I live with my husband in Ashland, VA. As a permaculture educator specializing in sustainable food production, I am passionate about helping people develop skills to live lightly in this world. As a result, I founded Homeplace Earth and, with the help of our filmaker son, Luke Conner, have produced two videos which are available through our website www.homeplaceearth.com. Since we all eat, we are all responsible for how the earth is used to produce our food. As a market gardener for 10 years, selling to restaurants, a CSA, and at farmers markets, I recognized that a farmer could be organic and still not be sustainable. My study of sustainability led me to become certified as an Ecology Action GROW BIOINTENSIVE Sustainable Mini-farming teacher. I also hold a degree in Home Economics Education from Ohio State University and a Certificate in Permaculture Design. In January 1999, I began teaching at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Goochland, VA. My classes evolved into the Sustainable Agriculture program that is there now. I left the college in May 2010 to allow time to address a larger community, such as you. The classes are still there, being taught by our daughter, Betsy Trice. Betsy appeared in our garden plan video when she was Arkansas farmer, Betsy Conner. Besides speaking in public and learning the mechanics of social media (no small task for someone who doesn’t even use a cell phone), my time is now spent researching how to sustainably grow a complete diet in a small space and getting the food to the table using the least fossil fuel.
It is my wish that the community that develops around this blog will expand, each of you becoming a catalyst for positive change wherever you are. Please share your comments as we travel this journey. Together we can make a difference.
Great website, Cindy.
lisa z
Hi Cindy,
I met you at the Mother Earth News Fair in Seven Springs PA yesterday and look forward to reading your blog!
Sheri
Sheri, I had a great time this weekend meeting and interacting with everyone. Glad you can follow what I’m doing. It’s going to take all of us.
Cindy, I met you at the Richmond Quilt Guild Show today. Thanks so much for giving me your business card. I read the blog and must say…you’ve created a “spark” in me to start a garden. Will look at your resources. Thanks again for taking the time!
~Darlene
Darlene, I’m glad Cathy introduced us. Who would think someone would be talking about Ruth Stout at a quilt show? I made the quilted vest I had on to wear in the garden plan video. Each fabric is only used once. I like to think it shows the beauty of diversity. I hope you have a great garden.
Hi,
Please check Sepp Holzer on moles and voles
at site
http://www.richsoil.com/sepp-holzer/sepp-holzer-permaculture.jsp
Sepp says pigs will take care of them. That would be great if I wanted a pig in the garden. So far, that’s not in my plans, but it’s something to think about.
Dear Cindy,
Hello, I was wondering if you had tested your Grain Maker for grinding nuts? I am gluten intolerant and live off-grid and would love to make some nut flour for baking, and I am trying to decide on a mill. I have contacted the makers of the mill, and they said it would only make nut butter, but I find that hard to believe, because if it can make nut butter, wouldn’t it be able to make nut flour? Anywho I was hoping that a real customer with experience would maybe be able to explain it better, or at least test it for me if it’s not too much trouble? Thanks a bunch, Erika.
Hi Erika,
Nuts are really oily, so when you grind them, the results would not be dry like when you grind wheat. That said, I haven’t ground nuts, although I did make peanut butter once–it’s easier to just eat the peanuts. If you are gluten intolerant you should read Carol Deppe’s book The Resilient Gardener. She also avoids gluten and has developed her own cornbread recipes that don’t include wheat. Besides corn, sorghum is also a something you can grow and grind in your mill. I sometimes use sorghum in recipes instead of wheat if I have a gluten sensitive friend coming. If I had some nuts that I didn’t have to shell right now, and had the time, I’d try some for you, but I all my nuts are in shells and I’m pressed for time. Besides, I’d have to take the mill apart to clean it afterward, which I don’t have to do when grinding grains.
Cindy