Back to Basics Living
With the Wannabe Farm Girl

Back to basics living sometimes means having experiences you might once have never dreamed possible, such as your first calving experience. Mare - who likes to call herself Wannabe Farm Girl shares her story of first-time calving the (sorta!) easy way.

Back to Basics Living
Early Morning Surprises

Wannabe Farm Girl is doing ok!

Well Saturday morning, Early 2:17 a.m., Sadie our Golden retriever woke me up to go outside. I just put my head on the pillow when I heard a soft moo. I jumped up, grabbed the flashlight, ran outside to look around and found out that Sara-lu had her calf.

Everything, that I was reading and was told to look for was not happening with Sara-lu. First, her back end was not really as big as it should have been. And she did bag-up somewhat, but again, not as big as she should.

And the last part: She had her calf close to the house instead of out in the back alone. She even ate that evening and wasn't at all acting like she was in labor that day. I was so happy that I was blessed with a cow that did everything on her own. I believe I was more of a wreck then she was. Now I just have to wait for Reba to have hers.

Back to Basics Living
And Better Health

OK, why the story. It's been almost two years now. I have had a feeling to pursue back basics living. I remember growing up with that, and never having to see a doctor much. And I think I can use only one hand to count that.

When I married, I had my kids naturally, and in my 40's I had female problems. But once that was taken care of I haven't seen a doctor since. Not saying that is right to do. But they seem to like to give you medicine for everything or anything. And that I don't like.

Back to Basics Living
And Real Food

I feel that the problems I'm have now is because of the box stuff and fake stuff that is not the real stuff from the ground. My hubby and I are growing a garden and now that my cows have had their first offspring, we are going to try to grow our own beef.

We have chickens and we eat the eggs. I've been reading up on how to dress out our own chickens, but not there yet. It sounds easy, but frame of mind is still not there. But, I know soon it will happen.

I'm in my 50's now. And why I would want to do all this hard work has me even puzzled. But, when I'm out in the dirt and out in the field, I feel my best there. I guess there is a heaven on earth after all. So that's my story on The Funny Farm.

Mare (Wannabe Farm Girl)

Are You Ready to Start Your Own Garden?

Back to basics living includes growing your own food.

Growing your own garden is a great way to have healthy, organic foods, and it isn't as hard as it looks. But keep in mind that it does take some time and effort every week. Start small when you begin, so you don't feel overwhelmed.

Raised garden beds are a great way to learn organic gardening. You can make your own raised beds by building a wooden frame and filling it with a mixture of peat moss, compost, and cow manure. It's a quick and easy way to have good soil, even if the soil in your area is poor, as can be in many parts of my home state of Oklahoma.

Also, save your vegetable scraps, dead leaves, and other natural matter for your compost pile. A black, plastic garbage can is a great place to store your organic matter. Fill it with vegetable and fruit peelings, leaves, and chicken poop, if you have it. Then, once the trash can is full, dump it on the ground in a corner of your yard and pile it high. Stir it occasionally, and by the end of the year, you'll have good, healthy soil to grow your garden.

Collect rainwater in barrels and use that water for your garden. Save those excess vegetables and fruit you grow in the summer by dehydrating them. Then save even more money by cooking from scratch. You'll be glad you did.