So you think you're a homesteader? Part 22

So you think you're a homesteader? Lessons from the "MAYFLOWER"........Late February, early March 1621 our friends are struggling to survive, they've been at Plimouth for almost 2 months now and considering how few are able to work they've done pretty well. The site for the colony has been laid out for individual "meersteads", a defensive position constructed against Spanish attack, 2 buildings for shelter & storage constructed & their supplies moved ashore. May not sound like much but consider this- in William Bradford's "On Plimouth Plantation" he relates that "only 6 or 7" were able to care for the sick, of the approximately 102 colonists who left England 25% are dead. Half of the MAYFLOWER's crew are dead. All those still alive are ill to some degree and the winter weather has made everything difficult. Those that are able doggedly continue working as their friends & family die at a rate of 1 every other day & all the while they are watched by the natives, making every trip to shore a possible battle. On the first of March, signs that winter is breaking blow in with a warm wind. Today there is a resurgent interest in "Natural Remedies" & a backlash against our "Pill for Everything" pharmaceutical culture. I myself avoid medication if possible and try natural remedies first, FB is filled with "ACV cures all" advocates but think about this - Half of these brave people died ! Not from Indian attack, not from injuries & accidents- They died from sickness that today's OTC medications would have cured. The vast majority of them would have been saved by a bottle of multi-vitamins & aspirin. This terrible death rate wasn't just at Plimouth, early colonies such as Jamestown suffered a similar 50% mortality and the Native population was devastated by introduced diseases that today would be successfully treated at your local urgent care. As much as we strive to be self sufficient and minimize our use of pharmaceuticals be grateful for the access we have to effective medications ! I realize that this is a personal decision for each of us but don't risk you, your children or your animals health if that Apple Cider Vinegar isn't working!

-Unicoi Ludd

So you think you're a homesteader? Part 21

So you think you're a homesteader? Lessons from the MAYFLOWER... In the last post we discussed the importance of your "Mental Tool Kit" and the importance of flexibility. We left our colonist friends struggling with sickness & death while completing the first small structure on shore. Now in February 1621, They've also constructed another shed to store their supplies in and when weather permits they are having their worship meetings on shore. Cold, snow, rain & ice are hampering the boat work but still they begin to move their irreplaceable supplies from MAYFLOWER to the storage buildings. The master of MAYFLOWER, Christopher Jones has given up the idea of a speedy return to England because his crew is just as ill as everyone else. The mortality is reaching its peak now and the few able people are strained by caring for the ill, building the shelters and burying the dead. Natives have been seen for the second time so the need to secure their supplies ashore adds more of a burden. We won't name the dead individually but in memoriam of them all, let's remember Rose. Most people have heard of Myles Standish, the military advisor for Plimouth, soldier of fortune soon to be formally tasked with the defense of the colony, but who remembers his wife Rose ? Sadly Rose Standish dies at the end of January and is buried in that frozen ground. A party out duck hunting sees a dozen natives moving toward the build site and later their fires are seen from shipboard - the colonists fears seem realized as it appears the "sauvages" have found them and are closing in when they are most weak. Cheerful aren't I? So let's look at a lesson here, farming / homesteading always has been & always will be a daily gamble. A bet against the weather, the economy, animals, machinery & neighbors - all that on one side and just you with your body & brain on the other. So when the snow is falling, ground is frozen & you're surrounded by hostiles you've got two choices - sit down and give up or stand up and plow ahead. My observation of people who can live this life is that they're stubborn as hell. We will fight, we might die but we don't quit and that's the attitude that built this Nation.

- Unicoi Ludd

So you think you're a homesteader? Part 20

So you think you're a homesteader? Lessons from the MAYFLOWER- We left our colonist friends working on the first 20x20 building at Plimouth in the early part of January 1621, and examined the phrase "those that were able". Now it's late January and the time has come in this series to stop naming the dead individually. They deserve to be remembered but for the purposes of these posts it's enough to quote William Bradford about this period of time -" But that which was most sadd & lamentable was, that in 2 or 3 moneths time halfe of their company dyed, espetialy in Jan. & Feb....". If you've followed me this far I ask that you pause a moment and really think about that. Bradford goes on to say the cause was lack of shelter and the ravages of scurvy that caused "there dyed sometimes 2 or 3 of a day". You might ask why they didn't give up & return to England, well besides being committed to building a new life in the new world they couldn't go back if they wanted to. So many were ill that there weren't enough crew to sail the ship. Those that were able completed the building ashore only to see the thatched roof catch fire, fortunately only the roof burned and they were able to repair it. They plowed ahead (those that were able) and layed out sites for "meersteads" or individual homesites & drew lots to determine who got which site. Let's ask ourselves a question - why did they lack shelter ? After all they have seen plenty of native housing built from local materials that were functional, warm & dry- why not copy those? They faced vast forests and had the tools and man power to throw up log cabins in a hurry, why didn't they do that ? The answer to those questions is the lesson for this post. All people have a tool kit with them, some more complete than others but we all have one. The old saying- "If all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail" applies to the tool kit we carry. No I'm not speaking of that metal box of hammers, wrenchs & screw drivers you keep in the garage ! I'm talking about your Mental Tool Kit - our friends on MAYFLOWER carried a mental tool kit from England & Holland that was limited to certain ideas of what a house was and couldn't see options that were better suited to the time & place. Log cabins were an idea brought to America by later immigrants from forest rich Scandinavia and Native housing was too "crude" in their eyes to be considered proper housing for civilized people. Failure to be flexible & imaginative led to the terrible mortality of 50%. In our lives today, many people neglect building their mental tool kit because they can "Google it" - that's fine but does "Google" know what you have to work with ? What local conditions & resources you have available? If you want to be independent you must stock you're brain with as much knowledge as possible and be able to adapt. Most problems aren't nails so make sure your brain isn't just a hammer.

-Unicoi Ludd

Why a Horse needs Shoes

I finally got a few minutes to explain a little about horse hooves and shoes.  The wall of the hoof continuously grows, similar to our fingernails. It basic purpose is to protect the bottom of the hoof (see 1st diagram) and the internal structures of the hoof (see 2nd diagram) from damage caused by normal ambulation.  Immediately inside the hoof are delicate laminae (see pic).  If a horse doesn't naturally keep hooves worn down, they require regular trimming to keep the hoof in proper balance.  When hooves are chronically overgrown, broken, split, cracked, diseased or improperly trimmed, the horse's hoof no longer functions at the proper balance or angle for the horse to distribute its weight on the hoof correctly.  Over time, that hoof takes on a different shape because the heels become narrowed, the frog becomes contracted,  the sole becomes tender, etc.  The laminae become very congested due to improper blood flow, and become very painful. The other internal structures of the hoof become damaged as well.  Over time, bone actually rotates and can even protrude through the bottom of the sole.  The old saying "no hoof, no horse" is a golden rule.
Shoes can help prevent those problems from ever starting and help existing problems from becoming worse (as long as it hasn't gone on too long).  Shoes are routinely used on most horses who are ridden or worked regularly simply because without shoes, their hooves would become overly worn.  Shoes provide better traction on rough terrain.  Shoes also provide better grip and traction for horses competing in running or performance events.
For the average pasture decoration horse, shoes aren't a necessity.  However, proper regular hoof trims are a necessity for almost all horses, donkeys, and mules.

- My Father's Daughter

So You think you're a homesteader Part 19

So you think you're a homesteader? Lessons from the MAYFLOWER..... we left our colonist friends not celebrating Christmas but burying their dead & building a 20 x 20 building to shelter themselves & their supplies. The weather is cold, windy & rainy in Plimouth harbor and the colonists and crew are very ill. Now is when we see a simple & grim phrase enter the record, "Those that were able". This sums up the situation succinctly- Those that were able went ashore to fell trees. Those that were able hewed timbers. Those that were able sawed lumber. Those that were able  to get up, to work, to not give up in despair. Those that were able build platforms to mount cannons for defense from the Spanish as well as the Natives. Degory Priest died Aboard ship & those that were able took him ashore for burial. The colonist's treasurer Master Martin ( the man who annoyed the shipwrights working on SPEEDWELL ) dies & those that were able bury him as well. This is a dark times for our friends, but I think there is an important lesson here. Too often we don't look at ourselves and the things we do from the perspective of "Those that are able". In America today we are pretty damn exceptional. We use the internet for information and entertainment but don't need to Google "How to start a fire". We build our shelters, grow our food and stay at home because we can, because we choose too. Right now thousands, maybe millions of weak, dependent people are in a panic because there no more bread in aisle 12. Take a moment anytime you are doing for yourself and puff your chest out, be proud of yourself. You are able & most of this country is not. Family talk trash about your lifestyle? Ask them a few questions, how able are they if the job dries up, if the power goes out or the stores run out of food. Be proud of yourself because YOU ARE ABLE !

By Unicoi Ludd

How Food Works in the Body of the Livestock

How Food Works in the Body of the Livestock

People don't really understand their own body and how food affects them, much less their animals/livestock. Some think they do, but when you ask specifics, they don't really. Lots of information out there, but who has time to read and figure it out? This is meant to be a brief overview as a continuation of "How to keep your Livestock Warm without looking like the Gentle Barn."

Carbohydrates have 2 main categories: simple and complex. Simple burn up FAST while the complex take more time. Example of simple: white sugar or starch like corn. Example of a complex: molasses. You will hear them referred to by medical professions as "Simple Carb" or "Complex Carb."

Proteins are how muscle is built and maintained. If your livestock does not get enough protein they will be diagnosed with "Wasting Disease" and the animal will deteriorate to skin and bones and expire. If you want to eat the animal, you want a good amount of muscle to then be able to put on your table. So, proteins must be fed to build it. When the body has more than it can use, it will store it as Fat. Fat is flavor. A healthy animal has a rounded belly and a ripple effect when it walks in its stride. The rounded belly indicates a build up of fat.

To know how much to feed, there really is not hard science to it, only recommendations on the bag. Like anything else in homesteading you have to develop an "eye." Does your animal have a rounded belly? Is it to round? Is there a ripple when they walk? Is there a healthy shine to their coat? If the answer is no, then try upping their feed for a few days and see what results you get at the end of the week. If it is what you want in a good way, well done, now maintain it.

Is it a warmer time of year and the animal is blowing it coat? Cut back on the protein. (Refer to How to keep your Livestock Warm...) They might be to hot on the inside and are trying to cool off. Feed them a cooler feed--grasses, browse, etc are all as cold of a feed as you can get. Sometimes I pull them off all their feed and just feed grass and browse for a week and see how they look. If they are improved, awesome. If not, might be time to start looking to see if they have parasites or a fungus. If they do, pay attention to their stools.

Sometimes, the temps drop drastically, and I will see the animal shivering inside their shelter. That is where the simple Carbohydrates come in. I will grab a scoop of cracked corn or oats and take it out there to them to "jump start" their internal heater. Then leave extra mixed grass and alfalfa hay in their feeder for the long steady burn they need to keep warm all night. I apply this to my fowl as well.

Here in E. TN the temperatures have varied from 22F one week, then 60F the next. So on the cold week, I feed.  22% protein grain twice a day and a constantly full bin of grass hay. During the 60F week, I feed half a bale of grass hay twice a day. Why? I didn't want them to blow their coat knowing colder temps of January were coming. The green grass literally started growing so they were out grazing too. So watch your area's temps and adjust accordingly.

Keep your shelters dry and warm with hay on the floor as insulation. Proper feeding and shelter then means heat lights are an unnecessary expense ($45/mo per bulb extra on an electric bill.) and an unnecessary risk for fire.

Remember: livestock have been existing in ALL climates since the beginning of time. They know how to keep warm. They just need you to provide the appropriate amount and type of food if they are fenced and have no way to get what they need themselves.

Happy Homesteading Twisted friends!
Boots N Lace

So you think you're a homesteader - part 18

So you think you're a homesteader? - Lessons from the MAYFLOWER... So you may have wondered, how did our friends on the MAYFLOWER celebrate their first Christmas in the new world?  They are at anchor in Plimouth harbor and have agreed upon a site for the colony and have sent work parties ashore to fell, buck, hew & saw timber for building. On Dec. 24th, 1620, one of the colonists named Solomon Prower dies. He is the 2nd colonist to die at Plimouth and is buried ashore. So how did they celebrate Christmas? - They didn't - these people were opposed to anything not specifically in the Bible and did not observe Saints days, Easter, Christmas etc. Instead they sent a party ashore to work timber and begin the first building, a 20 ft. X 20ft. Shelter and store house for their goods. Captain Jones & his crew were Church of England men and celebrated with a day off and extra beer ration. This is before molasses based Rum was available and the famous "Grog" is unknown to British sailors. Beer was getting pretty short but Master Jones allowed the colonists to have some on this day even though he had cut them off earlier to conserve the supply for the voyage home. I won't berate you with a lesson this time, I take this opportunity to wish you all a Joyous Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice or whatever you celebrate at this time of year. Be grateful for your blessings and look forward to more in the coming year.

- Unicoi Ludd

So you think you're a homesteader - part 17

So you think you're a homesteader? - Lessons fro the MAYFLOWER... Our last visit with the colonist's was Dec. 13, 1620 as the exploring party returned to MAYFLOWER to report on the potential settlement sites they've found. The colonist's are happy & excited at the prospect of finally getting off the ship and starting to build their new lives, but this happiness is dampened by the sad news for William Bradford of his wife's drowning and the death of James Chilton since they've been gone. On the 15th, the MAYFLOWER attempts to follow the Shallop to the new site but contrary winds force them to return to their old anchorage. The next day they try again and finally, after 102 days since leaving Plymouth, England they anchor a mile off shore in "Plimouth" harbor. For the next few days they look at the area and on the 20th decide by a voice vote on a site near "Jones River" which is just navigable by the Shallop at high water. Desperate to begin building their shelters, they are once again thwarted by the weather as storms and rain confine them to the ship. On Dec. 21, Richard Britteridge becomes the first colonist to die at Plimouth. The next day "Goodwife Allerton" is delivered of a still born son. Dec. 23 a party is able to go ashore and bury the dead and begin felling timber for construction materials. ----By now I hope you've seen just how hard these people struggled for their dream. They seem to be faced with obstacles at every step, in today's slang we would say "They can't catch a break". I know I've felt that way before and I bet you have too. If you think a "homestead lifestyle" is all sunshine & buttercups you've never done it. There's a reason the back to nature hippy communes aren't around - it's hard, it's fixing fences in a freezing rain, it's waking up to a fire in the chicken coop, it's splitting firewood with broken ribs, it's limping on a bad hip to get the chores done because the ATV won't start. It's all that and more and sometimes it's sunshine & buttercups. My advice, for whatever it may be worth is learn to relish the challenge of the tough times and take the time to really enjoy the sunshine & buttercups. Most of all, no matter what, keep plowing ahead because sitting around whining about how hard you've got it is pointless and really comparatively untrue.

- UNICOI LUDD

So you think you're a Homesteader Part 16

So you think you're a homesteader? Lessons from the MAYFLOWER - an unusual back to back post today because while the MAYFLOWER remains at anchor in Cape Cod, an exploring party is searching for a homesite- let's see what they're up to... December 6, 1620, 18 men including Miles Standish, Governor Carver, William Bradford & the incredibly lucky John Howland set out in the Shallop to find a site for the colony. A sailor named Robert Coppin has told them of a possible harbor he visited on a previous voyage, so they row & sail south. Exploring the coast on their way they are looking for some specific features, a safe harbor for ships, a river to allow access to the back country, fresh water, arable land suitable for farming & defendable high ground for their home site. On Friday Dec. 8 while exploring they are attacked by natives but no casualties are suffered. Later that evening a strong storm strikes the area and the Shallop suffers serious damage, it's mast broken in 3 pieces as well as the rudder. They are able to reach Clarke Island and spend a cold, wet Saturday & Sunday there, repairing the damage as well as possible. On Monday Dec. 11 they explore the area and decide that it is good enough for settlement. Not ideal though, the harbor is shallow and ships will have to anchor about a mile from shore. Plenty of fresh steams but no large inland river. On the plus side, the area has been cleared for agriculture by native peoples, burial grounds, decayed housing and un buried skeletal remains attest to a population swept away suddenly, seemingly by Devine providence for their benefit. Low hills provide defendable ground. Not ideal but after all the hardships & in desperate need they say "good enough" and return to the MAYFLOWER, arriving on Dec. 13th. What can we take from this aspect of the MAYFLOWER story ? When looking for land, you should have a specific list of desirable features that are important to you. Understand that the "perfect" site may not be available or affordable so keep an open mind on what is desirable and what is good enough. Looking for property can be fun & exciting but it can also be darn frustrating! If you're in the "looking for land" phase of homesteading, bear in mind that you should look for what it CAN BE, not just what it is right now.

-UNICOI LUDD

So you think you are a Homesteader Part 15

By Unicoi Ludd

So you think you're a homesteader? - Lessons from the MAYFLOWER..... Our last look at the colonist's was as they buried Edward Thompson, the 2nd passenger to die & the first to die in America. It's now December 5th 1620 and the pressure is on to find a site for their colony, the Shallop is repaired & preparations for an extended search for a site are under way when a young hooligan named Francis Billington decides to play around with his fathers "fowler" (shotgun) and accidentally discharges the weapon below deck. Near by are "many people" & a barrel of gunpowder, fortunately no one is hurt. Young Master Billington will prove to be quite a handful, but for now we'll leave him. The next day, Jasper More, a boy servant to Governor Carver, dies and is buried ashore. The exploration party also leaves this day determined to find a place to settle, the best map available to them was that of John Smith of the Jamestown colony and is pictured below. The next day, Dec. 7 , Dorothy Bradford, wife of William Bradford , who is away with the exploring party, falls overboard and drowns. Much speculation on Mrs. Bradford's death has been made, was it an accident or suicide ? Little is said about the incident and unlike the other deaths, no mention is made of her burial service even though her body was recovered. Who can say ? Certainly this was a rough time for everyone, a cold & bleak harbor, no place to settle, widespread illness and 2 deaths in as many days, fear & perhaps despair wouldn't be unusual. The next day, Dec. 8 Master James Chilton dies, the first head of household to die, and left behind a wife and 2 daughters. The effects of scurvy, exposure to cold & wet, respiratory infections and possibly leptospirosis are beginning the relentless harvest. Dec. 4 -8, 4 days & 4 dead out of 102 colonist's, almost a 4% mortality and they haven't even started a colony. Besides the obvious lesson of "don't let children play with guns", I'd like us to consider Dorothy Bradford. Not whether her death was accidental or suicide but rather the emotional state that we can all fall into. She had followed her husband on this extraordinary voyage, leaving her son behind in Leyden rather than risk his life. We've seen how difficult the voyage was, the setbacks, hardships and now arriving at the wrong destination. A cold and inhospitable land, illness affecting them all and now her husband gone and friends dying around her daily. Nothing about this dream of freedom is going as planed. For all our hopes & dreams, no matter how well you plan & prepare, sometimes nothing goes right. Whatever you're long term homesteader goals are, accept that things will go wrong, it's not the end of the world, don't let the setbacks & mistakes bring you down. Cuss, cry & get drunk if you want, but get up with the sun the next day and learn from your mistakes, adjust the plan and know that everyday is a new chance. Life will kick you enough, don't add to the problem by kicking yourself, learn, get better and don't give up.

So you think you are a Homesteader Part 14

So you think you're a homesteader? Lessons from the MAYFLOWER....late November- early December 1620, our friends the colonist's are still at anchor in Cape Cod completing repairs to the Shallop and exploring the immediate area. The weather has turned decidedly colder with 6+ inches of snow & the ground frozen a foot deep, Mistress White has been delivered of a son whom they name Peregrine- the 2nd child born since leaving England and the first in America. The ships Master Christopher Jones is pushing the colonist's to decide on a site so that he can return to England ASAP. Both colonist's & crew are suffering the effects of scurvy and the constant damp and cold is taking its toll on their health, the coughs are escalating into serious respiratory infections. Edward Thomson is the first to succumb and is buried ashore, with 2 births & 2 deaths among the colonist's this is the last time their numbers balance, from now on they will dwindle relentlessly as illness takes a truly horrific toll. They must find a site for their colony, build shelter for 100+ men, women & children and survive the New England winter. If they live through to spring they must clear ground, plant, tend & harvest crops before their slender store of provisions run out. They had a choice- they could have returned to England & Holland. They chose to get in an open sailboat and search for a home site. Here is an important lesson for those of you thinking of a simple, homesteader lifestyle- be sure you understand what you're getting yourself & your family into. The work doesn't stop when you get sick, when it's raining or snowing it's still got to get done. There are no "sick days" on a farm. I don't say this to discourage anyone it's just the reality. The rewards of independence are great but the responsibility is great as well. They had a choice- you've got a choice, no one can make it for you, be committed or don't get in the boat.

By Unicoi Ludd

So you think you are a Homesteader Part 13

By Unicoi Ludd

So you think you're a homesteader? Lessons from the MAYFLOWER....The colonist great adventure has begun! They're at anchor in Cape Cod Bay, they've done some exploring of the area, but not yet found a site for settlement & begun repairing their "Shallop", the sail boat they'll need to continue searching. The Master of MAYFLOWER, The unsavory Christopher Jones is pressuring the colonist's to pick a site ASAP so he can return to England. It's a hectic time, some are working on the Shallop, some searching for a suitable site & others preparing tools & equipment for use. Although I can find no list of what the colonists brought to build their colony, later lists of recommended tools are available to give us a good idea. Hoes, broad & felling axes, Whip saws for making lumber, hammers & shovels are apparently stowed as the iron & steel parts only, because they now speak of "helving" these items. Probably in an effort to carry as much as possible in the limited cargo space, they have no handles, now they make handles ( helves) for their tools and "stock" to repair the Shallop from local timber. Imagine what a busy scene on the deck & beach! The weather has turned colder & the ships boat can't get close enough to the beach, so they have to wade ashore in the cold (c. 50 deg F) water and spend their nights in the unheated ship. Always cold, always damp and weakened by scurvy they begin to cough. William Bradford will later say that this was when many caught their death. Cold, wet & terribly ill they keep working. They may not have known it then, but this is no longer about colonizing a new land, religious freedom or a fresh start. It has become a brutal fight for mere survival. I let you draw whatever lesson you can this post, but ask that as you sit down in a warm, dry house to a kitchen and dining room overwhelmed by good food to take a moment and think about our friends on that cold & windy beach. Be thankful we don't have to face the trials they did. We keep warm today beside the fire they started. Have a happy Thankgiving Twisted folks ✌️

So you think you are a Homesteader Part 12

By Unicoi Ludd

So you think you're a homesteader ? Lessons from the MAYFLOWER-- When last we saw our friends,( I hope you have come to think of them as friends ) they were at anchor in Cape Cod Bay looking out at an unknown land. Having agreed to work together they set about the work of repairing their small sailboat, known as "the Shallop" and exploring the rather barren coast they're on. An armed party of colonist's under the command of Miles Standish and William Bradford go ashore to reconnoiter the area, planning to be gone a couple of days. While they scout the land they see a small party of natives and want to communicate with them. The natives, seeing a party of armed & armored strangers running toward them, not surprisingly run like hell into the woods ! While trying to track down the natives, the colonist's find a cache of corn buried in a large kettle and take it back to the ship. Wrong though it certainly was, let's not condemn them until we understand the situation. They were running short on provisions but were certainly not hungry at this point. They were a famously honest people, so casual theft doesn't explain their actions. So why did they steal the corn ? If you've ever tried to quit an addiction, drugs, alcohol, smoking or even just sugar, you know how overpowering the desire can be, how you behave in ways you never would normally. These people were in desperate need of fresh food, specifically vitamin C - you guessed it, they were ill with scurvy. A deficiency disease that was poorly understood at the time, it would be more than 100 years before citrus fruits and juices would be used to prevent this often fatal disease. Having been confined on the ship for 2 months their bodies were crying out for fresh food. Scurvy doesn't get better over night, it lowers red blood cell counts, causes bleeding of the gums and skin & leaves the sufferer open to infection. The horrible mortality that lies ahead is built on this foundation. So we can take 2 lessons here, one is to watch your diet. Living off your own produce is great, but understand what your body needs to function ( I'm looking at you vegetarians), #2- when you move to a new neighborhood, be careful how you meet the neighbors. Different parts of our country have different ways. Tread softly and learn. Or, as we say in the south- "We don't care how you do it up north" 😉

So you think you are a Homesteader Part 11

So you think you're a homesteader? Lessons from the MAYFLOWER- After 2 months at sea the colonist's are finally at anchor in the New World ! Mentally & physically exhausted from their trials & tribulations they must now rise to the greatest challenge yet, to build a life & society in the wilderness with only what they've brought in a small ship. It must have been an exciting & frightening time, a small group of people gathered at the rail of that tiny ship looking at the cold, apparently lifeless and unimaginably vast wilderness that was to be their home. First they send a small party ashore to get firewood for their cooking needs. They also unload the "Shallop", a small ( c. 30 ft.) sail boat that was cut up and stowed in the hold. It has been rather bruised in the voyage and will take some time to repair. Having abandoned the troublesome SPEEDWELL in England, the Shallop is the only transportation they'll have once MAYFLOWER leaves them. The women hasten to shore to do the first washing since they boarded. Try and imagine yourself then and there among this crowd at the rail, It's November in Cape Cod, winter is around the corner, you're not where you expected to be, you have no shelter, little food, you are ill and frightened. What would you do ? They get to work..... To me, this is one of the most important lessons we can take from the MAYFLOWER experience, many in this group have set out on a journey of self sufficiency & independence. We've had that first exciting & daunting look at the land we'll make home. It's exciting because we imagine what will come & daunting because we see all the work to come & know it's all on our shoulders. If you are still dreaming of that land & that life or maybe in the process of finding it, remember the pilgrims. They couldn't search real estate sites, drive air conditioned cars to look at land, run to Home Depot for lumber or a box of nails. Yet they built a life that developed into a mighty nation by accepting the challenge fully aware of how hard it might be. They did it by getting to work. It's really that simple- get to work and make it happen.


-Unicoi Ludd

So you think you are a Homesteader Part 10

By Unicoi Ludd

So you think you're a homesteader ?- Lessons from the MAYFLOWER- November 11, 1620. Having abandoned their original goal of settling in the "northern parts of Virginia" near the mouth of the Hudson River, the colonist's have returned to Cape Cod (current Massachusetts). There is much dissatisfaction among the passengers ( less than half of whom are who we think of as "pilgrims" ), because this will put them outside of their agreed & legal land grant. ( unbeknownst to them, the investors in England have persuaded King James to extend a new grant to the company). They will be on disputed territory and back then that was a serious problem! Spain considered all of North & South America theirs and had made no bones about attacking anyone who came uninvited. Other colonist's took the position that, since they were outside the jurisdiction of England, it was every man for themselves. As they approached the anchorage they realize that some form of United action is necessary. Strangers in a strange land, they know they can count only on themselves, so they agree to work together for their mutual benefit and come up with the "Mayflower Compact". I attach the text at the bottom so you can see that it is not some kind of Constitution or Declaration of Independence, just a simple agreement to work together. So what lesson might we take ? ....In any situation involving several people, it's best to set some ground rules. A boat just goes in circles if you don't row together. Whether its business, household chores or a quilting bee everyone needs to understand what the goal is and how to get there. This is especially true of those of us trying to simplify life and "go back to the land". If you're significant other is not on board you're in trouble. Talk about goals and find common ground, otherwise you're doomed to failure.
In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are under-written, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc.

Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the eleventh of November [New Style, November 21], in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620.

John Carver
William Brewster
John Alden
William Mullins
John Craxton
John Howland
John Tilly
Thomas Tinker
John Turner
Digery Priest
Edmond Margeson
Richard Clark
Thomas English
John Goodman

William Bradford
Isaac Allerton
Samuel Fuller
William White
John Billington
Steven Hopkins
Francis Cook
John Rigdale
Francis Eaton
Thomas Williams
Peter Brown
Richard Gardiner
Edward Doten
George Soule

Edward Winslow
Miles Standish
Christopher Martin
James Chilton
Richard Warren
Edward Tilly
Thomas Rogers
Edward Fuller
Moses Fletcher
Gilbert Winslow
Richard Bitteridge
John Allerton
Edward Liester

So you think you are a Homesteader Part 9

So you think you're a homesteader? Lessons from the MAYFLOWER. November 10, 1620- after having buried at sea the first casualty among the colonist's, young William Button, the MAYFLOWER sights land. As I've said before, navigation in this period was something less than a fine art, so actual land fall was the best way to know where they were & where they were was Cape Cod Mass. This presented a problem because their "legal" and agreed upon land was in Virginia. At that time "Virginia" covered a lot of ground, roughly from modern South Carolina to the Hudson River in present New York ! I'll try to cover the behind the scenes Geo-politics in another post, but for now it's enough to know they're not where they're supposed to be. The colonist's insist on turning south and going below the Hudson, after pursuing this course for a half day, they encounter shoals and rough currents and the Master of the ship, Christopher Jones ( a very shady character & experienced pirate ) turns back North. With provisions running out, fuel for cooking almost spent & illness & fatigue bearing down on them, the colonist abandon the idea of Virginia and return to Cape Cod. No one among the colonist's is happy about placing themselves outside their agreed upon lands but reality forces the decision. So what's the lesson ? We all have hopes & dreams for our homestead, who doesn't want a thousand acres with a river, broad fields of rock free top soil and woodland full of game ? Reality intrudes on dreams with financial constraints, jobs & relatives that tie us to an area etc. . It's not about giving up on your dream so much as accepting reality and adjusting your dream to fit. I would love to have more acreage but I can't afford it, should I just say "the hell with it" and live in an apartment? More level ground without rocks would be great but it's just not in the cards so I've learned to use the rocks I clear and I use my tractor to grade out more flat. Don't give up- adapt !!

-Unicoi Ludd

So you think you are a Homesteader Part 8

So you think you're a homesteader?- Lessons from the MAYFLOWER.... When last we saw them the passengers of the MAYFLOWER were welcoming the arrival of Oceanus Hopkins and an improvement of the weather. In the 1600's navigation was somewhat uncertain, mariners had a reasonably good idea how far North or South they were but were very unsure of how Far East or West, so land fall was a guess. They've been sailing for 2 months now and although they were certainly glad of a new baby & improved conditions the harshness of the voyage is wearing them down. On November 6th the second death on board occurs, the first of a colonist. A young man named William Button dies and is buried at sea on the 7th. What Master Button dies of is unclear, but we do know that many of the passengers have suffered sea sickness through out the voyage. If you've ever been sea sick you'll know how miserable it is and the nausea, poor conditions and food may have been too much for young William Button. How did this first death of one of their friends affect the colonist's ? Not knowing how far from land they were, did they wonder who else would die before reaching the New World ? Did they watch the dwindling food & drink and ask if any would survive ? These were very religious people for the most part, perhaps they simply trusted in God to carry them through. William Button was consigned to the sea November 7th. The next day the first signs of land were seen. I wonder about William Button, was he called Bill, Billy or Will ? What were his hopes for a new life in a new land? We'll never know, he didn't make it but in a strange way I think his end wasn't so bad. He died pursuing a new and better life. So what lesson do I take from this ? None of us know when our last hour will be, so why not chase that dream ? If you've always wanted to live free from society, go for it ! You'll die one day, why not while chasing that dream?

-Unicoi Ludd

So you think you are a Homesteader Part 7

So you think you're a homesteader ? Lessons from the MAYFLOWER -Our intrepid colonist's have been at sea for almost 2 months now, cramped, wet & cold. They've had their share of trouble and continue to persevere towards their goal. The rough weather in the North Atlantic continues and I imagine there are many of them questioning their decision to join this adventure. But as always, life goes on. In the horrible passenger space, tiny, damp, cold & foul smelling, Mistress Elizabeth Hopkins, wife of Stephen Hopkins goes, in the grim but accurate phrase of the day- to meet her doom. She gives birth to a son whom they name "Oceanus" in a charming nod to their circumstances. Shortly after the weather turns fair & sunny and given the devout nature of many passengers must have been seen as a sign from God. The lesson here is, I think more philosophical than practical. We all go through hard times & stormy weather. If the goal is important to you, weather the storms, keep pushing forward and remember that no storm lasts forever. Life does go on-the sun will come back out and truly where there is life there is hope.

-Unicoi Ludd

So you think you are a Homesteader Part 6 A-B

So you think you're a homesteader ? Lessons from the Mayflower- when last we saw them, the colonist's on the Mayflower seemed to have put their troubles behind them. They were rid of the troublesome "Speedwell", the weather was ideal & their health good. They were having smooth sailing, literally. Yes they had sold some of their provisions, were much later in the year than they had planned and were terribly overcrowded, but things were looking up. But now nature shows her teeth as the weather turns. "Fierce storms" & "westerly gales" hammer this tiny ship alone in the North Atlantic. Mayflower is "shrewdly shaken" by the battering to such an extent that one of her Main cross beams is broken and the loosened decking allows water to pour into the passenger deck. They are at the mid point of their voyage, it's as far back as it is forward with no sign of the fierce weather improving. The ships carpenter & crew can see no way to repair the beam but the colonist's come up with a solution. They have "a great iron scrue", probably for a printing press. ( they have been printing anti Anglican Church pamphlets). Using the tremendous leverage of this screw they are able to lift the main beam back into position and shore it up with timber so well that the Master of the Mayflower declares her fit to continue the voyage. The lesson here is, sometimes it takes a fresh pair of eyes to see a solution. If you can't see how to do something ask someone! And don't be afraid to see things not for what they are supposed to be, but for what they can do.

Part 6B

So you think you're a homesteader ? Lessons from the Mayflower- it's been an eventful month for the crew & passengers of the Mayflower ! They've been at sea for a month now after many false starts & problems, the fair weather they had enjoyed has turned very nasty. So rough that a main cross beam has been broken and only the can-do attitude of the colonist's enabled repairs to be made. Now these +/- 100 people are huddled in the 1200 sq.ft. Passenger space, cold & soaking wet. The continuing storms offering no relief, one man named "John Howland" ventures on deck for reasons not recorded, my guess is he just needed a break from the cramped, cold, wet deck. Howland is an ordinary guy, not a " separatist " but a servant, and employee of John Carver. As he arrives on deck, the heave and roll of the storm swept deck send him flying overboard and into a churning ocean. 99 times out of 100 that would be the last we heard, but this time, John Howland, ordinary schlub, is able to grab a rope that should never have been there. A "topsail halyard" that should have been neatly stowed is trailing behind the ship and he grabs on. Crew on deck saw him go overboard and haul him back in with that line he's clinging to. He will live another 53 years because he held on. The lesson ? When you get to the end of your rope, HANG ON! When things look bad, don't give up, keep your eyes open for the rope that shouldn't be there. Help can come when you least expect it and you're only beaten when you quit.


-Unicoi Ludd

So you think you are a Homesteader Part 5

So you think you're a homesteader? Lessons from the "Mayflower"- When we last saw her, "Mayflower" had taken on passengers & cargo from her abandoned consort "Speedwell". At this point she has more than made up the distance lost returning to Plymouth, England and has enjoyed nearly perfect sailing weather on the journey to America. One crewman has died of a "grievous disease", but otherwise the voyage is going well. On board the "Mayflower" are about 102 passenger/ colonist's and possibly 30 crewman. On a ship about 100 ft. Long & 25 ft. Wide at maximum! A little crowded you think? It gets better, the deck for the passengers is approximately 50 ft. Long x 25 ft. Wide with a "ceiling" height of 5 ft. !! So do the math, that's 102 +\- people in a space of 1250 sq. ft. 5 ft. High. Living, sleeping & cooking in that space. All their food & equipment for starting a new life in a new world in the cargo hold below. The lesson ? Following you're dream can be damn hard, you may well have to put up with some discomfort & danger to reach your goal. Don't bitch and moan about it, suck it up and keep moving forward to your dream.

-Unicoi Ludd