TraRay

@TraRay@regenerate.social

Writer. Mother. Farmer's wife. Student of Life. Milker of cows.

✨English ✨ Español ✨

#farming #organic #sustainability #agroecology
#regenerativefarming
#sustainableagriculture
#writingcommunity #nonfiction #freelancewriter #blogger

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TraRay, to VegetableGardening

Our farm is pretty isolated and we don't get many visitors. When we do, I always feel a fresh sense of inspiration and motivation to keep doing what we do.

Farm tours allow us to explain the philosophies that guide us while showing what they look like in action. It's an opportunity to talk about the evolution of systems and our hope for the future. Seeing other people's appreciation for and interest in what we do is incredibly validating.

A cacao plant poking through the weeds.
Michael explaining to our visitors about the plans for a certain part of the property.

nancylwayne, to mastodon
@nancylwayne@mastodon.social avatar

It’s and here’s some people I've enjoyed talking with over the past two weeks on (no repeats):

David @DavidPB – Allotment life, mostly no dig raised beds, and chickens, too
mizblueprint @mizblueprint – architect, gardener, retired politician, dog and twin mom
nellie-m @nellie_m -- chicken keeper, dog lover, photo enthusiast, seed saver, writer, publisher, and more
Lydia Schoch @lydiaschoch –science fiction author, social media assistant, and rabbit admirer

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TraRay,

@nancylwayne @rustoleumlove @drhettie

Thanks for the mention and your other recommendations! 🙏

TraRay, to VegetableGardening

Not a banana, not a plantain - this is a topocho (at least that's what they're called in Venezuela).

So what do we do with a glut of ripe topochos? Dry them down, of course. Dehydrating fruit is one of the best ways to preserve flavor and nutritional value. Plus, they taste divine. I actually enjoy eating them dried down more than fresh off the plant!

Dried topochos, ready for snacking.
Topochos sliced up in the dehydrator.

TraRay,

@grb090423 yes and no. They're definitely family but have other tones of flavor like apple and mango all mixed together.

TraRay,

@Brendanjones They're absolutely a musa - we believe they are m. paradisiaca.

TraRay, to permaculture

The latest harvest of #corn is hung up to dry down. Eventually it will get milled into cornmeal, but first we get to admire its gorgeous colors!

#Permaculture #Agroecology #Gardening #Organic #Farming #Homesteading

TraRay,

@nancylwayne aren't the colors amazing! 😻

TraRay, to nature

Beautiful, but not to be touched. Without meaning to, my partner just wrapped his hand around this badass . His workday ended immediately. He said it felt like 10 simultaneous scorpion stings. 😱

Anyone know what kind of or this might turn into? For reference, we're in the Andean region of western Venezuela.

TraRay, to VegetableGardening

Just some thoughts...

TraRay,

@rysiek I've not heard of that book, so thanks for the recommendation! I just looked it up, and it looks fascinating!

TraRay, to permaculture

If I've learned anything in Venezuela, it's to let go of all those consumerist notions of what things should look like.

Rather than be impressed with the latest and greatest technologies, or share-worthy design and layout, people down here (at least en el campo) ohh and ahh over a person's inventiveness, creativity, and ability to improvise with the materials at hand.

TraRay, to gardening

From a pile of broom corn sorghum to a beautiful handmade broom.

A pile of recently harvested broom corn.
The finished broom, beautifully multicolored.

TraRay, to gardening

Can I recommend a not-so-quick to read but highly worthwhile article from one of my favorite blogs?

The Foundations of

https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com/p/the-foundations-of-agroecology?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share

I wish I had the time, energy, and focus to pull together such thought provoking, informative, and necessary content, and I am SO glad this guy Andy does. If you want to understand more about the philosophy that drives everything we do on the , read this.

TraRay, to gardening

Inspired by questions and comments about our pig pasture system, I thought I'd share a picture of the current plantings we've got coming in.

Two pastures have been planted out with a multicolored dent corn. As that corn dies out, the climbing beans that are just starting to take off will take over their stalks. At the ground level, volunteer tomatoes, squash, and even a watermelon are sprawling about. In more bare patches where the corn didn't thrive potatoes have been planted.

TraRay, to gardening

These tomatoes are a product of Fukuoka's #DoNothingFarming method.

They are harvested from volunteer plants that pop up in the weeds growing in our pig pasture plantings. We carefully seed our pig's slops with our favorite rustic local varieties, some of which have been developed here on our farm.

Every week we harvest pots and pots from seed that our pigs worked into the soil. How awesome is that?

#NaturalFarming #RegenerativeAgriculture #Organic #gardening #Agroecology

TraRay, to VegetableGardening

After a three month break, I have decided to return to #blogging – just with a different attitude. I'm still trying to find my voice, but I've taken a lot of pressure off myself to do so on any given timeline.

For anyone who cares to read, here's the link.

#farming #family #balance #RealLife

https://traciraymond.com/2023/07/08/balancing-farm-life-and-blogging/

TraRay, to random

This week we had a mama pig give birth for the first time - which never grows old.

These babies will grow up as pigs should; with their mama and rooting around in the dirt for goodies.

TraRay, to random

Our neighbors brought us two baby toucans rescued from a fallen log. These little dinosaurs are loud and fascinating creatures! We've had them for a few days now and are starting to discover their rhythms for eating and rest, and are feeling more confident we'll be able to successfully raise them to the point they can fly free.

If there are any experts out there who might have some advice, feel free to share. Tips are appreciated!

What a fun adventure!

Two baby toucans stare at the camera. They have the first showings of spindly feathers and their exposed skin is easily visible.

TraRay, to Venezuela Spanish

.

My life partner and I live on a 13 hectare in rural . We raise dairy cows, heritage breed creole pigs, chickens, geese, fish, and children.

My partner attends to the and I and revel in the .

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