Inside cover of SFJ

[Andre]

Wow, I never intended to put down Lynn or his journal.
I own almost every book he has written. Including The Glass Horse, which is a good read. I was just thinking that was an odd choice for the first thing you see when you open it.
Offended,, I’m not that guy.
In todays world it should probably say ITS NOT THE PIGS FAULT.
Sorry if I upset anyone

[Gabe Ayers]

Healing Harvest Forest Foundation is supporting the Small Farms Conservancy idea as much as possible or as much as we know how.

Our support is personal as a life time subscriber since 1975-6 and as a member of the community of interest.

Since we have been a 501c3 for over a decade we have supported the development of this new concept through referrals to our law firm that helped us get started in this rare position and status of being a Public Charity.
That in itself is a complicated condition as a member of society and is worthy of complete threads of it’s own, but at the same time can bring strong resistance for political reasons.

I have not contributed to the magazine as much as I would like personally, but support Lynn and his family completely. One of the primary reasons for writing for the other magazines is the coverage area of SFJ is stronger in the west, which is not our primary service area. That is a lame excuse though and I should have been writing more for Lynn over the years and continue to promise to do this, yet have little time left after actually doing the work, to actually write about it.

Lynn is an incredible artist, but he is also a great philosopher and I enjoy his thinking, but must admit skipping over the editorials for years. For me it is a matter of what I call the “awareness blues”. Most of us already know enough bad stuff about modern life that we just don’t want to know much more. Rather than being distracted by all the bad news, many chose to go out into their communities, farms and woods and do something about what they see as being a better way. It is never the easy way, duh! Sharing what is important personally is important publicly and Miller has suffered much disdain and jealously over the years from his willingness to be a public figure.

Lynn is an icon in this community of interest and we are all lucky to have his contributions to the culture.

He is reckoning with his own mortality and trying to figure out how to keep the cultural entity that SFJ is – going in his absence. The members of this board that are over 60 know exactly what he is dealing with. There is a point where ones own ability to do is recognized as limited and the desire to contribute to the future in a positive way demands creativeness beyond normal thinking. It certainly can lead to the inspiration to teach young people the skills and ethics of independent personal actions and thinking.

We are dedicated SFJ supporters and Lynn Miller fans. He has earned that through the years of publishing this magazine and we hope this latest venture ripens to nourish our culture and provides seeds for future growth.

Free thinking should be protected in the land of the free. To question authority serves to refine the process, empower our society and guarantee individual freedom. I personally admire and respect anyone with that approach publicly or privately.

[danb]

As I reach back into the deep, dusty recesses in my memory, I sort of recall discussing poems like this in my english literature class in college (25+yrs. ago). I believe this would be called a interpretive poem (or something like that) in which the author plants mental images in the mind of the reader, and then allows the reader to draw his/her own conclusions regardless of the authors original intent. Personally, I think that about the time I hung a bunch of old pig bones on the clothesline I’d have some pretty serious explaining to do to the sweet and wonderful wife:D

[Carl Russell]

I actually haven’t looked into the poem that is referenced, but it conjures for me a feeling of bringing out the spirits of those animals who have fed the family, and placing them in one of the most personal and exposed places in the homestead that represents the family, and not just the farm.(??)

Carl

[Robert MoonShadow]

…Or it could just be a warning to the other pigs to behave themselves & stay within their pen.

[Plowboy]

It was my fault everyone got defensive. I am not condeming Lynn personally or any of his great works that we all enjoy. I will stick by the fact that the Journal isn’t what it once was and maybe it is because he is weary from 30 years of it. My point was if he used a little finesse with his views it may actually help him reach a broader audience and better get his messages across. I’m all for the cause and the lifestyle but to bring people on board it would help to not be on the fringe quite so much. Being controversial does get attention but not always positively. Maybe I will try and contact Lynn and see if I can be of any assistance to help the Journal. If you folks are so supportive of it maybe I’ll renew and give it another try. I just remember what it was in past years and it’s not quite as full of good stuff as it was. I want to be inspired but the editorials always leave me wondering what he even said at the end. Sorry to offend anyone here.

[Robert MoonShadow]

Plowboy; Personally speaking, I’m glad you feel comfortable enough here to openly speak your views. Besides, you raised some valid points.

[J-L]

I just got around to reading this thread. One thing that struck me was Plowboy mentioning the DHJ as having some good stuff on working animals. The last time I looked at their pub (a looong time ago) it was full of hitch horse type of stuff and very little that was dedicated to working.
Funny how things change.
Sometimes I think Mr. Miller is full of himself (find the last post he put on here) and could be a little more down to earth. Some goofy stuff in the magazine at times, but I still enjoy it, and that may be one of the reasons. Because it does make you think.

[Donn Hewes]

I am really sorry my article on page 21 of this winter issue of the SFJ brought up so many strong feelings. I will try to tone it down in the future. I did think the pictures were good though. Donn

[Carl Russell]

Donn, what are you talking about?? Did the quote about pig bones come from your article??

Otherwise I though what I read of your article to be very informative. To be honest, I had to put it down before I got very far, and I haven’t gotten back to it, and I have seen and heard some of it from the horse’s mouth, so I hadn’t felt a burning need to read it completely, but on the surface, it seems to be exactly what we all are looking for in SFJ.

Carl

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Carl, I am only joking around. I just thought my article needed some comment here. Just an old mule that likes his ear scratched I guess. Donn

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Carl, I was just joking around. I thought my article needed some comment on DAP. Just an old mule that likes his ears scratched I guess. Hope things are blooming up there. Donn

[Carl Russell]

Nyuck, Nyuck, Nyuck, Why you wise guy:cool:

Carl

[Robert MoonShadow]

Now Donn, I could’ve sworn that I posted a comment on your srticle in some thead here…
Guess that ear scratchin’ must’ve felt so good the old mule came around for more. :p

[OldKat]

@danb 8390 wrote:

As I reach back into the deep, dusty recesses in my memory, I sort of recall discussing poems like this in my english literature class in college (25+yrs. ago). I believe this would be called a interpretive poem (or something like that) in which the author plants mental images in the mind of the reader, and then allows the reader to draw his/her own conclusions regardless of the authors original intent. Personally, I think that about the time I hung a bunch of old pig bones on the clothesline I’d have some pretty serious explaining to do to the sweet and wonderful wife:D

… it sure brought back a bunch of memories for me.

danb; I once took a British Literature class in college, because I had my schedule all set up the way I way I wanted it only to find that the English class I wanted was full. So I went to the English Department table (remember going to the different departments to register for classes?) and said “What courses do you offer at such and such time?” After the prof in charge told me British Literature, he said “Young man, what … may I ask is your major? I don’t believe I know you” (The class in question was set up for English majors & at an advanced level at that) When I told him “Agriculture Education” he said “OH, NO! That will NEVER do!” However, I persisted and he allowed me to take the class.

It was, uhhh, DIFFERENT to say the least. I passed it, and you know what? Bet you are thinking I’m gonna say something here like “and I was a better student for it.” Well you would be wrong, because I wasn’t. I will say this however; the old prof knew what he was talking about when he tried to steer me away from the class! It wasn’t a good class for an Ag Ed major! 😀

Also, one time I was at a conference in Dallas which had nothing to do with SFJ, or probably anything most on this board find interesting. Along about day three a bunch of us were standing in the hall at a break and a guy mentioned something that he was looking to buy, but couldn’t find. I said “Give me your phone number and when I get home I will look in my Small Farmers Journal for an ad I saw for that very product & I’ll give you a call with the contact information”

He was glad for the lead, but another guy standing there said “YOU take the Small Farmers Journal?” in an incredulous tone. This guy could best be described as having very likely been central to the hippie movement some 40 years ago, but having not quite moved beyond it. So I said “Sure do, have for years. Why do you ask?” His answer struck me as odd then, and still does. He said “You don’t LOOK like someone that would take the Small Farmers Journal!” I couldn’t resist egging him on just a little, so I said in my most sincere mock concerned voice “Oh My Gosh! 😮 I didn’t even know there was an APPROVED SMALL FARMERS JOURNAL LOOK. Silly me!” The rest of the folks got a laugh out of it, and he kinda chuckled too. I did notice though that he stayed on the opposite side of the room from me for the rest of the conference!

I guess it really is true; different strokes for different folks. :p

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