The History Dork Within

In order to get to many places (my job, my parents house, etc), I have to cross part of the Missouri River. I've mentioned before my fear of bridges, which is especially heightened on this particular bridge for some reason. I guess the narrow lanes or some such. Nevertheless, I feel a little less nervous when someone else is driving and I can look out onto the river.

The other night, R. and I were heading to my sister's softball game. The night was very humid and foggy. As I looked out onto the darkening Missouri River, I got this flash of what it must have felt like before these bridges and buildings. The dark fog of an early summer night. The uncomfortable humidity and irritating bugs. In my mind I could visualize the Lewis and Clark Expedition camping, sailing, doing the things they did back in this time when very little of our world existed.

This happens to me in certain places--my history studies + imagination on overload I suppose. Not many in my family/friend circle enjoy history the way I do, so it's an odd, inner way of enjoying what I know of history...and wondering what it must have been like to live so long ago.

In other news, I bought Barbara Kingsolver's new book "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle." I am so excited! And, as a warning, it's bound to inspire many political, food growing and philosophical type posts. Be prepared.

=)

Pink Lady Slipper

I'm sure I've mentioned (oh, about eleventy-million times) that as a young girl I spent many a spring and summer week at my Grandma's house in the Iowa woodlands. Regardless of the season, we would often walk the woods and creek, but in the spring wildflowers were our first priority.

There were certain flowers that were the old standby (Spring Beauties, Sweet William, Dutchman's Brithces). Certain flowers that only grew in one area (Virginia Bluebells, Buttercups) and some that we rarely or never found.

My Grandma often talked about Lady Slippers--both yellow and pink. We'd search for either, and never found either while we together. I believe she once found a yellow Lady Slipper when I wasn't there, but the Pink Lady Slipper was somewhat our Holy Grail so to speak--something we searched for and never found.

I'd never seen one before last weekend. On our fated Bear-Poop hike I saw what had elluded me for so many years. Something I'd very nearly forgotten about--until I saw a clump of these pink beauties at the edge of a trail deep in the Smoky Mountains.



Just as normal as could be, their pink little heads stood there at the side of the trail as my breath caught in my throat. I couldn't help but look up at the sky through the trees and feel my Grandma hiking along with me. Surely she saw it too.

Poop

Probably the most related tale of our Smoky Mountain trip revolves around these 2 pictures:





The first is a tree limb that had fallen over the trail and looked suspiciously as if it had been scratched up by a bear. The trail was off a gravel, one-way, mountain road that only had one other car on it that we saw the entire 14 miles. R. was a little concerned by this, but it didn't bother me overmuch. We continued to walk along this trail a ways and then saw the second picture. Luckily, we had been at the visitor's center not too long before and had seen a replica of Bear scat. This had exactly the same look. R. was ready to throw in the towel, but I waved it off. It was just some poop after all.

We went another 1/4 of a mile or so and discovered another lump of scat--also right on the trail. This time I agreed with R.--time to head back. We didn't see any bears, but neither of us wanted to chance it. We'd rather see a bear from the confines of our own car.

And, that we did, the next day. Cade's Cove is a driving loop in the Smokies that is fairly popular. We were trying to get out, stuck in some nasty traffic, before we saw two park rangers by the road, directing traffic. We thought maybe some kind of fender bender, but as we passed we saw 3 black bears in the clearing right off the road. I tried to take a picture, but as the park rangers were waving us on (and we didn't think to stop for a second to disobey them) I never did get a shot of them.

Still, it was neat to see them (from afar)! I couldn't help but wonder if they felt a bit like a circus sideshow with all the people gawking from their cars.

Still Expecting Mountains

I really love the mountains. This is a problem being a lifelong midwesterner who will probably stay a lifelong midwesterner, but I love the midwest too, so I suppose it all works out. It's just, I keep thinking I'm going to look at the horizon and see mountains, but I just see flat-flat-flat.

We got back yesterday, tired and sore. We hiked only about 11 or 12 miles worth of trails, but were on our feet or in the car the whole time. The only time we were in our hotel was to shower and sleep. So, all in all, a successful trip.

We've decided that a return trip to Gatlinburg isn't very likely. We'd already done most of the museums (which, most, are very neat) on our first trip, so we were disappointed with the less than steller options on this trip. We love the Smokies, but Gatlinburg is too busy, cigarette smoky, and has a certain element of unpleasant people (which we found on this trip, not the one before). So hopefully we'll make it back to the park and bypass Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge altogether.

I'll have a more detailed post of our drive and hikes throughout the week. Right now I am stuffed full of BBQ and still a bit exhausted from the trip. But, I'll leave you with some pictures. =)

Spring Collage

My Mom and I went to the Missouri Botanical Gardens yesterday. Everything was in full swing, including the workers--probably not expecting such an early boom in visitors. It was rather crowded, but it was a nice 2 hour walk among the pretties.

Spring Has Sprung... Way Too Quickly

The trees are blooming like crazy and it's been just about overnight. One night, it was bare branches and brown grass--the next flowering Bradford Pear trees, Redbuds, and Forsythia. All in massive, full-blown bloom in the blink of an eye. It's beautiful--for the short week it will last. Either the heat (83 yesterday) will get to these early bloomers or the inevitable cold snap that follows will.

Yesterday, R. and I went hiking. Along the forest floor, the anemones and spring beauties were out in force, along with some Dutchman's britches and the occassional violet.

Everything is blooming and spreading in this 20-25 degree above normal weather.

I find this irritating for a long list of reasons. First of all, Spring is my favorite season and the week of really too hot temperatures just speeds everything up so that the pretty blooms and early smells are lost in the heat and will just as soon be lost in, likely, a below normal cold snap. I don't get to enjoy the blooms for more than a few days and the gradual warming of the world is lost in the up and down of way too hot and way too cold. It's really a shame.

I used to spend Spring Break's bundled up searching for signs of wildflowers at my Grandma's house in southern Iowa. We rarely found something so early in the season, but the search was fun nevertheless.

When winter pops to summer and back in forth, I feel like my Spring is lost somewhere in the middle and I don't get to enjoy that search for the first signs of green, the first blooms of the year. Instead, they all come out to once and don't stick around long enough.

On a happier note, my seedlings are popping up like crazy. The strawberry popcorn I planted has quickly outgrown the seed starter and needs to be transplanted, and the tomatoes aren't far behind. The peppers are finally peeking out, but the strawberries are still being stubborn. Exciting to see the little shoots of green, though!

Dinasours weren't driving SUVs.

"I mean, my Dad said there was climate change when the dinasaurs were around, and they weren't driving cars. So, I don't think it's us causing global warming."

Ack! This is what I had to hear last night at work. I tutor reading/writing and a student brought in his research paper on Global Warming. His thesis is that global warming needs to be stopped. "Oh, great topic!" I say. Then, he tells me about half way through he doesn't really believe in global warming, it just seemed like the easiest side to take. Huh? And then he tells me the above quote. WHAT?

I would love to pass this off as a one-student, one-time event. Surely, surely this isn't a prevalent feeling with young people. Sure, old, stodgy conservative Republicans, but not the youth of America.

But, a few weeks ago I was at my other job, online tutoring, when a student wanted help with a paper. A paper about how pesticides are good and without pesticides we wouldn't have all the food we wanted whenever we wanted... because having that is a NECESSITY! No! Please tell me students aren't learning this--whether from teachers or parents or even the media, tell me this isn't the prevelant thought.

I'd love to pass it off on political parties as well, but let me tell you about my sister. As liberal as they come, bordering genius, Pre-med, going to take two years off med school to do Teach for America. This girl is INVOLVED, in her college town led a group focused on banning smoking in restaurants. And, then, she tells me the other day... "I think pesticides are good." WHAT????

This is so disconcerting. These people are going to be leading the world in some 20 years. But, if they want something-- an SUV, an orange in December, they should have it--regardless of the implications on our Earth.

Despite being such a hot-button topic, climate change and global warming and especially eating locally and organically still gets pushed to the side. We can't see the "now" effects of all that is happening with our food supply and our environment... and who cares? As long as there's McDonald's, gas for my car, and highways to drive on... what's the point of all that... dirt!

Our egocentric, selfish, now, now, now-mentality astounds me continually. They say that one person can make a difference, and I want so badly to believe that, but sometimes I really do wonder if we can change our mindset.

A Post About Food

On Losing Weight


I have been thinking a lot about food lately—in a variety of capacities. First of all, I want to lose some weight. I am not overweight, but I know if I ate a little better and exercised a few times a week, I could be at a much more satisfactory weight—not to be “skinny” but to be healthy and feel more energetic.

I happened across this amazing website that helps you track your meals, gives you ideas for what to eat and how to exercise. For someone like me, this site has been a revelation. (And it’s free!)



Get a Free Online Diet

First, it allows you to really easily track your food intake and the calories/fat/nutrients you’re getting in the process. I used to think I ate pretty well since I don’t like a lot of fatty things, I had no idea the amount of empty calories I was taking in on a day. And how much I lack in eating good things like fruits and vegetables. And how little water I drank in a day, and how much fat and nasty stuff comes from just one meal eating out.

Which is where all this weight loss talk ties into this blog—it’s all about the fruits and veggies—fresh ones, preferably. I haven’t really been eating much fruit or many vegetables because nothing is really local right now. Now that I know I want to buy local, I am hoping this will help me plan for the next winter season—so I have local on hand to eat.

It’s also about planning so it isn’t easier to say, hey, let’s get Taco Bell. It’s going to take a lot of planning and work and dedication to wean myself off the desire to eat a meal out so often—not in an effort to lose weight or save money, but really in an effort to be good to my body.

With all of these outbreaks of salmonella and e.coli it’s a wonder more people aren’t realizing the problem is in our food system as much as it’s a companies mistake. Society puts such importance on quality goods—clothes, technology, houses, perfect lawns—why aren’t we putting any importance on the quality of food—one of those basic needs?

I suppose because it’s easier to just buy a frozen pizza or get a hamburger at McDonald’s. It’s easier not to think about food and what it is—and if we’ve grown up knowing no different, why should we be expected to change?

I’m not one for super activism. I believe what I believe and don’t try to push my beliefs on others. I often keep my convictions to myself because it’s not my job to change someone’s mind. But, I’m beginning to feel a little bit differently on activism and this issue. I think this is one issue (quality of food) that most people don’t think about because they’re ignorant—they grew up as I did with trips to the grocery store, meals out every week, and no emphasis or thought put on to what we’re putting in our bodies. If we don’t know or see that something’s wrong why should we change it?

So, from here on out I’m going to start telling people why I’m doing what I’m doing and why. Why local and organic are better choices. They don’t have to agree, or listen, they can even laugh—but if knowledge is power, then I feel it should be part of my responsibility to spread my knowledge—I am going to be a teacher after all ;)

Birds and Grandma

We had a lovely break in the weather yesterday (sunny and in the 40s!), so we decided to go for a hike. I brought my camera, but forgot to take pictures since we took R.’s family’s dogs with us.

It was nice to get out and move… I haven’t done that in a long while. I’m a bit sore today, but that’s good, right?

I’m not much of a bird person. When I was very young, my Grandma had a birdfeeder out in her yard. She lived in a very rural area amidst woods, creeks, and farms, so the birdfeeder was almost always full. We would sit at the window and watch the birds eat, and she would tell me what each bird was, or I would get out her bird books like A Field Guide to the Birds: Of Eastern and Central North America and figure out which birds were feeding.

I have since forgotten most of the birds. I can still identify the easy ones, Blue Jay, Bluebird, Robin, Cardinal, Woodpecker and I still remember names like nuthatch, sparrow, and finch. I could recognize the call of a bobwhite or a whippoorwill. But, most of my bird knowledge has gone by the wayside.

Yesterday, though, I remembered those winter afternoons sitting on the window seat next to my Grandma watching the birds at their nest. We saw plenty of birds. On our drive out to pick up the dogs, we saw 4 large bald eagles in an open field. It seemed odd and out of place, but I suppose we were only 4 or 5 miles from the Missouri River (by road). I heard two woodpeckers, though never got a look to see what kind. And, all the sudden my mind has gone blank on the two other kinds we saw on our hike.

I’d kind of like to get a birdfeeder someday, and sit with my children and learn the names of the birds from a worn, old bird guidebook. I suppose that has more to do with my Grandmother than the birds, but I think that’s one of the best ways we can instill a love for nature on our children or grandchildren—spend time with them in nature, teach them about nature, show our own love for nature and the beauty of what we have. By making those connections about people as much as about animals and plants, I think it makes a much more powerful mark.

Question for the Eco-Blogosphere

As a person new to the whole eating local/organic/green lifestyle, I thought I would propose a question to the blogosphere out there.

Eating locally has become quite en vogue lately, and for good reason. Besides the fact that the transportation of most of the food in the grocery store impacts the Earth negatively, eating locally is oftentimes tastier and even more nutritious.

The organic movement has also gained speed. It’s good for the environment as well, but it’s also focused on not putting all these man-made chemicals in our bodies and in the Earth.

Okay, so say you are lucky enough to have the option of both—which is better to choose in terms of the environment. A non-organic but local farmer, or an organic but not local product? Which one has the least amount of impact?

I’ve thought a lot about this, but I really don’t know enough about either to determine which is more… Earth and body-minded. On the one hand, a local farmer means very little transportation costs. However, the practices used to produce this food might not be all that great for the environment, for the product, or even for the farmer. Would organic, grown or made with the Earth and our health in mind, be better despite the amount and cost of travel?

Like I said, I don’t have an answer and sometimes you really don’t get the choice between the two. And sometimes you’re really really lucky and have something organic and local. But, I was just curious on some others thoughts on the matter.

What do you all think?

This is Why I Don't Watch the News

I’m still feeling puny. My Grandma used to say this when she wasn’t really sick, but just wasn’t feeling 100%. That’s me right now.

I don’t (and won’t) generally blog about the news because I am not a newsy person. Call it a personal flaw, but I don’t need to know what’s going on in the government concerning global warming, building over the wilderness, basically treating the planet like a doormat—because it makes me angry and frustrated and not feeling too good about what on person can do to change all that. I know, I know, knowledge is power, but in this case knowledge is also a downer. I just keep doing what I’m doing, and look for either positive news stories—or get my information from somewhere a lot less gloom and doom than the news.

My boyfriend, on the other hand, likes to watch the news. Therefore, I do get bits and pieces of it here and there. Today, there was some story or an other (I was only half listening) about a hearing/meeting about the possibility that the Bush administration pushed scientists into making global warming sound a lot less dangerous than it is. Does this surprise anyone? Certainly not me.

Of course, the familiar feelings of frustration and anger bubble up to the surface. It maddens me, irritates me and continually shocks me that we elect leaders and allow our political system to carry on the way it does. The Bush Administration is a whole new level of this, but politicians on both side of the spectrum do this—take advantage of the weak, reward the rich, and spin, spin, spin till there’s no hint of an issue left.

Bush was quoted as saying something about putting caps on greenhouse gasses would be too “expensive.” Expensive for whom? For companies that rake in billions and trillions of profits? For the government? For who? Because, last time I checked, global warming is going to end up being pretty expensive in the number of natural disasters, species lost, climate change affects on crops, businesses, and so on and so on. Let’s spend billions of dollars on a war, and do nothing to begin to solve some huge problems we’re costing the Earth and ourselves. The average person can’t always afford to make the “green” choice, it’s sad that those who can, won’t.

And this is why I don’t watch the news—I basically end up wanting to punch something or someone. I don’t feel inspired to make a change, I feel the need for screaming and shouting—and I don’t think that’s going to get anyone to change their mind.

Seeds and Eco-Footprints

Veggie Garden Update: I received my first batch of seeds yesterday. These were from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company (http://www.rareseeds.com/). I was impressed with how quickly I got them (though I do live in Missouri and the company is in Missouri as well, though further south). They also threw in a free packet of seeds of Golden Marconi Peppers which are a sweet pepper, so that will be nice in comparison with my hot Chinese Five-Color Peppers.



So, now I’ve got to work on finding some containers and deciding what kind of mix to use in the pots. I’ve read varying suggestions, though I think I’ll probably go by the growing guide from Baker Creek.

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Since I started this blog a little over a week ago, I have been searching the Internet for like-minded people who post regularly. There are quite a few blogs that I’ve been enjoying. The most regular posters, I’ve put in my link list—a list that will likely grow and change as I have become mildly obsessed with reading blogs.

One of the themes I see over and over again in posts, about pages and so forth is the idea that people are trying to erase the footprint they leave on the Earth. I find this a fascinating topic. I too would like to put out as little as I can in terms of hurting the environment, but I think this idea of erasing (or lessening) our footprint is a hard one. It’s not the “American Way.”

I think the majority of Americans are brought up being taught to put their mark on the world. Not necessarily there environmental mark in that they should pollute and damage the delicate balance of ecosystems, but to make our mark so that when we are gone there is proof that we have lived.

We are taught we should want to make a difference, make tons of money, have as much stuff as we possibly can—and sadly those last two outweigh the first. When our national motto is MORE MORE MORE, then the environment isn’t much involved in the thought process.

I, for whatever melding of genes and parenting, have never really wanted more. I’ve never been called materialistic… in fact; my Mom often finds my lack of buying things to my detriment. This was more so before I entered the “real world.” I’ve become a bit more of a shopper and spender and less of a wait for others to give me what I want. But still, my goal is not to make tons of money, have tons of things. In fact, I want to live a more simple life and I don’t want my (future) children to grow up with video games or zombies in front of the TV.

But, there is this presence around me that has that allure of “stuff” still right there in my mind. I used to watch an ungodly amount of TV. Since I have moved in with my boyfriend that isn’t as much the case. (I spend too much time on the computer). This week, I wasn’t feeling well a couple days so happened to watch more TV than I had been watching in weeks. And I began to see these ads bombarding me with what I should want, how I should be, and all the quick fixes to get there. I watch TV and I feel fat, poor and sloppy. Maybe I am the sloppy part, but my weight is fine and I don’t have a lot of money, but I have a roof over my head and food and plenty of stuff and plenty of people who would help me out if I were in financial crisis.

There are a lot of forces out there that try to make us feel unhappy with what we have. I’m not one of those people who says we shouldn’t watch TV. I enjoy The Office and Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert and Top Chef a little too much to do that. I think TV is fine form of entertainment, as long as I’m remaining conscious of the advertising affect on me.

I don’t need more, and I don’t always want more. I want less, and I want to create the smallest possible footprint in terms of the Earth’s health.

Cheater, cheater, Clementine eater

I have a confession to make… a deep, dark secret I keep from my “green” side. I love Clementines. These “e-z” peel cuties that travel to my Missouri supermarket from California… or even worse, Spain. The Boyfriend and I have become obsessed, eating about 3 a day and gobbling up nearly 5 boxes in the past month.

I feel guilt. I do, but at the same time, I can’t stop. An addiction? I don’t think so. It’s actually something mildly nobler (I said mildly).

I am a sugar freak. There’s not a day that goes by I don’t drink pop, and barely a day goes by that I don’t eat some horrifically sugary candy like Nerds or Starburst or Skittles. I have been obsessed with candy as long as I can remember—so much so that friends joke about this very fact and my boyfriend buys me bags and bags of candy for most occasions. Sugar is a drug, and I’m a very happy addict.

But, something amazing happened with our first box of Clementines. I had finished lunch, and instead of reaching for a sugary handful of candy, I wanted fruit. I had to do a bit of a double take. Body, you want what? But my body was adamant, it didn’t want candy—it wanted a Clementine.

Since we’ve been buying the well-traveled Clementine, I’ve barely touched my candy stash (I’m still a pop addict). Instead, for snacks and even desserts I reach for a Clementine. I like fruit a lot, but Clementines are the only one’s I’ve ever reached for over candy.
So the dilemma becomes, be good to my body or be good to the environment? I suppose it doesn’t have to be a choice… I could cut back on my sugar with sheer willpower, but that doesn’t work for me for very long. I could find a more local fruit to bow to my sweet tooth, but where’s that going to happen in January?
And so, we buy the Clementines and I feel guilty, but rationalize that it’s good for me! I believe the Clementine season is coming to an end; the last batch wasn’t so good, so until next winter I can be free of guilt. But, hopefully I can come up with a suitable replacement for the Clementine for the end of ’07.

The Little House Cookbook

I was looking through all the junk I keep crammed under the guest bed when I came across something I had forgotten completely.

At some point my Mom or Grandma had bought this orange cookbook full of odd, old-fashioned recipes. When my Mom wanted to get rid of it at a garage sale, I took it for myself. I didn’t know how she could get rid of something so infinitely interesting… and then it got packed away and I’ve barely looked at it since.

The book is The Little House Cookbook by Barbara M. Walker. It’s a book full of recipes mentioned in any of the fantastic Little House books or recipes that pioneers would have been making around the time Laura Ingalls Wilder’s family was traversing the Midwest. I’m a big history buff—especially the social aspect of history. Not necessarily wars or political disasters, but what were the everyday people thinking, feeling doing?

So, when I came across this book again I opened it up and looked through it. I was amazed to find just as many (if not more) words and explanations as recipes. I began to read the forward and was struck by how perfect Ms. Walker’s words seemed to fit with the ideas of simplicity, eating locally and even sustainability.

“They [the recipes] turn out to be a wonderful way to rediscover basic connections, links that are often obscured in the complex modern world. By this I mean connections among the food on the table, the grain in the field, and the cow in the pasture. Between the food on the table and the sweat of someone’s brow. Between the winter and dried apples, the summer and tomatoes, the autumn and fresh sausage. Between the labors of the pioneers and the abundance we enjoy today. Between children and their elders. Between the preparation of a meal and the experience of love.”

Walker’s words are undeniably perfect for this generation. She points to a point Joan Dye Gussow also brings up in her book This Organic Life. Many people don’t make the connection between what they eat and the farmers that produce the food. Many children haven’t any idea how onions or celery or peaches grow. There’s no connection. We simply, as a nation, do not seem to care where our food comes from as long as its cheap and convenient.

I think a lot of the local movements and homesteading movements stem from a wish to have all
those connections back. My Dad often makes fun of my love for old things, pointing out that I wouldn’t want to live without plumbing or running water. I try to explain I don’t want to transport myself back to that time, but I would like some of the values of community and food to be transported to our time. Pioneers and all those that came before the industrial age did what they did out of necessity. If they didn’t plant vegetables or have some kind of food source,
they died. Many of us are so lucky not to have that kind of threat hanging over our heads, but it doesn’t mean we should allow our ignorance to threaten our planet and our own health.

I’m getting a bit soapbox-y and a bit rambly again, so I’ll just say this. What I want from my life is to understand those connections between the food on the table and sweat of someone’s brow. I want to pass this to my children should I be lucky enough to have them. These new choices I’m making are to increase my connection to the land, to what I eat and an attempt to rememember my good fortune to have all that I have and not always be wanting more, faster, easier, and cheaper.

Pet Causes

A few days ago I was talking to one of my closest friends on the phone. Somehow, we got on the topic of eating fresh and locally. It’s not a topic I often bring up with people, because it’s still such a new concept for me, I don’t think I can do it justice until I actually start living it.

However, we got on the topic anyhow, and I was surprised that my friend agreed. Yes, fresh food tastes better. Yes, I would like to eat locally. Yes, yes, yes. Until we got to the part where we discuss actually doing it.

My friend had the normal arguments against it, it’s not economically sound and it requires some time and effort that a lot of people don’t have. I agreed that it takes time and some effort, and perhaps it’s not frugal in an economic sense, but I pointed out that it will never be economical or easy unless people start wanting to make the effort. The market generally bends to the majority of consumer wishes or consumer trends. Let’s make eating locally the coolest trend there is.

She pointed out that I specifically couldn’t afford it, and she has a point. I barely make enough money to scrape by, let alone by fresh produce from a farmer’s market. But, I couldn’t help but feel that I would rather make some financial sacrifices along the way and feel like I was at least taking away some of my personal additions to the levels of energy wasted by our food system.

And, I suppose, what it comes down to is this: what are you willing to sacrifice for? Everyone has his or her own pet “causes.” A disease, a human rights issue, our environment. We all determine what kind of sacrifices we want to make based on how we feel about them. I don’t often discuss my pet “causes” because everyone has a right to decide what cause they hold dear to their hearts.

I grew up around farms and people who had tried their hand at farming at some point. I grew up with the wilderness of my Grandparents and the small farm town of my other Grandparents. I grew up with a fascination for barns and cornfields and the people that made those things possible. I grew up occasionally getting a taste of fresh fruit in comparison with store bought. If someone never saw these things, I can imagine how hard it would be to make the connection and hold this cause to your heart.

Unfortunately, there are other issues involved other than just better tasting food. Greenhouse emissions, wasted energy, small farms being bulldozed and wild places being torn apart for million dollar homes. These issues, though not on the hearts of all, have a direct impact into our world and our future. I can’t help but feel we all need to take some responsibility for that. But, I am not one for banging my head against the cement heads of some. So, my activism is doing what I can, showing those interested what we can do, and teaching my children and my future students to care for the world and the wild.

Soapbox-y? Yes, but we can all take a turn on the soapbox every now and again, as long as we remember deep down we’re all trying to do something good—we just don’t all define good in the same way.

Revive the Victory Garden

I was trolling through the blogs I am beginning to visit each day and I came across this magnificent post:

http://simplereduce.blogspot.com/2007/01/revive-victory-garden.html

Take a look, be inspired! Let's fight global warming one vegetable at a time.