Food, glorious food!

“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.”
James Beard

I enjoy eating. I enjoy growing things to eat and I love sharing food.
I watched a very disturbing documentary today with my son. Most of the information, I already knew. It scared the hell out of Rowan.
http://www.futureoffood.com/

Yes, Virginia. There is evil and one of it's names is Monsanto.
No frankenfoods for me! What gave us the idea that we were smarter than Mother Nature?
My mother has celiac's disease. Wheat and gluten make her intestines try desperately to turn themselves inside out. It's not pretty.
In her research, she has found that many have hypothesized that genetically modified wheat is a cause for the explosion of celiac cases. Hmmm..
I have been wondering if, perhaps. That the disappearing bee population is to blame, in part by the huge, mono culture crops of GMO's. Did you know that "Roundup ready" plants are considered insecticides!? They're poison to insects! I doubt that the scientists were smart enough to program the plants to know the difference between a good bug and a bad one.
But never fear! The Pharming industry has out best interests at heart... Right?

http://www.hollow-hill.com/sabina/2009/04/monsanto_to_michelle_please_pa.html

This is a very good reason to embrace organic gardening practices and heiloom seeds. That and it just tastes better!

http://www.heirloomseeds.com/

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

J.R.R Tolkien

Get informed and get involved. The world is run by those who show up.

Organise!

Summer is not my season.
My genetics favor a cool, moist habitat with lots of shade.
Being in the desert during the summer seems to croc pot my brain a bit and the Evil Twin takes advantage.

Not today!
It's blistering hot and humid. I have the day off the the boy is at a friends. A few chores and then, ME time.
I can't comfortably cool the house with the swamp cooler so I got creative.
I tried a little Bikram Yoga.
This is not for the faint of heart or heat sensitive. It's intense.
I did have an epiphany though. Not anything too profound. It's a common idea. Dropping a meme into the collective consciousness.
Some people have prayer lists. Others have group meditation, journeying and sewing circles.

I would like to invite more people to gather into informal groups that focus on a few, specific goals. To think about it and on a weekly basis. Then, at the end of the week, perform a ritual to send out the intention. Burn a candle, pray, dance naked or yodel. Whatever works for you. We have to forget about the minor details and get together on the important things.

Cicero:

We were born to unite with our fellow men, and to join in community with the human race.

How about for starters.
1. Small families.
Kids are expensive on so many levels. Not just for the parents but the rest of the world has to bear the load in some fashion.
2. Less stuff is good. Simplify.
Do we really need so much? Food, gadgets, clothes, cars..etc.
Live out of a back pack for a while and you'll discover how little you really need.

Eugene V. Debs:

Now my friends, I am opposed to the system of society in which we live today, not because I lack the natural equipment to do for myself but because I am not satisfied to make myself comfortable knowing that there are thousands of my fellow men who suffer for the barest necessities of life. We were taught under the old ethic that man's business on this earth was to look out for himself. That was the ethic of the jungle; the ethic of the wild beast. Take care of yourself, no matter what may become of your fellow man. Thousands of years ago the question was asked; ''Am I my brother's keeper?'' That question has never yet been answered in a way that is satisfactory to civilized society.

Yes, I am my brother's keeper. I am under a moral obligation to him that is inspired, not by any maudlin sentimentality but by the higher duty I owe myself. What would you think me if I were capable of seating myself at a table and gorging myself with food and saw about me the children of my fellow beings starving to death.

1908 speech

We can change attitudes. Win hearts and minds.
We just have to take the ego out of the equation. It's not about my needs but the greater good.
Just a little, friendly meme.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme

Organize, and work for beneficial change. Not just for your small, circle of friends, tribe, religion, or country. But for this whole planet.
I don't know about you, but I'm pretty frightened. Look up from your new, distracting gadget and smell the coffin. It's bad.
I'm up for any amount of good vibes you can spare.

Things change, Chaos Rules!

Yeah, it's been a while.
I've been busy building my bunker and trying to grow a garden.
I'm afraid to read/watch and listen to the news.
What is wrong with people!?

Don't ever become a pessimist... a pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun, and neither can stop the march of events.
Robert A. Heinlein

I am trying very hard not to loose my optimistic outlook. It's becoming more difficult as I watch the world slip into Chaos, and not the good kind!

I think it's a symptom of overpopulation. Too many people, not enough resources or space. We have shit where we eat for too long and now the very earth that used to sustain us is now poisoning us.
My garden is not thriving, neither is my dad's. No matter how lovingly I water, weed and fertilize. The fruit withers on the vine if it fruits at all. The few cucumbers I've grown are deformed, bug nibbled and taste like the bottom of my shoe. I am very disturbed.

Things are becoming rather biblical. Even movies are cashing in on the end of the world scenario.

It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.
Robert A Heinlein

This is where I get off before I throw my computer out the window. Nothing is working as I want it to. So what else is new?