Tabla de contenidos para May/June 2025 en Grit

As I write this (a few months ahead of print), I’m already being bombarded with weather experts estimating a record number of named storms this fall. (Although, that seems to be their estimate every year.) Here in Florida, hurricanes are a real threat, regardless of how many are predicted to hit. Tornadoes are another hazard. On the other coast, fire season is turning into a yearlong worry. In 2021, researcher Philip Duffy, executive director of Woodwell Climate Research Center, said, “The extreme weather events and patterns we’ve seen in recent years, not to mention the past few weeks, underscore the heightened urgency with which we must address the climate crisis.” With severe weather patterns on the rise, we must be prepared to protect our backyard poultry and livestock. “As we…

No matter our backgrounds, we all carry the legacy of our ancestors who lived in rhythm with the Earth’s cycles, honoring resources and ensuring nothing went to waste. In today’s world, where thousands of animal hides are discarded in landfills each day, the old craft of tanning sheepskins offers a potent opportunity to combat waste, reconnect with ancestral wisdom, and create something beautiful and useful. The process can feel intimidating, and it’s not without challenges, but it’s a deeply rewarding skill that you can acquire. As a “recovering city dweller” settling into the Sierra Nevada foothills, I embraced my new life by seeking deeper connections with my local community. I also sought out intentional ways to engage with the world around me. Confronted with the problems of industrial animal processing,…

No otheranimal touches our hearts and very souls like the bear. They’re part of our lives whether we live in the city or the countryside. Bears have been part of many of our childhood stories, from Goldilocks and the Three Bears to The Jungle Book. Many kids have grown up with a teddy bear and, in my day, a healthy dose of Yogi Bear. For me, and many other people of Native American ancestry, the bear plays a major role in our origin stories. In many of the stories, the bear taught the people how to hunt, fish, and gather plants for both food and medicine. To my ancestors, the bear held great power and was a protection spirit. I grew up surrounded by the sign of the bear. My…

Nearly every gardening book mentions the Three Sisters: corn, squash, and beans. In North America, from what’s now Canada to Mexico, Native Americans used to plant these three in unison. Together, the three make a “complete protein.” In other words, eating these three vegetables will supply all the essential amino acids in enough abundance to meet a person’s protein needs. In addition, growing them together has some other benefits. The corn supplies a pole the beans can climb. The squash covers the ground, suppressing weed growth. As the story goes, the beans fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and enrich the soil. As I’ll relate in this article, the actual situation might not be quite so tidy. Although the Three Sisters mythology is long, scientific verification of its claims is often…

Recently, my daughter and my two granddaughters, ages six and four, witnessed someone drive through a small flock of turkeys crossing the road, killing one of the babies. Explaining such a needless act isn’t easy, yet it’s something that happens all the time. It isn’t just turkeys that get hit, but also turtles, squirrels, skunks, and even deer, moose, and bear. Why does this happen? The blame falls squarely upon us. It isn’t that we drive, but instead how we drive. That squirrel, turkey, or deer could just as easily have been a child or someone walking their dog. America’s Roads While driving from Jackson, Wyoming, to Gardiner, Montana, through Grand Teton National Park early one morning, I spotted movement to my right. Even though I was going at the…

Shrimp isn’t an ingredient I gravitate to when cooking. In fact, I’m quite picky when it comes to shrimp. This recipe is a happy accident. It was made for me one Mother’s Day, and while I hesitated to try it, once I did, I knew I had to learn how to make it. Now, I get to share it with y’all! Whether you love shrimp or just occasionally enjoy it, I hope you’ll try this recipe. Gather all the ingredients before you get started, because it goes fairly quickly. Ingredients • 3 tablespoons olive oil• 4 tablespoons butter• 4 large cloves garlic, minced• 1½ pounds shrimp, large and shelled (tails may be on or off)• Salt and pepper, to taste• cup sauvignon blanc (or dry white wine of choice)• 1…

CERTIFIED ORGANIC WORM CASTINGS — 10 LB; 15 LB If you want to have rich, nutritious soil for plants, it’s crucial to use highquality, organic compost! This compost is organically made in Tennessee. Your plants are going to love this organic compost, and you are going to enjoy a fruitful, prosperous garden! Please allow two weeks for delivery. Available for shipment to continental U.S. addresses only. 10 lb size comes in printed flour sack; 15 lb size comes in a blank box. #9715/10147 $29.99/39.99 THE ORGANIC MANUAL, 5TH EDITION The organic method is the most efficient, cost effective, and fun of any approach. It also produces the best trees, shrubs, flowers, fruits, and vegetables that you’ll ever grow. In this updated edition of The Organic Manual, author Howard Garrett explains…

You may find yourself staring down the barrel into the sweet, black eyes and cute, big ears of something that looks like a chinchilla that underwent shrinkray treatment. Those eyes are staring right back into your soul, and they’re on the cusp of welling up with little anime tears. The worst attribute of pack rats isn’t how utterly destructive they are, but their diabolical cuteness. You do, of course, still pull the trigger, but that adorable look sure makes it harder until you remember that cutesy-toes has destroyed every Halloween costume your kids ever wore, eaten your wife’s wedding candles, and chewed through the wires that make your windshield wipers turn on. The Signs Most signs of pack rats aren’t subtle: “grease stains” (their urine is so concentrated it’s sticky…

Aprons are one of the most useful items you can have around the homestead. They protect your clothing from spills and splatters and prolong its lifespan. Aprons used to be a staple in every home, and they’re making a comeback, which makes this an excellent time to try your hand at making your own. Aprons can be as simple or as elaborate as you’d like. They can be made from sturdy, no-fuss materials, such as denim or oil-cloth, or from lovely, flowered cotton or even more luxurious fabrics, such as linen or silk. They can be finished with ruffles or lace or a simple hem. There really is an apron for everyone. Tools and Materials • Plain paper, newspaper, or a well-fitting shirt• Flexible measuring tape• Scissors• Pen or pencil•…

Aside from actually having the space, some of the most important aspects of starting a farm business are organization and realism. Here are some practices and mindsets to help you get your footing. 1. Treat Your Farm as a Business If you’re wanting to make money from your farm, then it’s a true business and should be handled as such. Businesses are meant to make money, not gobble up all your extra income. Give yourself clear guidelines on how your business should be run. For instance, it can be easy to mix too much of your personal life into a venture you’re passionate about and dependent on. Put guardrails around who’ll work for or with you, how much you’ll pay them (and yourself), and how many hours a day you…