An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The Mexican replied, “only a little while.”
The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish?
The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.”
The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”
To which the American replied, “15 - 20 years.”
“But what then?” Asked the Mexican.
The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions!”
“Millions - then what?”
The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
I wonder sometimes
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Whats the point?
of chasing your tail...
Scream to be green raises an interesting point, I hadn't heard this one before but here is a parable that made me think today.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
a few of my favorite things
I kinda get into a vibe every now and again where I start to define myself in a negative context. Maybe negative isn't the right word, I don't think there is a word for it, but I find myself thinking more about the things I am against than the things I am for. The anti-stuff rather than the pro-stuff. I just left a comment over at onestraw about being vigilant of the public's perception of our movement, revolution, whatever you want to call it. Being somewhat of a political junkie I have noticed a tendency of the media to accuse the genuinely progressively candidates as being angry, anti-this, anti-that, never mind the rightness, they focus on the anger. Dammnit we have a right to be angry, we have been cheated, co-opted, threatend, muffled and generally abused, so why shouldn't we be angry.
But anger doesn't win too many friends, and right now we could all use a few more.
so on with the positive, the following are some of my favorite things in the world. Some of the things I think will win new friends or win over old friends. (gardening was ommitted for the sake of obviousness)
Activities:
duh, I love to be outdoors so anything that involves getting outside the box usually makes me smile, but in particular, I love hiking and mountain biking.
In recent years mountain biking is getting a bad rap for its damage of certain areas. I think responisble biking can be a positive force. We needn't throw out the baby with the bathwater, biking gets more of my generation into the wilderness than they might otherwise, and that is key.
and lets not forget the most recuperative activity of all, falling asleep in the hammock to the sounds of birds chirping.
Books:
this one could go on forever but I will try to keep it short
"The last hours of ancient sunlight" by Thom Hartman. This one starts seriously depressing, but I know it will end on an inspring note. I'm not done with it yet, but I know Mr. Hartman from his radio show and he never ceases to provide positive solutions, not just complaints.
I've read more than a few books on gardening, but thus far "How to grow more vegetables..." by John Jeavons takes the cake.
"Living Buddha Living Christ" by Thich Naht Hanh. A fantastic work that brought me back home from my spiritual walkabout.
The entire "Dune" series by Frank Herber. Its fiction, but strangely prescient. The entire story hinges on humanity's dependence on a single commodity, and its willingness to blindly obey. Fantastic reading and eerily familar.
Honorable Mentions to "Culture Jam" and "Affluenza" more problem oriented than solution oriented, but sometimes it takes some doing to convince people that there really is something wrong.
Movies:
"The Shawshank Redemption" I don't know a single man who wont admit to shedding a tear at the end.
"Seven Samurai" often imitated, never duplicated
"Gojira" (we know it in its watered down, messageless, Raymond Burr injected form...the 1956 movie "Godzilla") In its original form it is a love story, a story of scientific obsession, of self sacrifice, of nature's revenge, a reminder of the horrors of war, and a warning.
Home:
on both the micro and macro level. My house, is smallish and cozy, with plenty of room for changes...a key component for any member of the odious cult of home improvement.
on a larger scale, I am in Central New York long known as an agricultural powerhouse, you name it, we grow it (well, maybe not everything, but a lot) and given the presence of Cornell University's amazing agricultural work we are always well informed about local eco issues.
Food:
This is the hardest thing, seems like every week I find a new favorite. I'm a vegetarian, but I am proud to say I have eaten a wider variety of foods than most omni's I know. I love to cook, and I love to dine with friends and family.
whats yours?
But anger doesn't win too many friends, and right now we could all use a few more.
so on with the positive, the following are some of my favorite things in the world. Some of the things I think will win new friends or win over old friends. (gardening was ommitted for the sake of obviousness)
Activities:
duh, I love to be outdoors so anything that involves getting outside the box usually makes me smile, but in particular, I love hiking and mountain biking.
In recent years mountain biking is getting a bad rap for its damage of certain areas. I think responisble biking can be a positive force. We needn't throw out the baby with the bathwater, biking gets more of my generation into the wilderness than they might otherwise, and that is key.
and lets not forget the most recuperative activity of all, falling asleep in the hammock to the sounds of birds chirping.
Books:
this one could go on forever but I will try to keep it short
"The last hours of ancient sunlight" by Thom Hartman. This one starts seriously depressing, but I know it will end on an inspring note. I'm not done with it yet, but I know Mr. Hartman from his radio show and he never ceases to provide positive solutions, not just complaints.
I've read more than a few books on gardening, but thus far "How to grow more vegetables..." by John Jeavons takes the cake.
"Living Buddha Living Christ" by Thich Naht Hanh. A fantastic work that brought me back home from my spiritual walkabout.
The entire "Dune" series by Frank Herber. Its fiction, but strangely prescient. The entire story hinges on humanity's dependence on a single commodity, and its willingness to blindly obey. Fantastic reading and eerily familar.
Honorable Mentions to "Culture Jam" and "Affluenza" more problem oriented than solution oriented, but sometimes it takes some doing to convince people that there really is something wrong.
Movies:
"The Shawshank Redemption" I don't know a single man who wont admit to shedding a tear at the end.
"Seven Samurai" often imitated, never duplicated
"Gojira" (we know it in its watered down, messageless, Raymond Burr injected form...the 1956 movie "Godzilla") In its original form it is a love story, a story of scientific obsession, of self sacrifice, of nature's revenge, a reminder of the horrors of war, and a warning.
Home:
on both the micro and macro level. My house, is smallish and cozy, with plenty of room for changes...a key component for any member of the odious cult of home improvement.
on a larger scale, I am in Central New York long known as an agricultural powerhouse, you name it, we grow it (well, maybe not everything, but a lot) and given the presence of Cornell University's amazing agricultural work we are always well informed about local eco issues.
Food:
This is the hardest thing, seems like every week I find a new favorite. I'm a vegetarian, but I am proud to say I have eaten a wider variety of foods than most omni's I know. I love to cook, and I love to dine with friends and family.
whats yours?
So Far So Good
Two days ago I moved the mint from its spot in the aerogarden to a separate pot, and last night the valerian and lavender got their own winter homes too. Thus far they seem to be doing well, I have them sitting next to the aerogarden to share in some of the light that spills out. The question for my readers (both of you...) Can I just move them to a windowsill for the winter or do they need as much as they can get, given how early in their growth cycle they are.
BTW aerogarden offers a "master gardener kit" with "a year's worth" of foam plugs, plastic baskets, clear domes and nutrient tabs. Um...all I really need is replacement foam plugs and nutrients (eventually). And for almost 50 bucks? No way. I'll worry about nutrients when I run low, but for now I just cut up a piece of sea sponge and stuffed a couple seeds in it, I'll let you know how it works.
In the 3 empty spots are hyssop, chamomile and lemon balm.
BTW aerogarden offers a "master gardener kit" with "a year's worth" of foam plugs, plastic baskets, clear domes and nutrient tabs. Um...all I really need is replacement foam plugs and nutrients (eventually). And for almost 50 bucks? No way. I'll worry about nutrients when I run low, but for now I just cut up a piece of sea sponge and stuffed a couple seeds in it, I'll let you know how it works.
In the 3 empty spots are hyssop, chamomile and lemon balm.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Growing Challenge: preparations
I'd like to add a couple of seed sources I have done business with in the past who have been excellent.
First, (and where I get the majority) Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. I think every item is open pollinated, heirloom, and grows well in NYS despite the fact that they are a Virginia operation.
I have done well with Victory Seed Co. and Garden Medicinals and Culinary as well.
Being a part of the Growing Challenge was easy, I have sooo many new additions that only one seems like cheating.
Really for me this year involves two major goals:
1.) Implement a succession and intensive planting strategy based on the FANTASTIC "How to grow more vegetables..." book by John Jeavons.
2.) Turn the northwest corner of the backyard by the pond into a lush sanctuary of herbs (mostly perennial).
As it stands I have 3 lavender bushes, purple and white coneflower, rosemary (which might not survive the winter), garlic chives, and common sage. The north side of the pond has a dwarf ornamental cherry that was transplanted last year.
I have seed either here or in the mail for
Red Plantago, Fennel, Anise, Wormwood, Angelica, Basil (Genovese, Purple, and multicolor holy basil), German Chamomile, Valerian, Feverfew, St John's Wort, Black Cohosh, Mint, Creeping Thyme, and Lemon Balm.
I am looking for a good Butterflyweed to add as well. I understand that in addition to butterflies it attracts soldier beetles as well. I need the hired guns in a bad way. Every spring the hordes of cuccumber beetles descend upon my poor beds and lay waste to everything and anything curcurbit. I refuse to resort to insecticide, and I have seen the occasional soldier beetle near my sunflowers, so I am hoping the poor garden residents can hire some badass warriors to come and defend the crops a la The Seven Samurai. If that doesn't work I have some Amaranth I am going to plant too, I hear they like that.
And since I first wrote about the Aerogarden I have realized a major mistake...planting so early. I had terrible luck starting perrenials from seed historically and now they are growing too fast. I am going to need to move the Mint, Valerian and Lavender to small pots very soon as their roots are getting dangerously close to tangling. I will certainly update on how they take the move from hydroponic to soil.
First, (and where I get the majority) Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. I think every item is open pollinated, heirloom, and grows well in NYS despite the fact that they are a Virginia operation.
I have done well with Victory Seed Co. and Garden Medicinals and Culinary as well.
Being a part of the Growing Challenge was easy, I have sooo many new additions that only one seems like cheating.
Really for me this year involves two major goals:
1.) Implement a succession and intensive planting strategy based on the FANTASTIC "How to grow more vegetables..." book by John Jeavons.
2.) Turn the northwest corner of the backyard by the pond into a lush sanctuary of herbs (mostly perennial).
As it stands I have 3 lavender bushes, purple and white coneflower, rosemary (which might not survive the winter), garlic chives, and common sage. The north side of the pond has a dwarf ornamental cherry that was transplanted last year.
I have seed either here or in the mail for
Red Plantago, Fennel, Anise, Wormwood, Angelica, Basil (Genovese, Purple, and multicolor holy basil), German Chamomile, Valerian, Feverfew, St John's Wort, Black Cohosh, Mint, Creeping Thyme, and Lemon Balm.
I am looking for a good Butterflyweed to add as well. I understand that in addition to butterflies it attracts soldier beetles as well. I need the hired guns in a bad way. Every spring the hordes of cuccumber beetles descend upon my poor beds and lay waste to everything and anything curcurbit. I refuse to resort to insecticide, and I have seen the occasional soldier beetle near my sunflowers, so I am hoping the poor garden residents can hire some badass warriors to come and defend the crops a la The Seven Samurai. If that doesn't work I have some Amaranth I am going to plant too, I hear they like that.
And since I first wrote about the Aerogarden I have realized a major mistake...planting so early. I had terrible luck starting perrenials from seed historically and now they are growing too fast. I am going to need to move the Mint, Valerian and Lavender to small pots very soon as their roots are getting dangerously close to tangling. I will certainly update on how they take the move from hydroponic to soil.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Convincing Pt. 2
Just when you think you are alone in your crazy eco-freak delusion...
My wife explained to our daughter why we don't put things like plums in her lunch during the winter. I never brought up the idea of food miles in the house. And usually (due to her enormous work load from her job) she has little time for "recreational reading." I didn't ask where she came across food miles, I just smiled.
Now thats hot.
My wife explained to our daughter why we don't put things like plums in her lunch during the winter. I never brought up the idea of food miles in the house. And usually (due to her enormous work load from her job) she has little time for "recreational reading." I didn't ask where she came across food miles, I just smiled.
Now thats hot.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Gauntlet has been thrown down
Elements In Time has created a "Growing Challenge" (link to the right).
I have answered that challenge. (bragmode:on) While there initial requirement is only one new variety planted from seed, I am endeavoring to quadrouple that requirment with veggies, and at least 5 times that in new herbs.
my bonus challenge will be saving more seed from the harvest.
(bragmode:off)
seriously though I think its a great thing and I will let everyone know how it goes here.
I have answered that challenge. (bragmode:on) While there initial requirement is only one new variety planted from seed, I am endeavoring to quadrouple that requirment with veggies, and at least 5 times that in new herbs.
my bonus challenge will be saving more seed from the harvest.
(bragmode:off)
seriously though I think its a great thing and I will let everyone know how it goes here.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Success!
The soup was well received! Our daughter commented at bedtime that one of the good things that happened in her day (a post prayers/pre sleep ritual here) was that she got to try french onion soup for the first time and it was good.
I can't begin to express the joy. One of the hardest things about foster and adoptive children is that they come in to your home with all kinds of habits which may not jive with your particular outlook on what is or is not healthy. In her case it was not that bad thankfully, but there are some things I wish she had never tasted, i.e. fried chicken, and all manner of prepackaged embalmed garbage. I think I'm a tad more sensitive being a vegetarian, but I have to remember that I have habits to amend as well.
Still, when she ask for things like kiwi, plums, and apples with peanut butter in her lunch its all I can do to keep from hugging her and crying for joy. I have to constantly remind myself that the key to this transition is to not make it seem sudden or weird, so that means curtailing the urge to join drum circles and sing kumbaya...;)
wow, something good in my day? I remembered all the things we've accomplished so far.
Goodnight all, I leave you with the poetic response I gave to the question "What's a biennial?" on the discussion of beets.
"You can harvest the first year,
and most people do.
But it won't produce seed,
unless given two."
That does it! I wrote a poem about beets, I've officially crossed the line!
I can't begin to express the joy. One of the hardest things about foster and adoptive children is that they come in to your home with all kinds of habits which may not jive with your particular outlook on what is or is not healthy. In her case it was not that bad thankfully, but there are some things I wish she had never tasted, i.e. fried chicken, and all manner of prepackaged embalmed garbage. I think I'm a tad more sensitive being a vegetarian, but I have to remember that I have habits to amend as well.
Still, when she ask for things like kiwi, plums, and apples with peanut butter in her lunch its all I can do to keep from hugging her and crying for joy. I have to constantly remind myself that the key to this transition is to not make it seem sudden or weird, so that means curtailing the urge to join drum circles and sing kumbaya...;)
wow, something good in my day? I remembered all the things we've accomplished so far.
Goodnight all, I leave you with the poetic response I gave to the question "What's a biennial?" on the discussion of beets.
"You can harvest the first year,
and most people do.
But it won't produce seed,
unless given two."
That does it! I wrote a poem about beets, I've officially crossed the line!
looking back, looking forward...
and trying not to go cross-eyed.
I can't help but feel a sense of ...hmm I don't know what the word is, its not jealousy per se, nor hopelessness, but when I look at what other people have done, how far they have come I can't help but wonder if I will ever get half as far as I want. So occasionally it helps to look back and see how much I actually have accomplished. So here is the list
1 7x7 garden bed
1 2x4 bed in the shade for lettuce
around 50 square feet of planting space is raised stone planter (if only the trees will get on with it and grow. The rest I use for understory planting.
a burgeoning herb garden area
every non dimming bulb in the house is now a CF(it doesn't hurt as much if you replace them as the old bulbs die, which is surprisingly sooner than you think)
a compost pile <-fought hard for this one and it will be well worth it come spring time
a 165 gallon pond (now to get some reeds and water flowers in there)
a damn nice deck where we can sit and enjoy the fruits of our labor
a trellis for grapes
skills I have picked up along the way...
seed saving: beans, lavender, various flowers
carpentry
(I'm leaving gardening off this list because I hardly consider myself even competent)
and my baby steps for this year.
Rain barrel
turn the 7x7 bed into 2 5x10 beds
add another 25 sq ft of bed somewhere
expand and diversify the herb garden
get a cutting of a friend's grapevine and "go for it"
On the gastronomical front
last week I made carrot soup on sunday, I liked it, but it did not meet with great acceptance. This week I decided to play it safe and go the french onion route. I enlisted my daughter's help last night to make it and this morning she kept asking if we were having it tonight with dinner...a good sign. Its my wife's favorite, so I think I'm pretty safe. And one other thing...Its devastatingly cheap. A little butter, a little oil a couple pounds of onions. Top it with some old bread and a little cheese. We had a block of mozzarella in the fridge and some french bread that is about to go crouton, so all I needed was $2 worth of onions...film at 11
I can't help but feel a sense of ...hmm I don't know what the word is, its not jealousy per se, nor hopelessness, but when I look at what other people have done, how far they have come I can't help but wonder if I will ever get half as far as I want. So occasionally it helps to look back and see how much I actually have accomplished. So here is the list
1 7x7 garden bed
1 2x4 bed in the shade for lettuce
around 50 square feet of planting space is raised stone planter (if only the trees will get on with it and grow. The rest I use for understory planting.
a burgeoning herb garden area
every non dimming bulb in the house is now a CF(it doesn't hurt as much if you replace them as the old bulbs die, which is surprisingly sooner than you think)
a compost pile <-fought hard for this one and it will be well worth it come spring time
a 165 gallon pond (now to get some reeds and water flowers in there)
a damn nice deck where we can sit and enjoy the fruits of our labor
a trellis for grapes
skills I have picked up along the way...
seed saving: beans, lavender, various flowers
carpentry
(I'm leaving gardening off this list because I hardly consider myself even competent)
and my baby steps for this year.
Rain barrel
turn the 7x7 bed into 2 5x10 beds
add another 25 sq ft of bed somewhere
expand and diversify the herb garden
get a cutting of a friend's grapevine and "go for it"
On the gastronomical front
last week I made carrot soup on sunday, I liked it, but it did not meet with great acceptance. This week I decided to play it safe and go the french onion route. I enlisted my daughter's help last night to make it and this morning she kept asking if we were having it tonight with dinner...a good sign. Its my wife's favorite, so I think I'm pretty safe. And one other thing...Its devastatingly cheap. A little butter, a little oil a couple pounds of onions. Top it with some old bread and a little cheese. We had a block of mozzarella in the fridge and some french bread that is about to go crouton, so all I needed was $2 worth of onions...film at 11
Monday, January 21, 2008
fun facts
ok first a bit on the Jevons book, for those who are already in the know it is definitely a huge asset for garden planning. Especially for people like me who can't fathom how to put together a planting schedule. Several great examples of garden layouts, companion planting examples (beyond just what goes with what) planting schedules, crop rotation, you name it.
alright, now on with the fun facts...
My daughter is an avid fan of the people over and Guinness and their record books, a few that caught my eye
heaviest:
Apple: 4 lbs 1 oz
Beet: 156 lbs 10 oz <---- Unfreakinbelievable
Carrot 18 lbs 13 oz
Cucumber: 27 lbs 5 oz and 35.1" long
Lemon: 11 lbs 8 oz
Pineapple: 17 lbs 12 oz
Pumpkin: 1502 lbs <- I have seen some big pumpkins, but that is seriously massive.
Radish: 68 lbs 9 oz <- That is one monster radish
Obviously they make for an interesting novelty but I wonder how well they taste, keep, how much water was used, whether or not they were injected with some freakish vegetable growth hormone (VGH anyone?) I wonder if Guinness hands out a special award for most bushels of produce grown on the smallest amount of land with the fewest gallons of water. Hard to officiate but definitely a great goal.
alright, now on with the fun facts...
My daughter is an avid fan of the people over and Guinness and their record books, a few that caught my eye
heaviest:
Apple: 4 lbs 1 oz
Beet: 156 lbs 10 oz <---- Unfreakinbelievable
Carrot 18 lbs 13 oz
Cucumber: 27 lbs 5 oz and 35.1" long
Lemon: 11 lbs 8 oz
Pineapple: 17 lbs 12 oz
Pumpkin: 1502 lbs <- I have seen some big pumpkins, but that is seriously massive.
Radish: 68 lbs 9 oz <- That is one monster radish
Obviously they make for an interesting novelty but I wonder how well they taste, keep, how much water was used, whether or not they were injected with some freakish vegetable growth hormone (VGH anyone?) I wonder if Guinness hands out a special award for most bushels of produce grown on the smallest amount of land with the fewest gallons of water. Hard to officiate but definitely a great goal.
Friday, January 18, 2008
The problem is the solution...and a pre-weekend roundup
A lot of people...ok, the few I have talked with about my horticultural persuits assume that my goal is to one day move out into the country with lots of land to farm. Its not. Actually. I prefer (as much as I love elbow room) to have things within easy reach. And by things I mean family, friends, parks, the theater, etc. Its so easy to dismiss the suburbs as the vapid soul-less, cookie cutter resource hogs that they can easily become. But as permaculture teaches us, something is only a problem if its cannot be needs cannot be met within the system. While each of "in the know" might be able to move into the country and farm a few acres and make a big impact on our own lifestyles, that doesn't do a whole lot for the planet unless everybody does it too, and there is not enough land or ambition for that to come to fruition. The suburbs, properly employed, can be a boon rather than a drain. And driving (or perhaps more hopefully) walking by seeing your neighbor's lush beds of flowers and produce instead of a lawn that needs to be mowed makes you wonder why you couldn't do the same, it may even make you stop and ...gasp...talk to someone face to face and ask them about what they are doing.
and for the readers who might not otherwise know about two other excellent sites:
PTF has a post about spring fever...in January? Excuse me while I let a bit of jealously seep out. I'm still staring longingly at my stacks of seed envelops and out the window at a ground that can't decide if it wants to freeze again or not. This winter has been seriously messed up. We have blizzards one week, then I kid you not 79 degree weather the next...but the climate is fine...riiiiight.
Onestraw gave an excellent example of a garden rotation and succession planting schedule. For me its always easier to watch someone do something and then figure it out for myself than to read instructions and try to proceed without first seeing and example. Just my learning style I guess.
and for the readers who might not otherwise know about two other excellent sites:
PTF has a post about spring fever...in January? Excuse me while I let a bit of jealously seep out. I'm still staring longingly at my stacks of seed envelops and out the window at a ground that can't decide if it wants to freeze again or not. This winter has been seriously messed up. We have blizzards one week, then I kid you not 79 degree weather the next...but the climate is fine...riiiiight.
Onestraw gave an excellent example of a garden rotation and succession planting schedule. For me its always easier to watch someone do something and then figure it out for myself than to read instructions and try to proceed without first seeing and example. Just my learning style I guess.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Framing the house...with 1's and 0's
I got a deal on some off the shelf 3d architecture software and spent the last 2 days making a model of the house. The software has some limits (most annoyingly that its roof choices do not allow the modeling of a celestory), but overall has been useful to get a sense of exactly how much extra room we need, and the ability to walk through the layout. What it lacks is the ability to simulate heat and lighting models (which is what I'm really interested in)
Thankfully "heed" available here does analysis of this, and its free! I havent tried it yet but I will report on my results.
Another interesting concept I have come across in my webtravels: waste heat reclaimation. More on that later.
Thankfully "heed" available here does analysis of this, and its free! I havent tried it yet but I will report on my results.
Another interesting concept I have come across in my webtravels: waste heat reclaimation. More on that later.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Convincing
My copy of "How to grow more vegetables* than you ever thought possible..." Was delivered today. My daughter seemed intrigued by it, and started rattling off a laundry list of vegetables we should plant. It was pretty funny. She concluded the stream of consciousness ramble (which was adorable) with..."And we should have the biggest garden in the neighborhood."
My wife chimed in "What about the people up the street who have flower beds all the way around their corner lot?"
"They hire gardeners, it doesn't count." I countered.
"It counts." My wife and daughter chimed in unison.
It would appear my family might be more eager to swim than I previously anticipated.
My wife chimed in "What about the people up the street who have flower beds all the way around their corner lot?"
"They hire gardeners, it doesn't count." I countered.
"It counts." My wife and daughter chimed in unison.
It would appear my family might be more eager to swim than I previously anticipated.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
carpe momentum
since my wife and I had to move our bedroom into the basement unexpectedly there has been a good deal of discontent with the situation. She detests the fact that only one window of around 3 square feet is the only source of natural light we have. I must admit that I would rather be up on the ground floor too. So it is either move to a new house or expand. Backyard is out, we have sunk too much money into the deck, pond, etc. Not enough room on either side yard, too narrow. That leaves the front yard. The front of the house is oriented south. For all the people familiar with solar energy this is the money side so to speak. She agreed to solar panels as part of the project, but dare I sneak an attached greenhouse in there? According to many passive solar sources such as this there could be some cost benefit in terms of heating and cooling savings.
And I could grow food in the winter :D
And I could grow food in the winter :D
Monday, January 14, 2008
winter bleh
I must admit I was initially skeptical when I opened my christmas gift. My wife got me an aerogarden, and my resistance was based in part I'm sure on my distrust of all things easy and convenient. I have to say germination time was barely a blink. (I opted to start some perennial herbs I have had great difficulty with in the past.) To add to my surprise, aerogarden offers a replacement tray that will do 70 starter plugs. Considering how well this has worked so far I am seriously considering it. They offer additional plugs, but I'm sure I can get something like rockwool and bulk nutrients for much cheaper.
One of the pots by the way has lavender seed that I saved from one of the lavender plants in the yard...Wooohooo, I've sucessfully saved seed from a Kentucky wonder bean plant last year and now lavender. Now to see if the zinnia, morning glory, and coneflower seed germinates...in spring.
One of the pots by the way has lavender seed that I saved from one of the lavender plants in the yard...Wooohooo, I've sucessfully saved seed from a Kentucky wonder bean plant last year and now lavender. Now to see if the zinnia, morning glory, and coneflower seed germinates...in spring.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Breaking Ground
I had previously begun to spin an old online journal into what I hope this will become, but I feel it best to make a fresh start here...
So a little background shall be a necessity.
Firstly I am predisposed to worry, to a clinical degree in fact. I believe this is an inherited trait from my mother. My desire to become more independent in terms of lifestyle (food primarily) is born from what I originally believed to be just another attack of anxiety about the state of the world. I have come to the conclusion that my anxious disposition may in fact be an asset. Anxious people are sensitive people, sensitive people are observant people.
I notice things, things that don't make sense to me. Why do we depend on food that has to be altered on a genetic basis. Havent thousands of years of stewardship over crops shown us what stock is most effective in what areas? Why do we depend on methods which by their very nature destroy the thing we depend on. Food is less and less nutritious, and we eat more and more of it. As the old programmer's adage goes, garbage in, garbage out.
As Newton so rightly pointed out however: An object at rest will continue to remain at rest until acted upon by an outside force.
For me the outside force was more inside. The more I worried the more I investigated, the more I investigated the more I worried. Eventually I conceded that I could sit and continue to worry, or stand up and do something.
The second key element never really clicked with me until this morning. Like most Americans I have spent my young adult life trying to prove to myself that I am not like my parents. Eventually the clues started leaking under the door. The memories of our meager attempt at gardening trickled back 25 or so years later after the fact. The taste of my Grandfather's tomatos, every year, fat, bright, juicy, and unlike anything from the shelves. His homemade biscuits that seemed to float off the plate. My dad hand tooling leather purses to sell at craft fairs, making beautiful pieces of furniture that to this day shame whatever mass produced pile of tinder that might be available in stores. My mom sewing.
If anyone is familiar with the Dune series by Frank Herbert, one of the key aspects of the heros is their ability to recall perfectly the memories of their ancestors. I don't think Herbert was far off. We may not inherit the memories of our ancestors but a part of us feels the draw to continue their labors. Something beyond the sense of accomplishment that comes from sitting at a table you built, eating food you grew and prepared. A sense of continuation.
A sense of connection. There can be no doubt that we are more plugged in than ever before, but I posit that we are more disconnected as well. Disconnected from our government, from our neighbors, from our sources of energy, our gods, our food, and ourselves.
We are no longer a human being, but a list of diagnosises. A pill for this and that and the symptoms go away, but the disease remains.
We don't eat food anymore, we eat a list of nutrients that someone else tells us is right. Carbs, trans fats, antioxidents, and so on, we avoid what is bad and binge on what is good, ignoring the shell game of labeling that keeps us filling our bodies with the things with the things which put us in this mess in the first place.
"Living healthy costs too much, growing your own food is too much work, takes too much land. All this stuff is nice in theory, but in practice..."
Its an upstream swim, but I'm familiar with that act.
I lack knowlege, I lack experience, but I have inspiration and help from those who have gone before me.
I'll conclude this with a dose of realism. I can change myself, but I am not an island,I have a wife and two young children, and I am not a very convincing person.
How do I gently pull them into the stream too without drowning us all?
So a little background shall be a necessity.
Firstly I am predisposed to worry, to a clinical degree in fact. I believe this is an inherited trait from my mother. My desire to become more independent in terms of lifestyle (food primarily) is born from what I originally believed to be just another attack of anxiety about the state of the world. I have come to the conclusion that my anxious disposition may in fact be an asset. Anxious people are sensitive people, sensitive people are observant people.
I notice things, things that don't make sense to me. Why do we depend on food that has to be altered on a genetic basis. Havent thousands of years of stewardship over crops shown us what stock is most effective in what areas? Why do we depend on methods which by their very nature destroy the thing we depend on. Food is less and less nutritious, and we eat more and more of it. As the old programmer's adage goes, garbage in, garbage out.
As Newton so rightly pointed out however: An object at rest will continue to remain at rest until acted upon by an outside force.
For me the outside force was more inside. The more I worried the more I investigated, the more I investigated the more I worried. Eventually I conceded that I could sit and continue to worry, or stand up and do something.
The second key element never really clicked with me until this morning. Like most Americans I have spent my young adult life trying to prove to myself that I am not like my parents. Eventually the clues started leaking under the door. The memories of our meager attempt at gardening trickled back 25 or so years later after the fact. The taste of my Grandfather's tomatos, every year, fat, bright, juicy, and unlike anything from the shelves. His homemade biscuits that seemed to float off the plate. My dad hand tooling leather purses to sell at craft fairs, making beautiful pieces of furniture that to this day shame whatever mass produced pile of tinder that might be available in stores. My mom sewing.
If anyone is familiar with the Dune series by Frank Herbert, one of the key aspects of the heros is their ability to recall perfectly the memories of their ancestors. I don't think Herbert was far off. We may not inherit the memories of our ancestors but a part of us feels the draw to continue their labors. Something beyond the sense of accomplishment that comes from sitting at a table you built, eating food you grew and prepared. A sense of continuation.
A sense of connection. There can be no doubt that we are more plugged in than ever before, but I posit that we are more disconnected as well. Disconnected from our government, from our neighbors, from our sources of energy, our gods, our food, and ourselves.
We are no longer a human being, but a list of diagnosises. A pill for this and that and the symptoms go away, but the disease remains.
We don't eat food anymore, we eat a list of nutrients that someone else tells us is right. Carbs, trans fats, antioxidents, and so on, we avoid what is bad and binge on what is good, ignoring the shell game of labeling that keeps us filling our bodies with the things with the things which put us in this mess in the first place.
"Living healthy costs too much, growing your own food is too much work, takes too much land. All this stuff is nice in theory, but in practice..."
Its an upstream swim, but I'm familiar with that act.
I lack knowlege, I lack experience, but I have inspiration and help from those who have gone before me.
I'll conclude this with a dose of realism. I can change myself, but I am not an island,I have a wife and two young children, and I am not a very convincing person.
How do I gently pull them into the stream too without drowning us all?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
