Monday, July 07, 2014

Over the weekend I took people on a tour of my organic gardens.  Most of the questions were around how I create compost so that I do not need to use any commercial fertilizers.  Also why don't I use manures like most organic gardeners.

Compost:

1. I create compost from leaves that I gather in the fall.  I combine 3 part leaves with 1 part grass/weed clippings.  It takes between 4-5 weeks to make 27 cu ft (or so) of compost.  I do not add anything else to the compost, although I've begun to experiment with some compost accelerators sold by Peaceful Valley Nursery in California.  http://www.groworganic.com/contact.html
2. I grow 100% in compost.  I started doing that 2 years ago.  Scientific method of recording and analyzing data is not yet long enough to conclude that what I'm doing works.  It has been very good to me for 2 going on three years.  We have a very short growing season (we are lucky to get 90 days without frost).  I'm able to start earlier in compost, as it heats up sooner than earth soil.  
3. I do not feed the vegetable and fruits any additional compost.  This year, I've started using compost tea made from worm castings from my worm beds.  
4. My wife and I have harvested, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Perl Cabbage (little guys), lettuce, Brussel Sprouts, Kale and dill so far.  Tomatoes plants all have tomatoes, except the ones I bought from Burpee to try. If we don't have tomatoes set by now, we will not get any tomatoes before first frosts in the middle of September.  

Small Business Outlook

Sales were down Y-Y in our antique store over the holidays.  The same is true of our hardware business.  Tourism is not robust in our area this year, which is where sales come from this time of year. 

Our gardens and produce sales are way off.  We've earned less that 1/2 of last year, and we are experiencing the lowest sales in our 13 years in business.  No one wants to shut down their business, but after a while when the labor and materials are not being covered, it is time.  Of course my family disagrees, and so only time will tell. 

The weather has been extremely hot, and normal tourism to this area is scarce as no open campfires are allowed.  Also the melt-off from Canada is keeping the river high.  Swimming is not yet pleasant, although trout fishing has been excellent in the River and the Beaver ponds in the creeks that feed the river. 

Marijuana sales in Washington State begin today.  My goodness what a hullaballoo about nothing.  They have so little produce to sell as producers have not had time to produce (and the Federal Government still causes problems with producers).  Sadly, human vices and economics are winning out over health.   From a business perspective, we should sell marijuana.  However, we are extremely opposed to encouraging human vices.  Business wise, we will be losers.

Summary: 

·         After the BLS (BS EMPLOYEMENT from Bureau of Labor Statistics) employment report, the stock market zoomed to the upside.  The dollar crushed the other currencies, and everything is ice cream sundaes. 

·         The employment data (given the adjustments) was astounding.  Labor Participation Rate (buried in the report) was awful. 

·         The current twelve-week 9.3% runup in S&P 500 is unusually large.  It is also "very very" long time period without at least a 5% correction.  There is a ton of risk to the downside, and little momentum to the upside. Be careful if you are short-term swing trader.

·         The news this week is minimal. 

·         The market will open down.  Look for price to close the gap with Friday's close.  Price movement will likely be choppy after the original move.