Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Forged in Natures Womb.
Good evening reader, I had the privilege, nay, the pleasure to spend yesterday outside. What a day it was dearest reader. Picture, if you will, birds singing, bees buzzing, a soft breeze blowing, and the warm sun shining on your face. All of this while attending class, oh yes I said it, class. We heard a talk on organic and sustainable gardening at our very own school and strides being made to keep up the nature preserve.
It was certainly an interesting 50 minutes. We discussed the value of native plants not only for the fact that they require less water but also because they benefit soil sustainability. When you introduce plants not native to an area they leach nutrients from the soil that perhaps there is not as much of here than there. They also take far greater amounts of water to maintain.
Something else we discussed, which was of great interest to me, was forest burning. What a lot of people do not realize is that forest fires are an essential part of the reproductive cycle of the forest. It is a forests rebirth if you will. We learned that these burnings take place nearly every year at the school and that they are watched over by people with the good fortune to have the name Fire Master.
So I decided after the talk that it would be a good idea for me to volunteer. As early as this monday I will be on campus early to help with something or other. Perhaps this summer I will get a job as a camp counselor and hopefully a permanent job as whatever the title is that they provide their workers. I am very excited. I spend 50 percent of my time in the woods and parks anyway so why not try to get paid for it. Be jealous reader, be very jealous. Until next time I bid you adieu and good night.
It was certainly an interesting 50 minutes. We discussed the value of native plants not only for the fact that they require less water but also because they benefit soil sustainability. When you introduce plants not native to an area they leach nutrients from the soil that perhaps there is not as much of here than there. They also take far greater amounts of water to maintain.
Something else we discussed, which was of great interest to me, was forest burning. What a lot of people do not realize is that forest fires are an essential part of the reproductive cycle of the forest. It is a forests rebirth if you will. We learned that these burnings take place nearly every year at the school and that they are watched over by people with the good fortune to have the name Fire Master.
So I decided after the talk that it would be a good idea for me to volunteer. As early as this monday I will be on campus early to help with something or other. Perhaps this summer I will get a job as a camp counselor and hopefully a permanent job as whatever the title is that they provide their workers. I am very excited. I spend 50 percent of my time in the woods and parks anyway so why not try to get paid for it. Be jealous reader, be very jealous. Until next time I bid you adieu and good night.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
I couldn't think up a title for this post.
My dearest and most beloved reader, please forgive the length of my absence. I have been lax in my duties but I have reentered the world of BLOG so fret no more.
On Friday a guest speaker came to our class to talk about water. We delved headfirst in to an adventure down the depths of our present and through to what the future could look like. I must say reader that in my opinion it was quite snazzy. Everywhere you look today you can see the waste that has become part of our daily life. Leaving the water running while brushing your teeth, watering the lawn at midday, taking a bath instead of a shower, washing the dishes by hand instead of putting them in the dishwasher, and basically being alive. All of these problems are due to people either being uneducated, incompetent, or both.
We learned how underground leaks can sully a good water well and even leak in to reservoirs. The guest speaker than gave us some pamphlets on water saving techniques and went on her merry way. I for one felt an immediate need to change some of my habits. It was enlightening and a little bit interesting to listen to.
In other news, I have changed my diet entirely now. I have begun a portion control system when I eat and I am only eating organic foods. Mostly local and almost all vegan. This does not mean that I have forgone meat, oh no dear reader not me, just that the products I buy are certified vegan and in some cases kosher though I still have no idea what that means.
Also, little sprouts have begun to pop up in my herb garden so following this will a set of pictures including my garden and some items that I have been eating.
Fare well now dearest reader and as always, live long and prosper, greenly.
On Friday a guest speaker came to our class to talk about water. We delved headfirst in to an adventure down the depths of our present and through to what the future could look like. I must say reader that in my opinion it was quite snazzy. Everywhere you look today you can see the waste that has become part of our daily life. Leaving the water running while brushing your teeth, watering the lawn at midday, taking a bath instead of a shower, washing the dishes by hand instead of putting them in the dishwasher, and basically being alive. All of these problems are due to people either being uneducated, incompetent, or both.
We learned how underground leaks can sully a good water well and even leak in to reservoirs. The guest speaker than gave us some pamphlets on water saving techniques and went on her merry way. I for one felt an immediate need to change some of my habits. It was enlightening and a little bit interesting to listen to.
In other news, I have changed my diet entirely now. I have begun a portion control system when I eat and I am only eating organic foods. Mostly local and almost all vegan. This does not mean that I have forgone meat, oh no dear reader not me, just that the products I buy are certified vegan and in some cases kosher though I still have no idea what that means.
Also, little sprouts have begun to pop up in my herb garden so following this will a set of pictures including my garden and some items that I have been eating.
Fare well now dearest reader and as always, live long and prosper, greenly.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Community in the Halls of Ivy.
I feel it appropriate at this time to share with you a recent event dear reader. Before class we held a hallway community discussion. It is funny to think how we all started out a tight lipped group and now we all know a little about each other just from talking in the hallway.
I noticed a in our class, as opposed to other classes of course, a tenuous bond. A sharing of ideas and feelings. I've tried lately to carry this outside of class. I am normally a very extroverted person and I have taken this a step further. I am quite sure that many have thought me odd or even a bit insane but it is worth it when I consider how many people have returned my temporary extension of friendship. I think if we all went out of our way to be a little bit more communal it would result in a much happier campus. I think I would like a happier campus. Not many others would though. It's hard to appreciate community when you don't want to be there in the first place. Life is funny like that isn't it dearest reader. People spend so much time doing things they don't want to do in the hopes that will lead to something better that they miss the best times along the way. A smile from a stranger is more beautiful than the golden toilet that you'll never have.
I met a girl at Teavana when I went to buy a cup. We started to talk and found out that we loved the exact same authors. We exchanged book ideas and emails and still talk with each other over 5 months later. I live for these things. I hope you do too.
I noticed a in our class, as opposed to other classes of course, a tenuous bond. A sharing of ideas and feelings. I've tried lately to carry this outside of class. I am normally a very extroverted person and I have taken this a step further. I am quite sure that many have thought me odd or even a bit insane but it is worth it when I consider how many people have returned my temporary extension of friendship. I think if we all went out of our way to be a little bit more communal it would result in a much happier campus. I think I would like a happier campus. Not many others would though. It's hard to appreciate community when you don't want to be there in the first place. Life is funny like that isn't it dearest reader. People spend so much time doing things they don't want to do in the hopes that will lead to something better that they miss the best times along the way. A smile from a stranger is more beautiful than the golden toilet that you'll never have.
I met a girl at Teavana when I went to buy a cup. We started to talk and found out that we loved the exact same authors. We exchanged book ideas and emails and still talk with each other over 5 months later. I live for these things. I hope you do too.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
One Day!?
My dearest reader, I have but a tidbit to share with you today. I finally broke ground with my herb garden today. The seeds are in a temporary container so that I may select the best looking sprouts for my permanent box on the lawn. I have started construction and will post pictures as soon as I am able. It is a whiteboard frame with a plywood bottom and pine croppings. I will be adding a centerpiece soon. I had thought a solitary flower or a sphere of marble but I am more than willing to listen to suggestions. That is all I have for now and I hope that this post makes up for the depressing state of my last post. If not then oh well. Read a different blog. Goodnight and sweet dreams.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
A shame that the days past are so far past.
Hello again dear reader. After a short absence it is time that I sit once again and post. Well let us not beat around the bush. Right in to the mess of it as they say...
The environment that I was raised in is a complicated one. On the one hand I have always had to work hard for the things I want and yet there is also an element of convenience. I have always been an outside person. My whole life has been sports, camping, rock climbing, carpentry, and mcdonalds. It seems to me that this is an almost common beginning and slowly all of the aforementioned activities are weeded out until all we do is fast food. This coupled with the copious amount of T.V. that I watch and the fact that I have a car now instead of a bike make for a very unhealthy lifestyle.
There is one thing though that makes this all a little less of an impact on my life; my attitude toward the fact of it. I hate the fact that where once we had to walk or ride to the places we wanted to go we now have the option of driving. Not only that, we are forced to drive because of the proximity of these places. If I could do so I would dismantle our entire way of life. I would have us back to the days when the market was the only place to go and that was in walking distance or riding distance. The days when a village was tight knit and all was togetherness. I dislike the world we live in even more because I have assimilated to it. I hate it and yet I depend upon it. I know that there are those who share these views but we have no power. We can only accept it and live our lives and know that we will end as the Romans did.
It is this attitude that lends a sense of bittersweet to all of my life experiences. Whenever I feel that I have accomplished something I realize that I have accomplished nothing. All of my little feats help nothing. I am as helpless as an ant under the glass. It is this that scares me. I hate the way we live and I am helpless to stop it. I dare not even try. This is a pathetic side of me I know and I am ashamed to admit it to you but I feel that you must know this to know me. You cannot imagine how badly I wish to drive off this invasion of pavement yet day after day I sit, and I wait. Seemingly, the only people in America who matter are only ones who couldn't give a rat's ass.
"This I clothe my naked villainy with old odd ends stolen forth from holy writ and seem a saint when most I play the devil."
I apologize for the depressing tone of this post. The ones to come will be much brighter I assure you dear reader.
The environment that I was raised in is a complicated one. On the one hand I have always had to work hard for the things I want and yet there is also an element of convenience. I have always been an outside person. My whole life has been sports, camping, rock climbing, carpentry, and mcdonalds. It seems to me that this is an almost common beginning and slowly all of the aforementioned activities are weeded out until all we do is fast food. This coupled with the copious amount of T.V. that I watch and the fact that I have a car now instead of a bike make for a very unhealthy lifestyle.
There is one thing though that makes this all a little less of an impact on my life; my attitude toward the fact of it. I hate the fact that where once we had to walk or ride to the places we wanted to go we now have the option of driving. Not only that, we are forced to drive because of the proximity of these places. If I could do so I would dismantle our entire way of life. I would have us back to the days when the market was the only place to go and that was in walking distance or riding distance. The days when a village was tight knit and all was togetherness. I dislike the world we live in even more because I have assimilated to it. I hate it and yet I depend upon it. I know that there are those who share these views but we have no power. We can only accept it and live our lives and know that we will end as the Romans did.
It is this attitude that lends a sense of bittersweet to all of my life experiences. Whenever I feel that I have accomplished something I realize that I have accomplished nothing. All of my little feats help nothing. I am as helpless as an ant under the glass. It is this that scares me. I hate the way we live and I am helpless to stop it. I dare not even try. This is a pathetic side of me I know and I am ashamed to admit it to you but I feel that you must know this to know me. You cannot imagine how badly I wish to drive off this invasion of pavement yet day after day I sit, and I wait. Seemingly, the only people in America who matter are only ones who couldn't give a rat's ass.
"This I clothe my naked villainy with old odd ends stolen forth from holy writ and seem a saint when most I play the devil."
I apologize for the depressing tone of this post. The ones to come will be much brighter I assure you dear reader.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Alas, poor yogurt, I knew it well.
Ah dear readers it seems to be that time again. That time when I shall win you all over with the vein of my noble speech. Of course this time I am writing not only to tell you about my week but because I have been assigned to. We'll figure this together I am sure.
I will start by saying that my main concern, when speaking in terms of earth, life, and sustainability, is not only our limited resources but also our supposedly renewable resources. Coal and oil are all well and good but I am quite sure that we could do without. I am not overly concerned with any water shortage we may have for when the time is desperate enough our government will start the desalinization of sea water for us all. What I am truly and wholly concerned with is wildlife and trees. When I say wildlife I refer to all animals excluding raised-for-slaughter livestock and when I say trees of course I refer to all plant life on earth. We cut down more trees then we could ever replant but we also cause erosion and our pesticides kill undergrowth and wildlife that ecosystems rely on. I am also upset at the fact that we now actively put out crucial forest fires. To clarify I mean the ones that have grown to gigantic raging fires because we put them out in the first place and would have otherwise been relatively easy to steer clear of. I like oxygen and I love breathing it even more but it will not be quite as much fun to breath in the future if there is not enough green to make oxygeen.
I would love to know why there aren't more progressive advances toward not only wildlife preserves but tree reserves as well. We need the forests and animals but most people just don't seem to realize how important they are to us.
Since I was little I remember my father taking me on camping trips. We went to forests, mountains, valleys, and we even camped in the woods behind our house. I love the outdoors. I love the stars and the smell of smoke coming off a strong fire. I love the trees and crunch of leaves underfoot as you walk a path not yet traveled. They recently turned a huge area close to my home in to a public park. That seems like it would be a good thing yes? However, this public park has placed within it one of the dumbest signs I have ever read. "Please protect our natural areas by staying on the paved sidewalks." Hmmm....
If there is anything that I can do to help stop this kind of madness I will gladly join in. I refuse, however, to be a part of the wildlife warriors, or PETA, or any organization like that. The only other thing I can think of is getting rid of a lot of humans in certain areas but that's illegal. I suppose I should leave that one in God's hands.
I will start by saying that my main concern, when speaking in terms of earth, life, and sustainability, is not only our limited resources but also our supposedly renewable resources. Coal and oil are all well and good but I am quite sure that we could do without. I am not overly concerned with any water shortage we may have for when the time is desperate enough our government will start the desalinization of sea water for us all. What I am truly and wholly concerned with is wildlife and trees. When I say wildlife I refer to all animals excluding raised-for-slaughter livestock and when I say trees of course I refer to all plant life on earth. We cut down more trees then we could ever replant but we also cause erosion and our pesticides kill undergrowth and wildlife that ecosystems rely on. I am also upset at the fact that we now actively put out crucial forest fires. To clarify I mean the ones that have grown to gigantic raging fires because we put them out in the first place and would have otherwise been relatively easy to steer clear of. I like oxygen and I love breathing it even more but it will not be quite as much fun to breath in the future if there is not enough green to make oxygeen.
I would love to know why there aren't more progressive advances toward not only wildlife preserves but tree reserves as well. We need the forests and animals but most people just don't seem to realize how important they are to us.
Since I was little I remember my father taking me on camping trips. We went to forests, mountains, valleys, and we even camped in the woods behind our house. I love the outdoors. I love the stars and the smell of smoke coming off a strong fire. I love the trees and crunch of leaves underfoot as you walk a path not yet traveled. They recently turned a huge area close to my home in to a public park. That seems like it would be a good thing yes? However, this public park has placed within it one of the dumbest signs I have ever read. "Please protect our natural areas by staying on the paved sidewalks." Hmmm....
If there is anything that I can do to help stop this kind of madness I will gladly join in. I refuse, however, to be a part of the wildlife warriors, or PETA, or any organization like that. The only other thing I can think of is getting rid of a lot of humans in certain areas but that's illegal. I suppose I should leave that one in God's hands.
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