Favorite pie

I have been thinking, though not too deeply, about how to begin. This will be an exercise for me in discipline. I am hoping that by reporting here, I will maintain my focus. I have a lot of research to begin with regards to utilizing our humble piece of property. I suppose I should actually find out exactly how big our little piece of heaven really is. We are in a neighborhood, not a development, so we have some space between our neighbors but it is modest. We have woods out back and a river. I see these as resources, though I will have to learn how to adequately and respectfully utilize them. See, already I have provided myself with a few small goals just by thinking "out loud"! I also want to begin to learn a fundamental concept of any type of farming. Hmmm, I feel the need to say something about the word 'farming'. For this virtual space 'farming' is going to refer to our pursuit of providing organic, non-genetically modified foods. As I have said our space is small and at this time unimpressive but this is the point. We want to make use of what we have, as the average neighbor, in an average neighborhood. We hope to supply ourselves with all our plant foods and a good bulk of our animal based foods. Maybe someday we will move to a larger, open air place but for now we hope to make the most of what we have. So....a basic concept...when i think on this I keep coming back to the earth. Even more specifically the soil. From what we have been told from the builder the soil is mostly sand. I think that is yet another task for me...I need to find out just what is under our feet. In the mean time I want to begin to prepare an approach to improve the soil. I want to learn more about composting. I think that I will start by studying the book 'Let It Rot'. I can't find my old copy of this book, I think I donated it along with so many of my books when we moved back to New England. Thank goodness for used books! The homeschooling parent in me (I used to home-school my kids before my divorce), can't resist adding a couple more books to what I suspect will be an enormous curriculum, those of you who have home-schooled know of this compulsion all too well. I am going to scour around to find a book on worm farming, as well as a resource on compost structure designs. Not a bad way to begin, it's the circle of life man. Life and decay, they are necessary for one another. The better quality of one means the better quality of the other. Yin yang. Balance. Etc. I have to take into account how my neighbors will be affected so that everyone on both sides and in front are supportive of our endeavors. That means things have to please the senses otherwise there may be complaints. First things first, I'll look for used copies of the mentioned books, find out about our plot size, and the qualities of our soil. What is necessary now is that I go prepare something for dinner for my two kids, and the three boys that are my sons guests for the night. The love of my life has the grill going to cook up some barbecue chicken breast, and I am thinking of adding rice and salad to the meal. That won't really excite the boys I'm sure. However I do have a homemade strawberry and rhubarb pie that should do the trick, especially for that handsome man of mine standing over the coals.