It started out as a hobby.
Next thing I knew, I was really obsessed with chickens and learning as much as possible. I'm not an expert, and won't claim to be, but I do
know a lot, and I wish that someone had been there for me, to give advice, pat my back, and explain processing my chickens. Even better,
I would like to of known what mistakes not to make from the beginning, like... DON'T NAME YOUR MEAT. That's the first lesson. There are
so many more that you can only learn through experience, just like love.
It's such an amazing thing to understand where your food comes from. It is so profound.
The problems in the world today, in my opinion, are due to the Industrial Revolution. Taking
man/woman out of the land, removing him/her from his/her relationship with the land. Once
that relationship was severed, so was the ability for people to relate to the land, to feel the
earth,resonating with nature, and therefore having that awareness and compassion when
she was being neglected, hurt or damaged. The people forgot the nature songs, the songs
to the trees,the songs for the bees, the song thanking the animal and the Creator for providing
food for your family... The result of asking "What is wrong in the World today?" can be no more
than to redirect us to what is needed most: re-establishing such an important relationship:
our relationship with the land and with natural processes. Smelling the soil, watching a seed
grow, a chick, a duck, taking it's life with complete gratitude, compassion and respect, wasting
nothing, completely participating and giving good energy to the cycle of compost, vegetable,
animal, dinner table, sharing with family and friends,amazing flavors and satisfaction, all
completes the circle of understanding.
If you are like me, you are a Seeker. Coming back to the land is about seeking completion. We will
return once more to the land ourselves. We have such a short time here, just as all plants and animals do. Understanding where and how
your meat comes to you is one of the most profound experiences that you can have. We have been so removed from our once natural
processes as agricultural people, but once you have disciplined yourself and persevere completely to this learning process, you will be
returned to the natural order. It will make sense. It will be a normal experience, as it once was for all of us. Imagine that! (I' m sure I could
get a lot of grief from vegetarians here, but, oh well! I like to eat meat!) I feel that it requires a time commitment of 3 years at least, to
decide if being the butcher is for you or not, and that's ok, too. At least you will know for sure. Now we can understand the true meaning
of saying grace before eating a meal, as we understand just what it really took to get it there. With the sacrifice often comes the tears.
The tears are good, they are part of the acceptance process, and accepting is often sad, because we have to let go. Letting go is hard
sometimes, because we become attached to life around us. So, in the end, it is all a process of LETTING GO. Very Zen.
For me, that is what this has all been about, connecting with the ancestors, returning to life before the industrial revolution, and
to the time when we were one with the elements, with our food, with plants and animals, with our family, with our community, and
with nature. It has only been less than 150 years, six generations since the great urban migrations. My Father grew up on a farm
in central Michigan in the 1940's, and my Mother grew up on an island in World War II Naples, gathering wild herbs, field greens,
snails, harvesting small birds, rabbits and chickens. They both gave me the gift of an immense appreciation for the bounties that
the land can provide. Their Grandmothers and Mothers brought fresh fish, chicken, rabbit and occasionally pork, lamb and beef
to the supper table. For me, it's only a short skip and a jump away, and I was determined, even if the dot had skipped a generation.
If any of this makes sense to you, then you are ready to embark on the experience of egg to hen to table. Join me. I hope to be your
guide, in some way.
I have lived in the Petaluma, Penngrove and Santa Rosa area since 2001. I moved up here from San Francisco with my two sons.
I am so happy I did!
I love it here, and truly feel blessed.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Phoebe ~ The Chicken Woman
Next thing I knew, I was really obsessed with chickens and learning as much as possible. I'm not an expert, and won't claim to be, but I do
know a lot, and I wish that someone had been there for me, to give advice, pat my back, and explain processing my chickens. Even better,
I would like to of known what mistakes not to make from the beginning, like... DON'T NAME YOUR MEAT. That's the first lesson. There are
so many more that you can only learn through experience, just like love.
It's such an amazing thing to understand where your food comes from. It is so profound.
The problems in the world today, in my opinion, are due to the Industrial Revolution. Taking
man/woman out of the land, removing him/her from his/her relationship with the land. Once
that relationship was severed, so was the ability for people to relate to the land, to feel the
earth,resonating with nature, and therefore having that awareness and compassion when
she was being neglected, hurt or damaged. The people forgot the nature songs, the songs
to the trees,the songs for the bees, the song thanking the animal and the Creator for providing
food for your family... The result of asking "What is wrong in the World today?" can be no more
than to redirect us to what is needed most: re-establishing such an important relationship:
our relationship with the land and with natural processes. Smelling the soil, watching a seed
grow, a chick, a duck, taking it's life with complete gratitude, compassion and respect, wasting
nothing, completely participating and giving good energy to the cycle of compost, vegetable,
animal, dinner table, sharing with family and friends,amazing flavors and satisfaction, all
completes the circle of understanding.
If you are like me, you are a Seeker. Coming back to the land is about seeking completion. We will
return once more to the land ourselves. We have such a short time here, just as all plants and animals do. Understanding where and how
your meat comes to you is one of the most profound experiences that you can have. We have been so removed from our once natural
processes as agricultural people, but once you have disciplined yourself and persevere completely to this learning process, you will be
returned to the natural order. It will make sense. It will be a normal experience, as it once was for all of us. Imagine that! (I' m sure I could
get a lot of grief from vegetarians here, but, oh well! I like to eat meat!) I feel that it requires a time commitment of 3 years at least, to
decide if being the butcher is for you or not, and that's ok, too. At least you will know for sure. Now we can understand the true meaning
of saying grace before eating a meal, as we understand just what it really took to get it there. With the sacrifice often comes the tears.
The tears are good, they are part of the acceptance process, and accepting is often sad, because we have to let go. Letting go is hard
sometimes, because we become attached to life around us. So, in the end, it is all a process of LETTING GO. Very Zen.
For me, that is what this has all been about, connecting with the ancestors, returning to life before the industrial revolution, and
to the time when we were one with the elements, with our food, with plants and animals, with our family, with our community, and
with nature. It has only been less than 150 years, six generations since the great urban migrations. My Father grew up on a farm
in central Michigan in the 1940's, and my Mother grew up on an island in World War II Naples, gathering wild herbs, field greens,
snails, harvesting small birds, rabbits and chickens. They both gave me the gift of an immense appreciation for the bounties that
the land can provide. Their Grandmothers and Mothers brought fresh fish, chicken, rabbit and occasionally pork, lamb and beef
to the supper table. For me, it's only a short skip and a jump away, and I was determined, even if the dot had skipped a generation.
If any of this makes sense to you, then you are ready to embark on the experience of egg to hen to table. Join me. I hope to be your
guide, in some way.
I have lived in the Petaluma, Penngrove and Santa Rosa area since 2001. I moved up here from San Francisco with my two sons.
I am so happy I did!
I love it here, and truly feel blessed.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Phoebe ~ The Chicken Woman
I used to be
a performing Flamenco Dancer.
Yeah.
Really.
But, that seems like
a long time ago.
Now I'm a rockin' Flamenco Dance Teacher!
www.flamencolive.weebly.com
a performing Flamenco Dancer.
Yeah.
Really.
But, that seems like
a long time ago.
Now I'm a rockin' Flamenco Dance Teacher!
www.flamencolive.weebly.com