Who isn’t concerned about the economy right now? If you’re wondering about your best options for taking care of your savings, the New York Times had a great article yesterday with some basic questions and answers for the average person worried about the stock market or bank failures. 

The article is called “Is My Money Safe, And Other Questions to Ask” and you can read it here. It’s a good discussion of how to deal with all the recent economic uncertainty, with specific advice depending on your financial situation (Are you close to retirement? Saving for a child’s college education? Worried about losing your job?) No matter what your personal circumstances, paying down debt if you can, and putting some money aside in FDIC-certified bank accounts seems like a sensible recommendation.

While you’re thinking about money, now is also a good time to strategize about how to save on your heating bills this winter. Check out this article How to Make Your Home Energy Efficient for great tips on simple, inexpensive home improvements that can save energy and slash your utility bills.

Photo by ISTOCKPHOTO

A group of 15 almond and wholesale nut farmers in California have filed a lawsuit against the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for a 2007 regulation requiring them to spray or steam-heat their almonds before selling them to customers. The spray they have to use is propylene oxide, which the EPA classifies as a carcinogen.

The regulation came as a result of two salmonella outbreaks within the past 10 years that the USDA linked to raw almonds from California, though some sources say one of the outbreaks originated largely from one of the bigger almond factory farms in the area.

Family-owned and organic farmers — those hurt most by the mandate — claim it has choked their profits and upset their customers because sprayed or steamed almonds aren’t technically considered “raw” anymore. Their case is based on the opinion that the USDA exceeded its authority and didn’t follow proper procedure to pass the regulation.

Farmers say the USDA should enforce less risky production practices in larger factory farms instead of requiring all farmers to spray their crops.

Read more about this issue here.

For millennia, groups of people have lived and worked together, recognizing that many hands make light work, and the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Around the globe, intentional communities are continuing this legacy and proving that peace, justice and equality can work.

The Fellowship for Intentional Communities, headquartered in Rutledge, Mo., promotes community living and cooperative lifestyles across North America. Community living (commonly known in the 1970s as communes) can take the form of cohousing groups, ecovillages, community networks and intentional communities. The FIC Website, magazine (Communities) and newsletter offer resources, support and communication avenues for people currently living in intentional communities or those who are on the road to discovery of a unique but ancient lifestyle.

And for those on that road to discovery or just on the road, the FIC folks put out the Communities Directory: A Guide to Intentional Communities and Cooperative Living of the hundreds of intentional communities in the U.S. and around the world. In addition to its location, each group included in the directory is identified as to the kind of community it is – urban, rural, single sex, kids, no kids, leadership style and more. The Directory, which is updated every couple of years, also includes articles on   community finance, government and legal structures.

Everyone has their own opinion of the new farm bill, also known as the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008. But most of us will concede that while outrageous subsidy payments to the largest of producers once again evaded cuts, drawing further indignation from the World Trade Organization (and prompting threats of trade sanctions against us), the legislation contained some heartening support for many environmental and conservation initiatives. 

Was that all just a ploy to divert our attention from the subsidies and get the bill passed? That may be the case — the Environmental Working Group reported recently that Congress is now planning to introduce a bill that will cut millions in funding for these conservation-related programs, on a state-by-state basis. Click here to see whose slice of the pie is shrinking, and by how much.

OK, we know all about the genetically engineered corn, rice and soybeans, but a GE cow? It’s true, the FDA is taking public comment on the regulation of altering animal DNA in an attempt to increase their resistance to diseases such as BSE and produce healthier food products, such as meat with increased levels of omega-3 fatty acids. That doesn’t sound that bad, does it? But wait, that’s not all: Scientists also want to alter animals’ genetics to make them more susceptible to diseases that affect humans (such as cancer) for the purpose of research. How about a hypoallergenic pet? That’s also on the table. Need an organ transplant? We’ll have an animal that’s been engineered for that, too. They’re even wanting animals to produce human pharmaceuticals such as insulin. 

If these animals are approved for the food system (they’re not, yet), the FDA states plainly that it will not be required to label the products that contain them. 

Read more about the proposal and make your comments here.  

When I lived in downtown Knoxville walking to the grocery store was common practice. It was only a few blocks from my apartment, so if I ever needed a few things I could either hoof it with a canvas bag or opt to take my bike (which was outfitted with an array of baskets.) Of course, most of you folks already do this. But there are more alternatives to plastic grocery bags than you realize, and some of them are asleep on your couch right now.

If you have a large dog loafing at home while you peddle to the store — you're both missing out on some serious useful exercise. Dogs have been used for thousands of years to haul sleds, pull carts, and yes, even carry groceries. Your dog can be of use too with the right training and gear. Enter the dog pack.

Dog packs are saddlebags used mostly for backpacking and hiking.They aren't burdensome loads but specially made items ergonomically formed to your dog's body. A healthy dog can easily carry a quarter of his weight. So if you have an 80-pound Labrador at home, that's 20 extra pounds of groceries you could be taking home while he gets decent walk. And that 20 pounds might be the breaking point between taking the Schwinn or taking the car. If you can employ the bored, save some gas, and spend time with your best friend, why not dog pack?

If your new to all this working dog business make sure you do some research before jumping in. Be certain to buy your dog's pack from a reputable outfitter like Ruffwear or the wonderful people at Wolfpacks. Kelty also makes a great little pack called the Chuckwagon, and all can be ordered online. What you don't want are those big cheap generic "dog packs" for sale at chain pet stores. A proper pack needs to carry weight the same way a sleddog pulls, in his chest and shoulders and not across his back.

When you get the pack, introduce it to your dog slowly. Put it on him without anything in it every single time you go outside for a walk or the dog park. In a few weeks he'll associate his pack with a great time. Which is exactly what you want from a happy working house pet.

Besides the obvious benefits of padding to the grocery store together, there are subtler ones too. Walking with a dog opens you up to other locals. People just seem more friendly when you've got a dog with you. Strangers who wouldn't normally talk to you strike up conversations. I'm a firm believer that good dogs build communities, and even the best cars cut us off from them. And unlike bikes, a dog can maneuver through a city crowd or farmer's market with ease. I've had my dogs both packing behind me in busy markets unbeknownst to vendors and crowds. When I unzip a pack and load it up with carrots, people say "Well, there's an idea!" and my dogs agree.

Jenna Woginrich is the author of the forthcoming book, Made from Scratch: Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life, from Storey Publishing. Visit her Web site at coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com.

You don't have to be a gardener to encounter big spiders this time of year, because they're everywhere you look, including inside your house. Your bathtub may seem to be a favorite hangout, but more likely your tub's surface is so slick that spiders who venture in cannot get out. 

We acknowledge that the spiders in the shower scene from Arachnophobia appear to climb out of the tub and up the shower curtain, but those were not your average spiders. The movie star arachnids were a large yet gentle species from New Zealand.

It's okay to kill spiders that come into your house. Most are wandering males whose days are numbered anyway. Or, you can catch and release them. Cover the spider with a jar, slip a stout piece of paper or card under the opening, and head for the door. If you are one of the millions of people who panic over indoor spiders, you may want to look into a special vacuum just for bugs. Better yet, get your kid a Turbo Bug Vacuum and let them do the dirty work.

As for those big orb-weaving spiders on your deck, don't be too quick to sweep them away. One of the reasons why black-and-yellow writing spiders (above left) prefer porches is that they offer shelter for the tough cocoons. Eggs hatch in late fall (at about the time the mother dies), but remain in the cocoon until spring.

Don't worry that allowing common web-weavers like the yellow jacket-eating marbled orb weaver (at right) hang out beneath your eaves now will lead to spider overload in the spring. More likely, the spiderlings will throw out a bit of web that works like an air balloon, providing a lofty ride to better habitat, like your garden. Carnivorous to the core, spiders eat countless pest insects.

Photos by Barbara Pleasant

Related Reading

Learning to Like Spiders 

Spiders in Your Backyard Jungle

Soon, you’ll be seeing a new label on fresh meat, poultry, fish, fruits and vegetables, peanuts and certain nuts in your supermarket. Country of origin labeling will be mandatory beginning Sept. 30, with a few exceptions. Click here for a report from Consumers Union that includes the good and bad news about the new rule, as well as which products require labels and which do not. What do you think? Victory for consumers everywhere, or pointless strain on processors?

We are planning to downsize – move into a one-story bungalow in one of the city's historical areas. Smaller house, smaller yard, smaller footprint all around. Of course, we must sell our house first. But we are bumping up against a selling problem we never expected – we seem to have too many gardens!

I guess I shouldn’t be all that surprised. In the last five years I have attended hundreds of open houses, looking for that just-right little property. And I realize in all that time I have seen only one actual vegetable garden. Oh – there were a few tomatoes plants growing next to a house and some herbs bordering patios, but actual vegetable gardens? Only one! Don’t’ you find that amazing? I do!

So, back to my house - last weekend at the open house a prospective buyer walked out on the patio and said, “Oh my, who takes care of all of this?” Now understand, my backyard is all of 35 by 100 feet. There is a lovely water garden, some flower gardens bordering the fence, a 15 by 25 foot veggie garden and the rest is grass. We’re not talking about acres of market garden to care for. The upshot of all this seems to be that fewer people view gardening as a pleasant pastime. How sad!  

I take such pleasure in watching the yard redecorate with the seasons. Flowers come and go, leaves pass from green to yellow to brown, the grass shimmers when it rains and is a clean slate after a snowfall. And I have the privilege of participating in this cinematic drama with each seed and bulb I plant. Gardens are good for the soul.

Our new blogger, Jenna Woginrich, has recently acquired a small flock of sheep, which she reported on this week in her homesteading blog, "Give Fleece a Chance." Jenna eventually plans many uses for the sheep, including harvesting wool, from which to knit lovely winter scarves.

Have you ever thought of how much work it must have been for our ancestors who spun, wove and sewed all their clothing from wool, flax and cotton? It’s really amazing, when you realize how easily we acquire our clothing today. Imagine knitting all your socks and undergarments from the cotton you spun into thread.

Since we don’t have to produce all that we wear, we have the luxury of choosing to learn how to spin the yarn for and knit unique scarves and sweaters from wool we might even shear ourselves. The back-to-the-landers of the 1970s emulated the early settlers and gave new life to many of the hand crafts that colonists and pioneers relied on. Spinning, knitting and weaving were high on their self-sufficiency skills list.

If you have a yearning to work with lanolin-rich wool, check out these articles from our archive on hand spinning wool and making a spinning wheel from a bicycle wheel. You may not spin enough to knit a sweater, but in a few hours you can make enough yarn to knit a pot holder or tea cozy.

To find the right wool for spinning, contact your local 4-H folks. And a fabric or yarn store can steer you towards spinning and knitting classes in your area.

So folks, I am finally a shepherd. After years of hype — the hooves have landed. Cold Antler Farm now hosts a small flock of Border Leicester/Romney crosses named Sal, Marvin and Maude. Their purpose is to teach me the basics of all things sheep. Under their watchful eyes I'll learn to trim hooves, birth lambs, and turn the wool on their backs into scarves around my neck. I'll know I made it in this world when I can go out on a beautiful crisp October morning and feed the sheep adorned in the fashions they sported last season. My goals are pretty simple people.

I'll also be using them to train a border collie to herd (a whole other world I can barely keep myself from diving into.) Since I'm getting into all this sheep business without farmhands or a fleet of ATVs, a working dog will be my saving grace when the flock gets too large for a girl with a stick to sort through. Hopefully by the time my future farm happens, he'll be revved and ready to go for some serious practical herding work. And while that future puppy isn't in my life just yet, I am on the lookout for strong herding lines in future litters all over America. With the help of mentors in the North East Border Collie Association — I'll find my sheepdog, train him, and before you know it be out in the trial fields, crook in one hand and lead in the other. Okay, so not all of my goals are simple.

So far, shepherding has already taught me some valuable lessons. Lessons like, sheep aren't the stupid animals people constantly tell me they are. (If you get sheep, expect to hear how dumb they are within 27.8 seconds of people finding out.) But regardless of the stereotypes, Marvin learned how to unhinge the gate and lead his flock to freedom in no time. (I'm not sure I would've figured out the gate that fast.) I’ve also learned about the heaviness of sheep hooves when they step on your feet, and that grain rustled about a coffee can start a stampede. I learned that taking a nap on a sunny afternoon out in the pasture with them can be a meditation on the all. But it’s a meditation grounded in reality, because if your siesta happens to be in the way of some good foraging, you'll be woken up by a cold snout nudging you out of the way.

My advice to any future shepherds out there is to do your homework. Before I had any woolies on the farm I did some serious research. I bought and read a small library of books, attended weekend workshops, visited shepherds and sheepdog trials, and talked with neighbors about the upcoming flock. Because of this I was prepared for some of the potential problems, and it insured a happier group of sheep when they finally arrived. I am in no way an expert, and have more to learn than I care to admit, but at least their shelter faces the right direction and their winter hay is stocked up in the garage. I know what it’s like to be excited and want to just jump in head first (trust me), but for the basic fairness for you and the animals, crack a book. But hey, if you find out a few farm visits later that sheep are for you too, I’ll see you in the fields!

Jenna Woginrich is the author of the forthcoming book,  Made from Scratch: Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life, from Storey Publishing. Visit her Web site at coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com.