Simple solutions.

It's getting to be time to plant my winter garden.  Yes, it's still on the hot side, but I'm itching to play in the dirt. 
I did not have very much luck with my garden this summer, but my pond is thriving.  Time to changes tactics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biointensive

 

I'm not going to give up on urban gardening! 
http://growbiointensive.org/index.html 

Where there is a will, there is a way.  Keep thinking happy thoughts..  
http://attra.ncat.org/ 


We need to quickly, rethink how we do things. The old ways don't work. They're not sustainable!
http://www.kitchengardeners.org/ 

Simple post. I'm trying to keep hopelessness at bay. It's very hard to do that when you're a news junkie.

 

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?

Good Vibes

So we can all agree. Life is pretty rough right now.
Fine, I choose to be soft, strong, and resilient.
Being a massage therapist brings me into close, physical contact with people of all kinds.
I have to keep my psychic shield soft enough to be empathic but strong enough to keep from letting someone else's "junk" get in. It's a very, fine line.
I'm not perfect. I give too much energy sometimes. I let someone's mood infect me. I get over it and have no regrets.
I love being a healing, comforting, caring entity. I like to think I'm sending energetic ripples across the universe. I'm delighted to discover like-minded souls and to be part of any connection.
A spiritual and intellectual commune that defies physical boundaries.

“Society exists only as a mental concept; in the real world there are only individuals.” Oscar Wilde

http://charityguide.org/

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

I LOVE the internet! People connecting across the world. So many ideas. So many things.
This philosophical, Raven woman is stunned with the buffet that is at my finger tips.
I have access to things I only dreamed of.

“If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is compromise.”
Robert Fritz

Forget going to the mall. I can find everything I want or need and make sure it's earth friendly, recycled, organic and fair trade. Perfect!
And when you order things online.. It keeps the postal worker's jobs secure. Yea!

http://greenpeople.org/

Lets get this green machine moving!

And the buzz word is.... Green Jobs!

Work sucks, most of the time.
I am blessed with work that I love and know makes a difference in people's lives.
Not everyone can say that.
So, we know things need to change drastically in a very short period of time. The Old Guards of capitalism need to retire and let fresh minds and hearts change things.

“Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.”
Buddha

Where do we start? Obama is encouragingly, optimistic about the future of green jobs. I want to get on that electric buss and pick up as many people as possible.

http://sustainablebusiness.com/

For starters.

http://greenbiz.com/

Get out there and find a new path. Share with friends who are looking for work. We can make things better. We have to!

http://www.bluegreenalliance.org/site/c.enKIITNpEiG/b.5085657/k.D6C7/Splash_2.htm

There are lots of possibilities.

http://www.greenjobs.net/

“Follow then the shining ones, the wise, the awakened, the loving, for they know how to work and forbear.”
Buddha

Have a job but want to green it up a bit?

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/green-work/green-work-tips.html

And finally! Good news.

http://www.greenatworktoday.com/


“The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you do the work.”

Happy Earth Day!

I wanted to write something that inspires hope.
Everything I've watched lately has been anything but.
Melting glaciers, droughts, pollution, overpopulation, extinctions, water shortages and war. Yay!

I need hope. It keeps me going.

Some of the best thoughts on earth.
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jrcole/gibran/gibran1.htm
For starters.

I have to stop watching Frontline. It's never good news. I need good news. Why isn't there a major network that leads with something that doesn't bleed? I want to hear about people finding simple ways to deal with the issues that seem to plague us.
Like, laundry!
http://www.physorg.com/news154280985.html

I found this site. I love recycling, especially when it's fun! Fashion sucks, style rules! Frankenstein clothes are the best.
http://www.threadbanger.com/

Teaching our children how to live well and kind is also a kindness to Mother Earth.
http://ecochildsplay.com/

Like I say. I must have hope and I need to share the virus. I'd like to think that I'm making a difference. Small ripples grow into big ones.

Peace, hope, justice, and well being for all.