28 August 2011

The New Three Rs - Ratatouille, Rainwater and Renewable Energy

Well, my community's wonderful little fall fair is over for another year. I feel quite privileged to be the convenor of the Young People's Agriculture section. It was gratifying yesterday to see that entries in the 26 divisions (including 19 fruit and vegetable categories and some educational project categories) more than doubled from last year.

The best of all is the Garden Challenge, which offers community mentors and mentoring kits to any child who enters. This year, six children entered their gardens — and they were beautiful and abundant!
I'm telling you this because I had the opportunity to talk with a lot of community members yesterday about something quite controversial in the education world — and I, quite surprisingly, found a lot of understanding and agreement.

What I propose is that the 3 Rs — no, not Reduce, Reuse, Recycle ... the other 3 Rs: reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic — are increasingly irrelevant if we're not also teaching students to grow their own food, collect their own rainwater, and create their own energy. (What's your opinion? How relevant will reading and writing be in a world of scorched earth and droughts?)

I saw evidence at the fair yesterday that the children in my community are starting to learn food-growing skills (certainly not a skill you can learn in a class or two at school). My Convenor's Award went to a girl who grew herbs and is learning to make teas and tinctures and salves from them! Let's face it, most of us don't know a comfrey leaf from a cattail! This young gal could be a traditional healer of sorts when she grows up.
Alas, if there's any way you can encourage the children in your community or your local schools to get growing, please do so. And next up, let's get a rainwater collection system in every school garden. And some solar panels on every school roof! There's so much we need to do to ensure the safest future for the children as the climate change emergency starts crashing in around us.

21 August 2011

A Compassion (and Courage) Tune-Up - This Is It

Last night, I learned that my best friend's oldest sister has died of cancer. Linda and I were never close (because she was quite a bit older), but she was a fun part of my childhood. Her death has shaken me, and my heart goes out to Kathey and her family.

This morning, I met (for the first time) the 7-month-old son of a dear young friend of mine. Griffin's mom, Holly, is a wonderful woman who has always made me feel good about people. Griffin's dad, who I also just met, admitted that he is not optimistic about a solution to the climate crisis. His reminder saddened me, too.

Yet the circle of life keeps turning. That's why I can't wallow in pessimism or spend too much time immobilized by sadness. I've got something cooking and will be inviting you to participate as soon as I can get it organized. (Here's one hint: I'll be asking you to give one hour of your time each week for the children.)

In the meantime, This Is It, by Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald, listened to with the climate change emergency in mind ("This is it... your back's to the corner"), reminds us to fight instead of waiting for some miracle ... that fighting will be our miracle! Enjoy this blast from the past, and I hope it makes you feel brave as well as compassionate. (Lyrics below.)



THIS IS IT

Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins

There have been times in my life
I've been wondering why
Still somehow I believed
We'd always survive
Now I'm not so sure
You're waiting to hear
One good reason to try
But what more can I say
What's left to provide
You think that maybe it's over
Only if you want it to be
Are you gonna wait for your sign, your miracle?
Stand up and fight
This is it
Make no mistake where you are
This is it
Your back's to the corner
This is it
Don't be a fool anymore
This is it
The waiting is over
No room to run
No way to hide
No time for wondering why
It's here
The moment is now
About to decide
Let him [the denier] believe
Or leave him behind
But keep me near in your heart
And know, whatever you do
I'm here by your side
You said that maybe it's over
Not if you don't want it to be
For once in your life, here's your miracle
Stand up and fight
This is it
Make no mistake where you are
This is it
You're going no further
This is it
Until it's over and done
No one can tell you what you know
Who makes the choice of how it goes
It's not up to me this time
You know
There comes a day in every life
This is it
Make no mistake where you are
This is it
You're going no further
This is it
Until it's over and done
This is it
One way or another
This is it
No one can tell what the future holds
This is it
Your back's to the corner
This is it
You make the choice of how it goes
This is it
The waiting is over
This is it
No one can tell what the future holds
This is it
You're going no further
This is it...

13 August 2011

Are "Pictures" Still Worth a Thousand Words?





Want to keep it simple this week. These posters are courtesy of Climate Change News (along with Prophets of Hope and my sister). Enjoy and share!

















07 August 2011

One Family's Adventures in Sustainable Living (and Eating)


I work with homeschoolers who are enrolled in our local school district, and I'm often amazed and inspired by the richness, depth and breadth of my students' home-based learning.

Here's one example that I really want to share with you. The Kikuchi family lives on a smallish plot of rural land, and they've done wonderful things with it, including "rescuing" and replanting native plants that are being torn up by development elsewhere, and growing a lot of their own food.

They just completed a cookbook called Respect for Nature Sustainable Cooking Recipes. Father Koïchiro ("Arthur") wrote the introduction — as important an introduction as you'll ever read! Mother Sanae created the recipes, and I know for a fact that they're delicious. Elder son Kenta took the photos, daughter Yoko did the artwork, Shinta and his siblings made the serving dishes you'll see in some of the pictures, and baby Kota is the one who is all smiles. He learned how to use a hoe before he was two!

So, I don't want to take any more of your time. Please go and look through this wonderful family endeavour. I hope you'll learn lots, enjoy the experience, and cook some of the delicious recipes. Click here for an online version of Respect for Nature Sustainable Cooking Recipes, where you can also download it.

Bon (and sustainable) appétit!