Solidarity with Ukraine

I am sorry. I have no pretty pictures to post tonight. Even if I did, I will not cheapen this moment in history by talking about happy things and the smell of baking bread. Sorry. I don’t have that level of callousness in me. So, at least for this post… No pretty pictures. The world is burning down because a dictator suffering from a bad case of covid crazy, is busy trying to kill his neighbors. I try not to be political here. But I don’t sanitize this blog completely. Before I did homesteading, I studied many things including music, and also archaeology. To be true to myself, I must make a note of this moment. It is a very very very important one, that culd in theory lead to world war 3. One day, people will ask about this moment. Where were you? I am at home on my farm. Watching on the news, in horror. Waiting for already high prices to rise even more. And ya know… I have no concern for myself, I am fine, not worried about the hurt I might feel when I have to pay at the pump. My concern is for the Ukrainian people. A people, who have only ever sought to live freely, in peace. Tonight, their neighbors are preying upon them after one of the most disgusting and irrational betrayals in human history. Tonight, Ukrainians, are being loaded into body bags, as they respond to protect their families from direct assault by Russian soldiers that have invaded.
Ukraine, is no longer safe, a problem for the whole world as we all live on Ukraine’s bread basket. The effects of this will be felt on a wealth of levels and in a wide range of ways. I am nausious while I contemplate the effects this moment in history will have not just on Ukraine, but on the entire world. What is happening now will be felt for a long time to come. So much suffering. And why? And perhaps most importantly… Who will be next, if Putin, truly is trying to rebuild the Soviet Union, to it’s glory days.

Here at Wildflower, we have been watching this horror show unfold since it began… We didn’t want to believe this could really happen. Because then we have to ask… Who will the lunatic running Russia, go after next? For us… It is a huge question and a deeply troubling one. Some may know I call my husband Dr. Farmer Moomin. I went with Moomin, for a reason. It is a cartoon from Finland. My husband was born in a nation that was once invaded by Russia back during world war 2. Of course, the last time Finland was under threat from Russia was world war II. Dr Farmer Moomin, wasn’t alive back then. He and I have only known Finland as the wonderful autonomous, sweet, intellectually astute, slightly socialist, kind place, that it has been for the entirity of our lives. We have never had reason to ask what if. Not until now. Like Ukraine, Finland shares a large border with Russia. Now, we have no choice but to ask what now.

I am very troubled by this moment. It is difficult to watch. So, solidarity Ukraine. I am sorry there is nothing I am able to do to be of some value to you in this moment. While civilians are murdered by Russian troops and children hide in subways… I can’t imagine being in such a situation myself. On this farm, we do not sleep well. We worry about what the future holds for our family remaining in Finland. Because, who knows what this Russian maniac will do next? I used to believe the nut in North Korea, was the crazy we should all be worrying about. But yeh, no, Putin, just proved me wrong. The true crazy has been in The Kremlin all along.

My heart goes out to the people of Ukraine. I am so very sorry for what you are facing tonight. I hear my president saying no troops will be deployed… I can understand his position. I don’t think he is wrong, I am sorry he is not wrong. I think we have militias in this nation… Militias not controlled by the government. Groups that have spent the past few years rattling their sabers ranting like crazies as crazy as Russia, about fake elections and being ruled by a dictator… And to them, I say… You want to fight a dictator? There is one invading the Ukraine, our government can’t send in troops. But you, you are not troops. Get off your dead asses, and go put all that nonsense you have been practicing for years to use somewhere that needs your help. I suspect my saying that will have no effect though. Because little boys like to play gorilla soldier when they don’t actually have to risk their lives to do it. But when they do… Then, they are of no value in the moments that need them the most.

How is tonight impacting me? Well, already this page has been targeted by more than 3 interesting efforts through our comments section, that appeared to me to be something nefarious. I am guessing blogs and businesses all across the US are getting hit with such efforts. We are so small we are not worth anyone’s time. So why I have gotten such “out reach” escapes me. But since I have, I decided why stay quiet? This could be the start of world war III, especially if China, goes after a certain other Asian nation… Then we are all on a sinking ship together. Which is one of the reasons, this moment needs to be marked with a post like this one. I never thought this moment could happen in my lifetime… First Covid dropped, and now the other shoe has fallen also… We don’t have many shoes left to drop. The world is running out.

Solidarity Ukraine.
The whole world is watching and no one agrees with what is happening to you.
Keep fighting.
Go to Poland, go to Romania, go to the nations beside you.
Get out to safety.
Then, if you want to come here, our B&B will be open to as many as we can comfortably house.
No charge.
You are not alone. And you may not be the last on Putin’s demented hit list.
Stay strong.
Amanda of Wildflower Farm

Tags: World peace

About wildflowerfarm

Wildflower Farm, is a small New England homestead, B&B and AirBnB, in the Baystate. We came out here 7 years ago, when we returned from the better part of 10 years as peripatetic aristotelian nomads, for my husband's post docs. Upon our return, we had a plan. We had a lovely home. Everything was so clear. Then, I got sick. Things I used to eat all the time during our travels elsewhere in the world and even here before I left almost 10 years earlier made me ill. It took a couple trips to the ER and a trip to specialist... It became clear, something had changed in the way food is processed in this country since last I lived here. Some off label things was inevitably going to be my demise.

My husband and I looked around to see the clear path we were on, had exploded in front of us. We decided we had to create a new path for ourselves. We put children on hold. We found a small piece of land with a house we loved in a rural suburb in a right to farm area. I began researching how to do it ourselves. Grow it ourselves, make it ourselves, survive on our own as much as possible. We bought the property, and began plotting a new course. One that didn't involve off label chemicals. Closer to nature, with a lot more DIY, gardens, and animals for the products they provide. We created a life we loved though it hasn't always been easy and has of course come with compromise with each other, and even with ourselves.

Our family thought we had lost our minds. What were we doing leaving the city? We had no idea how hard this would be. They thought we would be back in 6 months. That was over 7 years ago, now. We have been making it work. They were not wrong, it isn't easy. But has anything worth doing ever been easy? And for us, avoiding as much store bought food as possible was simply necessary so I could live given how sick I was getting.

Then Covid hit.... We were lucky to have this place. It has allowed us a lot less need for public use territories which has kept us a lot safer and spared us much of the risk others face daily. This place, has given us a privilege through this of great meaning to us. To be of use in a difficult time. We have been able to help friends family and even strangers in need when things couldn't be found on store shelves. Or money was tight due to not working, rent being due and a child at home, or some other draining situation. We are so very grateful to have been able to not be helpless like so much of society through this miserable time. Our families, got used to it some time ago, us being out here. They made peace with it the day there was no bread and they had to ask me for some. Or when fresh vegies were rotten due to supply chain issues but they could find plenty in my garden.

Wildflower Farm, was a place I dreamed of. One of those sweet pastoral dreams a city dweller grows up knowing will never come true, that became unavoidable when I became ill. I never expected to get to do this. I never thought I had what it takes to make this work. I have learned pacing myself is important, compromise is critical, hard work never ends, burn out is real so breaks are just a necessary evil.

We are not fully self sufficient, but we work hard in that direction as we create a new path through life for ourselves, always reaching to do even more ourselves and to get closer to the ideal we envision. We are however far more self sufficient than many in this world. 7 years in, we continue to learn and grow in this homesteading lifestyle. We welcome comments and advice and ideas and questions.

We welcome visitors from all over to our home with strict covid policies in place. We spend our time learning to live all over again in a more environmental and sustainable way though even there we are far from perfect always learning and growing doing better as we know better.

This little homestead farm is a magical place named for the New England wildflowers that grow all around. A place where a physicist, watches the night sky on clear nights with the aide of mirror and glass, and a woman, works endlessly in the gardens, the kitchen, and a variety of projects to create and to keep a very unique life style running and functioning. Wildflower Farm, has become so much more than simply a piece of land we can grow a few vegetables on. The longer I spend here, the more alive the land seems, the more I learn about it's function and the more meaning it has. My place in the universe and the next steps on our new path become ever more clear.

We welcome you on this journey with us.

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Solidarity with Ukraine

Solidarity with Ukraine

About wildflowerfarm

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