is it spring yet?

… or are we observing a climatic anomaly?

I will let those who regard themselves as experts spend time on back-and-forth arguments about climate changes. I am more into saving us, and nature, from modern forms of pollution and exploitation, than worrying about varying solar activity and rising CO₂ levels.

If we are to follow advices from the most talkative and cited “experts”, we will be forced to choke on industrial garbage and be tortured by long lines of disastrous, politically backed, “solutions” to the proclaimed crisis, or we will be slowly drowned by rising sea level while being cooked under a manmade greenhouse cover. Oh joy…
Not my kind of scenario, so those who believe the above is how we should “save the earth” will have to go about it without my help.

locally

At the old farm we are more or less back to business as usual, after half a decade pause. We are still feeding our heifers silage and other goodies twice a day – as we have done through the winter, as what little grass that is growing now in late March is at best snack between meals for them. The animals have been outdoors all winter, and I don't think they mind the least that the snow is more or less gone in the area.

It is wonderful to be able to communicate closely with our four-legged partners while feeding them and making sure that they all are in good condition and mood. Those heifers may seem a bit lazy just laying around, but why bother to search for food when they get all they need delivered in front of their noses twice a day.

Our plans for the farm are still hampered and delayed by plans to build a road through the area, but once all fences are in place our heifers will have quite an area to roam on. All fits into what is known as “extensive farming”, which is the most animal- and nature-friendly way to farm ever invented, and also – for those interested in such matters – the most economic.

personally

Well, by now I know that heart attacks really suck, as I had a whole series of attacks from early December into the new year caused by partly blocked coronary arteries. As I could barely breathe because of the lung edema caused by the last attacks, I couldn't even enjoy the night-time helicopter flight as I was rushed to the hospital for lifesaving treatment. But, now the stents are in place and the cabinet is filled with pills, and the old pump seems to work reasonably well.

A few days after the last heart attack and surgery, I had to make another trip to the hospital. This time with what turned out to be a mild stroke affecting my right side – blood clot most likely stemming from the stent-inserting surgery ended up in my brain. Reduced sensation and control of movements in my right hand and side at first, but all is pretty much OK again now a few months later.

The above gave us a kind of rough start on the new year, although those heart attacks scared my wife more than me, I think. After all, I was kind of busy throughout the entire ordeal.
I most certainly could have done without the experience of drowning in my own lungs while desperately gasping for air, or feel my hand/arm go to sleep all by itself. However, shit happens, and not all of it can be blamed on stupid politicians.

sincerely georg; sign

Hageland 27.mar.2019
last rev: 27.apr.2019

glimpses – winter/spring 2018-19

Snow-covers may look good on pictures…

… but whether there's anything else good about it on a farm can be disputed. Once the white stuff is gone things get so much better.

Now all we need is higher temperatures and CO₂ levels, and some rain, to promote grass-growth.

changes vs preservations…

As sworn technocrat I see no point in replacing wellworking solutions with experimental ones on a grand scale. The latest is rarely ever the greatest, and both technological and behavioral changes should be allowed to evolve naturally rather than be enforced.

Enforcing “new” solutions may be good for someone's business account, but it is rarely ever good for society.
Also; locals nearly always know best what is best for them, and big business people and career polititians rarely ever understand or care about anything but lining their own pockets and prop up their status among others of the same kind.

To the degree that changes are necessary at all, remember that big changes that really matter come as a result of lots of various small changes. We don't need anyone to stand above us and dictate, as we as individuals and groups know better than any outsider.

waste not, want not…

You have heard the saying inn that headline before, but that doesn't make it less useful. Unless you know someone you are dying to impress – which you most likely will have minimal success with anyway, refurbishing and/or filling your environment with new gadgets all the time is mainly all for show with no audience.

Making the most out of what one already got, and only add replacements for failing and missing items, makes most sense both economically and environmentally. Might not lead to ovations from less smart people and those who fail to sell us the “latest and greatest solutions”, but life is so much better without those around anyway.

My personal stand is that I don't care how fat my bank accounts are, as, if I don't need it I'm not gonna buy it whatever it is. Not even what's free, or what I may get paid to receive, is of interest unless I really need it, as unnecessary items and services tend to just take up space and attention I can find better uses for.
I also only support what makes perfect sense to me, regardless of what others may think and/or argue either way.

external distractions

old wisdom worth keeping in mind…

It is better to stand and fight. If you run, you'll only die tired.
— A Viking Saying