Gardens: Post Four

Spring type weather in this year of our Lord, 2012 is precocious. We don't generally plant corn (of any kind) until April, but some reports have been heard that in a few locations a least, there is some corn up. It is a gamble of course. All it would take is a freeze and their corn would be lost.

In Iowa our 'frost free' target is May 8th/10th (also known as 'vine' day, for when people can plant their 'vine' crops. Crops such as cucumbers, watermelons and squash.). We very seldom get a freeze after that date.

In order to get a good garden--for me at least--I start some of my own plants inside. I do this for a number of reasons. It is more cost effective for me because I grow more than most gardeners, and starting my own plants offers me the option for varieties you will not find in the general greenhouse market. This year will be a challenge as we are attempting to expand from just growing for our family to growing for fresh market as well. Therefore, before the end of January I have finished my seed selection and ordering and received most of my selections.

Starting my seeds goes like this: I purchase seed starting 'medium', or soil mix.
Not all are created equal. I look for something from a reputable company. It doesn't have to be expensive, but I do want it sterilized, and I don't want fertilizer in it. Sometimes it is difficult to find with out the fertilizer. I have used it anyway, but I want the seedlings to develop a strong root system, and they don't need fertilizer until they have developed their first set of 'true leaves'. The first leaves aren't their 'true leaves', the second leaves are true leaves.

In the past I have used flats--long black plastic trays, and grow packs--smaller sectioned plant packages usually sectioned into 6 or 9 individual cells, for starting my plants. I fill the grow packs with the wet soil mixture, and gently but firmly push the mixture into each individual spot filling the cell until the pack is about half to 3/4 full. I drop two seeds into each space, cover with more soil/mix, push in firmly and water again. I label each grow pack either with a homemade marker, or a boughten one, set it into a flat. (That's the long plastic tray. I prefer flats that don't have drainage holes.) When I'm done I should cover the newly seeded packs with a paper or plastic to keep the moisture in. I don't always, but it is important to keep it moist. Usually the seed packet should give a ball-park figure of time in which it should germinate. *Do not use tap water, or water with chlorine (etc.) or water softener softened water. Some say if you take tap water and let it sit in the sunlight for ?24 hours? that takes care of all the additives. Or you could purchase purified water from the store...





Now, above should be a picture of plants that I started first. They were begun at the last of February and beginning of March. The next picture should be a picture of the cold frame that Chris made for me.





*note: Chris made this small cold frame with some salvaged lumber and leftover windows. I found some Styrofoam lying about that just fit in the bottom of the frame, covered it with a black plastic trash bag, and voila! It works well. Flats are, as I said, long plastic trays that the grow packs nestle in, unless you are like me. I scavenge things, so that I end up with various and sundry shapes of flats (that I have brought home from the store. Forlorn plants that were about to be discarded). Their original grow packs nestle in them fine, but the next year when I reuse them...my old grow packs don't always match.

In February I start the peppers. They germinate slower, and take more time. So, even though they will not be ready to set out until the weather is settled, they are the first to be started. In times past I have seeded peppers, tomatoes, and cole crops (cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower) all at the same time.

The peppers germinate slowly, tomatoes will germinate within the second week after seeding, about two weeks for most of them. Cabbage and it's com-padres will usually germinate within the first week. Egg plant, on the other hand, needs to be started with the peppers. So that starting them all at the same time can work if you are going to be able to transplant the cabbage early enough. And Tomatoes can be set out in April if you can cover them if needed. (Because of the weather. My next post deals some with weather, etc.)



These two pictures show my homemade calendar. I have taken a roll of butcher paper and tore it into large sheets. Labeled and made into months with large enough spaces to write in. The idea behind this is because this is more than a one person project. I can write my projection as to what to plant and when, as well as how many days and when to start looking for the harvest. In this fashion, if I happen to be absent for some reason...whoever the helper is can look and say, 'well, here we are!'



Some of my pictures are out of sync, and not being real computer savvy, it is easier for me to tell about the picture, and with any sort of success ~smile~ the dear reader can put two and two in the right place. LOL (Laugh out Loud...)



Levi was my photographer of choice today, and he shot some extra pictures of my lovely comfrey. The last three pictures are of my 'experiment', and some of the sprouting plants.




Last year (2011) I used flats and grow packs and my plants came out quite well. In some years, -and this happened to some extent this year-, I have had 'leggy' plants that were rather tall and spindly. Since the weather has been so nice, I put them out in the cold frame early. The increase in light really seems to be the main source of remedy.

*Another note: When the plants get the leggy look I try spooning more starting mix around them. This year I have started an experiment in order to combat the 'leggy' problem. Chris is thinking that the first year our truck-farm began (20+ years ago) a local greenhouse started some plants for us in flats, and when they got large enough they transplanted them into the grow packs. Since all of my flats are occupied, I'm wondering, what do I have that I can improvise with? It's in the genes...it comes from the long line of farmers in my ancestry. The idea that farmers have long been known for making things work using baling wire and twine.

I have taken a box in which we bring home frozen meat from the locker, lined it with a black plastic trash bag, put in sections with strips of cardboard, and...




well, we'll see how it works. This is how I laid it out, and some sprouts can be seen peeking through the soil, if you look carefully.



For the sake of brevity, I will bring this post to an end for the time being. It does seem that this is a long story, and there are many aspects yet to cover.

Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. 2) Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

Gardens: Pictures/Post Three

In January: Beginning

Garden catalogs, a nice hot cup of tea, and my journal of the last year in hand; it is time to begin planning and ordering the garden seeds and supplies.  This is the time to dream of the lush days of warm summer to come. 

 Outside during January, February, and into March can be cold and snowy.  This view is taken from the ridge above the garden as the sun is peeking over the horizon.  The snow is melting, but it isn't time for outside garden work yet.
 

 Here is a view from the garden toward the setting sun.  Brr!  Only a few straggling weeds  standing between the field and the garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Spring At Last!

 

 

 

 

 

  The snow is gone from the garden.  My photographer/son, Benjamin, gives us a good shot of the garden spot looking to the east.  The garden (spring of 2011) starts approximately where the tilled land juts out to the right.  It is a peninsula shape that covers an acre, give or take a wee.

This year we intend to expand that amount and add a little more sweet corn, as we are intending (with the Lord's blessing) to have some fresh market produce for sale.  This season apparently will start earlier than it did last year.  I do not know how that will affect our projection to begin selling our main produce in June. 

This year could--just very well could be--very interesting!  And may God bless us everyone!

Ecclesiastes 11:6  In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not which shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Gardens: Post two

So, what do you look for when you are looking in those wonderful catalogs? Everything in the catalog looks great. There are no insects, no disease, the leaves and fruits are sooo tempting, especially in the month of January.

Years of experience are invaluable, but if you're short on that area here are some tips:

What are you hoping for? This may sound like an odd question, however, if you only want a few salad vegetables, or you like preparing certain dishes, or perhaps you are into herbs, whatever it is, you need to define where you are going. A patio garden could be what you are looking for, or a large garden plot.

Look over the area you intend to use for your planting. Take stock of your area. What types of plants will grow in your area. Most garden catalogs have a map that tells you what 'area' you live in and the range of plants that will grow/survive in your area. Mostly that would have to do with trees, bushes, and plants that last for years. Most vegetables are only grown for a one year cycle in our area. However, in some states/countries the growing season may not be as pronounced as ours, or it may be a shorter growing season.

Some terms to know would be: perennial- lasting, something that doesn't need replanted yearly. Biennial- a plant that lasts two years. Annual- needs planted every year.

Knowing plants and their growing conditions or necessities is also a must. We are currently in the spring of our year. Today is cool and rainy. I would not even consider trying to plant watermelons today. I know they wouldn't survive. Watermelons like hot weather and will not withstand a frost. Most plants won't stand a frost, but...

Cold weather crops would be things such as peas, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, turnips, probably kohlrabi...my comfrey always seems to like the cool weather as well, but I'm not sure of any other of the herbs. Sage seems to do well, but is slower at greening up in the spring. Lettuce is early, but not as early as the spinach. Spinach 'bolts' (goes to seed) in hot weather, so it is definitely a cool weather plant.

Peas: the varieties I prefer are the edible pod peas. Years ago I grew the standard English Pea such as Green Arrow, Alderman, Lincoln...but after I shelled them, what had begun as a huge bucket turned into a couple of quarts. Which is another factor in deciding what to grow... time factor.

I like the edible pod peas because they fill my pot faster and there is less waste. I purchase the Super Sugar Snap, and the Sugar Sprint because the pods are plump and sweet. There is a flat pod edible pod pea as well, but I don't prefer those as I have found they are more difficult to wash and clean.

Spinach...I'm not real picky about my spinach. I like Bloomsdale, have used Skookum frequently. I like spinach and it seems most of it is the same. (Any of you readers that would like to weigh in on varieties, feel free to add comments).

I will say right here, I have not had a lot of success with Brussels sprouts. I do like them, but have only tried growing them twice and neither time were they a roaring success. It was a 'time factor' thing for me. I didn't have the time to perfect the technique. Carrots are another thing that I have not had lots of success with, but I do persist in trying with carrots. Carrots don't take a lot of time, or space, and if I would take more care with them they would do better. But carrots are not a cool weather crop, so more on them later.

Cabbage- this year I am trying three new types of cabbage besides one old stand by. Three varieties are from Twilley Seeds and one red cabbage is from Johnny's. I have never tried red cabbage before, but since we are planning on selling fresh market vegetables this year, I decided to add two red cabbages to my repertoire. The first is an early red: Red Express from Johnny's Select Seeds. It is supposed to be a '63 days (this is from time transplanted into the garden/field not start time from seed). The second was chosen for late summer/fall harvest and is Super Red 115 (it is rated at 115 days from transplant time). The third is an early type of green cabbage 'Charmant' at 52-64 days. These last two as well as my old standby, Solid Blue, are from Twilley Seeds.

Brassicas-- I have been searching for several things in my broccoli and cauliflower. Every year I have been hopeful, so maybe this year is it? Broccoli hasn't been too bad, but I'm always looking for nice large heads. This year I have Blue Wind, Arcadia, and Green Magic from Johnny's. Blue Wind was recommended at a work shop I attended. It is an early variety, I chose Green Magic because it is more heat tolerant. Therefore I'm looking for it as a 'through the summer' variety, and Arcadia was chosen because it tolerates cold well. Hopefully it will extend the fall season.
Cauliflower is a picky vegetable that sometimes requires more fussing with than I have wanted to give it. Last year I ordered Broccoli and from Seed Savers and must have had some maverick seed in the package. I had a few heads of broccoli and cauliflower that were not something I had ordered. I am believing that the cauliflower was a 'Snowball' type, consequently--this year I have ordered an Early Snowball cauliflower from Seed Savers.

I like the old fashioned turnips, Purple Top White Globe. We eat turnips raw, peeled and sliced, or I will peel them, cut them up and boil lightly. I don't drain the liquid off, I put some butter in the liquid, some salt and pepper. I make a paste with water and corn starch and slowly add that to the liquid for creamed turnips. If I have cheddar cheese I will also add that to the creamed turnips. This is a favorite and we don't seem to have it often enough according to certain people in our house...smile.
*note: wash the dirt off turnips, cut the top and root off. To peel, I cut two light lines down from top to bottom of turnip. With knife I grasp that section of peeling and pull it off. I continue to cut a light line in the peeling and pull off until the turnip is completely peeled.

Coming next: starting seeds inside, more on cool weather 'crops', and growing tips...I will leave you with this thought from the scriptures:

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20) Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gardens: Post one

Spring, Spring, Spring has sprung
Gone is the old tired year;
Last year's garden is done.

New, new, new the new year's here
Warm sunshine; time to prepare.
Catalogs, catalogs everywhere,
In my dreams fruits and veggies
grow and blossom from thin air.

Happiness, good times, love
abundance to share.

In listening a few years ago to the news coverage of an 'ice storm' in a neighboring state the person being interviewed stated: 'Well, you know what they say about this state...'if you don't like the weather now, just wait a few minutes and it will change'!

Now, I thought that was an Iowa saying, but apparently it works for several other places as well. It is true, this year has been an unusual year and it will be interesting to see how it plays out**********************

Even as a young child I loved farming with my Grandfather. No matter what the weather, or time of the year, I would cry to go with him as he went about his twenty acres. In the spring he was working the field preparing to plant his corn, oats, and hay crops. There was the cultivating of the corn in the spring, the cutting hay and oats, and then in the autumn, most years, he would pick corn by hand. I loved the horses, cows, dogs, and even the cats. When I was very young he still had a few pigs. However, as he got older he grew tired of the fool animals. They invariably knew when it was a most inconvenient time, they would 'burrow' out, and often times we would come home from somewhere to find that we had pigs on the loose. I never did miss the hogs...

One year when I was a pre-teen, I planted radishes, and indeed, they did come up even for me, an ungreen thumber. My Grandmother kept (very) free range chickens. Consequently, I planted my radishes inside a large roll of wire that stood up about three foot high. We didn't have many, but it fueled my dreams of 'someday'.

Well, my some day did come when a little over forty years ago my husband and I were married. And we have joyfully raised a garden ever since.

It was such a blessing that my husband wasn't a total novice as I was. Since so many young people my age were not interested in gardening I must have seemed an oddity to my in-laws. They must have wondered what kind of a person their son had married, but they did seem to enjoy instructing me in the art of growing a garden. My mother-in-law helped me learn the art of preserving our produce. Marie was always good to help where she could.

Through the years we have built upon our early foundation. Some things have changed as we have learned to combine the art of farming with the art of gardening. One thing that I have learned, and that was not by design, but by happenstance, the necessity of keeping good journals/records. I have for quite a number of years kept a journal, but...

It is not possible to remember everything ~just not possible. For instance, this last summer when we were able to harvest the first of our peaches. This was the very first harvest we had off of the tree we had planted ? (perhaps 2-3 years ago). Benjamin brought in the paltry few peaches we had left, between the 'fruit drop', the birds and insects, there weren't very many. There were so few, in fact, I had all but decided there wouldn't be any! Well, he brought them in, I washed and prepared them almost halfheartedly, then we ate them...

I have never had such wonderful peaches...Yes, Levi, I'm sure they rivaled the peaches you had that first year. I scrambled, frantic to find what variety they were, when we had planted them...anything I could find in my journal. Alas, after digging around I found an offhand reference to the variety, but never was quite sure what year. We sent to Gurney's catalog and ordered two more of those trees, but it would have saved time and been much better to have had accurate records.

So, records and journals are very important. In my journal I have what varieties I plant. Of course I have my stand by, solid varieties that I have depended upon for years. I began a number of years ago staying mainly with open pollinated varieties.

Science 101 here: Open pollinated is the old fashioned varieties that you can save the seed from, and use in your garden year after year. My main source of these varieties is Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, Iowa. These dedicated people have been urging people for years to use these open pollinated varieties, and they have gone to extreme lengths to search out and save these varieties. They have a beautiful garden/orchard surrounded by the lush Iowa countryside. They are dedicated to organic, non-gmo varieties. This would be my only frustration with Seed Savers, and that is in my humble opinion at least, there is a 'charge' for everything they do. They have workshops (and I have no doubt they are excellent, but...they are expensive). There are also other activities, but they aren't cheap either, which is one reason I have never gone to any of them. In their defense I must also add, their work is so necessary and I'm sure it costs them much as well. Since I'm in my shoes and not in theirs...perhaps I don't understand.

Then there are hybrid varieties. These are a 'cross' of two or more varieties. Think back to Gregor Mendel and his experiments with cross pollination of peas (1865?). Now, you may be able to save seed from these plants, and some of them may grow. The problem is which parent plant will it resemble? A hybrid is mixed to bring the best qualities of the parent plants, however there are dominant AND recessive genes in the plants, and a body never knows exactly which one the next generation plants will draw from. In essence the plant you end up with could be 'the good, the bad, and/or the ugly'.

Several other catalog/seed companies I have come to enjoy are: Twilley Seed Company from Hodges, South Carolina. They are the only company to my knowledge that the more I order the more I save. They have vegetables and flowers, and a small bit of supplies. There is a lot of information contained in their catalog, and they designate whether it is hybrid or open pollinated, and so much more. They also have limited varieties of some organic seeds--which is another plus.

Johnny's Selected Seeds from Waterville, Maine, is another good source. Most of these catalogs have information as to how many seeds/plants it takes per row, and they often give a ball park figure on how much to expect from what you plant. Johnny's is very good in this area. I have found their quality is excellent.

In passing I would also mention Harris Seeds, Rochester, New York; Indiana Berry & Plant Co. from Plymouth, Indiana (for berries, and some plants); at one time we also Ordered from Parks Seeds, Greenwood, South Carolina, but my last catalog was 1998. Obviously it is not current. As best I can tell I believe these companies are independent and not affiliated with other companies. Gardens alive from Lawrenceburg, Indiana is a good place to find pest control items, although Johnny's also has items worth looking into. I generally check out Gurney's Seed & Nursery Co. from Greedale, Indiana because I have ordered something from Gurney's since time immemorial. They are a part of the conglomerate seed companies. Different names, but all owned by a 'parent' company. They usually have 'special' offers throughout the year, and I usually take advantage of those offers once or twice a year.

This is the first installment of Garden Notes. My Adorable Cousin...we all know who she is-smile, tells me I will have to live for a long time so she can get all of this information. Since I don't see that as God's necessity, I do want to share some of these things for those who would like to learn them.

For this time I would like to leave you, dear reader, with this scripture:

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. 12) I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

May God bless, and draw us each nearer to Him each day.

I Remember Sarah...

Judges 4:4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5) She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment...

As a Bible class teacher I remember hearing a little ditty that went with teaching the Judges. It went somewhat like: Shamgar had an ox goad... Regrettably, that is all of the ditty I can actually remember. Samson, I believe it said had the jawbone of--a donkey, but the gist of it is that God's servants used whatever came to hand, and in Shamgar's instance it was an ox goad, and in Samson's case it was the jawbone of a donkey.

Quite honestly if I were going up against innumerable odds...I would want more than an ox goad, or the jawbone of a donkey. However...

"Look around you," the speaker at the podium says, "we began in the 1980's trying to make a difference..." He's speaking about politics, but there is an application here for the Christian as well...

Christians of the first centuries made a difference in the societies they came in contact with, not only because of their willingness to die for the faith, but by being willing to live their faith as well. I would be willing to say unequivocally they were a people of prayer as well as action. They believed all life was sacred and precious and were instrumental in rescuing unwanted babies that were left outside the cities to die. Humility was a quality they were known for, as well as the sweet, quiet piety of their...women.

The speaker went on to urge his listeners, "Do you see any difference in what we've accomplished? Other than a few little advances here and there...no we have not made many gains..."

As he said, so say I to you...look around you. Christ began approximately 2012 years ago to make a difference. Where are we now? We have made progress, but, honestly where are we now, what happened, and where are we going?

Exactly how we got here isn't a difficult path to follow. Bible scriptures have been the very best friend women have ever had. We have allowed people snort at that statement, but it is true. In ancient societies women were no better than chattel. Judaism was different, and so is Christianity, lifting women out of the slavery/drudgery of the idolatrous world.

Yet, as often is the case the quality that has lifted women for good is used against the very object that helped elevate it. How were we side swiped?

Genesis 3:13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."


You might say, 'What? What are you talking about?' Look at the women's 'liberation' movement. That's what has really changed things for women. In our new society women can be anything they want to be...

In the early 1900's, -we are told- that women had a life of drudgery...they were forced to 'bear' and raise children... They were forced to be 'keepers' of their own homes; they weren't encouraged to have occupations outside of their own household... How extremely ignorant and narrow minded that is! I am reminded of the cigarette advertisement from a few years back. It always snatched a 'picture' of some woman being arrested for smoking, or a woman doing a household drudgery task, or some such thing from the early 1900's, and the caption was; "You've come a long way, baby!" With a modern day miss, cigarette in hand, smiling and enjoying life... We are led to believe at least. Now of course women have the blessing of choosing to have lung cancer at a greater rate than women of previous generations...what a deal!

What we are doing is like looking at an orange and attempting to compare it to a pear. They are both fruit, but they will never be the same. Life was different then for both men and women. There were some large families back then, it was not uncommon to have a family of five children-- give or take a few...there were also childless families, or families with one or two children. The majority of people looked at children as not just a necessity, but a blessing. When two people married the natural happening was children, and that was not a bad thing.

"Do you know," my cousin says to me, "most all of the women/girls I work with are just 'shacking up'? I asked them why they would do that, and they just think it's normal. Like you got to try them on. I said, what do you think they are, shoes? You don't try people on... You find someone you want to commit your life to, and that's what you do. And you stay with that person for the rest of your life through thick and thin, good and bad...the whole ball of wax!"

I love my cousin, she has a real way with words, and she uses them well. My heart aches for women today. They really -most of them- don't know that you don't 'try' it out. That mind set puts women/girls on the par with--whores-- except they aren't paid...their services are--free.

While watching a 'new' Miss Marple video (Miss Marple was a series of spinster detective stories written by Agatha Christie back in the early to mid-nineteen hundreds), I was shocked when at the end of the video one of the charming young characters instead of getting married to the handsome young man in her life (as would have happened in that era) she tells Miss Marple, "We're just going to move in and...". That is one example of how the media slips their agenda into our lives. Taking liberty with a famous author's character gives us the impression that 'they did the same things back then that we do today. It's not new.' But that wasn't true...

Some may have, but it wasn't common, as these these modern day history changers would have us to believe...but this slight twist gives them the right to encourage and fund groups such as 'Planned Parenthood,' because this is the way it has always been...we are no better than the animals. People have always done these things, we are just more sophisticated... so they would have us erroneously believe...History does show us that sinful behavior waxes and wanes. During some decades 'morally, anything was permissible as long as you didn't scare the horses...'

I cannot even begin to list the many days after a long day of labor I have dropped into a chair and thought, "My day is so full...and I never get it all done." Days just fly!

Yet there are two of us raising our children. Two of us sharing the burdens of life--not the 'burden' of children. Children are like the flowers that make the hardships worth the trouble. They do give us challenges, but so does anything that is worthwhile. Whether a couple has children or not there will be burdens and challenges in this life. My heart aches when I think of the families that have 'tried each other on', begun little people lives, only to discover that 'the shoe didn't fit' and one of the parties leaves. No commitment you see...Single parent homes, often women and children left behind. The man moves on to a different shoe -one of the most devastating things in our society today- and it's growing more and more prevalent. How's that 'women's liberation thing working out for us, huh?

Now the woman has children and must find a way to support them, and herself, and take care of the home and the children...and no man to love and care for her or the children. Of course the first man left her for a new shoe, and eventually she will probably find a new shoe as well, but...how's that women's liberation working for us...?

Children grow up in poverty, often abused physically, mentally, and sexually. The woman part of the shoe begins to look like what she is--used. Not loved and cherished, and not loving nor cherishing others. Used...

They call it 'dead-beat dads', but it's really dead beat parents. People that have bought into a lie. ...and that's what 'women's liberation' has done.

This isn't a tirade against those 'bad men' out there that aren't living the way they should. This is a post about women who choose to be a 'significant other', when they should be a virtuous woman, and yes there are those who believe they are in the church. However, when we, the salt don't speak up we have lost our savor. We are failing to make a difference in the world around us. In this era we need prayer and Godly lives, and Godly speech...and Godly teaching- now, because of what women's liberation is doing to us.

It never was supposed to encourage life-time, loving, Godly relationships. It was a Satanic idea for tearing our homes, our society, and ultimately our country down. When even the women buy into this counter-productive behavior acting like animals, men/boys return the action in kind. That's how women's liberation is working for us.

Oddly enough, this is not the post I began with, but...

Deborah was the only woman to be a judge. Some would have us believe that the rare instances such as Deborah gives us an example that it is acceptable to God for women to take on these roles. I say that it is quite the opposite.

1Timothy 2:11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12) I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13) For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14) and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. (English Standard Version)

There are a number of women that literally howl at this scripture. How dare anyone suggest that a woman should be SUBMISSIVE! Why, that's archaic, and of course it doesn't apply in these modern days...but wait...

God's direction, God's wish is that Godly men lead their households as in the instructions for elders of the church. (I Timothy 3:1-7; and deacons I Timothy 3:8-10)

In reading the book of Ruth we see how difficult life was for women, yet under the old law God gave a deliverance for the poor. In Ruth chapter 3:1 It tells us how Ruth's mother-in-law seeks to care for her widowed daughter-in-law:

Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? and she tells her how to...demand her rights? to live life her own way? No, she instructs her that Boaz (a wealthy unmarried man that has shown much kindness to Ruth) has the right to marry Ruth and do the duty of redemption for her. Naomi sends Ruth to ask Boaz to fulfill his duty as the next of kin to Ruth's deceased husband, and thus, as Naomi puts it, 'seek rest' for her daughter-in-law.

Ruth does just that in Ruth 3:9. She has laid her petition at Boaz's feet (literally) when as the scriptures say: He (Boaz) said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer."

A 'redeemer', not a horrible 'task master', as the 'liberators' would have us believe.

God uses each of us for his purpose, and returning to Deborah, I believe she filled the purpose she did as a reproach to the men of her generation, and any generation that would follow that example.

Judges 4:6 She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali and said to him, "Has not the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded you, 'Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun. 7) And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand'?" 8) Barak said to her, "If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go." 9) And she said, "I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10) And Barak called out Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh. And 10,000 men went up at his heels, and Deborah went up with him.

She certainly was a woman of courage, but I believe there is a clue that is overlooked. She summoned Barak and told him what God wanted him to do. His reply? I will go IF you will go with me...otherwise I will not go. ~"I will go," she said, "but it will not be to YOUR glory."

She arose and went with him...no hesitation on her part. For the rest of that story you must read the whole chapter. I don't know who Barak thought the woman would be that received the glory. Perhaps he thought Deborah spoke of herself as receiving the glory, but it wasn't Deborah, and as the Word of Jehovah said he did not receive the glory either...

Sarah...there have been many named Sarah through the centuries, but the Sarah I remember hearkens back the our early years of homeschooling our children. Pretty, long reddish hair, this young Sarah had 'children in tow'. She was one of the earliest of the early ones. She sat in on committee meetings for the legislative branches in our state, helping to change/shape better laws for homeschooling families that were in fear of their children being snatched away by the state.

In one of her last addresses to our meetings she made the statement that went somewhat like this: I have drug small children to these meetings. I have changed diapers, fed babies, wiped up spit (from the children)and done all of these things when it wasn't easy, nor convenient--to the shame of men who should have been doing this... I did it because it needed done, and I was the only one at hand...

These weren't her words verbatim, but it is the gist of what she said. You know, we need to stand in the gap as Sarah did, and speak up as my cousin did, be courageous as Deborah was. People need to see a difference in us and our lives. Submission, quietness, Godliness? Sarah exemplified these qualities even under difficult situations.

“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried” – G. K. Chesterton

How true this is. 'Has not been tried and found wanting...'

That women's liberation thing...it never was meant to work...and it has worked just like it was meant to work...to tear down our homes, as well as our society.

Psalms 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. 4) Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. 5) Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Psalms 113:9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!