Thomas Jefferson, long ago, envisioned an America full of independent, landowning (male) farmers, or yeomen. He sought to construct a government that reflected his vision, seeking to place control among the states and the people first and foremost. "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness," as well as property, were best protected, in his humble opinion, under the auspices of the humble farmer. And so, Reader of Less Than Rural Origins, we invite you to join us on our adventure onto the countryside, over the crick, and to the fertile fields of the Heartland. Welcome to pre-industrial America!

In the start of our journey as small-owing farmers, let us inoculate your mind with the fruits of our research.

Pretrials have begun this week. Several items of concern, such as the location for growing, exact procedures for inoculation, and the actual planting, have been uprooted. Derek's basement will be used for the growing location. The area is controlled in temperature and moisture, undisturbed, and free from most, if not all, contaminants.

As for the inoculation, we have discovered a method to meet the needs for our plants while keeping feasibility with the accuracy of our equipment. The seeds and bacteria powder necessary for the experiment were mixed in a larger quantity (about 100 ml of seeds mixed with a small amount of powder), thus yielding a "master mix" for the pretrials.