Who knew there was a waiting list for the last stop before extinction? Evidently, it’s standing room only at the Imperiled Show, and some critters are waiting outside in the rain because others got priority seating.
Spectacular....I look for monarchs every day..I almost over-celebrate when I see one.. Thank you God for bee balm, phlox, and butterfly bushes that give me a faint glimmer of hope...Right on, Betsy!!
I'm with Barry; I've been looking for monarchs, and have only seen ONE lately, and that was at the Pittsburgh Conservancy and Botanical Gardens...and there were a ton of lovely butterflies there. Sadly, I haven't seen any here in good ole HP lately, but I am still looking, and nurturing my butterfly plants in the hopes of attracting them! Thanks for these words of wisdom, and I am giving careful consideration to which of the local nonprofits I am going to sign up to be "more active and present", when Luke goes off to school and I have more free time than I used to have. Hope to see you soon, and thanks again for the words and beautiful imagery...and I like the Mary Poppins references!! Takes me back...
It's trying to make it's way out. Resistance is difficult..."Supercalifragi...."!!! :) I've only seen one monarch this summer, the one that miraculously appeared the day we buried Tucker. Such a gift. I keep trying to weave more natives into my gardens, for the sake of the butterflies, the bees, and so many more. Feels like the least I can do. Hugs, and thanks, Carolyn. <3
Ah but there actually is a magic bullet! And it is something every single person and family (and institution and organization and municipality) can do. Unfortunately our “leaders” seem oblivious and only focus on energy. We can save our planet with FOOD. We can store all of our current carbon emissions in the ground but only if we are all willing to stop eating food that is drenched in synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers that kill the soil biota that make soil healthy enough to store 5-12 tons of carbon per acre per year (rather than the paltry 1/4 or 1/2 of a ton that is poised to be rewarded by industrial scaled feed systems rather than human scaled food systems.) What do I mean? I mean we have to give up eating crops produced conventionally (with neonics that kill pollinators, synthetic nitrogen that alone costs 1.75 tons of carbon/acre/yr, herbicides like glyphosate which affect every bodily process (read Toxic Legacy), and thousands of pesticides linked to reproductive and endocrine disorders, cancers, depression, and even damage to the pre-frontal cortex of our children’s brains- none of which are permitted in organic ag. And we have to give up eating CAFO meats (animals grown in horrific confinement and fed conventional corn and soy raised as described) and instead eat meats from animals raised outdoors on rotational pasture (preferably organic) and given organic feed. We can do this. But we all have to do it. Like Pogo said in a little comic strip 60 years ago: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
Cleo, you know I'm right there with you when it comes to the transformational potential of regenerative agriculture. But, I don't think we're there yet with it serving as cure all. There are too many who can't find or afford that food, too many who can't find or afford the land to grow in that manner, too many systemic challenges to overcome simultaneously. I absolutely believe our food choices matter way more than the credit given to that act of solidarity. I look forward to the day when that is within reach for everyone. Meanwhile, we're back to focusing on legislation and donating or volunteering for organizations that can advocate in that direction. Thanks for reading and commenting, and for the work you do so beautifully at Cottingham Farm.
Anyone who has a yard, a balcony , a sunny spot somewhere, can grow some of their own food. You don't need large acreage : I live in a small town on a small lot, and I garden both for my food, and with natives so that a bit of habitat for the wild things is reclaimed from what would have been just another turf grass lawn. We need to get gardening back in the schools so that kids are taught at an early age to love soil (not 'dirt') , to love to grow ...everything. Gifts of seeds and gardening books and mentoring new gardeners/ planet stewards is what we need. Keep it local. Make it fun.
You are right about that. Space is not the issue-leadership is. I grew a couple thousand pounds of tomatoes a week for 3-5 Whole Foods stores on 5,000 sf of passive solar high tunnel! Little old Vermont created 6,500 jobs and grew their local food economy by $3B and there is room for lots more…they increased their local food consumption from 5 to 13% of foods consumed. Every municipality owns land which can be used for growing food for the community.
Absolutely ! We have far too much land tied up in turfgrass, and farmland that Could support more than just commodities, owned by corporate entities instead of actual families. I know your farm as well...I worked for you for a day or two some years ago, and it was eyes opening to see just how much food you produced in a relatively small footprint! I dream of a country that has farming 'collectives' , or at the very least can rethink how we go about the 'business' of farming. Our farmland here in Maryland could (and should) be much more diverse than the industrial use it has been subject to. We could actually recreate habitat and grow enough food for this entire foodshed , as well as creating the jobs, and better health for people and wildlife.
Thank you for being here to put to words what my heart and soul and the very core of my nature loving being is feeling (and fearing)...that we are at our end. And yet, to still find joy and beauty and wonder in witnessing the very things whose loss is breaking my heart daily. Keep writing, brave fellow humane human !😍
Daughter Molly introduced me to Ethical Altruism, a movement that strives, among other things, to make the most of philanthropic giving, so that it is more impactful. The list you have from Alden Wicker (and the conscious consumerism movement) has echos in EA.
Your essays give us comfort, give us community and -- "those clouds!" -- a sense of hope. Hope: what was left in Pandora's box after all else fled.
Spectacular....I look for monarchs every day..I almost over-celebrate when I see one.. Thank you God for bee balm, phlox, and butterfly bushes that give me a faint glimmer of hope...Right on, Betsy!!
Thanks for being mindful and watchful, Barry. We need that, and so do our critters! <3
I'm with Barry; I've been looking for monarchs, and have only seen ONE lately, and that was at the Pittsburgh Conservancy and Botanical Gardens...and there were a ton of lovely butterflies there. Sadly, I haven't seen any here in good ole HP lately, but I am still looking, and nurturing my butterfly plants in the hopes of attracting them! Thanks for these words of wisdom, and I am giving careful consideration to which of the local nonprofits I am going to sign up to be "more active and present", when Luke goes off to school and I have more free time than I used to have. Hope to see you soon, and thanks again for the words and beautiful imagery...and I like the Mary Poppins references!! Takes me back...
It's trying to make it's way out. Resistance is difficult..."Supercalifragi...."!!! :) I've only seen one monarch this summer, the one that miraculously appeared the day we buried Tucker. Such a gift. I keep trying to weave more natives into my gardens, for the sake of the butterflies, the bees, and so many more. Feels like the least I can do. Hugs, and thanks, Carolyn. <3
Ah but there actually is a magic bullet! And it is something every single person and family (and institution and organization and municipality) can do. Unfortunately our “leaders” seem oblivious and only focus on energy. We can save our planet with FOOD. We can store all of our current carbon emissions in the ground but only if we are all willing to stop eating food that is drenched in synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers that kill the soil biota that make soil healthy enough to store 5-12 tons of carbon per acre per year (rather than the paltry 1/4 or 1/2 of a ton that is poised to be rewarded by industrial scaled feed systems rather than human scaled food systems.) What do I mean? I mean we have to give up eating crops produced conventionally (with neonics that kill pollinators, synthetic nitrogen that alone costs 1.75 tons of carbon/acre/yr, herbicides like glyphosate which affect every bodily process (read Toxic Legacy), and thousands of pesticides linked to reproductive and endocrine disorders, cancers, depression, and even damage to the pre-frontal cortex of our children’s brains- none of which are permitted in organic ag. And we have to give up eating CAFO meats (animals grown in horrific confinement and fed conventional corn and soy raised as described) and instead eat meats from animals raised outdoors on rotational pasture (preferably organic) and given organic feed. We can do this. But we all have to do it. Like Pogo said in a little comic strip 60 years ago: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
Cleo, you know I'm right there with you when it comes to the transformational potential of regenerative agriculture. But, I don't think we're there yet with it serving as cure all. There are too many who can't find or afford that food, too many who can't find or afford the land to grow in that manner, too many systemic challenges to overcome simultaneously. I absolutely believe our food choices matter way more than the credit given to that act of solidarity. I look forward to the day when that is within reach for everyone. Meanwhile, we're back to focusing on legislation and donating or volunteering for organizations that can advocate in that direction. Thanks for reading and commenting, and for the work you do so beautifully at Cottingham Farm.
Anyone who has a yard, a balcony , a sunny spot somewhere, can grow some of their own food. You don't need large acreage : I live in a small town on a small lot, and I garden both for my food, and with natives so that a bit of habitat for the wild things is reclaimed from what would have been just another turf grass lawn. We need to get gardening back in the schools so that kids are taught at an early age to love soil (not 'dirt') , to love to grow ...everything. Gifts of seeds and gardening books and mentoring new gardeners/ planet stewards is what we need. Keep it local. Make it fun.
You are right about that. Space is not the issue-leadership is. I grew a couple thousand pounds of tomatoes a week for 3-5 Whole Foods stores on 5,000 sf of passive solar high tunnel! Little old Vermont created 6,500 jobs and grew their local food economy by $3B and there is room for lots more…they increased their local food consumption from 5 to 13% of foods consumed. Every municipality owns land which can be used for growing food for the community.
Absolutely ! We have far too much land tied up in turfgrass, and farmland that Could support more than just commodities, owned by corporate entities instead of actual families. I know your farm as well...I worked for you for a day or two some years ago, and it was eyes opening to see just how much food you produced in a relatively small footprint! I dream of a country that has farming 'collectives' , or at the very least can rethink how we go about the 'business' of farming. Our farmland here in Maryland could (and should) be much more diverse than the industrial use it has been subject to. We could actually recreate habitat and grow enough food for this entire foodshed , as well as creating the jobs, and better health for people and wildlife.
Melody-I have to re-meet you! We both started the food-growing-passion-thing at the same age! Come by!
Cleo, thank you for the invite! I would love to see you 😊
Thank You, Thank You!
Tom and Linda
Back atcha, Tom and Linda. Always...!
Thank you for being here to put to words what my heart and soul and the very core of my nature loving being is feeling (and fearing)...that we are at our end. And yet, to still find joy and beauty and wonder in witnessing the very things whose loss is breaking my heart daily. Keep writing, brave fellow humane human !😍
I think finding a way through fear and into perseverance is the only way we carry on, Melody. Thank YOU for taking time to read, comment, and connect!
All beautifully said, thank you Elizabeth ❤️
On spot as usual!
On spot as usual!
Each time I read one of your essays, I think - this is the best one - and then there is the next one. Beautiful.
What a lovely comment. Thank you, Roe!
Daughter Molly introduced me to Ethical Altruism, a movement that strives, among other things, to make the most of philanthropic giving, so that it is more impactful. The list you have from Alden Wicker (and the conscious consumerism movement) has echos in EA.
Your essays give us comfort, give us community and -- "those clouds!" -- a sense of hope. Hope: what was left in Pandora's box after all else fled.
May I borrow that last bit, please? Just perfect. <3
About hope? Certainly. Story is in the public domain!
Yes, but somehow that phrasing helped me "hear" it.