Bedlam Farm Blog Journal by Jon Katz

8 December

Dan And His Advisors: The Compost Toilet Is Almost Ready

by Jon Katz

Dan Rogers spent the morning finishing up on the new compost bathroom. He put in a lamp, wired it up, and installed a ventilation pump to carry any order through the attic and outside the house.

He also finished the door frame and is ready to work on the old outhouse door we found in the barn.

He’s coming back on Wednesday. The dogs came upstairs several times to check out the work. They seem pleased, and fortunately, Dan is a dog lover.

Tomorrow, we can work on learning how to use the compost toilet. I ordered some bricks of compressed Coconut Coir to use as an absorbent and odor killer. Over the weekend, Maria will study the booklet and learn how to use the toilet.

We can use it now, and this toilet looks like a good idea. It will give us an upstairs bathroom to use at night, it will be lit and ventilated and will use no water and very little electricity. It’s supposed to be odor and water-free.

Good for us, good for the climate. We’ve got strong bleach and cleansing sprays to keep it clean. The Coconut Coir is supposed to absorb any odor.

It also offers reassurance and safety in case of a fall on those stairs at night. I did that once, rushing down the stairs to get to the bathroom. It won’t happen again.

Dan did an excellent job, quickly and inexpensively. He’s a good man to boot. Dan is also working to finish Casey Page’s horse wagon renovation for her breakfast cart.

8 December

More Christmas Magic From Sue Silverstein’s Bishop Gibbns Aft Whizzes, Thanks For The Donations That Made It Possible

by Jon Katz

We visited Sue Silverstein and her young art brigades a couple of weeks ago. We brought her some white birch bark that fell off our old white birch tree, too.

Sue has a genius for turning discarded objects into art. When her students have finished their assignments, they are free to choose their own art.

Anyone who as discarded objects to send can do so: Sue Silverstein, 2502 State Route 22, Cambridge, N.Y. 12308.

I know Sue well enough to assume she would take the barks and use them to spark some art. She sent me this photo this morning, and one of her students decided to turn the bark into a beautiful Christmas tree.

The kids are having a creative and joyous Christmas thanks to you and your donations.

Sue also taught “Perspective,” ways to show and paint in multiple dimensions. Two of the perspective paintings are below:

Here, students are surely learning how to paint and to create perspective in their paintings. I love the color and imagination in these two.

7 December

Color And Light, As Promised. The Real Task Of Life. Coming Home To Myself.

by Jon Katz

Sometimes, I think the real task of life is moving one step at a time until I come to a place that feels just like home, someplace I belong and feel safe and fulfilled.

In one sense, it isn’t about reading something learning something, or pondering something. It’s just about doing it,  It’s all about a vocation, I think, a way of coming home to myself. I think I am at home, and coming home to myself. It’s about time.

See you in the morning.

7 December

Me And My Shadow, In A Funk Taking A Break

by Jon Katz

For years now, I’ve been taking afternoon walks around the farm, but things are different now. I seem to have a shadow. Zinnia often follows me, but now Zip follows me closely; he seems drawn to picture-taking.

It’s cold, and I’m tired and down today. I’m not sure why I am in such a foul mood, it might be that my much loved primary care nurse is leaving the practice, or it might be a visit from the Black Dog.

It’s also a black day; the sun sinks quickly in the late afternoon.

I’m going to be with another doctor.

Either way, I’m not in any mood to write right now. Those gloomy moments are rare, but they occur. I will read, meditate, listen to music, talk to Maria, and rest.

These are the photos I just took with my Leica.

I’m taking the evening off. I’ll put up a color and light flower, that might help. See you tomorrow.

(Feature photo by Maria)

 

Maria walked up from the rear pasture with the dogs. Bud doesn’t get to go on these walks; he takes off after anything that movies.

It is a very cold day, and the farm is shrouded in an icy mist. Warmer weather tomorrow.

Asher and the sheep are hungry; all the good grass is gone, but the good hay is here.

My Raven lives in the Apple tree and looks out over the pasture. The farm is full of symbols.

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