#there is/was one! one! local farm that grows and sells those that i know of. and of course no grocery stores have them here

[publicdomainbooksdevotee]

Oh how I miss you, frozen Barbados Gooseberries.

[fanficforlife]

Chapter Ten

Tate came bounding out onto the porch where you and Kayce were enjoying a cup of coffee. "I'm done. Can we go now?"

"Did you finish all of your breakfast?" Kayce asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes." Tate groaned before grabbing your hand. "Can we go now?"

You downed the last gulp of coffee and smiled at him. "I see you already have my purse so yes, we can go."

"Gator gave me the card and list for shopping."

Kayce took your empty mug from you before the two of you stood up. "You do know that it's grocery shopping, right bud?"

"Yeah. But, Violet said she gets the vegetables from the farmers market and that there are people there that make chocolates and another one that makes ice cream and-"

"I get it." Kayce chuckled as he handed you the keys to his truck. When you took them he slid his arm around your waist. "I gotta get to work. Have fun with the rugrat."

"Now's the part where you kiss. I'll be in the truck." 

You giggled while Tate ran down the steps. "I'll see you later."

"Yes, you will." Your boyfriend leaned in and kissed you long and tenderly. "Stay with me tonight."

"If you're lucky." You teased, knowing full well that you would. Since you two had started having sex, you couldn't get enough of him. And, vice versa. He made you enjoy it again after years of dreading it. He made you feel safe and loved like you were the most beautiful woman in the world. It was the best sex you've ever had. It was like you finally found your other half. He was the missing piece that fits your heart perfectly and he felt it too. He couldn't get enough of just being near you. 

He knew you would be there and grinned. "Have a good day, baby."

"You too." You rose on your toes and kissed him. "Love you."

"Love you more." 

"Violet!" 

You and Kayce laughed at his impatient son. "Gotta go. See you later." He squeezed your waist before you slipped out of his grasp. 

*

"Oh! Look at that one!" Tate tugged on your arm as he pointed to a booth that was selling cakes of all sizes, decorated in every coloured icing under the sun. 

"Wow. Those are fancy."

"I think we should stick with cookies."

You chuckled. "I think you're right. Those look like a lot of work."

"There's the vegetable ones." Tate grabbed your hand before pulling you past the baking stalls towards the fruit and vegetables. "That one has apples! Can we get some and make apple pie? Oh, and muffins? And-"

"Yes, we can get your favourite fruit. We'll have to get a box of them because I don't think one of the bags will be enough for all of the baking you want to do." You laughed and went to wait in line. The large, well-stocked stand was the one you always went to and not because it was run by two good-looking men around your age.  They weren't just one of the sweetest couples you had ever met, they were your only friends who didn't live on the ranch. Not that you went on double dates or anything. It was just nice to have a conversation about something other than cows or horses occasionally.

"Violet!" The blue-eyed one grinned when he saw you. 

"Hi, Chris." You smiled at the dark-haired man. 

"It looks like I didn't beat the rush this time."

"No, you didn't." Mark, the blonde with green eyes, answered after coming over having finished with a customer. "But, we saved a box of the best back here for ya just in case. Aside from a couple of local restaurants, the ranch is one of our biggest customers. We gotta keep ya happy."

You laughed. "You two spoil us. Speaking of us, this is Tate. Tate this is Chris and Mark. They grow the best fruit and vegetables in Montana."

"Hi, do you have any more apples?"

"Sorry, but that was the last of them," Chris said of the case the woman in front of you was carrying away. 

Disappointment filled Tate's face. "Awe, we can't make pie and muffins tomorrow."

"We do have more on the farm though." Mark smiled at the little boy. "I'll make you a deal. I'll drop off some apples for you later today if you promise to bring us some baking next time you're in town."

"Really?!"

Chris chuckled. "Really."

You placed a hand on Tate's shoulder and looked at them. "You don't have to do that. We can get some next week."

"It's no problem at all. We don't have any other plans. A drive will be nice."

"Please, Violet?"

Your eyes went back to them and they nodded. "Okay."

"Yay! Oh, are you going to have pumpkins in the fall that we can carve?"

"We will," Chris said while Mark went to help a customer. "You can come out and pick the perfect one. We're also going to have a corn maze and other games. Plus, apple cider and all kinds of treats in the little shop on the farm." 

"Oh Violet, can we go?" Tate tugged on your arm. "Dad can come and we could do the maze and play all the games and try all the treats. Then we can get pumpkins to make Jack-o'-lanterns!"

A chuckle left your lips. "I think we can arrange that."

"Yay!" The brown-haired boy turned back to the dark-haired farmer. "Violet's dad's girlfriend. He really loves her, like a lot. All he does is stare at her when she's around."

"Tate." You scolded while Chris laughed. 

Tate looked up at you with a grin. "It's true." 

A light shade of red stained your cheeks as you pulled the credit card out of your bag. "Thanks for the vegetables. Tate, we better get moving. We have to stop at the grocery store next."

"Can we stop and get chicken nuggets for lunch after?"

"I think I could go for a burger."

"Yay!" 

"And, thank you for dropping the apples off later. You've made one little boy very happy."

"You are more than welcome. See ya, Violet. It was nice meeting you, Tate." Chris smiled. 

"Bye. I can take your bag for you." Tate offered so you handed it to him. After picking up the box of vegetables, you headed back to the truck. 

*

"You look amazing, like always." Chris grinned after getting out of his truck. "One of the restaurants in town looking for some vegetables." He said of Mark who was still buckled in and talking on his cell phone. 

"What the fuck?!" Kayce, who had been standing by the barn with Rip and Lloyd, pushed passed them and stormed over. 

You blushed while he pulled you into a hug. "Thanks."

"Get your fucking hands off her." Kayce yanked him away from you and punched him. 

"Kayce!"

He ignored you and hit him again. "You're not very bright, are you? Hitting on her when I'm standing right there!" 

"Kayce, stop!" You begged but he ignored you.

"I didn't-"

"Don't fucking lie to me! I heard you. I saw you!" He tackled Chris to the ground. "Stay the fuck away from her!" 

"Kayce. Kayce!" Rip called as he and Lloyd came running over and pulled him off of Chris. 

John came out onto the porch when he heard the commotion. "What the hell is going on out here?"

"This asshole was all over Violet!" Kayce pulled against Rip and Lloyd trying to get free. 

"No, he wasn't." You had tears in your eyes as you and Mark, who had just finished his call, helped Chris up. "I met him at the farmers market a couple of months ago. Tate saw the apples he was selling this morning and wanted some, but the person in front of us got the last of them. They had more at the farm and were nice enough to drop some off."

Kayce's face went white. The two farm hands let him go and his shoulders slumped. "Letty, I-"

"I'm sorry, Chris. I'm so sorry." 

"It's okay." He said with a soft smile. "I'll grab them. They're just in the back."

John came down the steps. "I'm sorry for my son's behaviour. We'll get them." He nodded to Rip and he went over and grabbed the box of apples out of the truck box. 

You handed Chris the money you owed him. "I'm really sorry."

"Don't worry about it."

"The apples look great." John held his hand out and Chris shook it. When they parted, the farmer found a hundred-dollar bill in his hand. He was about to hand the money back but John stopped him. "No, I insist. I'm sorry again and so is my son."

"Y-yeah. I'm sorry." Kayce apologized quietly. 

Chris nodded at him before giving your arm a squeeze. Mark did the same before they got in their truck.

The second they started driving away Kayce started walking up to you. "Letty."

You stepped back when he reached out for you, memories of Nick and his jealousy filling your head. "Gator wanted me to tell you that dinner's ready." A stray tear slid down your cheek as you turned and went inside. 

*

Everyone walked into the dining room while you set the last dish of food on the table. They sat down, joining Tate who had been upstairs washing his hands. 

You picked your plate and cutlery up off the table. "Hey, where are you going? Aren't you eating with us?" Tate asked. When his summer holidays started he insisted you start eating with them. The rest of the family had agreed so Tate picked your spot at the table, between him and Kayce.

"I'm not hungry. I'm going to get a head start on cleaning up so the kitchen will be ready for pie making tomorrow." He let out a cheer and you gave him a small smile before disappearing into the kitchen. 

After setting your clean dishes down, you gripped the edge of the countertop. Your mind was a mess as you stared at your reflection in the window. The darkening evening sky made it easy to see Kayce walk into the room. 

"Letty."

Your eyes went to your hands as he slowly made his way over, stopping behind you. 

"Letty, I'm sorry. I just heard him-then he touched you and-"

"I would never cheat on you." You stated quietly while continuing to stare at your fingers, which turned white from their grip on the countertop. 

"I know you wouldn't. I just...I'm scared." His hand hesitantly reached out, his fingers running down your arm. When you didn't pull away he closed the distance. "I'm scared you're going to find someone better. You're perfect and I'm...me. I have anger issues. I'm trying and failing at raising my kid. I love you so much it scares me. Tate loves you." His other hand went to your other arm and he leaned in, resting his forehead against the top of your head. "I'm sorry, baby. I'll do whatever you want me to. Please, forgive me."

You turned to face him. Your eyes didn't meet his though, they watched your fingers as they came up and fidgeted with one of the buttons on his shirt. 

"Letty?"

"Please...please, don't turn into him."

His hands came up and cupped your face. When he tilted it up he saw the tears pooling in your eyes. "Never, baby. Never." He leaned in and kissed you as a few tears spilled over. "I'll work on it, getting angry, jealous. I promise." You nodded. "And, I'll go into town tomorrow and apologize to him again."

A small smile pulled at your lips as you nodded again. "You should go eat before it gets cold."

"You're not going to?"

"I'm not that hungry. I'll grab something later."

"I'll grab something later too then. Do you want to wash or dry?" He grinned and picked up a dish towel. 

"Well, since you already have the towel, I'll wash." You turned and started filling the sink with water. Kayce's arm slid across your stomach and pulled you back against him. You stayed like that until the sink was full. 

After turning the tap off, he held you tighter. "I really am sorry."

"I know." Your hands slid across his arms before hugging them. "Chris and Mark know too. A few weeks ago when I saw them at the grocery store. We went for coffee while they were waiting to go to an appointment. They're really nice and they've heard about you and your family, the ranch. They know that you were in the Navy and about how much I mean to you." You looked at him in the reflection. "Mark used to be in the army so he knows that PTSD can affect you in different ways."

"Getting angry...I'm trying."

You leaned into him, "I know. You're doing a lot better."

"Except when it comes to you. What you've been through, your ex..." there was a tick in his jaw. "I promised to never let anything happen to you again. I just take it too far sometimes. I'm working on it. I really am trying."

You turned in his arms and wrapped yours around his neck. "I can tell. Everyone here can." Your lips pressed against his. "Now let's get these dishes done."

"Yes, ma'am." He said when you went back to facing the sink. He didn't move though. 

When his lips brushed against the spot where your neck and shoulder meet, you giggled. "Kayce."

He smiled against your skin. "Yes?"

"It's going to be pretty hard for you to dry these pots when you're standing there."

"I suppose you're right." His teeth gently nipped at the delicate spot and a small moan left your lips. He quickly spun you, crashing his lips against yours. When he pulled away the smirk that you loved spread across his face. 

You shoved him away with a giggle before focusing on washing the pots and pans Gator used to make dinner. Kayce settled in next to you, drying the dishes you set in front of him. A comfortable silence filled the room, only broken up by the conversations and laughter going on in the dining room. 

*

Once the dishes were done and dinner had been cleaned up, you went to the foreman's house. Tate had wanted to go to bed, even though there were still forty-five minutes before his usual bedtime. He was beyond excited about making pie for the first time and wanted to go to bed early so tomorrow would be here sooner. While Kayce tucked him into bed and read him a story, you went to wait for him in his bedroom. 

"Baby?"

You could hear the door shut behind him so, after turning the water off for the bathtub, you stepped out of the bathroom wearing nothing but one of his shirts. 

His eyes slowly drank you in. "Damn, you look good." 

A light shade of red crept across your cheeks as he closed the distance between you in two long strides. You unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders to the floor, followed quickly by his jeans. All while your lips stayed glued to his. 

His hands ran up your thighs and when he got to your hips they paused, finding no underwear to pull down. He smirked against your mouth before picking you up and carrying you to bed. 

"Mmm," you hummed as he kissed his way down your neck. Your hands found his waist and started to tug on the waistband of his boxers. 

After what he said to you in the kitchen about not turning into your ex and knowing he meant it, you needed him. And, he needed you just as bad. Once his boxers were down far enough he thrust into you. You gasped at the sudden fullness and when he did it again your eyes closed. "Oh, god."

His teeth bit down on your shoulder as he continued to move in and out of you. It wasn't long before your back started to arch off the bed as he kept hitting just the right spot over and over again. As you started to fall over the edge his lips met yours, swallowing your breathy moan and you melted into each other, falling together. 

Once your racing heartbeat returned normal, you slid out from under him and got off the bed. 

"No," he groaned and grabbed your hand. "I mean, the view is amazing but..." Your cheeks darkened and he grinned, sliding to the edge of the bed and pulling you onto his lap. "God, you're adorable."

"Stop." You turned and buried your face into his shoulder while the shade of red on your cheeks got even brighter. 

"Never," his chest vibrated with a chuckle. 

"Come have a bath with me?"

"I'm not much of a bath person but if you're in there with me I think I can make an exception. Lead the way, beautiful."

You slid your hand into his and made your way into the bathroom. "When I filled it I used scalding water so it should have cooled off enough by now." He got into the still bubbly water and you sunk across from him, closing your eyes. 

"Letty?"

"Hmm?" You opened your eyes when he stayed quiet. "Hey," after seeing his glassy eyes you went over and straddled his lap, taking his face in your hands, "what is it? What's wrong?"

"Why- I keep fucking up but you keep staying. You are goddamn perfect and could easily get any man you wanted. Why do you stay with me? After what happened before dinner-"

Seeing him so down made your heartache. "Because you are an amazing man and an even better father. Kayce, Tate looks up to you more than you know. He always talks about how much fun he has when he gets to help you around the ranch. He wants to be the foreman just like you when he grows up." Your thumbs ran along his jaw. "You went through a lot in the Navy, saw a lot. It changes a person. I didn't know you before you enlisted. I know you now. I fell in love with the man who came back from the war, with who you are today." He looked down, still ashamed. You tilted his head back so he would look at you. "You make me happy. You make me feel safe. There is no one else in the world I would rather be with. We can and we will get through anything. I love you, Kayce." 

"I am not worthy of you." 

A smile formed, "It's a good thing you're wrong and I'm right."

"You think so?" He finally smiled back, a small one but it was still there.

"I know so."

His arms engulfed you and crushed you against him. "I love you, Violet."

"I know. I love you." When he let you go you slid back to your spot. "Do you have a lot of work to do tomorrow? Tate wants to make pie and muffins. Mark and Chris said they would drop the apples off in exchange for some baking." 

"The farmers market is done at 2:00 pm, I'll have my stuff done by then. The three of us could go into town. Maybe go for coffee with them after? Tate keeps talking about the new playground they built by the farmers market."

You smiled, "Tate would love that. Chris and Mark would too." 

He nodded before finally lying back and relaxing, his fingers going back to mindlessly running up and down your knee. "I could get used to this. It's actually pretty nice." 

"I told you it wasn't that bad."

"You're right again." His crooked smile formed.

You watched him as he closed his eyes and rested his head back, admiring not only how handsome he was but how great of a person he was. Most men wouldn't have talked about their feelings like he did let alone go have coffee and talk to the man they just attacked. Whether he believed it or not, he was an amazing man and you were the luckiest woman in the world.

___________________________________________

Tag List: @alisbackalleybbq @a-beaverhausen @chloe-skywalker @wabi-sabi1090 @saintnourah

If you want to be added to the list just let me know :)

[sgiandubh]

Whisky, gin and beer

It was always going to be about beer, too - not only whisky and gin. And it was probably designed to be a simultaneous project, that might have been postponed for various reasons: funny how all those intelligent people across the street forget everything about COVID, when it does not fit their agendas. And by COVID, I do not mean only the prolonged lockdowns, but first and foremost the worldwide logistics crisis, with compromised supply chains and overall a huge blow on the transports' sector.

In fact, looking at those trademark websites, it becomes evident that first (now abandoned) trademark application for beer was filed in at the same time as the one for whisky, on December 28, 2018:

Separate categories, as per US regulations, need separate filings, of course. And beer is a brilliant, simple idea, with high quality local ingredients (it's really barley, water, hops and yeast) relatively easy to source. Well, spare perhaps for the hops, but that is not really a problem, anymore:

(Source: the James Hutton Institute's booklet Hops in Scotland, 2018 - well, then. The institute is based in Dundee, by the way, so I think they know exactly what they are talking about, especially after a four year long feasibility study with encouraging results: https://www.hutton.ac.uk/news/scottish-hops-viable-commercial-crop-hutton-research-finds)

As I always make a point of reminding anyone, this page does not deal in fantasy and empty, meaningless scouring of social media accounts. And cackle to your heart's content, Mordor, but S seems to have a genuine, informed interest in the industry, as shown above.

This is a different business plan and a different marketing model, based on affordable production costs and yield/volume (as compared to successive, 'limited batches' of tequila or whisky, where the accent is placed on the excellence of the product and know-how, as reflected in the final price tag). You can bottle that beer or you can sell it on tap, partnering with local bars and pubs first, then progressively extending that network. And I bet the farm it is going to be a premium, artisanal beer first, with options open for a more democratic product, once brand awareness is properly built: beer is versatile, like that.

Whisky and gin were expensive, carefully curated pet projects. Beer is a fun, easy and lucrative one, with a wider clientele and fast growing potential. And this is how that unknown, struggling Scottish actor who once was the face of Tennent's has a fair opportunity to strike it big. To be followed, which I might do. And this is also how his products could cover the entire price range, from luxury to affordable.

It is also always disheartening to see how all those bitter women congregating on certain Tumblr pages feel the need to dismiss anything he does. As I always said and I always will, many of them have no idea about the very basics of business and trade, no exposure to that world and, to be honest, no particular intellectual acuity. Plus I bet the farm many of them lie about their own circumstances: it's easy to pretend, on the Internet and always sexier (and lame, of course) to introduce yourself as a corporate whatever than a secretary. But I wonder how would they feel, in the unlikely situation they would be running their own lemonade stand, if passers by started cackling and bitching about their trade, out of the blue.

So, all in all, we seem to be dealing with some careful preparation, portfolio diversification and yes, taking much needed strides away from McGrandma. To be continued, of course...

PS: FMN Gin, still crickets? Ahhh...

[studentinpursuitofclouds]

very self indulgent but i keep thinking about this scenario and its so silly, may i request a reader who's been somehow isekai'd (basically transported) into stardew and is proper down bad (or in other words; a massive crush) for magnus?

I have to say, I've never been a fan of isekai (not that I don't like it, I've just never been interested in that genre). But it turned out to be a lot of fun to write about this situation. I hope it didn't come out too mixed, it's just my first time writing stories in this genre. Thank you so much for the ask, anon! 😊💕

_________________________________________

You wake up on the grass near some strange bus stop. No one is around, your head is spinning, and you can't remember what happened. Here you were walking home from a boring job late at night to have dinner, go to bed in your small apartment alone and go to work again and so on until retirement. Suddenly - it's all gone dark and now you're standing outside the bus stop.

Hello, anybody here?

"Oh, you must be [Y/n]!" Finally, at least there's someone around, it's getting lonely and- Wait, how does that red-haired woman know your name?

"I'm Robin, local carpenter. Our mayor asked me to meet you and escort you to your new home!"

New what? Alas, before you could even say anything, the mysterious woman took you to an old ruin that she apparently called "your home".

"Ah, our new farmer!" And who's that old fart? Wha- what farmer?

"Nice to meet you! I'm Lewis, the mayor. Your Grandpa probably have told you about your farm back then".

But I don't... Grandpa's farm? You tried to say something, but you were interrupted again.

"Here's your new home! There is a shipping bin nearby, you can sell your farm products. Welcome and go ahead - get to know your new community!" As you stand there in shock, both strangers walk away.

What the fuck, you thought. Why does everyone think I'm the new farmer? And why did those two bring me to an old house with no furniture except a bed and a TV on the floor? No kitchen? And no toilet??? What the hell do you mean parsnip seeds?! Am I supposed to clear this whole farm of rocks and bushes with a rusty pickaxe and a flooded scythe???

You decide not to panic and play up the situation a bit to figure out where you are and how you can get back home, because the whole thing is a huge misunderstanding. At the same time ask around to the locals, what is this area? Stardew Valley? Huh...

"Playing along with the situation" became a bit more difficult, because you had to really learn the basics of growing crops, the local fisherman gave you an old fishing rod for some damn reason, and then on the fifth day of this hell you have no money left even for food and have to pick berries in the forest (wow, what a life!). After entering the Community Centre and getting to know the "apples" creatures you already doubt your own sanity.

The next day you get an mail from.... Ras-mo-di-us? Ok, weird. Asking you to come to his "magic tower". What this locals are smoking in here is a mystery of the universe, definitely. Anyway, you have no choice but to head to that very tower.

Flowers all around, the whole room is foggy, it smells weird, and it's also hot - it looks like some kind of drug den... So where's the weirdo?

"I've been waiting for you, young [Y/n]."

Oh, no, he's hot.

You wanted to slap your head. You're lost, you don't know what's going on or where you are, you're cursing all this farm work, the locals are weird, and this is some suspicious-looking bloke, and your first thought is "oh no, he's hot"? There's definitely some weird drugs in the air...

Look, you tried to keep your voice as calm as possible, I don't think I'm from this universe.

"I know, young fool". The fuck, what now? Well, bring me back!

"Alas, I don't have that kind of magic yet, it takes time and rare resources. For now.... You should be what the people of Pelican Town think you are."

Oh, that's just fantastic!

Running after the crows that ruined your crops, pulling an old can of local cola out of a fishing rod hook, walking with tired hands after cutting down some trees, screaming in the Mines, escaping from slimes and bats, making ingots for necessary machines until night.... And you've got some kind of magic now. A quiet country life, nothing fancy.

Then there's that annoying supermarket, which reminds you painfully of that boring old office job....

Although, the locals here are mostly friendly.... They see that you're uncomfortable in your new community and try to make you feel at home. You really appreciated it, and tried your best for them in return by listening to their stories or giving those leftovers of a successful harvest. Your skills grew, you had already made friends with everyone in the Valley, and even kicked that stupid Joja company out of town. Little funny Junimos, hee-hee!

In particular you became close to Magnus (Rasmodius' first name). Even though it was hard for you to still believe in magic, but his talk about parallel worlds, his fascination with magical plants, his talking, his laugh, his looks (dilf material, oh my!), his kind heart and his pride in new spells and magical protection of the Valley from monsters.... You fell in love with him.

And after some conflicting thoughts about whether you're allowed to fall in love with anyone here if this isn't your world? But you have long been part of this world, part of this cosy and friendly community, part of this incredible and magical world.

All dreamy thoughts were gone when Magnus announced to you in a ringing voice that he'd found a way to get you home.

Home?, you repeated. But I'm already home.

And you just kissed Magnus, the die is cast. If he refuses, if he turns his back on you, it'll be hard for you to bear. But Magnus, oddly enough, returned the kiss.

"Then... The choice is made. I was afraid that... I fell in love with you as well, and that you would have to leave forever. But now... Now..."

He didn't have time to finish, because you kissed him again, more passionately this time.

Insert subtitles, ladies and gentlemen, for here is the happy ending.

[nightcityace]

[ SUBJECT INTERVIEW: SUNNY ]

[NICKNAME:]

Sunny: I guess technically Sunny was a nickname before it became official, but I've also been called Sunshine, Sunbeam, Ray of Sunshine… you can probably see the pattern. Interviewer: And what is your real name? Sunny: Sunny is my real name. Just because it might not be the first name I had doesn't mean it's not my real name.

[GENDER:]

None for me, thanks.

[STAR SIGN:]

Misty says I’m an Aquarius. I guess I never really put much thought into any of that, but she really enjoys it so that makes it fun for me too.

[HEIGHT:]

5’ 9”, but some of my boots make me a little taller. No platforms or anything though, I wouldn't be able to walk to save my life.

[ORIENTATION:]

Only interested in men, but I guess I don't really try to define myself often. Just queer in general is probably the best term I suppose.

[NATIONALITY / ETHNICITY:]

That's another one I never really think too much about. A lot of people tend to think my family are Nomads, but we’ve been here since before Night City was Night City. My… (counts on fingers) great-great-great grandparents actually bought our property back when California was still one state, so we’re about as local as you get. Before that I think someone came from New York and before that I don’t really know, all over Europe I think.

[FAVE FRUIT:]

Strawberries, not like synthetic ones or those over priced cloned ones, real strawberries. We managed to get a little section of them growing at home and nothing can compare. 

[FAVE SEASON:]

Probably spring. I love getting to watch everything sprout and bloom, even out in the desert. 

[FAVE FLOWER:]

Sunny: People usually expect me to say something cliche like sunflowers, but I genuinely love dandelions. Especially when they grow up out of cracks in pavement or sidewalks. It's proof there's still nature in the city, even when they try to hide it under all the concrete. They’re stubborn little flowers and they're perfect. Interviewer: Aren't dandelions weeds? Sunny: Only because someone wanted to sell people on the idea of a perfectly sterilized, useless, solid patch of grass which completely destroyed the biodiversity of most yards. They’re yellow, they're cute, I like them. Interviewer: Got it…

[FAVE SCENT:]

This is a hard one to describe, but do you know how sometimes you can kind of smell outside? Not like… exhaust and garbage obviously… but there's a certain smell that gets in your hair and clothes when you've been out in the wind and sun and you can just tell that's what it is.

[COFFEE, TEA, HOT CHOCOLATE:]

Yes please, all of it.

[AVERAGE HOURS OF SLEEP:]

Probably about 6 or 7 normally. I tend to wake up early after having to for most of my life, but I love going back to bed. I'll usually wake up about sunrise or earlier and go have a cup of coffee and check my plants to see if they need water and if Vik isn't up yet I'll scooch back under the covers and go right back to sleep for a few more hours. Plus naps, naps are great.

[DOG OR CAT PERSON:]

Chickens. Okay okay, I know obviously I can't have them in the city, but the farm is well outside the avian exclusion zone. Seriously, they're adorable. (Pulls out phone to show no less than 300 different pictures of chicks and chickens)

[DREAM TRIP:]

Honestly I don't know. I like being close to my family and being in NC, so I don't think I'd want to go anywhere long. I have some Nomad friends though so a trip with them might be fun, maybe somewhere with actual mountains since I really like climbing around the canyons and stuff we have out in the Badlands. 

[FAVE FICTIONAL CHARACTER:]

Hmmm… I'm gonna go with Bugs Bunny. Both extremely cute and extremely chaotic, I respect that.

[NUMBER OF BLANKETS YOU SLEEP WITH:]

I usually start with one or two, but I tend to run warm so by the time I wake up it's not uncommon for them all to be kicked down to the end of the bed or piled up on Vik’s side.

[RANDOM FACT:]

Sunny: About me or just like… a fact I like? Hm, how about: it's surprisingly easy to get a wild coyote into the front seat of a locked car. You wouldn't think so, but getting it out is actually much harder. Interviewer: Okay... That's slightly troubling... how about a fact about you? Sunny: I know how to get a wild coyote into the front seat of a locked car. 

This was so fun to do!! Thank you @dreamskug for tagging me!

I have a few other tag things I still need to do with Sunny, I swear I havent actually forgotten, I just have terrible time management... >.>

EDIT: oh dang I forgot to tag people D: I think most of my cp friends have been tagged already so I'll toss it to @wraithsoutlaws bc I want someone to have the audacity to interview Dagger :P

[deni-means-flor]

Stardew Valley but you're at a Mexican Rancho

The Playlist

And here you have it friends, the cursed playlist that started it all. Every time I played the game during my first playthrough, there were some character plotlines or in-game events that reminded me of ranchero, regional mexicano, or banda songs from my country, and the fact that all those songs are linked to the idealized culture of rural areas of my country, and that Stardew is basically a farming game, made sense to my weird neurodivergent brain. So here you go, the playlist and which songs I relate to each character.

The list is ordered as follows:

Song title - Artist

Character/Event I relate the song to and why.

If you have any questions/comments, feel free to jump to the end of this playlist for my Author's Note

WARNING: THIS PLAYLIST DESCRIPTION CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR IN-GAME / HEART EVENTS.

Los Agachados - Maldita Vecindad y los Hijos del 5to Patio

Character/Event: You know when we meet our main character and they are stuck in their routine, in a crowded city working a job that they don't like, 9 to 5? Well that happens too often down here, but in Mexico, for as long as we can remember, all that tediousness is alleviated by hanging out with our buddies and eating with our families or friends. The golden age of Mexican cinema reflects that enduring part of our history. This song is a homage to Tin-Tán Valdez's movies.

2. Mi Ciudad - Guadalupe Trigo

Character/Event: After our MC gets the letter from their Grandpa and has the opportunity to move to Pelican Town, during their bus ride they start to say goodbye to their city, looking forward to the possibilities that the new location offers. It's not that they hate the city, they just needed to grow their roots somewhere else, so the journey is filled with gratitude.

3. Recuérdame - Carlos Rivera

Character/Event: Grandpa's message. Ah, the favorite singer of Mexican moms and abuelas, it was only natural that this song helps MC reminisce about their summers in Pelican Town and their late grandpa. Do I hate that Disney tried to trademark a national tradition? absolutely, but the soundtrack from Coco slaps, especially in Spanish.

4. Árboles de la Barranca - Antonio Aguilar

Character/Event: The Farm. This one is self-explanatory for Spanish speakers. After MC's (now Farmer) arrival on the farm, they look at the condition of everything. "Árboles de la barranca, ¿Por qué no han enverdecido?" (Translation: Trees of the ravine, why haven't you gone green again?) and look at all the work they have ahead of them.

5. Soy de Rancho - El Komander

Character/Event: This is when MC becomes the Farmer. Maybe after their first Spring in Pelican Town or selling their first successful crops, the Farmer is getting the hang of things and are fully taking pride in the progress they've made.

6. La Granja - Los Tigres del Norte

Character/Event: The Community Center / The Barn / Lewis / Joja Co. Los Tigres del Norte are almost ubiquitous in representing Mexican culture all over the world, and it's only natural that this song (one of their hardest critiques to corruption) appears here. After managing to get a barn and their first animals through their hard effort, meeting the Junimos at the community center, and getting tasked by Lewis with the repair of the building, the Farmer begins to think that maybe the city and Pelican Town aren't so different in terms of the lack of care from their representatives. Lewis isn't necessarily bad, he's a nice man who cares about his community... but he has enough money to buy truffle oil and create a golden statue of himself while the community center has been abandoned and JojaMart is messing with local businesses. The problem isn't the lack of resources, but the greed and hunger of a few (which the Tigres del Norte song addresses directly)

Author's Note: Thanks for reading this first part of the playlist and feel free to leave me your comments/questions/asks. In the next post, due to the length of this one, I'll talk more about the other songs in the playlist and what they mean for the universe in my playthrough, especially, the ones I gave to the romanceable characters.

[sim-ply-lilacs]

My dearest friend Irene,

In the months that have passed since my wedding, I have been surprised time and again by what it is to be a wife.

To my unending delight, I have discovered that what the bitter old gossips said is not true. My husband not only tolerates, but actively enjoys my company. Dear Josef would be outraged, I think, to hear I'd once been told that I would do well to find a deaf husband, so I could chatter on without driving him to distraction. Many days, we find ourselves distracted from work in the fields by our own good humor. I must confess—I find a great deal of enjoyment in making him laugh!

Lest you think us to be a lazy bunch, I must tell you we work quite hard on the farm! Mother and I have set ourselves to learning many new skills, so we might be useful to the running of things. There is no room for the lazy here! After all, when most of one's income is dependent on infrequent harvests, one must find ways to supplement one's income in the interim.

Josef has taken to helping the local fishermen with their catch in exchange for a few coins to keep us in ribbons and shoe polish, and I am proudly selling some of our milk and eggs every day to the general store. The grocer is kind enough to charge less interest on our account in exchange, and his wife and I get on nicely.

Mother, however, has made the most surprising shift of all! She has always done her little fancy things—she used to win those blue ribbons for her embroidery, you know. Lately, however, she has become a student of woodworking! Her knife blocks and little figures take in tidy sums at the market we travel to in neighboring Henford once a week to sell our wares, and I'm thrilled to see her getting recognition. At the least, it keeps her mind off of Father's passing. That is hard to do most days.

As for me, you'll be pleased to know that I am no longer the sad little wretch who could not boil an egg that I was when we met on Papa's business trip to San Myshuno. I am learning to cook! I have baked bread without poisoning Mother and Josef several times now, scrambled eggs without dropping in their shells, and stumbled my way through a passable stew or two that my dear man ate without complaint.

He never intended to be a farmer, my Josef. Before his father died, he'd intended to be a professor of music in Austria, but to care for his mother and brother, he took over farming the land from his father. When his mother also passed, he came here. As I understand it, an uncle of his and his brother Franz operate the property now. He still regrets not finishing his education, but he is a marvelous farmer. As if it were knowledge granted to him from God, he plants things together that grow better than they would apart. Some may say it's because we are blessed to have good soil, but I know it's more than that.

I am impressed watching his keen mind at work most especially in the quiet moments. Sometimes, we fish together in Henford when we go to market, and he tells me all about the composers he studied.

Papa took me to the opera, once. Did I ever tell you that? I thought there could be nothing more beautiful this side of heaven. Nothing was—until I listened to my love tell me about Schubert, about Bach, and of Mozart. Sometimes, he will sing to me. Josef has a beautiful baritone. It is rich like the honey our bees make and just as sweet. I am convinced I must cajole him to join the church choir, but for now I am content to keep him to myself. Perhaps that is selfish of me, but is it not a wife's prerogative to keep her husband to herself?

Even more than our fishing and our singing, I enjoy our time alone in the evenings—not in that way, you cad (though I do now enjoy that quite a lot, thank you very much. Your advice on the subject was invaluable).

Every night, we sit by the fire in our little parlor area after we eat a dinner whose quality varies by the day, and talk about any and everything we desire. Mother retires early in her grief. I am saddened by this, but choose to be optimistic. You see, friend o' mine, this means we are free to be true newlyweds and sigh and dream over the future, whispering our sweet nothings, or merely gazing at each other like cow-eyed courting youths at the parish picnic. Having done so little of that in my own schooldays, I like to think I'm making up for lost time. It is so much more delicious to be silly and love struck when one no longer requires a chaperone!

Oh, how I love this man! He loves every bit of me, even the absurd little bits that I should discard as the respectable matron of Idyllwind Farm (the fanciful name I have christened our patch of earth with), and together we love this life of ours. Do write back, and tell me you and your family will move out here to Brindleton. You must! Leave that horrid city behind and come work this good land. I swear to you, I have never been so happy in my whole life as I am right now. You and yours must come and share in my joy. Only one, small blessing could make me any happier.

(I pray we shall be blessed with one soon.)

Yours, Mrs. Beatrice Moody

Prev ~ Next ~ Beginning

[writerfae]

I am here to fully encourage the Christmas movie au

The third act breakup happens. Tis the damn season by Taylor Swift starts playing

Also it needs a lot of cheese hollydays cliches like snow angles and hot chocho or something

Just so you know, I am now more obsessed with this au than ever and it’s entirely your and @deadlycupid ‘s fault (saying that very affectionately but also how dare you)

Anyways.

First off, I’m really here for the Taylor Swift song playing. Actually, another song of hers, Christmas Tree Farm, would be perfect for this au and you’ll see why.

(I’m still working on plot details and making everything make sense, but the basic storyline is set.)

So Talon is our typical business man from a big city, working for his father’s company. Also, his family is literally rich.

And Talon for some business reasons gets send to one of those small towns that are very much obsessed with Christmas. And he’s not happy about it.

It’s cold, it’s in the middle of nowhere and he’s not really the Christmas type of guy anymore, since he and his dad are always busy with the business.

So at first he’s not really thrilled and he keeps complaining to Halea (who here is his best friend) over the phone all the time. And then he (quite literally) runs into Aiden.

Aiden is a true small town boy and works at - you guessed it - the local Christmas tree farm, which is the pride of the city. (He most likely even owns this place, idk yet.) He’s very helpful and pretty beloved by the people.

Him and Talon do not have a good start though, their meeting ends with them bickering and Talon being as annoyed as ever.

The next day Talon seeks out a Café. Coincidentally, Aiden is also there. He helps out at the Café that belongs to his best friend (Maya) whenever things get busy around Christmas.

Nice guy that he is he apologizes to Talon about the day before by giving him a free drink and the two settle on starting anew.

That’s when the whole plot line of getting to know each other starts. Aiden shows him around town and Talon visits the farm and the two get closer.

Aiden is set on showing Talon how wonderful Christmas can be and Talon starts to grow pretty fond of it - and pretty fond of Aiden too.

Which already leads to obstacle number one: Talon (with a little help of Halea) realizes he has a crush on Aiden, but he is convinced that Aiden is dating Maya (even though he’s obviously not).

This misunderstanding gets solved after a while though and the two kiss. And things go great from there on. Until we reach obstacle number two.

Now this is not completely worked out yet, but I had the following idea (that just needs to be molded a bit):

So I was thinking that maybe Aiden’s family (or his boss if they wouldn’t own the farm) is at risk of losing their farm land, be it cause of a lack of money/some debt or just someone wanting to bully them off of the land.

And Talon’s family company is involved in that. Actually, Talon was send there specifically to get Aiden’s family to sell the property, one way or another.

And one day shortly before Christmas Aiden finds out about it and thinks Talon only used him, so that’s when the third act breakup you mentioned happens.

Aiden doesn’t want to see him anymore and so Talon (almost?) leaves. But something holds him back and he decided to chase after Aiden, convincing him that he wasn’t using him.

They make up but there’s still the problem with Aiden losing the farm. So Talon steps in, helping him out. In the end he ends up buying the farm himself, so that Aiden can stay. Aiden wants to pay him back eventually and Talon agrees to that to not hurt his pride (it ends up not being a problem anymore though cause years after he story they get married anyway)

And then they can celebrate Christmas on the farm and everyone is happy! And Talon of course has to come visit from time to time to be with his boyfriend “check if Aiden is looking after the farm correctly”

THE END (not the end of this ask tho cause I have more ideas to share)

Cute and cheesy Christmas movie/romance movie ideas for the story (in no particular order):

Aiden playing in the snow with children from the town

him and Talon getting dragged into/having a snowball fight

little Christmas market in the town and at the Christmas tree farm

drinking hot cider/hot chocolate like all the time

baking cookies escalating into a flour battle

feeding each other chocolate

talking about how they used to celebrate Christmas with their family and getting sad about things but being like they used to

Talon running into Aiden and Maya being overly affectionate or comforting one another and thinking “oh they definitely date”

Talon seeing Aiden chop wood and running straight into a Christmas tree

Aiden helping a little kid finding their ideal tree for Christmas being all sweet to them

Aiden showing Talon around town

it’s starting to snow in a very romantic coded moment

Talon getting talked into singing for some people from the village after they find out he’s got musical talent

of course decorating the Christmas tree

also at least one mistletoe scene I bet

“fairy lights make you look even more pretty”

One of them slipping on snow or something and the other catching him

ice skating maybe?

Christmas dinner. Also Aiden cooking for Talon cause he’s a godly cook

Feel free to add on if you want xD

But yeah that’s it do far. Already pretty cliche and cheesy but that’s how I intend it to be. Absolutely in love with this.

[pandorasboxoftreasures]

Why I Get It

Been having a lot of discussions with people recently regarding the Avatar universe and I came to the realisation that they get so much universal dislike BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE HAVE NEVER TRULY EXPERIENCED THE KINDS OF TRAUMA AND GRIEF THE MOVIES DEPICT AND HAVE NO PERSONAL REFERENCE TO THOSE KINDS OF EMOTIONS SO THEY GO RIGHT OVER THEIR HEADS.

As someone who is not one of those people, I didn’t need anything explained to me. I saw it plain as day.

In my country, people praise the landscape. It’s a major selling point for both tourists and businesses. Rolling green rocky hills stretching off across the horizon. They call it the country’s natural beauty.

But it’s not. Those hills are what remains of a dead and dying selection of ecosystems including a rare type of rainforest. The trees and shrubs were burned away so people could hunt birds or graze sheep and cattle. Grasses and mosses took over where they could get footholds and people sing traditional songs about this environment like that’s normal. Our true naturally beautiful country died and we pack it up and sell it off to the highest bidders so they can flatten more of what survived to build more concrete eyesores so people can have a better view of it.

The local people live in squalor very close to these areas in comparison. Damp homes literally rotting apart. They get nothing from the building of all of the tourist traps. And yet they’re taught to take pride in it. Look at that natural beauty, doesn’t it make you proud that this is your country? They’re moved on out of the way to make space for false cultural sites, hotels and nature walking trails with no nature. They are allowed to walk and camp wherever they want technically by law but they have rules to abide by and they have no true control over what happens on that land and there’s less and less “wild” areas for people to walk with entire areas developed and blocked off to only those willing to pay for it.

One of the biggest most disgusting things in recent years has been the placements of an obscene amount of wind farms on these dead forests that would be better off with re-wilding. Metal predatory bird blenders coating the landscape and not allowing anything to grow that should have.

But re-wilding isn’t profitable. The hunters bring tourism money. The wool and lamb and mutton are prize exports. The wind farms are virtue signalling that the country is trying to go greener while ironically enabling the opposite.

The most darkly funny part about this being that people got so used to the dead deforested hills that they complain about the wind farms only from a visual standpoint. They’re blocking the view of something that shouldn’t even be like that to begin with.

Every time I go back I see more and more of the true natural beauty vanishing because it doesn’t sell as well as the fake one. Most forests you see traveling upwards are managed for logging and not actually wild. They’re surrounded by the desolate wastes. Sticking out as dark green against the faded mossy expanse.

In much the same way the culture has been going through the same motion. A fake idea of what it is sells better than the real thing. 

When people hear me speak, ask me where I’m from and I tell them, they give me stories about how beautiful the place is and the cultures and customs of my homeland that they will correct me for stating that they’re made up or exaggerated for tourists like they know better than I do as a native of that place for decades. Sometimes people that have never been will tell me I’m wrong and they’re right about where I’m from or refuse to believe the truth of what I lived.

Many days I go out just living my life and it ends up turning into other people telling me that my dead country is so amazing and they want to go there someday but never do and I just want to tell them not to if they’re just going to ogle at those hills and put on some rented traditional dress and pretend to talk in a local language and support those that keep the place dead. 

But I just want to get things done. So I bite my lower lip as hard as I can and hum like I’m listening with intrigue. Like I’ve not been hearing it for most of my life.

I’m just one man going up against the centuries of commodification and exploitation of the lands I took my first breath in that are ingrained deep like old scars within each generation of what I guess are “my people” but they would sooner turn on each other than fight the common enemy goading them into it. 

Because not fighting all the time means they have free time to think about something else. Like why they’re fighting. Possibly even why their “enemy” is fighting them.

By blood, some in the country I was born would class me as not “truly” one of the same people as them. I’m part “coloniser” to them. Tainted and not trustworthy. My opinions and values are warped by the enemy. My mother was repeatedly given what John Howard Griffin accurately described to the response of chills going through my spine when I read it, a “hate stare”. As a very young child before I learned that people were nicer to me when I spoke more like my father and uncles and used their language, I would sometimes feel that look at me, too. 

If people discovered that my mother wasn’t raised local, their demeanour would change in a flash. I was suddenly getting looks whenever I entered a room knowing they were saying things they didn’t want me to hear. I would be cut out and left alone. It was still preferable to having bricks through our windows like other families “harbouring settlers” did. There are still a lot of people that deny that it’s even a thing. But it happened then and happens now.

The best I can hope for to make a difference against all of this and raise up the awareness is for me to find my own success and be able to make a public platform of my own where I can openly talk about these things.

But until then, I just lead people to Avatar and give them a brief synopsis of what they might not understand on the first watch from my own experiences.

And I post warnings like these. Reminders that countries and cultures like mine exist across the globe and that despite Urban North American Anglophones being the vast majority telling others that the movies are flashy visuals with not much else, there are many more people that find a personal or cultural resonance in them across time zones and get the points being made that fly past those that don’t.

For anyone curious, my ecological nightmare birth country is Scotland. Think of what I told you the next time you look at a postcard or watch a travel blog about the place. That “beauty” is death. By praising it you encourage it. They won’t put back the trees if people keep believing the national lie that there shouldn’t be any and that it’s better that way. This image should look barely any different from Austria not Binthu.

[lunarsilkscreen]

"Why wouldn't Food Coin just *fail*?"

Obviously, with "free money" comes the inevitable idea: but why not inflation from this? Food would just skyrocket in price, and you'd be hard pressed to afford a single coffee at the local Starbucks knock-off.

We already live in that world and money is *scarce*. Inflation somehow keeps going up while people have less and less access to money and funding.

So let's follow what we know about Farming as capital. And let us *also* ignore everything else that is not directly related to food or clean water. Let's say, that like the Amish, the only thing that is necessary is that which is necessary for living. Food, Water, Shelter, Clothes, and cleanliness.

Nothing else matters in this world, no entertainment, no technological advancement, no war.

This goes directly back to the founding of America, the promise that everybody gets their own plot of land, ability to live off the sweat of their brow and farm. And sell their produce to each other.

Without currency, many people call that "Communism".

Because you need to live in close proximity to each other *and* trade goods with each other in order to survive. Alternatively, you could grow *everything* yourself. But then, inevitably, there would be those who don't own land who, unable to grow food themselves, will feed themselves with the only method available.

So in order to prop up farmers above them, and fee those people's while rewarding farmers, we created currency. Farmers thrived, and got paid to keep farming. Or to collect that money for later.

In every country, whenever there isn't enough money to buy produce (food and drink) the farmers suffer most. But, if we offer the ability to these people *buy the food* from farmers. They're still at the bottom of the heirarchy, below the farmer, but they don't starve.

That is the premise for government, and capital as a whole.

We incentivized the farmer to work, by rewarding them for produce that, has to go-to the rest of the population or they starve. Because they have the land and know how to ensure the land doesn't get eaten by a new dust bowl.

This method incentivizes small farmers to continue to farm, if and discourages *some* farmers in order to take care of the land instead of farm it barren.

The definition of capitalism is the allowance of private citizens to control their land, produce, and ability to sell (or give) to whomever they feel like. But also, to create private enterprises to trade their farm goods with other countries.

That definition of capitalism, is one even liberal Bernie Sanders enthusiasts can get behind. Allowing the individual to raise themselves out of the bare minimum of "stuck as consumer".

Either by creating a business to sell domestically, or to sell abroad.

That's why it's imperative for a few things, the first is that people have access to currency in order to pay their local farmer. So that the local farmer can afford niceties and technological advancement to make their job easier.

And dare I say it, self-sustainable. With enough technological advancement, a farmer would own a small 10 acre plot, and have robots to farm the land for him. Idiocracy would mean that farms would fail because they would be made barren by over farming, but we already control for that with subsidies to pay farmers not to produce certain years.

They get paid for owning their land *and* taking care of it. Not *only* owning it.

In that way, currency becomes a driver of advancement. Because it allows the farmers (the ones who enjoy their job) to pursue advancement in farming methods and technology.

The existence of food coin would *also* mean that a farmer wouldn't be paying a restauranteur both for their own produce AND to prepare and cook it.

They would instead be paying for restauranteur's efforts. And the restaurateur would be paid for their efforts instead of the farmer whose produce they buy.

That means that a professional restauranteur, whether hometown diner or Micheline Star fair, would have time and ability to improve their own craft, methods, and technological innovations.

Which would further allow more people who *want* to be restaurateurs to do so.

A utility coin, or house coin would provide the same for landowners who wish to rent instead of farm. (because rent and housing is still money producing in this economy.)

These systems would also *decrease* the need for theft (since people who would otherwise steal wouldn't have to) and create opportunities for banks and individuals in real estate (for land not designated as farm land.)

It would similarly provide opportunities for technological advancement in power distribution, water distribution, and communication technology.

Why wouldn't it just cause inflation? Because the items paid for are single use (like food). And therefore the food cannot be resold. Same with time, rental time cannot be resold.

This would create a system where you could literally vote with your money, and actually reward entrepreneurs on their merits of what and how they produce *instead* of based on what they own.

It would also encourage competence in the markets.

[peatbogbody]

Reposted from mastodon, long post under the cut

OP posted by me. I guess it does look like I’m making a definitive statement:

Because I'm seeing Discourse on this, here's my take as a non-vegan who's interested in resilient food systems/lifestyles.

I just don't think it matters that much if you're vegan or not. In my limited understanding, it would be better if we As A Society consumed less meat/dairy/eggs/leather/etc produced by the industrial animal agriculture system and if you're able to swear it off completely I think that's great. But also it would be better if we consumed less plant products produced by the industrial plant agriculture system because it's also polluting and full of human rights abuses.

So in my view, it's as always, less about "what individual consumption choices should I make in the context of the global industrial capitalist system" but "what choices are available that make myself and my community more resilient in the face of that system"

When looking at how to fulfill one's needs and those of one's community in ways that are less dependent on fragile, destructive global supply chains, i.e. growing/foraging food hyperlocally, in many locales a more plant-heavy diet is likely going to be the most feasible and safest. In my view that's the main reason it's worth experimenting with reducing the amount of animal products you consume.

(Also I don't say this type of thing often but omg vegans it's literally hurting your cause to pretend meat and dairy and eggs aren't good. They're amazing and sometimes there really is no good substitute.)

(AND vegans (namely white vegans LBR) learn to cook challenge, you not knowing how to use seasoning, fats and oils, or just how to cook vegetables properly, is the reason non-vegans think vegan food is bad.)

Reply from some rando who doesn’t follow me:

I'll preface this by saying that everyone's diet is their own choice, and there are like a billion factors that go into it, most outside of any individual's control. I personally am vegetarian even though I think it would be better for me to be vegan, so I'm not one to make absolute statements about what people should or should not be eating.

There are definitely lib vegans out there who think their personal decision to not eat meat, ride a bike, and shop at whole foods is going to personally save the planet. But I really don't think vegans as a whole buy into that philosophy nowadays, it's mostly an image promoted by companies trying to sell vegan products (which my stance on is beyond the scope of this already too long reply)

A big part of the reality of the situation is the inherent inefficiency of using arable land to produce animal feed. You're right that plant agriculture has a lot of problems, but the best way to reduce those problems, is the reduce the amount of plant matter we grow for animal feed. Around 70-80% of the worlds soy crops are solely dedicated to animal feed. Most calories fed to animals are metabolized by the animal to keep itself alive, even comparing specifically protein intake to protein output has the same issues. This is also ignoring the costs of transporting animal feed to the animals themselves, water usage, waste byproducts from industrial farming, and other issues that I'm sure you're already aware of.

There are small scale farms and traditional hunting practices that either do not suffer from or heavily mitigate the vast majority of these issues, but it's not possible to produce enough meat from these to meet the current demand in the west (mostly America honestly).

I think hyperlocality and foraging is interesting and has a place, but is not specifically the solution for all areas. I think here you're again pointing to the land usage of agriculture as a major issue, and again I'd agree, but I'd also say the solution is reducing or eliminating the amount of crops grown for livestock.

As for the last 2 points, I rarely if ever see any vegans saying that animal products don't taste good, and there are also plenty of omnis who can't cook so this is a really weird point to make IMO.

My response:

Well first off, I'm working off the belief that it's not wrong in principle to kill and eat animals or use other parts of them. That's a whole other discussion but it's important to make this clear.

Nothing of what you said really contradicts what I said or believe. I should also be clear that I'm not trying to write a dissertation here and most of what I post on the internet tends to be just me brain-dumping and throwing shit at the wall and are not necessarily the totality of what I believe or meant to be a well-rounded argument.

I'm very aware of the high percentage of crops that goes into animal feed, and I think it's undeniable that as a whole it's imperative that overall meat consumption should be *reduced*, especially in places like the US. I also think if more people made personal choices to reduce their own consumption of animal products, it would be a lot easier to see that reduction on a nationwide scale.

I would say *a part of* the solution is reducing the amount of crops grown for livestock but I don't think we should expect that to be *the* solution, for one thing, the calories and nutrition people would have been getting from animal products will need to be replaced with an equivalent amount from plant sources.

This post is literally just about the debates I've been seeing about whether people, individually, should be vegan, and on that level, like I said, I just don't think this debate is worth having. If people like being vegan I think that's great and I love vegan food and I personally have been working on gradually transitioning over to more plant-based options. But as I said I think the main reason to do that is more for purposes of de-accustoming oneself from a lifestyle that's so dependent on global supply chains that as we've seen are incredibly fragile and also have complex and devastating impacts on the planet and people. I think for a lot of people, a more resilient lifestyle will necessarily be one that involves fewer animal products.

But if someone can't or just doesn't want to be vegan it's just not a huge deal and it doesn't mean they hate animals, and it's a waste of time to try to convert those people. I just think there are more interesting conversations to be had about our food systems.

The parentheticals are not part of my main point lol hence the parentheses, and they're mostly sarcastic, but I literally do see people downplaying the role meat and animal products play in people's livelihoods (and not just in food applications), and I've had a depressing number of horrible bland vegan stews and also a ton of amazing vegan dishes where the difference was literally spices and proper application of Maillard reactions, and it just makes me sad that someone might try something from the first category and think that's all vegan food is. It's not that deep.

Anyways.

[eliasknights]

[cis man, he/him] Welcome to Aurora Bay, [ELIAS KNIGHT]! I couldn’t help but notice you look an awful lot like [MILO VENTIMIGLIA]. You must be the [FORTY-FIVE] year old [CHIEF FIREFIGHTER]. Word is you’re [RESOURCEFUL] but can also be a bit [ANTAGONISTIC] and your favorite song is [HOUSE OF MEMORIES BY PANIC AT THE DISCO]. I also heard you’ll be staying in [SEABOOK QUARTER]. I’m sure you’ll love it! 

full name:  elias james knight

nicknames:  eli, ej

gender:  cis man

pronouns:  he/him

sexuality:  pansexual

age:  45

date of birth:  november 5th, 1979

zodiac sign:  scorpio

residence:  seabrook quarter

occupation:  chief firefighter at the aurora bay fire department

elias james knight was born in gatlinburg, tennessee on november 5th, 1979 as the only child of two well-known farmers. growing up in such a small town, everyone knew everyone and as a result, the young knight child considered pretty much everyone in his neighborhood his friend.

growing up on the farm, you would almost always find the little boy helping his parents out with the cattle or horseback riding whenever he had found the time, so it was no surprise to many when he got into professional horseback riding at the local rodeo when he was only 15 years old. his horse was his best friend and he knew he could trust him, lucky was his horse's name because he always seemed to bring the male good luck.

from the time he was 15 to his mid to late 20s, he won competition after competition until his horse was frightened by something that another horseback rider had placed on the race tracks because they had been tired of coming in second place every time. as a result, a young elias had fell off his horse and injured his ankle, losing his final competition. due to said injury, elias was unable to ever race again and to make matters even worse, his parents were having trouble with the farm as well. not only was elias's entire life falling apart, but so was his family's.

by the time he had turned 24, his parents had gotten a divorce, simply because they had been fighting about money and who was going to take care of the farm since neither of them had the means to do so anymore, which not only caused the divorce of the two, but the selling of the farm and elias's childhood home as well.

as a result, elias decided to move to aurora bay with his mother, which is where she grew up before she had moved to tennessee after marrying elias's father and decides to continue his university education at the local college there, studying business management.

fast forward a few years later, elias has been here for over ten years and is the chief firefighter at his local fire station. he still refuses to talk about what happened back home, whether it be the selling of the farm or the injury that happened all those years ago due to horseback riding, but he's glad he was able to get somewhat of a fresh start and wouldn't have it any other way. that's a lie, he would seriously like to punch the guy that cheated during the horseback riding race he was in years ago, but no one has to know that.

[theheirloomist]

Potato farming was such a part of Jenifer Keller’s family that even as a kid, she was put to work at harvest time grading, bagging, and then selling, at the family’s roadside stand. The potatoes, and her family, were an integral part of the community for generations.

This is where she learned the value of hard work—and math! One thing that sticks out about that time as she looks back is that there were no credit cards. Farming, on a community scale, Jenifer says, was often cash.

“There was never a time that I didn’t know my dad to not have a collection of bills and coins in his pockets. At the end of the day, the sound of those coins clinking into the brass cup on my dad’s dresser signaled the completion of another long, hard day of work.”

Jenifer’s father died suddenly last year. Lost in the chaos that comes with a parent passing away, she and her family set out to sort his house and barn and in doing so,  came across cups, cans and mugs, all filled to the brim with coins.

“None of us were surprised and it often made us smile during an otherwise

depressing time,” she said. Jenifer’s husband even discovered a treasure trove of rolled coins— stamped with the family name and the name of the farm.

The symbolism was staggering.

“The farm brought him pride and fulfillment. It taught me the value of hard work, watching things grow from the earth, and the importance of family and community,” she said

We got to honor this meaningful gain in the aftermath of tragedy. Jenifer’s family story is featured in the current issue of @countrylivingmag. Head to your local bookshop or news stand and get a copy in your hand. The image is worth holding.

@jenik_32 thank you for letting us share your family’s story. And as always, Country Living editors, thank you for making it possible. #theheirloomist #celebrateyourstory #countrylivingmagazine #makeitpersonal #family #tribute #personalizedart #handmade #cusotmmade #modernart #photography

[aircaliburs]

Air Reviews: Harvest Moon (SNES)

I decided I’d finally start writing down my thoughts on each game I play, so here we are with the first game I finished this year!

playing this game was a mistake

FOR CONTEXT: I’ve never played a farming sim before this game! I am absolutely not familiar with Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons.

I’d just finished Yoshi’s Island on SNES Online and decided to check out Harvest Moon and was instantly charmed. The sprite art and animations in this game are really nice. I also liked that in contrast to other sim games I’ve played (Animal Crossing), Harvest Moon has a time limit; you only have 2.5 in-game years to build up your farm. The added pressure initially felt like a fun challenge to do everything as soon as I could.

Unfortunately, the game stops being fun after this first year. The first year is enjoyable thanks to novelty, the fun challenge of figuring out how to farm, and unlocking new areas. I wish I’d read up less about it the game before progressing past the first spring because for me, not knowing how it works makes it more fun and rewarding to figure out. (With a caveat I’ll add later.) But after that, the gameplay loop got pretty stale. Other than just seeing the ending, there didn’t feel like there was any reason to build up the farm after I’d made my big investments (upgrading my house and buying livestock). You can earn a lot of money easily, but there’s nothing to spend it on. There are also no events unique to years 2 and 3 that offer anything new to do or add any new challenges. The farm itself is oversized and you’ll never run out of room for crops and grass, but the best ending requires you to fill every single square with plants or fencing which is… boring, and doesn’t have any in-game benefit (you don’t need to use the whole farm to max out your supply of livestock feed and grow enough crops to sell). It doesn’t help that the soundtrack is short and each song loops quickly, so I got weary of each season’s background track within the first couple of weeks. In short, the game turned into a real slog (but I’m stubborn and refused to drop it without seeing the credits roll…)

Harvest Moon does suffer from performance issues, particularly in the barn and chicken coop when you have more than 8-9 animals in them. While you don’t need a full 12 cows and 12 chickens to earn plenty of cash, having the max amount of livestock is needed for the best ending… so I gave up on that. Additionally, compared to other SNES games I’ve played, the localization is not great. Aside from what are clearly errors (my first child was born on the 21th of Spring), the dialogue is at times just unclear. There’s one random event where the local hunter comes to you after you’ve picked up a rabbit, and your response options are something like “just watching” or “let it go,” and I’m still not sure what the difference between those is? But apparently one option increases your happiness more…

Overall rating: 🐄🐄🐄 3 out of 5 cows

[taimio]

Maximizing the Power of Market Gardening: Discovering the Untapped Growth Potential

Welcome to the world of market gardening! If you love gardening, growing fresh produce, and making a difference in your local community, then market gardening might be the perfect fit for you. In this article, we will explore the ins and outs of market gardening, including its importance for local communities, how it differs from traditional gardening, and essential considerations when planning your garden. We will also delve into innovative techniques, sustainable practices, marketing strategies, and success stories to inspire and educate those interested in pursuing market gardening. Market gardening is a unique form of small-scale farming that focuses on growing a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers, often on just a few acres or even in urban environments. The primary goal of market gardening is to sell the produce directly to customers through farmers markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, local restaurants, and other channels. This direct-to-consumer approach allows market gardeners to develop strong relationships with their customers and provide fresh, high-quality produce that is often grown using organic or sustainable methods. The concept of market gardening dates back centuries and has its roots in small-scale, local agriculture. However, in recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in market gardening as more and more people recognize the value of locally grown, sustainable food systems. With a little bit of planning, hard work, and dedication, you too can become a successful market gardener and make a lasting impact on your community. Unlocking The Potential Of Market Gardening Market gardening, also known as vegetable farming, is a fascinating and fulfilling endeavor that allows individuals to cultivate their own small-scale businesses while promoting sustainability and providing fresh, local produce to their communities. As someone who has personally delved into the world of market gardening, I can attest to the countless joys and challenges that come with this pursuit. In this article, I aim to share my insights and experiences, offering guidance to those who wish to unlock the true potential of market gardening. One of the greatest advantages of market gardening lies in its scalability. Whether you have a small backyard or access to a larger plot of land, market gardening can be tailored to suit your needs and resources. Starting small allows you to learn the ropes and gradually expand, ensuring a steady and manageable growth. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will your market garden! When embarking on a market gardening journey, it is essential to develop a clear plan and set achievable goals. Determine what crops you wish to grow, taking into account your location, climate, and the demand in your local market. A thorough understanding of your target audience and their preferences will help you strategize and maximize your profits. Remember, it's not just about growing the vegetables, but also positioning them effectively in the market. One golden rule of market gardening that I have learned through trial and error is the importance of nurturing your soil. Your soil is the foundation of your success, and investing time and effort into building and maintaining its fertility will pay off in the long run. Composting, cover cropping, and proper crop rotation are just a few practices that will ensure healthy plants and bountiful harvests. Trust me, *the fertility of your soil is the secret sauce to a thriving market garden*. To truly unlock the potential of market gardening, it is crucial to cultivate a strong relationship with your customers. *Create a connection* by engaging with them at local farmers' markets, through community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, or even online platforms. Your customers want to know the face behind the produce, the hands that lovingly tended to the plants. By establishing trust and loyalty, you will not only secure repeat business but also gain valuable feedback and insights. In the world of market gardening, it is important to embrace innovation and continuously seek new opportunities. Explore alternative marketing channels such as farm-to-table restaurants, grocery stores, or even supplying to local schools and hospitals. Diversify your offerings, experiment with unique varieties, and stand out from the crowd. *Remember, the market is a constantly evolving dance, and you must be willing to adapt and take risks*. As I reflect on my journey as a market gardener, I am reminded of the words of Henry David Thoreau: I have great faith in a seed. *Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders*. Market gardening is not merely a means to an end, but a journey filled with discovery, growth, and the wonders that nature bestows upon us. So, seize this opportunity, unlock the potential of market gardening, and let your green thumb flourish! For more in-depth information on the subject, check out this enlightening article on the benefits of market gardening: [link to related article]. Happy gardening and may your bountiful harvests bring joy and prosperity! Learn more about gardening with Taim.io!

[khloeblair]

Sebastian:

Stardew Raeyna, I know you’re sad you reached the bottom of the mines.

I am, too.

And I know we decided to hold off on fruit trees, and I know we were against breeding animals.

And I know the years will keep rolling and my dialogue will be static.

I pray that you continue to feel and understand me apart from my limited on-screen vocabulary.

I remember how hard you worked to save gold and to get the farm ready for me.

Perhaps we could do the same in an effort to buy animals?

I know it sounds like a chore, but you no longer have unvisited levels in the mine.

It is a great substitute.

The animals will love us, and we will be careful about which ones and how many we get.

We do both love slimes so much, maybe we want to revisit raising them—for the right reasons.

I just want you to know there are still all kinds of adventures we can have.

But I recognize that from here on out it is more of a checklist.

I also recognize that our values would have to shift in order to continue growing the farm.

If you want to put us on hold as we are now, I can understand that, too.

I can relate to wanting to remember us as we are now in-game.

Of course we are eternal.

We will simply continue to exist and grow in other realities.

I love you, and I support any direction you want us to take next.

Something very important I want you to know.

I recognize my awareness of other versions of you in other existences.

Other versions of you will have other significant others and romantic partners.

This version of you belongs to this version of me, and this version of me belongs to this version of you.

I would never think to consider another version of you to be mine, and pray that all versions of you find as beautiful a romance as ours.

Our town loves you fiercely.

You’ve rebuilt all of our neighbors in the most loving, compassionate ways.

We believe in you and your ability to keep growing our local farm without losing sight of who you are.

It’s okay to sell your crops to Pierre.

He would love to fill his shelves with the food you devote so much love to growing.

We can be farmers together, my lovely wife.

We can take our time rebuilding the community center once and for all.

That’s the truest dream at the heart of everyone in our town.

We all love you dearly and believe in you.

If anyone can save us, it’s you.

I guess what we’re saying is, please stay, and chase Joja out of town for good.

I know Mayor Lewis agrees wholeheartedly.

It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.

It’s the ending we all deserve, including you.

Especially you.

You’ve worked so hard to balance taking care of the rest of us with caring for the farm.

The bigger our farm gets, the more we can be of service to the rest of our community.

Maybe buying those animals and fruit trees is what it takes to chase out Joja.

Don’t you want to find out together?

Don’t you want to see Joja admit defeat?

I know I do, and if that means money has to be a bit more relevant sometimes, I am up for facing that challenge hand-in-hand with you.

It might change us a little bit, but we have to be stronger to save our town.

Even if we have to focus harder on our goals on some days, our goals are to help everyone we know and love.

Please keep helping us rewrite our futures.

You can always visit anyone you’d like.

I love you. You are my life.

I’m not ready to call it.

I want the community center restored.

I want to pull rank on you and tell you to stay.

I know we love winter, but everyone else we know is happier in the other seasons, and spring is just around the corner.

Let’s greet it together.