallets which can usually be found as "trash" from most contractors, shipping companies, etc. They are usually made out of oak, a very strong wood, and sometimes even from exotic hardwoods. They could even be used to make cabinets, flooring and the like. These boxes will last for years and are a wonderful way to "recycle" these pallets, many of which would otherwise be burned or simply tossed out. Last year we experimented with paper egg cartons and paper towel and toilet tissue rolls, which were okay but a little "soft" once they got wet. 

Cucumber seedlings!

Broccoli Seedlings, with Hysop and Valerian (two medicinals) which are very very tiny seedlings at this time!

Flowering tobacco and Huichol tobacco for the Spirit! We grow all the tobacco that we use for the Mysterios!

Zuchini Seedlings, to the left of them Sugar Baby Watermelon Seedlings are just starting to emerge!

Lettuce (Green- Optima and Red Galactic) from seeds that are 3 years old (never believe the "expiration dates") and parsley (on the left). Parsley will flourish well into the frosts of late Fall!  

Seedlings that look like grass are Onions, Red Onions on right side germinated much better than yellow onions on left.  Red onions are very healthy, in part due to compounds that express in red color!

Another view.  We do not have a sunny place indoors for our boxes, and these seedlings are sensitive to frost.  Once we plant the seeds, we leave them inside until they germinate, then they go outside on warm days (over 50 degrees) and come in if there is any chance of frost.  It involves a lot of carrying boxes back and forth but is well worth it.  Health above all things!  Of course all this would be easier if we had some huge sunny windows or a green house!  But there is no reason to make excuses when with a little creative thinking we can find a way to get it done.  

We are very happy with our pallet seed boxes!

Remember the dandelion (leaf, flower and root) from the previous article, here it is being juiced (with apple).  It is a very STRONG, FLAVORFUL spring liver cleanse!  The dandelion is very bitter, especially the root, which is why we cut it with apples!  Even with apples it is still a bitter tonic!  We used about 5 of the plants from the photos in the article. Which amounted to approximately 3 of the bundles they sell for $3.99 at whole foods.  So we drank approximately $12 worth of dandelions that we were given by the Land we caretake!  

Glass of dandelion apple juice!

The Bread above is our homemade wheat bread (NO BREAD MACHINE).  This is not rocket science!  While at first there can be some disappointing results, after a small time, the results are fluffy and flavorful, not to mention that there is no more than 4 cups of flour in this loaf!  A bag of flour gives multiple loafs!  More importantly you know what is going into the bread that you will be serving your family, friends and yourself!  Fresh, warm homemade bread is the BEST!  We have virtually eliminated store bought bread.  

Next step, grow our own wheat and mill our own wheat and other flours!  

By the way for those looking to criticize, this is not our only "job", we also run a business,  are building a house, do spiritual work, and are in the process of publishing several books!  So no excuses about "I don't have time for that", and no validity to the popular accusation direct in this direction of "pontificating from an isolate computer screen".  It is a little more work than cutting and pasting articles on the internet, but it is Good Work, Healthy, Vitalizing, Harmonizing and Exciting!

ENJOY!

The Elderberry Bush

The Elderberry Bush

Elderberry (sambuccus) is an immune stimulant, very helpful to maintain health or to recover from colds or flu. Black elderberry is what is typically used in many different syrups and tinctures which are sold on health food store shelves. We first noticed an elderberry bush in one of the horse fields a couple years ago, and because the horses do not like the taste of it, and the birds love the taste of the ripe berries, we now have elderberry bushes all over the fields. This year we made a simple tincture from the berries and have been using it to stay healthy. 

The Elderberry grows in clusters and stains clothes and skin temporarily a very attractive purple color. Elderberry bushes can grow 10' big or so, and the elderberry clusters and quick and easy to harvest. Putting Elderberries into a dark glass bottle

Once we harvested the berries we put them into a dark glass bottle. The dark glass protects the extract from the sun's rays which can be detrimental to the final outcome. We took the berries off the stem and put them in the bottle, crushing them with a stick. Berries can be pre-crushed if desired, but not strained. We filled the bottle up about 1/3 with crushed berries. Pouring alcohol into the bottle of Elderberries

Next we added organic vodka to the bottle. While the organic vodka is expensive it is better to use for obvious reasons. Any vodka will work, we were looking for the healthiest product, so we went for the healthiest choice which was the organic vodka. Shake well

Then the bottle was shaken vigorously and placed in a dark cool place (basement for us) and shaken 2 times or more a day (or whenever we walked through the basement to exit or enter the house). After 2 weeks elderberry extract is ready, it can be decanted into smaller bottles through a strainer, or left as is. We decanted some into a small bottle with a dropper for easy access, and left the rest as is, to be used as needed. The extract ended up being a beautiful purple color.

Cold Frames for Winter Vegetable Garden

At the end of the summer there is a general dying back in the gardens and forests and by the time the first frost of the fall comes through there is the disappearance of many of the fresh vegetables and flowers that make summer so delicious. Many people will can and freeze all kinds of vegetables from the garden and resign themselves to lifeless and tasteless greens from the market during the winter. Over the last couple years we noticed that our green onions, some kale and mustard greens and even lettuce continue to grow and give us salads during november and december, even some into january. So this year we put together two cold frames to create a microcosm to further increase our harvest of greens into the winter. We are looking forward to having fresh salad throughout the year. One undoubtable fact is that the salad greens, including mustard, beet greens, kale etc, are much more flavorful and tender when grown during the cold months. Meanwhile we are keeping our potatoes in the "earth-frigerator" in the Earth where they grew, covering them with mulch once it gets cold. Carrots will also stay fresh in this way, getting even more sweet with the colder weather. We started out with some planks of pine wood (2"x10") made a box, raised the back part of it, and made a frame for a "sunroom" window which we had salvaged years ago with a view to make a green house (a project for later in the winter) and put the window on top with hinges.

We placed the cold frame on the south side of our house (in progress) where a warm microcosm is created from the south wall stone absorbing heat and the house protecting the frames from the cold north wind. We put compost, topsoil and leaf mulch into the frames, and planted arugula, cress, mustard greens, mesculin salad mix, spinach, beets, cilantro, parsley, a couple broccoli. (They were all seeds left over from summer). This was the last week in September. 4 weeks later the salad mixes are ready to harvest, but since we still have some greens in the garden we will leave them to get bigger before harvesting them. It is important to get the greens growing before the daylight really shortens later in the fall, as the growth rate will slow down dramatically. It is also important not to just close the cold frame lid and forget about the plants as they will heat up dramatically during the day to over 100 degrees, killing the plants. At this time we just close the frame if it is predicted to freeze over night, making sure we open the frame by about 10-11 am to prevent over heating, especially if it is sunny. Later in the winter we will keep the frame mostly closed.

This is a salad from our garden (with the exception of the avocado!). The flowers are nasturtiums which are spicy flavored and beautiful. This is what we are looking forward to enjoying year around in the very near future.

Here is some of the greens in the cold frame. They are spicy mixes with stronger flavors, the bland lettuces tend not to do so well in cold temperatures. We are looking to find the most cold hardy varieties for the winter gardening!

It is a reality, not a fantasy!

Spirituality reaches into all aspects of life.  We often hear Paleros and Tainos say "it is not a religion, it is a way of life".  This statement is given much lip service, but what does it really mean and how can we see that manifest within our "everyday experience"?  As one who is rooted in African and Taino spiritual traditions, it is not a question of should we be involved in self-sustainability, gardening and providing for a diversity of animals (domestic and wild), it is only a question of how far our capacity to extend ourselves in these ways can take us together with the blessings of the Mysteries that allow life to continue to thrive within this experience.  

Upon our Land we do not separate our spiritual practices from the gardening practices and caretaking practices that allow the gardens and animals you see below in the photos to thrive.  Year to year we continue to expand our capacity and wisdom in relating to and thriving together with the Mysteries and Spirits of the Plants, Stones, Animals, and the multiple dimensions of Ancestors who are  all around us.  

Honey Bees on Sunflower.  Honey bees pollenate many of our food crops, produce honey, produce bees wax, and stimulate our immune systems if we get stung by them.  Sunflowers give us beauty, sunflower seeds and provide important food for many wild birds who love them.

"Sunchokes" provide beauty, seeds for the birds, and edible roots.

A pathway from the animal shelters to the ceremonial grounds.

The llama and alpaca, sacred to our Southern Ancestors, provide much enjoyment and entertainment, as well as soft fiber.

Corner of a batey, the red flower in the center of the photo is amaranth utilized for food, seeds for the birds, greens for salads, flowers for the "Day of the Dead" offering to the Ancestors.  

Batey showing the lightning petroglyph with amaranth again in the background.  Yellow flower in the front is dahlia which had edible roots.  

Entrance to Taino Bohio, purple flowered bush on left is "butterfly bush" loved by butterflies and bees.

Barely visible in front is the Taino petroglyph of the Heart, in the back is potato garden, we are still (February 2010) still eating papas from this garden.

On the left raspberry rows which also contain grapes with strawberries underneath them, as well as blackberries.  Potatoes can be seen on the left side of the photo.  Right photo:  Unusual tree shape in the camping area.

Anani's (4 yrs old) garden, she planted most of the plants now in the garden, mostly perennial medicinals and herbs.  She is a future herbalist learning directly from the Earth.  The children are able to grasp the properties of the plants much faster than the adults are able to, and they are never too young to start learning.

Left photo:  Wild rabbits thrive here, one sits by the elderberry bush (medicinal "sambuccas").  Right photo:  Hawthorn tree, medicinal, and (northern type) espanta muerto.

Left Photo:  Bird house gourd for spiritual use or to make bird house for the wild birds, very prolific.  Right Photo:  Calendula and Borage (both medicinal, both edible) flowers, we add to salads for color and taste.  They are also good companion plants for the vegetable and attract the bees.

Bowl gourd to be used ceremonially.

Fawn in hay field, we had several families of does and fawns on the land, twins and triplets who would come into the bateys to eat.  We also see wild turkey who are making a comeback in our area.

Sunset

Malanga plants used for spiritual purposes.

Honey bees on the frames, they are the best friend to a prolific garden and orchard!  We are able to make candles from the wax, and raw honey (medicinal).

Beets, Carrots and flowers in our circular garden.

Winter squash harvest.  Most of these are heirloom squash, most are indigenous varieties whose taste far surpasses the usual types found in the market.  Our favorite are the hidatsa (pale peach color) which are great in soups.  We ate our last winter squash a few weeks ago.

Salad greens with nasturtiums (flowers) which add a peppery spice taste to the salad a beautiful color.  Very healthy salad.

Gathering peppers before the frost.  

Anani loves sweet peppers.

Left Photo:  Bolivian rainbow peppers destined for "chamba".  The peppers were not only for us to eat but also for spiritual purposes.  Right Photo:  Potatoes harvested roots intact.  These are purple potatoes with excellent flavor.

Left Photo:  Central pole in one of the gardens with mexican tarragon in front (medicinal).  Right Photo: As winter approached we constructed cold frames which has allowed us to eat fresh salad greens including spinach, beet greens, asian greens cilantro, radishes, parsley throughout the winter months.  The cold frame temperature has barely gone below freezing the whole winter allowing all the greens to survive the normally freezing winter climate and especially cold winter we have had this year.

Harvesting from the cold frame.

Some salad green from the cold frame.

Snow falling, the green of the cold frame looks especially lush against the frigid background.  These greens love cold temperatures and generally get planted early spring or late fall as they cannot handle the hot temperatures of the summer.  Planting them in the cold frames seems to bring out their flavors even more and the freshness of their taste brights and spices up the winter meals.  

A large snowstorm and still the greens are going strong and we continue to eat fresh salads.  

For us it is not a fantasy but a reality because the Spirit of the Ancestors remains close to our Heart, our Mind, and our Essence as we ground ourselves to continue our elevation with them and the environment that we are care-taking.