An Experiment in Back Yard Sustainability

Having received my first seed catalog of the season, it started me thinking about gardening and healthy gardening. Scott McGuire offers some great food for thought on growing your own sustainable garden. I believe people should grow a large portion of the food they consume. It offers people control over their diets and food supplies. I also like his philosophy on the garden. He also offers an interesting perspective on growing food on rental properties and temporary residence. He offers another alternative to the concept of permaculture focusing on sustainable agriculture where ever you find yourself.

This brings to mind how First Nations people once lived. It seems the long term development of land, land management and the whole concept of land ownership comes from a European concept. The Natives saw the land as something that was lent to us by our children, not to be possessed by only one or few individuals keeping all others out.

I believed everyone should experiment in growing their own food in their own habitat. I like his thoughts on seeds.

Erik Assadourian visits Madrid, March 15-16, 2010

This video is an excellent summary of transforming culture from a consumer based culture to one that is sustainable.

Sustainable living is a way of life and world view point.

Listening To The People Will Tone Down The Rhetoric

After last week's tragedy in Arizona there was much talk about how we, as a Nation, need to turn down the "heated rhetoric." I believe the heated rhetoric is the result of people feeling our government is not listening to the people. The people speak yet the government does what it pleases. This creates much of the anger and frustration which is expressed in the "heated rhetoric"

I am surprised there has not been more violence other than on case of one unbalanced individual. People are disgusted with their elected officials not listening to them and forcing on them what the politicians think Americans should have.

The President spent time and taxpayer money hard selling his flawed and unconstitutional joke of a health care bill, thinking that that would get Democrats elected last November. Instead it lost them elections. People were so disgusted that they were willing to elect Republicans back into office. If the president spent some of his time creating jobs, then the Democrat losses would not have been as great.

Our governments need to start paying attention and listening to the people's will, and not the party's political agendas.

Even now I have to ask what is the President and Congress doing to create jobs for all the unemployed people? A message to our elected officials, "Start listening to the people!" or pay the consequences. We will tone down the rhetoric when the government starts to listen.

New Year, What's New?

Here it is day two of the New Year of 2011. Actually looking at my time measurement device it is actually day three. I am already feeling that I am falling behind in my life. The clock is ticking. It is hard for me to celebrate a holiday that is based on an arbitrary date on a calendar system that is not based on anything in our natural world much less our reality. It has as much meaning to me as the idea of "first day of the rest of your life." I like to measure time by my accomplishments and works created or natural processes; the growth of plants, the erosion of rocks and soil. The development of a fetus in a mother's womb, the growth of hair, the the fading pain of love lost.

Time should be viewed as works completed. An example be books written, music composed, painted finished. Maybe this what was meant by God created the heavens and earth in seven days. A "day" might be a particular work finished;skies,stars, planets, waters, animals, men. For an artist a "new year begins" with each new idea and vision. With each white canvass, with each blank sheet, with each stored unedited video

Days and years, worlds and realities, hopes and dreams are always beginning, continuing and ending for an artist. New Year begins within the mind and heart of the creator artist.