Urban Agrarian

Doing some research for my upcoming project, (see future post - Chicken Tractor) I came across a phrase that seemed to encapsulate a certain element of my life. The phrase was: Urban Agrarian

What's Agrarian? A quick Websters hit returns:

Agrarian Latin agrarius, from agr-, ager field (Acre is derived from ager)
Date: 1600
1 : of or relating to fields or lands or their tenure
2 a : of, relating to, or characteristic of farmers or their way of life b : organized or designed to promote agricultural interests

To pair urban and agrarian just makes me smile. Nothing like a walking contradiction. It certainly blows the doors off most drop down lists of people categories. Well it's out in the open now. I guess they can add it to the 2020 U.S Census. I dare them...

It is no secret that I love gardening and general yard piddling. It's mid-western farmer's roots I guess. They say you can't have your cake and eat it too. Well, I say if you know how to make the cake (or grow the veggie), you've just empowered yourself to enjoy eating it! Before you round up the state militia and call in the bloodhounds to find us, don't worry.

I'm not thinking about weaning myself off the power grid and ascribing to pure agrarian ways, but there are some elements that are worth modeling. I mean, they've got cool beards (hopefully just the men), grow a mean tomato, and know a thing or two about chickens & subsistence farming. I guess that's the whole aspect of this urban agrarian mentality that's so alluring to me.

It is a best of both worlds scenario with the creature comforts of the city life, nestled quietly in a little backyard oasis that I can dig up, and plant a few rows of corn on if I want. Now, if they only had designated horse and buggy parking on the Sprint Campus.

Until Next Time...

October: It's that time again...

So, Deer Season once again is upon us. With only 44 days until the opening of 2009 Firearms Season in Missouri, it's time to rekindle the spirit of hunting.

To Do List:
Stop Shaving (check)
Begin Scent Removal Program
Sharpen Knives
Prepare Gear Checkdown List
Browse Cabela's Hunting Section

I thought I would also do some fact based analysis on the success of previous hunts.. After mining through massive amounts of data: weather trending, astrological indicators, rainfall totals, acorn production, scent quotients, and follicle measurements I have determined the rate of success for this year and what it all hinges on.


2007 Follicle Growth Pattern:

Probably about 1/2" length, simply just stopped trimming 1 month out.



Success Rate:
Shots Fired: 2
Deer Taken: 1
Does Seen: 5
Bucks Seen: 2

Deer Taken:



2008 Follicle Growth Pattern:

Full Grown Whalers Beard to Approx 1.5" First attempt at major beard growth expansion started in August.



Success Rate:
Shots Fired: 1
Deer Taken: 1
Does Seen: 8
Bucks Seen: 2

Deer Taken:



2009 Follicle Growth Pattern: (To Date)

Maintained Regular Trimming at 1+ inch length through out year until September when length trimming ceased. Should reach 4+ inch length by opening day via Protein Supplements and colder weather. (Bring on the Horse and Buggy comments)



Projected Success Rate:
Shots Fired: 2
Deer Taken: 2 (1 buck 1 doe)

Projected Buck To Be Taken:

Seeds and Sprint and Such A Time as This...

Last night my wife and I sat down and ordered our seeds for this years garden from our favorite seed catalog. It's a fairly new heirloom seed company based in Mansfield, Missouri, run by a man about my age who started his company in his teens! Heirloom plants are a cultivar that was developed before modern times, and is not typically used any more in large scale farming. Many of these plants were developed by old time farmers to suit their region's climate/culture/needs.

With names like; "Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans", "Mortgage Lifter Tomatoes", and "Longfellow Cucumbers", these old varieties speak of a time filled with character and simplicity. The goal of heirloom seed growers is to keep each particular strain of plant alive, by mitigating cross pollination with other strains. A noble cause indeed, as it keeps not only the plants "genetic heritage" alive, but the culture from which it was born..

The power of the seed is undeniable. It lies dormant for months, sometimes even years and then, without notice or warning, it explodes into life. I can't help but think about the seeds that have been planted throughout my own life that have exploded into new life. The knowledge of the saving power of the death, burial and resurrected Christ. A desire to learn and appreciate God's creation. Time spent by others in God's Word with me, being taught how to rightly divide it, and apply it to every facet of my life. Co-workers and managers sharing and investing their knowledge and skill in me, as well as the talents and gifts that I have been blessed with.

The question then becomes, have I made myself fertile ground so these seeds that have been planted can flourish and grow? Am I removing the weeds, tending the garden that is my own life? Am I focused in what I let grow, so that there is continuity, and not chaos? Am I producing actual fruit, not just this season, but fruit that remains season after season? Have I let some plants cross pollinate, that I should have kept separate?

Good questions to ask, especially at a time when I find out tomorrow or Friday if I get to continue my 8+ year tenure with Sprint Nextel. Regardless I know that the time (seeds) invested there by Sprint in me has been well worth it. And though it's honestly been an anxious and difficult time, I know that even if I am let go, that just means there are other seeds still lying dormant within me that have yet to sprout, and still others to be planted. Seeds that no doubt will carry my life's garden into it's next season...

Until Next Time...

A Sign of Spring

The Robin returns
as the cold earth yearns
awaiting the thaw of spring.
Awake from dark slumber
shake off the winter,
Robin as you start to sing.



It was a week ago when the weather was really warm that I noticed the first flock of Robin's as they start to migrate north from their wintering grounds. It's a welcome sight, as though this winter has lacked the snowfall of last year, it hasn't lacked in painfully cold and dreary gray days.

The spring marks the beginning of so many things, and I anticipate my blog will begin to blossom and take on new life as things around the Bowman Homestead start to unfurl as we rework the soil, prepare the gardens and just enjoy the fresh air..

Until Next Time...

Season of the Morel

For those folks that aren't in the least bit woodsy, or even mildly interested in the great outdoors, please don't give up on this blog!! One of my hopes is to take those on the fringe and draw them into at least an appreciation and at best a love and fascination for all that God has created. Even for the trodden down, and oft disgraced - "Fungus that's among us".

Yes, I speak of the ever elusive little morsel of gold that is the Morel Mushroom. It is a culinary delight that has been ranked right up there with finest fillet mignon, the richest of chocolates, and the king of caviar's. A fleeting moment in life where the finest chefs in France agree with the most backwoods, overall wearing, tobacco spittin' grannies. A batch of morel's sauteed in butter is about as good as it gets. At a price ranging from $15-$25 a pound even the market agrees.

The problem is that these little morsels of goodness are as fleeting as the aforementioned agreement. I dare not get into the elaborate detail and folklore surrounding the ability to locate these fungi, I'll just let your fingers do the walking. I only wanted to put a bug in your ear that this weekends potential rain and following warm up could provide a scenario that results in a bountiful crop.

My best advice is to look for a valley full of Zaccheus Tree's and if you find some Morel's go show em to your Grandma or Grandpa first, to make sure they are legit, or give me a call, and we'll go from there.

Until Next Time..