I keep hearing from individuals that there is not enough time. Of course, there is not enough time. When do we ever have enough time? You just make time and do what is needed. So, what is needed? For some, a couple of acres of land with water in a safe location is a start. Next, a house that requires little or no energy for heating and cooling, a barn, a garden/orchard, a well with solar power and approved sanitation would be a good next step. Now, add to the mix some really great neighbors that are like you, and are self-reliant. Now you have a really great future. So, if this is what is wanted wouldn’t it be prudent to get started?

Utah OSR Land Cooperative has the land at the Riverbed Ranch. Crops and fruit trees are being planted. Fences are being built. The initial phase for the RV/Campground has been implemented for staff only in preparation for the big push in May. Surveying and the placement of property boundaries are complete. The surveying and placement of the corner markers for each of the two-acre parcels begin within the week. The parcels will be surveyed in order of the date the shares were purchased. It continues to be first come first serve. It is anticipated that construction on the first homes will start sometime in May.

A grant for the Academy’s Ropes Course has made its way through two of the three approval steps with the State of Utah. We anxiously await to hear the outcome around the 6th of May. Dr. Yorgason continues to organize and gather content for our K-12 private online school to be used by all, whether or not they are enrolled or homeschooled. The permit process for our high-speed internet is moving forward. 

All in all, OSR is moving forward. Individuals and families are making use of their time to become self-reliant. They are letting go of their city lifestyle and building a future on their homestead. Now is a good time to get involved, to learn, to plan and to work your plan.

God speed,
Philip J. Gleason
Director

10,000 sq. ft. Garden and Staff RV / Campground Established

Mulch plastic removal service project with the Russel & Pam Lundberg Family. Super family, with Steve Marks in the background.

Compost for the garden.

FOUNDATIONS AND TRUSSES

Are there energy-efficient alternatives?

What's the life expectancy?

What's the cost comparison?

You've got questions, and we've got answers! So, come join us!

*Please note that after you register, you will receive an email invitation with a website link and info with instructions on how to view the live webinar.

Sponsored by the Academy of Self-Reliance

Start learning how to write grants, have fun and win prizes!

This is the first of multiple opportunities to start learning how to apply for one or more of the 1,000s of grants available in any number of areas of interest and opportunity.

PRIZES:

Seniors (18 and above)
1st Place - $25 plus a 1-year subscription to the Path Series ($300 value)
2nd Place - $10 plus a 6-month subscription to the Path Series
. . . . .
Juniors (17 and below)
1st Place - $25 plus a 1-year subscription to the Path Series ($300 value)
2nd Place - $10 plus a 6-month subscription to the Path Series

DEADLINE:

25th of April Noon (Saturday 12:00pm) 
Winners to be Announced 28th of April.

SUBJECT: 

Why a Ropes Course would benefit me and my family at the Riverbed Ranch.

REQUIREMENTS:

1 1/2 to 3 pages 8 1/2”x 11” with 1” margins
Double spaced
Font - 12
Persuasive content
Correct writing mechanics, such as grammar, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, etc.

SUBMIT:

Send as a word document to Coleen Gleason at coleen@academyosr.com and good luck!

HEIRLOOM SEEDS

The importance of having your own personal food production

The past couple of days I have been reading articles about how the pandemic of the Coronavirus is wreaking havoc on our food system. With the restaurant and fast food chains taking a hit and having to close down, and truckers having to work overtime to fulfill orders, stores of produce are not being moved out as fast as they used to. Farmers are having to dump their crops, dig them back into the ground or let them rot. Livestock is being sold off and Ranches are shutting down.

It is becoming extremely important that we have a continuous supply of garden seeds, grain seeds, and livestock. But I want to focus right now on garden seeds.

Why you want to grow heirloom seeds

Heirloom seeds are non-GMO, non-hybrid seeds that have kept the same DNA code for generations. They have not been cross-pollinated or modified in any way. You can grow heirloom seeds, save the seeds, replant and you will get the same crop year after year. Hybrids, which were modified to grow big luscious plants, do not. Their seeds are either sterile or they revert back to their parent plants and you never know what you’re going to get.

Heirloom seeds are open pollinators, which means they are pollinated by birds, insects or wind. It also means that the next generation of the plant will be exactly like the mother plant. It also means they will cross-pollinate with other plants of the same variety. Hence, you cannot plant sweet corn and popcorn together, or they will cross-pollinate. You also have to be careful that you don’t plant different varieties of the same plant, or they will also cross-pollinate. For instance, if you have two different varieties of cucumbers, you want to make sure you are planting all the same variety, or you will cross-pollinate.

Plants have to be kept a few feet to 1/2 mile apart to avoid cross-pollination. Follow your planting instructions on how far to keep varieties apart. If it doesn’t say, your best bet is to keep them 300 feet apart. You should also be able to find information on the Internet on the type of heirloom seeds you are buying and how to keep them pure.

Heirloom seeds can be gathered, kept and grown year after year. This makes them the best types of seeds for a self-sufficient garden. You can find more information on our March 17th webinar “Learning How to Save Seeds and Build Your Own Seed Banks”.

Information gathered and submitted by Jennifer Jones

Do you have a gift, talent or experience with being self-reliant that you could share among us?

If so, we invite you to submit an article to be published in the Academy Newsletter. To help you submit your article, Coleen Gleason, one of our editors, will be happy to assist you. You can contact her or send your articles to her at coleen@academyosr.com. Upon review and acceptance, you will be notified when your article will be published.

Thank you for sharing!

Here's what we've got going on!

Want to learn how to achieve greater self-reliance in our 250-family modern homesteading community? Then check out our Intro Meetings where we discuss what you can do, and where to start!

Would you like a personal tour of the site of a 250-family homestead community being built on the Utah OSR Land Co-op's 1,245-acre Riverbed Ranch in Juab County, Utah? Then join us for our Munch & Mingle Tour! We'll show you what we're doing now, and what we have planned for the future!

For more details and information about each of our events, click the button to visit our Events Page.

Join us this June for our very first tree planting event!
 
There are several projects happening at the Riverbed Ranch involving planting trees and shrubs to begin regenerating the soil and providing forage for bees in areas around the Welcome Center, the 40 acre Special Projects Center (The Academy Campus, Rescue Home, Therapy Barn, etc.), and eventually the future Green Belt/Waterway. Initial planting projects will begin where water is already available to keep plants alive, and many plants and cuttings are already being gathered to get this started!
 
In mid-June, 2020, we will be inviting OSR shareholders AND the interested public to come to the Riverbed Ranch for a 1-day mass tree planting event. The primary goal of this 1-day event is to plant 2,020 trees and shrubs in one day, and of course, the secondary goals include socializing and gathering public interest in regenerative agriculture and the mission of the Academy of Self-Reliance and Utah Land Co-Op!
 
Crowdfunding and Advertising campaigns are launching soon to gather funds and participants. There is additional help needed, of course! Below is one specific role we are looking to fill, but of course this 1-day event will only be accomplished with many helping hands.

Please contact Sarah Vezzani at loftium4@gmail.com if you are interested in filling the below role or would like to help in other ways.
 
POINT PERSON NEEDED FOR DAY-OF FESTIVITIES:

Responsibilities include planning and coordinating the people-related logistics of the day: checking participants in, distributing water bottles and T-shirts, directing families to different stations (rest areas with snacks, bathrooms, baby changing/feeding area), ensuring everyone has necessary equipment (and training if needed!) to help out, organizing activities for younger children, and entertainment (can simply be music playing - we have a volunteer for supplying the sound system)

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Have you heard? We're building a ropes course!

The Academy OSR Ropes Course will offer a unique series of team-building exercises that will have a variety of activities and programs that will challenge you, your friends, family, coworkers, and teammates to master challenges and conquer fears.

This state-of-the-art facility incorporates a continuous belay system that provides for maximum safety as participants learn and internalize concepts such as:

• problem-solving   • leadership skills   • communication   • self-confidence

. . . and so much more! We truly believe this will bless the lives of the young, and the not-so-young. 

GRANT UPDATE: We have completed the preliminary two steps necessary to qualify for committee consideration for a grant from the State of Utah for the Ropes Course. We finished the application and the final committee will meet May 6-7 to determine who will be awarded for this year.

Are you on social media? Then let's connect!

We'd love to have you join our Facebook Group, where we post about upcoming events and meetings where you and your friends can learn more about what we're doing! It's a great and easy way to help spread the word!

We are in the process of providing a discount for solar-energy equipment.  We have selected Sol-Ark as a supplier.

To increase our discounts, we are needing to combine our purchases.  We can get improved discounts if we place an order for 10 or more units.  And at 20 or more units, we receive an even larger discount.

If you are thinking of purchasing solar-energy equipment, whether for your new home, existing home, friend’s home, camping, etc…, please fill out our online questionnaire so that we can combine our orders and get big savings.

This is not a commitment to purchase at this time.  We are only getting a list of potential buyers.