i havn't written here in forever. it's been a crazy few months. my dad passed away in august after a very long illness, in september i went back to school, and in november i moved! as for school i'm doing a certificate in food security through ryerson university which i am really enjoying. its all online though which is sort of weird, i wish i had a classroom to interact in. anywawy once exams are over i'll post some of the paper's i have written this semsester. they include one about a local rural community kitchen, escaping the global food system with the creation of foodsheds, and women and the industrial food system.
anyway the other day i came across this poem and thought it was really lovely.
Perhaps the World Ends Here
by Joy Harjo
The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what,
we must eat to live.
The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table.
So it has been since creation, and it will go on.
We chase chickens or dogs away from it. Babies teethe at the
corners. They scrape their knees under it.
It is here that children are given instrictions on what it means
to be human. We make men at it, we make women.
At this table we gossip, recall enemies and the ghosts of lovers.
Our dreams drink coffee with us as they put their arms around
our children.
They laugh with us at our poor falling-down selves and as we put
ourselves ack together once again at this table.
This table has been a house in the rain, an umbrella in the sun.
Wars have begin and ended at this table. It is a place to hide
in the shadow of terror. A place to celebrate a terrible victory.
We have given birth on this table, and have prepared
our parents for burial here.
At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow. We pray of
suffering and remprse. We give thanks.
Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table, while we are
lauging and crying, eating of the last sweet bite.
12/03/2008
5/17/2008
great article on meat and the envrionment
i just read a really great article on eating meat and the environment over at a blog called "weight of the evidence" here it is. http://weightoftheevidence.blogspot.com/2008/04/solar-powered-plate.html
i like this part the best where she compaires high density feedlots, and pastured cattle
"While the [cattle] industry calls these practices "efficient" - they're anything but, and I'd say are part of the problem we're trying to solve. The equation looks sort of like this:Synthetic Fertilizer & GMO Patented Seeds [$] ----> Pesticides [$] ---> Feed [$] ---> Cows [$] ---> Building [$] ---> Electricity [$] ---> Pharmaceuticals [$] ---> Manure Lagoons [$] ---> Transportation [$] ---> Food
On the other hand, properly raised livestock is solar powered food, it's equation looks like this:Sun [free] ---> Grass [free] ---> Hay & Silage [$] ---> Cow [$] ---> Food & Organic Fertilizer"
as for my personal life things have been all up in the air. my mom's house goes on the market next week so we've been getting it all ready, i'm waiting to hear about a really exciting job in peterborough that i had an interview for, if i stay in ottawa i'm going to have a bio-intesinve garden at bronson and laurier! which is exciting. anyway winter is a good time for reflection and staying in, but i'm glad the sun is shining. time to soak up some vitamin D!
i like this part the best where she compaires high density feedlots, and pastured cattle
"While the [cattle] industry calls these practices "efficient" - they're anything but, and I'd say are part of the problem we're trying to solve. The equation looks sort of like this:Synthetic Fertilizer & GMO Patented Seeds [$] ----> Pesticides [$] ---> Feed [$] ---> Cows [$] ---> Building [$] ---> Electricity [$] ---> Pharmaceuticals [$] ---> Manure Lagoons [$] ---> Transportation [$] ---> Food
On the other hand, properly raised livestock is solar powered food, it's equation looks like this:Sun [free] ---> Grass [free] ---> Hay & Silage [$] ---> Cow [$] ---> Food & Organic Fertilizer"
as for my personal life things have been all up in the air. my mom's house goes on the market next week so we've been getting it all ready, i'm waiting to hear about a really exciting job in peterborough that i had an interview for, if i stay in ottawa i'm going to have a bio-intesinve garden at bronson and laurier! which is exciting. anyway winter is a good time for reflection and staying in, but i'm glad the sun is shining. time to soak up some vitamin D!
3/16/2008
a finished object
i've been working on this baby blanket for my cousin and his wife since october! it's FINALLY finished. i'm really happy with it.
the pattern is theHoover baby blanket from Knitty . it was hard to get good pictues of it on my carpet, it is actually rectangular not all wonky. i used 2 balls of pattons canadiania in oatmeal and 3 balls of pattons canadiana in winter white. i just think acrylic makes sense for a baby blanet.
the pattern is theHoover baby blanket from Knitty . it was hard to get good pictues of it on my carpet, it is actually rectangular not all wonky. i used 2 balls of pattons canadiania in oatmeal and 3 balls of pattons canadiana in winter white. i just think acrylic makes sense for a baby blanet.
3/11/2008
SNOW!
there is SO MUCH SNOW in ottawa! it's unbelievable. a few buildings have collapsed from the weight of all the snow. it's had me thinking a lot about climate change. everyone talks about it as if it's something in the future but really it's happening all around us.
here's a photo out my front door. note the lamp post!
and here is my back deck. ugh.
it's funny, there was a woman on the news who said "i hate the stuff, but if you tried to take it away from me i'd fight you tooth and nail" i agree. as much as i hate snow i don't think i could live without it! but i'm desperatley looking forward to spring.
here's a photo out my front door. note the lamp post!
and here is my back deck. ugh.
it's funny, there was a woman on the news who said "i hate the stuff, but if you tried to take it away from me i'd fight you tooth and nail" i agree. as much as i hate snow i don't think i could live without it! but i'm desperatley looking forward to spring.
2/01/2008
Glorious Seeds
i am so bad at updating this thing. mainly because i havn't been doing much except applying for jobs (as usual).
i'm trying to write a cover letter at the moment but i'm easily distracted and have turned my attention to seeds. i've been ordering seed catalogues! i can't wait to look through all of them. i guess looking online is more environmentally friendly but i can't put posted notes in the internet like i can a catalogue. also most of the websites don't have pictures of the veg whereas the catalogues do.
where i am going to plant these seeds is unknown. i plan on getting a community garden plot somwhere in the city. i should start looking into that too. of course i could get a job in a different city. who knows. i'll probably try to do a bio-intensive to maximize space...
its snowing like crazy here so it's nice to dream of hands in warm soil and a big haul of fresh tomoatoes.
i'm trying to write a cover letter at the moment but i'm easily distracted and have turned my attention to seeds. i've been ordering seed catalogues! i can't wait to look through all of them. i guess looking online is more environmentally friendly but i can't put posted notes in the internet like i can a catalogue. also most of the websites don't have pictures of the veg whereas the catalogues do.
where i am going to plant these seeds is unknown. i plan on getting a community garden plot somwhere in the city. i should start looking into that too. of course i could get a job in a different city. who knows. i'll probably try to do a bio-intensive to maximize space...
its snowing like crazy here so it's nice to dream of hands in warm soil and a big haul of fresh tomoatoes.
12/04/2007
11/10/2007
Composting Toilet Poem
i'm reading "the self sufficient life and how to live it: the complete back to basics guide" by John Seymour and in it he has a poem about his composting toilet which was just too hilarious. all joking aside this is a really great book!
Our Marvelous Thunderbox "Loo"
now the human being is a very strange beast with capabilities good and bad
not frightened of nature, no not in the least our follies are often quite mad
the toilet that flushes fills our souls with glee
a brainwave by Thomas Crapper
mixes shit with clean water and pours out to sea
as if the dirt did not matter
out of sight, out of mind, much shoots down the pipes
an incredible fabric of magic
squandering food for the soil as the water we spoil
it's a tale that is terribly tragic
but all is not lost for at a marginal cost
another solution comes easy
the composting loo; yes that's our riposte
and your tummy need not feel to queasy
the vent goes up high, sending gas to the skies
and the lid fits snug so no entry to flies
two years it will take, our compost to make
and our river's not sorry the flush to forsake
no water, no tricks--it's all built with bricks
the shit and the kitchen waste too
all go together making food for the soil
in our marvelous Thunderbox loo
Our Marvelous Thunderbox "Loo"
now the human being is a very strange beast with capabilities good and bad
not frightened of nature, no not in the least our follies are often quite mad
the toilet that flushes fills our souls with glee
a brainwave by Thomas Crapper
mixes shit with clean water and pours out to sea
as if the dirt did not matter
out of sight, out of mind, much shoots down the pipes
an incredible fabric of magic
squandering food for the soil as the water we spoil
it's a tale that is terribly tragic
but all is not lost for at a marginal cost
another solution comes easy
the composting loo; yes that's our riposte
and your tummy need not feel to queasy
the vent goes up high, sending gas to the skies
and the lid fits snug so no entry to flies
two years it will take, our compost to make
and our river's not sorry the flush to forsake
no water, no tricks--it's all built with bricks
the shit and the kitchen waste too
all go together making food for the soil
in our marvelous Thunderbox loo
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